The Rock Chalkboard
Mitch Lightfoot's energy key in win over Nebraska-Omaha
“Mitch was great offensively,” said junior Ochai Agbaji in the post-game. “Just blocking shots, being the energy guy he is, the guy we all know him as. David [McCormack] was solid, too, but Mitch was great today.”
Three takeaways: Reviewing KU basketball's win vs. Omaha
Throughout his career at KU, Garrett has seldom been the type of player to light up the scoring column. Instead, it’s what he’s been able to do without the ball in his hands — often on the defensive end — that has made him so effective. On Friday night, that was exactly the case — with his passing. Not only did he dish out a season-high eight assists; Garrett also didn’t have a single turnover.
KU basketball vs. Tarleton State canceled due to COVID-19 issues
“The medical people got together and visited after that,” Self said, estimating a final decision was made around 5 p.m. “I actually think it’s both [a good and a bad thing]. I’d love to play the game, and the primary reason I’d love to play the game — and I’m not saying we’d win the game for sure … — but getting a chance to get those guys who haven’t had a chance to play as much some minutes. I think that’d be important.”
Self could envision 'dramatic improvements' for David McCormack
The example of the first of those options would be Malik Newman in his lone playing season at KU. Newman scored nine and seven points to close out the regular season before taking off for 30 points against Oklahoma State. After that, Newman had five games with 20-plus points in his remaining seven contests. Switch flipped.
Bits o Chalk
Utah State cancels Colorado State game after players vote to sit out
"On Tuesday, December 8th, the Utah State University Football Leadership Council held a zoom meeting with Noelle Cockett, President of USU, and John Hartwell, the Athletic Director. The purpose of the meeting was to have a say in the search for our new head coach. During the meeting, we voiced our support for Interim Head Coach Frank Maile. In response to our comments, their primary concern was his religious and cultural background. Players, stating their diverse faiths and backgrounds, then jumped to Coach Frank Maile's defense in treating everyone with love, equality, and fairness.
Houston Rockets' John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins give hints of All-Star form in debuts
John Wall vowed that he'd return to his previous All-Star form after missing almost two years because of heel and Achilles tendon injuries. His preseason debut with the Houston Rockets on Friday night at least hinted at that hope being possible.
Arizona State's Jackson He, believed to be only Chinese-born player in FBS, scores 1st TD
Friday night's game had long been out of reach when Arizona State's Jackson He scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Youth football coach Gerrell Williams now facing criminal charges after striking player
Video of the incident, which occurred Monday at the 2020 American Youth Football National Championships in Kissimmee, Florida, shows Savannah Gators coach Gerrell Williams slapping the child in the helmet. After yelling at his player, Williams struck him a second time with enough force that the child lost his balance and fell to the ground.
Army invites its first Black varsity football player, Gary Steele, to Navy game
Steele, a retired colonel, was one of about 30 Black students at the academy in the mid-1960s and became its first Black varsity football player in 1966, paving the way for others to follow in his footsteps.
Eraser Dust
Zodiac Killer's cipher that has stumped law enforcement has been solved - CNN
Dubbed the "340 cipher," the message was unraveled by a trio of code breakers -- David Oranchak, a software developer in Virginia, Jarl Van Eycke, a Belgian computer programmer, and Sam Blake, an Australian mathematician.
Supreme Court rejects Trump's bid to overturn election - CNNPolitics
The court's order, issued with no public dissents, to dismiss the challenge is the strongest indication yet that Trump has no chance of overturning election results in court, and that even the justices whom he placed there have no interest in allowing his desperate legal bids to continue.
Kalispell Approves New Subdivisions, Receives Offer for Old School Station - Flathead Beacon
The first phase of Eagle Valley Ranch’s 49-lot subdivision in north Kalispell off of U.S. Highway 93 and east of Northern Pines Golf Course will include 47 single-family and two multi-family lots. While the first phase sits on 21 acres with 4 acres of common area, the entire project will encompass 99 acres.
Tensions over eviction of Black-Indigenous family in Portland reach boiling point as protesters clash with police - CNN
The Kinneys problems started in 2002, when they took out a loan against their home to pay for their 17-year-old son's legal fees, the Red House website says. And after years of disputes with their mortgage lender, their home ended up being sold at auction as a nonjudicial foreclosure in October 2018.
John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are your new Chip 'N Dale, we guess
Good news for anyone who’s ever looked at comedy superstars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg and thought, “Wow, those two guys would make excellent cartoon rodents with a sideline in rescue and recovery”: You’re precognizant! Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen, for some reason, as Disney has just announced that Mulaney and Samberg are now set to star in a revival of Chip ‘N Dale’s Rescue Rangers, directed by Samberg’s old Lonely Island pal Akiva Schaffer.
The IRS has officially moved its crypto tax question to the top of Form 1040, making it much more prominent - The Block
The IRS announced today that it has formally moved a question — "At any time during 2020, did you receive, sell, or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?" — to the 1040 form. The question sits at the top of the form, right below the boxes that ask for identification. Crypto tax professionals say if it wasn't clear the IRS meant business before, it's crystal now.
Coronavirus vaccine: FDA issues emergency use authorization for Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine - CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized the first Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States. Millions of doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, which has been found to be 95% effective, will be soon shipped around the country so vaccinations can begin within days.
Tommy "Tiny" Lister, "Friday" actor and wrestler, dies at 62 | Salon.com
Cowan said he was found unresponsive in his apartment in Marina del Rey, Calif. after displaying symptoms of COVID-19 in recent days. He had been working on a film and had to cancel shooting after falling ill, Cowan said.