SportsBeat KC

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It’s a huge week for Kansas City Chiefs, with training camp set to begin Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

Chiefs training camp begins Friday at Missouri Western in St. Joseph, and story lines abound. Who lines up on the right side of the offense line? How will the defensive end rotation work? Position battles, impact newcomers, it all begins when quarterbacks and first-year players report on Friday. The full squad arrives the following week.

Today’s SportsBeat KC previews camp with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell with host Blair Kerkhoff. We start by asking why Andy Reid camps tend to be different than those of other teams and the value of the most recent signing, defensive end Alex Okafor.

And no Chiefs conversation these days is complete without mentioning Tyrann Mathieu’s contract progress and Frank Clark’s legal situation.

Story links:

With camp approaching, Chiefs turn to familiar face for pass-rush help

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article252901563.html

Chiefs go camping: What look for, sleepers and more as practices loom

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article252734588.html

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That day when the more interesting Royals game was in Papillion, Nebraska Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

On Tuesday, the Royals played at the Milwaukee Brewers. But a more interesting game happened in Papillion, Nebraska, home of the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Suiting up for the Royals’ Class AAA team were top Royals prospects Bobby Witt Jr. and Nick Pratto, who were called up this week from Northwest Arkansas. Daniel Lynch was the Storm Chasers’ starter.

In this episode of the daily SportsBeat KC podcast, Star columnist Sam Mellinger joins host Blair Kerkhoff to track the prospects’ progress and expectations in their new environment. Of note, this episode was recorded right before the Royals placed starting pitchers Danny Duffy and Brady Singer on the injured list.

Story links:

Mellinger MInutes: Royals promote Bobby Witt Jr. and Pratto

How the Royals’ Nicky Lopez got his swagger back at the plate

Royals’ Hunter Dozier opens up about root of his issues at the plate

Worthy tweet 0720

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Olympic Games in Tokyo begin this week. Can we enjoy them? Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

When the 2020 Olympic Games were postponed until 2021, the hope was the COVID-19 pandemic would have been eradicated … or at least no longer be a major storyline.

That is not the case.

With competition beginning Tuesday and opening ceremonies scheduled for Friday, the Summer Games in Tokyo, a humongous city that‘s been reporting more than 1,000 new cases each day for the past week, are happening. This will be the first Olympics contested without fans present.

And already, athletes are testing positive for the virus, including United States gymnast Kara Eaker from the Kansas City area.

In this episode of the daily SportsBeat KC podcast, Vahe Gregorian, who has covered numerous Olympic Games, joins host Blair Kerkhoff to discuss the event and pose this question: Can we enjoy these Olympics?

Story links:

Alternate from U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team from KC tests positive for COVID-19

NBC News: Tokyo 2020 sponsor Toyota pulls Olympic TV ads public support lags

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U.S. men remain golden in KC, and the many reasons to love Ted Lasso Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

The U.S. Men’s National Team was more aggressive in Thursday night’s 6-1 Gold Cup victory over Martinique at Children’s Mercy Park. And the scoring was capped by a goal with local flavor: Sporting KC’s Gianluca Busio’s cross found the cleat of Nicholas Gioacchini, a Kansas City native.

In this episode of The Star’s daily sports podcast, SportsBeat KC, Shaun Goodwin, Cora Hall and Briar Napier break down the game and what’s in store for the USMNT team with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Among other topics covered: What’s coming up for Sporting KC, KC NWSL and the USWNT team coached by Kansas City’s Vlatko Andonovski in the Olympics, and why we’ve enjoyed the soccer-based TV series Ted Lasso, starring Jason Sudeikis — who’s also from Kansas City — as the show’s second season approaches.

Story links:

Sellout for Sunday’s U.S.-Canada Gold Cup match sign of times in rivalry

Kansas City players combine for storybook goal in U.S. Soccer’s 6-1 victory over Martinique

U.S. soccer cruises to Gold Cup victory over Martinique in Kansas City

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How well has the Big 12 served league influencers Texas and Oklahoma? Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

The Big 12 has completed a quarter century of competition. In those 25 years, four teams departed, two were added and eight original members have stuck it out. It hasn’t always been a one-for-all spirit but it has survived.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, two columnists that have covered the conference since its inception answer the question: How well as the league served the schools they cover? Kirk Bohls has written for The Austin American-Statesman since 1973. Berry Tramel has been with The Oklahoman since 1991 and was at the Norman Transcript for more than decade before that.

The Big 12 has been terrific for Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and others, including West Virginia. And you’ll hear from Mountaineers radio play-by-play man Tony Caridi. But how about for league bell cows Texas and Oklahoma? The experts weigh in.

