KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that Mike Burns — the former general manager of the New England Revolution — will be stepping in as the club’s sporting director.

Burns will “oversee player recruitment and roster building strategy and the continued development of the club’s professional player pathway,” according to a release from Sporting KC.

The news comes after Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes announced that he would transition from the club’s general manager to the role of chief soccer officer, while remaining Sporting KC’s manager.

Former Portland Timbers General Manager Gavin Wilkinson was initially named to the sporting director role in January, immediately garnering criticism for his role in concealing sexual harassment allegations against former coach Paul Riley.

Later that month, he and Sporting KC announced that they had mutually agreed to part ways.

Now, it’s Burns stepping in to fill the role. Burns was a member of New England’s technical staff from 2005-2019 and was part of four Eastern Conference championships and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

He also has a past history in Kansas City, playing for the Wizards from 2001-2002.

Burns is set to address reporters in a press conference on Tuesday.

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Associated Press

Austin FC (7-7-6, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Sporting Kansas City (3-12-5, 14th in the Western Conference)

Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Sporting Kansas City -127, Austin FC +313, Draw +280; over/under is 2.5 goals

BOTTOM LINE: Sporting Kansas City aims to break a three-game skid when it hosts Austin.

Sporting KC is 2-10-4 in Western Conference play. Sporting KC is 0-5-2 when it scores only one goal.

Austin is 7-6-5 against Western Conference opponents. Austin is 6-3 in one-goal matches.

The matchup Saturday is the second meeting of the season between the two teams. Austin won the last game 3-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: William Agada has five goals and two assists for Sporting KC. Johnny Russell has scored three goals over the past 10 games.

Sebastian Driussi has five goals and two assists for Austin. Jader Obrian has scored three goals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sporting KC: 1-9-0, averaging 1.3 goals, 3.6 shots on goal and 5.1 corner kicks per game while allowing 2.6 goals per game.

Austin: 3-4-3, averaging 0.9 goals, 2.9 shots on goal and 3.8 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.5 goals per game.

NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Sporting KC: Danny Luis Flores Gonzales (injured), Felipe Hernandez (injured), Logan Ndenbe (injured), Daniel Salloi (injured), Tim Leibold (injured), Remi Walter (injured), Alan Pulido (injured).

Austin: Daniel Pereira (injured), Jhojan Manuel Valencia Jimenez (injured), Julio Cascante (injured).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Dr. Robert Rowland, a University of Kansas Communication studies professor, said that the most successful presidents tend to be the best persuaders.

President Joseph R. Biden and Former President Donald J. Trump are trying to prove that point in the June 27th, 2024 Presidential Debates.

Biden and Trump have different rhetorical skills and styles, making this first presidential debate one to remember.

Dr. Rowland believes that Biden often speaks to a shared identity between all Americans, while Trump activates negative emotions, that resonate with his base.

Both candidates will need to answer public doubts over their perceptions.

“A lot of people are fearful about former President Trump and he needs to reassure them,” said Dr. Rowland. “His normal tendency is to attack, attack, and attack, and that risks activating the same kind of fear that led to President Biden being elected.”

Biden has a couple of issues he must address on the stage tonight. “President Biden needs to reassure people about the status of the economy, and that he gets it; that he knows that the inflation spike has been hard on people. He especially needs to reassure people about his vigor. That he has the mental acuity and the energy to serve another four years.”

The debate will be tonight at 7 pm. CST. You can view it on our station at that time.

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