The Rock Chalkboard

Memorable moments: A look back at David McCormack's 2020-21 season
In a normal season, David McCormack may have sought feedback from the NBA following the conclusion of a productive junior campaign. But the big man had surgery after the year and instead is focused on his return for KU basketball.

2022 ATH Tobi Osunsanmi talks Kansas visit, in-state talent level
"We toured around the football facility and I got a workout in with the coaches and talked to the new head coach," Osunsanmi recalled to Phog.net. "All the coaches, they're new but they have a lot of experience at other schools. I feel like they're trying to get comfortable with the players as much as the players are trying to get comfortable with them. That's what I felt we had in common."

Mark Mangino says he would consider a return to coaching
“There’s some people that dangled some bait in front of me, if that’s what you mean. So far, I didn’t clamp down on it,” Mangino said. “Now, I will tell you this: I’m not out looking for a coaching job. I am not. But if something fell in my lap or somebody called me and I thought it was a good opportunity, I would seriously consider it. I still have a lot of energy, I have a lot of enthusiasm, I go visit college, NFL teams all the time, I go help high school teams insert offenses and defenses, things like that. I’m in tune with the game. I know what the game is all about.

Kansas RB Amauri Pesek-Hickson reflects on grayshirt season
"I thought it was going to be easy [when I was] getting recruited, but then actually doing it and the process of it was hard," Pesek-Hickson recalled. "I'm just glad to be here. I'm glad to be producing. I'm glad to be a Jayhawk, man."

Bits o Chalk

Buffalo Bills WR Cole Beasley vows to live 'life like I want' amid backlash to anti-vaccine remarks
"I'm not going to take meds for a leg that isn't broken. I'd rather take my chances with Covid and build up my immunity that way. ... I'll play for free this year to live life how I've lived it from day one. If I'm forced into retirement, so be it."

Ryan Lochte's Olympic career likely over after finishing 7th in 200 individual medley
After he embarrassed himself five years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Lochte's bid for a fifth Olympics ended with a labored, seventh-place finish in the 200 IM at the U.S. swimming trials Friday night.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid frustrated with officiating after win, wants it 'called both ways'
"I just felt like it wasn't called both ways, especially because of the minimal contact that they get on the point guard, and when it comes to us, we don't get the same thing," Embiid said after Philadelphia came back from down 12 in the first quarter to win. "So I just want it called both ways. If you're going to call something like nothing on their point guard, it should be the same way and call the same thing [for] me when I get -- if I get -- touched."

Terance Mann scores 39 as LA Clippers erase 25-point deficit, make first Western Conference finals
LOS ANGELES -- Patrick Beverley, Terance Mann and Reggie Jackson stood on the court and urged the first sellout crowd at Staples Center in over a year to cheer even louder as history was unfolding in dramatic fashion.

Eraser Dust

Picture of Minnesota barbecue restaurant's ribs goes viral
When Justin Ekstrom, Minnesota-based sports writer, went out to dinner the other night, I’m not sure he expected a picture of his plate to go viral. The photo of his rib platter from Linsey’s BBQ in Jordan, Minnesota, generated a lot of online commentary, but it was the kind of commentary you’d expect from motorists at a gapers’ block. Bring Me The News has the story.

Child Tax Credit: Here's who will get up to $1,800 per child in cash — and who will need to opt out - CBS News
The effort has some similarities to the three rounds of stimulus checks that have been distributed by the IRS to help people weather the pandemic. For one, the enhanced CTC and the stimulus checks are only available to eligible lower- and middle-class families, with upper-income households essentially shut out of the benefit. And secondly, the IRS will deposit the payments directly into bank accounts.

Taylor Swift Announces New Re-Recorded Album Red (Taylor’s Version) | Pitchfork
The original Red, released in October 2012, found Taylor Swift recording more deliberately pop-focused songs. The album houses some of Swift’s biggest singles, including “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The standard edition of the original Red consists of 16 tracks.

Targeting Biden, Catholic Bishops Advance Controversial Communion Plan - The New York Times
The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States, flouting a warning from the Vatican, have overwhelmingly voted to draft guidance on the sacrament of the Eucharist, advancing a push by conservative bishops to deny President Biden communion because of his support of abortion rights.

Texas Power Companies Remotely Raise Temps Amid Energy Shortage
English, who expressed concerns over the potential for his young child to overheat and dehydrate, said it wasn’t long after that his wife received a text alert noting that the thermostat had been remotely altered during a three-hour “energy saving event.”

World's largest farm tractor coming to Kalispell | Daily Inter Lake
Owned by Robert and Randy Williams of Big Sandy, the Guiness World Record holder as the largest farm tractor will be on display at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center Building July 2-5 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day.

Weekend Poll