SportsBeat KC

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Longing for a Final Four, and was President Trump overly optimistic with commissioners? Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

The weekend wasn’t without sports news. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced it class and it was star-studded with inductees like Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant (posthumously), along with regional coaches Eddie Sutton and Kim Mulkey. That announcement is typically made during Final Four weekend, but there was no such occasion this year in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Star columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam Mellinger join SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff remembering great NCAA championship games, and also try to interpret the message from President Donald Trump to commissioners of the major sports leagues about the return to action. Trump said believed the NFL season could start on time in September. What has to happen for that to be true?

Story links:

Sam Mellinger: Games without fans? If only it were that simple for Royals, MLB, NFL, all other sports

President Trump hopes sports return “sooner rather than later” amid coronavirus pandemic

Three golf majors announce new dates, while one is canceled because of COVID-19

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Chiefs’ signing of Sammy Watkins kicks off #RunItBackTour Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

Chiefs fans woke up Friday morning to some good news. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins had signed a one-year deal worth $9 million, with incentives that can take it up to $16 million.

That means the team is set to return nearly every major part on offense from its Super Bowl championship team.

In this episode of The Star’s daily SportsBeat KC podcast, Chiefs beat writer Herbie Teope joins Blair Kerkhoff to talk about the Watkins signing and what offseason roster decisions remain for the Chiefs. After a break, you’ll hear from Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who — from his home basement Thursday — discussed an array of topics with reporters in a question-and-answer session via teleconference.

Story links:

Chiefs bring back Sammy Watkins from Super Bowl championship team

Adaptability has been crucial to Andy Reid’s success with Chiefs. It’s serving him well now

Andy Reid working from his basement. How the Chiefs are operating during COVID-19

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No Opening Day at the K, but baseball talk anyway Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

Thursday was to be Opening Day at the K, the Royals’ home opener. But there’s no baseball, or sports of any kind these days. Still, we can talk baseball, right? Royals beat writer Lynn Worthy and Kansas City Star columnist Vahe Gregorian join Blair Kerkhoff on what started as a Facebook Live and is now presented as a SportsBeat KC podcast. We guess at what might have been the lineup today, how big the day would have been for new owner John Sherman and manager Mike Matheny, speculated on what baseball might look like upon its return and when that might be.

And we talked baseball movies, because when it comes to sports cinema, no sport has a greater library than baseball.

Story links:

New Royals owner John Sherman takes advantage of platform to aid “psyche” of city

Top KU med official: June may be too early for Royals return

Rex Hudler is missing more than baseball on what would have been Royals’ home opener

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Matching this KU team against Final Four squads with Bill Self Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

This week college basketball would be preparing for the Final Four, and the likely overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas, figured to have a good chance of reaching Atlanta. The team that produced two national defensive players of the years in center Udoka Azubuike and guard Marcus Garrett could have been the fourth Bill Self-coached team to get to a Final Four.

Which got us wondering, how would the 2019-20 Jayhawks have stacked up against the Final Four teams of 2008, 2012 and 2018? They were the best combination of talent and peaking-at-the-right-moment in Self’s 17 seasons in Lawrence. Self explained what made this year’s team, which won the Big 12 and finished 28-3 overall, so good, and broke down his other Final Four teams on SportsBeat KC with Blair Kerkhoff.

Story links:

How Bill Self rates this KU all-star defensive team against his Final Four squads

Kansas’ Marcus Garrett named 2019-20 Naismith defensive player of the year

Udoka Azubuike named defensive player of the year by NABC

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What can the Chiefs do with $177 in cap space? We have some ideas Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Who wouldn’t want $177? You could pay a bill or have a big night on the town when we’re back to having big nights on the town. What you can’t do with $177 is sign an NFL free agent. But according to one cap space calculation, that’s how much money the Chiefs have left to sign players. Of course that amount with change with the restructuring of deals but you get the picture.

