Paul Rudd & Jason Sudeikis on KC sports from Comets to George Brett Vegas story
The Chiefs bandwagon has grown exponentially since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback.
But there are plenty of hardcore supporters in Kansas City who remember the lean years. That didn’t just apply to the Chiefs. The Royals had their troubles, too, as they went three decades between World Series titles.
For kids who grew up in the 1980s, there were still plenty of fun sports memories in Kansas City. And two of those people just happen to be actors Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis.
They were guests on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Friday while they were in Kansas City for their annual Big Slick fundraiser for Children’s Mercy Hospital.
One of the questions for Sudeikis and Rudd was their favorite Kansas City athlete. Their answers showed their knowledge of KC sports runs deep.
“This is Sophie’s choice,” Rudd said. “It’s an impossible question.”
Sudeikis said: “Bo Jackson for memories and just video game dominance, right? Just Bo Jackson, right off the bat, comes to mind. George Brett, all time, legend with great stories on the diamond, pine tar (game) and off the diamond. You know, his story at the Bellagio, like he’s a legend.”
“Totally,” Rudd said. “That’s a great story.”
That Brett story is the stuff of legends on the Internet but I won’t share all the, uh, gory details here.
“Gino Schiraldi,” Sudeikis continued, “a great defender for the Major Indoor Soccer League team, the Kansas City Comets.”
Rudd said: “Enzo Di Pede.”
“Our goalie,” Sudeikis noted of Di Pede, the former Comets player.
Rudd added: “I mean, Joe Delaney, Derek Thomas. I was a huge Willie Wilson fan.”
Sudeikis said: “David Cone, local boy, went to Rockhurst High School.”
“And I would say, obviously, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes,” Rudd chimed in. “I mean, come on. It’s an embarrassment of riches of really great athletes and great people.”
WNBA in Kansas City?
Sudeikis was asked if Kansas City should get an expansion WNBA team.
“These questions are way above my pay grade, but I think it’d be great, because, I mean, you’ve seen the success of the KC Current, our women’s soccer team,” he said. “I almost said football team, I almost did in a natural flow. But soccer team, we’re in America, and you’ve seen the way that the city has come around them and supported them, and how well they’re doing this season and how well they did last season.
“I think a WNBA team would be met here with open arms and with a lot of enthusiasm. That’s my assumption and my hope. But yeah, I think it’d be cool to have a W team here, and then for the folks at the NBA to be like, ‘Oh, you know what, maybe we should do a men’s team here too.’ Yeah that’d be fun to have the women breakthrough first since the Kansas City Kings back in the day.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 9:40 AM.
