SportsBeat KC

Latest Episodes:

Another Adalberto Mondesi injury (sigh). What are the Royals' options? Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

For a player who has only appeared in 10 games, we spend a lot of time talking about Adalberto Mondesi. But there’s always something to say. Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam Mellinger join host Blair Kerkhoff and talking about the latest setback, another oblique injury.

If the Royals can’t count on Mondesi, should they consider moving him from shortstop, or trading him?

The conversation started on SportsBeat Live and is now a SportsBeat KC podcast. We also discuss the Royals recent decision to start Kyle Zimmer in an “opener” role, and starting pitching options for manager Mike Matheny going forward. You’ll also hear from general manager Dayton Moore.

Story links:

Dayton Moore frustrated with Kansas City Royals. “We just haven’t been healthy”

The Royals and Adalberto Mondesi have the same problem. It’s a tricky one

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A no-drama mini-camp means Chiefs have eyes on biggest prize (again) Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Another Chiefs’ mini-camp in the books and little drama attached to this one. Oh, there were some camp surprises, newcomers to observe and one big contract extension—Tyrann Mathieu’s—unresolved. But mostly this seems like a team intent on keeping distractions to a minimum while working toward a third straight Super Bowl.

Still, there’s plenty to discuss as beat writer Herbie Teope wraps up the Chiefs’ off-season. How will the offensive line shake out? Who made the biggest impression over the past few weeks? And is a COVID-19 vaccinated team a happy team? Teope discusses these topics and more on SportsBeat KC with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Story links:

Why Andy Reid says mandatory mini-camp was a win-win situation

Once hesitant, Chiefs star Travis Kelce now urges COVID-19 vaccines for all

Tyrann Mathieu strikes a different tone about contract extension with the Chiefs

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Sporting KC’s looking for its luck to hold, and fantasy soccer, anyone? Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Sporting Kansas City and KC NWSL are about to become very busy. This weekend both teams start stretches of three games during a week. Sporting will look to keep alive its recent run of fortune and Woso looks for its first victory. The Star’s Shaun Goodwin and Aly Trost of WHB 810 AM and the new Sporting KC sideline reporter break it down on SportsBeat KC with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Also, with the soccer world watching the UEFA European Football Championship and U.S. teams heading toward international competitions, we talk about an alternate universe where soccer was the nation’s dominant sport and what might be the best soccer fits from athletes who went on to star in football, basketball, baseball and other sports. Shaun and Aly came up with some excellent teams.

Story links:

In Kansas City and beyond, wave of female ownership has washed over women’s pro soccer

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/fc-kansas-city/article252116783.html

What’s in a name? A lot. So brand-conscious KC NWSL is testing some out in focus groups

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/fc-kansas-city/article252061763.html

Sporting KC gets plenty of shots on goal, but comes away with 1-1 tie vs. Austin FC

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article251898058.html

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Mathieu wants to stay with Kansas City Chiefs and Big Red’s not seeing red Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

These were the words that Chiefs fans wanted to hear: Tyrann Mathieu says he can’t see himself playing for any other team.

The contract-extension talks between the team and its All-Pro safety may not have progressed as quickly as Mathieu (or fans) wanted, as he has suggested on Twitter, but during a Thursday interview he sounded like things will work out.

You’ll hear that interview in this episode of The Star’s daily sports podcast, SportsBeat KC, along with interviews from superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid. Mahomes said he’s impressed with what he’s seen from his new offensive line and talked about how he’ll spend the next few weeks.

And Reid addressed the fuss over comments former Chiefs running back Le’Veon Bell made about him earlier in the week.

Story links:

Tyrann Mathieu strikes different tone about contract extension with Chiefs

No hard feelings: Chiefs’ Andy Reid extends best wishes to Le’Veon Bell

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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s opt-out from Chiefs football was call to help Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

When last seen in a Chiefs uniform, guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was celebrating a Super Bowl victory. After that, he put his medical degree to use battling the COVID-19 pandemic by serving at a long-term facility outside his native Montreal.

“I think I was in the right place at the right moment, and I was able to put my medical training to use,” Duvernay-Tardif said this week.

Duvernay-Tardif recounts his year away from football, including his new pursuit of a degree in public health at Harvard, in this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast.

