Tulane's Teshaun Hightower Arrested For Murder Attorney Claims Innocence

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UPDATE

4:30 PM PT -- Hightower's attorney is vehemently denying his client was the shooter ... claiming it was his brother, Jeffery, who fired the gun out of self-defense.

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"(Teshaun is) innocent," attorney Averick Walker tells ESPN. "He didn't shoot anybody."

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"It's sad that this detective sought to make him out to be a monster and he's not. When it's all said and done, it will come out in the wash that the person who did fire the gun shot the gun to protect Teshaun."

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The attorney claims the victim came out of the house with a gun pointed at Teshaun ... and Jeffery took action.

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"That's why the victim was shot himself."

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9:07 AM PT -- Cops have just released more information on the shooting to TMZ Sports ... saying Hightower and 5 other men showed up at the victim's house at around 10:49 AM on April 8.

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A spokesperson for the Henry County Police Department tells us a dispute broke out shortly after they arrived ... and gunshots were fired.

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Law enforcement officials add the victim, ID'd as 24-year-old Devante Long, was struck by the gunfire and rushed to the hospital ... where he later died.

UPDATE

Cops say five of the six suspects in the case have been arrested.

Teshaun Hightower -- a Tulane men's basketball star who just declared for the 2020 NBA Draft -- was arrested this weekend for felony murder, records show.

Officials believe the 22-year-old is involved in the April 8 shooting death of a man in Stockbridge, GA. Cops say the Green Wave star is one of six people who they believe contributed to the murder.

Law enforcement has not yet released further details surrounding the shooting.

Hightower was arrested Saturday at 9:50 PM, according to jail records, and was booked on 8 charges, including felony murder and felony aggravated assault. No bond was listed for the NCAA star.

Tulane announced in a statement shortly after his arrest, "Upon learning of Teshaun’s arrest this afternoon, he was immediately dismissed from the Tulane basketball program."

Hightower had just declared himself eligible for the NBA draft on April 18 ... this after he posted a monster season in 2019-20.

The shooting guard/point guard started 29 games for the Green Wave, averaged 34.3 minutes per game and posted a team-high 15.9 points per game.

Hightower also logged 4.6 rebounds per game ... and had intended to come back to the school if his NBA draft prospects weren't favorable.

Originally Published -- 6:31 AM PT

Isiah Thomas Still Bitter Over '92 Dream Team Snub ... Blames '91 Bulls Diss

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Isiah Thomas admits he's still "personally hurt" he was not asked to be a part of that legendary '92 Dream Team -- and it's obvious he thinks it's all because he didn't shake Michael Jordan's hand.

Remember, Thomas and his Pistons teammates infamously walked off the court after getting their asses kicked by the '91 Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conf. Finals without shaking hands.

Thomas, now 58, was not only villainized in the media for being a bad sport -- but Michael Jordan took the snub personally. They still don't get along.

The incident was featured in Sunday's new episode of "The Last Dance" ... and Monday morning, Thomas had more to add when he joined ESPN's "Get Up."

"Why I'm personally hurt is another reason why I'm here," Thomas said ... "Because being left off the Dream Team, that personally hurt me."

Thomas says he doesn't know why he was not selected -- but it's obvious he believes it's because he dissed Michael Jordan by not shaking his hand after that '91 series.

Thomas -- one of the best NBA players alive at the time -- says his resume should have made him a lock for the Dream Team, which is why he thinks the non-selection had nothing to do with his talent.

"If I'm not apart of the Dream Team because a lapse in emotion in terms of not shaking someone's hand ... if that's the reason why I didn't make the Dream Team, then I am more disappointed today than I was back then when I wasn't selected."

Thomas -- who had made the NBA All-Star team every year from '82 to '93 -- explained, "The only thing that's missing from my resume is not being on the Dream Team."

The man's got a point -- Thomas was one of the best players in the league at the time ... and had 2 NBA titles and was a 10-time All-Star at the time.

It's something Thomas has stressed for years ... he revealed in 2013 he felt disrespected by the Bulls, but would "absolutely" shake hands if he could do it all over again.

Jason Pierre-Paul New Crash Photos ... Show Wrecked $350K Ferrari

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Jason Pierre-Paul is revealing pics from the 2019 car crash that left him with a broken neck ... and the images show his $350,000 Ferrari was heavily damaged in the wreck.

As we previously reported ... the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star was driving a red 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista on May 2, 2019, when he lost control at around 3 AM and crashed.

Officials blamed weather conditions -- i.e. wet road surfaces -- for the accident ... and did NOT suspect JPP of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Now, nearly a full year after the wreck ... Pierre-Paul is reflecting on the crash -- sharing wild pics from the scene.

You can see in the photos ... the pricey ride was mangled pretty badly, with the passenger side door and rear quarter panel torn up.

Pierre-Paul captioned the pics with a message expressing gratitude for walking away from the crash alive ... saying, "I remember sittin home for months I mean months while time went by."

"But you know what kept me always going, I found somethin to be thankful for in this so call life bihhhh."

JPP added, "Fux a luxury car I got plenty of them. How can it be so luxury if you died in it and it. Live your best life TODAY!!!"

Pierre-Paul was sidelined for MONTHS with the neck injury ... but he returned to game action for the Bucs in Week 8 of the NFL season and went on to post 8.5 sacks.

He's expected to enter 2020 fully healthy and be a key cog on Tom Brady's new team.

NASCAR's Denny Hamlin Loses Virtual Race ... Daughter Turns Off Screen

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"I'm mad, I'm pissed off. But, they're just kids."

That's Denny Hamlin trying to keep his composure after his adorable 7-year-old daughter accidentally SHUT OFF HIS SCREEN DURING A VIRTUAL RACE!!!

The video is HILARIOUS (unless you're Denny) -- showing the 39-year-old driving competition in an iRacing Pro Invitational Series event on Sunday ... when all of the sudden, his daughter, Taylor, enters the room mid-race!

Taylor clearly doesn't understand that daddy is in the middle of a very important race -- and starts asking him if she can play with the go-karts.

She also happens to be holding the remote control to the screen Denny is using to race ... and accidentally HIT THE POWER BUTTON!

Once the screen goes black, Denny is eliminated -- which made him finish LAST in a 39 car race at the virtual track at Talladega Superspeedway.

You can hear Denny say, "My screen just went black" ... as Taylor sheepishly says, "Uh-oh."

"That was unfortunate," Hamlin said after the incident ... "That's just something you don't hear every day, folks."

It's not the first time we've seen an athlete disqualified after a technology blunder -- an Ironman champ lost a virtual race earlier this month when her husband accidentally unplugged the power cord that tied her to the event!

UFC's Dana White Letting Fan Play Matchmaker for Real Fight ... Conor Vs. Nate???

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Dana White All In
ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

Dana White is dead serious about allowing one lucky fan to pick the fighters for a real UFC bout ... which begs the question, is Conor McGregor on the table?!

It's all part of Dana's big All In Challenge fundraising mission -- he's teamed up with Halle Berry for one of the coolest UFC experiences EVER!

Not only will the winner get to hang with Halle -- a real, hardcore MMA fan -- but that person will also be invited to participate in the UFC matchmaking process with Dana and his team.

"They're gonna sit in with a matchmaking meeting and I'm gonna let them make a fight," Dana tells TMZ Sports.

As we've previously reported, the All In Challenge is raising cash to help feed people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It doesn't suck and for a fan to be able to win this package," Dana says.

As for the matchmaking ... Dana says the winner will join his top 3 execs in the war room to put together a real UFC fight.

"It's a process. We argue, we fight ... [the winner] will be part of the bickering and the arguing."

So, what if the winner wants to see Conor vs. Khabib? Or, Conor vs. Nate Diaz? Or, Jon Jones vs. Cormier?!?!

Dana's not exactly saying no ... watch the clip -- and donate some money for a good cause!

Shaq Pays for Rest of Kid's Funeral ... After Tragic Accident

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Shaquille O'Neal made a bigger than life gesture for a Louisiana family that tragically lost a child in a car accident -- covering the balance of his burial service.

Phil Conrad -- a retired chief deputy officer from the Lafayette City Marshal's Office -- tells TMZ Sports ... the ex-NBA big man recently shelled out a few thousand bucks to help pay for the remaining cost of a child's funeral, this after his family came up just a little short.

Here's what happened ... a car with an adult driver and four minors ran a stop sign, then crashed into a ditch and ultimately into a tree a couple weeks ago out in nearby Breaux Bridge, LA. The crash claimed the lives of two of the kids in the back seat, 12-year-old Trayvon Alexander and 11-year-old Keshon Batiste. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Conrad tells us Trayvon's family had insurance covering his burial in full, but young Keshon did not ... leaving his loved ones to start a GoFundMe. They still need around $4,000 to reach their goal. We're told Shaq -- who went to college in Louisiana -- caught wind of the story and hit up Phil to get downloaded on the situation.

