The Rock Chalkboard

Inside what made 2023 'the most physical spring ball' Lance Leipold has coached and why KU did it
Kansas football spring practice wrapped up last week and it was a whole lot different than what the KU players experienced last year. This time a year ago, the Jayhawks were wrapping up their first spring under Lance Leipold and the KU staff. Those 15 practices were geared towards everyone on the team learning the scheme and getting more comfortable with it, something that couldn’t happen when Leipold took over after KU’s spring in 2021.

Former KU guard Bobby Pettiford announces transfer destination
Former Kansas basketball player Bobby Pettiford Jr. has officially found a new home. On Monday afternoon, the guard announced his intention to transfer to Eastern Carolina. His decision came not too long after he narrowed his recruitment to Georgetown, Florida State and Eastern Carolina. Pettiford will have two seasons of playing eligibility left at his new spot, plus a redshirt year should he choose to use it.

Bill Self on KU basketball's offseason: 'I need to be living in the portal'
The NCAA Transfer Portal is blowing up. It hasn’t even been a month since the transfer window opened for basketball on March 13 and there are already north of 1,300 basketball players in the portal looking to transfer. And more are going in each day. From a KU perspective, the Jayhawks have seen a decent amount of transfer attrition and it’s created the opportunity for Bill Self and the KU staff to recruit transfers.

Bits o Chalk

Aliyah Boston selected as No. 1 pick by Indiana Fever in the 2023 WNBA Draft | CNN
The 21-year-old starred throughout her time playing for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was the unanimous choice to go No. 1 on the big day.

NBA Play-In Tournament picks, odds for Hawks-Heat and Timberwolves-Lakers - The Athletic
The NBA postseason is here with the play-in games starting with two games. LeBron James’ Lakers and Jimmy Butler’s Heat have the history and the stars to make postseason runs, but are stuck in the Play-In Tournament.

Kliff Kingsbury Expected To Join USC's Staff
Kliff Kingsbury had been linked to a potential season off, but the ex-Cardinals leader did interview for multiple NFL gigs. Instead, the recently fired HC looks set to return to the college ranks.

NFL Rumors: Odell Beckham Had 'Clear Understanding' Lamar Jackson Would Be Ravens QB | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
"In his recruitment, it's not like Lamar said, 'All right, I'm about to do a deal, we're good to go,' but there was a clear understanding that when they talk about the quarterback that's gonna be throwing passes to Odell, that it's probably gonna be Lamar," Rapoport stated.

Eraser Dust

This US state is home to the most hate groups – The Hill
With 5.55 hate groups per million people, Montana came in first as the state with the most hate groups per capita with the SPLU reporting six hate groups: two ant-Muslim groups, two white nationalist groups, a skinhead group and a chapter of the Proud Boys, a group of self-described “Western chauvinists” created during the 2016 presidential election.

Dog recovering from 'alcohol withdrawal,' animal organization says | KOMO
WASHINGTON (TND) — A dog named Coco is recovering from an apparent alcohol withdrawal, according to an animal charity organization in the United Kingdom.

Everything Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023
There was plenty to celebrate at Star Wars Celebration Europe, which wrapped up today in London. The Lucasfilm lovefest wowed fans with all sorts of news, including when the franchise will finally return to movie theaters—and who’ll be directing the new movies. Plus, there were new trailers for Ahsoka, Visions, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and more. And, neither last nor least, we finally learned who will bring fan-favorite villain Thrawn to life. Check out all of io9's SWCE coverage here!

Hospitality company has big plans for historic inn
Officials with the Washington-based hospitality company that purchased the historic Izaak Walton Inn near Glacier National Park in December say their company is growing rapidly and they see big opportunities in Montana in the years ahead.

Trump’s Latest Accounting Gambit Just Failed
His family company, the Trump Organization, was forced to scramble and find new accountants early last year amid accusations it regularly faked business records to inflate assets. The shunned Trumps settled on Whitley Penn, a relatively unknown accounting firm that doesn’t even rank among the “Big Four”—not even among the big four in North Texas.

Jeremy Renner Shares Hilariously Brutal Message From Paul Rudd After Accident | HuffPost Entertainment
“He made a fake one like I paid him money for a Cameo,” Renner recalled.

“Hey Jerry,” Rudd begins the clip. “I hear you’re a little banged up. Got in a fight with a snowblower apparently? Anyway, I just wanted to send this video. It’s really from the heart and hope you’re feeling better. Sounds like you are ― apparently you’re a pretty tough guy. Maybe I’ll get to meet you someday.”

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