I have nothing against Roger Clemens (shown here playing in an over-50 men’s senior softball league on Wednesday), but I need him as far away from a baseball field as possible. He’s making my hometown media look like clowns. (Photo by Associated Press)
I have nothing against Roger Clemens. Absolutely nothing at all. As a Houstonian, I admire and respect his skill as a baseball player, and I can’t think of a more mesmerizing season (maybe aside from the ’94 and ’95 Rockets seasons) than that 2005 Astros campaign. The last time the Astros were relevant, Clemens was playing a vital role and was arguably the face of the franchise. So what I’m about to say is really reflective upon the Houston media and coverage of Clemens since his comeback to baseball, and how it has gone gaga and completely undermined its professional responsibilities to hometown hero Clemens.
Last week, Clemens announced he will sign with the independent club Sugar Land Skeeters to pitch this Saturday. It sort of came from out of nowhere, and there is no doubt “The Rocket” is riding high on good graces, mowing down the feds recently after walking out of a courtroom free, another victory in his books after he was acquitted on all charges that he lied to Congress when he denied using PEDs. Despite the fact that he was one of the centerpieces of the Mitchell Report that came out late last decade, the bottom line is the bottom line. Clemens is not a cheater, at least not by the law, and he got his day in court and won. Good for him.
(By the way, if you honestly still believe Clemens never once dabbled in PEDs, well, uh, good luck with that).
I have no problem with Clemens wanting to play baseball again. That’s his right; that’s what’s so great about America. We can do as we please; the opportunities are limitless. It’s up to us whether or not we choose to take advantage of what’s placed before us. What I do have an issue with is the plethora of ungodly media attention provided by Houston “journalists.” Ever since Clemens announced he was bound for Sugar Land, everyone has seemingly dropped what they were doing to hang onto his every word, to watch his every move. We’re talking about a 50-year-old man who last pitched in the majors five years ago and clearly has no future in the game, at least on the field. Really? This is the big story right after the Astros made significant coaching changes and the Texans are weeks away from kicking off what many hope to be a run to the Super Bowl?
Quick trivia question: What was the centerpiece of today’s Houston Chronicle sports page? Was it, A) Feature/news story on the Texans and their plethora of storylines this preseason; B) an advance on the Dynamo’s Champions League opener tonight; or C) gamer on Clemens’ Over-50 men’s softball game he participated in Wednesday night. Take a good guess.
If you guessed C, kudos! Congratulations on having a grasp on the madness that’s been birthed. For the people who say journalism today is a complete joke, well, there’s their ammo. Tough to argue with them on that one, and it’s doubly annoying when national media like the AP is scoffing at this whole scenario to begin with, but of course the guy’s hometown paper is drinking every sip of the kool-aid. Unbelievable, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Houston has never really been home to hard-hitting sports journalists who don’t cater to the city’s big stars. Journalists in Houston have biases and allegiances. That’s just the way it’s been, and they’re far from the only ones who are that way, but, whatever. It’s still discouraging.
Here’s another question: why is Jose Canseco laughed at for his ventures into minor league ball and Clemens is applauded? I am far from a Canseco apologist, but whatever you want to say about his buffoonery, he opened eyes in baseball with his book. And he was right: juicing was very much a problem back then, and apparently still very much is now. So why is he some abomination and Clemens is adored as soon as he announces he wants to play baseball at the indy league level? And why are people looking down upon Canseco’s chosen Indy ball venues like Laredo and Worcester and yet Sugar Land is hailed as some king of the minors. Indy ball is indy ball. It’s the minorest of the minors. That’s right. I said “minorest.” That’s how perplexed I am. It doesn’t make sense. It’s unfair. It’s hypocritical. It’s two-faced. In this certain case – a former stud Major Leaguer who has been linked to PEDs looks to stay in the game at any level and even flees to play indy ball – Jose Canseco should be treated no differently than Roger Clemens. It’s just not right. Clemens, at least to me, has made Canseco look almost like a sympathetic figure. Almost. Maybe. OK, perhaps not, but it’s close. It’s made me think twice, that’s for sure.
You have every right to argue that, “Dennis, well, it’s not only Houston media that thinks this is a big deal. CNN, ESPN … they all do too.” And I get that. CNN, I don’t understand at all. Whatever. ESPN will broadcast Clemens’ start on ESPN Classic on Saturday, but is that really a big deal? I don’t think so. This is an entity that glorifies little league baseball, so it doesn’t surprise me one bit that it would broadcast Clemens’ start for an obscure indy ball team in Houston. What else better is there to broadcast on ESPN Classic on a random Saturday afternoon anyway? Look, I get that there is an interest in this. But there is no need to hail Clemens’ every move, to thirst over his every word. There are much bigger fish to fry. Much bigger. And I have a big hunch that the whole Clemens return is a bigger deal to Houston media than its actual audience and readership. You’re telling me that readers would really care about how Clemens fared in a senior softball game than if Trendon Holliday is going to make the Texans’ roster or how the Dynamo might look against Champions League competition? I have my doubts.
It’s been awhile. But do know that the last few weeks or so that I’ve been absent from this blog have not been from naught. Indeed, much has been accomplished.
Tentatively, I am no longer a free agent. Last week, I accepted an offer from the McAllen Monitor to be a general assignment sports reporter/designer. I say “tentatively” because it’s not yet official; my drug test and background evaluation still have to be complete. but I do have a start date of Aug. 28 set. Interestingly enough, I’ve always held The Monitor in high regard. I have known McAllen very well over the last decade and counting, as my aunt and uncle – and now my brother – all work and reside there, so I grew up reading The Monitor’s sports section whenever we visited them. It was an impressive section then, complete in its purpose. It seems no stone is left unturned.
Aside from that, I’ve been finishing up some reading as well. Thursday, I finally wrapped up Jack McCallum’s “Dream Team,” which is worth all the accolades and hoopla that’s been sent its way since its July release. I found the book insightful. It doesn’t read too long – maybe around 330 pages or so – but it is packed with information and new material about, in my opinion, the greatest team ever assembled. Most importantly, the book offers much needed perspective. All you have to do is turn on ESPN and hear the stupid debate about whether the Dream Team could beat the 2012 USA team. It’s ridiculous, and just further proof of how short our memories are. This year’s USA team couldn’t even hold a candle to the 1996 USA team, let alone the ’92 version. And that ’96 team had plenty of issues of its own, as McCallum points out toward the end of his book.
Along the lines of reading, as I leave this post, let me offer some worthy material for your own enjoyment. I promise you won’t be disappointed;
– Grantland.com’s Jonah Keri, who has become my favorite baseball writer, has a neat piece on Felix Hernandez’s perfect game from Wednesday here.
– SI.com’s Andy Staples takes a look at the copycat process going on across college football, as Alabama’s Nick Saban apparently holds the gold standard for the game today. Read it here.
– SI.com’s Thomas Lake has a compelling open letter asking Michael Jordan why he hasn’t come to the aid of his former high school coach, whom Jordan has incorrectly called him out time and time again for “cutting” him. Read it here.