Once Shaq heard what was needed to help Keshon's relatives, Conrad says he instantly acted ... wiring him the leftover balance immediately, and Conrad then delivered the cash to the Kinchen Funeral Home. We're told the two boys were laid to rest Saturday.

There's more ... we're told Shaq has done stuff exactly like this several times in the past, but he's kept it low key. Stand up guy.

Mike Tyson Floyd Will Be Great Trainer ... Boxing Is His Life!!!

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Mike Tyson says if Floyd Mayweather wants to be the best trainer alive, he'll be the best trainer ... telling TMZ Sports boxing's Floyd's life, and TMT will CRUSH IT on the other side of the mitts.

Remember, Floyd revealed his newest passion earlier this month ... saying he's using his knowledge to help the next generation of boxers.

We spoke with one of the best to ever do it -- Iron Mike -- who says it's rare for a boxing superstar to successfully transition to training ... but Floyd's different than your average former champ.

"Mostly, the guy that's the great trainer is not the great fighter and that's why he becomes the great trainer," Tyson tells us.

So, what separates Floyd from the rest?

"I give Floyd a good chance because Floyd's a gym rat, that's all he does."

"You see him in the club for one week but he's in the gym every day for 25 years. Even when he goes out and party, he's back in the gym the next day. He does it in his sleep, this is what he do."

FYI, there's a track record in the Mayweather family. Money's longtime trainer and uncle -- Roger Mayweather -- was a 2-weight boxing champion who flawlessly transitioned into his role as Floyd's coach ... before passing away in March.

Tyson points out Floyd is ALWAYS in shape and could be ready to fight at any time (Hi, Conor!) ... and that discipline is what separates Mayweather from everyone else.

"His lifestyle is predictable to a long duration athletic range."

If Tyson says it ... we ain't gonna disagree.

NFL's Chase Young Gunning to 'Terrorize the Moment' ... Seeks Trademark

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Chase Young isn't just planning on seizing the moment now that he's in the NFL -- he wants to TERRORIZE IT!!

The newest Washington Redskins star -- the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft -- filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to lock down the phrase, "Terrorize the Moment."

According to records, the 21-year-old defensive end filed his application back in February hoping to use the phrase on everything from hats to hoodies, jackets, pants and more.

In other words, Chase is trying to launch his own brand -- and with the heat this guy has behind him right now, can you blame him?!

It's a smart move by Young to lock down potential catchphrases early -- just look at when Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson got beat to the punch on "Big Truss."

Jackson says the person who owns that trademark threatened a lawsuit -- so he switched it up and went after "Truzz" instead.

As for "Terrorize the Moment" -- Young is known for wreaking havoc on opponents ... and if you need proof, WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO!

This dude is gonna be fun to watch in the pros!!!

Eagles' Malik Jackson Donates $100k For COVID-19 Relief ... I'm Helping Kids!!!

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Malik Jackson
WE CAN'T SIT ON THE SIDELINES

Awesome gesture by Eagles stud Malik Jackson ... he donated $100k to help families in Philadelphia -- this after he says he was inspired to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I woke up one morning and realized, I said I wasn’t doing enough," Jackson tells TMZ Sports. "I actually watched a '60 Minutes' special and realized I wasn’t doing enough."

Jackson says he got with his camp earlier this month and quickly found an organization in Philly he wanted to give back to ... Fred's Footsteps.

The org assists families in the region with sick, disabled or injured children ... and Jackson tells us he's proud his money will help that cause during coronavirus times.

"With Fred’s Footsteps, they’ll get help," Jackson says. "I think we’ve really just tried to be a blessing. Because it’s a blessing to be a blessing."

Jackson, though, didn't stop the charity efforts there ... he also helped feed medical personnel at L.A. County USC Hospital with a donation last week as well.

As for football, the 30-year-old (who signed a 3-year, $30 MIL contract last season with the Eagles) says his injured foot is progressing well ... and he's hoping to be a dominant force in the NFL again this year.

Malik Jackson on Playing Tom Brady
HUMBLING, YET FRUSTRATING

Delanie Walker G-Wagon Wrecked In Scary L.A. Crash ... NFL Star Uninjured

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SNAPPIN' SOME PICS

Scary moment for Delanie Walker ... the NFL star was involved in a car crash in L.A. last month that wrecked his G-Wagon -- but TMZ Sports has learned the tight end made it out uninjured.

We're told Walker -- a Pomona, Calif. native -- was driving through Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. on March 4 in his pricey Mercedes-Benz when someone ran into him.

Law enforcement sources tell us a driver made an illegal turn in front of the Tennessee Titans star ... slamming into Walker and doing serious damage to his expensive whip.

Walker was able to escape the accident uninjured ... but you can see in video we obtained of the aftermath -- he wasn't exactly pleased about the condition of his ride.

We're told the car is still in the shop ... but for now, it seems to have avoided being totaled.

As for the other driver ... we're told he was taken to the hospital after the crash, suffering non-life threatening injuries.

Law enforcement sources tell us Walker is in the clear over the accident ... pinning the blame on the other driver in the case.

35-year-old Delanie -- who's in the second year of a 2-year, $17 MILLION deal with Tenn. -- is nearing the end of his NFL career ... with the 2020 season possibly being his last.

If it is the end, Walker had a hell of a run ... earning 3 Pro Bowl selections and logging 36 receiving TDs in 14 years.

Brady and Gronk Tampa Mayor Warns ... No Hijinks Here, Boyz!!!

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Tom Brady and Gronk just got a personal welcome from none other than the Mayor of their new home -- Tampa, Florida -- but it didn't come without a warning to both.

Mayor Jane Castor penned her open letter, telling the Boston expatriates/ex-patriots about the awesome things they can do in her fair City, but then she schooled the G.O.A.T., saying, "Tom, my apologies for the miscommunication when you arrived – not the best first impression. But, given my law enforcement background, I couldn’t help but have someone investigate the sighting of a G.O.A.T. running wild in one of our beautiful city parks. No harm – no foul, and thanks for being a good sport."

And, then there's Gronk. Mayor Castor wrote about one of the largest parades in the city, which is pirate-themed, saying, "You must be ready to pARRGHty ... but not too hard (I'm talking to you Gronk), as Super Bowl LV is the following weekend and we need to keep our eye on the prize -- a dent free Lombardi trophy!"

But, Her Honor wasn't done, adding, "There is plenty for you to do as well Gronk. Although we have to socially distance right now, in no time you will be able to enjoy our nightlife and eclectic neighborhoods ... Just remember 'No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service' is still in effect around here." Gronk, you've been warned!

And, then a message to both ... "We are so glad to have you here. While most people retire and come to Florida, you came out of retirement to head our way. That shows the competitive mindset we are used to, while sticking it to the AARP at the same time. Looking forward to growing used to the Gronk Spike!"

Brady had an interesting week. As TMZ reported, he went to visit one of his new coaches and ended up walking into the wrong house -- it's kind of a Stepford community -- and came face-to-face with a very shocked dude.

But, talk about an endgame ... here's what the Mayor obliquely offered -- "Tom, It’s Tampa Bay. You win us a Super Bowl and we’ll discuss Tampa Brady."

Kobe Bryant Memorabilia Hits Auction Block ... To Benefit Mamba Foundation

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An incredible amount of rare Kobe Bryant memorabilia is heading to auction ... and the items will help the late Lakers legend's foundation.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Goldin Auctions has made more than 50 dope pieces from Kobe's 20-year NBA career available in its Spring 2020 catalog ... from signature shoe prototypes to game-worn jerseys, to his 2000 NBA championship ring.

On top of that, there's a score sheet from Kobe's 81-point game signed by the Black Mamba himself, a jersey with Kobe and Vanessa hand-painted, and Bryant's autograph on White House stationery.

The best part?? 5% of the winning bids will go towards Kobe's Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation ... which helps young athletes learn life skills through sports.

We know, 5% doesn't sound like a lot -- but the value of Kobe memorabilia has skyrocketed over the past few months, so there could be A LOT of money raised here.

Vanessa Bryant has kept the Foundation moving in the months since Kobe, Gianna and 7 others perished in that tragic helicopter crash on Jan. 26 ... and the NBA has made a $100k donation to help the cause.

As we previously reported, the sports memorabilia community has flooded with fakes since Kobe's passing ... but Goldin Auctions assures us all of the items in their auction are certified legit.

The auction runs through May 16 ... good luck!!