Another SKC All Star, and Local TV in Trouble?

Two questions that could loom large over Sporting KC in the coming days.  First is a rumor that has come up only today.  LA Galaxy midfielder, David Beckham had been named to the MLS all star team that will be taking on Chelsea at PPL Park this coming Wednesday.  But the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics are on Friday, and Beckham is possibly going to play a role or want to attend those ceremonies.  Should Beckham go to London, DC United head coach Ben Olsen, who is also coaching the All Star team, will have to name a replacement. The rumor, according to Steven Goff, is that a Sporting KC player will be named to replace Beckham should he not go to the all star game.

The safe bet on the player to replace Beckham, should it be a Sporting KC player, would be Kei Kamara.  Kamara can play the wing position that Beckham likely would have been playing.  He's had a good season so far, scoring 7 goals this season for KC.

Conspiracy theorist could look at it differently though.  If Olsen were to name Kamara, or another Sporting player to the roster, that would make 4 KC players on the all star list, joining Aurelien Collin, Jimmy Nielsen, and Graham Zusi in traveling to Philadelphia for the game.  With Olsen's United team currently 3 points back, with a game in hand on KC, those that are wearing the tin foil hat could say that Olsen is looking to tire out some of KC's best players by having them travel to Philadelphia for the game.

Time Warner and KCTV-5 Contract

Time Warner cable recently had KMBC-TV and KCWE go black due to a dispute over the contract.  Now it appears that Time Warner and KCTV-5 are in the same boat.  Their contract runs through July 25th, at which time KCTV-5 and it's sister station, KSMO.  That's big news for Sporting KC fans as KSMO is Sporting KC's TV partner.  If no deal is reached and KSMO goes black, Sporting's games would not be on television in the KC metro area for those that have Time Warner cable.  The first game that it would affect would be a home game on July 28th at home vs Columbus.

Both sides are obviously blaming each other for the potential loss of the channel.  The thing that could work in Sporting's favor is the fact that KCTV-5 also broadcasts Chiefs games.  And with the Chiefs season getting closer, a prolonged dispute between the two will cause great animosity among many in the KC area, and that will likely fall mainly on Time Warner.  So it's probably in their best interest to get a deal done.  But we shall certainly see.