Hiding smack in the middle of the country, the biggest little sports town in America can be found. Around here, rush hour lasts barely the length of a red light. But Columbia, in the heart of Missouri, is home to 75,000 regular folks and two major-league athletic barons. Stan Kroenke and William Laurie live on the same street. They are billionaires related by marriage and divided by sports.
Rich guys play expensive games.
Kroenke has a Super Bowl ring. For a team just one victory from a trip to the Western Conference finals, and with two more chances to get it, an uneasy feeling lingers with the Colorado Avalanche. Just call Ray Rhodes the Great Liberator. Members of the Denver Broncos' defense already do. Tim Duncan scored 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Saturday to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 94-78 rout of the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.