SportsBeat KC
Episodes
The Carolina Panthers’ best shot couldn’t bring down Mahomes, Chiefs
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs got outgained in yardage and crushed in time of possession against the Carolina Panthers. But Kansas City managed to survive 33-31 Sunday b...
Betting lines say Oklahoma schools dust off Kansas counterparts. Agree?
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Kansas schools in the BIg 12 take on their Oklahoma counterparts Saturday, and based on betting lines, the Sunflower State programs could be in tr...
The Chiefs are built for both the football and political seasons
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs are in the middle of their regular season at the end of the political season. They’ve handled both well. The A-Team of Sam Mellinger, Vah...
The Mizzou brawl, y’all, and wild Big Eight hoops with Billy Tubbs
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Missouri is coming off a 41-17 loss at Florida, ending the Tigers’ two game winning streak. But the game action was only part of the story. Mizzou a...
The analytics guy who stands at the intersection of sports and politics
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kansas City Star sportswriter Jesse Newell assumed a temporary assignment covering the local political landscape through the elections. And he’s hea...
Hear the A-Team and two of the three who threw passes in Chiefs’ victory
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The expected blowout was delivered. The Chiefs knocked out the New York Jets 35-9 on Sunday and just about everything was humming, starting with Patri...
Are wrong teams favored in K-State game, Big 12 men’s hoop race?
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kansas State has won four straight, stands undefeated in the Big 12 and is ranked No. 16 in the polls. So why are the Wildcats an underdog at unranked...
Diving into Chiefs-Jets, Eric Bieniemy’s next job and Halloween
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On the Halloween edition of SportsBeat KC, the masks come on for some of the members of The Star’s A-Team of Vahe Gregorian, Herbie Teope, Sam Melli...
Mizzou meets foe with three week’s rest, and Mahomes makes NBA pitch
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As of Wednesday, the Missouri at Florida game is on. Enough COVID-19 positive cases kept the Gators off the practice field for nearly two weeks since ...
Sporting KC rolling toward MLS playoffs with Pulido at top of his game
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sporting KC is 4-1-1 in October and has moved into first place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. Three games remain in the regular sea...
Chiefs’ most complete game this season produces blowout win in Denver
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs amassed a season-low in total and passing yards. They also lost the time-of-possession battle. And yet they blew out the Denver Broncos 43-...
For Bell, Lock, the game is about being a Chief and beating the Chiefs
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
SportsBeat KC, The Star’s daily sports podcast, focuses on two of the more intriguing figures in Sunday’s Chiefs game at Denver against the Bronco...
Chiefs look to keep streaks alive verses the Broncos and Darth Vader
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Both teams are coming off road victories when the Chiefs visit the Broncos on Sunday. The Chiefs won at Buffalo, the Broncos at New England. Denver se...
One-sided Sunflower rivalry returns + Mizzou’s most frustrating foe
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Kansas State-Kansas series is the fourth longest continuous rivalry in college football at 117 games, and the Jayhawks own a 64-48-5 lead. But it’...
The Chiefs never win this way. They did Monday
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs, a power running team? It looked that way in their 26-17 victory at Buffalo on Monday. For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era the Ch...
Are you ready for some Monday afternoon football?
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready for some football, some Monday afternoon football? Strange times indeed. Chiefs at Bills, 4:05 p.m., kickoff thanks to COVID-19 and resc...
Talking Chiefs, Le’Veon Bell, defense and first favorite athletes
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs have added a weapon in running back Le’Veon Bell. Now what? Bell won’t suit up for the Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills Monday but shou...
Mizzou football pauses with a nice memory, and talking KC’s NCAA bids
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
No game for Missouri this week after the scheduled opponent, Vanderbilt, called in sick with COVID-19. That’s the way it goes in sports these days, ...
Can K-State keep pace without Sklyar Thompson? Plus, KU hoop slate in flux
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kansas State received some tough news this week when starting quarterback Skylar Thompson was ruled out for the season with an injury. The Wildcats ha...
