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Tragic news in the basketball community -- longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone has passed away, the Denver Nuggets announced Tuesday. He was 81 years old.

"It is with tremendous sadness that we share the passing of longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone, who holds a special place amongst the organization and will be a Denver Nugget forever," the team said in a statement.

After several years at the high school and college level, Malone served as an assistant with the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic over the span of four decades.

Malone -- who helped orchestrate the famous "Jordan Rules" used to beat the Chicago Bulls -- was on staff for the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons teams that won the Finals in 1989 and 1990.

He was the first head coach in franchise history for the Toronto Raptors in the 1995-96 season. Malone also led the bench as interim head coach for the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2004-05 campaign.

Brendan is the father of current Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who helped bring the franchise its first NBA title this past season.

"Coach Brendan Malone was a great man who left behind a great legacy in the word for basketball, but he will be remembered even more for the amazing husband, father, son, and grandfather that he was and the profound impact he had on the friends, family and colleagues who were lucky enough to know him," the Nuggets continued.

"Our thoughts are with the entire Malone family and all of Brendan's loved ones who are feeling this loss today."

Donald Trump just lowkey dissed his friend Bill Belichick, hilariously roasting the NFL coach's struggling football team during a speech ... admitting they suck while taking a shot at President Joe Biden!

#45 was in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire this week (deep in Pats country), speaking with supporters ahead of the 2024 presidential race ... when he likened Biden negotiating with Chinese President Xi Jinping to a high school football team playing a great NFL squad.

Cue the shade.

"Let’s see, what’s a good football team nowadays?" Trump asked.

"I used to say New England. I used to say the Patriots," Trump said. "I’d love to be able to say the Patriots. I’d love to be able to say the Patriots. [Belichick's] a great guy, great coach, but they’re having a little hard time."

Trump's remarks came a day after the Patriots were whooped 34-0 at home against the Saints, the worst loss in Belichick's era. The Pats lost to the Cowboys the week prior, 38-3.

The team is currently 1-4 record and in last place in the AFC East.

"What’s going on with the Patriots?" Trump said. "But he’s a great coach. He’ll figure it out somehow. He's gonna figure it out but that was not a good game last night, was it?"

Even though Donald and Bill are cool, some Patriots fans didn't take the jabs lightly ... one of 'em used Will Smith's Oscars outburst quote to respond on X, writing, "Keep my team's name out your GD mouth lol."

Another fan wrote ... "We’re getting bantered by Trump, it’s so over."

It doesn't get any easier for NE -- who play the division rivals Bills and Dolphins (they have a combined record of 7-3 and are one of the best squads in the AFC) -- over the next three weeks.

Bob Costas is apparently just as good in life-or-death situations as he is in the broadcasting booth ... 'cause he recently saved a restaurant-goer from choking.

A rep for Costas says the Hall of Fame play-by-play man was out grabbing a bite to eat when he noticed a fellow diner gasping for air -- so he raced in to help out.

According to the rep, the 71-year-old performed the Heimlich maneuver ... saving the person's life. But, afterward, he made it clear he wasn't looking for accolades.

"Bob doesn’t think this was that big of a deal," the rep told Page Six.

"He really feels he did what just about anyone else would do in a similar situation."

Mark Davis is apparently interested in exhausting every option to add to his massive fortune ... 'cause the Raiders owner was just seen hoping to score some cash on a slot machine at an airport in Vegas!!

According to one social media user, the billionaire got in the gambling sesh before the Raiders took on the Packers on "Monday Night Football."

His game of choice ... "Wheel of Fortune" -- but based on his reaction to the flashing lights in front of him, it doesn't seem like he was finding a whole lot of wealth.

But, if that was the case, Davis can certainly afford to take the hit ... after all, the 68-year-old is reportedly worth $2.3 BILLION!!!

It seems the slot machine play was all interrupted regardless when a lady friend arrived. She appeared to be the same person Davis sat with during the MNF game at Allegiant Stadium.

