RIP

NBA legend Elgin Baylor -- one of the greatest basketball players of all time -- has passed away of natural causes, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Monday. He was 86.

Baylor was selected with the first overall pick to the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958 ... and spent his entire 14-year career with the franchise.

The 6'5" forward won Rookie of the Year in 1959 ... and was named All-Star Game MVP that same year.

Baylor was an 11-time All Star and 10-time First Team All-NBA selection for the Lakers. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1977 ... and his #22 jersey was retired in 1983.

Baylor was also honored with a statue outside Staples Center in 2018.

Baylor ranks as one of the greatest to ever don the Purple & Gold -- he's ranked 4th in points scored, 1st in total rebounds and 6th in assists.

Baylor went on to coach the New Orleans Jazz from 1974-1979 after his playing days ... and later spent 22 years as GM of the Los Angeles Clippers, earning Executive of the Year honors in 2006.

Elgin's wife, Elaine, released a statement on his passing ... saying, "Elgin was the love of my life and my best friend."

"And like everyone else, I was in awe of his immense courage, dignity and the time he gave to all fans."

Lakers governor Jeanie Buss added ... "Elgin was THE superstar of his era - his many accolades speak to that."

"He was one of the few Lakers players whose career spanned from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. But more importantly he was a man of great integrity, even serving his country as a U.S. Army reservist, often playing for the Lakers only during his weekend pass."

"He will always be part of the Lakers legacy. On behalf of the entire Lakers family, I’d like to send my thoughts, prayers and condolences to Elaine and the Baylor family."

Baylor is survived by his wife, children and sister.

Katherine Diaz -- one of El Salvador's top surfers -- died on Friday after she was hit in a lightning strike during a training session near her home.

The 22-year-old rising star -- who had been gunning to compete for El Salvador at the Olympics in Tokyo -- was surfing at a spot called El Tunco when the lightning storm hit.

Katherine's uncle Beto Diaz told a local media outlet his niece had gone to hug a friend she spotted at the surf spot when lightening struck.

"She, the friend, was thrown by the force of the lightening strike too, the board threw me back. Katherine died instantly."

Emergency personnel reportedly raced to the scene and scrambled to revive Diaz ... but it was too late.

Diaz was a rising star in the sport and beloved by the surf community in El Salvador.

She was expected to compete in the ISA World Surf Games in May -- the event is a qualifier for Olympics in Tokyo.

The International Surfing Association issued a statement on her death ... saying, "It is with a heavy heart that the ISA has learned about the passing of El Salvador’s Katherine Diaz."

"Katherine embodied the joy and energy that make surfing so special and dear to us all, as a global ambassador of the sport. She excelled at the international competition level, representing her country with pride at both the ISA World Surfing Games and ISA World Junior Surfing Championship."

"We send our heartfelt condolences to Katherine’s family, the surfers of El Salvador, and to all those in the international surfing community whose lives she touched."

"We will never forget you."

Kent Taylor, the man who founded the wildly successful Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, has taken his own life after experiencing severe, post-COVID side effects.

Taylor suffered from tinnitus -- ringing in the ears -- which his family says greatly intensified in the last days of his life and ultimately became unbearable. At its worst, tinnitus can sound like a jet engine roaring inside the ears.

The family said, "Kent battled and fought hard," but ultimately the suffering became too great.

Kent was a master businessman, who founded Texas Roadhouse back in 1993. He came up with the idea on a cocktail napkin and brought it to life with the first restaurant located in Louisville, Kentucky. The plan took hold, and eventually, there were 537 Texas Roadhouses in 49 states, with 10 international locations.

Kent got national attention last Spring when he earmarked his entire salary to help support frontline workers during the pandemic.

He suffered from tinnitus, but it apparently flared up in a big way after he contracted COVID.   There's data indicating tinnitus is exacerbated by coronavirus.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, "He was a maverick entrepreneur who embodied the values of never giving up and putting others first."

Kent was 65.

'Conners' star Michael Fishman just posted to honor the crew member, Terrel Richmond, and shared today was the final day of shooting season 3. Fishman says they did it in "loving memory of a lovely man."

A crew member died on the set of ABC's "The Conners" while the show was wrapping production ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the crew member was up on the catwalk on Stage 22 at the CBS Studio Center Thursday when he suffered some sort of medical emergency.

We're told studio medics were called, but were unable to resuscitate the man ... he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A source with knowledge tells us the show was on one of its final days of production at the CBS lot, our sources say the man was in his 50s or 60s.

"The Conners" started in 2018 with the remaining cast members from 'Roseanne' after the show was canceled following a racist tweet from the show's star, Roseanne Barr, about former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, saying, "muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes."

