All City 2025 Girls Swimming Team.

[Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Rick Strecker, Hayden Hall of Framer, passed away after cancer battle.

[File Photo/TSN]

All City 2025 Boys Golf Team.

[Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

2025 All City Boys Tennis Team.

[Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Topekan "Big Dawg" Deedrick honored by KSHSAA for 60 yrs. as an official in baseball, basketball, football and volleyball.

[File Photo/TSN]

Ryin Miller, Seaman, named Gatorade KS 2025 Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

[File Photo/TSN}

Nate Wallace (right) is the new coach of the Highland Park boys basketball team.

[File Photo/TSN]

Phil Frost captured his 1st TGA City Match Play Championship.

[File Photo/TSN]

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Key Performers of the Week

Rising Stars Intro 002AA

By KEVIN HASKIN

TopSports.news

Kevin Haskin headshotKevin Haskin

Musings at the mid-month:

-- Too bad no one at Kansas kept Lance Leipold from making a rookie mistake.

-- Topeka Regional is the official airport for KU athletics.

-- Poor weather kept the KU football party from attending Big 12 Media Days.

-- If Forbes is good enough for the Kansas Air National Guard, it’s better for KU than the concrete strip in Lawrence. Especially in a storm.

-- This, after Leipold got hired too late to attend, and orchestrate, spring practices.

-- Unfortunate timing has not prevented some media outlets from ballyhooing Leipold’s arrival.

-- Not going there just yet but considering Les Miles’ interactions with female employees at LSU, the $50,000-plus in hush money KU paid to a player not to reveal trouble with teammates, and a winless 2020 season, Leipold has to be an improvement.

-- And, we no longer have to squirm listening to Miles answer questions.

-- A current official in the KU athletic department should have offered a comment to Jesse Newell, who wrote the recent investigative piece for the Kansas City Star.

-- What’s to make anyone believe KU doesn’t still condone the behavior that contributed to Caperton Humphrey’s departure and the payout Jesse reported in his story?

-- A strict “representations and warranties” clause was included in the contract Leipold signed following the fallout with Miles.

-- But that doesn’t absolve KU of the deal it provided Humphrey to keep his torment quiet ... even though, yes, Jeff Long somehow got hired as KU’s athletic director.

-- If Texas is so soft that a “Horns Down’’ taunt aimed at a Longhorn results in a penalty, then NO, I will not declare the Longhorns are back.

-- I wouldn’t have anyway, and that’s no knock on Steve Sarkisian, UT’s latest hire.

-- Salvy deserved better from ESPN during his 28-homer barrage in the Home Run Derby.

-- Impressive feat for a catcher.

-- Felt kinda natural, though, to get blanked on Salvy coverage.

-- That’s been the case for me all season since my TV provider doesn’t have precious access to carry the Royals.

-- Yeah, I could get savvy and work around the problem with all my technical know-how.

-- But with the Royals sitting last in the AL in runs scored at the break, and last in their division, what’s the point?

-- Anyone go to the trouble of finding a replica All-Star jersey to purchase?

-- Would you actually find a place for it in your closet, let alone put it on?

-- One of the coolest things about the original and best All-Star game in sports is baseball players compete just fine in their team uniforms.

-- Yet MLB officials chose a uniform look that failed.

-- Baseball can’t get out of its own way sometimes, but golly, the All-Star gala sure is a blast for the players.

-- So said Joe Buck every half-inning.

-- Try letting the game sell itself.

-- Oh yeah, antiquated blackout rules prevent that.

-- When a generational talent like Shohei Ohtani leads a list of rising young stars, it’s OK to let the game breathe and take it all in without unnecessary fanfare.

-- Think Denny Matthews on radio.

-- Old school. Just like nine inning games for both ends of a twinbill and the bases empty to start an extra inning.

-- I will admit that moving back the rubber intrigues me.

-- Players bolting Bruce Weber’s program pose a dilemma when (if?) K-State changes coaches.

-- Will the next coach retain a decent share of players, or will the Cats’ roster continue to need reconstructing as often as downtown Topeka?

-- Several players chose other places under Frank Martin, too, though many attributed the turnover to Frank’s temperament.

-- Reminds me of a conversation I had with Frank once about the value of a deep rotation and committing to finding roles for those he recruited.

-- Not trying to draw parallels. Just remembering how fun it could be discussing anything with Frank.

-- Growing convinced that KU could sell out a month’s worth of basketball intrasquad games.

-- As good as the schedule is for the loaded Jayhawks, showdowns for playing time might be even better.

-- I love turning on the TV in the morning and watching major championship golf.

-- Once I drink enough coffee to remember golf is on.

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