By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Kevin Haskin
Musings at the mid-month:
-- Too bad no one at Kansas kept Lance Leipold from making a rookie mistake.
-- Topeka Regional is the official airport for KU athletics.
-- Poor weather kept the KU football party from attending Big 12 Media Days.
-- If Forbes is good enough for the Kansas Air National Guard, it’s better for KU than the concrete strip in Lawrence. Especially in a storm.
-- This, after Leipold got hired too late to attend, and orchestrate, spring practices.
-- Unfortunate timing has not prevented some media outlets from ballyhooing Leipold’s arrival.
-- Not going there just yet but considering Les Miles’ interactions with female employees at LSU, the $50,000-plus in hush money KU paid to a player not to reveal trouble with teammates, and a winless 2020 season, Leipold has to be an improvement.
-- And, we no longer have to squirm listening to Miles answer questions.
-- A current official in the KU athletic department should have offered a comment to Jesse Newell, who wrote the recent investigative piece for the Kansas City Star.
-- What’s to make anyone believe KU doesn’t still condone the behavior that contributed to Caperton Humphrey’s departure and the payout Jesse reported in his story?
-- A strict “representations and warranties” clause was included in the contract Leipold signed following the fallout with Miles.
-- But that doesn’t absolve KU of the deal it provided Humphrey to keep his torment quiet ... even though, yes, Jeff Long somehow got hired as KU’s athletic director.
-- If Texas is so soft that a “Horns Down’’ taunt aimed at a Longhorn results in a penalty, then NO, I will not declare the Longhorns are back.
-- I wouldn’t have anyway, and that’s no knock on Steve Sarkisian, UT’s latest hire.
-- Salvy deserved better from ESPN during his 28-homer barrage in the Home Run Derby.
-- Impressive feat for a catcher.
-- Felt kinda natural, though, to get blanked on Salvy coverage.
-- That’s been the case for me all season since my TV provider doesn’t have precious access to carry the Royals.
-- Yeah, I could get savvy and work around the problem with all my technical know-how.
-- But with the Royals sitting last in the AL in runs scored at the break, and last in their division, what’s the point?
-- Anyone go to the trouble of finding a replica All-Star jersey to purchase?
-- Would you actually find a place for it in your closet, let alone put it on?
-- One of the coolest things about the original and best All-Star game in sports is baseball players compete just fine in their team uniforms.
-- Yet MLB officials chose a uniform look that failed.
-- Baseball can’t get out of its own way sometimes, but golly, the All-Star gala sure is a blast for the players.
-- So said Joe Buck every half-inning.
-- Try letting the game sell itself.
-- Oh yeah, antiquated blackout rules prevent that.
-- When a generational talent like Shohei Ohtani leads a list of rising young stars, it’s OK to let the game breathe and take it all in without unnecessary fanfare.
-- Think Denny Matthews on radio.
-- Old school. Just like nine inning games for both ends of a twinbill and the bases empty to start an extra inning.
-- I will admit that moving back the rubber intrigues me.
-- Players bolting Bruce Weber’s program pose a dilemma when (if?) K-State changes coaches.
-- Will the next coach retain a decent share of players, or will the Cats’ roster continue to need reconstructing as often as downtown Topeka?
-- Several players chose other places under Frank Martin, too, though many attributed the turnover to Frank’s temperament.
-- Reminds me of a conversation I had with Frank once about the value of a deep rotation and committing to finding roles for those he recruited.
-- Not trying to draw parallels. Just remembering how fun it could be discussing anything with Frank.
-- Growing convinced that KU could sell out a month’s worth of basketball intrasquad games.
-- As good as the schedule is for the loaded Jayhawks, showdowns for playing time might be even better.
-- I love turning on the TV in the morning and watching major championship golf.
-- Once I drink enough coffee to remember golf is on.
