Houston Blogs: Houston Sports Blog

Prince is King of the Home Run..

It didn't have the pop that last year's Home Run derby had with Josh Hamilton going crazy with 28 home runs in one round.   But the Home Run derby rarely disappoints.    St Louis hometown favorites Albert Puhols and Ryan Howard had the fans behind them, but its the Rangers Nelson Cruz and the Brewers Prince Fielder who come thru.   For every Cruz bomb Fielder matched it, with Prince winning 6 to 5 in the finals.

I still remember 2004 when the All Star game was in Minute Maid.  Lance Berkman and Miguel Tejada send home runs blast on to Crawford street.   I was outside the stadium and the fans were going nuts.  A great scene and I'm sure it was the same in St Louis tonight.   Give me the Home Run Derby over the game anyday.

Bob Slovak

UFC...YES OR NO?

Don't think we've ever talked about ultimate fighting on this blog. Last night UFC 100 was another huge pay-per-view event and Brock Lesnar, formerly of the WWE, tko'd Frank Mir in the main event in Las Vegas. After the fight, Lesnar went WWE on everyone by flashing obscene gestures when the crowd didn't like him taunting Mir. Some have thought UFC to be human cockfighting, but the crowd showed it wants a great performance, but wants everyone respected as well. What do you think? Like it better than boxing?...think it's too violent? It's popularity may be growing faster than any sports out there despite a bad economy.

Tim Melton

7 ON 7 BIGGER THAN EVER AND HOT, HOT, HOT.

We made it up to College Station Saturday for the 12th annual 7 on 7 High School football tournament.  If you step outside you know it was scorching, so hats off to the players, coaches, fans and tourny officials.   The play was fast and furious as always, with a number of area teams playing some good ball.   Cy Fair and Jersey Village both made it to the Quarterfinals of the Championship Bracket with Cy Fair battling all the way to the title game.  The Bobcats came up short 33 - 31 to Stoney Point, but a great effort by Cy Fair.   Coach Ed Pustejovski is reloading over there and with the confidence they gained this weekend they could make some noise in the regular season.    Pearland, Lamar and Stratford also playing well.   Pearland's new QB Trey Anderson can't wait to lead the Oilers this season.  Two-a-days are just around the corner.

Bob Slovak

WHAT CAN ROCKETS DO?

In Daryl we trust. That's about all you can do as a Rockets fan. The GM has constantly surprised us with player moves we didn't think could happen or we just never thought of. And he needs to do it again. I gotta tell you, other than a trade for Amare I can't imagine what the Rockets can do to try and replace Yao. The free agent market is slim to none and the big free agent class is a summer away. Stoudamire would be a HUGE get and the trade everyone has expected the Suns to make has yet to transpire which makes you wonder if Morey might still be able to get something done. But he has talked about another free agent signing in a week or so. In Daryl we have to trust.

Tim Melton

Avery Johnson doesn't need the headache.

It's good to be Avery Johnson at the moment.  Mark Cuban still owes him millions so why take a job with the Pistons with no security.  Joe Dumars didn't want to give Avery any and Dumars has a track record for replacing coaches quickly.   Johnson is a good coach, so he can afford to sit back and work his TV job and wait for the right job to come along.  Like I said Cuban still owes Avery millions, its good to be Avery.

Bob Slovak

Ron Artest in LA for a reason.. cover your ears.

Artest chose to head to the Lakers for one reason and one reason only.  He sees LA as the only spot to get his Rap career going.  But after hearing Ron's tribute to Michael Jackson, he's career maybe over before it even gets off the ground.  If you haven't heard it yet, its on youtube.  A quick warning the language is a bit rough but most rap songs are.     Artest was a good guy when he played here with the Rockets, sure he could be moody at times, but he was always good and sometimes fun with the Media.  So I want to cut him some slack here, but it's off the charts bad.  Come on Ron we'll give you another chance, some rap can be good, just not Ron Ron's latest.  

Bob Slovak

Pence and Tejada play the right way...

National League All-Stars Hunter Pence and Miguel Tejada earned their way into the game the right way.  Both play the game with the same joy we all did when we started out, they just do it as grown men now.  Two big kids cut from the same mold.  Tejada has just done it a little longer than Hunter.  Both bring that enthusiasm that we love to see as fans, Baseball is fun and they prove it every game.  Forget how old Tejada really is he plays everyday likes its his first. And the numbers don't lie, Tejada still has it, he's leading the NL in hits. 

