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Win One FOR THE GIFFER |
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Giff Nielsen
July 2008
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football More KHOU Blogs
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May 2008 ArchivesMy heart is full as I think about Dr. Neil's final day at Channel 11. Station management here did a classy thing by putting together a final farewell luncheon over at the Houstonian to honor a man we love and respect. Along with the current anchors, former anchors and many of the KHOU managers, we had a chance to thank him for the impact he has had on our lives. It was touching to say the least especially seeing his sweet Velma, his children and his grandkids. What a beautiful family! ...The Hall of Fame coach stands before his team and says before every game, "Where else would you rather be? Enjoy the moment!" Those are the words used by Marv Levy as he would send his troops onto the field of battle. Levy was in town speaking at the 14th Annual CanCare Survivor's Day Luncheon. The gathering put together by wonderful people helping those who have cancer cope with their new life and give them hope. Levy himself has faced it and survived! ...I got a call at 10:26 as I was ready to walk on the set for the 10 pm sports broadcast. It was a close friend letting me know that he was following the career of a special baseball player from the Beaumont area. Jay Bruce had been called up by the Cincinnati Reds and in his first game in the major leagues, he went 3 for 3, had 2 walks, scored twice, knocked in two runs, and stole a base. With those kind of stats, I wondered what the kid was going to do for an encore. ...
I had a great time at lunch today. Any time you have a big check and you are the one giving it out to a worthy charitable organization, it makes you feel good. That was the setting at the YMCA board meeting and it is a great honor to help them serve the Houston community. ...There are some people you meet and right off the bat, you feel a special connection. That was certainly the case when a young Jim Nantz was working at Channel 11 about 25 years ago. He was coming in on the weekends and doing the sportscasts while still going to school at the University of Houston. He certainly wasn't doing it for the money but it sure paid off. I met him around that time when I started at KHOU and we've been friends ever since. ...What a treat at the Hyatt Regency. The winningest coach in NFL history Don Shula opening his restaurant in downtown Houston. Shula's Steakhouse is a wonderul place to eat and to help him kick things off was Texas Legend, former Oilers head coach Bum Phillips. I emceed a gathering of about 400 people and then got a chance to interview the two icons together. There certainly is a lot of respect between them. You'll see it during this interview.
... I am sick and tired of hearing about Cub fans. There is so much being said about how they have taken over Minute Maid Park and how they support their team. They really need to head north and stay out of our city. What are they doing here anyway? Did they all jump on a jet and fly in just to see their dear little Cubbies play. They are obnoxious and they know it. ...How would you like to go home and tell mom and dad that your new baseball coach is soon to be Hall of Famer Craig Biggio? That's right, the guy who has a statue outside Minute Maid Park. It's going to happen to the kids over at St. Thomas High School tomorrow. ...The splash said it all! It used to be kayak city out in San Francisco during baseball games. Barry Bonds would hit bombs into McCovey Cove and then the battle would begin as fans would try to retrieve the baseball. Sometimes it got down right intense with paddles pounding the water to get the souvenir. Today was a totally different story but was so significant to the conclusion of the Astros trip to Northern California. ...Today I had an enjoyable assignment to travel to south Texas and speak at the 2008 Sweeny High School Scholars luncheon. These are students who will lead our country in the future and I got the impression that everything was going to be okay. Their bright eyes and infectious smiles convinced me that although there are many crazy things going on the in the world right now, we've got great leaders being developed. How refreshing! ...Covering sports in this town for the last 24 years has given me an opportunity to rub shoulders with many different types of athletes. Some are solid citizens, some are shady. Some are funny, some are boring. Some enjoy the limelight, some shy away. Some are talented, some are work-a-holics. Some are fast, some are slow. I could go on and on. However, once in a while you run across one who is hard to describe and that is the Astros Lance Berkman. ...As Sergio Garcia stood before the crowd after winning The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra on Sunday, the smile came through broadly as he thanked Tiger Woods for not playing. What he was really trying to say, with Tiger being injured, it gives everyone else a chance. ...So the Texans are going through their mini camp. I went down to watch on Friday afternoon and liked what I saw. It was good to see cornerback Dunta Robinson out on the field watching as he is trying to comeback from a terrible injury to his leg suffered last season. There was big offensive tackle Charles Spencer still hobbling after being out a full season with his leg injury but he was giving it a try. That is what these off season practices are all about. It's a chance for the coaches to get everyone together to assess their condition. ...The smiles continue in downtown Houston as the Astros have done it again. Another late rally in the game to set up the winning run. Roy Oswalt pitched well enough get the victory although he didn't have the lead when left after seven. However, crazy things are happening as Cecil Coopers club has a never say die attitude. The way they won game two against the Nationals, you can't coach, you just have to feel. ...
Let me take you back a few years when the Astros were going through all of their winning seasons even making it to the World Series. The pitching was superb and those of us who cover the games along with all the fans attending, heard a constant buzzing sound at the park when the KILLER BEES came to the plate. It was referring to all the players whose last name started with "B". Are you feeling the same way I'm feeling? I was in a meeting earlier today and a lady told me she couldn't wait because she was going to the baseball game tonight. The Astros are opening a quick three game series with the Washington Nationals riding a six game home winning streak. ...We are all sitting around trying to figure out what happened in Salt Lake City bringing the Rockets season to a close. It was pure humiliation in the final game. As great as the Rockets were in game five here in Houston, they were equally that bad in a do or die situation in Utah. They died! ...
There is absolutely no reason the Rockets should lose tonight in Utah. Don't give me any excuses about rowdy fans, high altitude or injuries. The Rockets know they can win in Salt Lake City and they know they can blowout what Utah has to offer. You can't say the same if you are a Jazz fan. But today I am troubled as we get set for another high emotional contest.
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Giff Blogs Sports!
Giff Nielsen blogs what he knows best, and that's sports. As a former player for BYU and a quarterback for the Houston Oilers during the "Luv Ya Blue" era, Giff gives you insight into the world of sports that most can't. |
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