Former L.A. Dodgers star Steve Garvey is swinging for the fences in a whole different field -- the World Series champ officially announced he's running for U.S. Senate in California.

The 10-time All-Star and National League MVP launched his campaign with a number of sports references on Tuesday ... saying, "In baseball, it's not about the individual; it's about the team."

"I believe the same holds true for politics. It's time we come together, find common ground, and work towards a brighter future."

74-year-old Garvey -- who is a newbie to politics -- explains he has always had a passion for leaving an impact on the community ... and has used his platform to help numerous charitable efforts off the field. Now, he's ready to bring his state back to where he feels it should be.

“Over 50 years ago, I came to California for the first time ... September 1st of 1969, the Dodgers called me up and my dreams came true," Garvey says.

"Over the next 20 years, I played for the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. I played in front of millions of fans. I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents."

"I played for all of you. Now I'm running for the U.S. Senate in California. A state that I believe at one time was the heartbeat of America. And now it's just a murmur."

Garvey -- who is running as a Republican -- is calling his run a "common sense campaign" ... focusing on quality-of-life issues, public safety and education as he attempts to take over for Dianne Feinstein, who passed away last month.

Tyreek Hill has a ring, now he wants a medal! 🥇

Flag football was proposed as one of a handful of new sports that could be coming to the 2028 Summer Olympics ... and Cheetah's aiming to put together an Avengers-like all-star squad and win gold!

"Calling all NFL guys let's bring one home," the 29-year-old tweeted in response to the news on Monday.

It's not a done deal just yet ... flag football, in addition to baseball/softball, lacrosse, cricket and squash will be voted on by the International Olympic Committee in the coming days.

Assuming FF gets enough votes, it'll debut in five years in the City of Angels, and Hill clearly wants to represent the U.S.

Hill would be 34 when the Games commence.

Professional flag football leagues do exist, but it's hard to imagine anyone being better than Tyreek and his fellow NFL stars.

Sure, there's no need for Trent Williams ... but, imagine Cheetah, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase -- scary!

In fact, we've seen what Hill can do sans pads ... Tyreek took on an entire women's flag team last year, and was unstoppable, all by himself.

Savannah Chrisley looks like she's super into her new boyfriend ... because they were all over each other at a Zach Bryan concert, and wearing matching outfits to boot.

The "Chrisley Knows Best" star and her new boo, former college football player Robert Shiver, packed on the PDA at an Alabama rodeo Saturday .... kissing and hugging in the VIP section while Zach was on stage.

Throughout the show, Savannah kept a hand either on Robert's back or in one of his back pockets ... and he did the same with her.

Savannah also seems like one of those girls who love coordinating fits with their dude because she and Robert were rocking matching Zach Bryan merch.

This relationship is fairly new ... Savannah revealed last month she was talking to Robert, who is mainly known for 2 things ... playing football for Auburn University and surviving his ex-wife's alleged murder-for-hire plot.

The rodeo appeared to be a double date of sorts, too ... Savannah's younger brother, Grayson, was also there with his girlfriend.

Folks who wanna be Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce can play make-believe on Halloween -- and it's a lock that lots of people will do just that, much to the joy of one costume shop raking in the dough.

A rep for 3 Wishes, an online Halloween retailer, tells TMZ ... their Taylor and Travis-inspired getups this year are far and away the most popular costumes, as people snap 'em up in droves. So much so, they're completely sold out!

Customers have been able to double-dip a bit, up to this point -- 3 Wishes has had 2 different TS costume options ... a solo "Pop Star" one and a separate item that actually paired the pop star costume with a whole other football player outfit. Naturally, that's in the style of the Chiefs tight end ... right down to his jersey number.

Those were selling for $27.95 and $119.95, respectively, but now -- 3 Wishes says its inventory's been ransacked by fans wanting to resemble the new showbiz "it" couple. They had 500 of the solo TS costumes, and 300 of the duo costumes.

We're told the Taylor/Travis duo costume is their second-fastest-selling product in the company's history -- with their 'Tiger King' costume from 2020 still reigning supreme. 3 Wishes says they're out of stock right now, but will re-up on the 16th.

Asante Samuel says if Tom Brady came out of retirement and rejoined forces with the New England Patriots ... he'd almost certainly win his eighth Super Bowl this season.

"This terrible team that everybody sees is a terrible team," Samuel told TMZ Sports on Monday, Brady "can come right now, today, and win a Super Bowl for the New England Patriots. Because that's Tom Brady."

Samuel made the bold claim while discussing the state of the 2023 Patriots -- who, with a 38-0 loss to New Orleans on Sunday, are now just 1-4.

The former All-Pro said the bad losses are all further proof that Bill Belichick has largely been a failure when Brady is not under center for his teams. In fact, he said it's all showing that TB12 was the one most responsible for the Patriots' dynasties.

"I don't understand why is it such a big drop off when one man leaves the 53-man roster -- why is it such a big dropoff and you can't replace it but you're supposed to be a great coach?" Samuel said.

Samuel, who played for Belichick and alongside Brady from 2003 to 2007, added that he thinks Brady could solve all of this team's woes ... if he just simply showed up.

"I compare this team to the 2015 Super Bowl champions," Samuel said. "I see the same exact team -- it's only minus Tom Brady is the difference. And I can see Tom coming and leading this to the Super Bowl."

He continued, "My point in saying that is Belichick is a guy there that's not providing much for the team. And it's showing over and over and it's getting worse and worse."

Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija is speaking out against the terrorist attack in his home country of Israel ... revealing he personally knew people who lost their lives.

Avdija -- the only current NBA player born in Israel -- released a powerful statement on the situation ... saying even though he is thousands of miles away, his heart is home.

"While I'm here playing ball, my thoughts are constantly pulled back to Israel," the former 9th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft said Monday. "This past Saturday, terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad unleashed devastation in 21 spots across Gaza."

"They mercilessly murdered and slaughtered innocent children, women, and elders -- some at home, others during a party while celebrating a holiday."

He added ... "The haunting images of women, children, and elders being taken into Gaza, many meeting a tragic end, remain etched in my memory."

"Knowing some victims personally adds another layer to my heartache."

Deni says he is having conversations with his teammates and the D.C. community to relay just how serious the situation is ... and he will continue to use his platform to put a spotlight on the situation.

"Those haunting images from Gaza, showing the lives lost, are hard to shake off."

Brody Jenner wouldn't settle for plain java when he ran out of his fave creamer -- instead, the guy opted for something sweet from his baby mama's breast ... a perfect replacement, for his taste!

The 'Hills' star raised eyebrows recently with a new video he and his pro surfer fiancée, Tia Blanco, uploaded, documenting their first month with their newborn, Honey, who's feeding on breast milk at the moment.

The reason that's relevant ... Brody filmed himself wondering if he could swap almond milk for boob juice, and then gave it a try alongside Tia -- who also indulged in a breast milk latte.

It sounds like BJ was quite impressed ... calling his special blend, "Delicious!" Tia, however, didn't think it was much of a game-changer -- saying it just tasted like a cup of Joe!

Either way, now dad knows how his baby daughter feels when she's filling up -- and BTW, breast milk is pretty freaking nutritious, obvi for infants, but Brody thinks it'll do his body good, too!!!

The soon-to-be-married couple welcomed Honey in July -- not long after they announced their engagement in June. Of course, with the news of their child came a very revealing video of their home birth.

Tom Brady ain't playing a lick of football this season, but he's clearly keeping himself in shape ... showing off his jacked bod once again while out in Florida last week.

The NFL's best ever was on his yacht near Indian Creek Island in Miami Beach ... and at one point while on the boat, he ditched his top to soak in some rays.

