Patrick Mahomes Bro Jackson Under Investigation ... For Sexual Assault in Kansas

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THE ALLEGED INCIDENT

Patrick Mahomes' little brother, Jackson, is in the crosshairs of a criminal investigation in Kansas for alleged sexual assault ... which appears to have been caught on tape.

According to the Kansas City Star, police are looking into claims made by a restaurant owner in the area as well as one of her waiters -- who are alleging Jackson both sexually assaulted and physically assaulted them last weekend at the Aspens Restaurant and Lounge.

The owner -- 40-year-old Aspen Vaughn -- provided KCS and cops with surveillance footage she says was captured last Saturday ... when this alleged assault happened. In the clip, you can see a man, whom she says is Jackson, wrap her up in his arms and forcibly kiss her.

It doesn't just happen once, BTW ... you see this man go in for kisses at least twice.

Vaughn says she believes Jackson was intoxicated, but nonetheless ... his advances were unwelcome, which she says she made clear to him in the moment. Earlier that same night, one of Vaughn's wait staff claims Jackson shoved him out of a private room he was dining in with his entourage -- this after the waiter smelled weed and tried to get them to stop.

The waiter alleges Jackson and his crew shoved this guy out and told him to scram. Apparently, Jackson frequents this place a lot and knows the owner's step-daughter -- at least that's what she's saying. But, in this case, she claims he crossed several lines.

Vaughn says she and her hubby kicked Jackson and his friends out after the alleged forcible kiss, and that cops were called shortly thereafter. As far as we know, Jackson hasn't been arrested yet ... but his attorney has spoken out and defended his client, saying he's innocent.

His lawyer, Brandan Davies, says ... "Jackson has done nothing wrong. Our investigation has revealed substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser including the statements of several witnesses. We have reached out to law enforcement to provide the fruit of our investigation so that they may have a complete picture of the matter."

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The Kansas City Star says Jackson is under investigation for the alleged sexual assault of the woman, but not for the alleged assault of the waiter. It's unclear if the waiter is going to press charges, but Vaughn says the cops already told her they're pursuing the alleged kiss without or without her help ... and she says she's going to cooperate in their probe.

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GETTING HANDSY

Jackson himself hasn't said anything publicly about this just yet ... ditto for Patrick.

Ja Morant Apologizes For Gun Video ... Vows To Seek Help

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MORANT ON LIVE
UPDATE

1:37 PM PT -- Ja Morant is breaking his silence on the video ... taking full responsibility and apologizing to his family, fans, the Grizzlies and the city of Memphis for his actions in a statement released minutes ago.

UPDATE

Morant -- who was suspended at least two games after the clip made rounds on social media -- says he will "take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being."

UPDATE

11:33 AM PT -- The Grizzlies announced that Ja will be away from the team for at least the next two games.

Ja Morant appeared to brandish a gun while filming a selfie video on social media late Friday night ... and now, the NBA says it's investigating it all.

The two-time All-Star went live on his Instagram page following the Memphis Grizzlies' loss to the Denver Nuggets ... showing him while out at what seemed to be a strip club.

Morant, shirtless, was dancing around ... rapping along to NBA YoungBoy's "Bring 'Em Out." Suddenly, he flashed what appeared to be a gun in front of the camera.

In the footage, you can see the 23-year-old brought the object near his face for a brief moment, before pulling it away.

It's not clear if the gun was real or not. An NBA spokesperson said in a statement Saturday morning, "We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating."

Morant was recently accused of flashing a gun at a teenager following an altercation the two had at his home in Tennessee over the summer.

Cops investigated the claims, and officials ultimately declined prosecution in the case, citing a lack of evidence.

Morant was also recently seen doing a finger gun celebration during a game against the Rockets.

The former Murray State Racer has become an NBA star since he was drafted in 2019 ... leading the Grizzlies to two playoff appearances while averaging 22.5 points per game.

Originally Published -- 9:53 AM PT

Jake Gyllenhaal Transforms Into A Muscle Man ... For 'Road House' Reboot

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UFC READY?!
Twitter/@MMAJunkie

Jake Gyllenhaal has transformed himself into a chiseled mass of pure muscle for his new role as an MMA fighter in the remake of the 1989 classic film, "Road House."

