SportsBeat KC

Latest Episodes:

Tom Watson, George Brett on ALS, slumping Royals and horse cutting May 10, 2021

Show notes

Every May, Kansas City sports icons George Brett and Tom Watson get together for an event that they wished would go away. It’s the Joe McGuff ALS Golf Classic at LionsGate in Overland Park. And they want it to end because that means enough funds will have been raised to stamp out the disease.

But Brett and Watson always answer the call to headline the annual event, and they discussed their relationship with the condition, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, along with several other topics. Brett had a suggestion on how the Royals could reverse their recent misfortune; Watson discussed the new sport that gets his competitive juices flowing and they spoke to each other on how they handled slumps.

Story links:

With Kansas City Royals slumping badly, George Brett has a suggestion

George Brett and a Johnson County ally ramp up Kansas City’s war in ALS

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

The return of Matt Besler, and impressions of KC NWSL’s 2nd home opener May 07, 2021

Show notes

One of the greatest players to wear a Sporting KC uniform, Matt Besler, returns to Kansas City this weekend....as a member of Austin Football Club. What kind of reception will he receive?

Also, Sporting stands at the forefront of developing and advancing homegrown talent. The Star’s Shaun Goodwin and Aly Trost of 810 WHB explain why.

We also take look back at KC NWSL’s first game at Legend’s Field. A beautiful goal by Mallory Weber got things started on the right foot but the team couldn’t avoid the setback. Still, a memorable night for the expansion club.

Story links:

Analysis: How and why, Sporting remains at the fore of MLS’s homegrown talent

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article251193959.html

New faces give KC NWSL a boost in first half but OL Reign prevails in Challenge Cup

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/fc-kansas-city/article251063894.html

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

Why this Kansas Jayhawks football hire can work better than others May 06, 2021

Show notes

The Kansas football program now belongs to Lance Leipold. He’s the fifth head coach in a dozen year and his task is a daunting one, turning around a program that hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 2009.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, you’ll hear from Leipold at his introductory news conference and from KU beat writer Gary Bedore, who has covered the Jayhawks for more than three decades. Is Leipold the guy who can turn things around in Lawrence?

Also, no conversation with Bedore would be complete without updates on Kansas basketball. He brings the latest from the recruiting scene.

Story links:

Lance Leipold appears to be a sensible hire for Kansas. But...

Five takeaways from KU football spring game and the position that stood out

Basketball recruit TyTy Washington sets a decisiond date. Jayhawks are a finalist

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

Projecting immediate-impact players from Kansas City Chiefs; draft class May 05, 2021

Show notes

It will take some time to properly evaluate the Chiefs’ draft haul. It always does. But if they can find a couple of immediate starters from the six they selected, and at least get contributions from the others, history tells us that 2021 will have been a successful draft.

Last year, the draft produced starters Clyde Edwards-Helaire and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Two years ago, it was wide receiver Mecole Hardman and safety Juan Thornhill.

Who could it be this season?

On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, Star beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell share their draft thoughts, break down the picks and predict the immediate-impact players. Did the Chiefs address all of their needs, and what remains in terms of roster-building for the franchise that has appeared in the past two Super Bowls?

Story links:

Chiefs say they drafted best player available. But there’s more to it here

Grades for the Chiefs’ NFL Draft picks, plus analysis of each players’ fit

Chiefs receive mostly good NFL Draft grades from national writers

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

Good debut for Daniel Lynch. Did right pitcher go to bullpen? May 04, 2021

Show notes

The Royals remain in first place in the AL Central and Daniel Lynch was encouraging in his debut in Monday’s loss to Cleveland. But the Royals have lost three of four. Have they cooled off the hot April?

That’s the topic on SportsBeat KC, a conversation with beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian. The show started as a SportsBeat Live with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Also, Jakob Junis went to the bullpen to make room for Lynch in the starting rotation, a move that took him by surprise and he struggled out of the pen on Monday. Hear what the group said about this development.

Story links:

Here’s why Daniel Lynch’s debut with the Royals reflected promise to come

Why did Royals move Jakob Junis to buillpen? Here’s Mike Matheny’s explanation

Daniel Lynch’s debut highlighted by this pitch in Royals’ loss to Indians

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

Most needs met with Chiefs draft class. Here’s what Reid, Veach, players say May 03, 2021

Show notes

The NFL Draft is in the books and six have joined the Chiefs. On today’s SportsBeat KC, we hear from some and about all of them.

Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton and Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey were the team’s top two selections, both in the second round. Joining the draft class after that were Florida State defensive end Josh Kaindoh, Duke tight end Noah Gray, Clemson wide receiver Cornell Powell and Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith.

Andy Reid kicks off today’s show by commenting on the first two selections. General manager Brett Veach sums up the draft and in between you’ll hear from Bolton and Humphrey.

Story links:

Grades for Chiefs’ NFL Draft picks, plus analysis of each player’s fit

With their final pick of the NFL Draft, Chiefs get even more help for O-line

Follow the Chiefs undrafted free agent signings with our live tracker

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

It’s KU, so it won’t be easy for Leipold. And welcome to draft, Chiefs Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Kansas has a new football coach. Again.

Lance Leipold faces the considerable challenge of turning around a program coming off a winless season that hasn’t won more than three games in any year since 2009. Leipold comes from the University of Buffalo, where he took the program to three straight bowl games. Before that, he won six NCAA Division III championships at Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Beat writer Jesse Newell breaks down the hire and details the task Leipold faces in this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast.

After a break, you’ll hear from Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, who met with the media late Thursday night after the first round of the NFL Draft. The Chiefs had traded their first-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for tackle Orlando Brown, so for Veach and the Chiefs, the draft really begins Friday night. The Chiefs have two picks in the second round.

Story links:

KU hires Lance Leipold as football coach. Here’s what he did at Buffalo

Chiefs focus on NFL Draft Round 2 with two picks and “maximum flexibility”

Here are five players the Chiefs could take in Round 2

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

Big goals met this week, by Sporting’s Busio and Chelsea’s Pulisic Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

Gianluca Busio scored Sporting Kansas City’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw with Orlando City in last weekend’s home opener, and it was a beauty. On today’s SportsBeat KC with Star beat writer Shaun Goodwin and Aly Trost of WHB 810, we talk Busio and his potential this season.

KC NWSL approaches its fourth and final game in the Challenge Cup looking for its first victory of the season. What needs to happen for Kansas City’s newest team to pull off the triumph on Monday at Legends’ Field.

Also, did you see Christian Pulisic’s goal for Chelsea this week against Real Madrid? It was the shot heard around U.S. soccer and we discuss its significance.

Story links:

Busio get it going for Sporting, but KC yields late goal in 1-1 tie against Orlando

With milestone near, Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes reflects on his tenure in Kansas City

KC NWSL has festive first game, but Brittany, Patrick and scores of fans had a blast

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

Chiefs are on the clock ... later than others. Who will they select? Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

With the 58th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select...

Doesn’t have the same ring to it as, say, a single-digit number. But it’s a good thing for the Chiefs. They traded out of the first round to the Baltimore Ravens to land their left tackle in Orlando Brown Jr.

So unless the Chiefs trade back into the first round, Thursday they’ll sit on the sidelines and watch the others to go work.

Still, there is plenty to discuss about the Chiefs and the draft and we’re doing it on today’s SportsBeat KC with Star columnist Sam Mellinger and beat writer Sam McDowell.

We talk about who might be available when the Chiefs draft in the second round - they have two picks in that round - will there be a surprise player available to them? What’s been the team’s recent success in the early around, and we’ll get some final thoughts on the Brown trade.

Story links:

A Kansas City draft primer: Setting the table for the Chiefs, minus a first-round pick

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article250889779.html

The Chiefs fixed the offensive line. Next? Address these needs in the draft

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article250969604.html

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

Royals’ Matheny pushing all the right buttons, and update on Salvy’s thumb Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

Best. Record. In baseball.

And not after three or four games. The Royals are 14-7, giving them a winning percentage just ahead of the Dodgers, Giants and A’s. Party like it’s 2015.

On today’s SportsBeat show, KC Star columnist Sam Mellinger breaks down what’s going right and what could be better about Mike Matheny’s club, and how the second-year Royals manager is pushing all the right buttons.

Also, beat writer Lynn Worthy found a moment while traveling with the team to provide an update on Salvador Perez’s thumb injury.

Story links:

Here’s why their fast start to this season has been crucial for the Kansas City Royals

Royals begin two game set in Pittsburgh: Game times and scouting report

Mellinger Minutes: Orlando Brown’s drive, Royals keep winning and staying off your phone

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