Broadcaster Falkenstien hospitalized after surgery

Kansas University broadcaster Max Falkenstien had intestinal surgery Wednesday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Falkenstien will remain hospitalized about one week, KU officials said Wednesday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Max and his family right now,” Kansas University athletic director Lew Perkins said. “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 institution.