The Rock Chalkboard

Former KU guard Jeff Hawkins shares experiences of facing racism
"I've been called the N-word a bunch of times," Hawkins said. "My mom was a firm believer in that old-school saying, that sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you. So I really adapted to that. So I've been called the N-word by my peers and older folks as well, too. But the thing that really got me was when I was at KU."

Brandon McAnderson talks effects of societal racism on children
"Just looking at my sons and knowing one day I'll have to explain something like that hurts," McAnderson said in the interview. "So it was something that was very emotional. But there's been some good parts as well toward the end with the acknowledgement of it and the conversations people are having and people taking ownership for the problem that aren't black people — which is something I've never experienced in my lifetime."

Suns owner expecting Kelly Oubre to return for restarted season
Normally, the NBA playoffs would have started in April and extended into June. So for Kelly Oubre, who was in the midst of the best season of his young career, he would not have finished out his campaign. After all, his Phoenix Suns were not likely to make the NBA playoffs, and Oubre was injured late in the year.

Kansas Athletics settles with former football coach David Beaty
Later, that came into dispute, with Beaty filling a lawsuit against his former employer saying he had not received his buyout. That lawsuit was settled on Friday, with Beaty receiving $2.55 million, per a KU Athletics release.

Bits o Chalk

Utah suspends DC Morgan Scalley for texting racial slur in 2013
"In 2013 I made a terrible mistake," Scalley said in a statement released by the school. "I used a racial slur in a text message. This language is offensive and hurtful to not only the African-American community, but to all. Immediately after sending it, I apologized to the recipient and his family. I am also heartbroken over the potential breach of trust with my fellow coaches, and with the young men in our program, both past and present."

Drew Brees stands by apology over flag comments in response to President Trump
"Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been," Brees wrote on Instagram. "We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities.

Former Iowa players speak out against program's culture
Former Hawkeyes defensive back Amani Hooker, now with the Tennessee Titans, tweeted, "I remember whenever walking into the facility it would be difficult for black players to walk around the facility and be themselves. As if the way you grew up was the wrong way or wasn't acceptable & that you would be judge by that and it would impact playing time." Former Iowa defensive back Marcel Joly tweeted, "I remember when I used to wear my tank tops in the facility, I used to get called in the coaches office because I had too much tattoos and it wasn't the 'Iowa culture' or the 'Iowa Way.'"

Kevin Durant rules himself out for remainder of 2019-20 season -- 'Best for me to wait'
"It's just best for me to wait," Durant said. "I don't think I'm ready to play that type of intensity right now in the next month. It gives me more time to get ready for next season and the rest of my career.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says NFL was 'wrong' not to listen to its players about racism
"We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people," he said. "We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all players to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe that black lives matter."

Eraser Dust

Flathead Braces for Another Potentially Severe Windstorm - Flathead Beacon
As the Flathead Valley recovers from last weekend’s major windstorm, which left 37,000 Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) members without power, the region is bracing for another potentially severe storm this weekend.

Pete Davidson Addresses His Future at 'Saturday Night Live' (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight
"I will be there as long as they allow me to be," Davidson told ET's Lauren Zima. "I think I'm very lucky to be on that show and I'm really lucky to have Lorne Michaels as, you know, not only a mentor and a boss, but a friend. I'll be there as long as they allow it."

Former Trump chief of staff John Kelly to voters: 'Look harder' at who you elect - ABC News
“I would argue that the end result of that was predictable,” he said after Trump walked from the White House across Lafayette Square to St. John’s Episcopal Church for a photo opportunity Monday evening. “I’d have recommended against it.”

Jeff Bezos responds to angry customer about Black Lives Matter banner - Business Insider
On Friday, Bezos shared on Instagram an email exchange he had with a customer who was not happy about the "Black Lives Matter" banner that showed up across Amazon's front page. The customer wrote Bezos that it's "disturbing" to see the banner because "All lives matter," adding, "If it wasn't for all these lives providing their service to your and your company, where would Amazon be today?"

Emergency crews respond to multiple ejections crash near Kalispell | KECI
The South Kalispell Fire Department said the crash happened on Patrick Creek and caused multiple ejections.

Should You Return Your 2020 Required Minimum Distributions?
If you took required minimum distributions from your traditional IRA or 401(k) in 2020, you might be able to put them back in. The CARES Act allows retirees to waive both 2020 required minimum distributions (RMDs) and any 2019 RMDs due by April 1, 2020 for individuals who turned 70.5 in 2019. That means that if you took your RMDs before you knew about the waiver, it might be be possible to return them.

'Comfortable in Kalispell' Hopes to Bring Traffic Back Downtown - Flathead Beacon
Spread around downtown, Brix Bottleshop and the Bookshelf will host The Mike Murray Duo, MontaVino Winery and Bonelli’s Bistro will host the Brent Jameson Duo, the Tommy Edwards Duo will play at Bias Brewing and SBG, Luke Dowler will appear at Kalispell Brewing and True Water Fly Shop with Dan Dubuque at First Avenue Taphouse.

Hulk Hogan Was Banned From AEW for the Reason You Think He Was
Tony Khan has elaborated on the reason Hulk Hogan is banned from all AEW events. The revelation that Hogan is banned came as a side note to a tweet by Khan earlier this week banning Hogan's ex-wife, Linda Hogan, from all AEW events due to comments she was making on Twitter about the current nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd. Khan said that Linda was banned from all AEW just like her husband is.

IRS Rules Target Coaches at Duke, Notre Dame, Hospital Chiefs - Bloomberg
The IRS issued guidance on Friday that implements a change in the 2017 tax overhaul, and levies a 21% excise tax on some non-profit employees’ salaries above $1 million. The tax could also hit many highly-compensated private college coaches as well as non-profit hospital executives, such as Kenneth Davis at Mount Sinai in New York or Yale New Haven Hospital’s Marna Borgstrom.

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