SportsBeat KC

Latest Episodes:

One-sided Sunflower rivalry returns + Mizzou’s most frustrating foe Oct 21, 2020

Show notes

The Kansas State-Kansas series is the fourth longest continuous rivalry in college football at 117 games, and the Jayhawks own a 64-48-5 lead. But it’s been all Wildcats for nearly three decades with victories in 11 straight and 23 of the last 27.

Beat writers Kellis Robinett and Gary Bedore talk Sunflower Showdown on SportsBeat KC with host Blair Kerkhoff and wonder about the game’s meaning to both sides.

Missouri hasn’t played since beating LSU two weeks ago, and the Tigers have a big one on Saturday when Kentucky visits. No SEC program has caused the Tigers more frustrations over the last five years than the Wildcats.

Story links:

They used to be KU football fans. Now they own the Sunflower Showdown as K-State players

As Sunflower Showdown nears, Pooka Williams opts out of rest of the season

Mizzou football reports no active COVID-19 cases. Also, TIgers shuffle the depth chart

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The Chiefs never win this way. They did Monday Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs, a power running team? It looked that way in their 26-17 victory at Buffalo on Monday. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era the Chiefs gained more yards on the ground (245) than through the air (211). And it happened despite some shuffling on the offensive line.

The triumph was the topic on a postgame SportsBeat Live on Monday with writers Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell with host Blair Kerkhoff. We’ll hear part of the conversation on today’s SportsBeat KC.

Before that, we’ll hear from Patrick Mahomes and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Both players had big games, with Mahomes throwing a pair of touchdown passes to Travis Kelce and Edwards-Helaire rushing for 161 yards, matching the third most by a Chiefs rookie running back.

Story links:

Resilient Chiefs continue to expand repertoire, flash adaptability in win over Bills

Ground and pound Chiefs? Andy Reid & Co. ran past the Bills. Here’s what we learned Monday

We’ve seen Andy Reid’s Chiefs win virtually every way possible. But not like THIS

Chiefs turned to a new source to get right, Edwards-Helaire. A sign of things to come?

Chiefs grades: Rushing game goes to head of the class in record fashion

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Are you ready for some Monday afternoon football? Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

Are you ready for some football, some Monday afternoon football? Strange times indeed. Chiefs at Bills, 4:05 p.m., kickoff thanks to COVID-19 and rescheduling. The Chiefs are the first team in NFL history to play on Monday three times in four weeks.

But at least the game is being played. And it should be a good one. These teams started 4-0, lost as favorites last week and which one is going to rebound with a victory?

On today’s SportsBeat KC, you’ll hear from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Mecole Hardman and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They each take a look back at last week’s loss to the Raiders and spin things forward to the Bills.

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The continuing evolution of Patrick Mahomes, leader of men (and the Chiefs)

Father figure says Le’Veon Bell will arrive in KC a little humble, run “very angry”

Chiefs Sammy Watkins won’t play Monday, Mitchell Schwartz is questionable

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Talking Chiefs, Le’Veon Bell, defense and first favorite athletes Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs have added a weapon in running back Le’Veon Bell. Now what?

Bell won’t suit up for the Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills Monday but should be ready to go after that. How will he fit into the Chiefs’ offense? The A-Team of Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell and Herbie Teope break it down on SportsBeat KC with host Blair Kerkhoff.

The Chiefs-Bills game is a big one, a battle of division leaders with 4-1 records. Both are coming off losses in which they surrendered at least 40 points. Patrick Mahomes fought off pressure against the Raiders last week. What needs to happen for the offense to feel more successful Monday?

The group addresses the defensive breakdowns from last week and how the Sammy Watkins injury affects the team, provides final score predictions and visually explains the origin of the candy corn segment.

Story links:

What the Kansas City Chiefs with their pursuit of running back Le’Veon Bell

The Chiefs want their offense to be less reliant on those Patrick Mahomes miracle plays

Chiefs’ Sammy Watkins among four players not practicing ahead of game against Bills

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Mizzou football pauses with a nice memory, and talking KC’s NCAA bids Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

No game for Missouri this week after the scheduled opponent, Vanderbilt, called in sick with COVID-19. That’s the way it goes in sports these days, and the SEC’s making some of the biggest news in this regard.

LSU-Florida is also called off, and Alabama coach Nick Saban has contracted the virus and will not be on the sideline for Saturday’s game against Georgia.

On SportsBeat KC, Mizzou beat writer Souichi Terada discusses the path ahead for the Tigers, what becomes of the Vandy game and how the program is using its suddenly open weekend. Also, a look back at the Tigers’ dramatic 45-41 victory over defending national champion LSU is in order, along with an early look at basketball, with practice starting this week.

Next, we hear from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas City Sports Commission president Kathy Nelson. They were feeling good Wednesday when the NCAA announced future championship events for T-Mobile Center, including men’s basketball, wrestling and volleyball.

