&nbsp;The Dodgers got left-hander Danny Duffy and cash from the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named. 

The 32-year-old Duffy is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left flexor and last pitched on July 16. He is 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA this season.

&nbsp;The Dodgers got left-hander Danny Duffy and cash from the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named. The 32-year-old Duffy is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left flexor and last pitched on July 16. He is 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA this season.

Royals trade Danny Duffy

KANSA CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Royals won their eighth game in 10 tries Thursday afternoon, blanking the first-place White Sox 5-0. Salvador Perez and Michael A. Taylor both homered, and Carlos Hernandez got the win, pitching 6.o shutout innings, while allowing just four hits.&nbsp;

The Royals improved to 45-56 on the season, climbing to within 14.0 games of Chicago in the AL Central and 11.0 of the AL Wild Card race as the trade deadline is less than 24 hours away. Now the question looms; will the Royals trade away pieces and build for the future? Or, will General Manager Dayton Moore hold on to the current team and hope to make a late-season push?&nbsp;

The Royals will now head on the road for a three game set at Toronto, in the Blue Jays return to Canada after more than a year of playing its home games in Florida due to the Coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

By Jackson SchneiderKANSA CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Royals won their eighth game in 10 tries Thursday afternoon, blanking the first-place White Sox 5-0. Salvador Perez and Michael A. Taylor both homered, and Carlos Hernandez got the win, pitching 6.o shutout innings, while allowing just four hits.&nbsp;The Royals improved to 45-56 on the season, climbing to within 14.0 games of Chicago in the AL Central and 11.0 of the AL Wild Card race as the trade deadline is less than 24 hours away. Now the question looms; will the Royals trade away pieces and build for the future? Or, will General Manager Dayton Moore hold on to the current team and hope to make a late-season push?&nbsp;The Royals will now head on the road for a three game set at Toronto, in the Blue Jays return to Canada after more than a year of playing its home games in Florida due to the Coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Royals shut out Sox, win 5-0

(WIBW) - The Big 12 has sent a “cease and desist” letter to ESPN aiming to stop the network from communicating with league members on conference realignment, according to multiple reports.

<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1420492649442709510?s=20" target="_blank">Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel</a>&nbsp;first reported the news. Max Olson of&nbsp;The Athletic&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/max_olson/status/1420506740324503555?s=20" target="_blank">tweeted a copy of the letter&nbsp;</a>Wednesday afternoon.

“It has come to my direct attention that ESPN, the current business partner of the Big 12 Conference, has taken certain actions that are intended to not only harm the Big 12 Conference but to result in financial benefits for ESPN,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby wrote.

“The Big 12 Conference demands that ESPN immediately cease and desist all actions that may harm the Conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference’s existing Members or any other NCAA Conference regarding the Big 12 Conference’s Members, possible conference realignment, or potential financial incentives or outcomes related to possible conference realignment,” the letter reads.

The Big 12 and ESPN agreed to a media rights deal in 2019 that lasts until 2025.

Texas and Oklahoma<a href="https://www.wibw.com/2021/07/27/texas-oklahoma-submit-request-join-southeastern-conference/" target="_blank">&nbsp;formally requested membership&nbsp;</a>to the SEC Tuesday after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/2021/07/26/texas-oklahoma-take-step-toward-possibly-leaving-big-12/" target="_blank">notifying the Big 12</a>&nbsp;they would not be renewing that media rights deal on Monday.

By WIBW's Marleah Campbell(WIBW) - The Big 12 has sent a “cease and desist” letter to ESPN aiming to stop the network from communicating with league members on conference realignment, according to multiple reports.<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1420492649442709510?s=20" target="_blank">Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel</a>&nbsp;first reported the news. Max Olson of&nbsp;The Athletic&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/max_olson/status/1420506740324503555?s=20" target="_blank">tweeted a copy of the letter&nbsp;</a>Wednesday afternoon.“It has come to my direct attention that ESPN, the current business partner of the Big 12 Conference, has taken certain actions that are intended to not only harm the Big 12 Conference but to result in financial benefits for ESPN,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby wrote.“The Big 12 Conference demands that ESPN immediately cease and desist all actions that may harm the Conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference’s existing Members or any other NCAA Conference regarding the Big 12 Conference’s Members, possible conference realignment, or potential financial incentives or outcomes related to possible conference realignment,” the letter reads.The Big 12 and ESPN agreed to a media rights deal in 2019 that lasts until 2025.Texas and Oklahoma<a href="https://www.wibw.com/2021/07/27/texas-oklahoma-submit-request-join-southeastern-conference/" target="_blank">&nbsp;formally requested membership&nbsp;</a>to the SEC Tuesday after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/2021/07/26/texas-oklahoma-take-step-toward-possibly-leaving-big-12/" target="_blank">notifying the Big 12</a>&nbsp;they would not be renewing that media rights deal on Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here is the cease &amp; desist letter the Big 12 sent to ESPN. Bob Bowlsby alleges ESPN is actively working with and encouraging other conferences to attempt to poach Big 12 members. <a href="https://t.co/fb224elCtd">pic.twitter.com/fb224elCtd</a>&mdash; Max Olson (@max_olson) <a href="https://twitter.com/max_olson/status/1420506740324503555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Breaking: The Big 12 has sent a &quot;cease and desist&quot; letter to ESPN. The letter demands ESPN end &quot;all actions that may harm the conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference&#39;s existing members.... 1/2&mdash; Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1420492649442709510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Report: Big 12 sends “cease and desist” letter to ESPN

It took an extra inning but the Junction City Brigade defeated the Midwest A's12-7 in 10 innings Thursday night in Belton, MO. The win allowed the Brigade to sweep the A's in the Mid Plains League championship series 2-0 to claim the Cowdin Cup that goes to the league champion.

Junction City scored three runs in the top of the 9th inning to take a 7-4 lead but the A's scored three in the bottom of the ninth to force the extra inning where Junction City scored five runs in the top of the 10th to help secure the victory.

This is the fifth Cowdin Cup championship in the history of the Brigade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627530919068.jpeg" alt="( Photo courtesy of Cecil Aska )" />
 <figcaption>( Photo courtesy of Cecil Aska )</figcaption>
 </figure>It took an extra inning but the Junction City Brigade defeated the Midwest A's12-7 in 10 innings Thursday night in Belton, MO. The win allowed the Brigade to sweep the A's in the Mid Plains League championship series 2-0 to claim the Cowdin Cup that goes to the league champion.Junction City scored three runs in the top of the 9th inning to take a 7-4 lead but the A's scored three in the bottom of the ninth to force the extra inning where Junction City scored five runs in the top of the 10th to help secure the victory.This is the fifth Cowdin Cup championship in the history of the Brigade.