Hunter has come into his own.  It's always fun to talk with Pence before the games.  You can just feel it in him, he's chopping at the bit to get on the field.  Pence will tell you he still has a lot to learn, but its his willingness to listen to the veterans that's helped him become the player that he is. It's always fun to see where the next Astros stars will come from, Pence Texas born and raised.  He's come up thru the Astros system now he'll represent the team in the All-Star game.  We know it won't be his last.

Bob Slovak

ROGER OR ROD OR....?

The numbers tell us Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player ever. His 15th grand slam win at Wimbledon Sunday is the proof. But what about the Rafael Nadal factor? Roger can't beat Rafael except when Nadal doesn't play, which he didn't at Wimbledon. But Roger won the French and Wimbledon this year and Pete Sampras never won the French. If you ever saw Bjorn Borg play, it's hard to believe Federer is any better. And then there's Rod Laver. All 4 grand slams tourneys in the same year, twice in 6 years. Had he been allowed to play all the grand slams all the time he may have set a record no one would come close to. What do you think? I think Laver.

Tim Melton

ARIZA NOT RON-RON

A couple of days ago, I said I wasn't sure where I stood on whether to sign or not to sign Ron Artest. Doesn't matter now, not that it ever did, but Daryl Morey has decided to let Ron move to join Kobe. And Trevor Ariza leaves Kobe to join...Shane, Carl, Luis, Aaron. I like the exchange. Ariza is 5 years younger...a comparable defensive player, and the Rockets have to hope he continues to be the offensive player we saw in the playoffs. Let's get honest here. If Yao comes back, it's going to be awhile. If Tracy comes back, he may be traded and certainly won't be around in 2010. So it's time to get younger and that's Ariza. He better fits Rick Adelman's offense than Artest, who tended to stop ball movement rather than continue it. A couple of days ago I wasn't sure. Today Daryl Morey has made up my mind and I agree with him.

Tim Melton

WANT MORE RON?

I keep trying to figure out if I would like the Rockets to spend the money to re-sign Ron Artest. Still not sure. He brought a toughness to the team last year and he plays defense. But in the playoffs he often disappeared or we saw too much of him when he took and missed too many wild or ill-advised shots. I thought he would be a low lost presence when the Rockets signed him but that never materialized. If Yao and Tracy don't come back, do you want Artest and his sometimes less than stable personality being the leader of your team? If Yao and Tracy don't come back, shouldn't they look to get younger and save the money for the 2010 free agent class? I'm leaning that way, how bought you?

Yao's future in Jeopardy! Foot not healing...

The Rockets told us last week that Yao would be out indefinitely with his foot injury.   The hairline fracture to his left foot is not healing properly.   A report on Yahoo Sports says Yao could miss all of next season and his career could be up in the air.   The Rockets aren't  saying anything else until Yao sees at least two more Doctors.    Behind the scenes the Rockets are nervous.. very nervous.  

One thing we know Big Men are hard on their bodies.  Yao has had trouble staying on staying on the court the last four seasons.    Last year was his most productive from that stand point playing 77 regular season games.  But with a hairline fracture that won't heal Yao will miss time this coming season, how much we'll have to wait and see.  

Yao told us back in May at least he wouldn't have to have surgery.   That's not a given anymore.   The walking boot isn't working so other options will have to be looked at.   Yao has a heart as big as TEXAS, his feet though just can't seem to keep up.

Bob Slovak

The Astros say they just have to move on.. GOOD OR BAD?

Jose Valverde blew one big time against the Tigers Sunday.  A sure win gets away after Valverde walks a batter and then serves up a two run shot to Brandon Inge in the top of the 9th..  Cecil Cooper came in and said what I expected this loss hurt and it should.   The players on the other hand told me a loss is a loss and its over, time to move on to the next series. 

I'm not sure if that's good or bad.    I know the Astros can't beuse to losing, not in this fashion.  Or is it good that they're playing some good ball and it is just a bump in the road.   Let's hope for the later because they have steadied the ship and they are right in the thick of the NL Central race.  I was shocked by the sudden loss, the players by the time we got in the locker room were already thinking about tomorrow's game against the Padres. 

Bob Slovak

HEY HEDO!

Looking less and less like the Rockets will get Amar'e Stoudamire from Phoenix, so how about free agent Hedo Turkoglu? He led the Orlando Magic to the NBA finals and down the stretch of most games, the 6-10 forward ran the Magic offense. Without Tracy, Hedo could do a pretty good impersonation. 5 years for $50 million might get it done. Right now the Rockets don't know when or if trayc and Yao will play so why not Hedo?