Check out this video showing the 42-year-old actor shooting a scene for the movie at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Friday.

Taking on the reimagined role of Patrick Swayze's John Dalton, named Elwood in the new film, Jake dashed onto the stage for a weigh-in, tipping the scales at 184 pounds for his middleweight fight against champion Jack Harris, played by ex-MMA star Jay Hieron.

After showing off his incredible physique to the crowd, Jake stepped off the scale and shook the hand of UFC President Dana White, who was standing nearby.

Hieron then jumped on the scale and faced off with Jake as both men talked smack to each other. Jake then slapped Hieron across the face, prompting a shoving match as White stepped in to break it up.

Jake hilariously ended with this ... "I can’t even believe I trained six weeks for this s-t, to fight this piece of s-t. Just give me the belt now. Come on motherf—-er. Let’s go."

Dana White Jon Jones Is The Greatest Ever 🐐 ... If He Beats Ciryl Gane!

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THE MATCHUP WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
TMZSports.com

Who's the greatest UFC fighter ever?? It's one of the most hotly contested debates amongst MMA fans, and now Dana White's weighing in!

Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones are the names most often thrown out there (there's also Demetrious Johnson, Amanda Nunes, and a few others) ... and each one can surely stake their claim as the best.

But, with Jones about to return to the Octagon (first time in 1,121 days) against a bonafide beast in Ciryl Gane (11-1 pro record), and going up to heavyweight from the light heavyweight division which he dominated for a decade, Dana told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) earlier in the week that Bones is one win away from being the 🐐.

"There will be no arguments over who the G.O.A.T. is if he beats Ciryl Gane on Saturday," White said.

As for the other fighters ... they're all inactive in the UFC.

Silva is the former middleweight champion. He defeated everyone from Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin and so many more. He held the UFC title for longer than anyone in the history of the promotion ... 2,457 days, defending his belt successfully 10 times.

GSP, a former 2x welterweight and 1x middleweight champ, had a professional record of 26-2, only losing to Matt Serra (2007) and Matt Hughes (2004). St-Pierre beat the likes of Michael Bisping, Johnny Hendricks, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, Carlos Condit, Dan Hardy, B.J. Penn and just about every other fighter of his generation.

Khabib is the only of the fighters in the G.O.A.T. conversation to go undefeated, retiring with a 29-0 record. Nurmagomedov defeated Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson, Rafael dos Anjos and Conor McGregor.

There's much more with Dana ... we talked to the UFC honcho about everything from Valentina Shevchenko's resume, to 3x NCAA wrestling champ Bo Nickal's UFC debut.

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FACING OFF
TMZSports.com

We also talked to Shevchenko and her opponent, title challenger Alexa Grasso ... about their co-main event scrap. 29-year-old Grasso is a big underdog, and while not many people believe she can win, she does ... and she explains why.

Paddy Pimblett Still Down To Fight 'Terrible' Jake Paul He's Worse Than I Thought

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WORSE THAN I THOUGHT
TMZSports.com

Paddy Pimblett's beef with Jake Paul is still very much a thing ... and, uh, so much for not kickin' a guy when he's down!

The UFC star recently spoke to TMZ Sports, and let's just say he wasn't impressed with The Problem Child's performance during his 8-round, split decision loss to Tommy Fury last Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

"It seems to me like Tommy Fury was boxing bad against his last few opponents on purpose, know what I mean? Or Jake Paul's just a terrible boxer, even more worse than I thought. I was giving him more credit than I thought he deserved," Pimblett told us.

Of course, one judge scored the fight 75-74 (4 rounds apiece, but Jake had a 10-8 round in the 8th), while the other two had it 76-73 (6 rounds to 2 for Tommy).

"Tommy won anyway and I thought it wasn't a split decision, either. I thought it was a unanimous decision. He won most rounds."

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HERE'S THE OFFER ...

Now, the 28-year-old speaking out against Paul isn't new -- remember, the two stars went back and forth last year after Pimblett suggested his fight against Anderson Silva was fixed.

