The Rock Chalkboard

Former KU star Joel Embiid off to strong start in NBA Playoffs
Fresh off one of the best regular seasons — if not the best — of his NBA career, former Jayhawk big man Joel Embiid has continued to dominate into the first round of the NBA playoffs. Embiid's 76ers took a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday thanks to big outings from Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris.

Jalon Peoples talks first chat with Lance Leipold, upcoming Kansas OV
"He just asked how I was doing to see if I was all right," Peoples said. "Whenever I get down there, hopefully me and him will build a strong bond."

Bill Self comments on additions of Remy Martin, Jalen Coleman-Lands
KU basketball is, once again, full on scholarships after several roster updates were announced on Wednesday. Three-star JUCO big man Sydney Curry announced he was leaving the Jayhawks' 2021 class, which opened up a spot to accommodate the Jayhawks' two new transfer additions: Remy Martin and Jalen Coleman-Lands.

Sydney Curry reopens recruitment, departs KU basketball's incoming class
KU basketball has announced the signing of two new transfers: Arizona State's Remy Martin and Iowa State's Jalen Coleman-Lands. That duo would have put Kansas at 14 scholarships — one over the limit — but three-star JUCO big man Sydney Curry also announced on Wednesday that he is reopening his recruitment and, presumably, dropping out of KU's 2021 class.

Travis Goff comments on passing of former Kansas AD Monte Johnson
“Monte Johnson was a true Jayhawk through and through, and he will be greatly missed,” said Goff. “Every decision he made as the Athletics Director was to better the University of Kansas Athletics department and the student-athlete experience. He certainly did that through facilities improvements, the construction of Hoglund Ballpark and the hiring of Larry Brown, who won the first National Championship for Kansas basketball in over three decades.”

Bits o Chalk

Pending sale of Minnesota Timberwolves has no limitations to moving franchise to a new city
In fact, new details of Taylor's sale agreement with Lore and Rodriguez -- expected to be completed by July 1 -- include a clause under "Governance Matters" that lists several actions that would require new ownership to "present to the Advisory Board for discussion" -- including any plan to "relocate the team outside of the Twin Cities market."

New York Knicks even series with Atlanta Hawks after first playoff win since 2013
For the first time in more than eight years -- 2,923 days, to be exact -- the New York Knicks were able to celebrate a playoff win. And, like the last one, they were able to do it at Madison Square Garden.

Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant downplays 47-point night, earns Utah Jazz's respect
During the next stoppage in play, Morant informed Gobert that he intended to keep attacking. He backed up his talk, scoring 47 points, a franchise record for the playoffs, in the Grizzlies' 141-129 Game 2 loss Wednesday night.

Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook says fan behavior out of hand, calls on NBA to protect players better
"To be completely honest, this s--- is getting out of hand, especially for me. The amount of disrespect, the amount of fans just doing whatever the f--- they want to do -- it's just out of pocket," Westbrook said. "There are certain things that cross the line. Any other setting ... a guy were to come up on the street and pour popcorn on my head, you know what happens.

Eraser Dust

San Jose shooting: gunman had talked about killing people at work | California | The Guardian
An employee who gunned down nine people at a California rail yard and then killed himself as law enforcement rushed in had talked about killing people at work more than a decade ago, his ex-wife said.

Biden's Plan: President to Propose $6 Trillion Budget to Boost Middle Class, Infrastructure - The New York Times
The president’s plans to invest in infrastructure, education, health care and more would push federal spending to its highest sustained levels since World War II.

I Just Learned Why Olympic Divers Take Showers After Each Dive, and It Makes a Lot of Sense
As it turns out, showers and hot tubs are used pretty interchangeably on the pool deck; however, there is a need for both. First, let's start with why divers need to rinse off between dives. It has to do with body temperature and keeping their muscles loose. As you can imagine, doing practice dives in the pool, then having to keep your body warm in a shower, then plunging off a 10-meter platform into cold water isn't the best feeling in the world. Going back and forth between these warm and cool temperatures can cause a diver's muscles to tense or cramp up, which can lead to muscle strain and spasms. Showers allow an Olympic diver to recover and avoid potential injury.

Suspect shot by Flathead Co. deputy during standoff | KECI
A standoff in Columbia Falls ended around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Climate activists score wins against Exxon, Shell and Chevron
Shareholders Wednesday rebuked the top two U.S. oil companies for dragging their feet on fighting climate change, while a Dutch court ruled that Royal Dutch Shell needs to accelerate cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

Seth Rogen Admits James Franco Harassment Joke 'Aged Terribly'
“To me when I see comedians complaining about this kind of thing, I don’t understand what they’re complaining about. If you’ve made a joke that’s aged terribly, accept it. And if you don’t think it’s aged terribly, then say that.”