By BERRY TRAMEL, The Oklahoman

KANSAS CITY -- Finally, the rock stars arrived at the downtown Marriott.

The two coaches that define Big 12 football. The two coaches who can walk through the lobby and turn heads. The two coaches who have brought Middle America its gridiron glory this century.

Mack Brown and Bob Stoops.

NORMAN, Okla. -- A mob of little kids, and a few not-so-little adults, ran around the Adrian Peterson Football Camp last week adorned in crimson or purple No. 28 jerseys.

But if a camper wants to catch Peterson's eye, here's a suggestion.

Wear one of those regal Viking jerseys, the purple with the gold trim, and put a big X on the back. Peterson will notice.

Chipper Jones is fighting a torn quadriceps muscle that has turned him into baseball's top pinch-hitter and might put him on the disabled list.

That's bad news for the Atlanta Braves. That's good news for baseball.

It sounded good at the time.

In the summer of 1998, when the great home run derby captivated America, and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were folk heroes, and baseball seemed to have regained its sway, here's what I wrote.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe wants to give college football players five years of eligibility. He's on solid ground.

The five-years proposal isn't new, but a conference commissioner spearheading the efforts could provide momentum for a policy that would eliminate football redshirting.

The Yankees' Joba Chamberlain struck out Cleveland's David Dellucci, pumped his fist and let out a whoop.

The Nationals' Elijah Dukes, feeling his Washingtons needed an emotional boost in the third inning, began rhythmic clapping in the dugout, and his teammates followed suit.

As the clock ticks toward an NBA vote to relocate the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, the good citizens of Seattle are doing what every city does when facing a franchise exodus.

Fighting back. Kicking and scratching and clawing. Marquess of Queensberry rules be damned. This is the corporate version of street fighting. And here's the latest.

Mister Coffee wants his Sonics back.

Darrell Royal slept on it.

Barry Switzer slept on it.

Bill Self slept on it.

A good alma mater is worth a good night's sleep.

The Bill Self Watch continues, with candlelight vigils headquartered in Stillwater and while I still say it's a long shot for Self to hop on Pistol Pete's Oklahoma State buckboard, don't rule it out. Like Self's lawyer said the other day, never say never.

Out in Phoenix before the Fiesta Bowl earlier this month, Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly was asked how West Virginia would respond to the loss of its coach, Rich Rodriguez, who had bolted for Michigan.

No big deal, Kelly said. Players know what the score is.