I'm Back Astros

Like a jilted lover, I'm back with the Houston Astros. For the last two years I've not only been boycotting the Astros but praying for a complete collapse. I prayed for disaster so people would stop going to games and force Drayton McLane to either sell the team or reexamine the business model.

I've been very critical of McLane and how he's run the Astros lately.

For starters, while many view him as cheap, I think that's a misconception. This years payroll of approximately $92 million ranks 13th in the Major Leagues. In 2009, the Astros ranked 8th with a $102 million payroll. Call it anything you want but don't call it cheap.

What McLane has done has spent his money unwisely. An examination of the 2010 payroll explains what I mean.

• Lance Berkman = $14.5 million
• Carlos Lee = $19 million
• Kazuo Matsui = $5.5 million
• Roy Oswalt = $15 million
• Wandy Rodriguez = $5 million
• Total = $59 million

Damn, I had to double and triple check my math but it's right. $59 million on five players on a twenty five player roster. That's about 64% of salary tied to 20% of the roster. I understand why Berkman, Lee and Oswalt are highly paid. Berkman and Oswalt are icons and McLane knows they are who fans want to see. Lee was a high priced free agent signing that probably hurt the team in the long term. Matsui is a bust and Rodriguez is overpaid for what he's done so far.

That is not good use of team resources. Couple that with the fact that McLane didn't believe in paying signing bonuses to rookies and it further explains the damage. McLane failed to realize the long term savings of locking up a player at a lower cost on the rookie contract. As a result the farm system is in shambles.

So to get back to the point on why I'm back. McLane says he finally gets it and understands drafting and player development. So I'm willing to take the Astros back on a trial basis.

Deep down I'm a sports guy. I like baseball. I don't love baseball. The Astros will never break the pecking order of the Texans, Houston Cougars, San Antonio Spurs or Pittsburgh Penguins. Texans and Cougars will always be my first loves. Spurs are my hometown team and are the only reason I watch any NBA basketball. The Pens I've been in love with since the Super Mario days.

Then come the Astros. I want to enjoy baseball and the fun involved with being in a Major League city. I want to see players develop and blossom into solid major league players. I want to savor the World Series again...this time on the winning side. Baseball is a beautiful game. So with these hopes and dreams, I once again reclaim my rights as a Houston Astros fan.

James Dickey, Peter King's Worthlessness

Houston Cougars Hire James Dickey
I'm a Houston Cougar. I'm an alumni and fan. I go to as many football games as my work schedule allows. I went to 2 of the last 3 bowl games (one was local). In summary I love my Cougars.

I wanted Tom Penders gone. His act got old. My personal belief is he was cashing one last paycheck before retirement. As long as the University allowed him, he would go through the motions of coaching and recruiting.

The vast majority of Houston fans, despite the late C-USA surge and NCAA Tournament appearance, wanted a change at the helm of Cougar basketball.

Be careful of what you wish for. Cougar fans got the change we wanted. Unfortunately the hiring of former Texas Tech coach James Dickey isn't what most wanted.

Most wanted a splashy headline grabbing coach like Billy Gillespie. I wanted Gillespie too. It didn't happen. Dickey is it.

Now I ask Cougar fans to step away from the ledge and live with the decision. Quit threatening to boycott games and renewing season tickets. First of all, there isn't enough of you to make a difference. Second, while I don't blindly follow the program, give it a chance. The decision was made by AD Mack Rhoades. For better or worse, we have to live with it.

We Cougars can be an insecure group. Many fans use that behemoth in Austin and that ass backward school in Collie Station as benchmarks. Screw them. We don't have the resources those places have. We don't have the fan support they have. UH has screwed the pooch in so many ways it's not even funny.

Instead we must build up the current programs, sustain that growth and position ourselves for future success. Art Briles resuscitated a football program on life support. Kevin Sumlin reaped the benefits and propelled the Cougars to wins over three BCS schools and attained a national ranking. Cougar football is building up and it doesn't appear the school is aiming for quick hitting solutions but sustained success and strength.

Basketball must follow a similar path. Penders did a decent job with basketball. He did nothing great and really didn't appear to put any effort into it. Dickey must now take the program the next step. A C-USA surge and an NCAA tournament are something to build on.

For my part, I'm willing to give Dickey a chance. I think if he puts in the effort and does a decent job recruiting local talent and venture out of state occasionally, he can build a sustainably successful program.

Cougar fans, back away from the ledge and give Dickey a chance.

Peter King's Nonsense
In general I don't like Peter King. He constantly rides Brett Favre's jock. He can't count to ten. I think Tim Tebow will be his new Favre. He also likes to constantly remind us who he texts with and who he talks to on their cell phone. Grow up.

I know it's the off season but write about something relevant or don't write anything. Just because SI.com gives you a column doesn't mean you have to fill it up. Write a line or two if that's all you can find to say.

I read King because occasionally he drops a good piece of info.

This week though it's the usual nonsense.

In his more than "Ten Things I Think I Think" bit, he bitches about cold weather Super Bowls. Talk about "Waaaahh!" Give me one reason why Super Bowls should be played exclusively indoors or in mild climate locations?

A direct quote from his column:

I think the thing about a Super Bowl in New Jersey in February 2014 -- which seems more and more likely with the vote due as early as May --is that too few people are thinking about the precedent it sets for future games in outdoor, cold-weather venues.

Really? Why is this a bad thing? He offers no reason why it would be ill advised to schedule Super Bowls in "bad weather" locations. All he goes on to state is if the it is awarded to New Jersey then Daniel Snyder, Pat Bowlen and Paul Allen will want Super Bowls too. And why shouldn't they want them? Why is Miami, San Diego or New Orleans any better than Washington, Denver or Seattle?

Just because people like the weather? Washington, Denver and Seattle have home field advantage in the elements. So why not give outdoor teams a chance to have an advantage in the Super Bowl. Why let the Colts, Saints or any indoor team have equal footing just because they play away from the elements? These teams and owners made their choices in playing indoors. Why penalize cities from hosting a Super Bowl just because other hosts are in potentially better weather places?

Football isn't a game for pansies. Playing outdoors is a big part of the game. I'd for once like to see teams battle it out in the weather for a title.

What if a Super Bowl is played in a torrential downpour in San Diego? Will King cry for games only in domed stadiums? Get a grip King and quit spewing your typical nonsense.

Jeremy Tyler Leaves Israel, New NFL Playoff Overtime Rules

I planned on writing up a blog about Jeremy Tyler. Tyler left high school after his junior year to compete professionally in Israel for Maccabi Haifa. He left the team earlier this week.

After searching his name on the web, I found I need to do some more reading before I write a blog. There is more information about him that I want see before I go off half cocked and rip him apart.

New NFL Playoff Rules
I don't get it. A rule change only for the postseason? You play the regular season under one set of overtime rules but change it for the playoffs? It doesn't make any sense.

I like the actual rule just not implementing it exclusively for the postseason.

The rationale behind the rule makes sense. If a team team that wins the overtime coin toss scores a touchdown on their first possession the game is over. If they kick a field goal the other team gets a possession to try to win or tie. If a field goal ties up the game then the game goes sudden death. The NFL reasons that the coin toss win gives the receiving team a higher percentage at a win. Kickers now kick more accurately and from greater distances. A team that wins the toss merely has to play for field position and kick a long field goal. A long kickoff return greatly increases the chance at victory. Now a coach has to decide to try for the field goal and let the other team have a crack at it or go for the win with a touchdown.

According to a story in the Houston Chronicle, there is a chance the owners may vote to implement the rule for the regular season. I hope they do. I'd like to see how it plays out over the course of a season.

Tom Penders Out at Houston

Earlier today I was pondering the question of Tom Penders and his future as coach of the Houston Cougars basketball team.

Evidently someone answered the question for me. Penders will not return for the 2010-11 season.

Before the Cougars' run to the C-USA Tournament Championship, speculation leaned heavily toward Penders retiring.

I my mind, pure speculation on my part, Penders seemed content on collecting one last paycheck before officially retiring. He was hired to resurrect the Houston program. He helped the team recover from the disastrous run of Clyde McBrooks.

However I believe Penders took the Cougars as far as he could. I thank Penders for his contributions to the Cougar but his effort appeared to fall short. Penders trashed the UH facilities.

He didn't recruit Houston area players under the guise of not wanting to deal with AAU coaches. I think he had the Art Briles attitude that he couldn't compete with the bigger name schools so he went after some lower rated recruits or JUCOs. My problem with that thinking is you don't know unless you try. A glance at Houston roster and I count four players from the Houston area and three of them via junior college. Half the roster is built from transfers and junior college players. JUCO and transfers fit an immediate need but don't build a foundation for a program.

Penders was brought in to return the Cougars to the NCAA tournament. It took Penders six seasons to do it and a miraculous run to do it.

So I thank Penders for his effort. He brought back some pride to the Cougars this season but it was a long time coming. Penders probably reached his pinnacle at UH. Whether he retired or "retired", it is time to move on.

Houston's Return to the NCAAs, Arenas Still Doesn't Get It

Houston Cougars Return to NCAA Tournament
The last time the Cougars played in the NCAAs I was still a student at the University of Houston. Eighteen years ago and then the Coogs went into the wilderness.

The three headed monster of Clyde McBrooks (Clyde Drexler, Ray McCallum, Alvin Brooks) drove the Coogs into the ground. Drexler wasn't really interested in the job or recruiting so he left after two seasons. Brooks preceded Drexler and only managed one winning season. McCallum could never right the ship so Tom Penders was brought in.

Through all the coaching changes, the Cougars were stuck in reverse. Winning seasons were far and few between. Before the Cougars run in the C-USA tournament, many were calling for Penders' head on a platter.

For now the few souls that wander the hallowed halls of Hofheinz Pavillion are silent. For one year season, albeit a shaky one, the Cougars return from the wilderness and turn to sip the waters of the NCAA Tournament.

Arenas Still Doesn't Get It
Today's edition of the Sporting News Daily features a blurb from Esquire magazine's interview with Gilbert Arenas. Gilbert's quote on his run in with Javaris Crittenton:

We didn't have no problem. It was just some fun that got out of control.

Just some fun? Bringing guns to work and pulling them out after a contentious argument on the team plane? Risking your career and breaking the law over just some fun?

Thank you Arenas for clearing the air. The whole time I was under the impression that you had a beef with Crittenton and you wanted to scare or shoot him. I understand. It's how me and friends have fun when we play poker. If I think a friend cheated, I go to his place of business with a few guns and have fun.

Arenas tries to sound contrite earlier in the article and apologizes to the wife of the Wizard's late owner Abe Pollin. It appears that maybe there is some regret after all. Then he goes to his quote about fun. I think he still can't get his mind around how grave the situation is. Not only is his career in danger but his freedom is too.

I'm no gun control advocate. I don't believe guns need registration with the government. I believe laws should focus on punishing crimes carried out with guns. Making ownership illegal or requiring a permit to do so doesn't keep the guns out of hands of criminals. Gun control laws put an undue burden on law abiding citizens.

On the other hand, I have a very healthy respect for guns. I want to keep my health so I don't play with guns. Guns aren't toys. Arenas had every right to own guns. He crossed the line when he brought it in to practice and allegedly pulled it on Crittenton. Even if he thought he was only having "fun" what happens if he goes into rage during his confrontation? His fun could have cost a life or injured a person.

Despite all the jeopardy Arenas has created for himself, it appears that he still just doesn't get how serious his fun really was.

The Roethlisberger Question

Again, Fat Ben Roethlisberger stands accused of sexual assault. Last July a woman leveled accusations that Roethlisberger raped her in 2008 at Lake Tahoe. The Lake Tahoe case is pending and no criminal charges have been filed.

The question: Is a troubling pattern emerging in Roethlisberger emerging or is he easily a target for women seeking a payday?

It's no secret Fat Ben likes his parties and does things his own way. His has a bar carousing reputation. He also disregarded the team's prohibition, I believe it's a standard clause in most pro athlete contracts, of engaging in dangerous activities. Roethlisberger went motorcycle riding without a helmet and ended up in the hospital for an while.

On the other hand, Fatso is a young man, two time Super Bowl Champion quarterback, millionaire for one of the most storied NFL franchises. Roethlisberger shouldn't be confined to his home just because of his fame and fortune. Like the rest of us, he should enjoy the fruits of his labors.

What Roethlisberger needs to do is exercise more caution. He can't allow himself to get plastered and up alone with women. Hell I remember a story that Chuck Berry took a Polaroid of women nude before sex in order to show they did it voluntarily and not under duress. I'm not sure how that would have held up. What I'm saying is Fat Ben needs to watch out for himself because no one else will.

What are his options? I really can't answer that. He needs to surround himself with trusted friends and not hanger ons. He also needs to be more selective in the bars he hangs out. He was allegedly in a small college town where he now stands accused. Whatever the answer is, he needs to think long and hard about his habits.

I've read a couple of columnists that jump all over Roethlisberger. They already have condemned him in the media and some have already tried him in the court of public opinion. Unfortunately that's what happens in today's instant gratification, shoot from the hip, 24-hour news cycle and trying to out do the other guy world.

The fact remains we don't know the truth of what happened yet. We don't know if the accuser is telling the truth or if she's making false accusations. Either way she's making very serious claims. The police are right to investigate. The Rooneys would be right to bring him in to Steelers headquarters and ask him what's going on. We also need to remember we need facts and due process before we attempt to hang him in public.

Tiger Woods, NFL Labor Strife

I picked the two items probably most written about in the sports world. I try not to do that. Sometimes I can't help it.

Eldrick Woods
Who cares? I don't. The man made a mistake. That mistake was getting married. One of the richest athletes on earth and one of the most recognizable faces on the planet messed up when he decided to tie himself to one woman.

By all reports, Woods is a tail hound. Good for him. He's married. Bad for him.

That's the problem with our conformist society. Expectations are for all of us to be pods. We are supposed to go to school, get a job, get married and have children. Basically that's a load of bullshit. Yet just about everybody does it if for no other reason as it's the "norm."

Parents put pressure on adult offspring for grandbabies. To put it bluntly,"Hey Mom and Dad, screw you. It's none of your business."

So Eldrick conformed. On top of the golf world, he married. I'm sure he was a babe hound long before he was married. That's his and the women's rights. He could screw his talent right out if he wanted. What two consenting adults do is their business only.

Instead of conforming, Woods should have just stayed single and enjoyed his carefree bachelor ways. Trust me, it's worth it.

NFL Labor Strife
I've read several articles from both points of view. The NFL owners and players are waging a media PR war on the labor issues. It's hard to see who is telling the truth.

Owners claim that they are losing money and want the players to give up a bigger slice of the revenue pie. The owners also assert that since players benefit from the capital investments, such as new stadiums and operating costs, the players should also contribute to the costs.

The players counter the claims of losing money. They want proof and have asked the NFL to open up the accounting books and prove it. The players don't want to give up money and revenue they've won in previous contract agreements. Players also say that once the salary cap goes away they won't ever agree to a new one.

This is what we all know. NFL is the most popular sport in the U.S. The revenue stream is no where near dry. Franchise values are enormous. Most stadiums are sold out on game day. Fans buy up merchandise and pay for parking spots. They even pay for the right to purchase seats in the form of PSLs.

The real fight is about who gets what percentage of the money. With all the merchandise, sold out stadiums, revenue sharing and outrageous TV money, I don't believe the owners stance that they are losing money.

What I think is there as some big revenue teams like the Cowboys, Giants, Redskins, Patriots and Texans that want to keep a bigger slice of what they bring in. Teams in Buffalo, Jacksonville and Green Bay want to keep the revenue sharing in place for fear of not being able to compete with the larger money teams.

The owners might be showing a united front but I think maybe something else is brewing. Keep in mind it's only my personal theory and it's based on nothing but thin air. The owners might try to get the players to give up a chunk of the revenue and spread some of that around to the medium to small market teams. The big market teams will take a bigger slice of what they bring in but use the players concessions in a contract to make up the loss of revenue to the smaller market teams.

In a work stoppage, the owners will make off like bandits. The owners will still receive TV money in the even of a work stoppage. According to that article, about $5 billion despite not playing a game. Also, clubs are planning cost cutting moves should 2011 schedule get cancelled.

The biggest dupes in this scheme are the television networks. Why the hell are they forking over money for a product that won't exist. Makes no sense.

The biggest losers will be the fans. We pay for the stadiums by social welfare via taxes. We watch the games on TV. We buy the tickets, jerseys and other merchandise. We show up on Sundays. Yet that loyalty will be repaid by a possible lockout or strike and a whole bunch of nothing to show for it.

Thanks NFL owners and players.