The Big 12 sure looks different these days. This week, 16 schools brought football players and coaches to Las Vegas for the league’s annual media days. Newcomers Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Arizona State participated. Founding members Oklahoma and Texas did not, having shipped off to the SEC. But there is something familiar about the league. Kansas State is expected to be good, again. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Kellis Robinett broke down the 2024 Wildcats, along wit...
Jul 10, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast From the late 1970s into the 1980, Tom Watson dominated golf. Five British Open championships among his eight major titles and 39 PGA Tour titles -- not to mention six major titles on the Champions Tour -- rank him among the game’s greatest ever. And he’s Kansas City’s own. Born and raised here, Watson has always called Kansas City home. In a conversation with The Star, Watson emphasized his local roots and explained how being from the Heartland could be an advantage on the Tour. He covers a ran...
Jun 28, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s less rest for the Super Bowl champion, which plays the final game of the previous season and the first of the next. But no complaints from the Chiefs, who squeezed in a White House visit and ring ceremony around their off-season workouts. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell puts a bow on the off-season and tackles the impending decisions at such positions as wide receiver and left tackle. And which rookies could make an immediate impact. How do the two-t...
Jun 18, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Has Sporting Kansas City reached a pivot point similar to last year? The club can only hope said. After an awful start in 2023, Sporting rallied with a super second half that continued with a spirited playoff run. This season? After a somewhat encouraging start, Sporting dropped seven straight to drop into last place. Like last year, Sporting ended its woes with a victory over Seattle, and now we’ll see if history can repeat itself. Star columnist Sam McDowell breaks down the season, projects wh...
Jun 11, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Only 16 teams remain in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, and one of them is Kansas State. For the second time in program history the Wildcats have reached the Super Regional. Find a way to win twice at Virginia this weekend and K-State’s Bat Cats will play at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., for the first time. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Kellis Robinett discusses how Kansas State reached this point Hint: It started when Coach Pete Hughes started pu...
Jun 04, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Often when a baseball record is set, it occurs during game with fanfare. Not this time. The integration of Negro Leagues statistics into Major League Baseball that has resulted in new leaders atop some lists, happened decades later, and determined by a committee. A Negro Leagues slugger, Josh Gibson, has surpassed Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb in a couple of batting categories, and some who started their career in the Negro Leagues before moving to MLB -- Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and others -- had n...
May 29, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2014, the Royals were scuffling around the All-Star break, falling a couple of games under .500 and looking like the postseason drought, nearing three decades, would continue. But the Royals put together a sizzling second half and qualified for the playoffs. There, they made history, becoming the first team to win the first eight games of a postseason. The quest reached Game 7 of the World Series, where the Royals fell short to the San Francisco Giants and Madison Bumgarner. Last week, many o...
May 21, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Only the NFL could turn its schedule announcement into an event. And we even know the opponents. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, Chiefs beat writer Jesse Newell previews the unveiling, and what’s known so far. The Chiefs first’ two games have been identified: home contests against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. What does that mean for the rest of the slate? Also discussed: What move can the Chiefs made at wide receiver now that free agent Zay Jones has signed with the ...
May 14, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The winning continues for the Royals as baseball approaches the quarter pole of the season. We’re not longer waiting for the bottom to fall out on a team that dropped 106 games last year and has posted seven consecutive losing record records heading in 2024. The starting pitching has excelled. The defense is superb, and the Royals are getting enough offense the believe the success is sustainable. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jaylon Thompson and columnist Sam McDowell ...
May 07, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Chiefs’ 2024 draft class addressed needs, specifically at wide receiver and offensive tackle, and the team took some fliers on others. Did the Chiefs meet all their goals, and do more positions require more attention? On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell offers thoughts on all seven selections and looks ahead to how the group will blend with the the two-time defending Super Bowl champion. Who among the newcomers will be counted on immediately, and how will sp...
Apr 30, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Annual Player Selection Meeting, or informally known as the NFL Draft, kicks off its three-day run on Thursday in Detroit. As Super Bowl champion, the Chiefs own picks No. 32 and 64 in the first two rounds, but there should be good depth at the positions of team needs, like wide receiver and offensive tackle. Will the Chiefs go there? On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell and columnist Sam McDowell provide insights into possibilities for the Chiefs. It might m...
Apr 23, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Quite the soccer scene in Kansas City last weekend. Sporting Kansas City took on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami before more than 72,000 last weekend at Arrowhead Stadium. The game, and Messi’s performance lived up the hype in Miami’s 3-2 victory. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian look back at the event and what it means for a stadium and region that will host World Cup games in two years. Also, you’ll from Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes, who ...
Apr 16, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast The baseball season is about two weeks old, and the Royals are still in it entering a three-game home series against the Houston Astros. The team is off to its best start in three years and it’s a refreshing change from recent seasons. The starting pitching has been outstanding and players like M.J Melendez, Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr., are off to fast starts. On SportsBeat KC, beat writer Jaylon Thompson discusses the team’s solid start and what it will take for the Royals ...
Apr 09, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jackson County votes have spoken, and they said “no” to a new stadium for the Royals and upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian, who covered the stadium tax campaign from the beginning, share their thoughts on why it failed and what’s next for the teams. The teams didn’t put together a winning game plan. Now the future of the teams in Jackson County comes into question. Story links: Sam McDowell: The R...
