SportsBeat KC

Latest Episodes:

Bad weekend but time to dig out for Sporting KC, Current: SportsBeat KC podcast May 22, 2023

Show notes

Not a good weekend for Kansas City’s soccer teams. Sporting KC got trounced in its first game against expansion team Saint Louis City, and the KC Current dropped its fourth straight, and second this week, to Racing Louisville.

Both teams have been fighting uphill battles throughout the season, and they’ve shown signs of solid play. Before Sporting’s loss it had going 2-0-1 and the Current posted a three-game winning streak earlier this season.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, beat writer Daniel Sperry drills down on the recent results but also looks at the big picture and examines what needs to happen for both to realize their playoff aspiration.

Story link

Sporting Kansas City trounced by St. Louis City SC in first game of new MLS rivalry

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/soccer/sporting-kc/article275623341.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: How FIFA World Cup 2026 and Kansas City can work for each other May 18, 2023

Show notes

Three years before the games come to Kansas City, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has new logos, a board of directors and some money earmarked from state and city governments. This was part of a press conference at GEHA Field at Arrowhead that included Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.

Perhaps the biggest reveal of the event came from Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, who said the city will issue request for proposals on improving transportation from downtown to the airport and the Truman Sports Complex.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. You’ll hear from Lucas, and Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt who took questions from reporters after their remarks.

First up is Star columnist Sam McDowell who attended the event and shared his impressions.

Story link:

Getting KC prepped for World Cup 2026: Government, team officials outline broad plans

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/article275526521.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: Kansas State makes a bold statement with Chris Klieman’s new contract May 16, 2023

Show notes

Did Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman sign a coach-for-life contract? Eight years, $44 million is about as long-term as it can get, and with the Wildcats becoming off a Big 12 championship season it seems like a bargain for the Wildcats.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, beat writer Kellis Robinett breaks down the deal and discusses not only the contract terms but where it ranks among Big 12 coaches and the statement Kansas State and Klieman made with the agreement.

Also, Robinett provides the latest on the men’s basketball transfer portal. K-State is being considered by former Kansas center Ernest Udeh. Who else do the Wildcats and Coach Jerome Tang have on the radar?

Story link:

Chris Klieman’s massive new Kansas State contract includes many lucrative bonuses

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article275442201.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: How does Chiefs offensive line stack up with new faces at tackle? May 15, 2023

Show notes

How does the new Chiefs offensive line stack up to last year’s? It might be tough to top a group that didn’t allow a sack in the Super Bowl victory. But the additions at both tackle spots were well received.

That one topic covered by Chiefs beat writer Jesse Newell on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. The other: The Chiefs schedule. At face value it’s difficult. That’s always the case for first-place teams. We discuss the potential potholes and reveal what Las Vegas oddsmakers say is the most difficult game.

After a break, you’ll hear from former Kansas State defensive end Wyatt Hubert. The former Cincinnati Bengals draft pick is trying to make his way back to the NFL after a year out of football. Hubert, part of Chiefs’ rookie mini-camp, which wrapped up last week, provides an update on his career.

Story links:

Chiefs schedule analysis: Best game, toughest stretch and most intriguing matchup

He worked in medical sales a few months ago. Now he’s trying to make an NFL roster

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: Hear from Star’s new Royals writer, and a pine tar memory from George Brett May 12, 2023

Show notes

The Royals head into their longest road trip of the year coming off their best home stand. Their victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday meant they won a series for only the second time this year and first time at home. They went 5-5 on the home stand and that’s their record in May, a nice turnaround from a dreadrful April.

So, let’s talk baseball. First up, meet The Star’s new Royals beat writer Jaylon Thompson. He previously worked at USA Today and grew up in Atlanta following the Braves. We discuss his baseball interests and an uncle, who is a former major league player.

Star columnist Vahe Gregorian is part of the conversation that continues with memory from George Brett. It’s the 40th anniversary of the famous Pine Tar game, a day that Brett vividly recalls. He speaks to that moment that provided baseball one of its greatest dugout charges.

Story link:

On 40th anniversary of Pine Tar Game, George Brett remains proud of principled rampage

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article275293961.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: Replacing Peter Vermes as coach not off table if Sporting KC woes continue May 11, 2023

Show notes

A victory in its last MLS game stopped the spiral for Sporting KC, the final team to win a game this season. It occurred in the 11th league game.

The awful start continued a trend from last year when only one team in the Western Conference finished with fewer points. What are the reasons for the slow start and how much responsibility falls on the shoulders of manager and sporting director Peter Vermes?

Vermes is the constant with the franchise, which has been among the most success in league history. He’s the longest tenured coach in MLS. Some fans chanted, “Vermes out,” at the team’s most recent home game.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Star columnist and former Sporting beat writer Sam McDowell discusses his recent intereview with Sporting KC principal owner Mike Illig and team president and CEO Jake Reid, and what steps could be taken to improve the team’s fortunes.

Story link:

Sporting KC’s sticking with Vermes, but owners say they’re not scared to make a change

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article275233231.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: How will Bill Self use transfer Hunter Dickinson? Let us count the ways May 10, 2023

Show notes

The Jayhawks have largely turned over their men’s basketball roster for next season and the biggest addition is Hunter Dickinson, the 7-1 standout from Michigan who is transferring to Bill Self’s program.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, beat writers Gary Bedore and Shreyas Laddha discuss how KU could use Dickinson, a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a second-team All-America last year.

Dickinson averaged 18.5 points and nine rebounds last season and could be the most accomplished player ever to enter the transfer portal.

This much is true: The Jayhawks have had some of their best seasons with a productive post player. Think about David McCormack, Udoka Azubuike, Jeff Withey and others over the past decade.

Story link:

Roster addition of Hunter Dickinson means rise in early preseason rankings for Kansas

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article275170136.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: The NFL is new world for drafted Chiefs. Here’s how they’re adjusting May 09, 2023

Show notes

Reporters spoke with Chiefs draft selections in the euphoric moments after they were taken. A week or so later, the same players in a less hectic moment got the interview treatment again at Chiefs rookie mini-camp. You’ll hear from some of those players on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast.

First-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the defensive end from Kansas State and Lee’s Summit High, recalled his experiences at the Super Bowl parade after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory.

Rashee Rice from SMU spoke of his role on a team that’s lost its top wide receiver each of the past two seasons. Tackle Wanya Morris says he feels at home on the offensive line playing along side of former college teammate Trey Smith, and defensive back Chamarri Conner said he’s up for any special teams duty the Chiefs ask. After all, he played at Virginia Tech, which emphasizes special teams as much as anyone in college football.

Also, Andy Reid provides an update from mini-camp which ended on Monday.

Story link:

Chiefs’ first-round draft pick was limited at rookie minicamp. Andy Reid explained why

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article275199391.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lorenzo Cain on his Royals retirement and will he lead parade into team Hall of Fame? May 08, 2023

Show notes

The Royals celebrated the Kansas City career of Lorenzo Cain over the weekend with a contract-signing ceremony that allowed him to retire as Royal.

On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, you’ll hear from Cain about his KC career, with an emphasis on the 2014 and 2015 postseasons.

The occasion got us wondering about who else might receive such a ceremony with the Royals, and/or eventually join the team’s hall of fame. Manager Ned Yost will be the first from the group to enter the hall at a September ceremony.

But who else? It’s a little tricky for this reason: George Brett, Frank White, Amos Otis, Hal McRae and Willie Wilson played most of (or all of) their respective MLB careers in Kansas City. They’re the franchise’s top-five players in games played.

Cain tweet

The second championship stretch for the Royals was populated with players who spent eight or fewer seasons with the Royals: Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, Wade Davis and Greg Holland, among others.

But player movement is more common now and should be taken into account when considering such an honor. Besides, there are Hall of Fame players from the earlier era who weren’t Royals lifers (for instance, John Mayberry spent just six of his 15 big-league seasons in Kansas City).

Our list of players from the 2014-15 era who should enter the Royals Hall of Fame includes Salvador Perez, Alex Gordon, Cain, Hosmer, Moustakas, Escobar, Kelvin Herrera, Davis and Holland. Maybe the HDH bullpen enters as a trio.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast: Talking Missouri Tigers with Eli Drinkwitz, Dennis Gates and Brian Smith May 04, 2023

Show notes

Is there a Patrick Mahomes effect when it comes to evaluating college prospect quarterbaccks? Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz says he sees more “off schedule” plays from high school and college quarterbacks, similar to the highlight moments from the Chiefs quarterback.

Drinkwitz, Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates and wrestling coach Brian Smith spoke to fans and reporters on a recent visit to Kansas City, and you’ll hear them all on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. Gates explains why the Tigers, coming off their best season in more than a decade, are capable of more.

Smith explains the value of having the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City in 2024. Matt Stahl of the Columbia Daily Tribune kick off the latest episode.

Story link:

The NFL Draft will soon be gone. NCAA Wrestling will be Kansas City’s next big sports party

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article274788956.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected