In one corner stands Ken Williams, a middle-aged White Sox executive whose days of sparring with superstars, managers, agents and the Chicago media were thought to be over.
In the other stands Chris Sale, a lanky, young left-hander who has taken the mantle of Sox clubhouse leader and excoriated his boss in public.
As a head-shaking fan base observed the March madness from afar, the Showdown at Camelback Ranch pitting Williams vs. Sale became the opening chapter of the 2016 season, playing out on the Internet like a beef between rappers.