Tim Melton

GIVE YAO BIG MONEY?

Yao Ming has gone down with injury each of the last 4 seasons. Yao Ming can opt out of his contract with the Rockets after the coming season. Should the Rockets give him a max-contract? Better than 100 million for a guy who breaks down every season? On the other hand, when he plays he may be the best center in the league and Les Alexander makes an awful lot of money because of Yao and the various deals he has with Chinese companies. In addition, Yao keeps the Rockets profile high around the world, most especially in China. So, should they continue to be in the Yao Ming business?

Tim Melton

ROCKETS-TRACY-TRADE

Rocket GM Daryl Morey didn't say he was looking to trade Tracy McGrady, but he did say he would if the deal would improve the Rockets. And he said teams have been "aggressive" in their efforts to acquire T-Mac. I think Morey would LOVE to deal Tracy. The Rockets need someone who can do what Tracy can do...get a shot at the end of the game...but there's no telling if Tracy can do it again when he gets healthy. And there's no telling when Tracy will be healthy again. There are rumors of a Rockets-Suns trade involing Amare Stoudamire. He's not a Tracy-type player, but he would give the Rockets the kind of size and athleticism they need. And the kind of insurance they need to protect against another Yao breakdown. But that's just rumor.

Tim Melton

You know Dick Harmon is smiling up above..

Dick Harmon's number one pupil held on and held up to the pressure to win the U.S. Open Golf Championship.  Lucas Glover kept his head down and his nerves steady to outlast the field in the rain soaked 109th U.S. Open.   Others had their chances like Phil Mickelson and Ricky Barnes.  Barnes swing just got worse and worse.   Phil missed some putts in the final few holes that will haunt him for awhile.   But hats off to Mickelson playing under trying circumstances with his wife Amy facing breast cancer treatment.

Dick Harmon though is smiling from the fairways above.   He schooled Glover and taught him how to play the game.  Glover put it all together and held his game together enough to win his first major.  You know he had to be thinking of Dick down the stretch.  I don't think it will be Glover's last major title.

Bob Slovak

That was a pathetic Manager argument by Coop...

Ok, I know its mostly for show, but Cecil Cooper just got thrown out of the Astros game against the Twins in the 5th inning.   Pudge Rodriguez thought Carlos Gomez swung at a third strike.  The ump said no.  Pudge looked to the dugout for help.   Cooper did say something and got tossed.  But he didn't actually come charging out of the dugout to state his case.    He just didn't look like he was into it much. 

Man, Lou Piniella would have come out and tossed every base and kick dirt all over that ump.  I know Coop isn't Lou, but come on show some fire and maybe your team will follow.

Bob Slovak

Yao isn't going anywhere!

Forget all the talk about Yao heading to Cleveland to join the Cavs.  A group of Chinese investors are now minority owners in the Cavaliers, but the Rockets aren't about to let their cornerstone get away.   I talk to Rockets GM Daryl Morey Saturday, the question is anyone untouchable when it comes to trade talks as we head to the draft, Morey's answer simple, "Yao is".

Yao is signed thru the 2010-2011, but he can opt out after next season to become a free agent. Even if he does the Rockets can pay him much more than any other team can offer.    Knowing Yao and what kind of a competitor he is, its not about the money.  Yao wants to win a championship and after last season the Rockets appear closer than they have been in ten years.   Morey is a smart GM, I expect him to make the right moves to keep the Rockets on the upswing.   More important than ever with Yao's contract coming to an end.

Bob Slovak

ARE PITCHERS ATHLETES?

Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston got steamed the other day when one of his pitchers injured his foot while batting in an interleague game. Cito doesn't like playing National League teams because without the DH, his guys are forced to step in the batters box...and actually try and behave like athletes. Gaston sais his pictehrs don't hit and they don't run. Well what do they do? Think about it. Most pitchers were the best athletes when they were kids. What, they just forgot how to do the basic stuff, like run? How much can a pitcher pitch when he's not pitching? Why can't a pitcher step in the cage and practice swinging? The guys who hit for a living play every day still take fielding practice. How does one become a professional baseball player and not know how to run bases? Whether or not you like the DH is a seperate issue. This is about the embarassing statement of a major league manager that his pitchers don't run. That's not an excuse or an arguement, it's pathetic.

