The Rock Chalkboard

Big 12 announces dates for sports to begin voluntary workouts
While no required workouts will be permitted, the Big 12 has announced that football programs may begin voluntary workouts on June 15. After that, other fall sports may do the same thing on July 1. Basketball will be next, as those Big 12 programs can start voluntary in-person activities on July 6. The rest of the sports may conduct voluntary activities beginning on July 15.

Former KU football LB Joe Dineen announces move to coaching side
Joe Dineen, who played for Kansas from 2014-2018, put out a statement on Instagram on Monday to announce the end of his football playing career. Dineen finished his college career with 386 tackles, ranking fourth all-time on KU football. He also totaled 45.5 tackles for loss, ranking No. 1 all-time with KU.

Washington OL Will Reed talks through his top ten
His top ten was Princeton, Cal, Michigan, Michigan State, Colorado, Yale, Utah, Duke, Virginia Tech and Kansas.

2022 OT Brock Burns: Receiving Kansas offer 'awesome,' 'crazy'
“My dad was a coach, a high school coach, and my uncle is the head football coach at my school," Burns said. "And I’ve just kind of always been in it. I’ve always wanted to play football. It’s been there my whole life. I’ve been on the sidelines since I was like 2, being the ball boy and stuff.”

Analysis: Big 12's policy for athletes returning to campus
Football athletes can resume activities on June 15

Basketball athletes can resume activities on July 6

Athletes may come back earlier but will not participate in any activities until those dates

Big 12 coaches put out video on George Floyd, racial injustice
On Monday, the 10 Big 12 men's basketball coaches — including Kansas' Bill Self — appeared in a video speaking on the death of George Floyd and racial injustice in the United States.

'He's special': KU's Les Miles recalls Tyrann Mathieu memories
Miles has brought Mathieu's name up to prospective recruits and has heaped praise on the current NFL standout and reigning Super Bowl champion in interviews. Such was certainly the case when Miles went on the Tyrann Mathieu Radiothon on 610 Sports Radio, an event aimed at raising money for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bits o Chalk

Floyd Mayweather will pay for George Floyd's funeral services
"He'll probably get mad at me for saying that, but yes, [Mayweather] is definitely paying for the funeral," Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, told ESPN on Monday.

New York Rangers' K'Andre Miller says he's frustrated and angry over racist comments
Miller, 20, took part in a video Q&A on Zoom in April to serve as an introduction to Rangers fans. With about 150 fans streaming the chat, the comments section for questions was overrun with the N-word being published over and over again, under different usernames, before the comments were turned off.

Knicks explain lack of public comment on George Floyd in email to MSG employees
"We know that some of you have asked about whether our company is going to make a public statement about the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer," Knicks owner Jim Dolan wrote in the email, which was obtained by ESPN. "I want you to know, I realize the importance of this issue. Therefore, I want you to understand our internal position.

Fewer games? Salary deferrals? Where MLB players and owners could find middle ground on 2020 season
Is all of the recent acrimony between MLB players and owners real or the byproduct of the early stages of the 2020 season's negotiations playing out in the public spotlight? When recently asked that question, one baseball official's reply was, "Yes."

Notre Dame-Navy football game moving from Ireland to Maryland
Notre Dame football will not open the season against Navy in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 29, because of the coronavirus pandemic, but they will face each other at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, most likely on Labor Day weekend, Notre Dame announced Tuesday morning.

Father says Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III injured thigh during a move
"He was trying to move a trailer or something -- move furniture or something -- and the trailer just kind of pinned him against a car or a wall or something," Henry Ruggs Jr. said. "He's pretty much OK, I'm about to go out there and see him in a little bit. It was just like a little open wound on his leg, a little incision. Like something had stuck him right there on his thigh a little bit."

Colin Kaepernick compatriot Brandon Marshall -- 2016 action ringing true
Former Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, a college teammate and longtime friend of Colin Kaepernick's who kneeled for "The Star-Spangled Banner'' before eight games in the 2016 season to protest excessive use of force by police and social injustice, said he hopes people are now ready for what his and Kaepernick's message was almost four years ago.

Eraser Dust

Two-thirds of people put in neck restraints by Minneapolis police were black, department data shows - CNN
Officers used neck restraints on 428 people since 2012, and 14% lost consciousness, the data showed. That means the procedure, which is restricted or banned in many large police departments around the country, was used an average of about once a week in the city over that time period.

US National Guard: More than 17,000 members activated in 23 states - CNN
As thousands across the US take to the streets for another day of protests demanding justice for George Floyd, more than 17,000 members of the National Guard are standing ready to support local law enforcement.

Trump says he will deploy military if state officials can't contain protest violence
"If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them," Trump said, referring to himself as "your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters."

Trump as thug or hero? Depends on what network you watch - ABC News
At the same time on Fox News Channel, Tucker Carlson said that Trump provided “a powerful symbolic gesture, a declaration that this country, our national symbols, our oldest institutions, will not be desecrated and defeated by nihilistic destruction.”

Kentucky police chief fired after shooting kills barbecue restaurant owner | US news | The Guardian
The police chief of Louisville, Kentucky, was fired on Monday after the mayor learned that officers involved in a shooting that killed the popular owner of a barbecue spot failed to activate body cameras during the chaotic scene.

This Is How Much Major Cities Spend on Police Versus Everything Else | GQ
There's little evidence, if any, to suggest that more police actually correlates to fewer crimes—and more aggressive policing, like so-called "broken windows" policing and New York's stop-and-frisk policy, seems to only increase arrests for extremely minor offenses while stoking violent interactions between police and minorities. Yet the hard numbers show that public officials have favored police department funding over public health and other concerns.

George Floyd death: Why US protests resonate in the UK - BBC News
Protesters in London held signs bearing their names, and the names of other black people who have died after encounters with British police, at the weekend.

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