Brigade win the Cowdin Cup Championship

Junction City got strong pitching from Cade Phelps and Austin Gerrity enroute to a 5-0 win over the Midwest A's in the game one of&nbsp; the Mid Plains League championship series at Rathert Field Tuesday night. Game two in the best two out of three series is set for Belton, Missouri at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Junction City scored two runs in the fourth inning and with the help of home runs by Thomas Beiswanger and Garrett Redden scored three more runs in the seventh inning.&nbsp;

If a game three of the series is necessary it will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday at Rathert Field.

Junction City got strong pitching from Cade Phelps and Austin Gerrity enroute to a 5-0 win over the Midwest A's in the game one of&nbsp; the Mid Plains League championship series at Rathert Field Tuesday night. Game two in the best two out of three series is set for Belton, Missouri at 7 p.m. Wednesday.Junction City scored two runs in the fourth inning and with the help of home runs by Thomas Beiswanger and Garrett Redden scored three more runs in the seventh inning.&nbsp;If a game three of the series is necessary it will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday at Rathert Field.

Brigade win game one of the championship series

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title.

The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready.

Jade Carey, who finished ninth in qualifying, will take Biles’ place in the all-around. Carey initially did not qualify because she was the third-ranking American behind Biles and Sunisa Lee. International Gymnastics Federation rules limit countries to two athletes per event in the finals.

The organization said Biles will be evaluated daily before deciding if she will participate in next week’s individual events. Biles qualified for the finals on all four apparatuses, something she didn’t even do during her five-medal haul in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The 24-year-old came to Tokyo as arguably the face of the Games following the retirement of swimmer Michael Phelps and sprinter Usain Bolt. She topped qualifying on Sunday despite piling up mandatory deductions on vault, floor and beam following shaky dismounts.

She posted on social media on Monday that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. The weight became too heavy after vaulting during team finals. She lost herself in mid-air and completed 1 1/2 twists instead of 2 1/2. She consulted with U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin before walking off the field of play.

When she returned, she took off her bar grips, hugged teammates Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles and turned into the team’s head cheerleader as the U.S. claimed silver behind the Russian Olympic Committee.

“Once I came out here (to compete), I was like, ‘No mental is, not there so I just need to let the girls do it and focus on myself,’” Biles said following the medal ceremony.

The decision opens the door wide open for the all-around, a title that was long considered a foregone conclusion. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil finished second to Biles during qualifying, followed by Lee and Russians Angelina Melnikova and Vladislava Urazova. The four were separated by three-tenths of a point on Sunday.

Carey now finds herself in the final, capping a remarkable journey for the 21-year-old from Phoenix. She spent two years traveling the globe in an effort to pile up enough points on the World Cup circuit to earn an individual nominative spot, meaning she would be in the Olympics but technically not be part of the four-woman U.S. team.

Carey posted the second-best score on vault and the third-best on floor during qualifying, earning trips to the event finals in the process. Now she finds herself competing for an all-around medal while replacing the athlete considered the greatest of all-time in the sport

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title.The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition. We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many. <a href="https://t.co/6ILdtSQF7o">pic.twitter.com/6ILdtSQF7o</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1420266286441922562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready.Jade Carey, who finished ninth in qualifying, will take Biles’ place in the all-around. Carey initially did not qualify because she was the third-ranking American behind Biles and Sunisa Lee. International Gymnastics Federation rules limit countries to two athletes per event in the finals.The organization said Biles will be evaluated daily before deciding if she will participate in next week’s individual events. Biles qualified for the finals on all four apparatuses, something she didn’t even do during her five-medal haul in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.The 24-year-old came to Tokyo as arguably the face of the Games following the retirement of swimmer Michael Phelps and sprinter Usain Bolt. She topped qualifying on Sunday despite piling up mandatory deductions on vault, floor and beam following shaky dismounts.She posted on social media on Monday that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. The weight became too heavy after vaulting during team finals. She lost herself in mid-air and completed 1 1/2 twists instead of 2 1/2. She consulted with U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin before walking off the field of play.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’re thinking of you, Simone. ❤️ Your strength and courage to focus on your wellbeing is something we can all learn from. Thank you for being the leader you are. <a href="https://t.co/Jnaa96AKse">pic.twitter.com/Jnaa96AKse</a>&mdash; Team USA (@TeamUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/1420306841351819265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>When she returned, she took off her bar grips, hugged teammates Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles and turned into the team’s head cheerleader as the U.S. claimed silver behind the Russian Olympic Committee.“Once I came out here (to compete), I was like, ‘No mental is, not there so I just need to let the girls do it and focus on myself,’” Biles said following the medal ceremony.The decision opens the door wide open for the all-around, a title that was long considered a foregone conclusion. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil finished second to Biles during qualifying, followed by Lee and Russians Angelina Melnikova and Vladislava Urazova. The four were separated by three-tenths of a point on Sunday.Carey now finds herself in the final, capping a remarkable journey for the 21-year-old from Phoenix. She spent two years traveling the globe in an effort to pile up enough points on the World Cup circuit to earn an individual nominative spot, meaning she would be in the Olympics but technically not be part of the four-woman U.S. team.Carey posted the second-best score on vault and the third-best on floor during qualifying, earning trips to the event finals in the process. Now she finds herself competing for an all-around medal while replacing the athlete considered the greatest of all-time in the sport

Superstar Simone Biles withdraws from all-around competition

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. She convinced herself she was prepared for the pressure. That she was ready to carry the burden of outsized expectations.

Only, as the women’s gymnastics team final approached on Tuesday night, something felt off. And the athlete widely considered the Greatest of All Time in her sport knew it.

So rather than push through the doubts that crept into her head as she’s done so many times in the past, Biles decided enough was enough. She was done. For now.

The American star withdrew from the competition following one rotation, opening the door for the team of Russian athletes to win gold for the first time in nearly three decades.

Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum guided the U.S. to silver while Biles cheered from the sideline in a white sweatsuit, at peace with a decision that revealed a shift not only in Biles but perhaps the sport she’s redefined.

“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

The Americans — fueled by an uneven bars routine by Lee that not even Biles could match — drew within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium for the first time since the Unified Team won in Barcelona in 1992.

The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final. Great Britain edged Italy for bronze.

“The impossible is possible now,” Melnikova said.

In the five years since Biles and the U.S. put on a dazzling display on their way to gold in Rio de Janeiro, gymnastics has undergone a reckoning. The tectonic plates in a sport where obedience, discipline and silence were long considered as important as talent and artistry are moving.

Biles has become an outspoken advocate for athlete’s rights and the importance of proper mental health. There was a time, there were many times actually, where she felt she wasn’t right and just powered through because that’s what people expected of her.

Not anymore. And the stand she took could resonate far beyond the color of any medal she may win in Tokyo.

Biles is the latest in a series of high-profile athletes, including tennis star Naomi Osaka, who have used their platforms to discuss their mental heath struggles. A subject that was once taboo has become far more accepted and embraced.

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland applauded Biles for prioritizing her “mental wellness over all else” and offered the organization’s full support. USA Gymnastics women’s program vice-president called Biles’ act “incredibly selfless.”

Biles posted on social media Monday that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders after an uncharacteristically sloppy showing during qualifying left the Americans looking up at the ROC on the scoreboard.

The tension affected her practice. It affected her confidence. And when she stepped onto the vault runway, it finally found its way to her performance, too.

She was scheduled to do an “Amanar” vault that requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while the rest of the Americans moved on to uneven bars without her.

When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, her night was over.

“To see her kind of go out like that is very sad because this Olympic Games, I feel like, is kind of hers,” Lee said.

Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games. She said she will regroup on Wednesday before deciding whether to continue.

Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country enters three of their four athletes on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.

Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.

Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which counted a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.

Without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling, the U.S. needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.

Not that Chiles or the rest of the Americans particularly cared. The gold might be gone, but something more significant may have happened instead. It’s a tradeoff they can live with.

“This medal is definitely for (Biles),” said Chiles. “If it wasn’t if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here where we are right now. We wouldn’t be a silver medalist because of who she is as a person.”

Chiles then turned to her good friend. Biles helped convince her to move to Houston to train alongside her two years ago, a decision that turned Chiles into an Olympian. In an empty arena in the middle of Japan with the world watching, Chiles did for Biles what Biles has done for so many for so long. She had her back.

“Kudos to you girl,” Chiles said. “This is all for you.”

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. It all came to a stunning halt in the women’s gymnastics final on Tuesday night with an uncertain vault.

In a flash, the rest of the American star’s Games came into question. And the United States’ long run at the top of the sport came to an end.

The team representing the Russia Olympic Committee surged past the shorthanded U.S. to the top of the podium, posting a score of 169.258 to win the country’s first Olympic team gold in nearly 30 years.

The Americans, with Biles serving as head cheerleader while clad in a white sweatsuit and dealing with what USA Gymnastics called a “medical issue,” hung on for silver.

Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles drew the U.S. within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium.

The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final.

The U.S. entered the finals hoping to bounce back from a shaky performance in qualifying, when the Americans came in second to the ROC. It marked the first time in 11 years the U.S. found itself looking up at the scoreboard at someone else.

The team declined to talk to the media afterward, though the 24-year-old did post on social media that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders and that the Olympics were “no joke.”

Yet, something happened during the first rotation. She attempted an Amanar vault during warmups only to roll out of it upon landing. The code for that vault posted when she saluted the judges, but in midair things went awry.

The vault requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while her teammates moved on to uneven bars without her.

When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, the greatest of all-time’s night was over.

USA Gymnastics did not specify the nature of Biles’ medical issue, saying in a statement she “will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”

Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games.

Whether she will get that opportunity remains to be seen.

Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country puts three of their four athletes up on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.

Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which recorded a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.

Yet the Americans — without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling — needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.

TOKYO (AP) — Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is out of the team finals after apparently suffering an injury during the vault.

The 24-year-old U.S. star, considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor.

Biles returned several minutes later with her right leg wrapped. She took off her bar grips, and hugged teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles before putting on a jacket and sweatpants.&nbsp;Chiles replaced Biles on uneven bars and balance bream.

The Americans will be forced to finish the rest of the competition without her, severely hampering their bid to claim a third straight Olympic title.

Biles arrived in Tokyo as the unquestioned star of the Games but struggled, at least by her high standards, during qualifying.

