The Rock Chalkboard

Les Miles makes first public comments since start of fall camp
We had a good practice," Miles said in the interview. "The one thing we've done is we've taken time to understand our assignments and we're after it. This team wants to win, so they're out there on their own, throwing balls and catching balls [after practice]."

How 'hidden jewel' 2022 WR Mudia Reuben landed on KU's radar
Previously known as a high-level high school soccer player — who said he has never logged a minute of varsity football to date — Reuben was called "the hidden jewel" of the initial Kansas City Showcase. That event was the first of three football camps he went to in the city over the summer. At the showcase's second edition, he drew rave reviews, with 247Sports' Ryan Wallace writing that "Reuben is for real" in the event recap.

Carter Stanley reflects on highs and lows of 2019 KU offense
In 2019, Carter Stanley posted one of the most-productive seasons for a KU quarterback in recent memory.

Countdown to KU football: A strong endorsement for Kansas' O.C.
"I've been a Dearmon fan from the day he showed up at KU, like, back in February or whatever," Stanley said.

NCAA: More clarity on basketball season by mid-September
The NCAA is expecting to have an answer by mid-September over whether or not the 2020-21 college basketball season can start as scheduled amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt announced in a statement on Monday. Gavitt, in the statement, emphasized that a safe and competitive college basketball season is the "ultimate goal" as the decision looms.

Bits o Chalk

Biggest takeaways from Day 1 of the NBA playoffs
Donovan Mitchell's explosion for 57 points. A master class in the two-man game by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. An overtime thriller. Denver's 135-125 win served up that classic NBA cocktail: one part individual swagger, one part dramatic tension. It went down easy, as did the Boston Celtics' win over the short-handed but feisty Philadelphia 76ers. Ditto for Luka Doncic's record-setting maiden playoff voyage in a tight Dallas Mavericks loss to the LA Clippers.

Gordon Hayward limps off court after right ankle sprain in Celtics' Game 1 win over 76ers
"Sprained ankle," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after Game 1 of this East first-round series. "Don't know the severity, but he's clearly in pain, and it looked like it had some swelling already. That's my medical review."

LeBron James recounts his role in Carmelo Anthony ocean rescue ahead of Lakers-Blazers series
"I just knew that he was not back in the boat with the rest of us, so I went out looking for him," James said Monday on a video conference call. "And through the grace of God and through strength and not being afraid of the water, I was able to help him back to the boat. It was the only thing that was on my mind at that point and time, was getting my brother back to the boat."

Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. angers Rangers with late grand slam in rout
-- Fernando Tatis Jr.'s first grand slam gave the 21-year-old the major league lead in home runs over Mike Trout and a career-high seven RBIs.

Mavs' Kristaps Porzingis ejected after second technical for 'being an escalator'
Dallas Mavericks center/power forward Kristaps Porzingis was ejected from an NBA game for the first time during his playoff debut Monday night, prompting a pair of the league's legends to rip the referees for a quick whistle.

Eraser Dust

After conquering the entree menu, the chicken sandwich sets its sights on killing fries
“Despite all that has changed in the past 365 days, the battle for poultry supremacy shows no signs of abating,” writes Emily Heil for The Washington Post in an article about the ongoing fast food chicken sandwich wars. “And there’s no indication that America’s collective obsession with a crunchy bit of bird on a bun is going anywhere.”

Maya Rudolph Shares What 'SNL' Boss Lorne Michaels Texted Her After Kamala Harris’ VP Nomination | Entertainment Tonight
“He sent me a GIF of myself, as Kamala, in sunglasses, sipping a cocktail and saying, ‘Oh no,’” Rudolph said about Michaels during a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “That really made me laugh."

Staffing shortages force Kalispell ambulance out of service | KECI
The Kalispell Fire Department had to put its ambulance truck out of service on Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Officials say it's due to staffing shortages.

Whitefish movie theater closed | KECI
The company says the closure is due to rising rent costs, low concession sales and the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ed note - shocking that people didn't want to buy three day old popcorn for $10)

Senate Republicans to introduce smaller Covid package that includes billions for Postal Service - POLITICO
The latest GOP coronavirus relief bill is expected to include $300 in boosted weekly federal unemployment benefits until December 27, another round of money for the Paycheck Protection Program and an additional $10 billion for the U.S. Postal Service and liability protections. The proposal is also expected to include money for education and testing.

Montana Gov. Bullock responds to Sharon Stone's COVID-19 testing post
Stone said in a video that in Montana, where Kelly and her husband, Bruce Singer, live, people can’t get tested unless they are symptomatic. She said this was happening as people carried guns in a protest in front of a courthouse saying it was their right to not wear a mask.