Story links:

How Mizzou football, Drinkwitz plan to use unexpected off-week to keep improving

Anatomy of Mizzou’s goal-line stand against LSU. Breaking down the four stops

Mizzou basketball has this edge as the TIgers open practice in the COVID-19 era

NCAA basketball regional returns to KC along with wrestling, volleyball championships

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Can K-State keep pace without Sklyar Thompson? Plus, KU hoop slate in flux Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

Kansas State received some tough news this week when starting quarterback Skylar Thompson was ruled out for the season with an injury. The Wildcats have continued to win with Will Howard stepping up, but can K-State keep up the pace, and what of Thompson’s future with eligibility extended to all college football players this season?

Beat writer Kellis Robinett provides the breakdown in SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, with host Blair Kerkhoff.

At Kansas, a national TV spot awaits Saturday when the Jayhawks visit West Virginia and the KU starting quarterback is known for the first time. Beat writer Gary Bedore tell us who it is, and give men’s basketball scheduling updates as the practice officially begins this week.

Story links:

Kansas State loses electric sophomore wide receiver to transfer portal

One more year? Decision looms for K-State quarterback Skylar Thompson after injury

KU has a starting quarterback in place for this week, but will Les Miles make the trip to WVU

Bill Self “excited” for official start of the 2020-21 college hoops season

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A Royals off-season begins with minor league activity and questions Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

The Royals finished with their best winning percentage since 2017 and head into the off-season with optimism—and plenty of questions. Beat writer Lynn Worthy joins SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff in discussing the big off-season issues for the Royals, which has already started with minor-league training in Kansas City and Arizona.

Among the questions: Who replaces retiring Alex Gordon in left field? Can Salvador Perez and Adalberto Mondesi take their hot bats into next season? Who among their free agents will the Royals target? How to keep the bullpen momentum rolling, these and more topics are covered on today’s show.

Story links:

Royals making the most of chance to work with their minor leaguers, build toward future

For Royals’ Brady Singer and Kris Bubic, 2020 season was only a starting point

OK, so how did it go? Royals GM weighs in on his club’s performance in a 60-game season

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How did Chiefs lose to Raiders? Let us count the ways before we move on Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

A loss for the Chiefs had to happen sometime, didn’t it? It wasn’t expected to occur against the AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders. But that’s what happened Sunday, as the Raiders left Arrowhead Stadium with a 40-32 triumph.

The Chiefs couldn’t handle Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and the Vegas passing offense, especially in the second quarter, when he threw all three of his touchdown passes. And the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs offense was shut down just enough times to end the team’s 13-game winning streak, a run that had dated to last season.

The Star’s coverage team of Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell, Herbie Teope and Sam Mellinger shared their thoughts on the ugly outcome on SportsBeat Live after the game. Here, their breakdown is presented as a SportsBeat KC podcast with host Blair Kerkhoff.

Story links:

Losing is a different feeling for these Chiefs, but the reasons they lost aren’t all new

Bummed Chiefs lost to the Raiders? Here’s why your hopes of running it back remain intact

The Raiders overwhelmed the Chiefs up front. The end of the winning streak starts here

Raiders came in with a game plan and beat the Chiefs. Here’s what we learned Sunday vs. Vegas

Chiefs report card vs. Raiders includes some grades we haven’t seen in quite some time

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Quarterback depth is being tested at K-State, Mizzou and Kansas Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

Quarterbacks are the story in college football this weekend. There could be a new starter at Kansas State. There will be a new starter at Missouri. And there’s an extra week for quarterback candidates at Kansas to heal.

Beat writers Kellis Robinett, Souichi Terada and Gary Bedore cover these topics and more with Blair Kerkhoff on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast.

The Jayhawks are off this week, but K-State and Mizzou forge on as underdogs. The Wildcats visit TCU and Mizzou takes on LSU in a game originally scheduled for Baton Rouge before being moved to Columbia because of an incoming hurricane.

Story links:

How Kansas State is handling QB position with Skylar Thompson questionable for TCU

Mizzou has a new starting quarterback. Here are some insights from his film

KU freshman quarterback may miss more time: “It may take him a while to get back.”

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SportsBeat liveA look a how the Chiefs have handled obstacles in season’s first quarter Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

COVID-19 dominoes are falling in the NFL. The Titans-Bills game this weekend is uncertain because of the Titans’ failure to follow protocols, and that could affect the Chiefs the following week because they are scheduled to play at Buffalo Thursday.

The Chiefs’ and NFL’s handling of COVID-19, plus the Chiefs’ progress through the first quarter of the season, are the primary topics on this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell, columnist Vahe Gregorian and host Blair Kerkhoff.

What’s gone right and wrong for the Chiefs, plus a look ahead to Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium ... we’ll cover some serious ground on the show.

Story links:

Patrick Mahomes says a chunk of Chiefs’ struggles on on him. But are they?

Mahomes and Chiefs face biggest COVID-19 scare to date despite star QB’s diligence

NFL doctor on how league deemed Chiefs-Patriots game safe to play despite COVID-19 case

Chiefs closing in on win streak records with Las Vegas Raiders coming to town on Sunday

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