The Rock Chalkboard

Kansas football tracking Eudora duo in class of 2023
The head coach at Eudora (Kan.) HS, Sean Hayden has helped build up the football program by teaching on the importance of the details. The big-picture stuff is important, too, but Hayden wants his players to care about the right things — being good teammates, caring about academics and taking care of business on each play, even if you aren't the main focus.

The Drive: Where Kansas, Les Miles stand after LSU-era allegations
The 15th season of The Drive continues heading into the postseason for KU basketball — as well as the events of the weekend, which saw Kansas coach Les Miles placed on administrative leave.

Big 12 Tournament 2021: Bracket, schedule, how to watch
The 2020-21 college basketball regular season is officially in the books and conference tournament season has arrived. The 2021 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket is locked in and the action will get underway on Wednesday from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Report: Kansas defends background check of Les Miles prior to hire
“Kansas found no red flags with Les Miles during what it claims were extensive background checks prior to his hiring in 2018, school sources told CBS Sports,” Dodd wrote. “Those sources defended KU's vetting of Miles, who is currently on administrative leave after an LSU investigation that found allegations of sexual harassment by two women became public knowledge.

Commitment analysis: New Kansas OL pledge Cory Hendrix
Kansas landed a commitment on Sunday from Cory Hendrix, a three-star offensive lineman from College Station (Texas) HS. Kansas offered Hendrix in mid-January, and he's since gotten offers from Utah, Michigan State, SMU, Kentucky, and Louisiana Tech. He has received more than a dozen offers to date.

Kansas football lands commitment from 3-star OL Cory Hendrix
Hendrix previously drew Power Five offers from Arizona State, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and Utah. His other offers included Houston, Louisiana Tech and SMU.

Kansas' Logan Klusman talks pro day, NFL process for long snappers
Logan Klusman's Kansas football pro day experience was a little bit different than that of his counterpart. Klusman was measured just over 6-feet tall and at 233 pounds at the event on Friday. His wingspan measured out at just over 6-3, while he tested out with a vertical of 31.5 inches, per Kansas' release.

Basketball Snap Judgments and Big 12 Power Rankings
What happened since our last update: After struggling against Iowa State and getting whooped by Kansas in their first two games back from COVID pause, the Bears looked like the top team in the league again. Baylor defeated No. 6 West Virginia in Morgantown in a wild, back-and-forth affair. Then, they beat No. 17 Oklahoma State by double digits two nights later. That's a veteran response that bodes well for the postseason.

Recruiting buzz from QB Universe St. Louis Camp
St. Louis, Mo. - Some heavily-recruited quarterbacks and skilled players were on hand at the QB Universe Camp in St. Louis on Saturday. Here is the latest recruiting buzz from some of the top prospects that were present on Saturda

Bits o Chalk

Giannis Antetokounmpo, perfect in Team LeBron win, nabs NBA All-Star Game MVP
"You know, usually it is closed [on Sundays]," Antetokounmpo said with a smile, when asked about the banked-in jumpers, "but for me, it was open extended hours."

Kyle Larson wins first NASCAR Cup race since suspension for racial slur
It was Rick Hendrick who took the chance on a driver many believed was radioactive for sponsors. Larson's use of a racial slur while participating in an online race last April cost him his job, his reputation and his ability to attract the corporations that fund a race team.

Former NBA All-Star forward Blake Griffin agrees to deal with Brooklyn Nets
Six-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a deal to join the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season, his agent, Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Sunday night.

Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons blows a kiss to rim in winning NBA dunk contest
Simons won the contest over Toppin in the final round via a new rule called the "Judge's choice." Simons and Toppin had one dunk each in the round, and instead of a score, the five judges selected a name, with Simons receiving three votes to Toppin's two.

Eraser Dust

House Poised To Pass Biden's $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill On Tuesday : NPR
House Democrats are expected to pass the final version of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Tuesday, thus delivering on Democrats' campaign promises and cementing a major legislative victory for the Biden administration.

Meghan and Prince Harry's explosive Oprah interview prompts widespread reaction
Audiences around the world were promised that Prince Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey would be a tell-all exclusive, where no topics were off-limits. And last night's broadcast delivered, stunning viewers and prompting celebrities, royal experts and members of the public to react to the couple's claims.

Georgia Senate considers repealing no excuse absentee voting in sweeping election bill - CNNPolitics
Under SB 241, voters would need to be 65 years old or older, absent from their precinct, observing a religious holiday, be required to provide constant care for someone with a physical disability, or required to work "for the protection of the health, life, or safety of the public during the entire time the polls are open," or be an overseas or military voter to qualify for an absentee ballot. The bill aims to undo a 2005 Republican-backed law allowing no-excuse absentee voting.

Ted Lasso Sweeps Critics' Choice Awards as Jason Sudeikis Thanks Ex Olivia Wilde: 'She Was Right' | PEOPLE.com
"I want to thank my kids, Otis and Daisy. I want to thank their mom Olivia, who had the initial idea to do this as a TV show, saying, 'You and Brendan [Hunt] and Joe [Kelly] like doing that so much, you should do it as a movie or TV show.' ... She was right."

He Got $300,000 From Credit-Card Rewards. The IRS Said It Was Taxable Income. - WSJ
His materials included American Express cards, the government’s view that credit-card rewards aren’t income, and his own willingness to spend time buying gift cards and money orders. He pulled the concept from personal-finance websites: Exploit the difference between unlimited 5% rewards and lower fees on gift cards and money orders.

Daily Inter Lake
Courtney and Chris Werner took over both sides of the Whitefish business—the café and the bed-and-breakfast—from the Peerman family in October 2020. The former owners relocated to a Central Avenue restaurant and no longer retain any affiliation with the Lupfer Avenue establishment.

Miss Patti Cakes - Flathead Beacon
“Idon’t like cake,” Patricia says matter-of-factly. She’s direct and honest about everything, whether telling a bride she can’t have her favorite kind of frosting because it will melt under the summer sun or admitting, without a hint of sheepishness, that she’d much rather bake a cake than eat one. “If that’s what’s being served, I’ll eat it because I like food, but I like pie. And undercooked brownies.”