The Logical Choice

It may end up being a bit of an understatement to simply call LaRon Landry the "logical" choice. He could end up being the "playmaker" Kubiak seeks. 4.35, hard hitting, looks like he was shot of a cannon difference maker is what he is. Is he another Roy Williams? Hard hitting reputation but can't cover. Roy has never been associated with anything like 4.35 speed. In our continuing effort to match up defensively with the head of the class Colts, a dominant presence at Strong Safety will be the much needed compliment to Demeco, Dunta & Williams.

Texan Draft Prospects

Well, everyone's clamoring for some draft information. I will start with my # 1 to click, but I need a little help from the Browns. Who said Reuben Droughns was not a franchise player? I think he is a damn fine player......Uh, Oh getting sidetracked with my fondest Brown memory. Let me take you back to a Sunday Night football game in 1991 when Bubba McDowell was patrolling the secondary for the Oilers. Anybody remember the hit when he laid out the Browns receiver. House of Pain baby!

Pitchers & Catchers Report

What will the 2007 season hold for our Astros? No doubt questions remain to be answered with the pitching rotation. The lineup should produce more runs with the addition of Lee and Ensberg returning back to form. Biggio may be forced to the 6th hole by Luke 'Skywalker'. There is not much we can do about the 7,8 spots unless Loretta can play Short. We should be able to fill the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation with one of the kids. If we can do that and have a respectable and contending record, then mark my words Clemens will return for another run. Before you start with the "Why don't we just move in another direction" banter, I will just say 2.30 ERA. You would have to be an absolute fool not to let the guy come play for your team. I would feel much better with Oswalt, Clemens, Jennings, Williams and fill in the blank (Nieve, Sampson, Albers). I really don't want to endure another Wandyful season. And by the way, all Cardinals are on notice. Don't enter my backyard after tomorrow. My BB Gun is loaded and I have all the permits. Play Ball!

VY NFL ROY

He may play in Tennessee, but he laid the foundation in Texas. Don't want to hear about the stats. Come talk to me about the stats in 2 more years when he has more experience. Quarterbacks are judged by really only one stat - W's. And in this particular category, he stands out as the best of the 2006 rookie class.

Disrespect Shown On This Blog? Earn it. The rant I have been holding back.

You may notice one Houston team's omission from this blog, but this blog is dedicated to noteworthy Houston sports accomplishments. #1 There is nothing in the Texans brief history that merits posting on the left as a classic moment in Houston sports. If you tell me the 1st game win over the Cowboys, albeit sweet, was historic and classic enough to put up alongside these other moments, then I'll tell you that your not from around these parts. #2 I will choose how I root for the Texans, and no other Houstonian or carpetbagger from the north can tell me what is and isn't appropriate. My team was stripped from me. You know the team this eight year old boy waited in the Astrodome for hours and hours to return from Pittsburgh after losing in the AFC Championship. You know the team this 9 year old boy waited in the Astrodome for hours and hours to return again from Pittsburgh after losing again in the AFC Championship. Nobody knows my sports pain, so nobody gets to talk to me as an authority on being a Houston football fan. I am a Texan fan, but it is more of a default status right now. They are my hometown team, but they have done nothing to win my heart with the exception of Andre and Demeco. We shall see what the future holds. One thing is for sure. The future has to be brighter without Casserly and Carr running this team into the ground any longer.

Durant Dominance

Well, let the jockeying for the #1 NBA draft pick begin between Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. Durant turned in a huge 37 points and 23 rebounds performance as Texas rolled Texas Tech Wednesday night. Inside, outside he can do it all.

Hometown Boy Addai

I really dislike the Colts, but I do wish Addai well this Sunday. I had the good fortune to take in a Klein Forest vs. Sharpstown game, 2001-2002 timeframe, where Addai, the quarterback, was in complete control. Although quarterbacking consisted of Addai runs to the left, right and up the middle. He was Mr. everything offensively for Sharpstown that night, but in the end it was a defensive play that won the game. Klein Forest had one last chance to win the game from around the fifty with less than a minute to go and trailing by less than seven. Addai was put in defensively to rush the passer for Sharpstown. He met the quarterback about ten yards deep from the line of scrimmage, and he slung him around like a rag doll for a huge game winning, morale deflating sack. I had no particular rooting interest that night, but I did walk away believing the hype about this kid.