Tim Melton

Enough Already!

I don't know about you but I'm sick of the baseball steroids news. We know. Some guys juiced in the late 90's. 104 were on the list of those who tested positive. It was'nt illegal when they tested positive. Okay. We know that. We know some of the biggest names tested positive and records and careers are tainted. I get that. But it's old news now. When word leaked out on Sammy Sosa a couple of days ago the only ones breathlessly reporting it were the guys at ESPN and those who have to fill alot of time 24 hours a day. Personally, I'm not shocked and I don't care anymore. I'm over it. Let's move on, shall we? At this point I don't really care who else is on the list. Do you? Are the only ones keeping this whole thing alive a group of journalists who are justifying their checks and expense accounts? I think so. Let me know what you think. Sick of the whole thing, or do you condone the steady drip, drip, drip of names leaking? I say it's time to move on already. I get it. Players juiced. Next.

STEROIDS...AGAIN

Here we go again. Sammy Sosa used steroids!!!! What a shock. Why is it that no one is surprised when the obvious becomes the fact? It's because despite every sportscaster and sportswriter who wants to say they were duped by that McGwire-Sosa home run chase back in '98, they all suspected something was up. Go look at all the stories from '98 and '99 about McGwire and his use of Andro. The signs were there, but no one wanted to look too closely because they were enjoying the race to beat Maris too much. That's my issue, when folks get religion about steroids. Did you REALLY not know something was a bit odd when all these guys suddenly started hitting all these home runs? I think not. I think everyone loved it...they saved baseball from the strike, right? Can we finally just admit and accept that steroids dominated the '90s and years beyond? Athletes have always tried to find an edge. The individual sports need to decide what's ok and what's not...test and punish those who fail...AND MOVE ON!.

Tim Melton

Astros contending... Is Cooper Safe?

So all this talk about changing managers was a bit premature.  Is Cecil Cooper really doing a better job now than he was a few weeks ago.   If you listen to the talk coming out of Minute Maid some players still don't like playing for him, but they sure are playing better in spite of him.

The Astros after five straight series wins are just three games under .500 and four games out of first place in the the NL Central.  Yes they're still in last place but they're in it.   They've won 11 of 16.. funny how good you look when the pitching picks up.   The Astros are still just averaging a little more than four runs a game, but recently four has been enough. 

So the big question is..  how much credit do you give Cooper for the resurgence?  Do you believe he's the man that can keep things rolling or is this just a nice move up before a steady move down?   To me the Astros are exactly what they appear to be, a .500 team that will never be completely out of it until late September.   They are who we thought they were.

Bob Slovak

Lakers Champs.. but the Rockets close...

So Kobe and the Lakers closed out their 15th NBA title in five games over the Magic Sunday night. No surprise there, Orlando just wasted to many opportunities.   When its all said and done now, it was your Rockets who pushed the Lakers the hardest.  Your Rockets that made the Lakers look bad at times during their SEVEN game slugfest.

How close are the Rockets to following the Lakers as the next NBA Champs.   How about a healthy Yao in the playoffs.  Please Rockets stick to you plan not to wear Yao down next season.   I say bring Ron Artest back he brings a fire that this team needs to keep.    We'll take whatever Tracy can give next season and who knows he maybe the boost that carries the Rockets thru the playoffs and past the Lakers.   LA enjoy it now, but your title just reaffirms how close the Rockets are.

Bob Slovak

WHAT'S SUSPENDABLE?

Watching the NBA Finals on ABC-13? If so, what does a player have to do to get suspended? You can pile up all those flagrant one and two fouls and if they total 7 you are out for a game. But last night Mikael Pietrus of the Magic slammed two closed fists into the back of Pau Gasol as Gasol was dunking the Magic's last prayer, yet he gets no suspension. It was like throwing 2 punches, but to suspend Pietrus now, 4 games into the final series, would be punishing the Magic. But does that excuse doing what Pietrus did? How does the league punish appropriately but not punish an entire team at the most critical point in the season? Perhaps doing the unthinkable and punishing as they would at any point in the season would have long-lasting impact if inflict short term harm.

Tim Melton

Overusing college arms?

