SportsBeat KC

The Chiefs road to repeating as NFL champions is off to a bumpy start. A few days into training camp, defensive star Chris Jones has officially become a holdout, and wide receiver Kadarius Toney suffered a knee injury almost as soon as he stepped on the field. We discuss these issues and more on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, from training camp at Missouri Western. with beat writer Jess...

Training camp opens for the Chiefs this week and all the questions left unanswered at the end of the off-season activities last month...remain unanswered. But we’re a little closer to resolution when it comes to starters, roster moves and the big one, a new contract for Chris Jones. On today’s SportsBeat KC podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell discusses the biggest issues facing the Super Bowl champi...

Where should Kansas State fall in the preseason Big 12 football rankings? After all, the Wildcats are the defending conference champions. On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Kellis Robinett discusses how K-State and Big 12 football are about to play the most unique season in the league’s history. The Big 12 will be 14 strong with the addition of BYU, Central...

The Royals recent series against the Tampa Bay Ray was quite eventful with continued success on the mount for Daniel Lynch, the end of a miserable run for Jordan Lyles and a major league record for Austin Cox. Plus, the Royals split the series against the team with baseball’s top record. Beat writer Jaylon Thompson and reporter Pete Grathoff broke down the Royals, especially the pitching, and look...

Missouri’s quarterback for the 2023 season will be... We look to answer that question and ask more of Chris Kwiecinski and Matt Stahl, who cover the Tigers for the Columbia Daily Tribune on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast. Mizzou’s 2024 SEC football schedule, the first without divisions, is explored, and we discuss Kobe Brown’s NBA Draft possibilities, along with prospects for Coach Denni...

The KU basketball season ended with a NCAA Tournament second-round thud. But the news has been mostly good for the Jayhawks since then. The roster has been bolstered by the return of Kevin McCullar and additions like Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson. Former Jayhawks player Christian Braun won an NBA Finals championship ring with the Denver Nuggets, and KU should have two players, Gradey Dick and...

The Chiefs entered their short phase of down time with a ring ceremony at Union Station, and the next time we see the Super Bowl champions is when training camp begins at Missouri Western next month. But the work continues in the front office, especially when it comes to the Chris Jones contract negotiation. On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell breaks down...

The Chiefs organization gathered for the private celebration at Union Station, and before that we spoke with some Chiefs. On today’s show, you’ll hear from Patick Mahomes and Andy Reid. This was in the morning before the evening’s event but spoke about the meaning of the rings among other topics. We start the show with a voice from the recent past. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy now holds the...

One final week of workouts for the Chiefs before they break for a short summer break, and on today’s SportsBeat KC podcast you’ll hear from three players, starting with tight end Travis Kelce. It’s been a busy schedule for Kelce, with the Saturday Night Live hosting duties, White House appearance and, earlier this week, throwing a first pitch at a Royals game. But he’s all business when it comes t...

A year ago this week, 16 North American sites were announced as hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and Kansas City made the cut. Less than three years remain before the first games are played and the Kansas City effort has an executive director. Katherine Holland, who headed the city’s bid for landing the event, moves into the new role that oversees the Kansas City 20...

There are several reasons for the Royals last-place position in the AL Central. They’ve gotten there with inconsistent hitting and pitching, and now they’ve added another problem: fielding. They rank near the bottom in several fielding categories, and it’s not just errors. Poor decisions also have hurt the team and played a big role in Tuesday’s loss at the Miami Marlins. On today’s SportsBeat KC,...

The Chiefs went where their previous Super Bowl championship teams had not gone before...to the White House. Meeting the President wasn’t a thing when they won Super Bowl IV, and the pandemic prevented the visit four years ago. The team made the most of their moment on stage and backstage, touring the White House, then heard words of praise from President Biden. On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’...

The Chiefs are closing in on the end of organized team activities and on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, we hear from the coordinators. Special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub doesn’t like the new rule that will allow the ball to be placed at the 25 with a fair catch inside the 25. Also, Toub provides updates on players the Chiefs could use at return po...

May was better than April for the Royals, but not good enough to get the team out of last place in the AL Central. The Royals head into June with a 17-39 record, one of two in baseball to not reach the 20-victory plateau. What were the highlights and low points for the month? On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, beat writer Jaylon Thompson and editor Scott Chasen break it dow...

With DeAndre Hopkins on the market, how set are the Chiefs at wide receiver with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Rashee Rice and other candidates? The Chiefs would need to clear cap space to sign the three-time All-Pro, but should they? On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, the columnists share their thoughts on the Chiefs and all things sp...

DeAndre Hopkins has been among the top NFL wide receivers in his career, and he’s available after his release by the Arizona Cardinals last week. What are the chances Hopkins joins the Chiefs? According to beat writer Jesse Newell, the case against landing in Kansas City has more checks than the case for Hopkins joining Patrick Mahomes and company. Newell lays out his reason on today’s SportsBeat...

What does Patrick Mahomes think about the NFL’s quarterback market, and his place in it? What has Nick Bolton been up to since his Super Bowl scoop-and-score? What does Andy Reid think about his new cast of wide receivers and tackles? The Chiefs spoke to reporters Wednesday and you’ll hear what they had to say on today’s episode of The Star’s SportsBeat KC podcast. Mahomes kicks off off the show....

Before losing their fourth straight game, the Royals bid farewell to a player who had been in the organization for 10 years. Hunter Dozier was designated for assignment, and the Royals will eat the remainder of his contract. Dozier signed a four-year extension in 2021 and is owed about $15 million if another team doesn’t claim him. Signing a lucrative long-term extension is risk to the club and po...

Not a good weekend for Kansas City’s soccer teams. Sporting KC got trounced in its first game against expansion team Saint Louis City, and the KC Current dropped its fourth straight, and second this week, to Racing Louisville. Both teams have been fighting uphill battles throughout the season, and they’ve shown signs of solid play. Before Sporting’s loss it had going 2-0-1 and the Current posted a...

Three years before the games come to Kansas City, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has new logos, a board of directors and some money earmarked from state and city governments. This was part of a press conference at GEHA Field at Arrowhead that included Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. Perhaps the biggest reveal of the event came from Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, who said the city...

Did Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman sign a coach-for-life contract? Eight years, $44 million is about as long-term as it can get, and with the Wildcats becoming off a Big 12 championship season it seems like a bargain for the Wildcats. On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, beat writer Kellis Robinett breaks down the deal and discusses not only the contract terms but...

How does the new Chiefs offensive line stack up to last year’s? It might be tough to top a group that didn’t allow a sack in the Super Bowl victory. But the additions at both tackle spots were well received. That one topic covered by Chiefs beat writer Jesse Newell on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. The other: The Chiefs schedule. At face value it’s difficult. That’s always...

The Royals head into their longest road trip of the year coming off their best home stand. Their victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday meant they won a series for only the second time this year and first time at home. They went 5-5 on the home stand and that’s their record in May, a nice turnaround from a dreadrful April. So, let’s talk baseball. First up, meet The Star’s new Royals beat...

A victory in its last MLS game stopped the spiral for Sporting KC, the final team to win a game this season. It occurred in the 11th league game. The awful start continued a trend from last year when only one team in the Western Conference finished with fewer points. What are the reasons for the slow start and how much responsibility falls on the shoulders of manager and sporting director Peter Ve...

The Jayhawks have largely turned over their men’s basketball roster for next season and the biggest addition is Hunter Dickinson, the 7-1 standout from Michigan who is transferring to Bill Self’s program. On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, beat writers Gary Bedore and Shreyas Laddha discuss how KU could use Dickinson, a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a second-team All-A...