When I decided on a college to attend I did the rather immature thing and selected Butler University in Indianapolis. Why did I choose Butler? It was not massive like Indiana or Purdue, but it played some of its basketball games on television and was only 50 miles away from my home. What would I major in? Maybe education. Maybe I would be a history teacher and coach. What did I know at 18? I would walk on to the baseball team. That was the plan.
Butler was a private school, but in those days the tuition was only about $375 per semester. Both state schools Indiana and Purdue cost about $200. Today Butler would have been out of my family's price range. (Even the half scholarship I received would not cut the current Butler tuition enough for my family to have sent me there.)
Anyway, I went to Butler and was very happy. The basketball team was coached by a man named Tony Hinkle--who also coached the football team, the baseball team and was athletic director. He had already been elected to the Naismith basketball hall of fame as a contributor. In addition to his 500 wins and a mythical national championship from the 1920s he was the man who "invented" the brighter orange colored basketball to make it easier for players and fans to see.
By my sophomore year I was ready to change majors. The effect of an extremely boring American History class plus the lure of radio led to the move. The campus in those days had a 50,000 watt FM station on the commercial radio band. It was totally staffed by students, but when I would listen I knew I could do a better job than what I was hearing. So I made the major switch.
In my first semester I signed up for a course in sportscasting which was taught by the long time sports director of WFBM-TV-Radio in Indianapolis, Tom Carnegie. You may not know the name, but Tom was the long time lead public address voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was often hired to work at other tracks as well. It was Tom Carnegie who assigned the announcers for Butler sports broadcasts.
That first semester I was assigned to be part of a five man crew on the Butler at Akron football game. Six of us--five announcers plus an engineer piled into a car headed for the Rubber Bowl in Akron. It was nearly a 300 mile drive. I was do do play by play on one quarter. I don't remember anything specifically about how I did, but I do remember one of my co-horts putting the ball across the 55 yard line and another one so utterly boring and slow one could have easily fallen asleep.
Before long it was down to just Gary Nash and me working all the games. We were the Butler broadcast team and would remain partners for three years. It was in basketball, however, where things made the biggest impact. Gary and I would be the first to broadcast every Butler game--home and road-- for a season. In the past Carnegie's station, WFBM radio, would do selected games from Butler, Purdue and Indiana. But no one ever had done all of the Butler games. Gary and I would be the first. It was the 1965-66 season.
Since then all Butler games have been aired on radio or television. The recent success of the Bulldogs has had them appear on television in Indianapolis more than either Indiana or Purdue. But when Gary and I started we were the "voices."
Trips by car to Ann Arbor to see Rudy Tomjanovich and the Wolverines beat Butler or to Michigan State's old Fieldhouse where the lock on the car froze shut and we couldn't find a place to eat or stay after the game are memories that are not all fond. Riding on the team bus to Notre Dame with coach Hinkle getting off the bus at McDonalds on the way to the campus, placing a post game order for the whole bus, then getting back on and driving to the game. No such thing as coming in a day early in those days.... Flying to places like Chicago or Evansville on Purdue Airlines old DC-3s won't be forgotten...nor will my first commercial flight ever...on TWA to Oklahoma. I remember to this day the ticket was only $97. John McLeod coached OU to a win over Butler. I worked that game solo since our budget did not allow for two announcers to travel commercially.
You see, I have some great memories from days at Butler. Even though I have lived 1200 miles or more from the campus for the bulk of my career the ties will always exist.
So, forgive me for reminiscing a bit today. I am so proud of what the alma mater is doing in basketball again. When I was in school the team was usually around .500 with a win or two every year against a bigger, often Big 10, foe but were never a tourney team. After Tony Hinkle retired they were usually far less than that. But then Barry Collier followed by Thad Matta,Todd Lickliter and now Brad Stevens built the program to heights never before seen.
But you know what I am as proud of? Annually the Butler basketball program ranks as tops in the nation's tourney teams for graduation rate. Matt Howard, the star of the current team, was named the NCAA Academic Player of the Year. Last year's NCAA championship game was what college sports SHOULD be about. It was Duke vs Butler. Two teams with real student-athletes, not two teams with athletes masquerading as students. I liked that.
Win or lose in the Elite Eight game with Florida, I am very proud to be a Butler Bulldog.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Coaches, Players, Officials all Contribute to Wins and Losses in NCAA
A lot of Texas Longhorn fans were incensed after their men's basketball team was ousted by Arizona on Sunday night. Many didn't know where to direct their anger though. The players didn't help matters by falling into a first half hole they had to dig out of. They didn't help themselves with some decisions on the floor thoughout the game either. Fans can't leave coach Rick Barnes out. Some of his strategical decisions regarding time outs and offensive thinking left long time basketball fans bewildered. Then there was the officiating.
