The Rock Chalkboard

KU coach Bill Self defends texts that led to notice of allegations | KUsports.com
“I don’t think it’s unusual to have conversations with people involving grassroots basketball at all,” he added. “... That’s something that would occur a lot at every place.”

'Kansas will always prevail': Self focused on KU over legacy
"I believe my job as the University of Kansas coach is to be the caretaker in the time in which I’m there [at] — in my biased opinion — the most historic basketball program in the country based off all the tradition and history," Self said. "And it’s also my job not only to promote that, but to protect those that have given their heart and soul to the place that came before us. That is what my concern would be as opposed to my personal legacy. My legacy or whatever, I hadn’t thought about that."

Takeaways from Big 12 basketball Media Day
Once again, the league looks stacked; one reporter asked whether it was a shock to see "a Jamie Dixon-coached team" bringing up the bottom of the league's poll, while last year's league champion, Kansas State, was just one spot ahead at ninth. And while Kansas was the near-unanimous pick to win the league — coaches can't pick their own teams, with Kansas collecting eight of the 10 votes and Self picking Texas Tech — Oklahoma State's Mike Boynton broke up the potential perfect vote by picking Baylor.

Bill Self 'proud' to see KU football 'on an uptick' under Les Miles | KUsports.com
“I need to follow it more closely. I haven’t talked to Les in a couple weeks,” Self said. “I haven’t been to a press conference and I don’t really watch that much TV these days. So I haven’t seen very many Les-isms.”

KU volleyball falls to Kansas State in 5 sets | KUsports.com
The Kansas volleyball team suffered a 3-2 loss (33-31, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9) to Kansas State Wednesday night at Ahearn Field House.

KU argues with NCAA that Adidas isn't a booster, but sends out flyer to local businesses suggesting otherwise | KUsports.com
KU chose to specifically highlight apparel companies as an example of a corporate entity that qualifies as a booster. Adidas is an apparel company. Through a multimillion dollar contract with KU Athletics, it also seemingly meets the other requirements in the definition. The company, for instance, receives season tickets to various KU sports, and frequently promotes Kansas Athletics.

Bits o Chalk

Conor McGregor says he'll return to Octagon on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas
The former two-division UFC champion said Thursday at a news conference in Moscow that he will return to the Octagon on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas. McGregor said he knows his opponent but would not reveal his name, because if he did, the UFC would "flip" it.

Tiger Woods rides birdie spree to 6-under 64, share of Zozo Championship lead
"I certainly was not expecting to shoot 6 under after that start,'' said Woods, whose 64 is his lowest since he shot 62 to open the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink. "That was a very ugly start.

Patriots' Josh Gordon lands on IR
Gordon had been playing through a left knee injury and then was knocked out of the team's Oct. 10 win over the New York Giants when he injured the knee while attempting to make a tackle after a Patriots fumble. He missed New England's 33-0 win over the New York Jets on Monday.

MLB looking into longtime umpire Rob Drake's tweet
Drake tweeted late Tuesday that he planned to buy an AR-15 rifle "because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!!! #MAGA2020," according to a copy of the tweet obtained by ESPN.

Kyrie Irving scores 50 in debut, but Nets lose to Timberwolves in OT
Kyrie Irving oozed swagger when he walked onto the court during the starting lineup announcement Wednesday night. After all, Irving viewed this -- the Brooklyn Nets' regular-season opener -- as a sort of homecoming.

Eraser Dust

Edward Snowden searched the CIA's networks for proof that aliens exist. Here's what he found - CNN
PSA for all the Area 51 stormers, chemtrail believers and climate change deniers: Edward Snowden has searched the depths of the US intelligence networks and can report the conspiracy theories are not true.

Possible pepper spray on vending machine injures 2 in Kalispell | KECI
Police say a Kalispell vending machine might have been sprayed with pepper spray after two girls tried to get a drink and came away with burning hands and eyes.

Woman is doused with gasoline, set on fire at Taco Bell in Tallahassee, Florida
A Florida woman is recovering from serious burns after being set on fire at a Taco Bell Wednesday, as police search for the suspect.

Daily Inter Lake - Breaking News, Cyberattack on Kalispell Regional breaches patient data
A data breach at Kalispell Regional Healthcare earlier this year may have compromised the personal information of nearly 130,000 patients, hospital officials reported on Tuesday.