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Virus can’t be ignored as Big 12, Kansas State kick off Media Days Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said he would have loved nothing better than to end the COVID-19 pandemic conversation and speak only to this football season. But the latest spike in numbers didn’t allow for that. So football and virus precautions were the primary topics on Big 12 Media Days on Wednesday.

You’ll hear from Bowlsby on today’s SportsBeat KC, also from Kansas State beat writer Kellis Robinett and Wildcats football Coach Chris Klieman on various topics. K-State looks to upgrade its receiving corps and improve its defense from last year’s 4-6 team that scored one of the season’s crazy’s outcomes when it defeated Oklahoma by scoring the game’s final 24 points.

Story links:

Five noteworthy things K-State football coach Chris Klieman said at Big 12 Media Days

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article252751168.html

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Why Royals took a high school draft path + HR Derby coverage irritation Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

The Royals went young and local with their first few selections in this week’s major league draft, which concluded Tuesday.

KC’s first-round selection, left-handed pitcher Frank Mozzicato, was a surprise based on projections. But the Royals’ second and fourth overall picks, Blue Valley Southwest pitcher Ben Kudrna and Park Hill catcher Carter Jensen, are fairly well known around here.

What does the youthful trend signal about the Royals? In this episode of The Star’s daily sports podcast, SportsBeat KC, beat writer Lynn Worthy joins columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian to discuss the draft and other events associated with All-Star week, including Salvador Perez’s terrific performance in the Home Run Derby and why Royals fans were upset with ESPN’s coverage.

Story links:

Royals fans rip ESPN for coverage of Salvador Perez at Home Run Derby

Salvador Perez sets a record for catchers at Home Run Derby

Royals draft Connecticut high schooler with seven pick. Here are the details

Royals select local high school standouts with second and third round picks

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Going inside Kansas City’s bid for the 2026 World Cup Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

During this period of international soccer action — Euro, Copa, Gold Cup and more — the biggest world event was a conversation topic in Kansas City on Monday.

The city’s bid be a host site for the 2026 World Cup got a lead image as the KC2026 Bid Committee partnered with OUTFRONT Media to create a wallscape that measures 90 x 90 feel on the north-facing side of the building at 1627 Main Street.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Sporting Kansas City director of marketing Aaron Borns and Kansas City Sports Commission president and CEO Kathy Nelson take us inside Kansas City’s World Cup bidding process.

After a break, you’ll hear from Gianluca Busio, who made his USMNT debut on Sunday night in the U.S.’s 1-0 victory over Haiti in the Gold Cup opener at Children’s Mercy Park. Busio, 19, spoke to reporters on Friday about his feelings of representing the United States for the first time.

Story links:

Sporting KC’s Busio adapting, impressing at USMNT Gold Cup camp ahead of Sunday’s match

U.S. Men’s National Team opens Gold Cup soccer run in Kansas City with win over Haiti

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How we put together list of top 25 best games by KC-area teams Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

Reaction to our list of the top 25 greatest games in Kansas City sports history has been strong. The story was posted on KansasCity.com last weekend and appeared in the Tuesday editions of The Star and many generally agreed with the choices and enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

A common thought among those who disagreed was our omission of Chiefs regular season games. One was included: The Joe Montana-led victory at Denver on Monday Night Football in 1994. We consider several more.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Pete Grathoff and host Blair Kerkhoff discuss the list with columnist Vahe Gregorian and Chiefs beat writer Sam McDowell. The podcast was recorded before the stories appeared in the newspaper and on the website.

Story link:

Check out these 25 best ever games involving Kansas City-area teams. What did we miss?

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/article252521933.html

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Another Sporting victory, a marvelous KC NWSL goal and Gold Cup on deck Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

Kansas City will feel like the nation’s soccer center over the next couple of weeks.

Sporting Kansas City remains molten-hot, collecting a 2-0 victory at the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend. KC NWSL didn’t just earn a 1-1 draw with FC Gotham, it did so in style with a goal by Mariana Larroquette that made ESPN’s top plays highlights for the day.

Add to that the arrival of Gold Cup group play at Children’s Mercy Park starting Sunday with the U.S. Men’s National Team, and it’s a packed schedule. We talk about all of it on this episode of the daily SportsBeat KC podcast with guests Shaun Goodwin, Cora Hall and Briar Napier.

Story links:

KC NWSL breaks skid, gains point on Larroquette goal from distance that tied Gotham 1-1

Sporting KC scores two late, earns three points at LA Galaxy and takes lead in West race

Gold Cup games in KC: It’s homecoming for this U.S. Men’s National Team player

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