Apr 03, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast On April 2, Jackson County residents will decide whether to approve a 3/8-cent sales tax that would fund a new stadium for the Royals and provide upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs. The tax expected to generate about $2 billion over 40 years. A “Yes,” vote means the Royals will move out of Kauffman Stadium and build a new stadium in the Crossroads District. The Chiefs will stay put and improve the fan experience at Arrowhead. A “No,” vote means... No one is certain, but columnists Sam ...
Mar 27, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast The first wave of free agency has passed and the Chiefs were active. It actually started before the period opened when the two-time Super Bowl champion gave Chris Jones a record-setting contract. In free agency, the Chiefs came away with wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as their big splash, while signing several defensive players in hopes of recreating the magic of the 2023 unit. The Chiefs aren’t finish. Running back and offense tackle remain positions of need. And what becomes of corne...
Mar 19, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Kansas Jayhawks won their most recent battle. How will they fare in the postseason wars? On SportsBeat KC, The Star's sports podcast, beat writers Gary Bedore and Shreyas Laddha break down KU's victory over Kansas State and look ahead to postseason prospects. The Jayhawks, who entered the season as the nation's top-ranked team but has fallen to No. 14 in the latest poll, do many things well, as it showed in the in the victory over Kansas State earlier this week., But it's also a team with fa...
Mar 06, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast In two weeks, the Kansas City Current of the NWSL will open its season and new stadium. The following month, Sporting will play host to Miami and Lionel Messi at Arrowhead Stadium. And the FIFA 2026 World Cup games are never far from mind. But on this SportsBeat KC podcast, we discuss Sporting Kansas City. Columnist Vahe Gregorian and beat writer Daniel Sperry are joined by special guest Nate Bukaty, a co-host on SportsRadio 810 WHB and now a member of the MLS national soccer broadcast team for ...
Feb 28, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast One final official act of the Kansas City Chiefs LVIII championship remains: Wednesday’s parade. After that, it’s on to 2024. On SportsBeat KC, The KC Star’s sports podcast recorded about 24 hours after the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers, beat writer Jesse Newell discusses the game and some of its unsung heroes and the decision by the 49ers to take the ball first in overtime. We also look at the three-peat quest and legacy of Patrick Mahomes, and what lies ahead for ...
Feb 13, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Chiefs bid for their third Super Bowl championship in five years, while the San Francisco 49s look to avenge their loss to Kansas City in the big game four years ago. Both teams make strong cases to feel confident about victory. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell break down the game and make the case for both teams The 49ers are a slight favorite. But the Chiefs have been the more impressive team in the postsea...
Feb 09, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Chiefs have had a more impressive path to the Super Bowl than the San Francisco 49ers, with Kansas City winning twice on the road. Their most recent common opponent is the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs beat them for the AFC championship last week, the 49ers lost them at home late in the regular season. So why are the Chiefs underdogs in Super Bowl LVIII. Beat writer Jesse Newell and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell explain on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast. We also discuss...
Feb 01, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast The last season the Chiefs didn’t play in the AFC Championship Game (2017), a solar eclipse passed over Kansas City. It’s been nothing but football sunshine since then. Sunday, the Chiefs travel to the Baltimore Ravens with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs got here by winning at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell along with columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian break down this week’s showdown, discuss last wee...
Jan 23, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Chiefs season lives. They’ve reached the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs and will visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday after defeating the Miami Dolphins in the wild card round last weekend. We break down the matchup on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, with beat writer Jesse Newell and columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell. A defense that shut down Tyreek Hill and the Miami offense will have its hands full taking on Josh Allen and the Bills, who defeated the Chiefs during the...
Jan 16, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast With a No. 3 seed, the Chiefs have their worst playoff starting position since Patrick Mahomes became the quarterback in 2018. That likely means they’ll have their most difficult path, beginning with Saturday’s home game against the Miami Dolphins. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell and columnists Vahe Gregorian break down the Chiefs chances and discuss the matchup that includes a return to Kansas City for Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Which Chiefs team s...
Jan 09, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast The eighth straight AFC West is clinched, and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance assured. But one game remains in the regular season. How do Andy Reid and the Chiefs play it? Look for the Chiefs to rest starters against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Why would that be important? Columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian along with beat writer Jesse Newell and repoter Pete Grathoff explain. Also, we dive into the important of righting the ship in Sunday’s victory over the Cincinnati Ben...
Jan 02, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mistakes doomed the Chiefs in their loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but one -- a penalty against wide receiver Kadarius Toney -- got more attention than the others. Offensive offside was the flag against Toney, and it wiped out a touchdown that started as a pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce and finished with Toney racing to the end zone after taking a lateral from Kelce. But the go-ahead touchdown with about 90 seconds remaining didn’t count, and the Chiefs couldn’t recover. Beat wr...
Dec 12, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In some ways, the Chiefs’ loss at the Green Bay Packers was their most troubling of the season. The offense couldn’t finish drives with touchdowns in the red zone early. The defense, so good throughout the year, allowed the Packers to score on five of seven possessions. More problems in the passing game, and a bad play on a momentum-turning interception by Patrick Mahomes. We discuss all of it and more, including the importance of Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills with The Star crew t...
Dec 05, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast It took a few series to get going, but the Chiefs put away the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and solved a few issues in the process. It had been a month since the Chiefs had scored in the second half. That streak ended. And the Chiefs were very good in short-yardage situations. Wide receiver Rashee Rice had a breakout game. The Chiefs kept the penalties down and didn’t commit a turnover. Good stuff all around from a team that fell behind by two touchdowns. We discuss all of it on SportsBeat KC, Th...
Nov 28, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
