KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs will head into training camp next month with plenty of questions.

Who will replace Brandon Flowers at cornerback? When will Pro Bowl linebacker Justin Houston show up? Will quarterback Alex Smith land a long-term contract? Who will earn the open spots along the offensive line? And for that matter, the defensive line?

The Chiefs had their final workout Thursday of a mandatory three-day minicamp.

Along with another no-show by Houston, who like Smith is opening for a long-term contract, the biggest news of the day was wide receiver Dwayne Bowe coming up lame. Bowe appeared to be slightly hobbled after making a catch in the end zone.

The Chiefs also waived defensive tackle Chas Alecxih.

UNDATED (AP) – Kansas center Joel Embiid, one of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA draft, has a stress fracture in his right foot and is scheduled to have surgery on Friday.

Embiid’s agent, Arn Tellem, made the announcement on Thursday, a week before the draft. Tellem says Embiid fractured the navicular bone in his right foot and will be unable to participate in any additional workouts. He also will not attend the draft in New York.

Embiid was widely considered to be the favorite for the No. 1 overall draft pick held by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But Embiid missed a chunk of last season with a back injury as well and that combined with the foot injury could cause him to slide some on draft night.

The Hays Monarchs American Legion baseball team used some solid pitching to run their win streak to five with a doubleheader sweep of Great Bend Wednesday night at the TMP Field. The Monarchs take the opener 6-1 then win the nightcap 8-1.

Dick Hockett went the distance in the first game, allowing just one unearned on three hits while striking out four and walking none. The Monarchs scored five in the fourth keyed by a two-run single from Grant Romme and a Jordan Gottschalk’s RBI double. Braiden Werth finished with three RBIs.

In the second game, the Monarchs took advantage of advantage of six Great Bend errors and seven walks to score two in the first and two in the second then blew the game open with four in the fifth. Grant Romme and Jordan Gottschalk both had two hits including a double. Romme drove in two. Liam Stults picks up the win, allowing one run on one hit while striking out four and walking three.

The Monarchs are now 9-3. They are off until Monday when they at Larned for two.

 

Kansas State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Dramatic improvements in fan experience amenities and game atmosphere will highlight upgrades to Bramlage Coliseum, as K-State Athletics announced that a new high-definition Panasonic center-hung videoboard, six additional LED displays and a state-of-the-art, innovative lighting and sound systems will be installed this fall.

In keeping with its goal of providing The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12, K-State Athletics partnered with Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon and Williams, Inc. (WJHW), one of the top acoustical consulting and electronic systems design firms in the country, to manage the project, which will begin later this summer and be completed in October. WJHW, which is based out of Dallas, is well known for its work in sports, convention centers and concert venues.

“We are excited to announce these improvements to Bramlage Coliseum as we continue to provide The Best Fan Experience in the Big 12,” said Director of Athletics John Currie. “These additions will greatly enhance our gameday atmosphere at Bramlage which is already one of the best in the Big 12 and in all of college basketball. We’re excited for all of K-State Nation to fill Bramlage in 2014-15 and experience these new enhancements.”

The focus of the nearly $2.4 million in enhancements will be the unique Panasonic center-hung 25’x 18’ SMD LED videoboard, which will have a display more than four times larger than the existing videoboard in Bramlage Coliseum. The four-sided videoboard features a 6mm high-definition display on each face with a 5-foot upper ring and 2-foot, 4-inch lower ring for statistics, crowd engagement and sponsor integration.

Six additional 6mm LED displays will be installed above the seating on the north and south ends of the arena with three located above Sections 12-15 on the north end and three above Section 24 to Section 1 on the south end. These displays will provide additional opportunities for crowd engagement, out of town scores and sponsor integration. The total cost of the main video board and six LED displays will be $1.4 million.

Additionally, the system will be powered by Panasonic’s next generation of LED controller. Based on the same software that all major sports networks around the world use, this exclusive solution generates real-time graphics and animation in true three-dimensional space. This creates among the most dynamic presentations of statistics, graphics and interactive features seen at any college venue.

“K-State Athletics’ commitment to providing the best fan experience in the Big 12 is clear in this initiative,” said Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company Richard Ballard. “We share that commitment to excellence and use our technology and know-how to engineer a better fan experience. The center-hung videoboard and displays deliver content unparalleled in clarity and resolution, allowing thousands of loyal fans to experience the excitement and action in the arena up close and personal.”