The limited space hasn’t stopped the Chiefs from making moves, and beat writer Herbie Teope chats with Blair Kerkhoff about roster changes over the past few days. They’ve resigned wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, while linebacker Reggie Ragland has signed with the Detroit Lions. What’s next for the Chiefs? Maybe looking under the mattress for more cap space.

Story links:

Chiefs bring back wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on one year deal

Former Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland agrees to terms with Lions

Mellinger Minutes

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Sports fields, courts silent in pandemic but not sports columnists Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

Some sports continue to happen, like NFL free agency and esports competition. But the fields and courts have been silent for competition. That hasn’t stopped award-winning Kansas City Star columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam Mellinger from weighing in on COVID-19 pandemic issues. Both filled column inches with stories about mental health and employee welfare during the health crisis. But there is also sports to discuss, and Mellinger has a new venture to discuss on SportsBeat KC.

Story links:

Dear business owners and managers, Don’t be a jerk. This coronavirus stuff is serious

The paradox of social distancing: A necessity with perils of its own to be navigated

Classic Chiefs game and a KU basketball tripleheader are on a TV schedule this week

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College football and COVID-19. Can they avoid each other? Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

Will football season be affected by the covid-19 pandemic?

It’s too early to say, and some aspects of college football already have been impacted. There is no spring football and athletes are working out on their own. But a delay of the fall season, or even a cancellation, would have a dramatic impact on all college athletics. National college sportswriter Dennis Dodd spoke to this topic on SportsBeat KC with Blair Kerkhoff.

Also, you’ll hear from some coaches who delivered public service announcements over the past two weeks. Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, LSU’s Ed Orgeron, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Texas’ Tom Herman are among those who have delivered safety messages.

Story links:

NCAA, Big 12 confront confront coronavirus-driven fiscal shortcomings and uncertainty to come

Dennis Dodd: Will the 2020 college football season be canceled? Coaches, ADs weigh possibility of impact

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College basketball is over but not transfer season at K-State, Mizzou, Wichita St. Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

College basketball ended much too soon because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic but the business of roster shaping continues. It’s player transfer season, and our part of the country has had its share. On SportsBeat KC, we talk with beat writers Kellis Robinett, Taylor Eldridge and Souichi Terada to get the latest on early departures at Kansas State, Wichita State and Missouri. The Shockers have been especially bitten hard by the transfer bug with six players leaving.

Story links:

Official now: Cartier Diarra won’t return for season season at Kansas State

Missouri Tiger basketball player Tray Jackson planning to transfer

ESPN: College basketball transfer rankings for 2020-21 and 2021-22

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Denny Matthews has seen it all in a career that spans Royals history Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

When the baseball season starts after a delay for the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Kansas City Royals will being their 52nd season. Play-by-play man Denny Matthews has been behind the mic for every one of them. So how is the Hall of Fame broadcaster handling the delay?

Star columnist Vahe Gregorian and me, Blair Kerkhoff, asked Matthews this and covered many other topics on SportsBeat KC, the Star’s sports podcast. Matthews talks about the delay, his career, and you might be surprised to learn the sport Matthews plays recreationally. Hint: It’s not golf or tennis.

And stay tuned for a favorite call (mine) of Matthews’ career.

Story links:

MLB.com/Royals: Denny Matthews: Hall of Fame

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Chiefs make a move at quarterback! Relax, only adding depth Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

The Chiefs have a new quarterback. No, there’s nothing wrong with Patrick Mahomes. Ta’amu Jordan was added for position depth. He was off to a terrific start with the St. Louis Battle Hawks of the XFL before that league shut down for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Now, he’s a member of the Chiefs, and beat writer Herbie Teope joins Blair Kerkhoff on SportsBeat KC to break down the acquisition, and talk other Chiefs topics, including moves made by AFC West rivals.

Story links:

Chiefs agree to terms with former XFL quarterback Jordan Ta’amu

Three highlights of new Chiefs quarterback Jordan Ta’amu show his versatility

Mellinger Minutes

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