George Foreman: A theory on the lack of sizable Houston Sports success

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Houston Rockets guard Rodney McCray up against Larry Bird at the Boston Garden in the 1986 NBA Finals. | Houston Sports (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Three reasons why the theory is wrong

After sitting down and re-examining the theory and other events that took place, I think the fact is the reasons for Houston not being able to have titles, which is no fault of George Foreman, comes down to three factors.

Greatness in other teams
Houston had other individual athletes succeed
Sports happen

Reason #1 – Greatness in Other Teams

Look at the teams we went up against in that stretch.

1981 and 1986 Boston Celtics – Two of three NBA titles in the 80’s
1980’s Los Angeles Lakers – Five titles in the 80’s
1992 Buffalo Bills – Two-time AFC champions
1986 Mets – 108 wins, eventual World Series champion.
1978 and 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers – Winners of four Super Bowls in the 1970’s.
1984 Georgetown Hoyas – Coached by legendary John Thompson and led by Patrick Ewing

Look at the list of players we had to compete against:

Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Jim Kelly
Thurman Thomas
Terry Bradshaw
Joe Greene
Patrick Ewing
Emmitt Smith
Roger Staubach
John Elway
Joe Montana

If you add the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990’s, you’re looking at a recipe of greatness. Houston had solid teams in that point but one of the biggest problems the city has had is that we rarely had the superstar talent that became legendary in the world of sports. Sure, we had these names:

But in truth, these athletes would be hard to find among the top 10 list of most recognizable athletes in the world. This is true even today. For while we have James Harden, Jose Altuve and J.J. Watt carrying the torch of Houston now, the world looks at Tom Brady, LeBron James, Bryce Harper, Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning as national-wide stars if that makes sense.

The success that they had as well as the markets they play in help them become great. Houston is on the cusp of being great. But things have to go right for us in order to have that opportunity.

Reason #2 – Other Houston Individual Athletes were Successful

Foreman isn’t the only athlete either from Houston or became a part of the city that was

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successful. You look at Carl Lewis, the former UH track star. He won twenty-two gold medals, including nine at the Olympics. There was also Fred Couples, PGA golfer and UH alum as well. He was the winner of the 1992 Masters. That remains his only major championship. Then you add A.J. Foyt, a stock car driver, who won championships in 1978 and 1979 when Foreman was not boxing. Finally, add in Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton, who won gold at the 1984 Olympics.

I think what makes the theory so interesting is that when Foreman was fighting, he was probably the only Houston-based athlete doing well in a sport. The Rockets were getting accustomed to Houston. The Oilers were not that good in the mid-’70s, and the Astros were winning roles in movies and not World Series titles. So it seems like this theory is saying that the hopes and dreams of success were carried by Foreman.

But that’s the problem because individual-sport athletes don’t have the same burden of representing their city much as professional teams do. If the athlete was wearing American colors, they would be representing the country. They just would be listed as being from a city in the United States. Plus, a championship from the individual doesn’t count towards the overall city title count.

Reason #3 – Sports Happened

We’re still going to struggle with the heartbreaks we have much like we’re going to enjoy the success that comes with it. That’s just the nature in sports. Sometimes upsets and heartbreaking losses are a part of it. If the Cougars won the championship in 1983, it would probably not be remembered as much as NC State upsetting us. If the Oilers had defeated the Bills easily, no one will recall that game or team unless they won the Super Bowl that year.

As a proud Houstonian, you want more titles. You want to be successful in sports. Every city does. But the thing with sports is you can’t script it. People will argue with it being rigged. But it’s not. No one rigged the Rockets two titles or the Astros World Series title. No scriptwriter decides Ali would beat Foreman to take the title only for Foreman to regain it twenty years later.

The truth is we’re proud to have teams representing us in good years and bad years. George Foreman will always be loved in Houston by us. Yes, he did what he had to do and it was unfortunate that it led to a long drought. But it was just a coincidence.

Next. Three New Year's wishes for Houston Sports teams. dark

Do you think Foreman was a pivotal factor in regard to the Houston Sports lack of success? Feel free to comment in the section below.

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