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. She convinced herself she was prepared for the pressure. That she was ready to carry the burden of outsized expectations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Official statement: &quot;Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.&quot; Thinking of you, Simone! <a href="https://t.co/QA1GYHwWTv">pic.twitter.com/QA1GYHwWTv</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1419992728352526339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Only, as the women’s gymnastics team final approached on Tuesday night, something felt off. And the athlete widely considered the Greatest of All Time in her sport knew it.So rather than push through the doubts that crept into her head as she’s done so many times in the past, Biles decided enough was enough. She was done. For now.The American star withdrew from the competition following one rotation, opening the door for the team of Russian athletes to win gold for the first time in nearly three decades.Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum guided the U.S. to silver while Biles cheered from the sideline in a white sweatsuit, at peace with a decision that revealed a shift not only in Biles but perhaps the sport she’s redefined.“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”The Americans — fueled by an uneven bars routine by Lee that not even Biles could match — drew within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium for the first time since the Unified Team won in Barcelona in 1992.The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final. Great Britain edged Italy for bronze.“The impossible is possible now,” Melnikova said.Perhaps in more ways than one.In the five years since Biles and the U.S. put on a dazzling display on their way to gold in Rio de Janeiro, gymnastics has undergone a reckoning. The tectonic plates in a sport where obedience, discipline and silence were long considered as important as talent and artistry are moving.Biles has become an outspoken advocate for athlete’s rights and the importance of proper mental health. There was a time, there were many times actually, where she felt she wasn’t right and just powered through because that’s what people expected of her.Not anymore. And the stand she took could resonate far beyond the color of any medal she may win in Tokyo.Biles is the latest in a series of high-profile athletes, including tennis star Naomi Osaka, who have used their platforms to discuss their mental heath struggles. A subject that was once taboo has become far more accepted and embraced.U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland applauded Biles for prioritizing her “mental wellness over all else” and offered the organization’s full support. USA Gymnastics women’s program vice-president called Biles’ act “incredibly selfless.”Biles posted on social media Monday that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders after an uncharacteristically sloppy showing during qualifying left the Americans looking up at the ROC on the scoreboard.The tension affected her practice. It affected her confidence. And when she stepped onto the vault runway, it finally found its way to her performance, too.She was scheduled to do an “Amanar” vault that requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while the rest of the Americans moved on to uneven bars without her.When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, her night was over.“To see her kind of go out like that is very sad because this Olympic Games, I feel like, is kind of hers,” Lee said.Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games. She said she will regroup on Wednesday before deciding whether to continue.Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country enters three of their four athletes on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which counted a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.Without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling, the U.S. needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.Not that Chiles or the rest of the Americans particularly cared. The gold might be gone, but something more significant may have happened instead. It’s a tradeoff they can live with.“This medal is definitely for (Biles),” said Chiles. “If it wasn’t if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t be here where we are right now. We wouldn’t be a silver medalist because of who she is as a person.”Chiles then turned to her good friend. Biles helped convince her to move to Houston to train alongside her two years ago, a decision that turned Chiles into an Olympian. In an empty arena in the middle of Japan with the world watching, Chiles did for Biles what Biles has done for so many for so long. She had her back.“Kudos to you girl,” Chiles said. “This is all for you.”-------TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. It all came to a stunning halt in the women’s gymnastics final on Tuesday night with an uncertain vault.In a flash, the rest of the American star’s Games came into question. And the United States’ long run at the top of the sport came to an end.The team representing the Russia Olympic Committee surged past the shorthanded U.S. to the top of the podium, posting a score of 169.258 to win the country’s first Olympic team gold in nearly 30 years.The Americans, with Biles serving as head cheerleader while clad in a white sweatsuit and dealing with what USA Gymnastics called a “medical issue,” hung on for silver.Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles drew the U.S. within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium.The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final.Great Britain edged Italy for bronzeThe U.S. entered the finals hoping to bounce back from a shaky performance in qualifying, when the Americans came in second to the ROC. It marked the first time in 11 years the U.S. found itself looking up at the scoreboard at someone else.The team declined to talk to the media afterward, though the 24-year-old did post on social media that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders and that the Olympics were “no joke.”Yet, something happened during the first rotation. She attempted an Amanar vault during warmups only to roll out of it upon landing. The code for that vault posted when she saluted the judges, but in midair things went awry.The vault requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while her teammates moved on to uneven bars without her.When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, the greatest of all-time’s night was over.USA Gymnastics did not specify the nature of Biles’ medical issue, saying in a statement she “will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games.Whether she will get that opportunity remains to be seen.Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country puts three of their four athletes up on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which recorded a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.Yet the Americans — without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling — needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.---------TOKYO (AP) — Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is out of the team finals after apparently suffering an injury during the vault.The 24-year-old U.S. star, considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor.Biles returned several minutes later with her right leg wrapped. She took off her bar grips, and hugged teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles before putting on a jacket and sweatpants.&nbsp;Chiles replaced Biles on uneven bars and balance bream.The Americans will be forced to finish the rest of the competition without her, severely hampering their bid to claim a third straight Olympic title.Biles arrived in Tokyo as the unquestioned star of the Games but struggled, at least by her high standards, during qualifying.

U.S. star, Biles withdraws from gymnastics final to protect team, self

Junction City will host the Midwest A's in the championship finals of the Mid Plains League Tournament at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It is the opener of a best two out of three series. Game two will be played in Belton, MO at 7 p.m. Wednesday. If a game three is necessary it will be at Rathert Field at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Junction City will host the Midwest A's in the championship finals of the Mid Plains League Tournament at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It is the opener of a best two out of three series. Game two will be played in Belton, MO at 7 p.m. Wednesday. If a game three is necessary it will be at Rathert Field at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Finals will begin on Tuesday

MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas State has responded to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/2021/07/26/texas-oklahoma-take-step-toward-possibly-leaving-big-12/" target="_blank">Texas and Oklahoma’s announcement</a>&nbsp;they will not renew an agreement that binds the league’s members through 2025.

K-State Gene Taylor and President Richard Myers wrote: “With the recent announcement of two of our institutions electing to depart the conference following the 2024-25 season, Kansas State University and the additional seven members of the Big 12 Conference are eager to collaborate and position ourselves for continued success. We have terrific leadership at the conference, university and state board of regent levels, and our fans should know that every effort is being made to put Kansas State and the Big 12 Conference in the best position moving forward.”

The Longhorns and Sooners released the joint statement Monday as the schools reportedly prepare a departure from the Big 12 to the SEC.

“The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements,” the statement read. “However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future.

By WIBW TVBy Marleah CampbellMANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas State has responded to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wibw.com/2021/07/26/texas-oklahoma-take-step-toward-possibly-leaving-big-12/" target="_blank">Texas and Oklahoma’s announcement</a>&nbsp;they will not renew an agreement that binds the league’s members through 2025.K-State Gene Taylor and President Richard Myers wrote: “With the recent announcement of two of our institutions electing to depart the conference following the 2024-25 season, Kansas State University and the additional seven members of the Big 12 Conference are eager to collaborate and position ourselves for continued success. We have terrific leadership at the conference, university and state board of regent levels, and our fans should know that every effort is being made to put Kansas State and the Big 12 Conference in the best position moving forward.”The Longhorns and Sooners released the joint statement Monday as the schools reportedly prepare a departure from the Big 12 to the SEC.“The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements,” the statement read. “However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future.

K-State officials respond to Texas and OU announcement

CINCINNATI (WIBW) - Kansas State and Shawnee Heights alum Wyatt Hubert will miss the 2021 NFL season with a torn pectoral muscle, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Baby/status/1419689331695001608?s=20" target="_blank">ESPN’s Ben Baby</a>.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Hubert in this seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft.

The 6′3″ 270-pound Topeka-native wrapped up his career in Manhattan with 20 total sacks (8th in school history), including 34 tackles for loss.

He was named a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 Honoree (2019, 2020) and was a Freshman All-American in 2018.

By WIBW TVCINCINNATI (WIBW) - Kansas State and Shawnee Heights alum Wyatt Hubert will miss the 2021 NFL season with a torn pectoral muscle, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Baby/status/1419689331695001608?s=20" target="_blank">ESPN’s Ben Baby</a>.The Cincinnati Bengals selected Hubert in this seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft.The 6′3″ 270-pound Topeka-native wrapped up his career in Manhattan with 20 total sacks (8th in school history), including 34 tackles for loss.He was named a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 Honoree (2019, 2020) and was a Freshman All-American in 2018.

Wyatt Hubert will miss the NFL season

The universities of Oklahoma and Texas released a joint statement Monday, announcing their intentions to leave the Big 12 Conference upon the expiration of the grant of rights agreement in 2025.&nbsp;

The official statement leaves the remaining eight member schools in limbo for the remaining few years of the agreement. Rumors have begun to circulate surrounding the University of Kansas and the Big Ten, however, over the weekend those had been debunked as only rumors, for now. Outside of that, no other school in the league has a solid "fall back," option.

