The Rock Chalkboard

Ranking the Big 12’s most important transfer additions
The more pessimistic will note that Kansas is likely headed for the Big 12 cellar in Lance Leipold’s first year on campus. But Leipold landed the job in the first place because his Buffalo teams — thanks in large part to offensive line coach Scott Fuchs — were among the nation’s deadliest at running outside zone. One of the most challenging jobs in that offense comes at the center spot, and Novitsky wasn’t just great at it (he was first team All-MAC), he did so for Leipold and Fuchs at Buffalo. Mike Novitsky is the No. 7 offensive lineman and No. 41 overall transfer in the 247Sports rankings, and he’ll supply the backbone as Kansas attempts to transition to a new system (and potentially get a few more wins down the line because of it). That makes Novitsky not just an immediate impact starter, but an important locker room piece as well.

Lance Leipold, Kwamie Lassiter set stage for QB battle entering fall
“All three of them I love their personalities,” Leipold said. “Miles Kendrick has had an outstanding summer in lifting and development. He’s been an outstanding leader and leader by example. Jalon Daniels has done an outstanding job in that phase as well. You can see his body maturing. He’s a guy that has a smile on his face and has energy each and every day. Jason Bean is new and he’s learning his teammates and what it’s about. He’s got great length. He runs well. He shows that. ... That’s about all I can tell you.”

KU men's basketball to face North Texas in opening round of ESPN Events Invitational on Nov. 25 | KUsports.com
On the other side of the bracket, an Alabama squad that is expected to enter the season in the top 10 of the national polls will face Iona and Belmont will take on Drake in the other opening-round contests.

Veteran Kwamie Lassiter II expects some young KU football WRs to step up | KUsports.com
KU’s receiving corps, which also picked up a key addition this summer with Buffalo transfer Trevor Wilson coming in, obviously will need some younger players to step up for the offense in the fall, as well, to supplement the production of the team’s two leading returning receivers, Lassiter (43 receptions, 458 yards, two touchdowns) and sophomore Luke Grimm (19 catches, 255 yards, two TDs).

Bits o Chalk

Jake Cronenworth hits for cycle as San Diego Padres hang 24 runs on Washington Nationals
WASHINGTON -- San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth hit for the cycle for the first time in his major league career as his team blew out the Washington Nationals 24-8 on Friday night.

Reports - Shohei Ohtani donated Home Run Derby earnings to Los Angeles Angels' staff members
Ohtani donated the $150,000 he received to more than a couple of dozen people, including clubhouse staff, trainers and members of the media relations department, the reports said. The two-way Japanese sensation handed out the checks before the Angels' game Friday night against the Seattle Mariners.

Giannis Antetokounmpo still awed by block, but ready to shift focus to Game 5 of NBA Finals
"I cannot explain the play. But, at the end of the day, that's in the past. When you talk about the past, that's your ego talking. It's in the past. It's over with.

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard denies making trade request, hopes for big changes
"Right now I'm not sure what I'm going to do. What I can say is my intentions and my heart has always been set on being in a Trail Blazers uniform for my entire career," Lillard said after Team USA practice Friday at UNLV. "But I think over time, you want to win it all. And I want to win it all in a Trail Blazers uniform. But we all have to be making strides toward that."

Kevin Love out of Olympics; JaVale McGee, Keldon Johnson join Team USA
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has withdrawn from Team USA, and Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee and San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson have taken the open spots on the 12-man roster for the Tokyo Olympics, it was announced Friday.

Eraser Dust

Kansas City skywalk collapse: 114 people were killed 40 years before the Surfside disaster. Here's what we've learned since - CNN
Then, as the orchestra was said to be playing Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll," the fourth-floor skywalk collapsed onto the second-floor skywalk directly beneath it. Both walkways then crashed onto the ground floor, killing 114 people and injuring more than 200 others.

