July 2008 Archives

On Wednesday morning a nice breeze greeted the Texans, but at this point the players didn't really notice.
After 6 days and 12 workouts they are starting to know each other really well.
"We're just competing , the offense will have a really good period and then the defense will come back and
answer the bell with a good period, we go back and forth but its all making us better," said quarterback Matt Schaub.

Meanwhile, veteran Andre Johnson is still feeling his way through training camp. I had a chance to talk to
him as he left the practice field and according to Dre his knee is ho...

>> Continue reading: Texans Day 6, practice no. 11

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It worked for the Boston Celtics, and they have the "bling, bling" to prove it. The Celtics put 3 big names together, Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, producing another title in "Beantown". Can the Rockets do the same thing with Ron Artest joining Tracy Mcgrady and Yao Ming ?

Of course, the question inquiring minds want to know is, will the Rockets get the good Ron Artest, or the bad one. Will they get the elite player who, at 6'7 and 240 pounds is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, or the one who has the potential to walk on the darkside. Here's hoping channel 11's Jeff McShan never gets a call...

>> Continue reading: Will the Rockets get the good Artest, or the bad one

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The Texans cheerleaders are one of the most popular entities in our city. Even though he won't be donning a two-piece workout uniform and tight-fitting over-the-calf dancing boots anytime soon .... the Texans new assistant head coach in charge of offense, Alex Gibbs, certainly encompasses the spirit of the group.

>> Continue reading: Gibbs Could Be Most Valuable Cheerleader

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A federal judge sentenced disgraced referee Tim Donaghy to 15 months in prison today for taking payoffs from a professional gambler for inside tips on games, it should have been 15 years.
Yes, I realize the maximum sentence under the federal guidelines is only 33 months, but the punishment doesn't fit the crime, or should we say "fix the crime."

Fixing games is the NBA's worst nightmare. There have been point shaving scandals in basketball before, and this while being the latest, it could also be the worst because it involves the men with the whistles. As fans we expect the refs to be impartial, but...

>> Continue reading: NBA betting scandal is still not closed

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The Texans skipped the helmets and shoulder pads in their second workout on Friday.
But that doesn't mean there wasn't any contact. During a pass rush drill, Anthony Weaver head butted Mike Bristel in the nose. Blood was pouring everywhere from Brisiel's nose and his day was done.

Meanwhile, the defense had two big highlights during team drills. First rookie cornerback Anthony Molden ripped a Sage Rosenfels pass right out of David Anderson's hands for a sweet interception.
Then former Cowboys defensive back Jacques Reeves picked off a Matt Schaub offering
and raced down the sideli...

>> Continue reading: Texans Day 1, practice no. 2

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The Texans opened camp at 8:30AM Friday ....and about 45 minutes into practice the team's 1st round pick Duane Brown showed up. "I think it's the first time I've ever seen a guy sign his contract with his ankles taped," said head coach Gary Kubiak.

>> Continue reading: Texans Open '08 Training Camp

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If you thought quarterback Quin Gray had eaten himself right out of the N.F.L. , think again.
When I last saw Gray he was sweating to the "oldies" at Texans mini-camp. He wasn't around very long.
Gray bearly had a cup of coffee with the Texans before coach Kubiak decided it wasn't a good fit.

But Peyton Mannings injury has opened a door for Gray. He and "Bulge Brother", former Giants quarterback Jared Lorenzen are signing with the Colts. So if nothing else, with Gray tipping the scales around 270, and Lorenzen a slim 285 bills, Indianapolis has two of the heftiest quarterbacks you will<...

>> Continue reading: Quin Gray booted by Texans but........

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It was a day of mixed emotions for Texans players Thursday. They were happy to be back together as a team .... but they weren't all that happy .... when they thought about all the sweating they'll be doing during two-a-days .. which start Friday.

>> Continue reading: Texans Report for Camp

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I was trying to get a read on how the Texans will do in 2008, so I left no stone unturned. Of course you look at how they stack up at each position. Then you compare their skill players to others around the league.
You always have to factor in injuries, and bad calls. How will Peyton Manning's injury figure into this? Will the Texans sweep V.Y. and the Titans ? But I suggest we checkout some other measuring sticks.

Coach Gary Kubiak works his team hard, but he also stays in great shape. Many times Kubiak can be spotted jogging to his office after practice. Maybe we could swipe his workou...

>> Continue reading: Butch puts on "Swami" hat to predict Texans season

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Hey, did you catch the fight at the Palace in Auburn Hills. It was actually a basketball game, but at one point it was hard to tell. With just a little imagination, you could picture ring announcer Michael Buffer doing his thing.

"In this corner checking in at 6'5 and 170 pounds, Lisa Lesss-lieeee! In the other corner weighing in at slightly less than a tank , at 6'10 and well over 3 bills, Rick MaHornnn!" Well, they didn't really square off , but it was a W.-N.B.A. brawl.
That's right, I said W.-N.B.A. brawl! It hasn't happened much in the 12 years of the league, but if boys will be boys, why...

>> Continue reading: W.N.B.A. Fight Club?

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Chronicle Sportswriter Neil Hohlfeld was one of the best this city has ever seen. The reason I think Neil was so much better than many others .... is that he had a realistic approach to his profession. He asked questions that the regular fan would ask ... and then reported on such.

