The Rock Chalkboard

KU football lands two on preseason All-Big 12 first team (media)
Junior running back Pooka Williams and senior wide receiver Andrew Parchment were each named to first-team spots at their respective positions. Media were allowed to vote for two running backs — Chuba Hubbard also received first-team honors — as well as three wide receivers — Parchment was joined by Charleston Rambo (OU) and Tylan Wallace (OSU).

Reported CAA football cancelation could affect KU's schedule
On Thursday, Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported that the CAA — the Colonial Athletic Association — is "expected to announce [Friday] that the league will not be playing football this fall." If indeed true, that could mean the Jayhawks' season opener, set to take place between Kansas and New Hampshire, may no longer be taking place — assuming New Hampshire would not try to keep its non-conference slate.

Three-star safety Lyrik Rawls lists KU football in final five
His "final five," as he tweeted it? Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech.

Tyson Struber, an 8-man phenom, opening eyes in FBS ranks
His high school career far from finished, Tyson Struber has already enjoyed notable conquests along his journey. As a sophomore wide receiver at Canton-Galva High School, Struber broke his left hand last October and played with a club cast, missing four games. The hinderance did not prevent Struber from setting a record in the Eight-Man, Division I state championship in December.

Andrew Parchment makes Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list
According to a KU athletics release, the last KU player to receive the preseason designation was Steven Sims, who was selected to the watch list ahead of the 2018 season, his senior year. Parchment is also going into his final year of college, though it will be just his second year with the KU program.

Bits o Chalk

Mets bidder Alex Rodriguez critiqued for thoughts on MLB economics, notes he didn't say 'salary cap'
Alex Rodriguez, among the bidders for a possible purchase of the New York Mets, called for baseball players to accept the type of revenue-sharing system that is tied to a salary cap and sparked quick opposition from the union. However, Rodriguez later stressed that he never said "salary cap."

Bucks' Eric Bledsoe yet to join team after testing positive for coronavirus
Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe tested positive for the coronavirus and has yet to make the trip to Orlando, Florida, to join the team for the NBA restart, he told ESPN on Thursday.

Report - 15 women allege sexual misconduct by former Washington NFL team employees
Fifteen women who previously worked for Washington's NFL organization have alleged sexual harassment and verbal abuse by former scouts and members of owner Daniel Snyder's inner circle, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Unique items players brought to the NBA bubble in Orlando
I brought the Star Wars Legos, it's a hobby of mine, it's something I've done since I was a kid but this is how I spend my spare time. I like putting things together. I like challenging myself. The puzzles are not for everyone and the Legos, it looks like it's fun and easy, but it's the kind of thing that you have to have a lot of patience for. It's a good way for me to kill some time and make the time pass even more.

Eraser Dust

Second Stimulus Check Income Limit Will Likely Be Higher Than $40,000
Another possibility, which hasn’t been mentioned publicly anywhere, is that the next check would be structured like the Heroes Act but have a much bigger phaseout range to offer the greatest need to the lowest income earners. It could have a lower income limit of $40,000 but phase out at a rate slower than 5%.

U.S. Says Russian Hackers Are Trying To Steal Coronavirus Vaccine Research : NPR
The National Security Agency, as well as its counterparts in Britain and Canada, all said Thursday that they're seeing persistent attempts by Russian hackers to break into organizations working on a potential coronavirus vaccine.

Supreme Court Deals Major Blow To Ex-Felons' Right To Vote In Florida : NPR
The U.S. Supreme Court has left in place a lower court order that likely will prevent hundreds of thousands of ex-felons in Florida from voting in the November election. It is the fourth time that the court has refused to intervene to protect voting rights this year.

Former Miss Kentucky pleads guilty to sexting teen
Ramsey Bearse, 29, admitted in court that she sent at least four topless photos to the teen on Snapchat in 2018 when she was a teacher at Andrew Jackson Middle School in Cross Lanes in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, WXIX-TV reported.