– Via ESPN.com, a Texas Pee Wee youth football league bars a 300-pound player. It’s here.
Former TAMIU head men’s basketball coach Shane Rinner (in white) was one of more mercurial and successful coaches I’ve covered in my seven years as a sports journalist. Here he is talking with me (in black) along with star guard Ryan McLucas after winning the program’s first conference tournament championship in 2011.
(Since 2009, I covered Shane Rinner’s stint as head coach of the Texas A&M International men’s basketball team. I was the beat writer for the program – and was from June 2007 through January 2012 – and recently learned of him leaving the program last week for a job in California. As one of the more mercurial and successful figures I’ve had the joy of reporting on in my career, here is my recollection of Rinner’s tenure in Laredo, Texas).
One of South Texas’ most brilliant and calculating basketball minds resigned last week to head to California for a better gig. But what Laredo’s Texas A&M International men’s basketball program lost in head coach Shane Rinner was not only a man who revived what had been a scandalous doormat of an athletic institution, but an individual presided upon ethics who embraced right from wrong and expected his staff and players to follow suit.
As complex as Rinner, who will be the first assistant head women’s basketball coach at Fresno State, may seem, he’s actually not. The fiery, no-holds-barred tornado that whirled the sidelines in the “Gateway City’s” north side is actually, in essence, an affable, thoughtful, considerate human being without a selfish bone in his body. All the evidence necessary is the reason why he took the Fresno State gig, and that was to get his wife Amanda, a Cali native and Fresno State alum, back home to be with her family, knowing that’s what she’s wanted all along. That was priority No. 1: do what’s right by his family.
See, there’s Shane Rinner, the coach, and there’s Shane Rinner, the person. It’s important to learn how to differentiate between the two.
In a brief but substantially rewarding three years at the helm of the Dustdevils, Rinner – who accepted what appeared to be a career death sentence in 2009 when he accepted the position following a cheating scandal the prior spring in which the program had six players who cheated on a spanish exam, resulting in the NCAA stripping the program of all wins in 2008-09 and putting it on probation for following seasons – led TAMIU to its first NCAA conference tournament postseason appearance in his first year and earning two consecutive conference championships in his next two seasons. He won a school-record 21 games in each the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, and in 2010-11 he guided the program on an epic run toward the NCAA Division II tournament, where the Dustdevils fell to No. 1 seed and site host Central Oklahoma by nine points in overtime in the first round. In his three years at TAMIU, Rinner’s Dustdevils won 54 games. In his final campaign last year, he earned the conference’s Coach of the Year honor and helped Evan Matteson (his first recruit to TAMIU) nab MVP.
It was easy to assume that basketball is all Rinner eats, sleeps and drinks. It’s true that his work ethic is legendary. It’s also true that he is incredibly meticulous on all matters in his program, nothing was void of his fingerprints, and is the definition of “hands-on,” from the style of marketing posters made for the team to the way a player closes out on a potential shooter. But there is certainly a method to his perceived madness, and if you can say one thing about Rinner it’s that it’s blatantly clear that he cares way too much. That goes for any waters he dips his toes into. If he pleads his allegiance, it will be done, and it will be done right.
But basketball is not the end-all, be-all with Rinner. In a sit-down chat right after a heated practice before the start of the 2011-12 season last winter, I found out a few cool things about a leader who is as multi-faceted as he is demanding. Rinner actually does not necessarily aspire to be a head coach at a prominent Division I university. He’d be perfectly fine as an assistant coach at a mid-major DI. He boasts other interests, vastly different from his current vocation. He loves politics. He’s been known to sit in on campaigns and craves that kind of stuff, even going as far as tinkering with the idea of running for office back home in Alaska.
He also likes fundraising. Loves it, in fact. In previous conversations, he has mentioned how he doesn’t necessarily have to coach and he would still be happy in college athletics. He’s talked about his passion for building a program. He also joked that he would like the lifestyle involved in fundraising, which is “little more than playing golf and going out to dinners.” He has a passion for helping others, for building, for structure. It’s a cliche, but Shane Rinner is all about the journey, all about being immersed in the process.
While I was taken aback a bit at the sudden nature of Rinner’s departure for Fresno State last week, I was far from totally surprised. His move not only achieved the goal of getting his wife closer to her family and back home, but also opened the door for former player, longtime associate head coach and dear friend Bryan Weakley to run his own program and keep TAMIU afloat all at the same time. It was a no-brainer for Rinner. It was a calculated move. It was an unselfish move. No one loses. Everyone wins.
It’s the end result to a past three years that have been hellaciously tiring and emotional. It’s why Rinner busted his tail in otherwise deplorable circumstances.
Consider:
– The Dustdevils are one of three Heartland Conference teams not fully funded. TAMIU, in the 2011-12 conference championship season, played with 5.2 scholarships. The rest of the 5.9 went to redshirts. TAMIU played with 5.8 schollys this year, 6.8 total.
– In the Heartland Conference, Laredo is considered the second-least desirable attraction other than Oklahoma’s Panhandle State. The program is also second-worst in scholarship allotment, also behind OPSU, and TAMIU has the fewest number of students on campus (approximately 600). The next fewest is 1,600 in Odessa at Texas-Permian Basin.
– Any increase in Rinner’s budget has come from his own fundraising, which is approximately $2,000 in his three years. That money helped for upgrades in the men’s locker room as well as the women’, due to Title IX. He was the program’s chief fundraiser and drove the initiatives, finding little support from department administrators.
The only plus of being in the situation in Laredo, Rinner told me, is how bad it was before he got there. It was a program mired in scandal and mediocrity; a program of apathy and a revolving door of head coaches, philosophies and principles. For a first-time head coach, it was also a beneficial one. Anything and everything Rinner and his staff would be able to accomplish in Laredo would be seen as the next great thing, simply because the program had never escaped the depths of college basketball purgatory. Had Rinner failed, it would have been thought of as nothing. But if he succeeded – he would be seen by university leaders as nothing less than a savior. It was win-win. Low risk, high reward. Much like his move to leave TAMIU, interestingly enough.
Give Shane Rinner this: No move goes unplanned. He’s always thinking 2-3 steps ahead, on and off the court. He is a throwback to the old age of coaches who demanded excellence on the court, off it and in the classroom. The plus is that TAMIU won’t skip a beat with Weakley. Weakley shares Rinner’s thrill for helping student-athletes succeed, in the classroom first before on the court. And while I have no doubt the Dustdevils – who graduated eight seniors and are in an ideal rebuilding situation with a motivated, hungry teacher like Weakley running the show – will maintain the program’s integrity and growth initiated three years ago, it’s important to take a moment and understand what Rinner truly accomplished, coming to Laredo like a dark knight from his home of Alaska, willing to put his career on the line and sacrificing for the greater good of the university.
And now that sacrifice has been rewarded, for the greater good of his family.
If Daryl Morey had his way, it’s highly unlikely that rookie first-round draft picks (from left to right) Royce White, Terrence Jones and Jeremy Lamb would ALL be wearing Houston Rockets colors. Alas, so far they are, an indictment of how much of a failure this offseason has been for the organization.
There’s an infamous saying that goes something like this: “Sports are a business. It’s nothing personal.” Eventually all fans have to learn to adopt this adage, even if they don’t wish to. We’d like to personalize our teams. We’d like to find ways to relate to the players. We’d like to see them grow and mature, not only on the court or field, but off it as well. In essence, we’d like to feel that we were with them along the way, and that should they ever reach that sacred stage known as their sport’s championship, that we were right there with them, through thick or thin, heaven or hell.
Unfortunately, the Houston Rockets could not care less about the human nature of sports. They are business, above all. Their employees on the court are not people; they are assets. They don’t necessarily care for their players as they do the bottom line, even when, apparently, that bottom line is far from a success. As fans, we understand there is no loyalty in sports, but it wouldn’t hurt the teams we root for if they weren’t so blatant about it. Yet, that’s where the Rockets – playoff-less the last three seasons and owners of middling middle of the first round draft picks over that same time – stand. In an effort to do whatever it is they’ve been trying to do, whether initially trying to rebuild without bottoming out (fail) or now trying to sacrifice all for the precious signature star that has eluded them since the days of a healthy Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, they’ve also successfully managed to disconnect themselves from their fans, as if operating as some sort of secret service whose intentions are only known to those inside the precious walls of the Toyota Center.
Consider this: This summer, the Rockets have said farewell to four players (Kyle Lowry, Courtney Lee, Samuel Dalembert and Chase Budinger), two of which (Lowry and Lee) were held in relative high regard by fans for their professionalism (Lee much so than Lowry over the previous six months) and two valued two-way talents, a commodity owned by few Rockets. Lowry was traded to Toronto last week for a first-round draft pick that is all but guaranteed to be a lottery selection. Lee was simply given his walking papers; even worse, his qualifying offer was withdrawn even after General Manager Daryl Morey confidently assured fans Lee would be back even as an restricted free agent. Dalembert, a valuable rebounder and shot-blocker on a team lacking interior presence, and a first round pick were traded to Milwaukee for three unknowns in Jon Brockman, Jon Leuer and Shaun Livingston, and a first round pick. Budinger, a sharpshooter, was given to Minnesota for a late first round pick. So let’s summarize: Four Rocket players – three who started a significant number of games last year – and a middle first round pick were essentially exchanged for three benchwarmers and three middle first round picks. In the process, in an offseason with an adored amount of cap room and assets, the Rockets have been rejected by the likes of Dwight Howard, Eric Gordon and even their own unrestricted free agent, Goran Dragic. This summer’s biggest prize so far? Omer Asik, a career backup, one-dimensional center whom Houston desperately is committed to spending $8 million per year upon.
This summer was supposed to be one of redemption for Morey, who has been hyped beyond belief ever since he arrived in Houston’s front office as some sort of boy genius; the Billy Beane of the NBA, if you will. This was the summer where it appeared everything was in line: plenty of money available. Plenty of young assets. Plenty of draft picks to offer in sexy trades. This was going to be Morey’s time to shine. This was going to be his moment; his LeBron epiphany, per se. But it never came to fruition. And now Morey and his staff are left as the laughingstock of the offseason. It has gotten so bad, the Rockets have abruptly switched directions. A team that was only a premier superstar away from really making a quantum leap in the West is now under midst a rebuilding session, a fire sale in a misguided effort to indeed land that signature star; yes, the same signature stars like Howard and Gordon who do not even consider Houston as a fruitful destination. But what else is Morey supposed to do, really? He waited too long. It took him three years before realizing that drafting 14th in the lottery is not where a team desires. The Rockets have been living in no-man’s land for the most of Morey’s tenure. Even the Charlotte Bobcats feel bad. And while owner Les Alexander is also to blame for his insistence that his team rebuild without tanking, his time as owner has not been this discombobulated. The bottom line is it’s Morey’s job to put the pieces in place to field a respectable, competitive unit, and he failed to done so.
It’s also Morey that has a great deal to do with what follows, which arguably could be the most troubling.
Morey prizes assets, not people. And people around the league – opposing GMs and, of course, players – are starting to see that. Players are immediately expendable the moment they find themselves on the roster of the silver and red. There is no such thing as job security if you’re a Rocket. Mind you, that’s true for all teams in all sports, but especially for the Rockets. They don’t even pretend to believe they care for their players. So I give them props for being upfront, even if it’s hurting them just the same. Professional athletes wish to be cajoled, embraced, beloved. Not only financially, but personally. They want to feel wanted, as if they’re valued. They don’t want to be treated as if they’re a minor league prospect, shipped at a moment’s notice if that’s what the higher-ups deem necessary. Morey and the Rockets deal with assets, not people. And don’t think that that doesn’t matter. It does. Just look at the fact they didn’t give Dragic that player option in his fourth year of a discussed deal, simply because they couldn’t harbor the thought that a player was not in their control. Phoenix did offer that option. Guess where Dragic went?
It is a severe disconnect. Players feel like assets to the Rockets, and fans don’t know who to root for or get to know because he could be here today, gone in a few hours. Morey and the Rockets wish to be looked at as a forward-thinking franchise. In some ways, they are. They get the most bang for their buck and have done a relatively admirable job of scouting talent for the draft. But mostly, they operate like a minor league club, jettisoning players to and from the D-League at will (with no real data showing that it pays off in considerable improvement by the particular player) and pretty much employing a system void of feeling, void of personality.
This weekend, I covered a couple of Double-A baseball games here in Corpus Christi. There is something serene about covering the sport. I don’t watch it much because I think games are way too long, but I do love covering the game, keeping a scorebook and always being alert, knowing I could miss anything at any given time.
I watched the Hooks entertain the RockHounds from Midland. The Hooks won both games I covered, and it brought back to mind the plethora of storylines that often accompany minor league ball, which I’ve been well acquainted with in my seven years in sports journalism. Some of the greatest people I know I met while covering the sport. But it also presented some of the most heartbreaking as well.
In Laredo, I was the beat writer for the Laredo Broncos, an independent club that was in existence from 2006-2010. It was while assigned the beat that I covered one of the most mercurial and tragic stories I’ve ever done, that of pitcher John Odom. In 2008, Odom was acquired by Laredo from Calgary for 10 maple bats. It was a unique, odd story, though not one unusual in the world of minor league ball. However, the story made national news, with ESPN, The Associated Press and other national entities filling their space with details of this former San Francisco Giants draft pick who was traded away for wood, delivered from Canada to a border town deep in South Texas.
Odom was an interesting character. He showed up late to an interview with ESPN. He was very laid back, chill, and seemed to take the whole thing well. When asked what he thought of the trade, his response was, “Well, I hope it’s good wood!” He said that with a smile and a laugh. I never once saw him down; he was always in good spirits, boasting a smile.