Now, the remaining time left in the grant of rights will create for a somewhat awkward few seasons around the conference, but fortunately, the notice allows the league and its member schools the luxury of time to figure out how to rebound from the change.

By Jackson SchneiderThe universities of Oklahoma and Texas released a joint statement Monday, announcing their intentions to leave the Big 12 Conference upon the expiration of the grant of rights agreement in 2025.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Oklahoma &amp; Texas make it official: they’re leaving conference &amp; expected to apply for SEC membership <a href="https://t.co/65h35M18OF">pic.twitter.com/65h35M18OF</a>&mdash; Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1419663733828243457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The official statement leaves the remaining eight member schools in limbo for the remaining few years of the agreement. Rumors have begun to circulate surrounding the University of Kansas and the Big Ten, however, over the weekend those had been debunked as only rumors, for now. Outside of that, no other school in the league has a solid "fall back," option.Now, the remaining time left in the grant of rights will create for a somewhat awkward few seasons around the conference, but fortunately, the notice allows the league and its member schools the luxury of time to figure out how to rebound from the change.

Oklahoma, Texas notify Big 12 of intentions to leave

Garrett Redden hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Junction City Brigade past the Baldwin City Blues 7-5 Sunday evening at Rathert Field. The win sends the Brigade to the Cowdin Cup championship finals in the Mid Plains League postseason playoffs against the Midwest A's.

Redden's home run also scored teammate Jace Essig who had just doubled. Redden looked back at his big hit. "Just trying to fit a ball in play for my teammates so we could the run at second and it worked out pretty well." Redden said the home run came off a fast ball on the outer side of the plate.

The game had been tied 5-5 since the third inning when Junction City finally scored the winning runs in the tenth to capture their playoff series against Baldwin City two games to one.

Junction City will host the Midwest A's at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Rathert Field. Game two will be in Belton, Missouri Wednesday night, and if a game three is necessary it will be played at Rathert Field at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Garrett Redden hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Junction City Brigade past the Baldwin City Blues 7-5 Sunday evening at Rathert Field. The win sends the Brigade to the Cowdin Cup championship finals in the Mid Plains League postseason playoffs against the Midwest A's.Redden's home run also scored teammate Jace Essig who had just doubled. Redden looked back at his big hit. "Just trying to fit a ball in play for my teammates so we could the run at second and it worked out pretty well." Redden said the home run came off a fast ball on the outer side of the plate.The game had been tied 5-5 since the third inning when Junction City finally scored the winning runs in the tenth to capture their playoff series against Baldwin City two games to one.Junction City will host the Midwest A's at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Rathert Field. Game two will be in Belton, Missouri Wednesday night, and if a game three is necessary it will be played at Rathert Field at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Brigade advance to the championship series

Zach Ebert pitched seven strong innings to help lead the Junction City Brigade to a 13-3 win over the Baldwin City Blues at Rathert Field Saturday night. 

The victory evened the Mid Plains League postseason playoff series between the two teams at one win apiece. The deciding game three will be played at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rathert Field with the winner advancing to meet the Midwest A's in the championship series next week. Midwest swept their playoff series against Sabetha 2-0.

Ebert went seven innings on the mound and threw 99 pitches. He struck out nine and walked only two hitters. Baldwin City only scored one unearned during during the time they faced Ebert.

Jace Essig had a home run and a double for the Brigade in the victory.

Zach Ebert pitched seven strong innings to help lead the Junction City Brigade to a 13-3 win over the Baldwin City Blues at Rathert Field Saturday night. The victory evened the Mid Plains League postseason playoff series between the two teams at one win apiece. The deciding game three will be played at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rathert Field with the winner advancing to meet the Midwest A's in the championship series next week. Midwest swept their playoff series against Sabetha 2-0.Ebert went seven innings on the mound and threw 99 pitches. He struck out nine and walked only two hitters. Baldwin City only scored one unearned during during the time they faced Ebert.Jace Essig had a home run and a double for the Brigade in the victory.

Brigade even playoff series with the Blues

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self says he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement Friday on the school's Twitter account that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will isolate at his home in Lawrence. Self was tested after feeling minor symptoms on Thursday as he was preparing to travel to watch recruits at various tournaments. He said two tests confirmed that he has the virus. Self said he believes he would be feeling much worse if he had not been vaccinated, and encouraged people to get the vaccine.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self says he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement Friday on the school's Twitter account that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will isolate at his home in Lawrence. Self was tested after feeling minor symptoms on Thursday as he was preparing to travel to watch recruits at various tournaments. He said two tests confirmed that he has the virus. Self said he believes he would be feeling much worse if he had not been vaccinated, and encouraged people to get the vaccine.

Bill Self tests positive for COVID-19

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self says he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement Friday on the school's Twitter account that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will isolate at his home in Lawrence.

Self was tested after feeling minor symptoms on Thursday as he was preparing to travel to watch recruits at various tournaments. 

He said two tests confirmed that he has the virus. Self said he believes he would be feeling much worse if he had not been vaccinated, and encouraged people to get the vaccine.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self says he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement Friday on the school's Twitter account that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will isolate at his home in Lawrence.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBillSelf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBillSelf</a> <a href="https://t.co/2U0EOHyOz8">pic.twitter.com/2U0EOHyOz8</a>&mdash; Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUHoops/status/1418695211107168260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Self was tested after feeling minor symptoms on Thursday as he was preparing to travel to watch recruits at various tournaments. He said two tests confirmed that he has the virus. Self said he believes he would be feeling much worse if he had not been vaccinated, and encouraged people to get the vaccine.

KU coach Bill Self in isolation after positive COVID-19 test

The Junction City Brigade fell to the Baldwin City Blues 6-4 in the opening game of their semifinal round Mid Plains League playoff series. Game two is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at Rathert Field in Junction City. If a game three is necessary in the best two-out-of-three series it will played at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rathert Field.

In the other semifinal round contest Friday night the Midwest A's defeated the Sabetha Bravos 10-4 to take a 1-0 lead in that series.

The Junction City Brigade fell to the Baldwin City Blues 6-4 in the opening game of their semifinal round Mid Plains League playoff series. Game two is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at Rathert Field in Junction City. If a game three is necessary in the best two-out-of-three series it will played at 7 p.m. Sunday at Rathert Field.In the other semifinal round contest Friday night the Midwest A's defeated the Sabetha Bravos 10-4 to take a 1-0 lead in that series.