And, as you can see, the 46-year-old hasn't been skipping any workouts despite being officially retired.

Brady was also seen jet surfing on the water just before he got some R&R on the yacht ... and he seemed to be in great spirits there too -- a good indication he's more than at peace with his decision to never play football again.

Good news, bad news for Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne -- The good?? He played out of his mind on Sunday. The bad?? He was going up against himself in fantasy football.

The 24-year-old former Clemson star was all over the field against the Buffalo Bills, finishing with 136 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards and 2 rushing touchdowns in the win.

In fantasy football terms, that’s a helluva day -- earning 37.4 points, and pleasing any team owner who had him in their lineup.

The only problem for Travis -- he was racking up points for his opponent ... so there's a good chance the only win he's getting this week is the one with the Jags.

By the way, NFL players are permitted to partake in fantasy football ... as long as the potential earnings don’t exceed $250.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has accomplished a lot in his life -- and now, he wants to spread the wealth of knowledge he's gained over the years with anyone willing to listen ... and read.

We talked to the 'Terminator' Monday on "TMZ Live" about the release of his new book, "Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life," which hits bookshelves on Oct. 10. Arnold was kind enough to break down his thought process in this latest endeavor.

Check it out ... AS tells us this book was written to help people of all kinds, but especially for those who feel aimless and without purpose. For those folks, Arnold's got big-time tips.

For starters, he preaches a mantra that he's been living for years now -- namely, ya gotta have a vision for yourself and where you see your life headed. Of course, that includes setting goals, taking steps to achieve those and most importantly, putting in the work.

He tells us there'll always be haters and naysayers along the way who might try to deter you in whatever it is you're attempting to conquer -- and to them, Arnie says tune 'em out.

As he explains here, there were A LOT of people who told him he wouldn't succeed in showbiz ... but, as we all know, Arnold went on to become one of the biggest movie stars ever. The body builder-turned-actor-turned-politician says you gotta use what others consider a flaw to your advantage -- and to do that, it'll take a bit of creative thinking and ingenuity, plus major willpower.

A field invader at the Orioles game on Saturday was speared by a security guard, body slammed to the ground like a rag doll ... and then carried out by his arms and legs -- and the wild scene was all captured on video.

The man -- wearing nothing but tiny briefs with the words "Virginity Rocks" on them -- stormed the Camden Yards turf in the eighth inning of Baltimore's playoff opener against the Texas Rangers.

You can see in clips filmed by fans in the stands ... the man raced out onto the field for several seconds -- before a guard ended his run prematurely with a perfect form tackle.

Somehow, though, the man got up to his feet -- which forced security to hurl him right back to the grass like a WWE wrestler. Seconds later, another guard came in and helped carry the guy to a nearby police officer, who put handcuffs on the man.

He was later seen being escorted away from the field ... before play ultimately resumed.

Despite the excitement and the shot of adrenaline from the scene ... Baltimore ended up losing both of its games against the Rangers this weekend -- and will now head to Texas to try to even things up.

LaMelo Ball is head over heels for his girlfriend ... the NBA superstar gave her a lovey-dovey shoutout on her birthday, letting the world know that she's "the one".

The Charlotte Hornets guard confessed his love publicly for Ana Montana on Instagram Monday, her birthday ... and he used a photo from their Paris bae-cation where the two posed in front of the Eiffel Tower.

"What’s understood don’t needa b said," the 22-year-old said in the caption, "u the one and already kno how we rockin shordy."

"I love you and happy birthday baby blessings everywhere 😘🛸💕"

Things are obviously lookin' pretty serious between the All-Star and the fashion influencer ... who went public with their relationship in June, though they've been linked together for longer.

Montana -- who's in her 30s -- has been very supportive of Melo's career, including his launching of his LaFrance fashion line. She's even been modeling his women's clothes on social media.

"Always reppin," Montana said at a recent LaFrance event.