However, over the coming months, a shady past would be exposed, from battles with alcohol, to family issues, to past criminal episodes. He was someone no one completely understood, especially the Broncos. It was clear they were dealing with a troubled soul with a fragile state of mind. Yet it was never clear how troubled or how fragile. Eventually he left the club not long after his arrival in late May to attend to some family issues, and he was never heard from again until months later, when it was discovered what was initially ruled a suicide ended up as Odom overdosing on pills.
Here are some of the stories I did on Odom that offer more depth:
It really is a tragic story, and one I will never forget. The last story of the batch is the most revealing, how harsh the taunts of opposing crowds were toward Odom, who was given the name “Batman.” He seemed like a good guy. He was just, well, troubled. And no one helped. Even his death was a secret. When I talked to his manager and teammates for the last story, none knew he had passed. Even the AP learned about his passing when I did.
In reflecting, it’s tough not to blame Calgary, the team that traded Odom to Laredo. Surely they were aware of his issues. Surely they had to have known that dealing this particular individual for 10 bats was not the smartest idea, certainly not in his best interest. If you don’t have the funds to get the bats you need in the first place, perhaps you shouldn’t be fielding a professional outfit. Alas, this was Odom’s fate. That Broncos team was a good group of guys with a sensible manager in Dan Shwam. It was just a misguided fit. Odom did not know how to handle his new fame. The Broncos did not know how to handle Odom.
It just goes to show that many fans or even media types will encounter some players that they never truly understand. Did those opposing crowds in Amarillo or wherever know they were affecting Odom’s state of mind when they catcalled “Batman!” each outing? I doubt it. It’s a thin line. I’m sure it was all done in harmless fun.
Kaleb Canales, the pride of Laredo, Texas, finds himself in the limelight as the interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. (AP PHOTO)
I met Kaleb Canales in the summer of 2009. As sports editor of the Laredo Morning Times, a small daily newspaper on the border in Laredo, Texas, I had received word that Canales would be in town for the first of what would be his annual summer basketball camps in his hometown.
I was enthused. As an NBA aficionado, to know that someone affiliated with a team, in this case the Portland Trail Blazers, was coming to town was a story I craved, particularly in the ho-hum days of summer when storylines are few and wire reports are many. Still, I did not know what to expect. My experience dealing with pros has been fair. They answer a few questions, but almost always cut things short. After all, got things to do and people to see, right?
When I walked into the gym of Alexander High – Canales’ alma mater, where he finished his high school career after spending two years at United High – I waited in the bleachers. The turnout was respectable, maybe 100-125 kids in attendance, and instantly I spotted Canales, a human Red Bull sprinting around giving directions, clapping every 10-20 seconds it seemed, and a broad smile never once leaving his face. Eventually he came around to me, during the middle of the camp, apparently eyeing a new face. Before I could utter a word, he introduced himself. I introduced myself and we talked, spending 20-30 minutes on a variety of subjects, basically being given his life story. Throughout the entire time, his answers were short, yet spirited. Countless times, he boasted how his rise — as a 5-foot-11 graduate assistant coach at UT-Arlington, to assistant coach at Martin and United high schools in Laredo, and to becoming a video intern with the Blazers in 2004 and, at that time, now a video coordinator with Portland — was a “blessing.” He thanked God early and often, and you could tell he was genuine. It’s what I imagine it’s like talking to Tim Tebow, who is also joyful and authentic in his ways. This was who Canales was, someone eternally grateful for the opportunities thrown his way, and paying back that gratitude with the way he treated others, as if they were a part of his own family.
From that point, Kaleb and I exchanged contact information and we talked maybe once or twice every six months, though we talk a bit more often now. I always covered his camps when he came the following years, and eventually met other NBA folks – like current Minnesota scout Pat Zipfel, who worked with Kaleb when the latter was an intern in Portland – who sung Kaleb’s praises to no end. Whether it was Zipfel, LaMarcus Aldridge or Jerryd Bayless – all individuals Kaleb brought to Laredo to help assist his camps – there was never a bad word mentioned about him. Two things were always brought up in any conversation regarding Kaleb: His relentless work ethic (he often sleeps in the practice facility and hardly ever sees his apartment) and his uplifting attitude, which can inspire the most solemn of Debbie Downers, this I assure you.
It should surprise no one that, aside from his youth camps every summer, Canales also hosted private sessions with any local high school coach or player who wanted to attend, drilling the players and letting friends like Zipfel offer their knowledge to the coaches. The turnout for these particular camps was significant, probably 200-300 for an event that was not advertised or promoted (on Canales’ want) in order to not have distractions and so that he could work with the local talent on a one-on-one basis.
So to see Canales now as the head coach of the Blazers on an interim basis as of Thursday is not entirely surprising. Kaleb is an individual who has worked tirelessly to get to this point, never cutting corners and never making excuses. When he talks to the media, he speaks in cliche (and I will say he has improved drastically in that regard since I first talked to him that summer), but when I joked with him about that, we both acknowledged that cliches exist because they are true in some form, and many people abide by them. So when he talks about focusing on just that night’s game, or staying “in the moment”, he’s being honest. It’s not coachspeak, at least not in his instance. It’s Kaleb. Although, I did witness a sort of media breakthrough last summer when Canales allowed a photo shoot to be arranged for a feature story. He bounced into the gym (he does bounce, not walk), and said, “D, buddy, I don’t do this for anyone other than you … ” and we shared a handshake. Throughout the entire shoot, I told Kaleb, who later beat me by a letter in a game of H-O-R-S-E, how appreciative I was.
Kaleb is a man of integrity and honor. As a result, he is well-respected, having represented the NBA and its Basketball Beyond Borders program last summer in Brazil (which precious few are given the honor to go) and having been inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame last fall. The greatest thing you can say about him is that, in a profession of tireless, driven, obsessive individuals, Kaleb is regarded by his peers as the hardest worker of them all.
Over the years, I managed to write more than my fair share of stories while covering Kaleb, who is beloved and adored in Laredo, for obvious reasons. I’d like to share some of my favorites so that you get a better idea of the youngest head coach currently walking the sidelines in the NBA. Photos are courtesy of the Associated Press:
Making it big: Laredoan gives back to community
By DENNIS SILVA II LAREDO MORNING TIMES Published: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 8:09 AM CDT
Kaleb Canales, an assistant coach/video coordinator for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, has more in common with Laredo youngsters than just a love for hoops.
He, too, was once one of them.
The former Alexander High grad, who was a member of the Bulldogs’ first ever graduation class and an assistant coach at Martin and United, has never forgotten his roots.
He returned home this summer to conduct his first series of basketball camps at Alexander and LBJ High. From Thursday through Monday of last week, Canales hosted approximately 100 kids a day, for eight hours each day, and taught his hometown’s youth the game he loves so deeply, hoping one day they end up just like him.
“For him to do this says a lot,” said Martin High head basketball coach Hecky Noyola, who played against Canales in high school and is one of his best friends.
“Guys in Kaleb’s position are busy throughout the whole year.
“For him to do this in his one or two weeks off a year means a lot to these kids and community.”
Gateway upbringing
Noyola and Canales met when Noyola was in high school, playing ball at Martin.
Canales was two grades older than Noyola.
