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John Thompson -- one of the greatest and most important coaches in college basketball history -- has died. He was 78.

Thompson passed away Monday morning. The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear.

Thompson was the first Black head coach to win a major college championship, when he led Georgetown to the NCAA title in 1984.

That team featured stars like Patrick Ewing, Reggie Williams and David Wingate.

Thompson coached at Georgetown for 27 seasons -- and has the most wins in the school's history ... racking up 596 wins.

Before his coaching days, Thompson was a college basketball star at Providence -- where he was an honorable mention All-American in 1964.

He was later selected in the 3rd-round of the 1964 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics -- where he played for 2 seasons. Oh, the team won the NBA title in both of those seasons!

After that, Thompson became a high school basketball coach in Washington D.C. before making the jump to Georgetown ... and the rest is history.

Among the stars who played for Thompson -- Ewing, Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.

Thompson ultimately resigned from Georgetown in January 1999 -- and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame later that year.

Iverson famously credited Thompson for "saving my life" after he was accused of hurting people in a bowling alley brawl in 1993.

Thompson didn't turn his back on Iverson as the case played out -- he supported him until an appears court overturned multiple convictions against A.I..

Iverson brought up the situation in his Hall of Fame speech, saying he wouldn't be there without Thompson.

“I want to thank Coach Thompson. For saving my life," Iverson said ... "For giving me the opportunity."

"I was recruited by every school in the country for football and basketball. And an incident happened in high school and all that was taken away. No other teams, no other schools were recruiting me anymore. My mom went to Georgetown and begged him to give me a chance. And he did."

RIP

There is a new, despicable revelation in the Breonna Taylor investigation ... prosecutors tried to smear her by offering her ex-boyfriend a plea deal that could have turned a 10-year sentence into probation if he agreed to say Breonna was dealing drugs, and it's flat-out false.

Documents have surfaced showing that Jamarcus Glover, Breonna's ex who is charged with drug trafficking and gun charges, was offered the deal if he'd say Taylor was part of an organized crime syndicate trafficking drugs into Louisville. There is absolutely no evidence to support this, but attorney Sam Aguiar, who reps Breonna's family, says, "The fact that they would try to even represent that she was a co-defendant in a criminal case more than a month after she died is absolutely disgusting."

Prosecutors for the Commonwealth said the offer was part of a "draft" during the negotiations ... and it was squarely REJECTED by Glover. Cops got a search warrant for Breonna's home as part of a wide investigation into Glover and another man. Police claimed Glover went to Breonna's apartment in January, picked up a package and went to a "known drug house."  Here's the reality ... NO drugs or money were found at Breonna's home, and she was never implicated in Glover's alleged drug dealing.

The short story ... it seems the effort was to smear Breonna to take the heat off authorities. Remember, the cops who shot her 8 times lied and said she suffered no injuries when in fact she died from her injuries.

It's shocking prosecutors used this tactic ... but apparently they did.

Chadwick Boseman's old stomping grounds won't soon be forgetting their hero, because city officials are ramping up to pay tribute to him ... now and later.

Anderson, South Carolina Mayor Terence Roberts' office tells TMZ ... the city where Chadwick grew up will be honoring him this week in a public get-together, but also down the road as well with what we're told will be a massive enshrinement.

As for this week's plans ... a rep for the Mayor says they're hosting a remembrance Thursday at an outdoor amphitheater, where they'll have 3 guest speakers -- including a pastor, a former high school classmate of Chadwick's and the Mayor himself. After that, we're told they'll be putting on a screening of "Black Panther."

Now, we know what you're thinking ... a public gathering at an amphitheater?? In a pandemic??? Yes, but rest assured ... we're told the city is taking all precautions to do this safely, with social distancing and masks in mind. The venue normally has a max capacity of about 10,000 ... we're told they're cutting it down to half. First come, first serve.

Oh, and the place will be adorned with Chadwick-themed artwork from locals, so that'll be neat to see too. At this time, it's a little unclear if any of his immediate family members will join, but some of his extended fam who are still in the area are said to be potential drop-ins.

