The Rock Chalkboard

Crossroads Elite Invitational: Bossi's class of 2023 standouts
ANDOVER, Kans. – The Crossroads Elite Invitational camp has now established itself as one of the top places in the country to see prospects from the junior class and younger. During this year’s edition, 2023 wing Matas Buzelis put his stamp on the event and continued to build his resumé for a move to five-star status and into the national top 10. Who else stood out over the weekend? A look at some of the players from the class of 2023 (2024 and beyond will be covered in another article) that caught the eye of 247Sports Director of Basketball Eric Bossi.

Countdown to KU football (2): Best case/worst case for 2021
In yesterday's Countdown to KU football column we dove into a season preview of sorts for the team. We looked at the Jayhawks' 2021 schedule and gave a record prediction (2-10), with explanations on which games I expect to be competitive, which I would not be surprised to see Kansas win and which I would be surprised if they were even close.

Kansas DC: Freshman OJ Burroughs 'doesn't make a lot of mistakes'
Even if you didn't know anything about the high school football scene, you've probably become familiar with football power IMG Academy over the last week. ESPN's vetting and scheduling blunder — that it blamed on a marketing company — led to the elite high school program taking on Bishop Sycamore in what turned into a blowout on national TV.

'Game-time decision' expected for Kansas quarterback competition
"Consistently good" vs. "occasionally great" — isn't that always the question? That philosophy, stated by Kotelnicki, has been repeated throughout fall camp. It culminated at his press conference just days before the season opener, which will kick off on Friday.

Bits o Chalk

Weather disrupts US Open play at Louis Armstrong Stadium despite retractable roof
NEW YORK -- Rain poured through the gaps in the roof of Louis Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday night, disrupting second-round play at the US Open.

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard -- 'Consequences' for players unvaccinated against COVID-19
Ballard, in his annual media session before the start of the regular season, spent a significant amount of time answering questions about a number of his players not being vaccinated after quarterback Carson Wentz, center Ryan Kelly and receiver Zach Pascal were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday after coming in close contact with a Colts staff member who tested positive.

Reports - John Smoltz, Al Leiter won't appear in studio for MLB Network after refusing COVID-19 vaccine
John Smoltz and Al Leiter are not making in-studio appearances for MLB Network after refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine, according to multiple reports.

Vaccine requirements specific to New York City and San Francisco will be enforced for teams in those cities, NBA memo says
The NBA informed teams that recently issued laws in both New York City and San Francisco about vaccine requirements will be enforced -- including for players -- for members of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption from taking part in them, according to a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday.

Eraser Dust

A 'Simpsons' prank was pulled on a Virginia school board during a public meeting
Only one woman actually showed up to address the board in person; the rest were seemingly fake names. Much like Bart Simpson's prank calls to Moe's Tavern, names used to sign up for public comment included Phil McCracken, Eileen Dover, Suk Mahdik, Ophelia McCaulk, Don Kedick, and Wayne Kuhr, all of which Cooper read out loud.

Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard -- 'Consequences' for players unvaccinated against COVID-19
Ballard, in his annual media session before the start of the regular season, spent a significant amount of time answering questions about a number of his players not being vaccinated after quarterback Carson Wentz, center Ryan Kelly and receiver Zach Pascal were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday after coming in close contact with a Colts staff member who tested positive.

Rain Totals For Boston Area In 2021 Have Already Passed 2020 With Four Months To Go – CBS Boston
The rain just keeps on coming and the records just keep on falling. Just two days ago we wrapped up the third wettest meteorological summer ever recorded in Boston and in the two days since then, Boston has received more than 4 inches of rain. The ground is saturated. Rivers are swollen and cresting. We are just about at our breaking point.

Supreme Court Upholds Restrictive Texas Abortion Law, For Now : NPR
The U.S. Supreme Court late Wednesday night refused to block a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The vote was 5-to-4, with three Trump-appointed justices joining two other conservative justices. Dissenting were conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, and the court's three liberal justices.

The Taliban have declared victory. Now they must reckon with a country freefalling into chaos - CNN
(CNN)The last American military flight left the airport and disappeared into the Kabul sky on Monday -- and minutes later, the Taliban flooded the streets around the city's last exit point, filling the night with celebratory gunfire.

This Texas high school principal was put on administrative leave after being accused of promoting critical race theory - CNN
James Whitfield, principal of Colleyville Heritage High School in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was placed on leave Monday, a month after a community member at a school board meeting publicly accused him of having "extreme views on race" and called for him to be fired.

Logan Health launches weekly COVID-19 hospitalization data
Every Wednesday the Kalispell hospital plans to update its website with figures breaking down the number of hospitalizations, number of patients in the Intensive Care Unit, and the number of patients on ventilators.

Jobless claims total 340,000, lowest level since early in pandemic
Initial filings for unemployment insurance fell last week to their lowest levels since March 2020 in another sign that the labor market is gradually improving from the Covid-19 era, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Joe Rogan Says He Tested Positive For Covid-19
Podcaster Joe Rogan says he’s tested positive for covid-19 and claims he’s taking ivermectin to treat it, along with a host of other drugs. Ivermectin has become seen as a wonder drug against covid-19 for right wingers in the U.S., sometimes leading people to buy a livestock version of the drug for themselves, but the FDA warns it’s not helpful for treating coronavirus.