He went to high school his first two years at United before moving to Alexander, when it first opened. He was a role player throughout his high school career, but he had his moments, such as a few 20-point outings, as well as a deadly go-to move.
“He had one signature move that nobody could stop … we called it the ‘Canales shuffle’,” Noyola said, laughing. “He’d get on the low block, turn, quick fake and everybody would fall for it. He’d take one dribble and score.
“He was always getting people with that move.”
Canales grins at the mention of the move.
“It was my only move in the post,” he said with a smile. “Guys were always so intent on blocking me, so I’d get them up and go in and score a layup.”
After graduating as part of the first senior class from Alexander, Canales went to Laredo Community College, but was still around high school basketball.
During Noyola’s senior year at Martin, Canales, whenever he had time, helped out as an unofficial team manager, washing uniforms and doing the scorebook, or whatever was necessary to stay involved in the game.
He went on to eventually graduate from the University of Texas-Arlington, where he spent one year as a manager while Noyola was a player, before serving on coach Bobby Cruz’s staff for one year at Martin.
From there, he moved to United with Cruz, now the athletic director for the United Independent School District, before returning to UTA for an assistant’s job for a year.
After that, Canales served as an intern with the Trail Blazers, and was promoted to video coordinator after head coach Maurice Cheeks was dismissed in March 2005.
Canales served in that capacity until the 2008-09 season, when he was named assistant coach/video coordinator.
He is primarily responsible for video work, scouting of opponents and player development.
“It’s incredible to see his dreams come true,” Noyola said. “I remember when he was younger, he used to always tell us he’d be on SportsCenter, as a sports anchor. He’d write letters to ESPN and ask how he could get a job.
“It’s just funny, because now he’s on SportsCenter, but as a coach.
“When they give highlights of the Blazers games, there’s Kaleb, coaching the NBA guys.”
Big-game star
It seems Canales’ career has been that of a dream.
“It’s like a book,” he said. “I’m extremely blessed. I think I’ve done it the right way, as far as pecking order.
“I’m just trying to learn and pay my dues right now so I can get where I want to be, a head coach in the NBA.”
The 31-year-old Canales has certainly put in the work to achieve that lofty goal.
This summer alone, he has spent time in Indiana (working out with Blazers center Greg Oden), Austin (with Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge), Oregon (with Roy) and Spain (with Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez).
“It’s like high school, it just blows by so quickly,” Canales said. “My career has been like that. I’ve just tried to stay humble, work hard and enjoy the process.”
Asked if he was still starry-eyed from the fact he’s a Laredoan working amongst the game’s best, Canales smiled.
“At the end of the day, those guys are kids and you just want to coach them,” he said.
“You just want them to get better. Initially, when I got to the league, I was taken aback, but the bottom line is coaching and teaching.
“You coach them just like you’d coach United and Martin kids.”
Canales did note, however, that the NBA is a whole different world in regard to pure basketball ability.
“It’s day and night,” he said. “First, these guys have God-given gifts. They’re so athletic, so strong, so fast. I mean, LaMarcus was here the past couple of days, and when we do our workouts, we work on 3-pointers … and he’s 6-foot-11! He’s 6-foot-11, shooting 3s, making 7 out of 10.
“The NBA is such where the big, huge guys can do what guards can do.”
Luis Valdez, an assistant coach during Canales’ time at Alexander and now the head coach of the Bulldogs, is not surprised at his former pupil’s success.
“His passion for the game was always evident,” Valdez said. “He has not changed a bit.
“He has grown to be a wonderful man and a wonderful ambassador for basketball.”
Staying grounded
If there’s one thing Canales has kept in his memory banks from his Laredo days, it’s the coaching he received.
“One thing I learned is that you appreciate the things they did for us at that age,” he said. “At that time, you may not agree with coaches and how they go about things, but as you grow up, you learn and start to understand why they did what they did.
“To this day, I keep up with all my coaches and the high school sports here in Laredo. I’m on lmtonline.com every day, all the time, because I still have a lot of love and appreciation for this city.”
Valdez said Canales’ story is one every Laredo hoopster with big dreams should abide by.
“Kids like Kaleb is what makes coaching worthwhile,” Valdez said. “It’s not about the money or championships. It’s about kids like Kaleb coming back and saying ‘Thank you.'”
The talented coaching in Laredo is why Canales has a lot of faith in the future of basketball in the Gateway City.
“As a city, we don’t have great height, but our kids are skilled, they’re good and they play so hard,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of skill here in Laredo, and Laredo basketball has a great future.”
Aside from being an exemplary basketball mind, Canales is also an affable and thoughtful person. It’s not uncommon for him to call Noyola before a big game, just to talk basketball. He never forgets birthdays, and he always calls Valdez for Father’s Day, or to speak with his daughter on her birthday.
“She calls him ‘Tío Kaleb’,” Valdez said with a laugh.
All around, Canales is a role model for Laredo in every aspect.
“He’s always been the hardest working guy and he does things 100 percent and the right way,” Noyola said. “It’s good to see someone from Laredo succeed like this; it’s good for kids to see that anything is possible.”
Canales inspires Laredo hoops
By Dennis Silva II Gateway sports Published: Sunday, August 15, 2010 3:17 AM CDT
They came by the hundreds. Kids from all over Laredo, San Antonio and the Valley all rushed to the Gateway City last week for Kaleb Canales’ Assist XIII basketball camps that were held at LBJ and Alexander high schools.
By now, everyone is aware of Canales’ story. The Laredo native was a graduate of Alexander, went to Laredo Community College for a year and then embarked on a fast and furious road that eventually led him to where he is today, as the assistant coach of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.
Last week, during a lengthy stay in his hometown, Canales hugged, chatted, clapped, cheered, encouraged, motivated and excited a legion of supporters.
He brought in Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless, as well as high-ranking coaches and scouts from around the NBA.
Laredo’s ambassador
“Kaleb is an ambassador for Laredo,” said Houston Rockets advanced scout Patrick Zipfel.
And Zipfel should know. He worked with Canales when the two were with the Blazers a few years ago, and Canales was just a video intern.
Together, they shared 22-hour work days and grew a bond that is everlasting.
“Look at what he’s done,” Zipfel said, gesturing to the hundreds of kids and local high school coaches who listened under Canales. “Just look at what he’s done.”
If there is a more humble, kind and gentlemanly man in professional sports than Kaleb Canales, I have yet to meet him. He is a man of few words, but the few he speaks resonate strongly.
“I’m blessed,” he says whenever asked to talk about his unique situation from Laredoan to NBA coaching star. “I’ve been very blessed.”
Everywhere at once
Canales is a man in constant motion.
If he’s not mentoring kids on how to do a left-handed lay-up, he’s chatting with his “coaches” — who consist of Laredoans who desire to coach basketball one day — about the nuances of the game. If he’s not doing that, he’s talking with the media, doing video interviews, or merely just shooting the breeze.
This previous week was a tremendous opportunity for local basketball enthusiasts, and if Canales has his way, it will continue to be so every year in August whenever he takes a break from the grind of the NBA to make the trip back home.
