SportsBeat KC

The plan going into today’s SportsBeat Live, now presented as a SportsBeat KC podcast, was to discuss pitching, then get to Bobby Witt Jr., in the second half. But talking Royals and not getting Witt close to the top of the lineup isn’t possible these days. He could be that special. So, beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam Mellinger tackle the Royals’ decision: Does Witt, with only a brief st...

NFL free agency moves quickly. On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, Chiefs beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell bring us up to date on moves made so far this week, and there have been plenty. The Chiefs have bid farewell to Super Bowl starter Damien Williams and brought back Darrel Williams. Earlier in the week, the Chiefs made a big splash by signing offensive lineman Joe Thuney, addressing...

The Missouri Tigers are in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years under Cuonzo Martin. Perhaps a bit under-seeded at No. 9 when several projections had Mizzou as high as a sixth seed. Still, the Tigers are dancing and the opponent for Saturday’s game in Indianapolis is eight-seeded Oklahoma. The programs met last year in Kansas City, which should make scouting easier. Awaiting the w...

The bracket is out and the 68 teams are seeded. Kansas landed a No. 3 seed and will open NCAA Tournament play on Saturday against No. 14 Eastern Washington. All games will be played in Indiana. If the Jayhawks win the opener, there are three possible second-round opponents: sixth-seeded Southern California, or the winner of an opening round game between 11th seeds Wichita State and Drake. On today...

The week started with Les Miles as Kansas’ football coach and Jeff Long as the Jayhawks’ athletic director. Neither were around by week’s end. Beat writer Jesse Newell reviews the overhaul in KU athletics on this episode of the SportsBeat Live daily podcast with host Blair Kerkhoff. The discussion also covers a timetable for succession and possible candidates for both jobs. Also on today’s show, K...

Bobby Witt Jr., is showing up with his bat and glove in spring training, but is it enough to make the Royals rethink their plans for his progress? Beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Vahe Gregorian discuss the promising prospect along with several other topics on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast with host Blair Kerkhoff. You’ll also hear from Witt and KC newcomer Hanser Alberto, wh...

You’ll no longer be attending games at Arrowhead Stadium. You’ll be going to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. What do you think of change? Beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell along with columnist Sam Mellinger joined SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff in discussing the change. Also, what could the Chiefs accomplish in free agency involving safeties and running backs? Those are among the late...

The Big 12 is looking to finish what it barely started a year ago. The men’s and women’s basketball tournaments arrive in Kansas City this week, with the men starting Wednesday at T-Mobile Center and the women Thursday at Municipal Auditorium. Beat writers Gary Bedore (KU, for The KC Star and Wichita Eagle), Kellis Robinett (K-State, for The Star and Eagle) and Drew Davison (TCU, for The Star-Tele...

The Les Miles saga continues at Kansas. Miles, the KU football coach, is on administrative leave as the university sorts out the news that unfolded last week of allegations of him sexually harassing student workers while he was the head coach at LSU. Miles has attorney fired back, calling the allegations unsubstantiated. He says a 2013 investigation did not find Miles guilty of sexual harassment a...

Spring football has started at Kansas State, and the Wildcats return not only quarterback Skylar Thompson for a sixth year but also have back in the fold Will Howard, who took over when Thompson was injured last year, and top prospect Jake Rubley. Who in college football has better depth at this most critical position? Beat writer Kellis Robinett checks in via this episode of SportsBeat KC, The St...

Spring training games have started and the season of signing players and acquiring new ones continues for the Royals. On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam Mellinger address the Hunter Dozier contract extension and the signing of old friend Jarrod Dyson. Also, we take a look at the Royals young pitching. Some are seeing their first major league hitters in spring train...

Missouri looks to stop a losing trend when it takes on Florida at Gainesville tonight. The Tigers have dropped four of five, but it’s likely they’ve built enough credentials to be in the NCAA Tournament. Still, a strong finish to a regular season would remove any doubt. On today’s SportsBeat KC, Tigers Radio Network analyst Chris Gervino joins host Blair Kerkhoff to discuss Mizzou, this season, Co...

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach covered plenty of ground Monday when he met with reporters and offered a few hints about the team’s priorities in the search for talent this offseason. In this episode of The Star’s daily SportsBeat KC podcast, we’ll hear the entirety of Veach’s 30-minute conversation. The offensive line, linebackers and defensive line are areas of need, and Veach breaks down the...

What a night for Kansas. The Jayhawks played host to second-ranked Baylor on Saturday at rolled 71-58 behind big games from guard Marcus Garrett and big man David McCormack. The Jayhawks became the first Big 12 team to finish their conference schedule, so what’s ahead for KU before postseason play? Beat writers Jesse Newell and Gary Bedore break it down on today’s SportsBeat KC. One thing’s for su...

The calendar says it’s still winter, but the football schedule at Missouri dictates that it’s time for spring practice. Players were scheduled to report Friday to begin their month-long workouts. The Tigers are coming off a 5-5 season and were headed for a bowl game when the trip was short-circuited by COVID-19 issues. Quarterback Conner Bazelak returns. There’s a new defensive coordinator in form...

The Royals have a lineup, Carlos Santana has patience at the plate and Hunter Dozier hopes for a comeback season. Those topics are more are the subject of today’s SportsBeat KC podcast. Beat writer Lynn Worthy is at Royals spring training in Surprise, Ariz., and bring us the latest. He also tells about the player manager Mike Matheny called a “sneaky good signing.” You’ll also hear from general ma...

A big night in college basketball on Tuesday were downers for two of the three area major college programs. But one came up with a huge victory—Kansas State. The Wildcats topped No. 7 Oklahoma at Bramlage Coliseum, sending Sooners coach and former K-State coach and playing great Lon Kruger to his ninth straight loss in his old home building. Senior Mike McGuirl came up huge for the Wildcats. Not s...

Chiefs makeover talk continues on SportsBeat KC with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell. Today the focus is defense. What moves will we see? Decisions are coming for players like Bashaud Breeland, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Alex Okafor, Daniel Sorensen and Damien Wilson. The Chiefs had a great season but a lousy finish in the Super Bowl with those players. Teope and McDowell break down the defense...

Position players arrived at Royals training camp in Surprise, Ariz., on Monday, but the team’s pitchers and catchers had already been there for several days. Starter Danny Duffy explains his uniform-number switch to No. 30 and how excited he is to potentially pitch in front of fans this season. Relievers Greg Holland and Wade Davis talk about their Royals reunion — they were part of one of the bes...

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Jesse Newell discusses his idea for an alternative to the NCAA Tournament selection committee: Take it out of the conference room in favor of a point-system called “wins above bubble.” An advantage of the wins-above-bubble system: The result likely would look like the committee’s, but teams would know exactly where they stand before every game. After a break, you’ll hear...

We’re talkin’ baseball .... Royals baseball on SportsBeat KC. Spring training camp has opened in Surprise, Ariz., with pitchers and catchers reporting and the full squad will be there soon. Beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnist Sam Mellinger joined host Blair Kerkhoff on a show that originated as a SportsBeat Live, where your questions and comments were addressed. Now it’s a podcast. Today, we rev...

Herbie Teope calls it “speculation season,” and that will be the case for weeks when it comes to the NFL. Free agency, the draft, contract restructuring, this is the time rosters are reshaped and the Chiefs will have plenty of decisions to make. Teope joined fellow beat writer Sam McDowell and SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff in addressing some of the personnel decisions facing the Chiefs on toda...

The Sunflower Showdown returns, a day later than originally scheduled. This is the 2020-21 season and fitting in games anywhere on the schedule is the important thing. KU is riding a three-game winning streak, K-State a 12-game losing streak and the Jayhawks won the earlier meeting by 23 . But Sunflower Showdown games tend to be competitive in Manhattan. Beat writers Jesse Newell, Gary Bedore and...

A week later, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Bucs doesn’t feel much different. It remains a stunning and puzzling outcome. But it’s time to look ahead now, and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam Mellinger do that on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. What areas should the Chiefs address and where should they stand pat in the offseason? Two years ago, they m...

The NCAA Tournament credentials continue to build for Missouri and Kansas. Mizzou followed one of its best weeks of the year by laying an egg at Mississippi. The Tigers look to get back on track Saturday against Arkansas. Kansas had lost five of seven but has now put together a two-game winning streak and visits Iowa State, the same team the Jayhawks trounced Thursday, on Saturday. Beat writers So...