Greg Echlin

By Greg Echlin

Kansas City, Kan. –
UPDATE: Sporting KC advances to Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.

Since the formation of Major League Soccer, it has been an uphill battle for the Kansas City franchise to carve out a niche in the local sports market. From the team's inception, its nickname has been a sore spot to some. But a literal change in landscape has transformed its newest brand - Sporting Kansas City - into one of the city's hottest tickets.

By Greg Echlin

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lenroy "Cam" Thompson of Lenexa is among ten boxers on the USA national team now overseas to compete next week for the chance to reach the 2012 Olympics.

Thompson fights in the super heavyweight division. He's ranked seventh in the world, but he needs to do just a little bit better than that to make it to the Olympics. He needs to come in at least sixth in the world championships.

Thompson's chances of punching a ticket to London may be determined by the draw.

By Greg Echlin

Kansas City, Mo. – After winning the 1985 World Series, Dick Howser, the Kansas City Royals manager at the time, had the honor of being the American League manager for the 1986 All-Star game. That game 25 years ago in Houston was a big moment for Howser and the two Royals players at the game, George Brett and Frank White. But it was also a major turning point in the history of the Royals franchise as KCUR's Greg Echlin explains.

Kansas City, Mo. – In golf, Tom Watson notched a milestone victory yesterday (SUN) at the age of 61.

By winning the Senior PGA Championship, Watson became the oldest to win a major since the beginning of the Senior Tour in 1980.

As KCUR's Greg Echlin reports, Watson had to put in a little overtime on the golf course.

Kansas City, Mo. – The championship game of the N-A-I-A tournament Tuesday will close out the tournament basketball schedule this year for downtown Kansas City. As KCUR's Greg Echlin reports, not only did tournament interest stir up business downtown, but a basketball-related exhibit has captured attention at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

"James Naismith's Original Rules of Basketball"
March 5 - May 29, 2011
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Columbia, MO – After its Saturday night victory over Oklahoma, the University of Missouri football team moved up in the football rankings.

The Missouri Tigers are now ranked seventh in the Associated Press poll. More importantly, sixth in the BCS poll because that's the one that determines the national championship

When the cannon fired after the final second, the Tigers beat Oklahoma for the first time in the Gary Pinkel 10-year coaching era.

Kansas City, MO – After a victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 this season. The final score was 31-10. Before the game, the Chiefs paid tribute to Bill Grigsby, who retired this year after 62 years in broadcasting. KCUR's Greg Echlin has more.

Lawrence, KS – The athletics director position at the University of Kansas went through sweeping changes. Lew Perkins is no longer in charge, an interim A.D. is in place and a plan for a successor is underway

Sean Lester was named interim athletics director. He joined the KU athletic staff at the same time as Lew Perkins seven years ago. Like Perkins, Lester also previously worked at the University of Connecticut.

Lester said he was caught off-guard by the sudden departure of Perkins.

Kansas City, MO – A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place yesterday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the opening of the Chiefs Sports Lab. It's part of the Arrowhead renovation project, and targeted toward children in grades three through six with a message for better health.

The sports lab, a mixture of displays and interactive exhibits, is open to anyone on game day, but meant for youths in an organized group during the week.

Anaheim, CA – Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Joakim Soria may be the long team representative at the All-Star game in Anaheim. But he's being more recognized by his fellow countrymen in Mexico. KCUR's Greg Echlin has more.

Kansas City, MO – Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig not only made it official yesterday by announcing the 2012 All-Star game for Kansas City, Mo. He came with a message: "Get ready for something big." KCUR's Greg Echlin has more.

The impact of the All-Star game was felt last summer across the state in St. Louis, Mo.

ANNOUNCER (at the All-Star game): "Let's meet your American League and National League All-Stars (clapping)."

Kansas City, MO – There figures to be strong aftershocks this week in college athletics after last week's departures by Nebraska and Colorado from the Big 12 Conference. Decisions this week by the remaining schools in the Big 12 will determine whether the conference survives.

Metaphorically speaking, the tectonic plates represent the schools in the north like KU, K-State and Missouri and the Texas schools in the south.

Kansas City – The Omaha World Herald said it in its lead sentence published today (Wed., June 9): That an executive at a Big 12 school expects Nebraska to become a member of the Big 10 Conference by as early as Friday. Conference affiliation is on the agenda Friday for the Nebraska Board of Regents meeting. There is also a report out of Texas from Chip Brown, who used to write for The Dallas Morning News. He writes on Orange bloods-dot-com that there's an informal agreement for the Huskers to leave for the Big 10.

Kansas City, Mo. – The Central Missouri baseball team qualified to go to Division II College World Series. In the regional final on Tuesday night on their home field, the third-ranked Mules defeated Abilene Christian, 11-4.

They'll travel to Cary, North Carolina where they'll be among eight teams at the Division II World Series. The Mules, now 51-9 this season, open against the University of Tampa, Saturday afternoon at noon.

Kansas City, Mo. – Trey Hillman's stint as manager of the Kansas City Royals was shy of three full seasons. His firing was announced after the Royals victory over the Cleveland Indians Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. It was the hope of the Royals' front office that Hillman's success overseas would carry over to the big leagues in Kansas City. But it never materialized.