I want to hear from parents with college-age pitchers. The other night in Austin, Longhorn lefthander Austin Wood from Kingwood threw 169 pitches in relief! He was brilliant, but 169 pitches! Rice pitcher Mike Ojala is throwing with a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. It has been an on-going controversy: Do college coaches ask too much of young pitchers? Not just Augie Garrido at Texas or Wayne Graham at Rice, but all college coaches face the problem of a couple or 3 quality arms and the temptation to over-use is ever present. Wood wanted the baseball in that mind-boggling outing and Ojala wants the ball as well, but if you are the parent of such a young man, how do you view the situation? After all, parents want their kids to succeed and if they're really talented, everyone begins thinking about Major League ball. How do you deal with it?  Everyone else, such as myself, how do you view it?

Tim Melton

Rice maybe an underdog at LSU but...

If the Owls are to advance to their fourth straight College World Series they'll have to do it on the road in front a rowdy LSU crowd... in the Tigers new stadium... against a very good LSU team.   But this Owls team appears to be coming together at the right time.   Sure they stumbled against Kansas State Saturday night, but they showed the guts most Wayne Graham teams have by winning the regional thru the losers bracket.

Now its on to Baton Rouge where the Owls will need their pitching to step it up another knotch.  The arms came thru in the regional now they have to do it on an entirely different level.   We know what the Rice bats can do.   I'm still waiting for freshman Anthony Rendon to tee off in the playoffs, I think its coming this weekend against the Tigers.

Bob Slovak

12 HITLESS!!!

College baseball is beocming bigger and bigger and THE story of the week, perhaps the month, should not be the Lakers and Magic reaching the NBA final...or Helio Castroneves winning Indy...it should be Kingwood's Austin Wood. Saturday night IN Austin, the Texas lefthander threw 12 and one-third innings of no-hit baseball at Boston College in the NCAA Regional. In all he threw 13 innings of scoreless baseball...169 pitches...ALL in relief as the Longhorns eventually won 3-2 in 25 innings...What Austin accomplished is incredible. Back in May of 1959 Harvey Haddix threw 12 perfect innings before he and the Pirates lost to the Miklwaukee Braves in 13 innings. Many consider that the greatest game ever pitched. Austin Wood came awfully close to matching Haddix.

Tim Melton

Keep an eye on Anthony Rendon....

Rice opens up regional play over at Reckling tonight.  If you haven't been out to see the Owls yet they're playing the best baseball in Houston, sorry Astros.     The Owls are that good, can they make it back to the College World Series, sure but like most year's that'll need to play to their potential.

One to watch if you haven't already is Freshman Anthony Rendon.   Still 18 he turns 19 next week, Rendon has put up numbers to match anyone this season.    A Rice Freshman home run record with 19 and counting.  Rendon CUSA Player of the Year, Freshman of the year and the CUSA tournament MVP, he's hitting .375.    You get the feeling we'll be hearing from Rendon for years to come. 

I'm always amazed when meeting young players with the talent of Rendon's who don't realize how good they are yet.  I ask him if he was nervous playing College baseball earlier this year, and he said yes, he'd never played in front of crowds before.   Get use to it Anthony they'll only get bigger.

Bob Slovak

THE GOOD OLE DAYS

The Rockets are out of the playoffs now and we are left to watch Kobe and LeBron. Not bad viewing, but as you watch the Eastern and Western Conference finals, are you struck by just how average the NBA can be? In the GOOD OLE DAYS, teams were more complete, top to bottom. The talent may not have been as great at the top level back in the day, but the quality of basketball certainly was superior. LeBron carried the Cavs to victory last night because he's incredible. But he's surrounded by average. Kobe is incredible and he's surrounded by outstanding talent in Gasol and Odom, but they show up when the mood strikes. Maybe I'm remembering the days of Bird and Magic to be more than they actually were, but I do know I enjoyed watching the basketball much more than I do today.

Tim Melton

MY TALK WITH DRAYTON

Last night after Eyewitness News at 6 Drayton McLane returned my phone call from that afternoon. He'd been travelling. I asked him if  he had read Richard Justice's piece in the Chronicle about Cecil Cooper's future with the team. He said he had'nt but heard about it. He said the premise of the writer questioning a manager's future would be like him trying to tell me how to do a TV newscast. Not quite. But we talked. On the surface he's saying all the things I thought he would...have to have patience..team has injuries...some players not playing well, etc...And he said you have to be patient. Said he learned that in his 17 years in baseball. He did admit he was embarassed by Cooper's lneup card gaffe. He would'nt definitively say Cooper will be his manager at season's end. Bottom line..after all his rhetoric...If the Astros don't turn things around drastically in the next 2-3 weeks, Cooper is gone. Period.