As for a more long-term tribute to their homegrown star -- who died Friday of colon cancer -- the Mayor's team tells us they're still not settled on a final plan, but they know it'll be a grand, lasting public display.

Nick Saban put on his walking shoes and got to marching Monday -- leading the Alabama football team in a social justice demonstration on campus.

Saban, decked out in white polo, grey pants and a COVID mask, charged through Tuscaloosa from the athletic facility toward Foster Auditorium -- where some members of the team gave speeches.

Among the players at the march, star running back Najee Harris, according to reporter Simone Eli.

Some of the players wore shirts with messages like, "Black Lives Matter, "Equality" and "Defend Black Lives."

Some of the players carried a black lives matter banner.

During the march, Saban reportedly told the media he felt "like a proud parent."

"I'm proud of our team, I'm proud of our messengers and I'm proud of our message," he added.

Alabama is one of the major college football programs that WILL play in 2020.

The Crimson Tide -- ranked #3 in the country in some preseason polls -- is slated to take on Missouri on Sept. 26th.

Tiffany Haddish says don't be fooled by loud-mouthed promoters of racism and hate -- especially toward African-Americans ... because they're outnumbered by good people.

Tiffany joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday, and she got choked up talking about events in Kenosha and Portland this past week, but some rays of hope surfaced.

While fighting back tears, she says that she considers herself an optimistic person ... but it only goes so far in the wake of all the strife and violence.

Tiffany, who's become a leader in the social justice movement ... thinks 15% - 25% of the country harbor extreme hatred toward blacks, but she seems to think there's security in numbers, and the numbers are in favor of racial equality.

Tiffany raised eyebrows a few weeks back on Carmelo Anthony's podcast when she said she's scared to have kids because she's worried about them growing up Black in America. She has a solution that is awesome and inspiring.

Niecy Nash is trying her hand at marriage again ... and this time it's with a woman.

The "Claws" star recently tied the knot with singer Jessica Betts and Niecy is taking her partner's name.

Niecy just announced the marriage on social media and says she's now Mrs. Carol Denise Betts.

TMZ broke the stories ... Niecy filed for divorce from her husband Jay Tucker back in December, and in March the exes finalized their divorce.

Niecy became officially single in the eyes of the law June 21, and it only took her a couple months to get hitched again.

The wedding ceremony, in the middle of a pandemic, looks beautiful ... Niecy's wearing a flowing, white wedding gown and Jessica's in a tie and vest.

The marriage is coming as a surprise to lots of folks ... most people did not know Niecy was engaged to a woman. She's always been an LGBTQ ally but was never out ... until now.

As Niecy says in her Instagram stories with Jessica, "#PlotTwist."

Kanye West says claims the President or the GOP are paying him to run a spoiler campaign are laughable, because he's already wealthier than Donald Trump!

Ye recently sat down with Nick Cannon to do a segment on his podcast, "Cannon's Class," and it looks like they got to talking about controversy they've both been embroiled in recently -- Nick's anti-Semitic remarks and Kanye's presidential run.

Nick says folks have accused Kanye of being a mere puppet of the Republican Party -- and some have even speculated they're shelling out big dough to keep Ye's political ship afloat. Well, he had a perfect comeback for that ... and it came at the expense of his pal, Donald.

You'll have to watch yourself to see how Kanye worded it, 'cause it definitely got a laugh out of Nick (us too, frankly). Bottom line though ... Ye says he's virtually un-bribable.

Nick gets to another point -- which will be explored more when the full episode comes out Tuesday -- and it touches on whether Kanye believes he can actually win this thing ... and whether it's reasonable for him to be running at all. In response, another zinger from Ye.

Jack Harlow takes care of his own -- and by that, we mean he's willing to spend an arm and leg to ice out his entourage, and make it look like they just walked off with the Lombardi Trophy.

The Louisville rapper -- who performed at the VMAs Sunday -- was flaunting a set of 8 rings he and his crew (AKA, Private Garden) were rocking around town ahead of and during the show. They're like championship rings -- NBA or NFL-esque -- and they look pretty sweet.

