Sportsbeat Kc

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 where it ranks among Big 12 coaches and the statement Kansas State and Klieman made with the agreement. Also, Robinett provides the latest on the men’s basketball transfer portal. K-State is being considered by former Kansas center Ernest Udeh. Who else do the Wildcats and Coach Jerome Tang have on the radar? Story link: Chris Klieman’s massive new Kansas State contract includes many lucrative bonuses https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article275442201.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 case for first-place teams. We discuss the potential potholes and reveal what Las Vegas oddsmakers say is the most difficult game. After a break, you’ll hear from former Kansas State defensive end Wyatt Hubert. The former Cincinnati Bengals draft pick is trying to make his way back to the NFL after a year out of football. Hubert, part of Chiefs’ rookie mini-camp, which wrapped up last week, provides an update on his career. Story links: Chiefs schedule analysis: Best game, toughest stretch and most intriguing matchup He worked in medical sales a few months ago. Now he’s trying to make an NFL roster Learn more a

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 writer Jaylon Thompson. He previously worked at USA Today and grew up in Atlanta following the Braves. We discuss his baseball interests and an uncle, who is a former major league player. Star columnist Vahe Gregorian is part of the conversation that continues with memory from George Brett. It’s the 40th anniversary of the famous Pine Tar game, a day that Brett vividly recalls. He speaks to that moment that provided baseball one of its greatest dugout charges. Story link: On 40th anniversary of Pine Tar Game, George Brett remains proud of principled rampage https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gre

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 Vermes? Vermes is the constant with the franchise, which has been among the most success in league history. He’s the longest tenured coach in MLS. Some fans chanted, “Vermes out,” at the team’s most recent home game. On today’s SportsBeat KC, Star columnist and former Sporting beat writer Sam McDowell discusses his recent intereview with Sporting KC principal owner Mike Illig and team president and CEO Jake Reid, and what steps could be taken to improve the team’s fortunes. Story link: Sporting KC’s sticking with Vermes, but owners say they’re not scared to make a change https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-bl

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-America last year. Dickinson averaged 18.5 points and nine rebounds last season and could be the most accomplished player ever to enter the transfer portal. This much is true: The Jayhawks have had some of their best seasons with a productive post player. Think about David McCormack, Udoka Azubuike, Jeff Withey and others over the past decade. Story link: Roster addition of Hunter Dickinson means rise in early preseason rankings for Kansas https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article275170136.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reporters spoke with Chiefs draft selections in the euphoric moments after they were taken. A week or so later, the same players in a less hectic moment got the interview treatment again at Chiefs rookie mini-camp. You’ll hear from some of those players on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. First-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the defensive end from Kansas State and Lee’s Summit High, recalled his experiences at the Super Bowl parade after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory. Rashee Rice from SMU spoke of his role on a team that’s lost its top wide receiver each of the past two seasons. Tackle Wanya Morris says he feels at home on the offensive line playing along side of former college teammate Trey Smith, and defensive back Chamarri Conner said he’s up for any special teams duty the Chiefs ask. After all, he played at Virginia Tech, which emphasizes special teams as much as anyone in college football. Also, Andy Reid provides an update from mini-camp which ended on Monday. Story link: C

The Royals celebrated the Kansas City career of Lorenzo Cain over the weekend with a contract-signing ceremony that allowed him to retire as Royal. On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, you’ll hear from Cain about his KC career, with an emphasis on the 2014 and 2015 postseasons. The occasion got us wondering about who else might receive such a ceremony with the Royals, and/or eventually join the team’s hall of fame. Manager Ned Yost will be the first from the group to enter the hall at a September ceremony. But who else? It’s a little tricky for this reason: George Brett, Frank White, Amos Otis, Hal McRae and Willie Wilson played most of (or all of) their respective MLB careers in Kansas City. They’re the franchise’s top-five players in games played. Cain tweet The second championship stretch for the Royals was populated with players who spent eight or fewer seasons with the Royals: Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, Wade Davis and Greg Holland, among others. But player mo

