SportsBeat KC

Latest Episodes:

Projecting Chiefs’ victories, Mahomes’ touchdown passes, final record Sep 09, 2020

Show notes

How many games will the Chiefs win? How many touchdown passes with Patrick Mahomes throw? The NFL opener between the Chiefs and Houston Texans is the ideal time to pose those questions on SportsBeat Live with The Kansas City Star’s A-Team of Herbie Teope, Sam McDowell, Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregorian and host Blair Kerkhoff.

Hopes are high for a Super Bowl repeat, although that hasn’t happened in the NFL since 2004. Here, our group discusses how that might and might not occur. Also, what newcomers could make an impact? And how did not having preseason games affect the Chiefs? We also catch up on news around the AFC West and take viewers’ questions.

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Here’s what Chiefs fans can expect to see on TV when watching Thursday’s opener

How comebacks defined Chiefs’ Super Bowl run and what that says about this season

NFL debut of Chiefs’ Edwards-Helaire has arrived. That’s thrilling for several reasons

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Ready or not (with some emphasis on ‘not’), here comes Big 12 football Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

By Tuesday, two games had been removed from this Saturday’s Big 12 football schedule because of COVID-19. But they didn’t involved Kansas State or Kansas. Their seasons are set, for now, to open this weekend against non-conference opponents.

It’s unlikely that the Wildcats and Jayhawks — and nearly every college football team that takes the field this season — will be at full strength because of the pandemic. Coaches Chris Klieman and Les Miles have said they’re missing players in practice this week.

But ready or not, the Big 12 season is about to begin. Beat writers Kellis Robinett and Jesse Newell discuss the latest college football issues and the teams they cover with host Blair Kerkhoff on this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast.

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Chris Klieman dealing with roster unknowns as Kansas State prepares for opening game

Breaking down the five biggest surprises on Kansas State’s depth chart for Week 1

Five bold predictions and game-by-game picks for Kansas State’s 2020 football season

Kansas Jayhawks football: 5 bold predictions and game-by-game picks

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As Chiefs’ season arrives, here’s Veach on re-shaping of Super Bowl team Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Game week has arrived for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who take on the Houston Texans Thursday to open the NFL’s Kickoff Weekend.

Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson square off for the first time as the NFL’s two richest quarterbacks by virtue of summer contract extensions.

Like all NFL teams, the Chiefs and Texans had to pare their rosters to 53 players Saturday, but with a Thursday game they’ll have had less time than other organizations to work with their final rosters. On this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily podcast, general manager Brett Veach breaks down some of the Chiefs’ more difficult roster trimming decisions.

You’ll also hear from Mahomes, who speaks on a variety of topics, including the Chiefs’ readiness to defend their championship.

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How the Chiefs made their toughest roster decision: Speaks, Wharton, WR, RB and more

First Chiefs depth chart reveals three possible starters who weren’t on Super Bowl team

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Advantage of waiting for Mizzou football, and Sporting KC’s mid kids Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

Conferences playing college football in the fall will have started by Sept. 12, except for the SEC.

The nation’s top football conference is waiting until Sept. 26 to kick off. That means more time for Missouri to get work under new head coach Eli Drinkwitz. What can the Tigers get done in the next three weeks? Polish up the offense, for starters.

Mizzou beat writer Souichi Terada talks Tigers on this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, with host Blair Kerkhoff.

After a break, you’ll hear from Shaun Goodwin, who covers Sporting KC for The Star. The club is coming off a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas, but the game will likely be remembered for the lineup changes made, and the young midfielders played by coach Peter Vermes.

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Mizzou’s cornerbacks are making life hard for the MU offense, and that’s not a bad thing

A call for unity: Why Mizzou athletes organized a peaceful march for racial equality

Sporting KC settles for draw vs. Dallas in midweek showdown at Children’s Mercy Park

A Sporting KC stalwart, sandwiches and high school sports. Here’s how they’re connected

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Who makes the cut as Chiefs’ roster takes shape on Saturday? Sep 03, 2020

Show notes

Many of the Chiefs’ big roster decisions were made in the form of contract extensions or restructuring, plus a draft the team counted as successful. But cut down day arrives on Saturday and the Super Bowl champion will have to let go of some candidates to trim the roster from 80 to 53. The opener is only five days later, against the Houston Texans.

Who’s on the bubble? The Chiefs have some interesting choices to make especially at wide receiver and defensive end. Special teams likely will come in to play in the process. It hasn’t helped players in camp for the first time that there was no preseason games. Their game isn’t on tape.

Chiefs beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell along with Star columnist Sam Mellinger and SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff break down the roster, specuate on the cuts, discuss the impending contract extensions of Andy Reid and Brett Veach and more.

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As deadline nears, Chiefs’ roster decisions are harder this year. Who makes the cut?

