The Rock Chalkboard

Udoka Azubuike 'excited' for season, hoping to prove durability
"I'm really excited. The whole team, we're excited," Azubuike said at KU basketball's media day on Wednesday. "We're so pumped for the new season to begin."

A look at the events that brought Isaiah Moss to KU basketball
“A lot went into it,” Moss said of the original decision to transfer. “But mostly just me wanting a new taste. Once I heard that I had an opportunity to play at Kansas, it was unbelievable for me to hear that. So it was just a great opportunity for me to come here and play for one of the best universities in the world.”

Top 10 returning Big 12 players
This will be a tough goal to accomplish as the Big 12 graduated and/or produced multiple NBA talents. This process accumulated for a loss of nine awarding winning Big 12 players. However, the conference once again returns a batch of tough, talented players looking to fill the void.

Big lineups, zone could be part of KU basketball this season
The Jayhawks held their media day inside Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, and, per usual, Self did not shy away from acknowledging the heavy preseason expectations that have already been placed on the team.

Snoop Dogg concert not about 'sticking it to' NCAA, Self says
“Well that has actually been a narrative that some people have used since [Late Night], "Self said. "Anybody that knows me knows that I'm not smart enough to figure out some of those things that have transpired that would relate to anything other than that moment."

KU basketball representatives announced for Big 12 media day
Starting with Dotson, KU basketball's starting point guard in every game tested the NBA Draft waters following the completion of his freshman season. Dotson averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a freshman. He shot 48.2 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from 3-point range.

KU's Self calls California's Fair Pay to Play law 'a very positive step' | KUsports.com
“I think it’s been long overdue to give student-athletes the same opportunities that general students possess," Self said. "I mean, there’s nothing that says that a general student can’t go to school and be on scholarship and go to work on the side. Legally where it ends up I have no idea. The one thing that I would hope that does happen, I hope it’s a uniform law and becomes a rule. I don’t believe California and New York or South Carolina can have it and other states can’t.”

Self scouting, reflecting big part of bye week for Jayhawks | KUsports.com
Ahead of the team’s seven days of relative down time, Miles said not having a game this week would allow players who are “nicked up” to get healthy, and provide KU’s coaches a chance to review the plays from the first six games and see which ones worked and which ones “didn’t do well.”

Bits o Chalk

Dave Roberts will have to own this Dodgers disaster
The slow-moving disaster that ruined the Los Angeles Dodgers' season began at 8:31 p.m. local time Wednesday and concluded 52 minutes later. A future Hall of Fame pitcher whose postseason shortcomings had come to define him lived down to his reputation. A manager who had shepherded the team to 106 wins forgot how to manage. A year replete with success, swollen with promise, conflagrated in spectacular fashion. The Dodgers, the best team in the National League, the organization that does so much right, failed at the most inopportune time.

Philadelphia Phillies fire manager Gabe Kapler
After two seasons without a playoff berth, the Phillies on Thursday fired Kapler, whose team (81-81) underachieved even with the addition of big-money free agent Bryce Harper and whose nontraditional, analytical style irritated many of the franchise's passionate fans.

Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green ready for anything at deadline
In an interview with the team's website, the injured 31-year-old said that although he hasn't heard of any potential moves and certainly isn't lobbying to leave Cincinnati, he's aware of the possibility.

Errol Spence Jr. seriously injured in Dallas car crash
Unified welterweight world titlist Errol Spence Jr. was involved in one-car crash early Thursday and is in a Dallas hospital with serious injuries.

NBA game in China played with some restrictions
While the basketball was familiar, there were still stark reminders of the situation that exists in China. Approximately 3½ hours before tipoff, an NBA spokesman informed reporters there would be no media availability of any kind for either team and that commissioner Adam Silver's previously scheduled pregame news conference was canceled.

President Donald Trump critical of Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich for response to China controversy
President Donald Trump, in his first public comments about the NBA's relationship with China, criticized Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for their response to questions about the controversy.

Eraser Dust

The strange saga of a Division III golfer who got kicked out of the NCAA
I’m not here to sway you to one side or the other. I’m just here to tell you a story of tragedy, or perhaps comedy. It’s the story of a Division III golfer going up against the NCAA, and losing, winning, then losing much, much worse. It’s a story about dumb rules and bureaucracy and Jay Bilas and Florida water hazards. Even worse, it’s a story about me.

Two business associates of Trump’s personal attorney Giuliani have been arrested on campaign finance charges - The Washington Post
Two associates of President Trump’s personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani have been arrested on charges that they schemed to funnel foreign money to U.S. politicians in a bid to affect U.S.-Ukraine relations and launch a marijuana business, according to a newly unsealed indictment.

Paralympic athlete glues himself to the top of British Airways jet as Extinction Rebellion invades London City airport
The man, identified by Extinction Rebellion as former Paralympic cyclist James Brown, was seen clinging to the aircraft in a video streamed online by the protest group.

German synagogue shooting was far-right terror, justice minister says - BBC News
Alleged perpetrator Stephan Balliet had four kilos (9lb) of explosives in his car, Ms Lambrecht said in a statement with attorney-general Peter Frank.

California bans hotels from using tiny plastic bottles
Hotels in the nation's most populous state will have to stop giving guests small plastic shampoo bottles under a new law set to take effect starting in 2023.

Chemtrail Truthers Are Coming After Greta Thunberg
They believe human actions are changing the environment. They believe we need to take urgent action to save the planet for future generations. So why do so many chemtrail conspiracy theorists think climate change is a big hoax?