The sound system in Bramlage Coliseum will be replaced with the best of class in modern audio equipment, including nearly 100 total loudspeakers, and utilize the latest amplifier and digital signal processing with more than 200,000 watts of amplification. The increased speaker locations will provide for more distribution of sound, while also improving audio clarity throughout the arena. The project will be managed by Pro Media/UltraSound and cost $660,000.

“The modernization of the Bramlage Coliseum sound system is going to enable a vibrant and additive game day element to what is already an exciting fan experience,” said project manager Ted Leamy. “Our technology group is very excited to participate in the technology refit of this iconic collegiate venue.”

The new LED lighting system will provide a more efficient and higher quality of output in the arena and allows for special effects during pregame introductions and during special halftime shows and recognitions. The project will be directed by Musco Lighting and cost approximately $300,000.

The improvements will mark the first to Bramlage Coliseum since the construction of the $18 million Basketball Training Facility to the east side in August 2012 and the first significant renovation to the interior of the arena since the addition of Loge Boxes in 2007. The new video boards and sound system replace existing ones last renovated in 2000-01.

“Our players and staff couldn’t be more excited about these updates to Bramlage Coliseum,” said head men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber. “Obviously, when you make improvements to your facilities with new technology, it brings great energy to a program. It was the case with the Basketball Training Facility a few years back and I’m sure it will be the same for our fans at Bramlage. We already have one of the top gameday atmospheres in the country and these improvements will only make it a more intimidating place for opponents.”

Funding for the upgrades will be made through general athletic department revenue without the aid of tax, tuition or general university dollars. These improvements are yet another example of the margin of excellence provided by the generous support of Ahearn Fund donors and season ticket holders.

Bramlage Coliseum has given K-State one of the top home atmospheres in the country, as the men’s and women’s basketball teams have combined to win nearly 75 percent of its games in the arena’s 26-year history.

The men’s team has played in front of an average of more than 12,000 fans for four consecutive seasons at Bramlage Coliseum and has ranked among the nation’s Top 35 in average attendance five times in the last seven years. The women’s squad has annually played before strong home crowds, as they ranked 23rd nationally in average attendance in 2013-14. It marked the 11th time in the last 13 seasons that K-State has finished among the Top 35 in attendance.

“We have a great environment in Bramlage Coliseum and it just keeps getting better and better,” said head women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie. “I think we are doing the right thing by enhancing that environment and the fans’ ability to see replays and all the bells and whistles that all the fans want now in arenas. We are going to have every available tool for that experience.”

Men’s and women’s basketball season tickets for the 2014-15 season go on sale Monday, June 23 with a variety of ticket packages available. Season-ticket holders will have until Friday, August 1 to arrange payment and retain their seats for the upcoming season. New full season-ticket requests will be handled utilizing the K-State Priority Points system, which rewards fans for their history of season ticket purchases and contributions to the Ahearn Fund.

The partnership will extend to Bill Snyder Family Stadium, as K-State Athletics will consult with WJHW and Panasonic as well as Populous, which is serving as the architect of the Vanier Football Complex and North End Project, to study and finalize future video and sound improvements to the stadium.

After a week and a half of, the Ellis American Legion baseball team had no answers for Hoisington, losing both ends of a doubleheader Wednesday by scores 15-3 in five innigns an df Ellis had no answer for Hoisington.  First game Ellis lost 15-3 and 13-1. Both games were called early by run rule.

Ellis scored three in the first in game one on a lead off home run from Koltyn Ratliff, a single by Cole Pfeifer and a triple from Cadyn McCoy and led 3-2, but that would be the only hits they would get the rest of the game.

After a 30-minute weather delay in the first inning of game two, Hoisington put four on the board in the top of the first. Ellis was held to just two singles from Easton Smith and Theron Schmidt.

Coach Casey McCoy said it was a long night “That was as bad as I have seen us play in at least the last three years of legion baseball” McCoy said. “We were without  two of our starting nine but that was not the issue. We have some depth this season  with kids that can play about every position. We just looked tired, flat and no motivation.”

Ellis is at a tournament in Goodland this weekend with games Friday against Burlington, Colorado and Goodland. Saturday they will face Colby.  

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Pro Bowl pass rusher Justin Houston was a no-show Tuesday on the first day of the Kansas City Chiefs’ mandatory three-day minicamp.

Houston, who is entering the final year of his contract, also skipped three weeks of voluntary workouts. He is due to make about $1.4 million this season.

