SportsBeat KC

Latest Episodes:

Basketball roster continues to churn at Kansas, even on the staff Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

The Kansas basketball roster could be in extreme makeover mode. With NBA Draft declarations and the transfer portal, the churn continues.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Gary Bedore and Jesse Newell tell us where things stand with Kansas and that includes on the coaching staff after assistant Jerrance Howard left for Texas..

Also, the first big task for new athletic director Travis Goff is evaluating the football program and making a call on the coach.

Story links:

Kansas’ Jalen Wilson declares for 2021 NBA Draft. He could still return to school

Transfer portal makes recruiting resemble the “Wild, Wild, West,” Bill Self says

Goff walks into challenges at KU but could be the “perfect guy to tie it all together”

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A new team and new season kicks off tonight for pro soccer’s KC NWSL Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

A new team and season begin tonight. The Kansas City entry in the National Women’s Soccer League opens Challenge Cup play at Portland, Ore. Kansas City had a successful run in the NWSL from 2013-2017, winning two championships. The team then relocated to Utah for three years.

But Kansas City is back in the league under new ownership and with some familiar names like Amy Rodriguez and Coach Huw Williams, who was the general manager and assistant coach of the previous team in KC.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Aly Trost, who serves as a host and reporter for the team in addition to her duties as an on-air talent and digitial manager at WHB 810, joins beat writer Shaun Goodwin and host Blair Kerkhoff previewing the team and season.

After a break, the discussion turns to Sporting KC and the elevation of homegrown signee Kaveh Rad.

Story links:

Kansas City’s revived women’s pro soccer team kicks off 2021 season in Portland

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/fc-kansas-city/article250530059.html

That’s rad man: Sporting Kansas City signs academy product as newest homegrown player

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article250480661.html

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Navigating sports through pandemic begets book by UMKC’s athletic leader Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Like most college athletic departments, the University of Missouri-Kansas City's has experienced many changes over the past year because of the pandemic. It has suspended sports and tightened its belt in other ways.

UMKC vice chancellor and athletic director Dr. Brandon Martin started taking notes at the beginning of the pandemic and never stopped. Martin has turned those thoughts and interviews into a book: "Leading in the Unknown, a New Paradigm for Leaders in Intercollegiate Athletics." We talk about the book and the experience of leading a mid-major athletic department on today’s SportsBeat KC.

After a break, you’ll hear part of Travis Goff’s introductory news conference at the University of Kansas. Goff, a Kansas native who arrives from Northwestern, faces big challenges that include reviving a downtrodden football program and a basketball program possibly facing NCAA sanctions.

Story links:

Leading in the Unknown: a New Paradigm for Leaders in Intercollegiate Athletics

Goff walks into challenges at KU but could be the perfect guy to tie it all together

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About that left tackle position for the Chiefs…the drama builds Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Chiefs got a left tackle yet? The search continues. So does the discussion on SportsBeat KC with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell.

Possibilities for the position of priority for the Chiefs is free agency and the draft. It’s been quiet on the free agency front with the offensive line interior addressed earlier with the additions of Joe Thuney and Kyle Long. Now the attention is on tackle, and perhaps the draft to fill the need.

Also on today’s show: Where did former Chiefs land in free agency, what to make of the coaching staff changes, and what’s the significance of the NFL rule change proposed by the Chiefs that would allow skill position players to wear single-digit number?

Story links:

When it comes to Chiefs’ Michael Burton, it’s all about fitting the West Coast offense

Chiefs adjust coaching staff, move Greg Lewis from receivers to running backs

Chiefs propose NFL rule change to jersey numbers, and many players want it to happen

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It’s only four games, but it’s OK to feel good about the Royals’ start Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

The season is only a week old, but it’s not too soon to feel good about the Royals. They’re off to a 3-1 start. Their bats led the way in their first two victories against the Texas Rangers; then Danny Duffy turned in the young season’s best game by a starter when he pitched six innings Monday in a 3-0 victory over Cleveland.

In this podcast, Star beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Vahe Gregorian talk about what’s going right for the Royals, the influence of Carlos Santana’s bat in the lineup, the hot starts for Michael A. Taylor and Whit Merrifield and much more.