A rep for Werner Entertainment tells us, "With heavy hearts we regret to confirm that a member of our technical crew suffered a fatal medical event today. He was a much loved member of The Conners and Roseanne families for over 25 years. As we remember our beloved colleague, we ask that you respect the privacy of his family and loved ones as they begin their grieving process."

RIP

Two NBA teams paid tribute to the victims of the massacre in Georgia -- with the Lakers labelling the incident as an "act of anti-Asian racism."

As we previously reported, officials say 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long went on a shooting spree in Atlanta Tuesday night, killing 8 people, including 6 Asian women.

Officials have not said if race was the motivating factor in the shooting -- with one sheriff’s office spokesman suggesting Tuesday that "sex addiction" was the driving force.

Asian community leaders have called BS -- insisting race was obviously a factor since the gunman seemingly targeted Asian-ran spas in his rampage.

The L.A. Lakers aren't buying the "sex addiction" explanation -- and straight-up labeled the incident as a hate crime when the team held a moment of silence on Thursday evening when the team hosted the Charlotte Hornets.

"The Lakers family was saddened to hear the events late Tuesday night in Atlanta Georgia where 8 people lost their lives in an act of anti-Asian racism," the announcer said over the P.A. system before tip-off.

"As an organization, the Lakers stand in solidarity with the Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders community and are committed to taking action towards being a part of the change we want to see take place."

"At this time, please join the Lakers organization in a moment of silence for the 8 victims of this senseless tragedy."

Over in Atlanta, the Hawks also held a moment of silence for the victims -- noting, "We stand with the entire Asian community in grief and solidarity over Tuesday's senseless and tragic acts of violence."

The announcer read a statement over the loudspeaker which said, "Independent of the motivations, racist and gender-based crime have absolutely no place in our society and we're committed to being an ally to communities in need."

"Please join me in a moment of silence in memory of those whose lives were lost on Tuesday."

Dick Hoyt -- the Boston Marathon legend who regularly competed while pushing his son in a wheelchair -- has died. He was 80.

Hoyt and his son, Rick, who has cerebral palsy, first appeared in the Boston Marathon together in 1980 ... and they completed the course 32 times!

Rick is non-verbal -- but began communicating with his father through an electronic device around age 11 ... and one of the first things he said was that he loved to go running with his dad.

In fact, Rick famously told Dick that when they go running together, it feels like his disability is gone ... which, of course, inspired Dick to keep running with his son.

Dick began running with Rick in 1977 and the rest is history. They went on to compete in races all over the country, including the Ironman race.

The two were staples in the Boston Marathon -- and their story has been featured on countless TV shows.

Team Hoyt received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2013 ESPYS.

Dick is an inspiration to special needs families -- especially families with non-verbal members. He absolutely loved going on runs with Rick and the feeling was mutual from his son.

Dick passed away Wednesday in his sleep. He had reportedly been dealing with significant health issues recently.

The Boston Athletic Association, the org. behind the Boston Marathon, issued a statement praising Dick as a true icon.

"The B.A.A. is tremendously saddened to learn of the passing of Boston Marathon icon Dick Hoyt. Dick personified what it meant to be a Boston Marathoner, showing determination, passion, and love every Patriots’ Day for more than three decades."

"He was not only a fan-favorite who inspired thousands, but also a loyal friend and father who took pride in spending quality time with his son Rick while running from Hopkinton to Boston."

"As a leader of Team Hoyt, Dick Hoyt and his son Rick quickly became Boston Marathon legends after their first run in 1980. Pushing Rick in a custom racing chair, Dick and Rick completed 32 Boston Marathons together, including a final finish in 2014."

"The pair’s bond and presence throughout the course became synonymous with the Boston Marathon. Team Hoyt’s 1,000th race together came at the 2009 Boston Marathon, and in 2015 Dick served as Grand Marshal of the race in recognition of his impact on the event and Para Athlete community."

"Dick Hoyt was one-of-a-kind. We will sincerely miss Dick, and are keeping his many family and friends in our thoughts and prayers."

Kobe Bryant's family is gunning to lock up the trademark for "Mamba and Mambacita" -- with the intention of using it for clothing and shoes, according to the application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.

An attorney for Kobe Bryant LLC filed the application on March 10, 2021 -- noting the trademark would be used for clothing ... namely shirts, skirts, pants, shorts, bottoms, socks, dresses, jackets, hoodies, etc.

The application also notes workout clothing such as sweatbands, armbands and footwear.

So, is there a Mamba and Mambacita shoe in the works? Unclear.

In fact, the Bryant family could just be trying to lock up the trademarks to block anyone else from using it ... just like Tom Brady did when he applied for the "Tom Terrific" trademark.

Sabine Schmitz -- affectionately known as the Queen of Nürburgring and former host of the hit BBC show "Top Gear" -- has died.

Sabine, the only woman ever to win Germany's famous 24-hour touring car and GT endurance racing event in 1996 and 1997, died Tuesday. She revealed last year she had been battling a rare form of cancer since 2017.

The Nürburgring's racing account tweeted, "The Nürburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!"

Sabine was no stranger to the race track, having grown up in Nürburg and so close to the Nürburgring circuit in western Germany. She also raced for the Porsche motorsport team ... which also paid tribute to her saying it's "very sad to hear that Sabine Schmitz (1969-2021) has passed away."

The Porsche motorsport team added, "The 'Queen of Nordschleife' was a crowd favourite due to her open, humorous way. Our sympathy goes to her family and friends."

Sabine would go on to become a regular guest on "Top Gear" ... making her first appearance in 2004. Executive producer Clare Pizey, said, "Sabine was a beloved member of the Top Gear family and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004, and everyone who had the pleasure of working with her on the team is in shock at this news."

The show's former host, Jeremy Clarkson, also was stunned by the news saying, "Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. Such a sunny person and so full of beans."

Tragic news from Keyshawn Johnson ... the former NFL star receiver just announced his oldest daughter, Maia, has passed away. She was 25 years old.

"It is with incredible sadness that I have to share the news about the passing of my beautiful Daughter Maia," Johnson said Monday.

"Maia, as my first born child, has been the joy of my, and her Mother Shikiri’s, life."

Maia was Johnson's first child with Shikiri Hightower, whom he was married to from 1998-2002. They also had a son, Keyshawn Jr., in 1998. Johnson also has two children with his current wife, Jennifer Conrad.

Johnson added ... "She came into our lives just as we were both coming of age as adults and has been a constant beloved presence for both of us."

"We are heartbroken and devastated by her loss. Shikiri, Maia’s siblings, our family and me appreciate your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."

No cause of death has been revealed publicly at this point.

Several of Keyshawn's current and former ESPN colleagues have shared their condolences following the announcement ... including Louis Riddick and Jemele Hill.

"I am so very sorry Keshawn." Riddick said on Twitter. "That is devastating and heartbreaking to hear. From my family to yours...our deepest and most sincere condolences brother.

Hill added ... "So very sorry for your loss."

RIP

An airplane crash-landed into an SUV before bursting into flames in the middle of a Florida neighborhood ... and the deadly impact was captured on a neighbor's security cam.

You see the SUV driving down a residential street when suddenly the small plane comes flying into frame, smashing into the car and skidding across the road before exploding Monday ... leaving a trail of flames.

A neighbor's Ring video captured the whole thing, and she sent the footage to CBS Miami.

The crash killed both people in the aircraft, as well as a young boy riding in the SUV with his mother ... according to the Pembroke Pines Fire Department. The people in the plane died at the scene. The young boy and his mom were rushed to a hospital, but he didn't survive.

19-year-old Timur Faizutdinov -- a star player in Russia's Junior Hockey League -- has tragically died after being hit in the head by a puck ... his team announced Tuesday.

Faizutdinov was skating for his Dynamo St. Petersburg's squad in a playoff matchup with Loko Yaroslavl on March 12 when his opponent accidentally flipped a puck at his head.

The frozen rubber caught Faizutdinov up high near his temple ... and he immediately crumpled to the ground in pain.

Faizutdinov -- St. Petersburg's captain -- was rushed to the hospital ... but, unfortunately, his team announced he died this week due to the injuries the puck caused.

"Dynamo Saint Petersburg defenseman Timur Faizutdinov has tragically passed away at the age of 19," Faizutdinov's team wrote in a statement.

"He had received a fatal head injury during an MHL match against Loko in Yaroslavl on March 12. SKA Hockey Club extends its deepest condolences to Timur’s family and friends."

Faizutdinov had reportedly logged nearly 200 games for Dynamo St. Petersburg in his career ... and had just been named team captain.

Dynamo St. Petersburg announced it will hold moments of silence for Faizutdinov prior to its upcoming games for the foreseeable future.

Yaphet Kotto -- the longtime actor known for his roles in "Midnight Run," "Alien" and "Live and Let Die" -- died Monday near Manila in the Philippines ... according to his wife.

Yaphet's wife, Tessie Sinahon, announced his death on Facebook, saying ... "This is a very painful moment for me to inform you all fans, friends and family of my husband." No cause of death was given.

Kotto reportedly came from Cameroonian royalty on his father's side ... but was born in NYC and began studying acting as a teenager. He made his theater debut in the late '50s in "Othello" and appeared on Broadway's "The Great White Hope."

This led to his first film roles in the '60s in "Nothing But a Man" and "The Thomas Crown Affair," and a guest-starring role as Marine Lance Corporal on "Hawaii Five-O."

Then, Yaphet broke through in a big way by playing the famous Bond villain, Mr. Big, in 1973's "Live and Let Die" opposite Roger Moore.