Turns out, they're more than just nice looking ... they're completely loaded with precious stones that ended up costing well over a hundred grand. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Celebrity jeweler Alex Moss -- who commissioned the custom pieces for Jack and co. -- tells TMZ the rings altogether are valued at about $110k, and that's because they're laced with VVS diamonds and 14k gold, with each ring weighing in at 55 grams.

We're told the rings have the Private Garden members' names etched in plus their 502 area code. Of course, Jack's ring is slightly more blinged-out -- he is the leader, after all.

Alex tells us he met Jack a couple years ago in the studio when he was first coming up, but just got hit up for this job a few months ago.

Kid Rock is off the market again ... he just got "married" to Loretta Lynn!!!

The rocker and 88-year-old country music legend got crazy over the weekend after Loretta's friends renewed their vows ... Loretta was in a wedding veil, and Kid Rock dropped to a knee and took her hand for what seemed to be a proposal.

Loretta explained what went down on her Facebook page ... she says she and Kid Rock "always teased about getting ourselves married" and with the preacher already in the house, they decided to have some fun with the situation.

Hold your horses, though ... turns out, it wasn't a real wedding. Bummer.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg took a break from her legal duties with the Supreme Court to preside over a more intimate affair ... a weekend wedding.

It looks like the 87-year-old Justice has recovered from a couple recent hospitalizations and is feeling spry enough to serve as the marriage officiant for Barb Solish, Communications Director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and her hubby, Danny Kazin.

Solish shared a photo of RBG directing their Sunday nuptials and said ... "2020 has been rough, but yesterday was Supreme."

Solish also quashed any COVID-19 concerns for Ruth too, by pointing out she and her husband tested negative before the wedding.

As we reported ... the Justice was hospitalized in late July for a non-surgical procedure -- her second trip that month after also suffering from an infection. Add that to news of her cancer returning, creating a major cause for concern about her well-being.

The tributes continue pouring in for Chadwick Boseman ... and Marvel Studios let it be known the late actor will be their king forever.

The studio honored T'Challa with a touching, emotional, tribute video in which many refer to Chadwick as flawless and regal. Lupita Nyong'o said Chadwick wore the crown with dignity in "Black Panther." Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr. are just some in awe of Chadwick's immense talent.

Chadwick, of course, was also honored Sunday at the MTV VMAs with the virtual show dedicated to him. The main host, Keke Palmer, gave Chadwick a shout-out right out of the gate, saying, "We dedicate tonight’s show to the man whose spirit touched so many. He is a true hero, not just on screen but in everything he did. His impact lives forever."

A Taco Bell proved critical for two little girls who were briefly using its Wi-Fi for school -- something that sparked some true help from the community.

A photo of two young girls sitting outside of a Taco Bell in Salinas, CA -- just outside of Monterey -- recently went viral ... which shows them plopped down on the concrete with their laptops and notepads out, while two TB employees come out to talk to them. It's quite sad.

The photo prompted a two-pronged response -- one group was utterly outraged at the lack of resources these kids had, understanding this is the best they could do in a desperate situation. On the other hand, some folks were concerned ... thinking it was neglect.

On that first part, a handful of elected officials spoke out on the photo ... pointing out the digital divide among certain underrepresented communities. Salinas City Elementary School District copped to the fact the kids were their students and said they were already working to remedy the situation by providing them a hot spot with internet access.

The fam was allegedly about to be made homeless by their landlord because of renovations scheduled on their unit.

Fortunately, enough people in the community pulled resources together and put them up in a hotel for the time being while they get back on their feet. They've even started a GoFundMe for them too.

Here's what Montecito residents are finding out about their new neighbors, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ... wherever they go, tourists, helicopters and paparazzi follow.

The quiet little town outside Santa Barbara is still buzzing about its newest residents, who moved into a multi-million dollar mansion, but some locals are already getting fed up with the area's new normal.

Harry and Meghan haven't even been seen in public, and their mere presence is driving folks wild ... not because of them, but because of the influx of paparazzi on the hunt for the shot.