Story links:

Carlos Santana swings momentum for Royals against his old club, Cleveland

Danny Duffy dazzles as Royals blank Indians to win for third time in four games

All-Star Game moving to Kansas City is unlikely but MLB has chance to make a huge statement

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On Self’s lifetime contract, transfer portal and tonight’s epic matchup Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

How long will Bill Self coach the Jayhawks? After Friday he has a lifetime remaining. Self has a new deal with some interesting provisions when it comes to the program’s looming NCAA response to allegations of violations.

Also, who has entered and emerged from the transfer portal lately? KU, K-State and Missouri are all deeply involved in roster reshaping. Plus, there’s an NCAA championship game tonight between Gonzaga the Baylor, the nation’s top teams.

Beat writers Jesse Newell and Kellis Robinett join host Blair Kerkhoff to discuss the latest college basketball developments on SportsBeat KC.

Story links:

Contract says KU can’t fire Self for cause because of NCAA’s current infractions case

KU offers basketball scholarship to former Creighton forward Christian Bishop

Sun Belt transfer Markquis Nowell brings new mentality to K-State backcourt

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Talking Roy Williams’ years at Kansas with a writer there from beginning Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

Roy Williams started his head coaching career at Kansas in 1988 and once said that he wasn’t a household name even in his own household. It turned out to be one of the greatest hires in college sports history.

Williams remained at KU for 15 years, winning nine conference titles and taking the Jayhawks to four Final Fours. He added five more Final Fours and three NCAA titles at North Carolina, where he spent the next 18 seasons before announcing his retirement on Thursday.

Beat writer Gary Bedore covered all of Williams’ teams at Kansas. SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff was around for many of the early ones, too. This podcast show is a conversation about the Roy Williams era at Kansas.

Story links:

With Roy Williams retiring, ranking the highs and lows in his 15 seasons at Kansas

Now that Roy Williams is retired a unique language—Royisms—is lost

Roy Williams, Hall of Fame coach in 33 years at Kansas and North Carolina, retires

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Soccer ramp-up accelerates for not one but two Kansas City teams Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

Soccer training is on its final days and Kansas City once again will have two teams in action. Sporting Kansas City is on a mission to repeat as MLS Western Conference champs. KC NWSL is the women’s team that returns to the region. The team formerly known as FCKC left Kansas City in 2017.

The women will open next week. The men’s first game is April 17, and beat writer Shaun Goodwin is back to discuss all things soccer. There is also a rant about the United States’ failure to qualify for the Olympic Games. Sporting Coach Peter Vermes gets in on that.

Story links:

Ask not what this newcomer can do for SKC, but also what SKC can do for him

Shut out of Olympics again: Peter Vermes has some thoughts about latest U-23 stumble

Here’s who won the starting goalkeeper job for KC NWSL team

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Analyzing two more additions to Chiefs’ roster as free agency continues Mar 31, 2021

Show notes

The Chiefs have remained busy during the free agency period picking up defensive tackle Jarren Reed and center Austin Blythe while losing defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon, and I don’t think we’ve spoken to beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell since Sammy Watkins signed with the Ravens.

We cover all of that on today’s SportsBeat KC with host Blair Kerkhoff, along with some NFL news. The league made official what we’ve known for a while, that teams will play a 17th regular season game in 2021. Also also know the opponent for the Chiefs. It’s the Green Bay Packers in Kansas City.

Story links:

Chiefs lose defensive end to Saints as free agency continues

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article250287915.html

The NFL moves to 17 games. What does that mean for the Chiefs?

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article250317014.html

Chiefs land new center in free agency, agree to terms with ex-L.A. Ram, Austin Blythe

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article250320345.html

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Why promoting Kyle Isbel would be a good sign for Royals Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

With the Royals bearing down on Opening Day there’s plenty to discuss, like a surprise roster decision and demotion, and the discovery of a new pitch by a veteran that could impact the rotation.

We cover these topics and provide our victory projections for the Royals on today’s SportsBeat KC podcast with Lynn Worthy, Vahe Gregorian and Sam Mellinger, which started as an audience-driven SportsBeat Live program. With the regular season here the show has a new spot on the calendar, Tuesdays.

Royals versus Texas Rangers, Thursday, first pitch 3:10 p.m. Brad Keller gets the start Let the optimism flow.

Story links:

Royals finish spring training with a victory: Next stop, Opening Day

Kyle Isbel has put himself in running for Opening Day roster spot

Patrick Mahomes, Bobby Witt Jr., share some compelling traits. Let their trainer explain

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