Houston Blogs: Houston Sports Blog

Mario out for season.. Where do the Texans go from here?

Mario Williams will have surgery this week to repair a torn pectoral tendon.   He's been placed on Injured Reserve his season is over.    A freak injury that occurred when Mario sacked Jason Campbell.  Two questions now, who will replace Williams and will the Texans resign Mario after this season?   The answer to the first is easy, Rookie Brooks Reed who played well yesterday.   The answer to the second you would think so, but I see other teams actually offering more money than the Texans.   We'll see down the road what do you think?  And how much will the Texans miss Mario?

Bob Slovak

Texans Dominate Do You Believe?

It seems we were here last season, the Texans with a huge win over the Colts.  This year though it has a different feel.  The Texans defense made Kerry Collins age two more years during the game.   Collins is no Peyton Manning but the Texans "D" was bringing pressure early, often and from every direction.  Mario Williams having a nice opener.  He brought the pressure from a three point stance and standing up as a Linebacker, two sacks for Mario.  Wade Phillips has his players buying into his system and when the system works the confidence builds.  It is just one game, but I see no reason why the Texans won't continue to get better.  Could this finally be the season?   I can't wait to see.

Bob Slovak

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO TEXAS FOOTBALL?

The Aggies are headed to the SEC....Oklahoma and Oklahoma St may soon depart for the PAC-12...Texas might soon follow and take Texas Tech with them. What happened to Texas where football is king, but soon no one will have a home conference that says anything about Texas? The Texas Longhorns playing football in a conference run by folks from the left coast? That just doesn't feel right. I know it's all about money, but what about identity...what about family? The SEC is the strongest league in college ball and it's because you can't pull 'em apart. For them it's all about family. The old Southwest Conference fell apart because jealousy pulled it apart. Now the Big 12 is crumbling because of a lack of leadership and the fact that the big are looking out for themselves. The family is falling apart. Texas football will still be great, but it will have no college home. No family. That's sad.

Tim Melton

TEXANS HAVE TO WIN

Let's face it. The Texans have to win Sunday. They have to beat the Colts without Peyton. Is the season over if they don't? Of course not. Can they still accomplish every Texans fans' dream and make the playoffs? Of course they can. Will anyone believe they can accomplish those things if they don't win Sunday? Doubtful. And that includes the players and that's the key here. They don't have to win because the season will be over, but they have to win to show a team with no history of winning, that this just may be their season. Lose and they will start thinking, "uh-oh, here we go again."

Tim Melton

ARIAN BE CAREFUL

Arian Foster tweeted a picture of the MRI on his injured hamstring. He was jokin' around but the team saw it differently. NFL teams carefully guard any news on player injuries. With the start of the season less than 2 weeks away the last thing they wanted was the Colts and the rest of the NFL getting an idea of just how badly injured last season's leading NFL rusher is hurt. The biggest problem here is Arian getting a little too loose with his joking. He tries to remain humble but sometimes you wonder if he can get a bit full of himself and perhaps that's what caused him to be an undrafted free agent two years ago. He has the talent and the personality to be a star as long as he remembers its a team game and making it too much about "me" can be a problem.

Tim Melton

Texans cruise but let's remember its the pre-season...

A good coach will tell you never to high.. never to low...  always work to get better.   With that said the Texans looked good on both sides of the ball against the Saints.   A quick start by the offense one they hope to duplicate in the regular season.   The new 3 - 4 Defense is still a work in progress, to many yards given up on the ground, but still not bad.    They did come up with the big turnover to get off the field, thanks to Antonio Smith.    

As for the running game what a difference a week makes.   Last week it was the weakest position now its the team's deepest.    Arian Foster back better than ever, let's hope the hamstring holds and how about Ben Tate.   If Tate's first real action in two years is any indication, the Texans will not only have the best running back in the NFL, but the best one-two punch in the NFL. 

We're still watching for Mario Williams to take a big step forward as a linebacker. Mario told me after the game he's still trying to get use to standing up during games, it is a work in progress.  Overall a good effort against the Saints, now let's see the Texans do it against New Orleans when they meet in the third week of the regular season.

Bob Slovak

Aggies eye SEC... Big 12 in trouble....