Brad Lidge - Will he? or Won't he?

It isn't a stretch to say the Astros season depends on whether or not Brad Lidge re-establishes himself as the dominant closer he once was. If he can come through with a consistently good season, then the Astros have one of the best bullpens in baseball, which will be necessary with the questions that remain at the back end of the rotation. If not, then Dan Wheeler is the only one you can take to the bank, and that does not bode well for a team with high aspirations. He says he is ready, that he learned allot from last year, and he even has added a 2 seamer fastball to go along with the slider and 4 seamer fastball. Tell you the truth, I don't care about the new pitch. I just want to see the slider go for strikes again. If it does, then all the rest will take care of itself.

Romo In Despair

Tony Romo is having a hard time getting over the very unfortunate missed snap in the playoffs. Somebody do something.

Big Puma Spreading The Word

Check out the link below to see the good Berkman is doing with the youth of today.

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4501187.html

McGrady & Rockets Rise Up Over Duncan & Spurs In Epic Battle

T-Mac and Duncan went back and forth down the stretch like two big heavyweights as the Rockets held off the Spurs for a big Western Conference win. T-Mac and Duncan each scored 37 points. Deke had a big defensive stop on Duncan in the closing minute that helped seal the win, and Rafer contributed mightily in the 4th qtr. Who would have thought this team would have jelled to this level in Yao's absence (10-5)?

One of the great men in sports

Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, seated next to first lady Laura Bush and proudly flashing his familiar broad smile, was honored by President George Bush Tuesday at the State of the Union Address in Washington.

Mutombo, working almost daily, raised $29 million (donating $15 million himself) for the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutombo plans to open the hospital — Kinshasa's first new one in 40 years — this summer. It is named for his mother, who died nine years ago when civil unrest and a curfew prevented her from getting to a hospital.

Mutombo was honored during Bush's speech as an example of "heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice."

"When America serves others," Bush said, "we show the strength and generosity of our country.

"The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look — and tonight we need only look above to the gallery.

"Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine, but coach John Thompson took a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth — or the duty to share his blessings with others. He built a brand-new hospital in his old hometown.

"A friend has said of this good-hearted man: 'Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things.' And we're proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America."

Said Mutombo in a phone interview afterward: "My heart was full of joy. I didn't know the president was going to say such great remarks. He raised me so high. I'm so happy. I'm so proud to be a citzen of the United States of America and to be recognized for my work. God is good to have put this work in my heart."

Penguins Are Not Coming. Let's Be Real.

First of all. I did not know they were still playing hockey. It hasn't been heard from in some time. Second of all, it appears we are being used as leverage against the city of Pittsburgh and Kansas City. Les Alexander probably won't lease out Toyota Center. He wants to buy a NHL team, and Mario probably doesn't want to sell. If they do move, then KC will get the deal. They have a brand new arena opening in the fall, and it could be all theirs. I am getting sick and tired of the yankees using us to get better deals. If it wasn't bad enough for us to have a team stolen, now we have to keep getting used like we're some third rate city. We are the 4th largest city in America. Heck, even Dallas and Nashville have Hockey teams.

Stoops Staying Put

Bob Stoops has quickly defused rumors about the Cowboy coachign job in the midst of recruiting. I am not real sure about this one. I think I would rather him stay at OK then go succeed in Dallas. I would rather have the Longhorns contend with him than have his ego in Dallas. I would much rather the Cowboys pick up Norv or someonelse equally unqualified.

Billy taking on Mt. Van Gundy

Billy Spaghetti spouted off this week about playing time using terms like "prison" and "they are wasting my talents". Hey look, I am rooting for you to progress and all that as a player, but mix in a jump shot every now and again. Van Gundy responded in classic fashion, "The only one with interest in Billy is Billy." And when asked whether or not he has asked him to be less creative, Van Gundy said, "There is no creativity in turnovers." Billy, work on your shot or take the next flight back to Greece and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Bye-Bye Billy Parcells

The quitter Bill Parcells left the Cowboys this week, and everyone in Houston is putting the final touches on Chan Gailey's resume in the hopes that the Cowboys will bring back one of the most beloved coaches in Cowboy history...to fans in Houston.