Brigade lose in playoff opener

The Kansas City Chiefs have begun arriving at the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph as training camp activities get underway this weekend.

Rookies and quarterbacks were the first to report Friday, and the team will hold three closed practices Saturday before practices open to the general public on Wednesday.

Patrick Mahomes, who's beginning his fifth season with the Chiefs, was among the first to arrive Friday.

After being confined to the Kansas City facilities for training camp last year due to COVID-19, Mahomes is thrilled to be back in St. Joseph, where camp has been held every year from 2010-2019.

He says it's an especially good time to get more familiar with the rookies on the team, particularly second-round draft pick Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma, who will be vying for the starting center position behind Austin Blythe.

"Things like training camp in St. Joseph and all being together pretty much every single day, you keep building those relationships that have already been built a little bit," Mahomes said during a Zoom call with reporters Friday. "I think it'll bring us together throughout this month. Not only going out and practicing every single day, but also eating every single meal together and building those relationships."

As for Mahomes' health, he says he feels 100 percent going into camp after recovering from turf toe surgery in February following a 31-9 loss to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl 55.

"I've been training, running, throwing and doing everything I normally do," Mahomes said. "I think what was so good about going to (Organized Team Activities) and doing those things was, I tested it there and realized I was good. Then when I got back with Bobby (Stroupe) and started training in the offseason with him, I was able to do with him what I normally would do."

The Super Bowl loss is well in the rearview by this point, but Mahomes says the sting of that defeat stuck with him for at least a couple of weeks after. However, he views training camp as an opportunity to start fresh and build toward getting better this coming season.

"I think the best thing about getting to training camp is it all starts over," Mahomes said. "No matter how you ended the year before, you get to go in with the mindset of starting from scratch. So, we're excited to do that and are going to try and make another run at it."

Coach Andy Reid, who enters his ninth season with the Chiefs and 29th overall in the NFL, is also thrilled to come back to St. Joseph for camp. He praised Missouri Western personnel for their hospitality during nearly month-long event.

"We're glad to be back up here in St. Joe," he said. "We love the hospitality they give us up here at Missouri Western State University. From their president (Elizabeth Kennedy) on down, it's just all class and that's obviously why we have returned."

Reid says the best part of training camp is the constant focus on football, but also team comradery.

"There's this concentration of football that you take in here," he said. "You're sleeping and eating in the dorm. You're here and it's football kind of 24/7. That's how it works."

Reid said 30 players total will report to camp, which opens up to media and fans on July 28 and will conclude on August 18. All practices will be held at the Mosaic Training Fields. Nearly every practice will start at 9:15 a.m. A full training camp schedule and details <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/bb4a2c34-f5db-45d5-aed6-162b76ab285b">can be found here</a>.

Most Chiefs players, all Chiefs coaches are vaccinated

Coach Reid said 90 percent of the team and the entire Chiefs' coaching staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The NFL announced Thursday that teams could be forced to&nbsp;forfeit a game if there's a COVID-19 outbreak amongst unvaccinated players that would cause a game to be postponed.

"It's definitely a big deal with that news coming out," Mahomes said. "You don't want to forfeit games, but I think we have guys in the locker room who are vaccinated and guys who are unvaccinated who are going to be smart and not try to hurt the team in any way."

Frank Clark will report to camp despite legal trouble

Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark is expected to report to training camp next week.&nbsp;

Clark has had multiple run-ins with police during the offseason in Los Angeles - first in March and again in June.

Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Clark earlier this month with felony illegal possession of a firearm in connection to the March arrest. That court case is ongoing. Clark has not been formally charged in connection to the incident in June.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627071930493.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs have begun arriving at the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph as training camp activities get underway this weekend.Rookies and quarterbacks were the first to report Friday, and the team will hold three closed practices Saturday before practices open to the general public on Wednesday.Patrick Mahomes, who's beginning his fifth season with the Chiefs, was among the first to arrive Friday.After being confined to the Kansas City facilities for training camp last year due to COVID-19, Mahomes is thrilled to be back in St. Joseph, where camp has been held every year from 2010-2019.He says it's an especially good time to get more familiar with the rookies on the team, particularly second-round draft pick Creed Humphrey out of Oklahoma, who will be vying for the starting center position behind Austin Blythe."Things like training camp in St. Joseph and all being together pretty much every single day, you keep building those relationships that have already been built a little bit," Mahomes said during a Zoom call with reporters Friday. "I think it'll bring us together throughout this month. Not only going out and practicing every single day, but also eating every single meal together and building those relationships."As for Mahomes' health, he says he feels 100 percent going into camp after recovering from turf toe surgery in February following a 31-9 loss to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl 55."I've been training, running, throwing and doing everything I normally do," Mahomes said. "I think what was so good about going to (Organized Team Activities) and doing those things was, I tested it there and realized I was good. Then when I got back with Bobby (Stroupe) and started training in the offseason with him, I was able to do with him what I normally would do."The Super Bowl loss is well in the rearview by this point, but Mahomes says the sting of that defeat stuck with him for at least a couple of weeks after. However, he views training camp as an opportunity to start fresh and build toward getting better this coming season."I think the best thing about getting to training camp is it all starts over," Mahomes said. "No matter how you ended the year before, you get to go in with the mindset of starting from scratch. So, we're excited to do that and are going to try and make another run at it."Coach Andy Reid, who enters his ninth season with the Chiefs and 29th overall in the NFL, is also thrilled to come back to St. Joseph for camp. He praised Missouri Western personnel for their hospitality during nearly month-long event."We're glad to be back up here in St. Joe," he said. "We love the hospitality they give us up here at Missouri Western State University. From their president (Elizabeth Kennedy) on down, it's just all class and that's obviously why we have returned."Reid says the best part of training camp is the constant focus on football, but also team comradery."There's this concentration of football that you take in here," he said. "You're sleeping and eating in the dorm. You're here and it's football kind of 24/7. That's how it works."Reid said 30 players total will report to camp, which opens up to media and fans on July 28 and will conclude on August 18. All practices will be held at the Mosaic Training Fields. Nearly every practice will start at 9:15 a.m. A full training camp schedule and details <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/bb4a2c34-f5db-45d5-aed6-162b76ab285b">can be found here</a>.Most Chiefs players, all Chiefs coaches are vaccinatedCoach Reid said 90 percent of the team and the entire Chiefs' coaching staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The NFL announced Thursday that teams could be forced to&nbsp;forfeit a game if there's a COVID-19 outbreak amongst unvaccinated players that would cause a game to be postponed."It's definitely a big deal with that news coming out," Mahomes said. "You don't want to forfeit games, but I think we have guys in the locker room who are vaccinated and guys who are unvaccinated who are going to be smart and not try to hurt the team in any way."Frank Clark will report to camp despite legal troubleChiefs defensive end Frank Clark is expected to report to training camp next week.&nbsp;Clark has had multiple run-ins with police during the offseason in Los Angeles - first in March and again in June.Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Clark earlier this month with felony illegal possession of a firearm in connection to the March arrest. That court case is ongoing. Clark has not been formally charged in connection to the incident in June.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F165787085618617%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

Chiefs arrive in St. Joseph as training camp begins

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW TV) - Are the Jayhawks looking for a way out of the Big 12?

