I haven't been updating this blog as much as I hoped. With football season starting up the updates should at least be weekly. I spent the last week on vacation so most my ideas to write are probably out of date. So I'll just gloss over what I've kept up with for the last few days.

Astros

As much as I've been railing on the Astros, I still watch them out of the corner of my eye. I see the swept the Reds but they lose Carlos Lee for the season. That just sucks to lose him for the year. It's just another feather in the cap of a horrendous season. It's not to long until the September call ups and we get to see up close the thin ranks of the Astros farm system.

Texans Observations

I've had attention deficit disorder during NFL training camps. I'm not up to snuff on the latest news. Part of the reason is I just didn't follow news while on vacation.

A couple of concerns are already coming up with the Texans. Running back is looking thin already but what do you expect when a team goes out and signs injury plagued backs? A backfield of Ahman Green and Chris Brown doesn't strike the fear of God into opposing defenses. Green got hurt on the first play and didn't return to the preseason game against Denver. Chris Brown has pretty much been a no show at camp. He dressed for the game but didn't play. The injuries moves Chris Taylor, Darius Walker and rookie Steve Slanton to the top of the depth chart. All types of hype surrounds Taylor but I'm not to sure since it's all based on one game two years ago. Then they are working him out also as a fullback. A team doesn't work a running back at both spots if they are extremely high on him like the Texans are supposed to be on Taylor.

The other concern is the offensive line. Injuries are already an issue and depth is going to be a concern. At least rookie left tackle Duane Brown seems to be coming along nicely. With Ephrim Salaam's knee surgery it more than likely Brown will now be the opening day starter. My dream though is for someone to unseat Chester Pitts the worst lineman on the team.

Olympic Swimming, Gymnastics, U.S. Basketball

As much as I claim to dislike the Olympics, I've been watching coverage the last two nights. I've been amazed by the swimming events. I'm not caught up in rooting for the Americans or Michael Phelps quest for eight gold medals. What's been enthralling me is the pure athleticism of the swimmers. I love watching them jump in or push off the wall and seeing the distance they get underwater by waving their body. Then the shear intensity of the races and some of the amazing finishes. It's just been a joy to watch.

I also watched the women's gymnastics. The grace and athleticism of the floor exercises was fun to watch. Unfortunately the Americans faltered on three of the four floor exercises and a fifth girl was injured in warm ups. With the injury the U.S. team had to accept all four scores instead of taking the four of five. Even though it was a disappointing start they are still second overall with China in first.

The U.S. men's team is the one that I'm conflicted about. One part of me would like to a spectacular failure. On the other side I'd love to see them tear through the competition and recapture the gold. I get all nationalistic at times but I get tired of hearing about the Redeem Team. If Redeem Team isn't the lamest name for the team I don't know what is. I have no problem with the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. in basketball. It makes for better competitions and legitimizes all U.S. victories. What is the accomplishment if the field is a joke and winning the gold? Nothing in my eyes. Also, the press is acting like the U.S. has a God given right to the gold and shouldn't have to earn it. I like a tough field and want some competition for the U.S. In the end, I hope they bring home the gold.

Finally, what the hell is Chris Collingsworth doing covering the Olympics? He's worthless as a football commentator and doesn't add anything to the Olympics. NBC just needed warm bodies to send to China.

And with the 18th pick

The Texans traded first round picks with the Ravens and picked up the Raven's third and sixth round picks. The Texans used the pick to take Duane Brown from Virginia Tech.

I like the pick. The offensive line has been an Achilles heal for the Texans. The left tackle position has been snake bitten since the inception of the franchise. Tony Boselli never played a down. Charles Spencer was hurt in the second game of his rookie season and may never play a down again. The Texans needed to address the position and address it now.

Some so called experts question this pick. Many had Brown projected as a second or third rounder. I'll trust the Texans' judgement on this pick. The Texans OL Alex Gibbs is a well respected coach that teaches the zone blocking scheme. While I'm not a fan of the zone block, it has worked well for the Denver Donkeys. Gibbs knows what he's doing.

For the fans that are upset I have one thing to say. The Texans were NEVER going to take a running back with the first pick. How thick headed are you? In press conferences, radio shows and in the media, time and again the Texans brain trust explicitly stated the priorities were OT and CB and that RB was coming in the later rounds. So quit with the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

I knew nothing about Brown until today. After reading a few scouting reports, I like the pick. Most the media draft gurus have him projected as a second or third rounder. Who cares? I don't. They all agree that he has great potential. Sports Illustrated's report says he "jolts opponents with a violent hand-punch" and can get out and block linebackers too. Sounds good enough for me. I can live with a O-lineman who can knock a rushing d-lineman in the jaw and take a linebacker too. He's going to have two good mentors in starting LT Ephriam Salaam and Gibbs.

As much as I hate the Cowboys, I have to admit they are having a great draft. I think. The picked up a solid running back in Felix Jones and then added much needed help with CB Mike Jenkins. I'm surprised by the second round pick of Martellus Bennett. I thought they would pick up a WR. They need one to help take some coverage off Terrell Owens. Overall a solid first day for the Cowboys.

" When the music's over
When the music's over, yeah
When the music's over
Turn out the lights
Turn out the lights
Turn out the lights"
-"When the Music's Over, The Doors

That's the song I want to sing to the Phoenix Suns. Wow what an implosion. I really thought they were going to put up a better fight against the Spurs. I actually thought the Spurs were in trouble based on the way they were playing towards the end of the season. I stand corrected. The trade for Shaq has turned out to be a disaster. The Suns retooled midseason specifically to beat the Spurs. The gamble didn't work out and it looks like head coach Mike Dantoni's job is in jeopardy.

Bye, Phoenix, don't let the door hit Shaq's fat ass on the way out.

Finally, Congratulations to fellow Houston Cougar Donnie Avery. The Los Angeles Rams selected him in the second round. Avery's draft projection has been all over the place but his stock rose significantly leading up to the draft. Good luck and all the best.

Random Thoughts

My favorite Houston Texans site is no more. Housotn Pro Football is gone. A new incarnation of the site has risen in the name of In The Bull's Eye. Some of the old posters are starting to find their way over to the message board. Let's hope most of them return.

What a game between the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz. The Rockets could have mailed it in and started thinking about summer vacation. Freaking Carl Landry had a hell of a game. He got a tooth knocked out and returned to make a game winning block. Tracy McGrady scored more than one point in the fourth quarter. He made a bone headed offensive foul down the stretch but the Rockets survived. They seized home court back but they need to take game four to stay in it.

My beloved San Antonio Spurs look to take a commanding three game lead tonight in Phoenix. I know it's been talked and written a lot about. Even so I still wonder if the Spurs are really that much in the Suns' head? In every sport it some teams just have another team's number. I don't know if I they really are in their heads or is it match up problems or what. The Suns really aren't worse than the Spurs. Yet the Spurs just have their number in the playoffs. In the Tim Duncan era, the Spurs and the Suns have met up four times. The only series the Suns won was 2000 when Duncan sat out due to an injury. The Shaq experiment isn't working so far. No doubt about it, tonight is a must win for Phoenix.

I don't comment much on the NFL draft. There are enough draftniks and gurus out there that know far more about it than I do. I just read up on players who the Texans might be interested in and who might be the best fit. The most debated topic is what position the Texans will draft with the first pick. CB or LT? We won't know until Saturday.