Texas A&M never likes to play second fiddle to UT.   The Aggies stuck around last year to preserve the history of the rivalry and the Big 12 conference.   Sure they got a bigger piece of the TV pie, but it was still the Longhorns who got all the credit for saving the conference.    UT's new Longhorn Network changed the game again.   Disagree if you want, but it will give the Horns the upper hand in some recruits minds.  The Aggies appear ready to bolt for what they see as greener pastures.    The SEC the top football conference in the land and the Aggies want to be part of it.     If it all goes down as reported, Missouri will go with them.  The Big 12 would be down to the Big 8.  Hey Houston, can you come join our conference.  The Cougars may get the invite they want.   Or the Conference may splinter some more.  Man, it's going to be an interesting week.   I'm not an Aggie or a Longhorn.  I'm wondering how they feel.   If you are, what do you think?   Should the Aggies stay or go?

Bob Slovak    

7 Year Old Signs with Real Madrid, but what about my son?

Real Madrid is wasting no time.  They have 7 year old Leonel Angel Coira under contract.  Leo as he likes to be called is good, he was being pursued by other clubs.    But how do you separate Leo from other hot shot 7 year old Soccer studs.    I coach little kid soccer and my son and at least two other boys were like Tasmanian devils.   I'm no big soccer scout but if you're going to sign kids that young, the have to be every where.   Good for Leo for getting noticed, I just hope the huge expectations don't stunt his growth.   I hope the Real Madrid coaches at least spring for some ice cream.

Bob Slovak

Are the Texans Soft... I don't think so...

So the NFL Network's Michael Lombardi thinks the Texans are soft.  His reason, the Texans lost so many close games last season because they weren't mentally tough because they didn't practice enough in full pads.  Fair enough, but I don't buy it and neither do the Texans.   They lost the close games because they didn't make enough big plays, that doesn't mean they're not tough.   Antonio Smith told me he will let us know when the Texans have soft players and I believe him.   The lack of hitting in practice doesn't make you soft.  The Texans say they don't care what the critics say, but they also know how to shut them up.  Just Win Baby.

Bob Slovak

Andre Johnson hurt.. Texans breathe shy of relief...

Injuries happen in Training Camp but when your best player goes down bleeding, it will send shockwaves. Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak said he got a lump in his throat when he heard about it.   Andre Johnson on a side field running one on one receiving drills.   A high pass deflects off his left hand, his left index finger jammed.   It was dislocated enough to cause it to bleed.   Andre was taken inside to have it checked out.  He was wearing a split a couple of hours later and told me it wasn't  serious.   He hopes to be back at practice tomorrow or in the next few days.    You can see the video tonight (Tuesday) on ABC13. 

Bob Slovak

TEXANS MISS ON VONTA?

If it ain"t broke, don't fix it. Well the Texans have to hope they didn't break their running game. Vonta Leach led the way for Arian Foster last season but now Vonta is with the Ravens. The Texans didn't have enough money to keep Vonta. Or he thinks he was never a priority ofr them. Huge chance taken by Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith. They have to hope James Casey can get the job done and he bulked up to 250 in case they called on him. The Texans needed to spend money on the defense and did with Joseph and Manning, so maybe they didn't have the money. But if the running game slacks, they may have cost themselves alot more.

Tim Melton

ANOTHER TRADE, ANOTHER PHIL

Turned out pretty good with Michael Bourn...waiting for the returns on dealing Roy Oswalt. But it seems like half the Phillies lienup came from the Astros...forget about Brad Lidge? Ed Wade is a former Phils GM so what do we expected? Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith came from the Broncos and it seemed like, for awhile, they didn't make a move unless there was a Broncos connection. So now we wait on the Hunter Pence trade to pan out. We know how Hunter plays but Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton, two of the Phillies minor leaguers that came this way, are of the wait-and-see type. Cosart is from Clear Creek HS and has a big arm. Singleton is 2 years younger at 19 but has a big bad. Do they have big upside? Philly is all about brotherly love right? Right?

Tim Melton

TEXANS STRIKE IT RICH

No matter how it turns out, the Texans did what they had to do....what we wanted them to do...what they said they would do. They went out and got 2 quality defensive players...Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning. A cornerback and a a safety..both have shown they can do the job. Manning is also a qualitu kick returner. They didn't sign Asomugha but in saving a little money by getting Joseph, they could afford Manning. The pass defense was a league-worst so they needed  what they got. Why did it take so long for Kubiak and Rick Smith to realize what their team needed? I'm with ya...they have needed safeties for years...Kareem Jackson may still be at the other corner and that's an issue. But speaking in the NOW, the Texans have had a good day.

Tim Melton

No Nnamdi, but the Texans Defense has the look of a winner.....

Hats off to the Texans for not waiting for Nnamdi Asomugha to make his decision.   The NFL's top Cornerback was going to cost a ton, I'm not sure the Texans wanted to go there.   Johnathan Joseph is the next best thing.   Joseph along with Safety Danieal Manning instantly make the Texans "D" respectable.  With Cornerback and Safety no longer a liability, and with Wade Phillips calling the shots, I can see the Texans Defense actually winning games for a change.      Joseph's rep has grown over the past few seasons, the number of times quarterbacks have thrown his way is proof.   Manning is also an excellent kick returner, which we all know the Texans need.     This crazy Free Agent Frenzy has been good to the Texans.   Now if they can just get Fullback Vonta Leach back in the fold.

Bob Slovak  

TRADE DEADLINE AND TEXANS

We all want Namdi but does Namdi want the Texans? Some say the raiders free agent cornerback wants to get into acting so signing with the Jets would put him right on Broadway...the Texans chances of winning now, after all he is 30 yrs old, could play into his decision more than casting calls. and the Jets would appear closer to the promised land especially since Namdi would be playing across from Darrelle Revis rather than Kareem Jackson. The Texans also need safeties...as much as they need corners.

The Astros need everything and if they can identify and obtain prospects that can help in the future, then dealing Hunter is going to happen. Sad to let a true talent go, but where are the Astros today with Hunter? Exactly. That's why you have to make moves that hurt now but hopefully produce quality baseball in the near future. I will say it over and over...the valute of such trades are based on the ability of GM Ed Wade and his scouts to identify quality prospects.

Tim Melton

Does the NFL owe the Fans anything now?

OK, now that the NFL Lockout is officially over I'm hearing talk the the League and the Players owe the fans something.   I'm not sure what the fans deserve though.   You heard some of the Owners and the Player reps apologize to the Fans on Monday, but what actually did the fans miss?   Here's what you missed, a whole lot of boring off-season practices and some free agent signings.   I know there are some Football crazies out there that need every little bit of news they can absorb during the off-season.   But the bottom line is no games were lost, not even the boring Pre-Season ones, except for the Hall Of Fame game.    Football is back and that is something we can all rejoice in.   When it came down to losing money, I knew that the owners and the players would find common ground.  As for the Fans nothing was lost.  As for those fans who were worrying themselves over missing games, there are a lot more important things to worry about these days. 

Bob Slovak    

WHO SHOULD ASTROS TRADE?

How about anyone? Leave out Jordan Llyes and Bud Norris...fine. But Wandy, Myers, Hunter, Bourn...they are all on the market. The Astros need multiple players with good futures as opposed to single players that have not beeen able to do anything to turn this mess around. The real issue is what the Astros get in return. Evaluating how good the players are they get in return will be the key. Can Ed Wade do that?

Tim Melton

Big Catch... Big Tax Bill....

It was a great moment for Derek Jeter and for Yankees fan Christian Lopez.  Jeter got his 3000th career hit with a home run on Saturday.   Lopez the lucky fan who came up with the ball.   Being a true Yankees fan Lopez gave Jeter the ball, saying the Yankee Captain had earned it.   Lopez passing on what some estimated as much as 250-thousand dollars, if he sold the ball.    For being a good sport the Yankees gave Lopez luxury box seats for the rest of the season and the playoffs, along with signed baseballs, bats and jerseys for Jeter.

Now the IRS wants their cut.  Its estimated that the taxes from the tickets and memorabilia is somewhere around 14-thousand dollars.   Lopez says he'll pay it or get help paying it, he's not giving the tickets back.   Wouldn't it be nice if the Yankees or Jeter stepped up to pay the tax bill.  I'm sure Jeter has that much in his sofa.

