The Rock Chalkboard

Bill Self comments on retirement of Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger
On Thursday, Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger announced that he'd be retiring after some three decades as a college basketball head coach. Kruger, of course, was the coach of the Sooners for the last decade, leading the team to a Final Four in 2016.

Top Big 12 football commit accused of domestic violence
The University of Kansas Football program says it is investigating a Twitter post that accused incoming receiver Quaydarius Davis of domestic violence. The tweet, which was posted on Wednesday night, accuses Davis of being an abuser and shows graphic images of a young woman with a bruised and swollen eye and blood on her lip.

Four-star guard Arterio Morris breaks down top schools
Once rated as a five-star point guard, Arterio Morris was bumped down to four-star status after leaving a lot to be desired last summer. Safe to say after helping lead the historical Dallas (Texas) Kimball program back to a state championship game appearance, Morris looks to be back on the right track and schools are taking notice.

Four-star Bobby Pettiford taking his time after opening recruitment
Last Saturday, four-star point guard Bobby Pettiford was one of two signees that Louisville released from their Letters of Intent. While three-star forward Eric Van Der Heijden wasted little time in committing to Mississippi, Pettiford is going to take his time.

Tyon Grant-Foster shows scoring ability in KU basketball finale
KU basketball's 2020-21 season did not have the storybook conclusion that coach Bill Self said he was hoping for when the team hit a rut in January. But one player, Tyon Grant-Foster, did get the chance to cap off the season with some positive minutes on the court — an opportunity that was not always available throughout the year.

Bits o Chalk

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to leave social media; highlights lack of action on racism, bullying
Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry has announced that he will no longer be using social media until the platforms do more to tackle racism and bullying online.

Miami Heat acquire Victor Oladipo in trade with Houston Rockets; team eyes bought-out LaMarcus Aldridge
Although sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski earlier this week that there was widespread confidence Houston would trade Oladipo, the teams went right up to the 3 p.m. ET deadline before agreeing to the trade.

Grand Canyon basketball's Oscar Frayer dies in car accident, just days after playing in NCAA tournament
Grand Canyon standout Oscar Frayer died in a car accident in northern California early Tuesday morning, according to a release from the school. He was 23 years old.

Philadelphia 76ers' Dwight Howard ejected after receiving '20 title ring in return to Staples Center
Dwight Howard flashed a wide smile across his face before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, receiving his 2020 championship ring with fellow former Laker Danny Green.

Eraser Dust

Cargo ship still stuck across Suez Canal, but Egyptian official says it will be freed over weekend - CBS News
Mohab Mamish, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's advisor on seaports and the former chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, told the AFP news agency on Thursday that navigation through the canal "will resume again within 48-72 hours, maximum."

Dominion Sues Fox News, Claiming Defamation in Election Coverage - The New York Times
Dominion Voting Systems, an election technology company, accused the news channel of advancing lies that devastated its reputation and business.

Life Near Minimum Wage: For 53 Million, Median Wage Of $10.22 An Hour : NPR
The 96-page bill makes dramatic alterations to Georgia's absentee voting rules, adding new identification requirements, moving back the request deadline and other changes after a record 1.3 million absentee ballots overwhelmed local elections officials and raised Republican skepticism of a voting method they created.

Trump pollster surveys Republican voters, finds 7 key issue groups - Axios
The post-Trump Republican Party cares most about issues in seven key categories, with most prioritizing economic issues like job creation and limited government, according to a new survey conducted by former President Trump's chief 2016 and 2020 pollster.

Study: Flathead County Has Most Short-Term Rentals in Montana - Flathead Beacon
As short-term rentals (STRs) through sites like AirBnB and VRBO continue to multiply in Montana, a recent study finds that Flathead County had 2,814 properties in 2020, the highest in the state, contributing to a positive financial impact for hosts while potentially limiting housing availability and spiking costs in some communities.

Kim Kardashian Decided To Divorce Kanye West After "White Supremacist" Tweets
The "final straw" reportedly came last summer when Kanye, after increasingly erratic behavior, publicly announced he and Kim had contemplated having an abortion when she was pregnant with North West. And now this week's episode shows us exactly what went down behind the scenes.