Max Falkenstien’s “retirement” will be an active one.

The longtime Kansas University football and basketball announcer, who completed 60 years of broadcasting KU athletics last spring, will continue to have a presence on the radio network while also performing duties for the athletic department as KU’s new “special assistant to the athletic director” during the 2006-07 school year.

Falkenstien will produce short media spots titled “Max’s Memories” to feature Falkenstien’s recollections of past KU athletes or contests.

Plans are for the spots, which are in the process of being sold to advertisers, to be played during broadcasts of games and perhaps the football and basketball coach shows.

For KU, Falkenstien will “help us in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, go to some alumni events, work on special projects, things of that nature,” KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said.

“We just want to keep him part of the Kansas athletics family and make good use of Max’s knowledge, experience and contacts.”

Of the upcoming season, Falkenstien said: “It will be real different for me. I don’t know how to tell you what it will be like. I guess I’ll go and take my binoculars and sit and watch the football games and basketball games. I hope I will be able to maintain the close relationship I had with the players and coaches. I know it won’t be as easy as before. I don’t know how it’ll play out.”

He said he didn’t plan to pop in the booth during the broadcasts – “they have qualified people hired to do that,” Max said – but will be visible to the public before basketball games.

“I will probably hang out in the Hall of Athletics before games and talk to people, sign autographs and take pictures when I’m in there,” Falkenstien said, noting in the past folks flocked to him for autographs, often when he was too busy preparing for the game to mingle.

Angela Haar, general manager of ESPN Plus, said Falkenstien was welcome to make appearances on the air before, at halftime or after games on the radio network if he so desired.

“All that is in the works right now. The way I see it is, Max will always be part of the radio network family,” Haar said. “We don’t have anybody on the crew who has not worked with Max for years. Everybody likes and respects Max so much.”

In football, former KU lineman David Lawrence will replace Falkenstien as color analyst next to play-by-play man Bob Davis, while Nate Bukaty will take over Lawrence’s previous duties as sideline analyst. In basketball, Chris Piper will work as an analyst next to Davis, now in his 23rd season broadcasting KU athletics.

¢ Bulletin-board material: New Kansas State point guard Ray Brewer played basketball this summer with future KSU forward Michael Beasley.

“To be honest, I haven’t played with or against another kid like Mike. He’s real special,” Brewer said. “He can finish with either hand. He can be explosive, he can be laid-back. : He’s a freak. I know the state of Kansas doesn’t have anyone like this. I’ve seen Kansas play a lot on TV – they don’t have anyone like Mike. Brandon Rush, Julian Wright – those guys can play, but they’re not Mike.”

¢ Bayless picks UA again: Jerryd Bayless, a 6-foot-4 guard from Phoenix who committed to Arizona, then withdrew the commitment, has for a second time committed to the Wildcat program. Bayless, Rivals.com’s No. 10-rated player, for a time pondered visiting Texas, Kansas and other schools.

¢ Recruiting: Jeff Withey, a 7-foot junior from San Diego, tells Rivals.com he will attend KU’s Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 13 as part of an unofficial recruiting visit. Roeland Park Miege junior Travis Releford also will be at Late Night. There are rumors that Derrick Rose, 6-4 senior from Chicago, likely will choose Memphis over KU, Illinois and others. : Some seniors on KU’s radar include James Anderson, 6-5, Junction City, Ark.; James Johnson, 6-8, Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Tyrel Reed, 6-3, Burlington. KU has received an oral commitment from Cole Aldrich, 6-11, from Bloomington, Minn.