Bob Slovak

RETIRE YAO'S NUMBER

Sure you retire the big guy's #11. Sure Yao missed alot of game's with injury and only played in 8 NBA seasons, and that's why he's retiring. But Yao Ming changed the face of the game internationally. He averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds when healthy and he was the rock around which the Rockets built the franchise. Fact is you won't be able to talk about the Rockets franchise over the last decade without starting with Yao. He was a fabulous teammate...an unselfish player...an ambassador who turned China on to the NBA game. Yao was the man around whom the Rockets sought to become champions. But injuries stalled the effort and that's what many Rockets fans will remember whne they think of him. That would be wrong...Yao is a man to remember and his number in the rafters will insure we don't forget.

Tim Melton

TRADE DEADLINE

Baseball's trading deadline is about 3 weeks away and the Astros should do something no matter who's name comes up. Perhaps the only untouchable is 20 year old Jordan Lyles...the righthander fits what the Astros are looking for. Young, talented, cheap and the kind of player you can build around. The big question seems to be the impact of the pending sale of the team. GM Ed Wade indicates because the team still belongs to Drayton they will operate under his watch. But you have to believe they will consult with future owner Jim Crane...consider you're Ed Wade and you're hoping to hang on to your job once the ownership changes hands.The last thing you want to do is make a deal that the new owner hates.

Tim Melton

We just need this sad season to be over...

Have the Astros hit rock bottom yet, let's hope so.   Having the Red Sox come in with all their fans and spank the Astros was bad enough, having the Sox anthem "Sweet Caroline" play was just a slap in the face.  I wonder who's decision that was?   Is he still employed today.   It was a total embarrassment, but at least Minute Maid was full.   I wonder what the Astros players were thinking when the opposing team was getting more cheers in their home ballpark.  But you get what you deserve and right now the Astros are the worst team in baseball and appear to be getting worse.   Winning 60 games will be a stretch for this team.  100 losses a lock.  Jim Crane can't take over soon enough.   But to be optimistic, the Astros have only one way to go and that's up.

Bob Slovak

What a comeback by the Houston Stallions....

 
I went to the Stallions Indoor Football Playoff game against the Rio Grande Valley Magic Monday night.   Like a lot of people I just needed a football fix.   What I found was one heck of an entertaining game, one great comeback and Me and my boy Stone came away with two game balls.    You get to keep any footballs that fly  into the stands, I made one great catch, I just wish I had footage of it.    The Stallions undefeated but the Magic had them on the ropes.  The Stallions down by 16 in the 4th quarter, but they never gave up.   The Magic had a chance to win it but a short missed field goal with 1.5 seconds left gave the Stallions life.   Jon Thompson then nailed a 46 yarder as time expired sending the Stallions on to the Western Conference finals 65 - 62.   It's not the NFL, but the Stallions play a fun brand of football I think you'll like.  I'll be back for the next game.

Bob Slovak   

How would you feel if the Astros moved to the A-L?

There is some talk of moving one National League team to the American League.   The Astros are one of the teams in the mix.  I for one wouldn't mind it.   You could stick them in the same division with the Rangers and maybe a real Texas rivalry would exist.     It would also be nice for Houston fans to get to see the Yankees and Red Sox every year.   

Sure the games with the Cubs and Cardinals would be few and far between, that would be one negative.  But I've always like the AL game better.    The DH adds more offensive power, watching pitchers try to lay down bunts every other inning has never got me excited.      So I say switch the Astros to the American League and let's go.   45 years of Astros baseball and one National League pennant.   I bet they could win more than one AL flag in the next 45.

Bob Slovak

YOU LIKE PICKING MCHALE?

Looking more and more as though the Rockets will hire Kevin McHale as Rick adelman's replacement. How does that sit with ya? Leaves me wondering what they're thinking. McHale was a heckuva player but he's done nothing since to make you believe he would be anything but an average head coach. But how do you feel about Dwane Casey and Lawrence Frank, the other choices? Don't you wish Adelman, Les Alexander and Darryl Morey could have gotten along? Rumors the Rockets are just looking for someone to bring along Chris Finch, the coach of the Rio Grande Valley D-League team. Alledgedly the Rockets see Finch as a future NBA head coach.

