The Rock Chalkboard

KU QB commit Ben Easters feels special connection to 2021 class
When Ben Easters committed to KU football, there was only one other prospect committed in his class. The 2021 quarterback had to buy into the vision of the program he was committing to and trust the coaches would be able to pull things together to put him in the right situation to succeed.

Frank Mason finishing season with Milwaukee Bucks in NBA bubble
"You know, it's been a good opportunity so far," Mason said in a video posted to the Bucks' Twitter account. "With us missing Bled, I get an opportunity to get out and show coach what I can do. My job is just to go out and make the team better and be a leader — and do whatever I can do to bring positive energy to the team."

Bits o Chalk

Sources - Wilf family emerges as top candidate to buy Timberwolves
The Wilf family that owns the Minnesota Vikings has emerged as a serious candidate to buy the Minnesota Timberwolves, NFL sources told ESPN.

Sources -- Blue Jays expected to play MLB home games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh
The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to play a majority of their home games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh this season after federal officials in Canada refused to let them host games at the Rogers Centre, sources confirmed to ESPN.

NBA and WNBA players' decade of demanding justice
Not every fight has been public. Not every action has sparked a movement. But all of them have made an impact. These are just some of the many moments, big and small, that over the past decade have led to where we stand today, as professional basketball players fight for a better future.

Saying Lakers 'have worked too hard' in their restart prep to leave, guard Alex Caruso skips family wedding to stay in bubble
"Megan is as close to my No. 1 fan as anyone could get," he told ESPN this week. The two have friends in common, and many would be at the wedding.

Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo says he had access to hoop, contradicting earlier remarks
While under quarantine with his family at home, Milwaukee Bucks swingman and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo said he didn't have access to a hoop.

But apparently that wasn't the case. Antetokounmpo admitted after Tuesday's practice in Orlando, Florida, that he was just saying that to gain an edge on his peers.

NBA unveils Black Lives Matter on Orlando court
On Tuesday, the league unveiled the new court, giving reporters in the "bubble" a tour. Black Lives Matter is written on the floor in large, glossy black print.

Erase Dust

US orders closure of Chinese consulate in Houston - CNNPolitics
The United States government has abruptly ordered China to "cease all operations and events" at its consulate in Houston, Texas, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in what it called an "unprecedented escalation" in recent actions taken by Washington.

U.S. Homeland Security confirms three units sent paramilitary officers to Portland - Reuters
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection arm confirmed on Tuesday it has deployed officers from three paramilitary-style units to join a federal crackdown on protests against police violence in Portland, Oregon.

Republicans and White House divided on stimulus proposal: 'I'm not a no, I'm a hell no' - CNNPolitics
One area of progress, according to GOP senators, was on the funding for testing and tracing measures and other key public health agencies. The new funds, proposed by Senate Republicans, had become a central dispute after the White House proposed zeroing out state grants for testing and new funds for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, as well as reducing money for the Pentagon's virus efforts.

Alaska earthquake: Preliminary magnitude 7.8 quake strikes off Alaskan coast - CNN
"Anything below 70 kilometers is considered a shallow quake," CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar previously said. "That's important, because shallow earthquakes often cause the most damage, compared to the ones that are deeper, regardless of the strength."

George Lucas Saving Star Wars; Kathleen Kennedy Leaving For J.J. Abrams | Cosmic Book News
It's claimed that George Lucas could be back at Star Wars to save the day, with Kathleen Kennedy leaving Lucasfilm for J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot production company.

Man arrested after police chase north of Kalispell | KECI
aw enforcement officials in the Flathead say a pursuit on Highway 93 north of Kalispell ended with one man arrested Tuesday evening.

Bigfork distillery teams up with organic skin company to make hand sanitizer
"We found a need in the community for sanitizers so we joined up with Whistling Andy and started a business I believe in less than a week," said Johnson. 'And we had the bottles and labels and they had the facility and the alcohol and it was a perfect match."