SportsBeat KC

Coming off an 8-5 season with many key starters returning, Kansas State was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12. That should give the Wildcats some motivation heading into the season that begins on Saturday with a home game against South Dakota. If quarterback Adrian Martinez, the Nebraska transfer, can solidify his game, K-State should have a team that can play with any in the conference. Runnin...

The Kansas Jayhawks open the football season with a Friday home game against Tennessee Tech, and could this be the year the program begins taking strides toward respectability? It’s the second season of Coach Lance Leipold, a slew of starters return, and the quarterback who led KU to victory over Texas–Jalon Daniels–will lead this team. So, yes, there’s a bit more optimism than there’s been in a w...

Is the time right to consider long-term contracts to promising young Royals players like Bobby Witt Jr.? We put the question to beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam McDowell on SportsBeat KC? Long-terms deals can provide security and risk, and the Royals have been here before, although not with a rookie. From their 2014-15 pennant years, they signed Alex Gordon to an extension from that team...

The Missouri Tigers kick off their football season on Thursday when Louisiana Tech visits Faurot FIeld for a 7 p.m. start. Plenty of unknowns follow Mizzou into the season .The quarterback, Brady Cook, will make his second career start. The defense has plenty of experience but got off to a terrible start last year and the program is on its third defensive coordinator in three years. On today’s Spo...

The Chiefs preseason games are over, and the roster decisions will soon be finalized. On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell along with columnist Sam McDowell share their thoughts on the team’s initial 53 man roster that will be finalized by next Tuesday. Any surprises? Should the Chiefs feel sbetter at some positions more than others? What’s the impact of preseason g...

Len Dawson came to Kansas City in 1963 and soon became a sports hero. And when he was finished playing for the Chiefs, he spent decades talking about them from the broadcast booth. Dawson’s death at age 87 was announced on Wednesday by the family. On today’s show, columnist Vahe Gregorian, who conducted one of the final, lengthy interviews with Dawson, shares his memories of that day and discusses...

The Royals have outfield candidates. Plenty of them. Drew Waters became the latest to join the group, and his major debut went nicely. He drew a bases loaded walk to put the Royals ahead in a victory over the Chicago White Sox. But how will the outfield shape up for next season? That’s the topic on today’s SportsBeat KC podcast with beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Greg...

The Chiefs made an early lead hold up for a 24-14 victory over the Washington Commanders on Saturday and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was impressive once again. He led two touchdown drives on the first two possessions, often directing passes to players who weren’t primary targets a year ago. Off-season work and a rigorous training camp seem to be paying off in the passing game. On today’s SportsBea...

College football news never seems to end. The season is fast approaching but this week the Big Ten made a major announcement about its future television contracts. The deal, worth up to $8 billion, is the richest in college sports history and has ramifications throughout the college sports world. On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writer Kellis Robinett discusses the news and what it could mean for th...

The Chiefs time at Missouri Western ends today, and it’s been a productive training camp. Patrick Mahomes is getting more comfortable with his new pass receiving targets, players from the draft class have taken big strides and the defense appears more athletic and quicker. It’s difficult to say who has had the best camp. But on today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell alon...

Quarterback battles and controversies are part of several NFL training camps. But not in Kansas City as the Chiefs hum along with Patrick Mahomes. He has challenges, like getting on the same page with three new wide receivers. But it’s been a solid and quiet training camp for Mahomes. On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writer Herbie Teope and columnist Sam McDowell discuss Mahomes’ training camp, and...

Quite a week for a pair of Royals rookies. Starting pitcher Brady Singer produced six scoreless innings in a victory over the Dodgers on Sunday to end a 12-game winning streak for baseball’s best team. Vinnie Pasquantino homered in that game and several others. He’s hit five bombs in the last seven games and was named AL player of the week. Performances like that make it easy to ponder the future....

The Chiefs’ first impression was a good one. In the preseason opener, the starters and top reserves staked the Chiefs to a 14-0 halftime lead at Chicago. The Bears went on to win 19-14. We break it down on today’s SportsBeat KC. Beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell joined columnist Sam McDowell in identifying the highs and lows. Players from the most recent draft class like running back Isia...

The Chiefs first preseason game has arrived and every player has their own story to tell. On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell tak each position group and identify a player or two to keep an eye on against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. It could be a returning starter like linebacker Nick Bolton, a member of the draft class like defensive end George Karlaftis or a f...

Missouri has a starting quarterback. The four-candidate competition concluded earlier this week when Coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Brady Cook would get the nod for the opening game. Cook’s ability to throw with accuracy and be a threat in the running game elevated him over Tyler Macon, Jack Abraham and Sam Horn. On today’s SportsBeat KC, Coach Eli Drinkwitz discusses his choice of Cook at the news...

Days away from the Chiefs preseason opener the team released its first depth chart and it mostly read as expected. But trhere were a couple of surprises. We talk about those and on today’s SportsBeat KC with beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell along with columnist Sam McDowell. Also, Rashad Fenton returned to practice this week, bolstering the cornerback position, and find out which players...

The Royals’ future is now. Bobby Witt Jr., and MJ Melendez have been with the club all or most of they season. Now they’ve been joined by players like Nick Pratto, Michael Massey and Nate Eaton. The final weeks of the season are about getting them major league experience. That makes the season a little sad–it means the Royals are contending–but interesting at a time when a team with the Royals; re...

The Chiefs made some roster noise on Sunday, cutting cornerback Deandre Baker, a former first-round draft pick who appeared in 10 games over the past two seasons in Kansas City. Also, Geron Christian, a fifth-year pro who joined the Chiefs this season, ran with the starters at right tackle. Beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell broke down those moves and added their practice observations on t...

The Chiefs have a new defensive end, but even though Carlos Dunlap played only 38 percent of the defensive snaps last season as a member of the Seattle Seahaws, he’s says he wants to be an every-down player for the Chiefs. Dunlap revealed that and more when he spoke to reporters on Thursday. You’ll those comments and more on today’s SportsBeat KC. Chiefs beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell...

The Chiefs’ 10-player draft haul has made it through two weeks of training camp. What are the early returns? On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newell join columnist Vahe Gregorian in breaking down the progress of the drafted rookies. At least are headed for starting jobs and a majority should be part of the two-deep. We discuss the camp’s biggest surprises and disappoin...

For the first time since his contract situation became newsworthy, Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., practiced with the team and spoke about his future. Brown arrived at training camp this week, and said he wanted to be a member of the Chiefs for the rest of his career. He also immediately practiced with the first team. You’ll hear from Brown along with beat writers Herbie Teope and Jesse Newe...

The Royals have been active in trades over the past few weeks, and now that the clock is ticking toward the end of the trade deadline, how much more work can they do? On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnists Vahe Gregorian talk about the players who have arrived and those who might be leaving. Also, we challenge the distance of Salvador Perez’s home run in Chicago against t...

Orlando Brown Jr., is back. Well, not quite back but headed in the right direction. The Pro Bowl left tackle didn’t participate in the first week of Chiefs training camp, but his agent said he’ll be at the camp site at Missouri Western for the second week. On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writers Jesse Newell and Herbie Teope along with columnist Sam McDowell discussed the impact of Brown’s absence...

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JuJu Smith-Schuster is excited about his prospects in Kansas City. One day into training camp he spoke of lining up in different positions on the field and running more routes in one practice than he did in a season at Pittsburgh. Will he become Patrick Mahomes favorite target? We discuss Smith-Schuster and other Chiefs topics on today’s SportsBeat KC with beat writers Jesse Newell and Herbie Teop...