Tim Melton

BROOKS AND WESTBROOK

Russell Westbrook is a fabulous talent...he is a scorer. Should OKC have him playing point guard?  He got benched in the 4th quarter last night because he has a tendancy to shoot too much and facilitate too little...unlike a point guard. The Thunder played well without Russell, as the bench and Kevin Durant won the game against Dallas. Doesn't mean they'll be able to win without Westbrook again, but head coach Scott Brooks delivered a message that we will play the guys who give us the best chance to win. And the playoffs may be telling OKC it's best chance to win in the future is to let Westbrook do his thing as the 2 guard while they get a true point guard...like young Eric Maynor, who ran the point in the 4th quarter last night.

Tim Melton

NO REAL MARIO STORY

Mario Williams needs to turn into the dominant pass rusher the Texans have longed thought he should be. A week or so ago there was a local story about Mario moving to linebacker as though he was going to be an actual linebacker. We said it was much ado about nothing. In fact we felt Mario would simply rush the QB as a standup pass rusher with more freedom to attack at various angles. We didn't think he would be asked to be a pass coverage linebacker. Well now Gary Kubiak is saying they expect Mario to do one thing 9 out of 10 plays...rush the QB. So don't panic. This is the perhaps the last, best cahnce for Mario do do what he's suppose to do...collect sacks. And it will be a contract year..expect much more.

Tim Melton

DRIVING AND SPORTS

There's no real connection but I just has to vent. Ever find yourself driving down the freeway, little or no traffic in front of you and a car merges from the feeder road? Then you watch that vehicle drive all the way across the freeway...it might be 6 lanes wide..and go all the way to the left hand lane? Why? Why do people love driving in the far left lane so much. It seems like it's embarassing to them to settle for the first available. One other thing. Again on the freeway or tollroad. You pass a car and then, after clearing them, you move back over only to look in the rearview mirror and see them move over to the passing lane. Why? Am I alone in these observations? Please share.

Tim Melton

Does Jim Crane get you excited?..

Astros new owner Jim Crane said all the right things when Drayton McLane passed him the keys to the franchise.    He'll hire the right people, build thru the draft and spend wisely.   Sounds like a good plan now let's see it happen.   When Crane and new Astros CEO George Postolos take over later this summer, there will be a house cleaning.    The Astros have the worst record in the National League so change is good, they have no where to go but up, right? 

The first thing I noticed about Crane is that he's no media hound.  Will that change, who knows.  Maybe he will be more of a behind the scenes owner.  We do know he knows baseball.  A star pitcher at Central Missouri, he's grown up and old with the game.   He told us he's learned a lot about life from baseball.  His life will now be Baseball.    I like the potential.    Maybe we'll have a reason to get excited about the Astros for a change.  What do you think?

Bob Slovak

Houston begging for a winner... Aeros picking up steam...

While we wait for the Astros new owner Jim Crane to take charge, Houston jump on the Aeros bandwagon while you can.    The Aeros go up two games to none with a 3-2 win over Hamilton in the AHL Westen Conference finals.    I'm not a hockey guy, but I'm kind of getting the same feeling I had back in 1999 and 2003 when the Aeros won it all.      Playoff hockey is fun and even better when your team is winning.  The Aeros have a strong rabid fan base but we know everyone loves a winner, so this will be fun.

As for the Astros and their new owner Jim Crane everything I've heard about him is that he loves baseball. Crane a pretty good college pitcher in his day and he's never given up in his quest to own a big league franchise.   Drayton McLane didn't know anything about baseball when he bought the team, having an owner who actually played the game should and will make a huge difference.

Bob Slovak

CALM DOWN ABOUT MARIO

For some reason, the Mario Williams to linebacker story has caught fire. The day the Texans selected JJ Watts with the number one pick, Wade Phillips said Mario would be freed up to do other things and standing up was one...Mario may be designated a linebacker at times, but he won't be there to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game. He would be standing up ready to take off after the QB...he's stood up and rushed the passer his entire career. Now it may happen more often but calm down, he is not going to re-invent the position. Instead this will give him new angles to rush the passer. And Watts will give them another good pass rusher in front of Mario giving the left tackle more to worry about.

Tim Melton