He would go on to land tough-guy roles in several popular movies ... like the engineer, Parker, in the 1979 blockbuster "Alien."

Kotto's other big films include "The Running Man" with Arnold Schwarzenegger and "Midnight Run" with Robert De Niro. In the '90s, he co-starred on the TV series "Homicide: Life on the Street," and also had an appearance years later on HBO's "The Wire."

He and his wife, who is from the Philippines, wed in Baltimore in 1998. He had 2 previous marriages and 6 children.

Yaphet was 81.

Reggie Warren -- one of the founding members of the R&B group TROOP -- was struggling financially before he died, so his family is crowdfunding to pay for medical bills and a funeral.

A rep for Reggie tells TMZ ... the money started drying up around 2014 because TROOP hadn't had a big hit song since the 1990s, and now his family is feeling the squeeze.

Reggie's fam set up a GoFundMe to try and raise $30,000, which we're told will go toward paying hospital bills and burial expenses.

TMZ broke the story ... Reggie died Sunday in Pasadena, the day after being released from a two-month stay in the hospital.

Don Rickles' widow, Barbara has passed ... and on a momentous day in their relationship.

Sources close to the family tell TMZ ... Barb passed away Sunday after being hospitalized last week. We're told she'd been battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other ailments in recent years.

Our sources tell us this touching detail as well ... Barbara apparently held on to life until Sunday, which would've marked the 56th wedding anniversary of her and Don. They'd been married for 52 years prior to his passing in 2017.

Don and Barbara were good old-fashioned Hollywood sweethearts -- and were pretty much partners as Don navigated showbiz in the '60s, '70s and beyond. Barbara served as an EP for a re-release of a comedy show of Don's called 'Don Rickles Live in Concert.' She also appeared alongside him as herself in documentaries and other TV specials over the years.

The story goes that Don met Barbara through his agent, and hit it off.  They were in love and pretty much inseparable. Don always spoke highly of Barbara, once telling Al Roker that he was completely devoted to her and she was his life.

Don's death hit Barbara hard, but she remembered him fondly online ... taking over Don's Twitter account and posting messages on both their wedding and his death anniversary. A couple years back she wrote, "Saturday April 6th will be the 2nd Anniversary of my Don’s passing. It is a very difficult time, but reading your kind Tweets is so helpful. Yes I read them all. Don would have been so pleased to know how much joy & laughter he gave to so many during his lifetime.  RIP ❤️ Barbara."

The couple had two children together, including screenwriter Larry Rickles ... who died in 2011. She's survived by her daughter and grandchildren. Barbara was 84.

Eulogio "Frankie" De La Cruz -- a relief pitcher who was a key cog in the trade that sent Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins to the Tigers -- died Sunday ... MLB officials confirmed.

He was just 37 years old.

De La Cruz's Dominican winter league team, Toros del Este, was first to report the news Monday morning, saying in a statement, "Our condolences to his family and friends for this terrible loss. Peace to your Soul!"

The Diario Libre in the D.R. reported the team added his death was due to a heart attack.

De La Cruz signed with the Detroit Tigers as a teenager in 2001 ... and eventually made his debut for the big-league club in 2007.

He was traded just a short time later, though, as one of the pieces that helped Detroit land one of the greatest MLB players ever.

The Tigers sent De La Cruz -- along with several other notable names including Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin -- to the Marlins in exchange for Cabrera and ace pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

De La Cruz didn't do much in his short time with the Marlins in 2008, and was later traded to the Padres, who released him after the 2009 season.

De La Cruz went on to pitch in Tokyo ... and eventually latched on with the Brewers in 2011, when he had his best season as a pro, logging a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings pitched.

De La Cruz -- who also had a stint in the Chicago Cubs' organization -- had reportedly still been pitching professionally in the D.R. just this past winter.

Chadwick Boseman's earned his first-ever Academy Award nomination ... nearly 7 months after he died from colon cancer.

Chadwick was the second one named early Monday morning when the nominations for Actor in a Leading Role were announced. Riz Ahmed for "Sound of Metal," Anthony Hopkins for "The Father," Gary Oldman for "Mank" and Steven Yeun for "Minari" are the other nominees in the category. It's incredible this is his first nom considering the iconic roles he's played.

Chadwick died in August while "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" was in post-production and 3 months before the film's release. He played Levee Green, an incredibly talented trumpet player. The Netflix film is about Ma Rainey ... the influential blues singer during the 1920s.

He had already won a Golden Globe, also his first, for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama last month. Chadwick's widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted the award on his behalf and gave an emotional speech too.

Taylor had said, "He would thank God. He would thank his parents. He would thank his ancestors for their guidance and their sacrifices. He would say something beautiful. Something inspiring."