Noel Gallagher says female band members have changed his songwriting
“Every time I write a song now, I hear those girls in the background somewhere doing something amazing so at the moment, it’s them,” he added, saying they were his favourite artists to collaborate with now.

Kalispell festival attracts record-breaking number of artists | KECI
“That means for the visitors, all of the art has been carefully selected by our jury. So there are really quality artists this year -- something for everybody," Hockaday Museum executive director Alyssa Cordova said.

Sunscreen recall: What the finding of a cancer-causing chemical in Neutrogena and Aveeno sprays means for you - CNN
"While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our sunscreen products, it was detected in some samples of the impacted aerosol sunscreen finished products," J&J reported in a statement. "Consumers should stop using these specific products and appropriately discard them."

Rapper Biz Markie, known for 'Just a Friend,' dies at 57 - ABC News
"It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, Hip Hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away," his representative said in a statement. "We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time. Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years."

Photos show disastrous flooding in western Europe
Heavy rainfall and flooding have wreaked devastation across parts of western Europe, with rescue workers currently trying to prevent further damage.

What to know about DACA being ruled illegal - CNNPolitics
Hanen declared DACA unlawful because he concluded it had violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which dictates what procedures agencies must go through to implement certain policies. Rather than immediately strike down the program in its entirety, he is putting some aspects of his decision on hold for the time being, as the case continues to be litigated and so the government can consider making changes to the program.

Great Salt Lake is shrinking fast. Scientists demand action before it becomes a toxic dustbin - CNN
Perry and other scientists worry they're watching a slow-motion calamity unfold. Ten million birds flock to the Great Salt Lake each year to feed off of its now-struggling sea life. More pelicans breed here than most anywhere else in the country.

The Worst Superhero Movie, According To Christopher Nolan
Yes, Christopher Nolan hated "Justice League" — or, more accurately, the original 2017 release of "Justice League," on which Nolan served as executive producer.

MAGA-branded ‘Freedom Phone’ Is a Major Security Hazard
The fact that the device is essentially a black box also makes it a potential security (and thus also privacy) nightmare—and once again, it should be treated that way until proven otherwise. In fact, based on the assessment of some security professionals who have scoped it out, the Freedom Phone should be avoided at all costs.

Art project aims to bring beauty to downtown Kalispell
KALISPELL — The City of Kalispell and the Kalico Art Center are seeking artists in the Flathead Valley to help transform ugly downtown traffic signal boxes into beautiful works of art.

With pal Nick Kroll hosting, Seth Rogen finally gets to tell his late-night dog penis anecdote
But Seth Rogen has never been able to tell his dog penis story, until now. Friday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live was the time and place, and only because his friend and Big Mouth and Sausage Party co-star Nick Kroll was guest hosting while Kimmel was out of town. What are friends for, after all, if not to overrule the legions of talk show pre-interviewers who’ve deemed the tale not fit for broadcast since time immemorial? So, after chiding Kroll about allowing such disreputable storytelling to take place on Disney’s own airwaves (not to mention the pot-adjacent product placement from Rogen’s side-hustle), Rogen delighted in regaling the audience with the time that he was unjustly accused of doing something unseemly with a friend’s dog.

Taco Bell Bringing Back Fan-Favorite Menu Item
One of Taco Bell’s most popular items is finally returning to the menu! The beloved Mexican-style fast-food chain confirmed on Thursday that Nacho Fries, the chain's No. 1 best-selling limited time offer to date, is coming back to menus this month, and just like in times' past, Taco Bell is also offering up a new rendition of the dish, Loaded Taco style.

Why you should be cooking blocks of cream cheese on your smoker
But those who posted the pictures swore by the method. It didn’t take long before my curiosity got the better of me. I was already trying my hand at smoking my very first pork butt, which was going to take hours, so I decided to give smoked cream cheese a whirl using the extra open space on my smoker.

This Day in Noel Gallagher History

On July 16th, 2017 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Supported U2 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy