_Each week, KUSports.com will get you caught up on Jayhawks both former and current getting some ink from outside of the area._Daily Herald: Hinrich feels fresh after passing on Team USA_Kirk Hinrich withdrew from Team USA in August just two days before the start of practice for the FIBA Tournament of the Americas, which the U.S. won easily.__The only explanation given at the time was family reasons. On Monday, Hinrich said he stepped away in part because he felt worn down. The previous year, he spent six weeks in Asia playing in the FIBA World Championships.__”Last year’s summer was brutal,” he said. “It wasn’t brutal at the time. But I think it was just the grind of last summer, then the season. I felt like at times I didn’t have my legs.__”I had a horrible summer (in 2006) as far as lifting and getting my body ready. It was the worst summer I had in a long, long time. I feel like not playing this summer really helped. My legs feel about as fresh as they have in a long time.”__There was speculation that Hinrich would have been cut anyway from Team USA, which added point guards Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups and Deron Williams to the roster.__”It wasn’t anything like that,” Hinrich said. “I arranged getting married around it. It was something I really wanted to do. I just felt like I was worn out. I just didn’t have it in me and I had some other stuff going on and I wasn’t able to do it.”_Local Take: As this season gets underway, it’s going to look more and more like a good decision on Hinrich’s part to pull out from Team USA tryouts. He’s a key veteran leader of a team just as young as he, now entering his fifth NBA season. Especially with the Bulls expected to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs, he’ll need to be as fresh as can be come April/May/June.The Canadian Press: Lions slotback Geroy Simon named CFL offensive player of the week_Tiger-Cats defensive end Charlton Keith took the defensive player of the week honour. He recorded two sacks and recovered two fumbles in Hamilton’s 24-20 win over Calgary. Toronto defensive back Kenny Wheaton was runner-up._Local Take: Keith gave it a couple of training camp shots in the NFL, and things just didn’t pan out. Considering he was on the Tiger-Cats’ developmental squad just a couple of weeks ago, maybe he can find a nice home and career in Canada, just like another former KU defensive standout – Willie Pless.NBA.com: With Burden Lifted, Reborn Pierce Excited to Start Camp_WALTHAM – If Paul Pierce doesn’t have the Rolling Stones’ Some Girls album on his iPod, he probably should, because if anyone could identify with “Beast of Burden”, he’d be the guy.__Two summers worth of trade rumors, doubt and introspection had Pierce wondering about the direction of his career, and frankly, if his days as a Boston Celtic were numbered.__”I’ll never be your beast of burden/My back is broad but it’s a hurting. I’ve walked for miles my feet are hurting.”__Mostly, his left foot and elbow were hurting, and his pride definitely took a few hits as well as he often watched the team struggle from the sidelines during a disappointing 24-win campaign. But just days before he’ll head to Europe for training camp with his new-look team, Pierce is clearly a rejuvenated man and suddenly, Satisfaction may be within reach.__Talking via conference call to reporters from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Pierce answered some pretty generic questions about the trip to Rome and London, but when asked to reflect on what could have been, Pierce sounded pretty vulnerable.__And he must have said the word “burden” about five times.__”I didn’t know what my future was going to bring, even this summer,” Pierce said. “I thought this summer was the greatest chance that I would get traded, but once we made the moves to acquire Ray Allen and KG, I knew I would be here. It’s taken a burden off of me and I’ll finally have the opportunity to play for a championship.”__But before a pair of blockbuster trades, Pierce had come to the crossroads and had all but given up on the idea of retiring with the Boston Celtics._Local Take: Sure, they’ve now got the newest version of the ‘Big Three,’ but it’ll be interesting to see who steps up as the role players around Pierce, Garnett and Allen. There’s a long season ahead, fellas. Don’t crown ’em yet.