Legendary University of Kansas broadcaster Max Falkenstien is recovering today after undergoing intestinal surgery at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Wednesday morning. Early indications are that Max will remained hospitalized for approximately one week.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Max and his family right now,” Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. “We are all praying for a full and speedy recovery.”

Falkenstien is in his 60th season as a broadcaster for KU sports teams. He originated the KU Sports Network and has done play-by-play and color commentary for both radio and TV. His long career has included all of KU’s Final Four appearances and two basketball national championships.

In 1998, the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., honored Falkenstien with the Chris Schenkel Award for long and outstanding merit in sports broadcasting. He was only the third person nationally to receive the recognition. Falkenstien chaired the State of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame for eight years, and in the spring of 2001, he was inducted as a member of that prestigious institution.

Just last week the Hall of Fame announcer on Tuesday announced plans to retire as color commentator on the KU radio network after working the final game of the 2005-06 men’s basketball season.

“I decided a couple years ago I would hang it up after I reached 60 seasons and this just seems a good time to do it,” Falkenstien said last Tuesday. “Although I still am in good health, I realize there finally comes a time when one must call an end to something, no matter how much he enjoys it.

Falkenstien said he might continue covering KU sports in some capacity after his retirement though.