Houston Sports: 27 quick thoughts on what needs to change

4th Inning

This is where I struggle here. I want to get my points across to Houston sports fans. But I also want to understand your side. Please note I am not trying to offend anyone here. I just feel that I should explain where my head is at on these issues.

10 – The Next Few Days Will Be Interesting for the Astros

With Spring Training already going down, we’re seeing some incredible talent taking part that could be an addition to the squad. We already saw our experimental player Anthony Gose get released by the Astros along with Forrest Whitley getting suspended for fifty games due to a drug violation. But these next few days should be interesting because we’re seeing how good our team can be not just for 2018, but 2019, 2020, and 2021 as well. It’s a great time to be an Astros fan.

11 – Astros in DC

This is where I hate ESPN, who disagrees but guys like Max Kellerman don’t come up with a legitimate reason why this is a mistake. It’s okay not to agree here, but don’t say we’re making a grave mistake and we’ll be on the wrong side of history because we’re on the right side of history by winning the championship, you goofball.

So yes, the Astros will go to the White House later this week. We already know that Carlos Beltran and Ken Giles won’t be going with the team. But while there are those that might not agree with the decision for the team to go, let’s look at it this way. There are perks that come along with winning the World Series and the team has a right to take every advantage of them. Shucks, I wish we could’ve won in 1980, 1986, 1998, 2004, 2005, or 2015 so that we could’ve gone. But listening to the player’s interviews, like George Springer and Lance McCullers Jr. about going, it’s clear they’re going just to see the White House as a building first. All the other stuff comes second nature.

12 – The choice should not affect our love for the team after 2017.

I can’t speak for how many players dislike or don’t agree with the person in the White House right now. But I know they’re going because they won the World Series and they have the right to accept or decline the invite. It’s an honor to be recognized as America’s baseball champions. Our city is like every other place as far as opinions. But we come together when the times are bad that we put aside our differences and unite as one. From August to now, we united when Harvey hurt us big time and we showed America how resilient and strong we were afterward. The players won the championship.

So even if people might disagree with us going, like Clemson Football, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New England Patriots, and the Chicago Cubs, that shouldn’t change our feelings about them. We love the Astros and we will continue to love them. Who knows? It could either be a fun day or a bad day. But even if that’s one bad day, there are 364 days that can be better including next October hopefully.  It would only enhance the viability of Houston sports.

5th Inning

13 – The Rockets will lose a game soon before the playoffs

Right now, Houston is in a zone. They’ve won 17 games in a row. Did you see that coming Stephen A. Smith? Of course, you didn’t because you picked wrong like most of the time. But all the same, the Rockets will lose again before the playoffs. I know that sucks to hear but it’s the truth. We’re not going to win every game for the rest of the season as much as we want to. Jalen Rose thinks that Toronto is the team to end our streak. He might be right because the Raptors are one of the best teams in the NBA right now and should be a contender in the Eastern Conference. When the Rockets lose, we shouldn’t be surprised. All we can say is that Houston sports has got a bigger prize ahead of us soon.

14 – The Warriors are content with where they’re at.

While the Rockets are winning, the Warriors are content with where they are. Steve Kerr feels that way. Draymond Green feels that way. Everyone else feels that way. So the Warriors could care less. But this could lead to a potential wake up call.

I heard somebody say that that the difference between the Rockets and the Warriors are that the Rockets have more hunger to be successful than the Warriors. That’s the truth. We know the Warriors are going to be the team to beat in the NBA.

Even if we have the best record in the NBA, it still shouldn’t be forgotten that Golden State is going to get the credit. So should Houston’s hunger scare the Warriors? No, but it should be a head’s up that their days at the top might be numbered.

15 – MVP Race – Don’t change the narrative

James Harden is in a one-man race again for MVP. That is until a new challenger has emerged. This time, it’s Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans. Make no mistake. I don’t mind Anthony Davis being in the MVP race because he deserves it to be considered for the award as well.

But what troubles me is that the MVP voting has no standard requirements. When Steph Curry won the award back in 2015, he led the Warriors to the best record. When Russell Westbrook won the award last year, he broke the triple-doubles record in a single season while carrying the Thunder to the seventh seed in the playoffs.

As much as I don’t want to sound like people despise James Harden though I know they do to a degree, there should be no changing of the narrative. Stop looking for pleasing stories when the real story is right in front of you all along.

If Harden doesn’t win the award, unless he wins a championship, then he’ll be the poster child for athletes robbed by a bitter media who should change their attitudes or their jobs and that isn’t right.  What a disservice this has been for Houston sports.

6th Inning

16 – The Houston Cougars should make a run in the NCAA Tournament

Well, what do you know? The Houston Cougars are winning again. Kelvin Sampson has his boys on the right track. This Cougars team should be selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament.  I do think they’ll make a run. At best, I see them in the Sweet 16. It’s also possible that they could qualify for the Elite Eight.

17 – They’re the Dark Horse here

Now, this I can’t help but agree with myself. Houston won’t be a team considered to win it all. But they certainly won’t be a team not out there. Whoever Houston draws in the first and/or second round will have to understand that Houston could beat them. No one will foresee the Cougars going any farther unless they keep winning. Should they win a game in the tournament, the next opponent should not take them for granted.

18 – Perhaps the ghost of 1968 and Phi Slamma Jamma are still there.

Remember when Houston was good in 1968 after they beat UCLA in the Game of the Century? Or when Phi Slamma Jamma rocked the college basketball scene in the eighties? I won’t say this team is better than those two squads, but perhaps if they can play well during the tournament, then they should at least give the University of Houston community a reason to cheer. For one thing, the Cougars should have a national championship to erase the memories of the past. Aside from that, the ghosts of Houston sports’ past will always be there.