In other news, tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Kyle Williams and cornerback David Van Dyke did individual workouts but were mostly limited. Kelce is coming off knee surgery, Williams a torn ACL and Van Dyke a hamstring injury.

Cornerback Sean Smith was absent with an illness, and rookie running back De’Anthony Thomas appeared to overheat in the hot, humid weather. He spent several minutes slumped in the shade before being escorted to the locker room.

Kansas Athletics

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball will represent the United States at the 2015 World University Games, July 3-14, in Gwangju, Korea, KU officials announced Tuesday.

The Kansas basketball team was selected by the United States International University Sports Federation (US-IUSF) to represent the United States in the World University Games. Kansas was selected as the team to represent the U.S. from the schools that expressed interest.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “It is a unique opportunity where a school will represent our country in the World University Games as opposed to a select team. I can’t see anything but positives. We as an amateur basketball team could not get better competition. Our players are really excited about getting the opportunity to represent our country in games basically against professionals from around the world.”

Twenty-four teams will compete in the 2015 Games. There will be four pools of six teams each. Following pool competition, the teams will be seeded for bracket play with the top two teams from each pool battling for a medal.

“We’re proud that the Kansas men’s basketball program will represent the United States in this competition,” KU Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger said. “This is a rare athletic and educational opportunity that our student-athletes will take with them for as long as they live.”

With more than 150 countries competing in 21 sports, the World University Games are held every two years and are governed by the International University Sports Federation. Only current university student-athletes or recent graduates, born between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 1997, are eligible for the 2015 Games. For Kansas’ participation, only U.S. citizens can compete and incoming freshmen and transfers qualify. The Kansas travel party, consisting of 12 competitors and staff (24 total), will leave Lawrence June 28 and live in the athlete village throughout the Games.

“This is a tremendous honor for the University of Kansas, and is a reflection of the Jayhawks’ long tradition of excellence on the court,” KU Chancellor Dr. Bernadette Gray-Little said. “It’s also auspicious that the 2015 games will be held in South Korea, which is home to a strong group of KU alumni and to several of our university partners.”

This is the second time a college team will compete in the World University Games. In 2007, the University of Northern Iowa participated and finished ninth in Bangkok, Thailand.

“The opportunity to have a top-ranked program like Kansas representing USA on the global stage will be historic,” Craig Jonas, deputy head of USA Delegation, said. “Having a team that has played and practiced together from months leading into the games is an opportunity USA teams don’t normally get. The opportunity to have a coach like Bill Self compete at the international level will benefit both the Jayhawks and the USA team in Korea. The upper echelon of teams that Kansas will face will be as good as anything faced in a Final Four, the international quality is that strong.”

Eighteen players who have represented the USA in the World University Games have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games, including KU’s Jo Jo White, who won gold for the USA at the 1967 World University Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Seven other Jayhawks besides White have competed in the World University Games, the last being Jerod Haase, who won gold for the USA in 1995. Other KU players who have competed for the U.S. in the World University Games include: Dave Robisch in 1970 (silver), Greg Dreiling and Ron Kellogg in 1985 (silver), Mark Randall in 1989 (gold), Adonis Jordan in 1991 (gold) and Richard Scott in 1993 (gold). Additionally, former KU coach Roy Williams was an assistant coach in the 1991 World University Games, and KU Head Team Physician, Dr. Larry Magee, was the USA physician in 1995.

Foreign tours are common to the Kansas men’s basketball program under Self. Besides Canadian exhibition games in 2005 and 2009, in August 2012, Kansas played two contests in Switzerland and two in France. Current Jayhawks who competed on that trip include forwards Perry Ellis, Landen Lucas and Jamari Traylor, and guards Christian Garrett, Evan Manning and Tyler Self. Ellis also competed on USA Basketball developmental teams in 2009 and 2010.

Jayhawk guard Conner Frankamp helped lead the USA Basketball U17 National team to the gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, in the summer of 2012. Additionally, like Ellis, incoming freshman forward Cliff Alexander and guard Kelly Oubre have participated in USA Basketball’s Developmental National Team program before coming to KU.

As when Kansas competed in Switzerland and France in August 2012, the World University Games will be under FIBA rules. The most notable differences from the college game are the four, 10-minute quarters and a 24-second shot clock.

Official USA site: https://www.wugusa.com/summer-games/

Official 2015 Summer games site: https://www.gwangju2015.com/?p=3402