Sports

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Phil Mickelson was one of the louder voices on the Ryder Cup Task Force that reshaped the American blueprint and created so much continuity it was easy to predict the next captain.

An unprecedented day of chaos led to changes nearly everywhere in the AP Top 25, except the top two spots. It also tightened up major conference races across the country.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s third defensive coordinator in three years is not here to talk about the past. Blake Baker doesn’t mind discussing his history, but not Mizzou’s necessarily. And certainly not 2021.

A figure sprints toward the camera along a walkway at an apartment complex, first in real time, then in slow motion before going back to real time. The woman is dressed in a tracksuit, she’s fast and the spoken word-song playing over the video says “it’s me against me.”

Late in the fourth quarter of a heartbreaking 79-58 Class 6 District 7 first-round loss to Columbia Battle, Grain Valley coach Andy Herbert called timeout. He wanted to give his two seniors one final moment in the spotlight.

ATLANTA — Larry Lester grew up watching the Kansas City Monarchs at the ballpark near his home in late 1950s and early ‘60s. The Negro leagues had declined by then because of MLB’s racial integration, but their legends were part of his community. Buck O’Neil’s wife, Ora, was one of Lester’s grade-school teachers, and his classmates included Satchel Paige’s children.