Jake even offered Paddy $1 million if the UFC fighter could beat him in a 5-round sparring session. That hasn't happened, yet ... so we asked Pimblett if he's still down to do it.

"Yeah, if he wants to," Pimblett said. "I don't give a f***. I'll spar with anyone."

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GET RIGHT FOR SUMMER
TMZSports.com

In the meantime, Pimblett's getting into the fitness business, releasing a workout supplement, Paddy “The Baddy” Everything Ultimate Pre-Workout with ABE that's only sold at The Vitamin Shoppe ... and he's stoked.

"It's my lil' boost of coffee in the morning to wake me up and make me get up and actually get out and see the day," Pimblett said.

We also talked to Paddy about UFC 285 ... and the 20-3 fighter says he's pumped to watch Jon Jones, who he calls the greatest fighter of all time.

JuJu Smith-Schuster Patrick Mahomes 'Is A Dog!!!' ... Praises QB Ahead Of Free Agency Decision

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JUJU IN JAPAN
TMZSports.com

JuJu Smith-Schuster's making it clear ahead of his impending free agency that he LOVED playing with Patrick Mahomes ... telling TMZ Sports the quarterback is a straight-up "dog."

The star wide receiver can choose to sign with any team in the NFL later this month ... but when we saw him out at LAX this week, we had to ask if he was leaning toward a return to K.C.

JuJu was a bit coy about it all -- but he did note that catching passes from the Chiefs star QB was a dream.

"Ah, man," Smith-Schuster said. "He's the MVP. He's a dog, man."

The 26-year-old then admitted it'd be hard to turn down playing with the signal-caller again in 2023.

"Yeah, man," he said. "It's Patty Mahomes. He's a dog."

Free agency officially kicks off on March 15 -- and Smith-Schuster figures to be a hot commodity -- after recording 78 receptions for 933 yards in 2022.

It's unclear if the Chiefs have made him any sort of offer or will be willing to let him explore the market -- but JuJu clearly isn't sweating any of it.

Wearing a pair of sweet shades, Smith-Schuster -- fresh off his first-ever Super Bowl win -- said he'll be spending the leadup to free agency in Japan!!

Yeah, it's still great to be a champ.

Matt Barnes LeBron Deserves Statue In L.A. ... But Not Before Kobe!!!

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STATUE WORTHY
TMZSports.com

Ex-NBA star Matt Barnes says LeBron James has done enough in a Laker uniform to be forever enshrined outside Crypto.com Arena ... but tells TMZ Sports they gotta focus on getting Kobe Bryant's statue up before they even think about it.

We spoke with Barnes weeks after James became the NBA's all-time scoring leader ... and we asked if the record, plus his one NBA title in L.A., is enough to get a monument at 1111 S. Figueroa Street.

The former Lakers forward says he's with it ... but not before Kobe, who has yet to get the treatment since his retirement in 2016.

"S***, they gotta worry about getting that Kobe statue up first," Barnes said at LAX on Wednesday.

The Lakers retired both Bryant's #8 and #24 in 2017 ... but as of right now, no details have been announced regarding his statue outside "The House That Kobe Built" -- aside from the fact it will happen eventually.

Of course, Bryant has been honored in many ways since his death in January 2020, including murals and themed basketball courts across the world. Sculptor Dan Medina, also placed a temporary statue of Kobe and his daughter, Gigi, at the crash site on the anniversary of their death.

The NBA also renamed their All-Star Game MVP trophy in his honor.

As for James, Barnes believes a King James statue in L.A. will still happen -- 'cause let's face it, he's "an all-time great."

"I'm sure they'll find a way to honor him with a statue," Barnes said.

If it happens, LeBron and Kobe will join fellow Lakers greats like Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and broadcaster Chick Hearn.

LeBron statues in Cleveland AND L.A.?? We'll see.

Henry Winkler Still Hoping For Dinner W/ Mahomes ... Ricotta-Stuffed Chicken!!!