Canales will be roaming the sidelines for the Blazers again this season, a year smarter after serving as the head coach of the Blazers’ summer league team in Las Vegas in early July (he won four games and lost one).
But Laredo will be there every step of the way with him. Already, the amount of Blazers paraphernalia seen around town is staggering, and that’s due to one man.
“I know everyone’s a Spurs fan,” Canales said with a grin, “but I’m seeing more red and black a lot lately.”
And that’s exactly how it should be.
Inducted: Laredo’s Canales enshrined
By DENNIS SILVA II LAREDO MORNING TIMES Published: Friday, September 16, 2011 2:17 AM CDT
As Kaleb Canales’ career ascends, so does recognition of his talents.
On Thursday evening, Canales – a Laredo native and current assistant coach with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers – was inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame at the organization’s 17th annual event in San Antonio.
“It’s extremely humbling,” Canales said early Thursday afternoon. “Talking to (founder) Mr. (Raul) Zuniga, who I’ve known for a couple of years, I do know he’d mentioned he was following me and keeping track of my career.
“To be in a hall of fame is a privilege and an honor.”
Canales was one of six honorees on Thursday, and one of four who were awarded for their accomplishments in athletics. The organization is run by the Latinos In Action Sports Association and its mission of providing opportunities for students in various high schools for college support.
Latinos In Action, according to a press release, “inducts individuals who have made a name and example for all the youths of our nation.”
“It’s really exciting for my family, just to see the smiles on their faces,” said Canales, who was joined by his father and mother at Thursday’s induction. “I love seeing that, more than anything else. They put as much sacrifice, just as much as I have.”
Canales said that, while being a Hispanic has not provided particular obstacles toward his career’s growth, he does have more than a mere chip on his shoulder
“It’s more like a brick,” he said with a laugh. “We all get motivated and we’re all competitive and I’ve definitely found things to make me work harder. I’m just like anybody else, man; I get motivated by different things.”
Canales, 33, graduated from Alexander High – where he played as a 5-foot-10 power forward and was part of its first graduating senior class – and quickly climbed the coaching ranks, rising from team manager after graduating at UT-Arlington, to assistant high school coach back in Laredo at Martin and United, to video intern with the Blazers.
He was promoted full-time with the Blazers in March 2005 and served in that capacity until 2008-09, when he was promoted again to assistant coach/video coordinator.
This summer, Canales was chosen by the NBA to be part of its distinguished “Basketball Without Borders” campaign, coaching young kids in Brazil.
“His passion for the game was always evident,” said Luis Valdez, now Alexander’s head boys’ basketball coach who was an assistant there when Canales played. “He has not changed a bit. He has grown to be a wonderful man and a wonderful ambassador for basketball.”
Latinos in Action has awarded more than $90,000 worth of scholarships since it was initially founded in 1989. Also inducted alongside Canales on Thursday were Natalie Gamez (St. Mary’s University All-American basketball player), Tony Moreno (two-time National Golden Gloves champion) and John Luna (former Southwest Texas all-conference pick and San Antonio Toros player).
Receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards for Community Service were Wal-Mart executive Robert Romo and the former Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez.
Canales will return to Portland on Saturday and get back to the weekly coaches’ meetings the Blazers are holding.
Finally game time for Kaleb and the NBA
By Dennis Silva II Gateway sports Published: Sunday, December 25, 2011 3:28 AM CST
A hurried and bustling 66th NBA season tips off today.
With that comes the annual reminder the past eight years that a Laredoan will once again roam the sidelines, overseeing the best of the best in an effort to take advantage of a compressed 66-game schedule.
Alexander High graduate and former Martin and United coach Kaleb Canales will once again ply his trade as an assistant coach for the remodeled Portland Trail Blazers, who lost franchise guard Brandon Roy to retirement but gained veteran pieces in Jamal Crawford, Kurt Thomas and Craig Smith after flaming out in the first round of last year’s playoffs to eventual champ Dallas.
This particularly lengthy offseason – obscured by the childish antics of the NBA and its players association during the league’s second lockout in the past 11 years – served as a chance to get back to the basics for Canales, who was inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame in September after serving as a league ambassador for its prestigious Basketball Without Borders program.
Broadening his horizons
More importantly, however, Canales was able to broaden his knowledge of the game. The boyish-faced 33-year-old visited the men’s basketball programs at Baylor, Oregon, Oregon State, University of Portland, Texas and TAMIU.
He met with coaches, sat in on practices and discussed new ideas and theories with some of the game’s best leaders.
“It was still very much a busy offseason,” Canales said late Thursday night as he prepped for Monday’s season opener against Philadelphia. “Getting the opportunity to go study different coaches and different programs in college basketball and going back and forth on ideas, philosophies and concepts … it was a great, great time and a blessing.”
Canales said it was a welcome time for his “personal growth and learning.” He also spent most of his offseason in Portland, meeting with coaches, developing game plans and basically doing whatever head coach Nate McMillan thought could help the team.
So when Canales got the call from McMillan 17 days ago that the lockout was officially done and over with, there was no panic. No rush. No heavy concern.
“We had prepared every day just like every other team,” Canales said. “We were ready to get back out there.”
Back to the game
The Blazers, and the rest of the league, rushed through a frenzied free agency period, though their biggest coup – the scoring dynamo Crawford – wasn’t secured until early last week during the team’s brief preseason schedule.
Fortunately, Canales said, the whole thing has been relatively smooth, which he credits Blazers veterans like LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby and Raymond Felton for.
At a time many thought would set teams back in regard to firmly setting a foundation for this season, the Blazers were perfectly fine.
“Just talking to Kurt, Jamal and Craig, they’ve said it feels seamless, as if they’ve been with us for awhile,” Canales said. “That’s a credit to the core of the team and it’s a credit to our training camp. We have veterans that know how to play and have been here awhile and they understand the challenges.
“We had a great training camp. Great collective spirit. Obviously the schedule will come fast and furious, but we’re prepared. Everything’s been going well. The guys have been wonderful about getting up to speed.”
The main difference in the shortened preseason was that the Blazers have gone with one long practice each day instead of McMillan’s preferred two-a-days.
It helps keep the Blazers rested and moving forward to win the battle of attrition and rest and recovery for a unique season that features the hated back-to-back-to-backs (three) and five games in one week.
“The schedule is always going to feel like it does. Games are always fast and furious,” Canales said. “It looks like a lot, but every team is faced with it. The one thing is being in basketball game-ready shape. That will be the biggest challenge, and the only way to do that is to play games.
“Everyone will be faced with that.”
Up in the air
Popular consensus is that the teams with an abundance of youth and depth stand the best chance to prevail this season.
Canales, however, doesn’t figure that to be necessarily the case.
“It’s hard to say,” he said. “I’ve been blessed enough to be in the NBA for eight years, and that’s why you play the games. You just never know. Every game presents a different challenge. I know for us, when we go on the road to the east coast, that first home game back is very much a challenge. You’re still on east coast time, and obviously stuff like that will come into effect pretty often this season.”
