SportsBeat KC

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Podcast: To Mahomes, best thing about a second title is opportunity to win a third Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

His second Super Bowl championship and MVP season behind him, it was time for Patrick Mahomes to begin thinking about the next quest. Turns out, he’s as motivated to keep pushing forward as ever.

Mahomes shared his thoughts about life after the ultimate achievement and starting the 2023 off-season team activities in a 15-minute interview with reporters that you’ll hear on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. He talks about his ankle injury, working with receivers in Texas for a second straight year, and getting back to work.

He also weighs in on the new deal for Jalen Hurts that makes the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback the NFL’s highest paid player on an annual value basis, and has thoughts for Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old who is recovering after being shot in Kansas City while picking up his brothers.

Star columnist Vahe Gregorian kicks off the show with his thoughts on Mahomes and Chiefs.

Story link:

With chance to be part of elite NFL history, Chiefs and Mahomes have fresh motivation

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article274412725.html

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Podcast: Chiefs, Reid have been here before. How to attack the off-season as champs Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

The NFL off-season comes in phases, and teams are preparing for the first of those. For the Chiefs, that means plenty of pitching and catching with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. That’s happening in Texas, as it did last year. It means meetings and conditioning for the defense, and it’s also an opportunity to hear from Andy Reid and players for the first time in several weeks,

Reid met with reporters on Monday to preview the beginning of these activities. It was his first time to discuss how the Chiefs will operate with new faces at wide receiver, how he spent his time since the Super Bowl victory and he looks at the NFL Draft for the Chiefs and where the event will take place, Union Station in Kansas City.

After a break you’ll hear from linebacker NIck Bolton. He’s coming off his first Super Bowl triumph and describes how he’s handled the short off-season.

Story link:

Why the Kansas City Chiefs are Zooming through Phase 1 of their offseason program

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article274397975.html

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Podcast: After gaining their footing on road trip, Royals seek better results at home Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

If the Royals could ignore the opening homestand, they’d look pretty good in the AL Central. On their first road trip of the year, they went 3-3, winning their first two in San Francisco and their final game in Texas. The get away game was their most complete of the season, a 10-1 triumph.

But fold in the 1-6 start and the record isn’t pretty after two weeks. On today’s show, Star reporters Pete Grathoff and Scott Chasen discuss the Royals with an emphasis on the past week. The starting pitching continues to outperform expectations, and the bats came alive in the final two games against the Rangers.

Especially encourging in the finale is how well the Royals hit with runners in scoring position. Can they keep it up with the Atlanta Braves and the Rangers in town for the next six games?

Story link:

KC Royals have struggled in this crucial stat: ‘Little by little, we’re feeling better’

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article274279215.html

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Podcast: The many draft possibilities for the Chiefs in two weeks includes a trade Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

With 10 draft picks the possibilities seemingly are endless for the Chiefs. But there are some positions that need to be addressed, and on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell shares his thoughts on what the Chiefs might do when the draft arrives in two weeks.

Edge rusher? Wide receiver? RIght tackle? The Chiefs likely will look for answers at those slots, the way they addressed the defensive backfield last season. How did that work out? Three rookies started in the secondary in the Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Even an early trade isn’t out of the possibility. The Chiefs have made moves involving their first-round draft selection in every year except one since 2016. We discuss what would entice the Chiefs to make such a move this time.

Story link:

Kansas City Chiefs 7-round mock draft 2.0: If KC goes offense, this could be the pick

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article274028415.html

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Podcast: Why Sporting KC, KC Current have gotten off the on wrong foot to start year Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

The MLS and NWSL seasons have started, and can we get a reset in Kansas City? Sporting Kansas City is seven games in without a victory. The KC Current are 0-2.

Why the slow starts? On today’s SportsBeat KC podcast, Star soccer writer Daniel Sperry breaks it down. One common element to the teams: lack of offense. The Current has one goal. Sporting has two. For the most part defense and goal-tending has been solid.

But goals have been difficult to come by. As Sporting’s Peter Vermes said after the most recent loss, 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids: “I’d like to score some goals.”

Story link:

KC Current got some love from Ted Lasso. Their coach is a fan of Jason Sudeikis’ show

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/soccer/kc-current/article273756415.html

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Podcast: In first comments after health scare, Bill Self speaks from (repaired) heart Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

Bill Self held his first press conference since since being hospitalized for a heart catheterization procedure before the Big 12 tournament, and although the occasion of this year-end meeting with reporters was unlike last years when the Jayhawks won the national championship, this was also upbeat.

Self spoke for more than 30 minutes on his improved health and renewed excitement for coaching. “All this did from a job standpoint was reconfirm what I love to do,” he said.

And, “I need to be living in the portal.”

You’ll hear all of the Self press conference on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. Columnist Vahe Gregorian shares his thoughts on the coach who has amassed nearly 800 victories in his career, and is well into planning for next season.

Story link:

How health issue clarified Kansas coach Bill Self’s view of the future (and path to it)

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article274007225.html#storylink=mainstage_card

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Podcast: Could Chiefs’ first-round selection have a local flavor? This mock says yes Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

How about a Kansas State defensive end from Lee’s Summit as the Chiefs’ first selection in the NFL Draft?

Adding to the local angle, the draft will take place at Kansas City’s Union Station.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the Big 12 defensive player of the year for the Wildcats, is the Chiefs’ first-round pick, projected by Star beat writer Herbie Teope.

Mock drafts are the definition of inexact science, but over the past three seasons, Teope has called the Chiefs’ drafting of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2020), Nick Bolton (2021) and George Karlaftis (2022) in one of his multiple mock drafts.

Discussing the draft also provides and opportunity to look at Chiefs needs, and we do that as well.

Story links:

Who will the Chlefs select in the 2023 NFL Draft? Here’s The Star’s first mock draft

Some Kansas City roads are starting to close for NFL Draft at end of the month

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Podcast: What made the Royals’ first victory of the season champagne dousing worthy? Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

In baseball, early results are magnified, which is why the Royals’ three-game losing streak to open the season make things more dour than had it happened in, say, July. And it’s also why, when the skid ended with Monday’s 9-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, champagne flowed in the clubhouse.

Well, that and the Royals were celebrating Matt Quatraro’s first victory as a manager.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, reporter Pete Grathoff breaks down the very early returns of the Royals, who showed some positive signs even while dropping the opening series to the Minnesota Twins.

Also discussed: The impact of baseball’s most important rules changes. At least one, the pitch clock, is having the intended impact on games. Did you notice you’re getting home sooner from the ballpark?

Story link:

Why Royals manager Matt Quatraro had red eyes after first MLB victory

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article273932695.html#storylink=mainstage_lead

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Podcast: Previewing tonight’s NCAA final, and will UConn’s tourney rampage continue? Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

On today’s SportsBeat KC, you’ll hear from coaches Dan Hurley of UConn and Brian Dutcher of San Diego State as they break down the game and their seasons.

You’ll also hear reactions from two of the newest members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, coaches Gene Bess of Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Gene Keady, the longtime Purdue coach who was a three-point letter winner at Kansas State. Interestingly, none of those sports was basketball.

Story links:

What will it take for charmed San Diego State to overcome powerful UConn in NCAA final?

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/article273880995.html#storylink=mainstage_card

Gene Keady is the latest with Kansas State ties elected to the Hall of Fame

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article273862665.html#storylink=mainstage_card

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Podcast: Take me out to the ball game, but what will fans see with these Royals? Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Every sport begins a season. Only baseball has Opening Day (capital letters). As the 2023 campaign gets underway,n we talk Royals with several players and new manager Matt Quatraro. They met with reporters on Wednesday to discuss a wide range on topics from team prospects to rules changes.

You’ll hear from opening Day starter Zack Greinke, along with Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez, Vinnie Pasquantino and general manager J.J. Picollo.

How much optimism should there be for 2023? The Royals are picked to finish at or near the bottom of the AL Central with a projected victory total of 68.5. Last or next to last in the division is where they’ve finished each season since 2018. But on Opening Day and hope springs eternal.

Story links:

Opening day is fertile chance for new-look Royals to show changes aren’t just cosmetic

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article273731645.html#storylink=mainstage_lead

Any Royals optimism starts with young core. What’s reasonable to expect? Let’s dive in

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article273725590.html#storylink=mainstage_card

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