SportsBeat KC

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Professional
**SportsBeat KC**

Kansas City’s biggest sports stories of the week, for the diehards and the casual fans alike. A podcast covering the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting, Current, Missouri and Kansas college teams, and more. Hosted by longtime Kansas City Star sports reporter Blair Kerkhoff and produced by KCUR Studios.

Latest Episodes:

Podcast: How newly acquired Carlos Dunlap fits into KC Chiefs plans at defensive end Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

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

Podcast: Why KC Chiefs’ JuJu Smith-Schuster had a good first day at training camp Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

JuJu Smith-Schuster is excited about his prospects in Kansas City. One day into training camp he spoke of lining up in different positions on the field and running more routes in one practice than he did in a season at Pittsburgh. Will he become Patrick Mahomes favorite target?

We discuss Smith-Schuster and other Chiefs topics on today’s SportsBeat KC with beat writers Jesse Newell and Herbie Teope along with columnist Sam McDowell.

Also, on the first day of veterans’ participation, we discuss who got the call at left tackle, cornerback and other positions of uncertainty.

Story links:

Here’s the change JuJu Smith-Schuster is most excited about

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article263801928.html

The biggest victim of Orlando Brown’s absence from Chiefs camp? Himself. Let’s explain

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article263886167.html

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

Return of Salvador Perez means Royals will have to make some lineup decisions: Podcast Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

The Kansas City Royals figure to be an active participant in the final week before the Aug. 2 MLB trade deadline, which would continue a makeover for a team that’s getting younger by the week. Also, the Royals are winning. They’re an AL Central-best 19-16 over their last 35 games.

So what happens when Salvador Perez returns to the lineup?

We cover these topics and plenty more on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, with beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell.

Also, baseball’s great ambassador Buck O’Neil got his day in Cooperstown, New York when he was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Gregorian was there to cover the festivities and shares his experiences.

Story links:

Salvador Perez slated to begin a rehab assignment; Bobby Witt Jr., not in the lineup

From Old Slave Mart in Charleston to Cooperstown: Buck O’Neil’s induction resonates

When MLB players visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

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

Every day was Buck O’Neil’s day in the sun. Here’s what Ken Burns, others had to say about Hall induction Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

Buck O’Neil had his day in the sun.

Then again, when did it ever feel like anything but a sunny day when you were around baseball’s greatest ambassador?

O’Neil was enshrined in Baseball Hall of Fame. On Sunday, and Star columnist Vahe Gregorian was on hand to cover the event. On today’s show you’ll hear a conversation between Gregorian and filmmaker Ken Burns, whose 1994 documentary mini-series “Baseball” thrust O’Neil into the national spotlight.

You’ll also hear a conversation between Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro League’s Baseball Museum in Kansas City–founded by Buck O’Neil–and former Star columnists Joe Posnanski. Poz worked with O’Neil on the book, “The Soul of Baseball,” as they traveled the nation and spoke with former Negro Leagues players.

Story links:

It’s official at long last: Buck O’Neil takes his place at Hall of Fame in Cooperstown

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/article263784343.html

From Old Slave Mart in Charleston to Cooperstown, Buck O’Neil’s induction resonates

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article263781718.html

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

Kicking a conference when it’s down is part of the realignment experience: a podcast Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

The college sports realignment adventure continued this week as commissioners from the SEC and ACC spoke at their respective football media days events, the Big 12 reportedly said it wasn’t interested in a merger with the Pac-12 (but was linked to an NBC deal with Notre Dame), and California Gov. Gavin Newsom demanded an explanation of why UCLA is leaving the Pac-12 with USC for the Big Ten.

Whew.

There is plenty to discuss, so we’re chatting on today’s SportsBeat KC podcast with K-State beat writer Kellis Robinett. We break down the week’s news, quotes and speculation and wonder whether there’s room for any empathy in the cold business of realignment.

We also discuss the significance of Kansas State’s latest basketball commitment, Darrin “Dai Dai” Ames, a top-50 prospect from Chicago.

Story links:

Who won the realignment battle between the SEC and Big Ten? Look South says Greg Sankey

Kansas State kicks off 2023 recruiting class with Darrin Ames

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

Podcast: Projecting next moves for Chiefs, Orlando Brown Jr., as training camp begins Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Football’s off-season is about to end. The Chiefs’ training camp opens this week at Missouri Western in St. Joseph, where players and coaches will gather to see the building process of a team seeking to make it five straight trips to the AFC Championship Game.

Quarterbacks and rookies only for the first few days. The rest of the squad is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. One of the early questions: When–or will– Orlando Brown Jr., show up? The team’s Pro Bowl left tackle didn’t come to terms with the Chiefs on a long-term deal and will play under the franchise tag this season.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writer Jesse Newell and columnist Sam McDowell discuss the Brown situation and the Chiefs’ options if Brown doesn’t practice.

Story link:

Chiefs, Orlando Brown fail to get long-term deal done before deadline. This is what it means

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article263354903.html

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

Podcast: Mizzou’s best team under Drinkwitz? Here’s what the Tigers had to say Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Missouri had its day at SEC Kickoff in Atlanta this week with head coach Eli Drinkwitz, defensive back Martez Manuel, defensive lineman Isaiah McGuire and wide receiver Barrett Banister taking the stage. You’ll hear from the players today on SportsBeat KC.

Manuel and McGuire spoke about a defense that looks to make big strides this season despite having a third coordinator in three years. After posting three straight seasons of break even records in the regular season, they’re ready to break through and become a division contender.

Banister said there was no doubt he would return for a sixth season of eligibility of discusses the responsibility of being a leader..

Story links:

Maybe third defensive coordinator in three years will be the charm for Missouri Tigers

Mizzou has returners, a transfer and a freshman vying at quarterback. Any could win the job

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

SportsBeat KC: As trade season approaches, how will Royals approach non-vaccinated players? Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

Baseball resumes Friday after the All-Star Break, and the Royals likely will soon make some roster decisions. They’re not a contending team, so who will and won’t be part of the club as the second half unfolds? And will the recent news of players not having vaccinations and unable to travel to Toronto factor into decisions?

Those are the primary topics on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast. Beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian discussed the Royals and how players like Whit Merrifield, part of the group that didn’t get vaccines, might be viewed by the club.

We also discussed the draft, with the Royals selecting position players with their first two picks, and college talent for their first 10. How soon can we see some of them in the majors?

Story links:

Here’s the mentality that helped the Royals produce the biggest upset in MLB this season

Royals lean on college players early in MLB draft, see plenty of upside

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

A glimpse into what K-State, KU are thinking amid realignment: SportsBeat KC podcast Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

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

SportsBeat KC: Visionary and rear-view mirror sightlines by Big 12 commissioners Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

For the first time, Big 12 Media Days opened with two commissioners at the podium. Brett Yormark, who starts the job on Aug. 1, shared the stage with outgoing boss Bob Bowlsby. On today’s SportsBeat KC, you’ll hear from both.

Yormark provides his vision for the Big 12, and obviously the outlook is changing with the recent realgnment shuffle that is sending USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten in 2024. Add navigating the Big 12 through the latest choppy waters to the to-do list, topped by landing the league’s new TV package.

Bowlsby has been through it all in his decade as Big 12 boss. He opened up to reporters about the state of college sports, the successes of the league, and offered a surprising regret, or disappointment.

Story link:

As Bob Bowlsby leaves Big 12 commissioner’s role on high notes, here is his biggest regret

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/article263424558.html

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected