Meet Houston's new coaching staff

By Superclutch on 4/21/10 3:50am
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Alvin Brooks returns to UH as an assistant coachAlvin Brooks returns to UH as an assistant coachNow that the shock has worn off of James Dickey’s hire as the University of Houston’s men’s head basketball coach, Cougar fans are ready to see what sort of staff the new guy brings to Cullen.  Dickey may not have been a head coach since his dismissal from Texas Tech 12 years ago, but upon his arrival, he was quick to promise bringing in a team of assistants who were proven recruiters.  The trio of coaches Dickey has hired appear to have the resumés for the job, but will they have the hunger necessary to infuse some life into a basketball program hanging on by a thread?  Let’s meet them, shall we?



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Astros snap losing streak with first win

By Superclutch on 4/16/10 4:10pm
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St. Louis had no answer for Bud Norris ThursdaySt. Louis had no answer for Bud Norris ThursdayThe Astros avoided history yesterday by snapping a seven-game winning streak, beating the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis.

The club had been in danger of matching its worst start ever, an 0-9 opening stretch in 1983, after suffering two consecutive series sweeps and falling twice to St. Louis.  The Astros halted the losing streak at eight behind a sweet pitching effort from Bud Norris and the bullpen, who combined throw a six-hitter. 

Norris also chipped in from the batter’s box, driving in the game’s first RBI.  Outfielder Michael Bourn continued to be Houston’s most consistent offensive producer in the early season, extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 2-for-4.  Bourn scored the game’s go-ahead run in the third inning.



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Houston Rockets 2009-10: Not bad, right?

By Superclutch on 4/15/10 10:19pm
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Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry made great strides in 2010Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry made great strides in 2010Down, up, down, up, and back again.  It was a season of peaks and valleys for the Houston Rockets, filled with stirring triumphs and crushing disappointments.  Through it all, the Rockets persevered, finishing with a winning record: 42-40.

Houston closed out the season winning eight of their last 11 games, but finished with a loss at home to the sub-.500 New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.  It was a fitting end for a team that proved wildly unpredictable from game to game.  The Hornets hit 63.7 percent of their shots, 67.5 percent in the second half, highlighting a lack of defense that will no doubt occupy Elston Turner, Jack Sikma, and the rest of the Rockets’ coaching staff during the offseason.



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No place like home: Dynamo stadium moves forward

By Superclutch on 4/14/10 7:23pm
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An early rendering of the new Dynamo stadiumAn early rendering of the new Dynamo stadiumIt’s been a long wait, but the Houston Dynamo finally have a home of their own.

The Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to join the city of Houston in helping to build a $95 million stadium in the east end of downtown.  It was joyous news for a franchise that has sought its own soccer-specific stadium for the last 15 years.

Making it happen wasn’t easy.  After two years of negotiations in Houston, the Dynamo eventually agreed to pay $60 million in construction costs, with the city and county pledging $20 million in infrastructure improvements around the stadium.  The city paid $15 million in March 2008 to purchase the land for the facility. The county will reimburse the city $7.5 million for that land purchase.  Texas Southern University also chipped in funds for the right to play its home football games in the new stadium.



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Astros remain winless

By Superclutch on 4/11/10 11:14pm
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The Astros have been cringe-worthy early this seasonThe Astros have been cringe-worthy early this seasonSix games into the 2010 season, the Houston Astros are the worst team in baseball.

After falling to the Phillies 2-1 at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, the Astros remain the only winless team left in the majors.  Right-hander Roy Halladay threw a complete game for Philadelphia, giving up seven hits and a single unearned run in his first complete game in the National League.



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Texans sign kicker Rackers

By Superclutch on 4/10/10 11:46pm
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Neil Rackers will compete with Kris Brown to start in 2010Neil Rackers will compete with Kris Brown to start in 2010The Houston Texans announced this week that the team has signed kicker Neil Rackers, 33, to compete for the starting spot in 2010. 

A former All-Pro, Rackers has kicked for the Arizona Cardinals for the past seven seasons.  In 2009, he missed one of just 17 field goal attempts.  Rackers set the NFL single-season record for field goals with 40 in 2005.  Texans general manager Rick Smith signed Rackers to a two-year contract worth $4.1 million.



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Houston Rockets: Why I'm Still Watching

By Superclutch on 4/9/10 4:51pm
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Luis Scola and the Rockets just won't quitLuis Scola and the Rockets just won't quitIn many ways, the Houston Rockets' 2009-10 season was over before it even began.  After falling to the Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals, Yao Ming was pronounced indefinitely unavailable following major foot surgery, Tracy McGrady appeared finished as an impact player, and Ron Artest bolted for the Kobe Show. 

Somehow, the Rockets soldiered on, never counting themselves out of the ultracompetitve race for the playoffs in the brutal West.  Houston fell short of its goal weeks ago, yet the team is still competing.  What's the point?  Why am I watching?  Frankly, it's hard not to.  Here are the top five reasons why I'll watch this team until the bitter end this year, and why you should, too.



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As the season opens, Astros' offense remains closed

By Superclutch on 4/7/10 7:23am
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Jeff Keppinger and the Astros are off to a sluggish start at the plateJeff Keppinger and the Astros are off to a sluggish start at the plateTwo games, two runs.  Looks like the Astros are back.

It’s a safe assumption that baseball fans didn’t expect much from the Astros in their season-opening series against San Francisco at Minute Maid Park.  So far, “not much” is precisely what the Astros’ hitters have delivered.

Monday on Opening Day, a dominant Tim Lincecum held the Astros to four singles in seven shutout innings as the Giants cruised to a 5-2 victory.  A day later, lefty junkballer Barry Zito blanked them for six innings in a 3-0 shutout.  It’s been a regrettable (if not completely unexpected) start for a team slightly more likely to be exposed as reptilian aliens than contend for the NL Central crown. 



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Houston's new coach: James... Dickey?

By Superclutch on 4/1/10 6:23am
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New Houston coach James Dickey was a surprise hireNew Houston coach James Dickey was a surprise hireMore than a few Cougar basketball fans are wondering today if they’ve been April fooled.

Word leaked Wednesday afternoon that the University of Houston would name James Dickey its next men’s head basketball coach.  Not Billy Gillispie.  Not Bob Marlin.  Not John Lucas.  James Dickey.

If Cougar fans were hoping for a new coach who would bring a buzz back to campus (and they were), they were sorely disappointed in Houston Athletic Director Mack Rhoades’ selection.  Dickey, 56, has not held a head coaching job since being fired from Texas Tech in 2001, and last coached a team to the NCAA tournament before the breakup of the Southwest Conference.  He spent 2002 to 2008 as an assistant at Oklahoma State under his mentor, Eddie Sutton.



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Finally: Texans tackle Ryans' contract

By Superclutch on 3/31/10 5:42am
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DeMeco Ryans earned a fat paycheck in 2010DeMeco Ryans earned a fat paycheck in 2010After months of uncertainty, Pro-Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans got what he wanted from the Houston Texans:  a six-year contract worth $48 million, including $21.75 million guaranteed.



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