Sports

Junior Seau's grieving family does NOT believe the former football great's death was related to on-field concussions he sustained as a player, but his suicide has nevertheless renewed an ongoing debate over the NFL and brain injuries.

Police found Junior Seau dead yesterday at his San Diego County home.

Seau family sources tell say the death shocked them even more than it did his many fans, as Junior never complained about concussion-related medical problems, nor did he mention or appear to be suffering from depression.

Seau never spoke, allegedly, about the ongoing legal dispute between the NFL and retired players who claim the league concealed critical information about long-term effects of concussions over the past few decades.

Junior's apparent suicide, from a gunshot wound to the chest, instantly drew comparisons to the death of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson.

Duerson left a suicide note explaining he shot himself in the chest because he wanted his brain to be sent to the "NFL brain bank" for further study.

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Former NFL great Junior Seau was found dead in his home in Oceanside, Calif., today. Police say the likely cause of death was suicide. He was 43 years old.

Law enforcement sources reportedly believe Seau, a USC and pro football standout for 20 seasons, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. 

Few other details were immediately available. TV footage showed police swarming his home in North San Diego County and people comforting each other.

He leaves behind four kids and an ex-wife. He reportedly sent text messages to his ex-wife and children yesterday saying simply, "Love you."

They all responded and didn't suspect anything was wrong, according to TMZ reports, and Seau is said to have last seen his kids three weeks ago.

Sources close to Seau say his family didn't notice any signs of depression in recent weeks, but more details will surely follow in the coming days.

Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy just spoke outside Seau's house, claiming Seau's body was initially discovered by the athlete's girlfriend.

A 911 call was placed around 10 a.m. today. Police responded and found Junior's unconscious body inside a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the chest.

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Paulina Gretzky is up to it again. Or at least she was.

About five months after the daughter of the greatest professional hockey in history created an online stir by posting a series of bikini photos to Twitter - only to quickly remove them and delete her account with no explanation - the 23-year old blonde has moved on to Instagram.

Gretzky once again published a slew of kind of racy pictures this week... but then quickly took them down. This is the Internet, however, so the images live on in eternity. Herewith, a sampling:

It's unclear what the big deal is. These pics are less revealing that Sofia Vergara's latest spread in GQ. And it's not as though her father is running for political office.

Unless... Wayne Gretzky for Canadian Prime Minister?!? You read it here first.

Jordan Hill, a power forward the Los Angeles Lakers acquired from the Houston Rockets about halfway through the season, has been charged with felony assault stemming from an alleged altercation in February.

According to police, Hill faces accusations that he pushed and choked 28-year old Darlene Luna, his girlfriend of two years, on the afternoon of February 29.

If convicted of the third-degree felony, Hill would face a sentence of two to 10 years in jail, along with a $10,00 fine. He will have to face the charge inside a Houston tomorrow morning, while the team is scheduled to play its second game of the playoffs tomorrow evening.

But Hill practiced with the Lakers today and faced the media afterward. He released a statement that said he'd remain focused on Los Angeles' drive to a title.

"I'm saddened to learn of the accusations that were filed against me today. At this time I cannot comment further other than to say that my attorneys are working to gather all of the facts and evidence and I plan to cooperate completely with the authorities.

"I'd like to apologize to the Lakers organization and to all of their fans for the untimeliness of these accusations. I promise to keep my focus and attention on the playoffs during this time and to helping my team win another championship."

Hill had a very strong opening game in the Lakers defeat of the Nuggets on Sunday, pulling down 10 rebounds to go with 10 points.

The New Jersey Nets are no longer. The Brooklyn Nets are the future.

The newly-relocated NBA franchise even has a black-and-white logo, unveiled Monday at a sporting goods store on Flatbush Avenue, right across the street from its soon-to-be-completed home arena, the $1 billion Barclays Center.

Check out the Brooklyn Nets logo below:

Star center Brook Lopez was joined by coach Avery Johnson, General Manager Billy King, Bruce Ratner, the real estate developer, minority owner and catalyst behind the team's relocation, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

"Hello Brooklyn,'" Lopez said. "I've been waiting a long time to say that. It's exciting."