Is there a Patrick Mahomes effect when it comes to evaluating college prospect quarterbaccks? Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz says he sees more “off schedule” plays from high school and college quarterbacks, similar to the highlight moments from the Chiefs quarterback. Drinkwitz, Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates and wrestling coach Brian Smith spoke to fans and reporters on a recent visit to Kansas City, and you’ll hear them all on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. Gates explains why the Tigers, coming off their best season in more than a decade, are capable of more. Smith explains the value of having the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City in 2024. Matt Stahl of the Columbia Daily Tribune kick off the latest episode. Story link: The NFL Draft will soon be gone. NCAA Wrestling will be Kansas City’s next big sports party https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article274788956.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, we’ve heard from Chiefs owner and CEO Clark Hunt, general manager Brett Veach, and Kansas City Sports Commission president Kathy Nelson about the NFL Draft in Kansas City. Now, let’s hear from The Star’s Chiefs coverage crew. Columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian along with beat writer Jesse Newell share their thoughts on the Chiefs’ strategy and suggest how the rookie class might fare this season. It has a big task ahead if it’s to top last year’s rookie class success. After a break, we discuss Kansas City’s performance in holding its first NFL Draft. More than 300,000 were estimated to have attended the event at Union Station and the National WW1 Museum and Memorial. We got lucky with the weather. Preparation and hard work did the rest. Story link: NFL Draft in Kansas City ‘exceeded our expectations,’ says KC Sports Commission president https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article274923316.html Learn more about your ad choices.

The Chiefs looked to trade up in the first round of NFL Draft but with no takers found they held on to pick No. 31 and selected Kansas State edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who grew up in Lee’s Summit. Then the trading started. The next three players taken by the Chiefs were taken in move-up fashion with SMU wide recevier Rashee Rice in the second round, Oklahoma offensive tackle Wanya Morris in the third and Virginia Tech safety Chammari Conner in the fourth. On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, general manager Brett Veach explains why the Chiefs traded draft picks to move up in each round. The Chiefs started the draft with 10 selections and finished with seven. After a break, you’ll hear from Kansas City Sports Commission president Kathy Nelson on the massive undertaking of executing the NFL Draft in Kansas City. She said the event, the largest sports-related specator gather in the city’s history “exceeded expectations.” Story links: NFL Draft in Kansas City ‘exceeded our expectation

The NFL Draft in Kansas City has passed and evaluations begin. The early returns are positive for the Chiefs, who added seven newcomers to the roster, and for Kansas City. The area entertained an estimated 300,000 fans at Union Station and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The Chiefs and the NFL Draft are the topics on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. First, you’ll hear from Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. He met with reporters on Friday, before the second and third rounds, and touched on several topics, including Patrick Mahomes’ contract and the recent NFLPA findings that weren’t kind to the Chiefs. After Hunt, former Chiefs return specialist Dante Hall spoke about his induction into the Chiefs Hall of Fame. I think you’ll be surprised to hear about his favorite play in a Chiefs uniform. We end the show with a conversation with Chiefs beat writer Herbie Teope. On his final duty for The Star, he evaluates the Chiefs draft haul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com

The NFL Draft opened before tens of thousands at Union Station, and ended with the Chiefs selecting Kansas State product Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round. In all, an amazing day in Kansas City. On today’s SportsBeat KC, we’ll hear from Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid. We’ll hear about Anudike-Uzomah’s Chiefs fandom growing up in Lee’s Summit, and how Veach and Reid came to identify the K-State defensive lineman as their choice. Also, Veach and Reid explain other options the Chiefs considered in the first round and what trade options may have been on the table. Story link: The remarkable underdog story of Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs first round draft pick https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article274794141.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four years after the announcement of the NFL Draft to Kansas City, the day has arrived. Tens of thousands are expected to watch the event at Union Station from the National WWI Museum and Memorial law and millions more on the broadcast. The first team scheduled to make a selection is the Carolina Panthers. On today’s SportsBeat KC, Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler joins Star columnist Sam McDowell in discussing the Panthers’ position and how Carolina got the top pick without finishing with the NFL’s worst record in 2022. Also on today’s show, you’ll hear from the player the Panthers are expected to select, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, along with other draft prospects Will Levis, a quarterback from Kentucky and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. They participated in a football clinic at Central High on Wednesday. Story link: No longer on the clock: The NFL Draft has arrived for Kansas City and the Chiefs https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article274732606.html Learn more abo

Playing host to the NFL Draft is a process that started several years ago, and now we’re one day away from the start of the big show. On today’s episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell and reporter Pete Grathoff weigh on the event and what it means for Kansas City. It’s also a big weekend for the Chiefs. The Super Bowl champs used last year’s draft to fortify a roster that won the Super Bowl. We discuss their possible first-round direction as they enter the draft with 10 selections. After a break, we change sports and discuss the slow starts by Kansas City’s other teams. Why have the Royals and Sporting KC been dreadful? The KC Current have picked up the pace recently after stumbling out of the gate, but the NWSL team that last fall made it to the league’s championship game has fired its coach. Story link: No umbrellas, chairs at NFL Draft Experience in KC. Here’s what is and isn’t allowed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/