Also, we hear from two other Chiefs, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive end Frank Clark, following the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Story links:

We know why Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif sat out 2020. Here’s what drew him back

Why Chiefs Frank Clark took took a self-exile from Twitter to focus on football

Chiefs’ Kelce sees Cleveland Browns as threat in AFC

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Royals are team of the extreme and they’re trending in wrong direction Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Another slump for the Royals has them losers of nine of 10 and the latest setback was especially painful. In Monday’s 10-3 to the Detroit Tigers, the Royals went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base. In all, they had 18 base runners.

Beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam Mellinger join Blair Kerkhoff in breaking down the Royals and what’s going wrong like the lack of clutch hitting, the inconsistency of young starting pitching and how injuries are starting to pile up. You’ll also hear from Mike Matheny and Whit Merrifield from last night’s game.

Story links:

“It’s just a bad run,” Royals fall behind early to Tigers, never recover

Mellinger MInutes: More normal, more Royals struggles, and we get deep

Option for Royals fans who have cut the cord is advancing but it may be costly

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After Mizzou, Quin Snyder took coaching road less traveled Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

Quin Snyder led the Utah Jazz to the NBA’s best record this season and now has them in the Western Conference semifinals. Who’d have seen this coming after the way his tenure at Missouri ended 15 years ago?

Star columnist Vahe Gregorian joined host Blair Kerkhoff to discuss the Snyder years at Missouri and how he reconstructed his career after he was ousted from Mizzou. The coaching road less traveled included stops in the NBA G League and Russia, but here he is, near the top of the NBA pinnacle.

Story links:

Quin Snyder’s career veered off track at Mizzou. Now he’s nearly at the NBA pinnacle

Donovan Mitchell says that he’s fine, but it’s clear he playing through some pain

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Chiefs OTAs done, we’re looking ahead to mandatory minicamp next week Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

The Chiefs wrapped up OTAs this week. Next stop: mandatory minicamp next week. Andy Reid and a handful of players addressed the media on Thursday and you’ll hear their comments in this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Kansas City Star’s daily sports podcast hosted by Blair Kerkhoff.

Reid provides an update on Kyle Long’s knee injury and elaborates on vaccinations for players. Second-year linebacker Willie Gay reminds us how difficult OTAs and minicamp were during last year’s pandemic-influenced offseason. Newcomers Joe Thuney and Jarran Reed offer observations about their new teammates, too.

Story links:

With team leaders paving way, Chiefs don’t worry about OTA participation

The latest on Kyle Long’s injury and what it means for the Chiefs’ O-line

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Sporting KC looks to keep rolling. So does USMNT after after Cup triumph Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Last month, Sporting Kansas City fell behind 1-0 to Austin FC and about 10 minutes remained in regulation. But Sporting got goals from Ilie Sanchez and Gadi Kinda to pull out the victory and they’ve been on fire since, climbing to second place in the MLS Western Division.

Austin FC is the opponent on Saturday and beat writer Shaun Goodwin and Aly Trost of WHB 810 AM—and new sideline reporter for Sporting—join host Blair Kerkhoff to discuss Sporting, along with KC NWSL and the U.S. Men’s National Team victory over Mexico on Sunday in the Nation’s League final.

Story links:

A victory over Austin kicked off Sporting KC’s red hot form. Here comes a rematch.

Rumors fly: Will Gianluca Busio go overseas now. Player, coach address the chatter

Nine games into winless first season, KC NWSL needs to make most of its chances now

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Interpreting another Mathieu tweet. Is this about future with Chiefs? Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

Another vague Tyrann Mathieu tweet hit Twitter feeds Wednesday, and Chiefs fans could be getting nervous. This one read: “If they make me choose imma I choose to take it back to where it all started.”

Mathieu tweet 0609

Is he quoting a lyric, talking about a uniform number, or about his negotiations toward a new contract? The Chiefs are believed to be working on an extension for Mathieu. Last month, general manager Brett Veach said the process would begin after free agency and added, “Enough can’t be said about Tyrann and how we feel about him and his role both on and off the field here.”

The tweet may be an interpretation that things aren’t moving fast enough for Mathieu, the star safety who signed a three-year, $42 million deal two years ago and has been a force for the Chiefs in two Super Bowl appearances.

Last month, Mathieu deleted a tweet that was a response to an inquiry about getting an extension. “Probably not,” was part of the response before Mathieu hit the delete button.

What about, where it all started? Is that Arizona, where his NFL career began? New Orleans, his hometown? On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell discuss Mathieu’s future with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Story links:

Tyrann Mathieu explains deleted tweet about contract talks with Chiefs

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article251734203.html

Travis Kelce has special message for Chiefs draftees, especially tight end Noah Gray

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article251122509.html

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