No word if co-owner Jay-Z or soon-to-be free agent Kris Humphries were there.

If Jets quarterback Tim Tebow is really a colossal fraud, and some lucky girl saved the "evidence" Monica Lewinsky style, they could soon become very rich.

Controversial infidelity-dating site Ashley Madison is offering $1 million to anyone who can provide proof they had sex with the devoutly religious NFL star.

Ever since Tebow admitted he's saving himself for marriage, his virginity has become the subject of speculation. Even Rob Gronkowski wants to tap that.

The trade sending him to New York this spring has only upped the ante. A good-looking, super-nice pro athlete living in the Big Apple and not getting laid?

Impossible, Ashley Madison insists in announcing the $1 million bounty. Below is a Taiwanese, animated reenactment of this story (we love those guys):

Taiwanese Animation of Ashley Madison Tim Tebow Ad

There is currently no law that says you have to hand over a foul to a nearby toddler who was also reaching for it and cries as a result ... but come on, guys.

At the Rangers-Yankees game Wednesday night, a couple was so stoked to have caught one, they not only didn't give the thing up, they openly celebrated and preened for the cameras with the ball as the youngster bawled nearby:

Crying Rangers Fan Loses Foul Ball to Adults

This earned them a tongue-lashing from Yankee broadcaster Michael Kay, and landed the three-year-old and his parents on Good Morning America (above).

Luckily for our little buddy, the Rangers are giving him a ball signed by the ENTIRE TEAM. Class move by Texas and not a bad consolation prize for the kid.

Sean Leonard and Shannon Moore, on the other hand, have been castigated by the media - and want an apology from Kay, who led the charge.

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Delmon Young, the starting left fielder for the Detroit Tigers, was arrested this morning outside a midtown Manhattan hotel after the former first round draft pick allegedly got into a fight with a panhandler wearing a yarmulke.

Police told The New York Post that Young starting screaming at the homeless man upon being approached for change, shouting ""F--king Jews! F--king Jews!"

The incident took place around 2:40 a.m. and Young proceeded to get into a physical altercation with men who confronted him about his tirade. He scratched one on the arm and pushed another to the pavement.

Sources say hotel employees rushed to the scene, sent all parties to their rooms and called 911. They added that Young appeared "highly intoxicated" before he was arrested and taken to the Midtown North Precinct.

Young, who has just one home run this season, is in town because the Tigers are scheduled to face the Yankees tonight.

A couple years ago, during a game against the Pawtucket Red Sox, the problematic outfielder threw a bat at an umpire.

This is very sad but true: Kris Jenner had a better year than Lamar Odom.

The matriarch of the richest family on reality TV just negotiated a new $40 million deal for her children... while a listless Odom averaged a career low in points and rebounds and was cut by the Mavs.

So we suppose it's not too shocking that Jenner thinks she can offer her son-in-law professional advice which, according to a Hollywood Life insider, goes like this: forget the NBA. Focus on E!.

“Kris is eager for Khloe and Lamar to do another season of their reality show," this Kardashian source claims, but:

"[Khloe] doesn’t want to push Lamar into doing anything he doesn’t want to do because she knows it will only backfire. Kris thinks doing another season will help their relationship, but the real reason she wants them to do another season of Khloe & Lamar is because she thinks the show keeps them relevant."

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The Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett interrupted a live broadcast before Tuesday night's game against the Miami Heat, creeping menacingly behind a pair of reporters.

The gregarious seven-foot forward did not play in the game, during which both teams largely sat their stars in preparation for the upcoming NBA playoffs.

That probably explains the comedic moment from the future Hall of Famer, who's normally in such an intense zone before games that it borders on scary.

This was still a little scary, but you get the point. Watch KG insert himself into the pregame chatter and see the reaction be receives from the announcers ...

Kevin Garnett Interrupts Live Broadcast