The scene on the ground is pretty hectic, especially for an affluent area that's supposed to be an enclave for celebs looking to escape the limelight ... choppers are zooming over Harry and Meghan's hood, sometimes 4 times a day, and paps are staking out their home and a nearby shopping center.

The wayward royals are also attracting tourists ... we're told more visitors are showing up in town and asking local shop owners if they've seen Harry and Meghan.

Montecito is famously known as a no-paparazzi zone -- Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah, Rob Lowe, Carol Burnett, Jane Lynch and the Kardashians have no problem dining out and shopping in on the low -- but everything's changed since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved in.

Most locals tell us they want the paps to give it a rest, because they feel things are getting to the point where everyone's privacy is being compromised, and they're super annoyed.

As we reported ... Harry and Meghan surfaced in Los Angeles last week, working with a charity to help children in need ... but they still haven't been seen in Montecito.

Locals are bracing for the worst ... they're expecting Harry and Meghan to finally venture out after the pandemic, which they fear will amp things up in a big way.

Word to the wise ... if you visit Montecito, don't regurgitate anything you read about Harry and Megan putting the town on the map. Locals say it's been a high-society town long before the royals came knocking.

Did Tony Hawk just one-up Katie Ledecky?!

The skate legend is now part of the new viral Got Milk ad campaign -- and man, the milk people are getting their money's worth!!

After Ledecky swam across a pool with a glass of milk on her head -- and didn't spill a drop -- Hawk decided to take the moo juice to the skate ramp!

Hawk bombed down while holding the glass of milk -- pulled off a McTwist -- and just like Katie, NO SPILLAGE!

Hawk explained how the trick came to be ... noting he was inspired by the U.S. Olympic swimmer.

"Inspired by @katieledecky, I tried to do a bunch of basic tricks without spilling to little success," Hawk said.

"So I tried this as a joke... and it worked (yes, it’s real). Got McTwist?"

They're calling it the #GotMilkChallenge -- and it's one of the best ad campaigns we've seen in a while.

Hell, with all of the "Hamilton" hype these days, they probably could have just brought back that famous Aaron Burr ad ... but we're glad they're innovating.

A British TikTok and YouTube star totally blue it with his latest stunt he pulled on his GF ... and while he thinks it's hilarious, he's getting a ton of backlash from just about everyone else.

Kristen Hanby "pranked" his girlfriend, Jasmine Woodward, by pouring a bunch of blue fabric dye in her bath ... which, of course, left her looking like Smurfette.

After sharing the video of himself cracking up while pulling off the bathtub prank with his millions of followers, Hanby sparked outrage as many felt it was just plain stupid at best ... or totally humiliating to Jasmine, at worst.

Many pointed out the harmful effects the dye could have on Jasmine -- both physically and mentally -- and called it "low-key abuse" instead of a good-humored prank.

Others pointed out even if the prank was fake or Jasmine was in on it -- as she's been for several other Hanby vids -- pranks like this normalize hurtful behavior that clearly oversteps personal boundaries.

So, what do you think?

A white police officer in South Carolina dropped the n-word twice during an absurd argument -- claiming he was justified to say it because a Black man used it, and now he's been suspended.

The cop -- Sgt. Chad Walker -- went on a tirade against a group of patrons outside a bar Saturday night after being called out for the way he was treating some of the people of color ... specifically, the Black guy he claims called him the n-word.

After loudly repeating the n-word twice, Sgt. Walker doubles down on his belief it's okay for him to say it ... despite protests from the crowd for him to stop saying it. He was finally led away by another cop.

The full body cam footage shows Sgt. Chad in the bar, ordering a few patrons to put their drinks down and leave or face arrest ... while enforcing the governor's order to stop serving alcohol at 11 PM amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As one table leaves, the cop accuses the Black man in the video of being "colorblind" for directing the n-word at him, though it's not clear that he did.

Sgt. Walker's been suspended by the Columbia PD and its Chief has apologized, saying the officer failed to fulfill the standards of the department.