University of Missouri

Jabari Brown has found a home at Missouri

There’s a tattoo on Missouri junior Jabari Brown’s upper right arm. It reads “B4” — short for the Brown four — encircled by his name along with the names of his parents, David and Fannie, and younger brother, Jamil. Underneath the names, it reads, “Family is a haven in a heartless world.” So it’s an incredibly cruel irony that in the midst of a breakout season — one that has seen Brown play as well as any shooting guard in the nation and as well as any Tiger in the last two decades — Brown learned his father has Stage IV cancer.

Ball Star

Royals’ Moore says no regrets about Santana signing with Braves

Ervin Santana reportedly agreed to a deal worth $14.1 million with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. That is identical to the qualifying offer the Royals gave in November. Santana rejected it, and sought a nine-figure, multi-year deal. His efforts were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Royals believe Jason Vargas and younger pitchers can offset some of Santana’s performance in 2013 (he threw 211 innings with a 3.24 ERA).

Editor's Picks

BLAIR KERKHOFF

Which Big 12 team will cut the nets in KC? Eight are capable

This is the 18th Big 12 Tournament, and after the NCAA selection committee does its thing on Sunday, the guess is we will not have seen anything like it. Baylor coach Scott Drew marveled at the field. “Toughest I can remember,” Drew said. “Not even close. More teams can win it this year. Normally, going in there are two or three teams that are the favorites.”

Business

Crossroads Academy expansion decision is delayed

Consideration of a plan by the Crossroads Academy, a downtown charter school, to double its size so it can accommodate middle school students was delayed Wednesday by a city development agency. The Kansas City Tax Increment Financing Commission postponed consideration of the school’s request for $5.5 million in TIF assistance until March 24. The delay was required because a late amendment filed in an effort to satisfy objections to the proposal.

News

Sex trade in eight cities, including Kansas City, is worth nearly $1 billion

A study released Wednesday about the world’s oldest profession concludes that the lucrative underground commercial sex economy in eight large U.S. metropolitan areas, including Kansas City, brings in a combined estimated annual cash value of $975.3 million. The unprecedented study by the Urban Institute finds that the reach of the Internet has facilitated the flesh trade and made it harder to combat.

Chiefs

Chiefs lose five players in first 90 minutes of free agency, re-sign Husain Abdullah

Over the past two months, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid have taken turns repeating the mantra build through the draft. So when free-agency officially began at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and five Chiefs starters were snapped up by other teams within the first 90 minutes, it hardly qualified as a shock. Also Tuesday, the Chiefs re-signed backup safety Husain Abdullah to a two-year deal, a source told The Star.

Don't Kill The Mellinger

The Chiefs are leaking talent and the Broncos are sucking it up, so ... uh-oh?

We interrupt Kansas City’s best sports week of the year with Pat Bowlen and John Elway turning NFL free agency into their own personal rap video. Aqib Talib gets six years and $57 million, including $26 million guaranteed (the biggest guarantee ever for a cornerback, which the Broncos will soon regret). The Broncos are also, reportedly, in on former Cowboys pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, which is ridiculous.

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