The Rock Chalkboard

Scouting Sunday: '21 Kendall Brown has versatile, athletic game
Brown has made several visits to KU, and we at Phog.net have published several exclusives on his recruitment as he's continued to hear from the KU program. Brown also has a healthy library of film available on the web, whether it's from his time at Sunrise or performances at DC Hoopfest, the Adidas summer championships or Team USA events

Analytics website ranks four KU hoops players among CBB's top 15
Miyakawa's formula ranks Kansas' Udoka Azubuike as the No. 1 player from the last year, with Marcus Garrett coming in at No. 2. After a few other notables, including Cassius Winston of Michigan State at No. 7, Kansas' Devon Dotson appears on the list at No. 10.

KU football offer felt 'so surreal' for 3-star DE Mandela Tobin
"The connection has just been really good," Tobin told Phog.net via phone call. "I’m always talking to coach [Kwahn] Drake and coach AC [Andrew Carter, graduate assistant], and also coach [Chidera] Uzo-Diribe. They’ve all done a great job and I’m really liking what I’m seeing so far. I’ve even got a chance to speak to Les Miles this last week so that was a really good conversation with him.”

Analysis: Notes on the latest back and forth between KU, NCAA
The NCAA's Committee on Infractions has requested a referral of the NCAA's case with the University of Kansas to an independent review process, and the University has responded. That is the latest between the two sides in an ongoing dispute over a notice of allegations that was handed to KU last year.

KU requests separate hearings for football, hoops allegations
"[Kansas] agrees that referral to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) is appropriate for the men’s basketball portion of the Amended Notice of Allegations (ANOA), Allegations 1-5," Kansas' response read. "KU does not agree that the football portion of the ANOA, Allegations 6-8, meets the legislated requirements for referral to the IARP."

Bits o Chalk

Clemson's Dabo Swinney defends response to assistant coach's use of racial slur
"I would fire a coach immediately if he called a player an N-word. No questions asked," Swinney said Monday. "That did not happen. Absolutely did not happen. It has not happened. Coach Pearman was correcting D.J., and another player was talking to D.J., or D.J. was yelling at the player, and D.J. said something he probably shouldn't have said. He said, 'I blocked the wrong f---ing N-word,' and Coach Pearman thought he was saying it to him, and he's mad, and he reacted, and in correcting him, he repeated the phrase.

Colin Kaepernick's signing would show NFL is sincere on race issues, says Carlos Hyde
"I think the NFL can start by signing Kap back," Hyde said in his first comments to reporters since signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal with Seattle last month. "I think if they sign Kap back, that'll show that they're really trying to move in a different direction. Because Kap was making a statement four years ago about what's going on in today's world and the NFL didn't bother to listen to him then, so I think they should start by doing that. After that, I'm not really sure what the NFL can do."

Villanova forward and potential lottery pick Saddiq Bey staying in NBA draft
"This has been a pivotal time in our country and honestly not how I imagined the last few months playing out," Bey told ESPN in a statement. "Between the pandemic and national outcry against racial injustice, it has given me a lot of time to think and gain perspective outside of basketball. I have thought a lot about my decision to enter the NBA draft and specifically how that would impact my teammates, coaching staff, and the pursuit of my degree.

Everything to know about the NBA's 22-team restart at Walt Disney World
Last week, the league's board of governors and the players' union both approved plans -- a 22-team, eight-game wrap-up to the regular season followed by a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed and playoffs -- to resume the 2019-20 season on July 31 inside Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

DeAndre Hopkins, Deshaun Watson support removal of John Calhoun's name at Clemson
"I felt this oppressive figure during my time at Clemson and purposely do not mention the University's name before NFL games because of it," Hopkins wrote on Instagram. "I am joining the voices of the students and faculty who have restarted this petition to rename the Calhoun Honors College. I urge all Clemson students, football players, and alumni to join us, so the next generation of young Black leaders can be proud of the institution they graduate from. Now is the time for change."

Eraser Dust

This city disbanded its police department 7 years ago. Here's what happened next - CNN
Now, seven years after the old department was booted, the city's crime has dropped by close to half. Officers host outdoor parties for residents and knock on doors to introduce themselves. It's a radically different Camden than it was even a decade ago. Here's how they did it.

Army reverses course, will consider renaming bases named for Confederate leaders - POLITICO
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy is now "open" to renaming the service's 10 bases and facilities that are named after Confederate leaders, an Army spokesperson told POLITICO, in a reversal of the service's previous position.

Kratom in Montana

Kratom users and activists claim that Kratom has many benefits, including relief from acute and chronic pain, and use as a healthier alternative to opioids.

Robert E. Lee statue: Judge blocks Ralph Northam's order for 10 days
On Monday, Richmond Circuit Court judge Bradley B. Cavedo granted a request by attorneys for William C. Gregory that would halt any of the preparation work involved in removing the statue from its 130-year-old residence on Monument Avenue.

New family-owned bakery opens in Bigfork | KECI
The bakery specializes in “granny rolls” -- a recipe passed down from generation to generation -- along with an assortment of pies, sweet and savory hand pies, cookies and muffins. They even make homemade dog biscuits.

Columbia Falls Voters Approve Resort Tax - Flathead Beacon
In a strong turnout, voters in Columbia Falls approved a ballot measure last week to implement a 3% resort tax within city limits, to be effective for 20 years, with more than half of the revenue slated to go toward public safety funding, including a staffed fire department, and 25% directed to property tax relief.

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