The Rock Chalkboard

How Lance Leipold earned respect of Kansas football players
"Actually, when he first met us, we were out there on the field," Betts said. "There were some guys kind of talking. He kind of let them know that they don't need to be talking while he's speaking. I'm talking about — this was the first time we met. That let us know that, yeah, he's really standing on what he's trying to do. ... That earned some respect right away."

Countdown to KU football (3): Predicting Kansas' 2021 record
As we near the end of our countdown series — and thus the start of the Kansas football season — it's time to predict the Jayhawks' record. And that comes with a little bit of analysis, particularly the dividing of games into tiers: winnable, could be competitive and highly unlikely.

Kansas players react to special-edition homecoming uniforms
The Jayhawks and Adidas teamed up for the exclusive “Hail to Old KU” uniforms, which feature a throwback powder-blue look. The old school jerseys are from the Kansas Comet era and are meant to represent aspects associated with being a Jayhawk. The jerseys will first be available for sale on Sept. 6.

Kansas commit Nikki Taylor on '21 summer: 'The hardest I've worked'
“At first, throughout the whole summer everything was going good,” Taylor said. “We weren’t battling with COVID as much, for real. But now, [the] cases [are] starting to go up a lot down here in Luverne. Like, [last week] it was 400 new cases in the country. The superintendent has been enforcing masks and stuff heavy. … It’s getting real bad down here.”

2022 four-star Chandler Jackson cuts list to 10
Kansas: "Coach [Bill] Self is there, it's a big time program and I am going there on October 1st, just experiencing a college like that that has made a name for itself and just the people coach has gotten to the League."

2021 NFL roster cuts tracker -- Who's in and who's out for all 32 teams
The biggest names let go are New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton and New Orleans Saints running back Devonta Freeman. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari and Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore will start the season on the the physically unable to perform list.

Bits o Chalk

Former Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall joins Cleveland Cavaliers on 1-year deal, agents say
The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with center Tacko Fall, his agents -- Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes -- told The Athletic.

Manchester United make Dortmund's Erling Haaland priority target next season - sources
Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Haaland, who can trigger a release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract at the end of this season that is reportedly set at €75 million

NFLPA opens investigation after Jacksonville Jaguars' Urban Meyer says vaccination status a factor in roster cuts
"Everyone was considered," Meyer said. "That was part of the [considerations such as] production, let's start talking about this, and also is he vaccinated or not? Can I say that that was a decision-maker? It was certainly in consideration."

Eraser Dust

Unadulterated Joy: An Oral History of ‘Step Brothers’ - The Ringer
The surreal mix of filthy silliness and reckless abandon resulted in one of the most rewatchable big-screen comedies of all time. “What I think people respond to is this very dangerous edge in the whole thing,” said Mary Steenburgen, who plays the mother of Ferrell’s character. Appearing in it, she pointed out, was like“going wild.”

Montana governor issues rules requiring schools to consider 'parental concerns' about masks | TheHill
Under the new rules, Montana parents will be able to have their children opt out of mask mandates based on moral convictions, religious beliefs, developmental needs and physical and mental health, the AP reported.

White House chief of staff commits to evacuating Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 - POLITICO
White House chief of staff Ron Klain committed Tuesday to evacuate from Afghanistan the Afghan interpreter who helped rescue then-Sen. Joe Biden and two other senators from a snowstorm in 2008.

Most extreme abortion law in US takes effect in Texas | Texas | The Guardian
A near-total abortion ban in Texas empowers any private citizen to sue an abortion provider who violates the law, opening the floodgates to harassing and frivolous lawsuits from anti-abortion vigilantes that could eventually shutter most clinics in the state.

Texas teachers die of coronavirus
WACO, Texas (KWKT) – A Texas school district announced Monday evening it will be closing all campuses until Sept. 7 after a second teacher passed away of COVID-19 complications.

Mussel-fouled Boat Intercepted En Route to Kalispell - Flathead Beacon
The detection occurred Aug. 26 when watercraft inspectors at the Nashua station, located on U.S. Highway 2, inspected an outboard motorboat with mussels on the transducer, gimbal and other areas of the transom. The motorboat is the 50th mussel-fouled vessel intercepted in the state this year, surpassing the total number of 35 mussel-fouled boats intercepted in 2020.