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CHIEF DINNER
TMZSports.com

The bromantic dinner between Henry Winkler and Patrick Mahomes hasn't gone down yet ... but the actor tells TMZ Sports the offer still stands -- and, yes, ricotta-stuffed chicken is still on the menu.

Remember, The Fonz rapidly became Mahomies with Mahomes after shouting him out on a radio show last year -- and it all eventually led to a very sweet in-person meetup at the Chiefs vs. Chargers game this past season.

In fact, the friendship evolved so much between the two ... Winkler actually ended up inviting Mahomes to a dinner at his house in Los Angeles to dine on his famous chicken dish.

When we got Winkler out at LAX this week, though, he said the breaking of bread with the NFL star has yet to happen ... but he's still holding out hope it'll eventually go down.

"Patrick," Winkler told us, "I really hope you take me up on my offer and come over to my house for dinner."

Winkler said his chicken stuffed with cheese will be on the menu any time ... adding that "of course" Brittany Mahomes and the children are invited!!

Patrick's obviously got his hands full at the moment -- he's been throwing bashes for his kids and celebrating his big Super Bowl win -- but maybe break the china out at the Winkler house when things slow down in early summer?

Eli Manning, Shaun O'Hara If Rodgers Wants To Play In New York ... 'Just Win!!!'

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Take It From Us
TMZSports.com

If Aaron Rodgers ends up packing his bags and taking his talents to the Jets, former Giants stars Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara have some simple advice on how he can thrive in New York -- "just win!!"

The two-time Super Bowl MVP and his good buddy/former teammate took a few minutes from their Easter extravaganza with The Children's Place in New Jersey on Friday to chat with Babcock and Lucas on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) about the biggest story of the NFL offseason ... and they both offered a solid perspective on what's going through Aaron's head as he contemplates his future.

"It's hard just because your whole life, you work towards it," Eli tells us. "You're dedicated to the game, you've been doing it the past 25 years since high school, preparing to play this game. To say, 'Alright, I'm not doing it anymore,' it's a really tough decision."

"Usually, in your heart, you just know you're not willing to do the preparation, to do the work, to do the full commitment it takes to play at that level."

Eli -- who retired in 2020 -- says he knew he made the right call when he called it a career ... because when he started watching games as a spectator, the tackles made on the field looked "brutal."

O'Hara added even after players retire, they will continue to think they can still play ... but he says since Rodgers is playing at such a high level, he'd be shocked if he left the game behind right now.

If O'Hara is right, there's a good chance Rodgers could end up with a new home after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers ... and there's rumblings that next team could be the Jets.

Since Manning and O'Hara have a ton of experience playing in the Big Apple, we asked if they had some wise words for the 4-time MVP ... and Eli thinks Rodgers would do just fine, especially after he spent several days on an isolation retreat in Oregon.

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EGG-CITING EVENT
TMZSports.com

"I don't think Aaron needs any advice from us," Eli says. "The guy's been playing at an unbelievable level for so long, MVP. If he wants to come to New York and play if that's an option, he'll think about it."

"He's had his time in the darkness to debate that. And, he honestly can still play at a high level and come to New York with a young team, they have a talented roster there with the Jets."

O'Hara added all Rodgers has to do to keep the fierce New York media off his back is to rack up victories ... and Eli agreed.

"Yeah, everything works out if you win."

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TAKING THE FIELD

Manning and O'Hara were together for a really special reason -- they teamed up with The Children's Place to host more than 300 kids for a day of fun at Superdome Sports in Waldwick to kick off the brand's Spring collection.

There were football drills, giveaways, obstacle courses and Easter egg hunts ... and it was clear everyone had a blast.

Eli even showed he's still got a great arm in some throwing drills ... and gave some pointers to the youngins as well.

Eli also visited the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack earlier on Friday ... meeting with a bunch of amazing kids and handing out Easter baskets and autographs!!

Awesome.

Mac McClung Dunk Contest Kicks Hit Auction Block ... And The Basketball, Too!!

Mac McClung put on a legendary performance during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and now you can cop the actual Puma kicks he wore during the epic performance, 'cause they're hitting the auction block!

The Philadelphia Sixers/Delaware Blue Coats (G-League) guard brought life back to the Dunk Contest last month after winning the competition with some insane dunks.

TMZ Sports has learned the Rise Nitro sneakers he wore -- and the basketball he used -- are now up for grabs at Goldin ... in an auction featuring all game-used memorabilia and apparel.

If winning the kicks and/or ball isn't enough, there's another big bonus. We're told the winner will get a personal FaceTime with the 24-year-old.

Even better, we're told a portion of the proceeds for each item will go to the ALZ Alzheimer's association.

"Mac McClung is a star in the making who deserves to take center stage at our first-ever auction featuring only game-used items,” Goldin founder Ken Goldin said.

“We’re thrilled to be charged with these items from Mac that commemorate one of the most exciting dunk contest performances in history."

The auction starts Friday. Good luck and happy bidding!!

Senators Rick Scott & Marco Rubio Hey, Joe Biden ... Waive Vax Mandate For Djokovic!!!

Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio are urging President Joe Biden to pull the plug on the vaccine mandate for international travelers ... hoping it'll pave the way for Novak Djokovic to play in the big Miami Open tennis tournament later this month.

The politicians spelled out their wishes in a letter -- which they sent to the commander in chief on Friday -- saying they want #46 to make the change so The Joker can be ready to smash balls at the tourney in Miami Gardens, FL on March 19.

In their letter, they argued that removing the restriction and allowing Djokovic to play could provide a huge economic boost for their local economies.

They also called the current U.S. policy "outdated and worthy of rescission," considering Biden declared on "60 Minutes" back in Sept. 2022 that the "pandemic is over."

The lawmakers, both Republicans, added that they believe since Djokovic is a world-class athlete in world-class shape, he is "not at high-risk of severe complications from COVID-19."

Of course, under the current rule, Djokovic -- who is unvaccinated -- is not allowed to travel to the United States ... precluding the Serbian tennis superstar from playing in the Miami Open and several other upcoming high-profile tournaments.

Miami Open officials have reportedly filed a petition to get him a waiver from the rule -- and Scott and Rubio made it clear, they're in favor of it being granted.

"It seems both illogical and misaligned with the opinions of your own administration to not grant him the waiver he requests so that he may travel to the U.S. to compete in a professional event."

Barack Obama Signed '13 NCAA Tourney Bracket Hits Auction ... Could Fetch $20K!!!!

Remember that whiteboard President Barack Obama used to fill out his 2013 NCAA Tournament bracket? Well, now it could all be yours ... if you've got some DEEP pockets.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the piece of equipment #44 famously wrote on to give his predictions for the tourney a decade ago is hitting Heritage Auctions -- and it's expected to ultimately sell for around $20,000.

Of course, it's a steep price for a bracket that got busted quickly, but ya gotta remember ... Barack only filled out a few of these during his time as President -- when he'd meet up annually with ESPN's Andy Katz to talk March Madness.

In this particular set of picks, Obama went with a Final Four of Indiana, Florida, Ohio State and Louisville. Not great -- as Louisville, Wichita State, Michigan and Syracuse actually made it. But, hey, one of four isn't bad!

Almost all of the picks were handwritten by Obama himself -- and afterward, he signed it.

The whiteboard is now framed behind plexiglass ... and it's considered one of the more special ones of his presidency, considering it's the first bracket he did after his reelection in November 2012.

Bidding for the piece starts on Mar. 3 ... good luck!!

LeBron James Hits Son's Playoff Game ... Bronny Goes Off In Front Of Dad!!!

LeBron James' foot injury didn't stop him from going to Bronny's playoff game on Thursday night ... and he's sure as hell glad that was the case, 'cause he got to see his kid go OFF in a thriller!!

The young James and his Sierra Canyon squad went up against sixth-seeded Etiwanda in Chatsworth, Calif. in a CIF State regional quarterfinal game ... and Bronny had quite the night.

The 6-foot-3 guard -- who was just selected to the McDonald's All-American Game -- scored 21 points from all over the court ... and even got a chance to throw down a huge dunk in front of dad.

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LeBron was front and center to watch it all -- cheering his face off -- while making sure to keep his injured foot protected by a huge walking boot.

Riding Bronny's performance, the Trailblazers ultimately won the important game, 61-55 -- and LeBron couldn't have been happier about it afterward.

"Bronny you were SPECIAL tonight kid!!" James said via Twitter. "Keep going! AlwaysProudDad"

Bronny's S.C. team will now head to the semifinals to face Bishop Montgomery, the tourney's No. 2 seed, on Saturday.

Lucky for 'Bron, the Lakers are off on that date ... so, it's more than likely he'll be courtside for the big game then, too.

Lewis Hamilton Cleared To Wear Nose Ring ... After Medical Exemption

Lewis Hamilton just got his first win of 2023 -- the Formula 1 superstar was just granted a medical exemption to wear his nose ring ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The FIA -- F1's governing body -- announced a crackdown on jewelry last year ... forbidding drivers from wearing accessories during races. Any violation of the rule would result in fines and eventual suspension.

But the new rule resulted in complications for Hamilton, who claimed he was experiencing blood blisters from having to take his nose stud out for every race.

The FIA announced Friday it received a report from Mercedes' team doctor asking for a medical exemption to allow Hamilton to compete with his nose ring in -- which was granted.

"The Stewards consulted the FIA Medical Delegate, who viewed the medical report, examined the driver and concurred with the opinion therein," the decision read.

"We have determined to take no further action as there are concerns about disfigurement with frequent attempts at removal of the device."

Of course, Hamilton has been outspoken against the rule to begin with ... and gave a middle finger to the FIA by wearing a ton of jewelry during his press conference at the Miami Grand Prix last May.

Hamilton's gotta be pleased with the decision ... as he can now focus on the race.

Enrique Hernandez Admits To Pooping Pants On Field 💩 ... During 2020 NLDS Game

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SH*TTY SITUATION
Boston Red Sox

Get a *load* of this ... former Dodgers infielder Kiké Hernandez admitted he crapped on himself on the field during a 2020 playoff game!!

Hernandez's teammate, Justin Turner, who reunited with Kike in Boston with the Red Sox, asked KH for his most embarrassing moment during a Major League Baseball game, and he dropped a bombshell (yes, pun intended).

The Sox utility man told Turner he was taking antibiotics for a tooth infection a few years back, and one of the side effects of the medicine was ... you guessed it, diarrhea.

Kiké recalled the crappy incident, saying he was so pumped after the team got a big out in a pressure-packed situation in the National League Division Series (NLDS), he screamed, "F Yeah!"

"I was DHing and I thought I farted," Hernandez said to Turner. "I went out to lead off the inning. I struck out in three pitches."

He continued ... "When I went in the dugout, I went straight to the bathroom, pulled my pants down, completely sharted."

"So you're saying you misjudged a fart," Turner asked Hernandez. "Uh, no. What I'm saying is I s*** my pants during a game in the playoffs," Hernandez replied to Turner.

The Dodgers got the last laugh that season ... the team won the World Series after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in 6 games.

College Basketball Player Socked In Face During Game ... Wild Fight On Court

A college basketball player was socked in the face by a vicious punch during a dispute in a game on Thursday night ... and the wild skirmish was all captured on video.

It happened at the Ford Center in Indiana ... when Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and UT-Martin were squaring off in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

In the broadcast video of the game, you can see UT Martin big man Rifen Miguel rushed into the paint in an apparent attempt to grab a rebound late in the first half of the contest ... but slammed into the back of SIUE forward DeeJuan Pruitt in the process.

Pruitt clearly didn't like the contact, and immediately raced to get into Miguel's face to let him know about it.

Miguel then leaned on Pruitt as he made his way back down the court -- when, suddenly, Pruitt rocked him in his jaw with a huge right hand.

Miguel turned to go after Pruitt ... but both benches cleared, and players, coaches and officials intervened before things escalated further.

Miguel was noticeably shaken up after the altercation ... needing to be held up by his teammates.

Both dudes, meanwhile, were eventually ejected from the contest.

In the end, Miguel got the last laugh ... as UT Martin defeated SIUE, 81-75.