The Rock Chalkboard

Collin's Corner: 4-star SG Rylan Griffen talks recruiting, late-game approach & more
The Richardson Eagles and Jesuit Dallas Rangers met again this week, seeing a highly-anticipated rematch take the floor. The previous matchup saw Richardson escape with a game-winning shot from five-star guard Cason Wallace. This time around, a similar outcome was delivered by talented four-star shooting guard, Rylan Griffen.

Kansas first to offer 2023 S Marvin Burks Jr.
St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter 2023 safety Marvin Burks Jr. looks like he is going to be one of the more heavily recruited prospect in the Midwest in his year. Kansas came in with a first offer on Friday, a moment those who have seen him play have known was coming.

How to watch: TV, radio, game info for KU basketball at Oklahoma
Later today, Kansas (10-4, 4-3 Big 12) will square off with Oklahoma (8-4, 4-3), with Saturday's game set to tip in Norman at 11 a.m. CT. The Jayhawks, of course, are coming off a 2019-20 season in which they finished the year as the consensus No. 1 squad, amassing a record of 28-3 and going 17-1 in Big 12 play. This season, Kansas has defeated ranked foes in at-the-time No. 7 West Virginia, No. 8 Creighton, No. 14 Texas Tech and No. 20 Kentucky.

Live updates: No. 9 KU basketball at Oklahoma; pre-game
Conference play has arrived for KU basketball. The No. 9 Jayhawks dropped a close contest at Baylor earlier this week and remained on the road for their third-straight contest on Saturday. Next up for KU? A showdown with Oklahoma in Norman.

Bits o Chalk

Bucs-Packers, Bills-Chiefs picks, schedule, odds, injuries, predictions, more for AFC and NFC championships
The conference championship games of the NFL playoffs have arrived, with both kicking off on Sunday. The fifth-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the top-seeded Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, and then the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills will play the No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. The winners advance to Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7.

Sources -- Boston Red Sox, Enrique Hernandez agree to 2-year, $14 million deal
Hernandez, originally acquired from the Miami Marlins as part of a seven-player trade in December 2014, was a key cog for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past six years because of his infectious energy, defensive versatility and production against left-handed pitching.

Longtime MLB home run king Hank Aaron dies at 86
Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron, the Hall of Fame slugger whose 755 career home runs long stood as baseball's golden mark, has died. He was 86.

Brooklyn Nets' defense thumped by Cleveland Cavaliers in 'two humbling losses'
"This was two humbling losses," Nets point guard Kyrie Irving said after Friday's game.

Eraser Dust

Wuhan marks its anniversary with triumph and denial - BBC News
From the moment a new, pandemic coronavirus emerged in the same city as a laboratory dedicated to the study of new coronaviruses with pandemic potential, Prof Shi Zhengli has found herself the focus of one of the biggest scientific controversies of our time.

Larry King, legendary talk show host, dies - CNN
"With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the death of our co-founder, host and friend Larry King, who passed away this morning at age 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles," the statement said. "For 63 years and across the platforms of radio, television and digital media, Larry's many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster."

US coronavirus: FDA gives approval for syringes that can extract an extra dose of the vaccine - CNN
As the US set a new daily record for Covid-19 inoculations and states clamored for more vaccine supplies, Pfizer and the FDA said pharmacists and health practitioners can in some cases extract an additional dose from each vial.

Mother-in-Law Units Allowed in Certain Kalispell Zones - Flathead Beacon
The Kalispell City Council passed an ordinance on Jan. 19 that will allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs), otherwise known as mother-in-law units, within certain zoning districts in the city.

Military and Police Investigate Members Charged in Capitol Riot - WSJ
Jacob Fracker is a member of the Virginia National Guard and a police officer in the small town of Rocky Mount, Va. On Jan. 6, he joined the mob that broke into the U.S. Capitol and posted a photo of himself next to a fellow off-duty officer with his middle finger raised in front of a statue of a Revolutionary War commander, according to court documents.

Noel Gallagher set to 'record new Oasis album WITHOUT brother Liam' | Daily Mail Online
Noel Gallagher has revealed that Oasis will be reuniting to record a new album - but without his brother Liam.

Noel Gallagher to record album of lost Oasis tracks without Liam - Radio X
The Ballad of the Mighty I singer added: "I was looking at the tracklisting and thinking: ‘Actually, f***ing hell, no I’d approach that song differently’. It’s been very interesting."