Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:
- The job of holding together a shattered Mississippi football program falls to interim coach Matt Luke. The co-offensive coordinator was promoted for the 2017 season in the aftermath of Hugh Freeze's stunning resignation. Luke now has a 12-game audition for the full-time job, though the circumstances will be less than ideal.
- SOUTHPORT, England - Rory McIlroy tries to make a move at Royal Birkdale on a windy day at the British Open. Jordan Spieth and U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka were among late starters.
- MONACO - Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt competes in his final Diamond League meeting ahead of next month's world championships and his impending retirement. The famed Jamaican sprinter will look to sign off in style with victory in the 100 meters at the Herculis event in Monaco.
- BUDAPEST, Hungary - Katie Ledecky shrugs off the idea that she's doing something special. Sure, she's planning to swim a staggering total of 6,300 meters at the world championships - nearly double what was required of Michael Phelps for his record-breaking performance in Beijing - but it's just another meet for the world's greatest distance swimmer. The improbable has become the expected.
- CHICAGO - The surging Chicago Cubs go for their seventh straight win when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Jake Arrieta pitches for the Cubs while Carlos Martinez goes for the Cardinals. Game starts 2:20 p.m.
- SEATTLE - The WNBA's midseason showcase comes to Seattle for the first time. It's probably appropriate the All-Star Game is happening out West, given that is where most of the league's individual stars are located.
- INDIANAPOLIS - Kyle Busch has dominated the Brickyard 400 the last two years. If he can do it again this weekend, the 2015 Cup champion would join Michael Schumacher as the only drivers to win three consecutive races at Indianapolis.
- ARLINGTON, Texas - Clint Dempsey is back in his home state of Texas, where the United States plays its CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal matchup against Costa Rica on Saturday. The Americans lost 4-0 to Costa Rica last November, their last game before coach Bruce Arena's return.
- GLENDALE, Ariz. - Bruce Arians gathers the Arizona Cardinals for his fifth training camp as coach of the team. Unlike last year, the expectations aren't high.
- FRISCO, Texas - Dallas rookie defensive tackle Joey Ivie faces long odds making the Cowboys roster. The former Florida standout feels the presence of a partner in that pursuit: his late sister, Jordan Ivie. She's been his inspiration since she died in a car crash two years ago.
- Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters discuss their careers and their upcoming enshrinement into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
