SportsBeat KC

The NFL playoffs start this weekend without the Chiefs, a reward for being the AFC’s top seed. The Chiefs will watch games between the Bills-Colts, Titans-Ravens and Browns-Steelers. What’s the best matchup for the Chiefs? Beat writer Herbie Teope and columnist Vahe Gregorian join SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff to discuss. Also, covered: the MVP race and Patrick Mahomes’ place in it; Eric Bieni...

Bob Davis was the Voice of the Jayhawks from 1984-2016, so you know he’s got some stories to tell. And he’s told them, in a book, “The Dream is Real, My Life on the Airwaves. The collaboration between Davis and Jeff Bollig is available online and through Dillion’s stores. Davis spoke with SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerkhoff about his years at KU and his career that started in Hays, Kan., included a...

The interview process once again has started for Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. On Monday, he interviewed virtually for the head coaching positions with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions. The Jets also plan to interview him. With four other openings in the NFL, the coaching carousel has begun. This is Bieniemy’s third year interviewing for a top job. Will he follow the paths of fo...

Close the book on the Chiefs’ regular season. Sunday’s 38-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers leaves the Chiefs record at 14-2, the best in franchise history. Among those who didn’t play for the Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Eric Fisher, Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones and Frank Clark. Several reserves like, running back Darwin Thompson, wide receiver Byron Pringle and defensive...

The Chiefs play host to the Los Angeles Chargers in their regular-season finale Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, and Andy Reid has decided some starters, like quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will sit this one out. Chad Henne is getting the nod in his place. Star columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian, along with beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell, prognosticate who will and won’t play and br...

The finish line for 2020 here. What will 2021 bring in sports? At least initially, more of the same when it comes to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, with empty or mostly empty stadiums and arenas and altered schedules in some sports, like college basketball. But familiar also means more Chiefs success, Royals optimism, Kansas basketball winning ... and how about those Missouri Tigers? Star colum...

The Missouri Tigers somehow got in 10 football games this season. There won’t be an 11th. The team’s current bout with COVID-19 arrive too late to overcome, so Mizzou had to bow out of the Music City Bowl against Iowa, which had been scheduled for Wednesday in Nashville. This was to be the final chapter of an unexpectedly good season for the Tigers, who finished 5-5 and cracked the College Footbal...

Two things have been true about the Chiefs for the past two months. Their games are close and they win them. So it was Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs survived 17-14 when Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo, who had made 27 straight field goal attempts, missed from 39 yards. The kick appeared to be blown off course and the winds of fortune have been with the Chiefs all season. They clinched...

Somehow, sports managed to get through 2020. Most seasons were reduced; some major events, like the NCAA Tournament, were canceled. The COVID-19 pandemic created havoc on schedules like nothing since World War II, or the previous pandemic 100 years ago. Seasons were played largely without fans or at greatly reduced capacity. Also enduring, SportsBeat KC. The Star’s daily sports podcast carried on....

What do with the starters in Week 17 if the Chiefs beat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC? That was among the topics discussed in this SportsBeat Live session with Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell and Herbie Teope, along with host Blair Kerkhoff. Presented here in podcast form, reporters and columnists who regularly cover the Chiefs analyze the team’s plans for a possi...

Christmas week typically would be a slow time in college sports. But the pandemic has shuffled schedules and there is plenty to discuss, like Kansas’ big basketball game tonight against West Virginia, Missouri’s bowl destination and the announcement by quarterback Skylar Thompson that he was returning to Kansas State next season. Beat writers Jesse Newell, Gary Bedore, Souichi Terada and Kellis Ro...

The Chiefs followed a familiar script in their 32-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints. They took an early lead, didn’t hold on to it, got it back, stretched it out, then hung on at the end. Also familiar: They beat a terrific team away from home to improve to 8-0 in road games for the first time in franchise history. We talked about it with you on SportsBeat Live with Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregor...

It took big plays on both ends of the floor in the final 14 second,s but KU won its 30th conference opener Thursday with a one-point victory at Texas Tech. KC product Ochai Agbaji finished with 23 points, including the game-winner, and was the Jayhawks’ offensive star. Beat writers Gary Bedore and Jesse Newell break down the game, and especially the Jayhawks’ final flurry, on this episode of Sport...

Chiefs at Saints. It’s been circled on the calendar since the schedule was released in anticipation of both teams having good seasons. They haven’t disappointed. if the season ended today, the Chiefs (12-1) would be the top seed in the AFC and the Saints (10-3) the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The A-Team of Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell, Sam Mellinger and Herbie Teope joined SportsBeat KC host Blair Kerk...

Kansas State’s basketball season seemed to bottom out a week ago with a loss to Division II Fort Hays State. Since then the Wildcats have won twice, including Tuesday’s victory at Iowa State in the Big 12 opener. What’s changed? A players only meeting and a lineup shift seems to have done the trick. Beat writer Kellis Robinett has the update. Missouri hoops is soaring. The Tigers are coming of the...

Baseball scrapped its winter meetings, which were scheduled for Dallas last week, because of COVID-19. But that doesn’t means teams haven’t been busy ... and the Royals have been among the most active. This week they announced the signing of reliever Greg Holland. Last week, it was Carlos Santana, who had a terrific career with Cleveland — and against Kansas City. Before that, pitcher Mike Minor a...

The Chiefs know how to make things interesting, don’t they? They fell behind 10-0 and lost the fourth quarter 17-3. But their 30-0 advantage in the second and third quarter added up to a six-point victory that meant a 12-1 record for the first time in franchise history and a fifth straight AFC West championship. The A-Team of Sam McDowell, Herbie Teope, Sam Mellinger and Vahe Gregorian joined Spor...

As of Friday morning, nine college football games, including Michigan at Ohio State, had been canceled, and number of college basketball games postponed or canceled on Saturday was approaching 20. But one college town is stoked for its football and basketball games that day: Columbia, Missouri. The football Tigers are 5-3 and ranked No. 25 in the College Football Playoff poll. They meet ninth-rank...

The Chiefs will be looking to improve to 2-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in 2020 when they line up to play the Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon. Their first victory at the Miami Gardens, Fla. venue? Against the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LIV in February. The Star’s A-Team of Vahe Gregorian, Sam McDowell, Sam Mellinger and Herbie Teope break Sunday’s down the game in this episode of the daily Sports...

Rock Chalk and rock bottom. Kansas and Kansas State left the basketball court with different emotions on Tuesday. The Jayhawks were smiling after their one-point victory over Creighton. The Wildcats were dejected after their loss to Division II Fort Hays State. Beat writers Jesse Newell, Gary Bedore and Kellis Robinett break down what went right and wrong for the teams on SportsBeat KC with host B...

When a season ends, rosters take shape. So it’s been for the Royals, whose activity has picked up in the last week with the addition of pitcher Mike Minor and the non-tendering of several players, including third-baseman Maikel Franco and outfielder Bubba Starling. Beat writer Lynn Worthy speculates on who will, and won’t, be returning. Shaun Goodwin performs the same exercise for Sporting Kansas...

The Chiefs are so good they don’t even need all the touchdowns they score. Well, not really. But that happened in Sunday’s 22-16 victory over the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs left a touchdown on the field by not challenging an official’s call on a pass Tyreek Hill didn’t know he caught. All’s well that ends well for the Chiefs, who improved to 11-1 with the victory and clinched a berth in the playof...

It’s the kind of football weekend that would typically attract big crowds to Missouri and Kansas State, but full stadiums are out for 2020. The Tigers play host to Arkansas and their former coach, Barry Odom, now the Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator; the Wildcats entertain Texas and are bidding to finish .500. Beat writers Souichi Terada and Kellis Robinett break down the games on this episode of...

Hey, a Wednesday NFL game and how it impacts the Chiefs to discuss. The AFC playoff race for the top seed between the Steelers and Chiefs was one of several topics covered on SportsBeat Live, now a SportsBeat KC podcast with Sam Mellinger, Vahe Gregorian, Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell along with host Blair Kerkhoff. The Chiefs pass rush, the play of Frank Clark, how the Chiefs name their plays, an...

A work of art it wasn’t. But Kansas showed grit and resiliency—and perhaps showed off its newest star—in a 65-62 victory over Kentucky on Tuesday in the Champions Classic. The Jayhawks trailed by 13 in the first half and had scored five points in the first 10 minutes. But they cut the margin to six by halftime and redshirt freshman Jalen Wilson took over after the break, when he scored 21 of his 2...