Some of the greatest players in Chiefs history were not first-round draft selections, and you’ll hear from a few of them on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. Each has an interesting draft experience story, and Bobby Bell, Will Shields and Trey Smith share theirs. Even though they’re from different eras, one thing they have in common: Based on performance they were woefully under-drafted with Bell taken in the seventh round, Shields in the third and Smith in the sixth. Bell and Shields are Hall of Famers. Also, you’ll hear about the origin of “Chiefs Kingdom.” Chiefs fans are expected to be out in force during the NFL Draft at Union Station this week, and you’ll hear Chiefs Kingdom used often. It was the brainchild of longtime radio broadcaster Mitch Holthus, and at Super Bowl LVII he shared the story of how he came up with the description of the fandom.,y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL will bring 17 draft prospects like Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud to Kansas City for the Draft, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be other draft prospects in Kansas City for the event. A handful of college football standouts from Kansas City-area high schools could find their way to Union Station and Liberty Memorial to take in the sights and sounds of the NFL Draft. Ikenna Enechukwu, a defensive lineman from Rice University and Ruskin High said he may find his way to the draft. “Maybe take a selfie, to show the grand kids some day that I was there,” he told The Star. If he’s selected, Enechukwu would likely hear his name on Saturday, when the final four of seven rounds are announced. Others, like Kansas State lineman Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Lee’s Summit High) and Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore (North Kansas City High), are projected to hear their named called on Thursday or Friday in the first three rounds. On today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports po

The business of the NFL Draft, when it comes to Kansas City and Union Station next week, won’t be focused nationally on the hometown Chiefs. As Super Bowl champions, they own the final selection of the first round, No. 31 overall. By then, it’s the drama of when the top quarterbacks will be taken and who will be the top defensive player selected will be resolved. But has any team mastered the draft over the past few seasons better than the Chiefs? Beyond the most obvious big payoff maneuver, moving up in the 2017 draft to select Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have used the draft to strengthen a roster that has produced two Super Bowl victories in the past four seasons. Nine of their 2022 draft picks played in the recent Super Bowl victory. On today’s SportsBeat KC, you’ll hear from Chiefs draft conductor and general manager Brett Veach. He spoke with reporters about this year’s draft, its strengths, and how the Chiefs could once again have a bountiful draft with 10 picks heading into the event that begins its th

The price for success in college sports can be expressed through coaches contracts. Kansas State is happily in the process of paying that price. After a football season led by Chris Klieman that included the first Big 12 championship in a decade, and a men’s basketball season that had the Wildcats, picked last in the conference, that extended to the Elite Eight under first-year coach Jerome Tang, it’s time for K-State to show its gratitude. Klieman and Tang are in line for extensions and raises that should lift them into the upper half of Big 12 salaries. “If you look at all of our salaries, we’ve typically been towards the bottom half of the Big 12,” K-State athletic director Gene Taylor told beat writer Kellis Robinett. “And that’s where we compare ourselves. We don’t really compare ourselves with the Big 10 and how the SEC is doing. How are we salary-wise for coaches and staff within the Big 12? I think from an owner’s perspective, we want to be up in the upper half, if not better.” On today’s SportsBeat K

His second Super Bowl championship and MVP season behind him, it was time for Patrick Mahomes to begin thinking about the next quest. Turns out, he’s as motivated to keep pushing forward as ever. Mahomes shared his thoughts about life after the ultimate achievement and starting the 2023 off-season team activities in a 15-minute interview with reporters that you’ll hear on today’s SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast. He talks about his ankle injury, working with receivers in Texas for a second straight year, and getting back to work. He also weighs in on the new deal for Jalen Hurts that makes the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback the NFL’s highest paid player on an annual value basis, and has thoughts for Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old who is recovering after being shot in Kansas City while picking up his brothers. Star columnist Vahe Gregorian kicks off the show with his thoughts on Mahomes and Chiefs. Story link: With chance to be part of elite NFL history, Chiefs and Mahomes have fresh motivation htt

The NFL off-season comes in phases, and teams are preparing for the first of those. For the Chiefs, that means plenty of pitching and catching with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. That’s happening in Texas, as it did last year. It means meetings and conditioning for the defense, and it’s also an opportunity to hear from Andy Reid and players for the first time in several weeks, Reid met with reporters on Monday to preview the beginning of these activities. It was his first time to discuss how the Chiefs will operate with new faces at wide receiver, how he spent his time since the Super Bowl victory and he looks at the NFL Draft for the Chiefs and where the event will take place, Union Station in Kansas City. After a break you’ll hear from linebacker NIck Bolton. He’s coming off his first Super Bowl triumph and describes how he’s handled the short off-season. Story link: Why the Kansas City Chiefs are Zooming through Phase 1 of their offseason program https://www.k