>> Continue reading: Neil Hohlfeld Will Be Missed

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It's easy to find fault the way Michelle Wie has played professional golf, but this past weekend she has a point.
Wie was disqualified for not signing her scorecard after the second round of the LPGA tour event in Springfield, Illinois.
It's a stupid rule, and one which should have been changed years ago.
When professional golf wasn't shown on tv, and players were "on their honor" the practice was necessary. Today that's not the case. Not only are the scores broadcast on television, they are shown on screens all around the courses during the events. Everyone knows who's on the leaderboard, and ...

>> Continue reading: Golf rules are out of date

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At age 53 Greg Norman did not win the British Open. Padraig Harrington did. Norman had a chance to re-write his legacy Sunday with a win ....... I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

>> Continue reading: Norman: Greatest loser of all time?

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Around noon on Thursday I stopped off at the Crowne Plaza near Reliant Park,
to checkout the weigh-in for Friday's fight card at Reliant Arena.
The event is being hyped as "The Return of theLegends."
Christy Martin is fighting, the legendary Angelo Dundee will be there, but it was
Hector "Macho" Camacho who stole the show at the weigh -in.

First of all, "Macho" made his entrance in typical "Macho Man" fashion wearing
nothing but white sweat pants. Apparently no shirt was required. To quote my photographer Frank McBride, "the only thing he had on his back was the two cham...

>> Continue reading: "Macho Man" hanging loose

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Designated Beer Batters, The Chicken Dance and Dizzy Bat Races ..... it's all part of what goes on nightly this Summer at Texas City's Robinson Stadium. The Bay Area Toros are a mid-level Class A Minor League baseball team ..... but the organization ....it's players....it's coaches and even it's fans have a Major League mindset.

>> Continue reading: Major League Mindset

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No one talked about doing it "My Way better than Francis Albert Sinatra.
Actually he sang about it. Drayton McLane let Craig Biggio do it his way, at some cost to the Astros. Retirement is a tricky thing. But in sports there are some athletes who have earned the right to go out on their own terms.
Brett Farve is one of those athletes. The only problem is, the Packers thought
that's what he was doing when he walked away from the team and the game 8
months ago.

Now Farve is having second thoughts, or is he. First he asked the Packers for
his release, then his agent say...

>> Continue reading: Does Farve know when to say when

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The Living Legend ... who is Brett Favre .....is having withdrawal pangs. So ... what's the deal?? Are you kidding me .... were all those tears .... just posturing?? I feel for former Oilers Linebacker Ted Thompson right now. Thompson of course ... is the GM in Green Bay ...and he's in a very tough spot.

>> Continue reading: Brett Fah-vruh Uggggah!

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Fans who root, root, root for the home team are leaving ballparks a lot happier this year. Home teams have won nearly 57 percent of games, the highest
figure in the major leagues since 1978. They had a 778-590 record
entering Thursday, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, which
comes to a .569 winning percentage. Last year's mark was .542.

There is always a home field advantage in any sport, but there is a danger when the home team always wins. We all love fair play, so it is alarming when we see the advantage nearing the 60% clip.

Angels Manager Mike Scioscia is...

>> Continue reading: Home field advantage

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If you were one of the many Astros fans who booed Brad Lidge you probably feel a little conflicted. I'm sure you've already asked yourself, was he really that bad? Did we kill his confidence? Did we force Drayton to run him out of town?
You can second guess until the cows come home but it won't change a thing. Bradley Thomas Lidge is a Phillie , and he will be until 2011.

Over the weekend Lidge was selected for the all-star team, but he also signed a 37.5 million dollar contract extension. Since going to Philadelphia, Lidge has been almost perfect. His 0.97 ERA and 19 saves prove he's ...

>> Continue reading: Lidge , gone but not forgotten

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I loved watching the Wimbledon Final Sunday. Two great champions gave it their best for hours on end before one finally emerged with the victory. Too bad most of America didn't see it ... and even more embarrasingly ..... too bad it took two non-Americans guys to show the world how athletes should act .... win or lose.

>> Continue reading: Wimbledon Wonders!!

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When the Astros brought J. R. Towles up from the minors late last season .... he showed great promised batting at a .375 clip in the final 40 games of 2007. But giving him the starting job after such a short major league sampling was silly.

>> Continue reading: Towles Bat Needed

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Now that the Sonics owner has decided to turn his back on the Great Northwest ...... all aboard the Schooner to Sooner-ville .... 'cause the NBA is coming to town!!

>> Continue reading: The Oklahoma What??

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Astros starter Roy Oswalt will push back his next start until Tuesday.... it was announced today prior to the Astros' home finale of this series. Chris Sampson is slated to take his place and make the start for the Astros Saturday.

>> Continue reading: Oswalt's Next Start Moved Back

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We all thought the Rockets had a great draft. Instead of pulling one rabbit out of his hat, General Manager Darly Morey pulled two. Could David Copperfield do that? On paper Donte' Greene of Syracuse, and Joey Dorsey from Memphis appear to be the real deal, now they will get a chance to prove it .

Starting next Wednesday the Rockets summer league team will workout at Toyota Center. It's a chance for the rookies and free agents to get to know each other before playing the 5 game Summer League schedule. Rockets Assistant Elston Turner will be coaching and playing chaperon in Las Vegas. But Elston...

>> Continue reading: For Rockets, what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas

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Roy Oswalt felt better today when he arrived at the stadium than he did last night .... when he limped out of it. Oswalt felt something on the outside of his left hip ..... and now his next start may be moved back a couple of days.

>> Continue reading: Oswalt Wants Two More Starts Before All-Star Game

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