A Royals off-season begins with minor league activity and questions
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Royals finished with their best winning percentage since 2017 and head into the off-season with optimism—and plenty of questions. Beat writer Ly...
How did Chiefs lose to Raiders? Let us count the ways before we move on
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A loss for the Chiefs had to happen sometime, didn’t it? It wasn’t expected to occur against the AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders. But that’s wh...
Quarterback depth is being tested at K-State, Mizzou and Kansas
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Quarterbacks are the story in college football this weekend. There could be a new starter at Kansas State. There will be a new starter at Missouri. An...
SportsBeat liveA look a how the Chiefs have handled obstacles in season’s first quarter
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
COVID-19 dominoes are falling in the NFL. The Titans-Bills game this weekend is uncertain because of the Titans’ failure to follow protocols, and th...
Chiefs say they’re doing all they can to keep COVID-19 at a distance
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wednesday did not bring good news to the NFL when it came to COVID-19 testing. Patriots’ cornerback Stephon Gilmore received a positive test result ...
Style points be darned. Chiefs will take any victory over shorthanded Patriots
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It wasn’t the most artistic of triumphs, but the Chiefs finished the job in defeating the New England Pariots 26-10 Monday night at Arrowhead Stadiu...
Chiefs in unexpected delay game, and K-State finds a way
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When the NFL called an audible on Sunday’s Chiefs-Patriots game, so did SportsBeat KC. Today would have been an A-Team discussion of the battle betw...
Mizzou, K-State, KU questions asked, answered
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The college football season has started at Missouri, got back on track at Kansas State and opened a quarterback derby at Kansas. We talk about those i...
Do Chiefs, NFL teams have letdowns? And 1st or worst car for A-Teamers
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chiefs-Patriots matchups have produced some of the NFL’s most dramatic games over the past few years. Will that be the case again on Sunday? The Sta...
Matheny on Royals’ improvement for ’21, plus Mahomes on being a dad
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The baseball playoffs have started ... without the Royals. That means it’s time to wrap up the season. Manager Mike Matheny said the young starting ...
How the Chiefs beat the Ravens, let us discuss the ways
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Kansas City Chiefs entered Monday’s game at the Baltimore Ravens as underdogs. After all, the Ravens had won 14 consecutive regular-season games...
How K-State stunned OU, and final word on Chiefs-Ravens from Kelce
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A funny thing happened to Oklahoma on its way to another blowout victory at home. Kansas State scored the game’s final 24 points and pulled off an u...
How Chiefs, Ravens succeed against each other, and sports-flick faves
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Where can the Chiefs and Ravens do damage to each other in their huge Monday Night Football clash? The Star’s A-Team of Herbie Teope, Sam McDowell, ...
Chiefs-Ravens on the clock, and a Chiefs tribute to Alex Gordon
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Countdown to the showdown in Baltimore continues as the Chiefs and Ravens continue working toward their Monday Night Football encounter. On SportsBeat...
Rugged college football tests await and a great Gale Sayers story
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
College football’s biggest weekend approaches with conference games set for the Big 12 and SEC. On SportsBeat KC, beat writers Souichi Terada (Misso...
Chiefs-Ravens, Mahomes-Jackson first look
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chiefs-Ravens on Monday Night Football on Week 3? Yes, please. The top two AFC contenders that matches the previous two NFL MVPs, Patrick Mahomes and ...
Chiefs kick their way to victory at SoFi. Let’s talk about it
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Just another ho-hum victory for the Chiefs on Sunday? Uh, no. Playing the Los Angeles Chargers in the team’s first game in its new home, the $5 bill...
Singer’s surge leads Royals’ encouraging run, and Frank Clark on the Chargers
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Royals are rolling. Probably too late to climb back into the playoff picture but this feels different than taking on victories at the end of a los...
SportsBeat KC: Chiefs offense without highlight reel plays and fast food favorites
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
SportsBeat KC originated as a video program on Thursday, when beat writers Herbie Teope and Sam McDowell joined columnists Sam Mellinger and Vahe Greg...
