From the Piano Man's final bow at MSG to drama off the NBA court, here are your top entertainment headlines.

Billy Joel Leaving MSG

After performing a staggering 150+ shows at the world-famous Madison Square Garden, Billy Joel's ten-year residency is set to end.

Joel, who holds the record for most shows at MSG, announced that his final show at the venue will take place in summer 2024. Over the course of his stay at the Garden, he sold more than 1.6 million tickets.

"The greatest arena run of all time is coming to an end. The historic sold-out monthly residency at the World's Most Famous Arena will conclude in July 2024 with his 150th lifetime performance," the official account for Joel said in a tweet.

Joel's first-ever performance at MSG was in December 1978. The singer is such a staple at the iconic arena that in 2006, following his 12th consecutive show, a banner in his name was raised above the New York Knicks home court – a sight the team had not seen since 1999 when they won the Eastern Conference Finals. 

[twitter]https://twitter.com/billyjoel/status/1664302695933517825?s=20[twitter]

NBA Drama Off the Court

Speaking of the NBA Finals, the first game between conference champions Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat is set to tip-off tonight but it will be without a familiar face.

Referee Eric Lewis, who has worked the finals for the last four seasons, is currently embroiled in controversy. In the midst of the NBA post-season he was accused of maintaining a secret Twitter account that appeared to support calls he and other refs were making on the court. Now the league is investigating.

"Regarding Eric Lewis and the social media posts, we are continuing to review the matter and he will not be working the Finals," NBA spokesman Mike Bass told the Associated Press.

Critics have compared the potential scandal to that of Tim Donaghy, a former ref who pleaded guilty in 2007 to two felony conspiracy charges for his role in a gambling scheme.

In Other Sports News...

The once-upon-a-time dynamic duo of Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe will no longer exist after the 2023 NBA Finals.

Fox Sports and Sharpe apparently reached a buyout deal that will end his seven-year run at the network. The writing has been on the wall for some time now and became even more clear in recent months when debates around Tom Brady and DaMar Hamlin seemed to get personal between the two. What's next for both talking heads remains to be seen and neither addressed the elephant in the room during Thursday's broadcast.

Tupac's Star

Tupac Shakur has been deceased for nearly three decades but his impact continues to be felt today. Now, the late rapper and activist is set to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The news comes during the success of FX's Dear Mama docuseries, which highlights the unique relationship between he and his mother, the late Afeni Shakur. It's the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's 2,758th star and according to Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Tupac's impact will continue to be felt.

"This iconic artist has continued to be part of the zeitgeist for decades after his passing and will continue to be an important cultural figure for many years to come," she said in a statement.

Share:
More In Sports
MLB Star Shohei Ohtani Breaks Record for Most Lucrative Contract
Shohei Ohtani's jaw-dropping deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers has some similarities to other contracts for the world's biggest sports stars, including soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, along with NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But in terms of his marketability, experts point to another name. The real comparison? Try Taylor Swift.
NCAA President Calls for New Division I Tier Where Schools Can Pay Athletes
NCAA President Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that he wants the organization to create a new tier of Division I athletics where schools with the most resources can offer unlimited educational benefits, enter into name, image and likeness partnerships with athletes and directly pay them through a trust fund.
Load More