Headlines have fluttered this month as players have moved all over the place. Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler are now Los Angeles Clippers. Dwight Howard figures to not be an Orlando Magic much longer. Vince Carter and Lamar Odom are Dallas Mavericks.
It’s been a sea of change, particularly in the Western Conference, where the Mavs, Rockets, Spurs and Blazers reside.
“We’ve been so locked into camp and practice that it’s been difficult to keep up with everything,” Canales said. “But we see the stuff on SportsCenter and anytime it affects our conference we have interest in that. Like, for instance, adding someone like Chris Paul to a talented roster to a team that didn’t make the playoffs last year is something we’re aware of.
“We see what’s going on and when it’s the West, it does affect us.”
While some of the NBA gets started back up today, the Blazers, Rockets and Spurs won’t tip off until Monday. For fans, everything points to a season that’s very much up for grabs, with no true favorite, especially with the unpredictability of 66 games in 120 days.
For Canales and the rest of the league, however, it’s back to business as usual. And that is perhaps the best Christmas gift of all for NBA fans.
“It’s no different at all,” Canales said of a season beginning on Christmas Day. “The past couple of years we’ve actually played on Christmas, which is an honor. I remember always watching the NBA on Christmas when I was a kid and how big of a deal that was and I’m sure the teams playing this year are fired up.
“But we’re approaching this season no different from any other. It’s exciting.”
And some video work I’ve done of Kaleb:
August 11, 2010:
August 5, 2011:
Before I end this 4,400-word post, I want to specifically link to my favorite Kaleb story I wrote, the feature piece that I talked about in the introduction. It was more of a personal look into a man who shys from the spotlight, yet was gracious as we enjoyed a two-hour discussion from everything, mostly his life and not so much basketball.
The story is on page 6-7 of the tabloid. Click on each page to enlarge it.
It’s such a great story. Inspiring, uplifting, magical, unbelievable … there’s not enough words to describe the gritty trek of a South Texas native up the ranks to the head coach of one of the NBA’s more prominent franchises. In fact, this blog likely does not do him justice. You have to meet him to understand how wonderful of an individual he is. I jokingly refer it to my wife as “The Kaleb Experience.” And what an experience it has been, all 34 years for the NBA’s freshest face.
Oh, by the way, Kaleb’s first game as head coach? A 100-89 win in Chicago over the Bulls on Friday. The story only gets better.
Second-round draft pick rookie Chandler Parsons is one of the few bright spots for the Rockets this season. (AP PHOTO).
There have not been a lot of bright spots for the Houston Rockets this season. Yes, they’re 7-7, but the problems go deeper. It’s true the Rockets have played the toughest schedule to date so far in the NBA, but I don’t judge a team solely by wins and losses. Direction, culture and talent base is just as crucial in my eyes. Essentially I try to avoid fool’s gold.
The Rockets are full of second and third-tier talent; players playing big minutes when they should be at best the eighth or ninth man on a legit team. Head coach Kevin McHale preaches defense and rebounding, but he actually has very few players who are good at either. The talent pool is thin on the Rockets and it’ll be hard to transfer any of the current names into future pieces that can help rebuild the franchise back to relevance. Houston currently only has four two-way players: Kyle Lowry. Samuel Dalembert. Courtney Lee. Chandler Parsons.
It’s the last guy that’s taken Rocket Nation by storm. A second-round draft pick in June, Parsons, out of Florida, has epitomized what McHale preached in the offseason in regard to his principles: defense, rebounding, spacing. It is Parsons’ enthusiasm, athleticism and zest on both ends of the floor that has Houston fans seeing a bleak light at the end of the tunnel.
In 21.3 minutes per game this season, Parsons is averaging 7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals on 47 percent shooting. As always though, dig deeper. Parsons actually attacks and connects at the rim (69.1 percent), where 42 of his 91 shots have been taken. He averages 1.8 offensive rebounds per game and has a plus-assist/TO ratio (19 assists to 11 turnovers).
Per 40 minutes per game, his averages jump to 13.8 points, 10 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Whew.
Mind you, yes, this is a small sample size. Parsons has played in 13 games, starting the last seven (four of which are wins). But the fact that most of those games have come against elite opponents bodes well for the 6-foot-9, 200-pounder.
And then there’s his thrill factor, where his highlights have left broadcasters and media types alike searching for the next great nickname. Chandler Bang. C-P Slam. C-P Slammer. In six starts, Parsons had tip-in slams in four of them. His victims include Blake Griffin, JaVale McGee, Gary Neal, et cetera.
And then there was his breakout game in Charlotte:
Parsons is doing the Rockets’ #25 justice. His game actually does bring to mind that of Robert Horry. Horry did all the little things that added up to victories. Parsons is heading the same way. He’s always making things happen, always in the mix.
Add in the fact that Parsons, at the moment, leads the team in fewest defensive breakdowns. As a rookie. It’s a shame a rookie is upstaging veterans in the effort department on defense, but, hey, that’s where the Rockets find themselves right now.
If you’ve been watching this Rockets team the past few seasons, then you know Parsons is a breath of fresh air. The Rockets, since Rick Adelman took over, have been an offensive-minded unit where defense is optional. McHale has tried to seemingly go back to a more defensive mindset, but it’s tough to change to the culture when two of your top three players (Luis Scola and Kevin Martin) are poor defenders and many others (Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill, Goran Dragic) are not much better.
But Parsons offers some light. He plays defense. He’s unselfish. He plays with effort. He tries.
It may make him a rarity on this roster, but I’m sure it makes Horry pretty proud. Parsons has shown early he has the potential to be a franchise player. He makes Rockets fans proud during a time where there has been little to be proud about.
Former Rockets forward Chuck Hayes, a fan favorite, spent six years in Houston as part of an era that did little in regard to wins or losses. However Hayes was awarded a vdeo tribute when he returned to Houston as a Sacramento King on Friday. (AP PHOTO)
In six seasons with the Houston Rockets, 6-foot-6 power forward Chuck Hayes, who latched onto the Rockets’ roster as an undrafted free agent, averaged 4.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. His claim to fame during that time was serving as the shortest starting center in NBA history (which is more telling of the Rockets’ roster than Hayes) as Houston made one random playoff appearance in 2008-2009, falling to the Lakers in a seven-game series in the Western semifinals.
Pretty obscure, no? Nothing really to write home about. As much as Hayes was beloved by fans – and count me among them, as I was a great admirer of his grit, work ethic and devotion to the team – his on-court performance and the results were nothing special by any means. And while he was sound and efficient as a defensive specialist, he was poor offensively. He was a decent passer, but had trouble around the rim, because of his lack of size, and was horrific as a jump shooter and free throw shooter. Hence, he could not afford to be on the court for long stints because the opponent was going 5-on-4 offensively.
However, if you want a clearer definition of the current state of the Houston Rockets, just know that Hayes was awarded a video tribute prior to Friday’s game when he returned to Houston as a Sacramento King. Things have gotten so bad, that to deflect attention temporarily from the current situation, Rockets management determined it was appropriate to acknowledge a role player with a “tribute” probably best served for the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Moses Malone, et cetera. Now the Rockets have completely lessened the value of a “tribute.” What’s next, awarding a tribute to Moochie Norris? And when should I show up for the retirement of Chuck’s number?
Look, as I stated before, I love Hayes. He’ll go down as one of the greatest defenders in Rockets’ history, along with the likes of Shane Battier, Mario Elie, Hakeem, and others. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. If he had played pivotal roles to Rockets’ drives to finals appearances or even multiple, deep playoff appearances for that matter, I’d be on board. Hey, tribute success. I have no problem with that. But he didn’t. We’re talking about someone that the Rockets didn’t even really bother to bring back when he was a free agent this offseason. They allowed the Kings to overpay him badly, which is what they should have done. But you don’t tribute someone who you feel you can continue moving on without, especially when your roster is all but void of frontcourt talent and defense.
Chuck Hayes is an inspiring story, someone who eeks out the last possible drop of talent. He was a great defensive player and an even greater person, by all accounts. But this is only further proof of the pathetic state the Rockets find themselves in now, mired in irrelevance and latching on to any sort of perceived success from the past, even if that means a tribute to a player who was effective on one end of the floor but so lacking on the other end.
For those not in the know, I left my gig as sports editor at Laredo Morning Times last week. My wife Julie got a job as a reporter for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times in November and shortly after I also earned my way to Corpus, to work as an editor/designer on the sports central desk.
After 4 1/2 years in Laredo, I find myself somewhat back in the norm. To be honest, Laredo was a complete culture shock in some ways. I found the sports scene to be a whole lot better than advertised and the people were great, as accommodating and friendly as any. But standards were low. Laredo is content to just do enough to get by, and eventually that dwells on a person.
I see the transition to Corpus as a new lease on life. I’ve quickly grown to love the area and I can’t wait until I start my new job on January 23. It’s something new, something vastly different. I’m excited, yet also very anxious. The people in Corpus desire to emphasize a completely different aspect of my talents than anyone has before. In a way we’re on different pages in regard to where we see myself fitting in, but I consider it a leap of faith. Not everything is going to run smoothly and not everything is going to be comfortable. That’s a large part of what made Corpus so attractive. I get to explore new boundaries.
I’m eager to see what opportunities lie ahead. In the meantime, until I start up, I’ve been trying to adjust to a different quality of life. I wake up at 8 a.m., make my wife breakfast and lunch. I read for a bit, then try and go explore Corpus some more. I figured I was awarded this head start for a reason. I’ve been brushing up on editing techniques and reviewed some of previous editing work on stories and sports sections, seeing what I could have done better or what I could have tweaked. It’s certainly been a reassessment period.
In a little more than a week, I formally start up at the Caller-Times and I will no longer look back on Laredo. If there’s one thing about me that’s a gift and a curse, it’s my ability to turn the page and focus on the present. I wish I could tell you what I expect or that I’m confident heading in, but I’m far from sure. It’s like the first day of school. You think you know what to expect out of what’s to come, but you truly never really do.
J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans are headed to Baltimore after an overwhelming wild card playoff win against the Bengals. (PHOTO BY TONY GUTIERREZ | ASSOCIATED PRESS)
If I didn’t know better, I’d say the Texans are a team of destiny. How else do you explain the fortunes of a team headed to the second round of the playoffs without its star starting quarterback and star linebacker, while still working into rhythm its star wideout?
But, I do know better. Logic says the Texans’ ride will eventually come to an end. Logic says that in today’s NFL, quarterbacking will win the Super Bowl, and right now, the Texans simply do not have that; they’re an old-school, throwback team in an evolved aerial game in which the best of the best teams in the league are offensive-driven.
Still, what a ride. Saturday’s wild-card playoff win against Cincinnati in Houston, 31-10, will go down in the record books. It was typical Texans: a slow start carried by a few game-changing plays that eventually set the stage for impressive adjustments in the second half.
Here were my keys:
– There is no question rookie defensive end J.J. Watt changed the complexion of this game. It was his 29-yard pick-6 at the end of the second quarter that broke a 10-10 tie and gave Houston the lead going into halftime. What should have been a tied game going into the half with the Bengals receiving to start the second half ended up with the Texans having momentum, a play that I think really fazed Bengals rookie QB Andy Dalton, who had been having a stellar game to that point, completing eight of his first 10 passes, including seven in a row at one point, and moving the chains easily.
– Another key play that I thought was absolutely essential came in the fourth quarter after Texans rookie QB T.J. Yates found Andre Johnson on a 40-yard pass down the left sideline with 4:37 left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff, James Casey – of Rice lore – made a crucial tackle to pin the Bengals deep in their own end zone. Huge play. In games like these, stuff like that makes all the difference.
– I loved the adjustments Houston made on defense. I love the fact that they’re making adjustments at all on that side of the ball after last season’s pathetic showcase. After converting four of their first six third downs, the Bengals connected on just two of their last seven. What had been an offense that moved the ball well throughout most of the first half turned into a unit that was three-and-out or forced into turnovers, allowing the Texans to do what they do best: use clock, run the ball and dominate tempo.
– It was huge how the Texans responded after falling behind early. The Bengals jumped out on top on a Cedric Benson 1-yard run late in the first quarter. But 2 minutes, 37 seconds later, Arian Foster scored the first of his two touchdowns to reassert order. For a franchise in its first playoff game ever, with a coach coaching in his first playoff game ever, and with a rookie signal-caller, how the Texans responded was big. I think every Texans fan breathed a sigh of relief after that because we had an idea all would be OK. The Bengals could not afford to go up two scores so early.
– What a job by Texans corner Johnathan Joseph on Bengals star rookie A.J. Green. Green caught four of the first six passes thrown his way for 42 yards in the first quarter in what looked like it would be a long afternoon for the Texans’ prized free agent. But Joseph, like the team, adjusted accordingly, holding Green to just one catch and five yards the rest of the afternoon, which is pivotal since Green is all but the Bengals’ offense. Joseph took away Dalton’s favorite target, forcing the rookie to look elsewhere time and time again and go away from his comfort zone.
Just an overall spectacular game by the Texans, executed perfectly.
I actually like Houston’s chances going into Baltimore next week. They’re not going to be dazed by the atmosphere, having played the Ravens at their place earlier in the season, and I think Ravens QB Joe Flacco will give the Texans’ defense plenty of chances to make a play, which could turn the tide of a game.
It was a mesmerizing afternoon on Saturday, to see how far this franchise has come. I was there, watching in awe, when the Texans hosted the Cowboys in the first game in franchise history in 2002, winning to boot. That was a game that will forever be etched in my mind, the crowd roaring as Houston scored on its first possession to really set the tone. Saturday’s game was a lot like that, just more electric and obviously meaning so much more.
Can’t wait to see what next week holds in store. And while, yes, logic haunts my fan’s heart and makes me appreciate every snap and every play with a bit more zest, I do know this: there is no stopping destiny when it’s in the cards.
Silva On Sports 