ChiefsPatrick Mahomes adding another tool to the belt, patience
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Mahomes averaged 301 passing yards per game in his career. So when he delivered 211 through the air against the Houston Texans in the opener, ...
Where it went wrong for Kansas State in season opener
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It was a rough start for Kansas State and other Big 12 programs as college football, battling through COVID-19, opened around the conference last week...
Watching NFL season through Chiefs prism. Who else looked good Week 1?
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you didn’t find sports to watch this weekend, you weren’t trying. The NFL, college football, baseball, NBA playoffs, Stanley Cup playoffs, U.S....
Talking cheers and boos from Chiefs’ opening game victory over Texans
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What night at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs gave the 16,000 fans plenty to cheer for in a 34-20 victory over the Houston Texans. And some boos were he...
Here’s what Clyde Edwards-Helaire had to say about his NFL debut
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Game day has arrived, so let’s talk Chiefs. In this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Kansas City Star’s daily sports podcast, rookie running back Cly...
Projecting Chiefs’ victories, Mahomes’ touchdown passes, final record
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How many games will the Chiefs win? How many touchdown passes with Patrick Mahomes throw? The NFL opener between the Chiefs and Houston Texans is the ...
Ready or not (with some emphasis on ‘not’), here comes Big 12 football
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
By Tuesday, two games had been removed from this Saturday’s Big 12 football schedule because of COVID-19. But they didn’t involved Kansas State or...
As Chiefs’ season arrives, here’s Veach on re-shaping of Super Bowl team
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Game week has arrived for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who take on the Houston Texans Thursday to open the NFL’s Kickoff Weekend. Quarterbacks Pa...
Advantage of waiting for Mizzou football, and Sporting KC’s mid kids
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Conferences playing college football in the fall will have started by Sept. 12, except for the SEC. The nation’s top football conference is waiting ...
Who makes the cut as Chiefs’ roster takes shape on Saturday?
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many of the Chiefs’ big roster decisions were made in the form of contract extensions or restructuring, plus a draft the team counted as successful....
Why outspoken Nebraska isn’t playing nice with the Big Ten
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Six days after releasing a fall football schedule, the Big Ten announced it wouldn’t have a season. That was three weeks ago and there has been plen...
What did Rosenthal trade say about Royals’ plans for 2020 and beyond?
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The question last week — would the Royals move any major pieces before baseball’s trade deadline? — was answered in the affirmative. Closer Trev...
Answers from Chiefs’ unusual training game, and owner Clark Hunt
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The strangest of training camps has ended for the Chiefs and focus turns to Saturday’s cut down date and the season opener the following Thursday ag...
Should the Royals be playing for this season or the future?
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of the shortened baseball season got off to a lousy start for the Royals, that 6-5 loss in St. Louis on Wednesday when the Royals blew...
Explaining the complicated business of running the Chiefs these days
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs are one of a handful of NFL teams that is opening its gates to fans for games, at least in the early part of the season. The team also is m...
Fans were on their game at Children’s Mercy Park, but Sporting KC wasn’t
26 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fans clicked through the turnstiles for Kansas City’s first pro sports game since March Tuesday night, as Sporting KC played host to the Houston Dyn...
Even in fewer games, KU seeks to at least match 2019 victory total
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The 2020 college football was supposed to start this weekend with a handful of games followed by the traditional full slate of games over Labor Day we...
Chiefs to fans: If you’re coming to practice, wear the mask
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fans in the stands - the Chiefs were the first in the NFL to make that happen in a preseason practice. It wasn’t the same as a training camp morning...
No headdresses or Native-style face-paint at Arrowhead. What’s next?
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As you’d expect, reaction has been swift and full-throated from Chiefs fans and others about the team’s announcement it’s banning headdresses an...
Another dazzling performance by Royals starter Brad Keller
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For a pair of teams chasing. .500 records, plenty happened in the Royals split of a double header with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. In the opener...
SportsBeat KC: Sporting KC restarting its season...again. This time with fans
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sporting KC is on the verge of a season restart ... for the second time. Every Major League Soccer team was inactive for COVID-19 until the MLS is Bac...
Limited number of fans will be allowed at Arrowhead Stadium. Good idea?
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fans are returning to Arrowhead Stadium this season. The Chiefs announced earlier this week that about 16,000 fans will be allowed to attend home game...
Kelce getting paid and quite the compliment for Patrick Mahomes
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The tight end position in the NFL has been undervalued, but players like the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and the 49ers George Kittle are beginning to chang...
A day like no other for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum arrives Sunday
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sunday will be a day like no other for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the league’s founding in ...
Was there even a decision for SEC when it came to a football season?
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The drama in college football this week involved the Big Ten, Pac-12 and the Big 12. Would their conferences have fall sports, including football? Tha...
How the Big 12 reached its decision to have a football season this fall
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The lineup is in for college football, at least at the moment. Moving toward a season are the Big 12, SEC and ACC. Not having a season are the Big Ten...
Watkins on his deal; Mahomes on the Royals; Andy Reid on managing camp
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the Chiefs put together their offseason financial puzzle, some top priorities were established: Take care of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defens...
College football asks, how’s your day going?
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
By late Monday afternoon, nobody knew if there would be a college football season or how much of one there would be. One newspaper reported the Big Te...
Young starters, Nick Heath bright spots in rough Royals week
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Royals ended their week-long skid on Thursday with a 13-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs, which means they’ve won every game they’ve played wit...
Opt-outs on Chiefs offensive line clearing path for Keleche Osemele
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Thursday, Chiefs’ offensive lineman Lucas Niang became the first rookie to opt out of this season. Niang figured to compete for playing time with...
Big 12 football will happen, right? Plus, some Sprint Center memories
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Big 12 schools will play a 10-game football schedule, but precisely when it starts and the one non-conference foe for each school remains uncertain. B...
Crafting an NFL preseason without games is Andy Reid’s challenge
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In any other year, the Chiefs would be counting down the days to their first preseason game. In 2020, thanks to the pandemic, there are no preseason g...
Royals’ rough start personified by shortstop Adalberto Mondesi
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Never has the idea of “no time like the present” to make improvements been more true than this baseball season. The Royals have lost seven of thei...
It’s all about accountability away from facility, Travis Kelce says
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Travis Kelce says the Chiefs feel safe in their training camp facility at Arrowhead Stadium. The important thing is for players to be responsible when...
Opting out, Mahomes’ ranking, and Royals home opener starter - Surprise!
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If only Chiefs running back Damien Williams could return for the playoffs. That’s where he’s done his most damage in a Chiefs uniform with 10 touc...
Shopping across the Truman Complex parking lot with Patrick Mahomes
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The newest member of the Kansas City Royals’ ownership group is ... Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Add that to the long and still growing list ...
Baseball confronts first COVID-19 crisis. Will it be the last?
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Some sports have been more successful at re-starting than others. Baseball is going through a rough patch now with about half of the Miami Marlins tra...
Chiefs have all health bases covered, and things could still go wrong
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs are working through health precautions and protocols as they report to training camp at the team facility at Arrowhead Stadium. The team sa...
First busy weekend for KC sports; and the show goes on for Royals’ voices
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve arrived at the latest opening day in baseball history. And now, the sprint is on. A 60-game regular season and the quest to land in an expande...
Summer camp not exactly anything to write home about for Royals
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Royals played three exhibition games (“Summer Camp”) to tune up for Friday’s Opening Day against the Cleveland Indians, and there wasn’t m...
Sporting KC marches onward after best game yet at MLS is Back Tournament
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sporting Kansas City didn’t require a victory to advance in the MLS is Back Tournament. A draw would have done the trick, and even a loss might have...
Sports return to KC at Kansas Speedway but fans must wait a little longer
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Big 12 Tournament at Sprint Center ended on March 11. The next major sporting event in Kansas City will happen 134 days later. The Super Start Bat...
The role Patrick Mahomes played in Chris Jones’ new long-term deal
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, the Chiefs and Chris Jones announced a new four-year contract, and the deal is worth up to $85 million. On Monday, Jones, Andy Reid and gen...
After gut-punch loss, Sporting KC looks to regain its footing in Orlando
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The heightened sense of anticipation for Sporting KC’s opener made the loss last weekend feel like a gut-punch. Sporting surrendered two goals in ex...
Doubt factor for college football. And top pros from KSU, MU, KU
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
No one knows what major college football is look like this fall, or if there will be a college football season. Two conferences, the Big Ten and Pac-1...
Salvy’s back, Duffy gets ball, Opening Day shaping up for Royals
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Royals are another day closer to Opening Day and getting a little healthier. Catcher Salvador Perez participated in his first scrimmage on Tuesday...
Talking about Chris Jones and the Chiefs’ offseason winning streak
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It happened with a day to spare. Chris Jones remains a member of the Kansas City Chiefs with news that he and his camp agreed to a four-year deal Tues...
Paying attention a critical step for Chiefs as they consider imagery
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Monday, Washington’s NFL team announced it was dropping the nickname “Redskins.” Other teams with Native American-related nicknames are exami...
Sporting KC looks to make statements of play and protest in re-start
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Soccer is the first professional team sport to return to action in the U.S., and Sporting KC gets back into action on Sunday against Minnesota. All Ma...
A few early bumps but Royals bring right approach to restart
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Kansas City Royals are nearly one week into their restart, and they’ve hit a few snags along the way. Three front-line players have tested posit...
Is there a nickname difference between Chiefs and Redskins or Indians?
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A topic that had been bubbling nationally for the past week or so was disrupted in Kansas City when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-yea...
Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Brett Veach talk Mahomes’ historic deal
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On Monday, they bought champagne, posed for photographs and signed the paperwork. On Tuesday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes talked ab...
Patrick Mahomes has his half-billion. Now what for Chiefs?
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
He’s now the half-billion dollar athlete. The Kansas City Chiefs announced at contract extension for Patrick Mahomes on Monday, a new deal that fold...
The chances of Chris Jones sitting out the 2020 season are...
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chris Jones story took another twist this week with his tweet that hints of his sitting out the 2020 season instead of playing on the franchise ta...
Kansas State’s role in college football’s social justice movement
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kansas State joined the growing list of college football programs to take a stand against racism when the team threatened a boycott in response to a c...
Could more be done to memorialize former Chiefs running back Joe Delaney?
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Last Saturday marked 37 years since the tragic death of former Chiefs running back Joe Delaney, who drowned trying to save kids who had gone under in ...
How Negro Leagues cap tip tribute with Obama, Bush, celebs came about
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Monday was a day to tip your cap. To baseball teams like the Royals, for putting together rosters that number up to 60, and to the Negro Leagues. We t...
How The Star’s Forum on Race came together with Mathieu, Cuonzo, others
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A couple of weeks ago, Star columnist Vahe Gregorian and I started talking about hosting a video discussion around the subject of race in sports. We w...
How will the Royals fit baseball’s new parameters?
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Baseball didn’t settle its labor issues but that’s a story for another time. The game is returning, in a 60-game sprint to the postseason. Several...
OTAs have wrapped up for Chiefs, NFL. Next stop, the great unknown
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Chiefs wrapped up their organized team activities last week, and it was an OTAs unlike any other. Players on the team didn’t work out together b...
What a Bill Self lawsuit against NCAA might say about the KU basketball investigation
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You could almost feel the virtual fist pumps from Kansas fans when news broke last week that basketball coach Bill Self has threatened a lawsuit again...
K-State, Clemson football teams show how bumpy the road back from COVID-19 can be
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
College football workouts are under way, and it hasn’t gone well in some places. A handful of schools have reported a high number of positive tests ...