The specific life experiences that prepped Patrick Mahomes for stardom with the Chiefs

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Why outspoken Nebraska isn’t playing nice with the Big Ten Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

Six days after releasing a fall football schedule, the Big Ten announced it wouldn’t have a season.

That was three weeks ago and there has been plenty of blowback since, especially from Nebraska. A group of eight Huskers football players filed a lawsuit claiming the Big Ten’s decision was invalid.

On this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel joins host Blair Kerkhoff in breaking down a stretch so wild that both presidential candidates have become involved. Why? The Big Ten footprint includes such election battleground states as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Pennsylvania.

Notice the candidates haven’t said much about the Pac-12 shutting down for the fall.

Shatel discusses why Nebraska isn’t playing nice with the Big Ten and why some playing options for this academic year are better than others.

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Tom Shatel: Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska fully committed to Big Ten. So no rogue football schedule

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What did Rosenthal trade say about Royals’ plans for 2020 and beyond? Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

The question last week — would the Royals move any major pieces before baseball’s trade deadline? — was answered in the affirmative. Closer Trevor Rosenthal, who had regained the form that made him an All-Star in St. Louis, was traded to the Padres.

The Royals, it seems, have 2021 and beyond in mind.

Rosenthal’s gone, but the KC bullpen, perhaps the most improved part of this year’s team, still turned in a superb performance in Monday’s 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Greg Holland picked up his first save at Kauffman Stadium in a Royals uniform since 2015.

In this episode of The Star’s daily sports podcast, Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy joins SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff in a conversation about where the Royals go from here, and you’ll hear from Holland, too.

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Royals stand pad on trade deadline day, and stop short on going all in on tanking

Royals announce they are canceling 2021 FanFest, announce dates for 2022 event

Bubba Starling comes through with a clutch hit and Greg Holland closes out a 2-1 win over Cleveland

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Answers from Chiefs’ unusual training game, and owner Clark Hunt Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

The strangest of training camps has ended for the Chiefs and focus turns to Saturday’s cut down date and the season opener the following Thursday against the Houston Texans. Before looking ahead, beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell join SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff and gaze back at the camp that took place for the first time at the team’s practice facility at the Truman Sports Complex because of the coronavirus.

Who stood out? Who surprised? Who might start? That kind of daily speculation filled reporters’ notebooks when the team was training at Missouri Western. But the flow of guesswork was slowed this season. The Chiefs return most starters and without preseason games veterans were going to have an edge over newcomers.

After a break, you’ll hear from Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, who met the media over the weekend to discuss many topics from contracts to protests and Native American imagery.

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That’s a wrap. Chiefs conclude training camp, shift focus to approaching season opener.

Clark Hunt once perferred Chiefs stand for anthem but says now it’s “time to understand”

Clark Hunt: Chiefs mulling more changes to Native American imagery

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Should the Royals be playing for this season or the future? Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

The second half of the shortened baseball season got off to a lousy start for the Royals, that 6-5 loss in St. Louis on Wednesday when the Royals blew a three-run lead in the ninth. It doesn’t get easier as the team begins a three-game series tonight in Chicago against a White Sox team that has won nine of 10.

Beat writer Lynn Worthy joins host Blair Kerkhoff on SportsBeat KC to talk Royals, the upcoming trade deadline and the team’s move that sent outfielder Brett Phillips to the Tampa Bay Rays for shortstop Lucius Fox.

Also you’ll hear what Whit Merrifield had to say after Wednesday’s game when asked if the Royals had considered not playing in light of the protests after the Jacob Blake shooting by police earlier in the week in Wisconsin.

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With trade deadline approaching Royals deal Phillips to Tampa Bay for infielder

Royals’ Merrifield explains why it was important to play, even as 3 MLB games were postponted

Royals’ Rosenthal flattered by trade interest but proclaims desire to remain in KC

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Explaining the complicated business of running the Chiefs these days Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs are one of a handful of NFL teams that is opening its gates to fans for games, at least in the early part of the season. The team also is making moves regarding its Native American imagery and the organization is getting behind a get-out-the-vote initiative.

All that while holding the Super Bowl favorite’s role.

Team president Mark Donovan spoke to reporters about the off-field issues and you’ll hear the entire interview on SportsBeat KC, the Kansas City Star’s daily sports podcast hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. Donovan dropped some news about a potential polling place at Arrowhead Stadium.

Also, you’ll hear what Andy Reid had to say about the recent shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc., which has reignited protests and prompted cancellations in the NBA, MLB, MLS, WNBA, and some NFL practices.

Story links:

Chiefs president explains plans for fans in the stands and perceived elevated ticket prices

Chiefs want to turn Arrowhead Stadium into a voting location this November

Here’s why the Chiefs are banning Native American imagery and evaluating the chop

Andy Reid opens Chiefs session with heartfelt Jacob Blake, Kenosha unrest

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