Former Bleacher Report/San Francisco Chronicles contributor and “KU Scoopsmeister” Mike Vernon tweeted on Friday that there are reports that the University of Kansas has a call set up with the Big Ten to discuss a potential membership.

He said with Texas and OU out of the conference, sticking around in the Big 12 remnants is not in the best interest of the Jayhawks. He said joining the Big Ten would be the best outcome for KU as teams look to realign as the Big 12 crumbles.

By WIBW TV's Sarah MotterTOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW TV) - Are the Jayhawks looking for a way out of the Big 12?Former Bleacher Report/San Francisco Chronicles contributor and “KU Scoopsmeister” Mike Vernon tweeted on Friday that there are reports that the University of Kansas has a call set up with the Big Ten to discuss a potential membership.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">KU REALIGNMENT HEARINGS: KU has a call set up with the Big Ten.&mdash; Mike Vernon (@M_Vernon) <a href="https://twitter.com/M_Vernon/status/1418591461411495943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He said with Texas and OU out of the conference, sticking around in the Big 12 remnants is not in the best interest of the Jayhawks. He said joining the Big Ten would be the best outcome for KU as teams look to realign as the Big 12 crumbles.

Jayhawks set up potential membership talks with Big Ten

CLEVELAND — Announced via Twitter Friday morning, the Major League Baseball team formerly known as the Cleveland Indians, will officially become the Cleveland Guardians.&nbsp;

The video, narrated by Tom Hanks highlights the City of Cleveland and its history and reveals the team's new logos in the end.

Cleveland first announced it would change its name in December, marking the first change for the franchise since 1905 according to ESPN. The decision to change came at the height of a recent national movement to remove the likeness of Native American cultures from being used as nicknames in sports for prejudicial reasons.

By Jackson SchneiderCLEVELAND — Announced via Twitter Friday morning, the Major League Baseball team formerly known as the Cleveland Indians, will officially become the Cleveland Guardians.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Together, we are all... <a href="https://t.co/R5FnT4kv1I">pic.twitter.com/R5FnT4kv1I</a>&mdash; Cleveland Indians (@Indians) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indians/status/1418565355472101378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The video, narrated by Tom Hanks highlights the City of Cleveland and its history and reveals the team's new logos in the end.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Cleveland Indians announce they are changing their name to the Guardians. <a href="https://t.co/1xP1FyMsbh">pic.twitter.com/1xP1FyMsbh</a>&mdash; Sporting News (@sportingnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/sportingnews/status/1418566954546302983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Cleveland first announced it would change its name in December, marking the first change for the franchise since 1905 according to ESPN. The decision to change came at the height of a recent national movement to remove the likeness of Native American cultures from being used as nicknames in sports for prejudicial reasons.

Cleveland to change name to "Guardians"

Updated Mid Plains League Tournament bracket

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Barry Alvarez lived through the tidal wave of conference realignment that swept over college sports in the early 2010s as Wisconsin’s athletic director, watching the Big Ten grow to 14 teams from the Midwest to the East Coast.

Another round of shuffling could be on the horizon, with Texas and Oklahoma initiating discussions with the Southeastern Conference about leaving the Big 12 and joining what is already college football’s strongest league.

Alvarez’s reaction when he heard the news: “Why?”

One day after word of the discussions surfaced, the ripple effects across the sport were clear as schools far from the Big 12 and SEC tried to sort out where this is going.

The Big 12 athletic directors and university presidents and chancellors held a call Thursday to be briefed on what’s going on with Texas and Oklahoma, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press.

Texas and Oklahoma officials did not participate, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Big 12 was not making its actions public.

Leaders from other conferences leaders were hesitant to speculate on what’s next, but some observers were concerned about the potential consequences.

“College football is filled with people operating in silos and what they fail to realize is that if they only look at and try to build their silo as big and as shiny as possible than the entirety of the sport is not going to be as strong as it needs to be,” said former Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt, the lead college football analyst for Fox, which holds television rights with the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12.

“I think a move like this would be to the detriment of the sport overall.”

Former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield put it more starkly: “It would ruin the Big 12. It would be done,” Mayfield said during a break in shooting TV commercials in Cleveland.

The Big 12 was thought to be on life support about a decade ago after losing Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&amp;M and Missouri. Managing to hold on to Texas and Oklahoma allowed the Big 12 to survive as a Power Five conference after it added TCU and West Virginia.

Back when that was playing out, conferences were reacting to one another. The Big Ten pushed over the first domino when it announced in 2009 it was going to explore expansion. Eventually, it lured Nebraska away from the Big 12.

“We often talk about how uncomfortable this time is,” new Nebraska AD Trev Alberts said. “It is. It’s a changing environment. There’s a lot of stress. Now’s the time you want to be part of some stability.”

That Big Ten expansion sparked a frenzy, with conferences and schools fending for themselves. Could a Texas/Oklahoma move to the SEC be the next fire starter?

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren was asked about the talks and whether they could prompt the conference to look at expansion —- maybe even reaching out to the two Big 12 schools —- as he opened football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Warren stayed away from speculating, calling the news just another example of the volatility sweeping through college sports at the moment.

“That’s the world that we live in right now,” he said. “From where we sit, we’re always constantly evaluating what’s in the best interest of the conference.”

Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips, who took over earlier this year after being athletic director at Northwestern, took a similarly cautious approach.

“I think it’s critically important for all of us to always be paying attention to what’s happening in the landscape and understanding what’s happening across the country, whether you’re a conference commissioner, whether you’re an athletic director, whether you’re a president,” he said. “It’s just part of all of our responsibility. And this is the latest maybe conversation that we’re hearing about.”

Alvarez was at Lucas Oil Stadium because the Big Ten announced he would be taking a new role at the conference: special advisor for football. He retired after 18 years as Wisconsin AD earlier this year.

Alvarez, 74, is not one to shy away from giving his thoughts on a topic. But news of realignment ramping up again caught him off guard.

“It’s something you certainly have your antenna up for,” Alvarez said.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said he had one question for the SEC if it did decide to add the Longhorns and their Horns Up hand sign to the conference?

“Is Horns Down going to be a be a 15-yard penalty in the SEC (as it can at times in the Big 12)?” Drinkwitz said. “I asked Commissioner Sankey and he said ‘no comment.’”

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Barry Alvarez lived through the tidal wave of conference realignment that swept over college sports in the early 2010s as Wisconsin’s athletic director, watching the Big Ten grow to 14 teams from the Midwest to the East Coast.Another round of shuffling could be on the horizon, with Texas and Oklahoma initiating discussions with the Southeastern Conference about leaving the Big 12 and joining what is already college football’s strongest league.Alvarez’s reaction when he heard the news: “Why?”One day after word of the discussions surfaced, the ripple effects across the sport were clear as schools far from the Big 12 and SEC tried to sort out where this is going.The Big 12 athletic directors and university presidents and chancellors held a call Thursday to be briefed on what’s going on with Texas and Oklahoma, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press.Texas and Oklahoma officials did not participate, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Big 12 was not making its actions public.Leaders from other conferences leaders were hesitant to speculate on what’s next, but some observers were concerned about the potential consequences.“College football is filled with people operating in silos and what they fail to realize is that if they only look at and try to build their silo as big and as shiny as possible than the entirety of the sport is not going to be as strong as it needs to be,” said former Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt, the lead college football analyst for Fox, which holds television rights with the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12.“I think a move like this would be to the detriment of the sport overall.”Former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield put it more starkly: “It would ruin the Big 12. It would be done,” Mayfield said during a break in shooting TV commercials in Cleveland.The Big 12 was thought to be on life support about a decade ago after losing Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&amp;M and Missouri. Managing to hold on to Texas and Oklahoma allowed the Big 12 to survive as a Power Five conference after it added TCU and West Virginia.Back when that was playing out, conferences were reacting to one another. The Big Ten pushed over the first domino when it announced in 2009 it was going to explore expansion. Eventually, it lured Nebraska away from the Big 12.“We often talk about how uncomfortable this time is,” new Nebraska AD Trev Alberts said. “It is. It’s a changing environment. There’s a lot of stress. Now’s the time you want to be part of some stability.”That Big Ten expansion sparked a frenzy, with conferences and schools fending for themselves. Could a Texas/Oklahoma move to the SEC be the next fire starter?Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren was asked about the talks and whether they could prompt the conference to look at expansion —- maybe even reaching out to the two Big 12 schools —- as he opened football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium.Warren stayed away from speculating, calling the news just another example of the volatility sweeping through college sports at the moment.“That’s the world that we live in right now,” he said. “From where we sit, we’re always constantly evaluating what’s in the best interest of the conference.”Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips, who took over earlier this year after being athletic director at Northwestern, took a similarly cautious approach.“I think it’s critically important for all of us to always be paying attention to what’s happening in the landscape and understanding what’s happening across the country, whether you’re a conference commissioner, whether you’re an athletic director, whether you’re a president,” he said. “It’s just part of all of our responsibility. And this is the latest maybe conversation that we’re hearing about.”Alvarez was at Lucas Oil Stadium because the Big Ten announced he would be taking a new role at the conference: special advisor for football. He retired after 18 years as Wisconsin AD earlier this year.Alvarez, 74, is not one to shy away from giving his thoughts on a topic. But news of realignment ramping up again caught him off guard.“It’s something you certainly have your antenna up for,” Alvarez said.Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said he had one question for the SEC if it did decide to add the Longhorns and their Horns Up hand sign to the conference?“Is Horns Down going to be a be a 15-yard penalty in the SEC (as it can at times in the Big 12)?” Drinkwitz said. “I asked Commissioner Sankey and he said ‘no comment.’”

Could potential Texas/OU move tip realignment dominos?

New York (AP) - NFL teams have been warned they could forfeit a game due to a COVID-19 outbreak among non-vaccinated players, and players on both teams wouldn’t get paid that week.

“As we learned last year, we can play a full season if we maintain a firm commitment to adhering to our health and safety protocols and to making needed adjustments in response to changing conditions,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday in a memo sent to clubs that was obtained by The Associated Press.

Goodell says the league doesn’t anticipate adding a 19th week to accommodate games that can’t be rescheduled within 18-week regular season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578051322956.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>New York (AP) - NFL teams have been warned they could forfeit a game due to a COVID-19 outbreak among non-vaccinated players, and players on both teams wouldn’t get paid that week.“As we learned last year, we can play a full season if we maintain a firm commitment to adhering to our health and safety protocols and to making needed adjustments in response to changing conditions,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday in a memo sent to clubs that was obtained by The Associated Press.Goodell says the league doesn’t anticipate adding a 19th week to accommodate games that can’t be rescheduled within 18-week regular season.However, forfeits are among the consequences.“If a game can’t be rescheduled and is canceled due to a COVID outbreak among non-vaccinated players on one of the competing teams, the team with the outbreak will forfeit and will be deemed to have played 16 games for purposes of draft, waiver priority, etc,” Goodell says in the memo.For purposes of playoff seeding, the forfeiting team will be credited with a loss and the other team will be credited with a win.The league says more than half its teams have COVID-19 vaccination rates greater than 80% of their players, and more than 75% of players are in the process of being vaccinated.Nearly all clubs have vaccinated 100% of their Tier 1 and 2 staffs. Teams have appropriate protocols set up for staffers who have not been vaccinated, consistent with the guidance given last April.Among the other key points in the memo:— If a vaccinated person tests positive and is asymptomatic, he or she will be isolated and contact tracing will promptly occur. The positive individual will be permitted to return to duty after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart, and will thereafter be tested every two weeks or as directed by the medical staffs. Vaccinated individuals will not be subject to quarantine as a result of close contact with an infected person.— If an unvaccinated person tests positive, the protocols from 2020 will remain in effect. The person will be isolated for a period of 10 days and will then be permitted to return to duty if asymptomatic. Unvaccinated individuals will continue to be subject to a five-day quarantine period if they have close contact with an infected individual.— Anyone who had a previous COVID-19 infection will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they have had at least one dose of an approved vaccine.