If any game followed the "let 'em play" philosophy most of the way the Longhorn-Wildcat game did. Both teams were extremely physical and the officials were letting them get away with it. Countless plays that the rule book would say were fouls were ignored. Unfortunately for Texas that included J'Coven Brown's drive to the basket as the clock was running down. Brown, who had been very aggressive to the basket most of the second half and shot a number of free throws as a result did not have a foul called on his effort this time. The clock ran out before a second foul on the rebound effort which also could have bailed the Longhorns out.
While it is easy to complain about how things went down the stretch the Longhorns likely really lost the game in the first half when they fell so far behind. The officials had nothing to do with that.
Ever since Rick Barnes has been recruiting more players off the so called "blue-chip" lists many see his control over the play and pace of games has declined. His first real top national recruit was Kevin Durant. Surrounding him were hard working and very coachable, but less talented players. Had Durant stuck around that club could have developed into a big winner. That didn't happen, but Barnes and his staff had opened the door wider for a higher level of recruit. The Longhorns have had some outstanding season records since they can often simply overpower their foes. They have not, however, made much of dent in the NCAA tournament. Texas is far from unique in this problem. Remember how many super star players Dean Smith used to recruit to North Carolina, yet Dean never dominated the NCAA tournament. He did win a couple, but for the talent he had...
Kentucky is probably the best current example that recruiting the top of the line does not always pay off--at least up to now. Of course, a major factor now--and what cost U-T Durant--is the ability of the NBA to draft players after only one year of college play. Really what good does it do to recruit five NBA first rounders if they will only be with a team for one season. Actually coaching them as a team is another problem. Those five NBA first rounders may win a lot of pickup or playground games, but they can be beaten by well coached veteran clubs with less talent in the NCAA tournament.
We see that every year. Of the teams still alive in the Sweet 16 schools like Butler, San Diego State, Marquette, Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth and probably Brigham Young are examples of teams with few, if any, NBA prospects and a good number of juniors and seniors who have played together for some time. Those teams are usually smarter than the talent only guys. If they can keep games close they are capable of winning down the stretch.
So, while we are down to just 16 teams in the field including biggies like OhioState, Duke, Kansas and North Carolina don't discount some of the other guys from knocking down one or two of the powers. It happens every year and not just in the early rounds.
BILLY GILLISPIE TO TEXAS TECH
It was buried in the NCAA tournament news, but Texas Tech's hiring of Billy Gillispie to be the new head men's basketball coach was a good move for the Raiders. Billy IS a Texas basketball man. No one could fault him for accepting the job at Kentucky when it was offered even if it mean leaving an unfulfilled and unsigned contract at Texas A&M. Any coach would prefer to work where basketball is king and football is that other college sport. Plus, the money was great and the future promising.
But Gillispie did not fit in in the other aspects of the job in Lexington. The head basketball coach at Kentucky has to do a whole lot more than recruit and coach. In that regard he is like a major college football coach in Texas. Dealing with alums and big money boosters is crucial. When his teams were not as dominant as desired that greased the skids more quickly.
After his career and lawsuits over how much money he was still owed were finished Billy still wanted to coach. He fits Texas Tech wonderfully. Billy doesn't have to recruit national blue chippers to win games. He showed that at UTEP and rebuilt the program at Texas A&M without a bunch of future pros. In fact, Billy may be a better coach with lesser talent. There are a lot of coaches like that. It will always be very tough to recruit nationally to Lubbock. But Billy can recruit Texas as well as anyone. Just the two six million plus markets in Houston and Fort Worth-Dallas are loaded with players. Billy also can find the gems from the smaller schools around the state as well.
As the late Neil Hohlfeld once told me Billy is basketball first and forements. Hohlfeld remembered visiting Billy in his College Station apartment one time while Neil was covering the Aggies. All Billy had was a TV, VCR, very little furniture and virtually nothing in his refrigerator. But he had piles of video tapes of basketball games. Watching and scouting from those games was Billy's job--and love. Nothing has changed except we can expect his living conditions to be better. Look out Big 12-- Billy is back.
If any game followed the "let 'em play" philosophy most of the way the Longhorn-Wildcat game did. Both teams were extremely physical and the officials were letting them get away with it. Countless plays that the rule book would say were fouls were ignored. Unfortunately for Texas that included J'Coven Brown's drive to the basket as the clock was running down. Brown, who had been very aggressive to the basket most of the second half and shot a number of free throws as a result did not have a foul called on his effort this time. The clock ran out before a second foul on the rebound effort which also could have bailed the Longhorns out.
While it is easy to complain about how things went down the stretch the Longhorns likely really lost the game in the first half when they fell so far behind. The officials had nothing to do with that.
Ever since Rick Barnes has been recruiting more players off the so called "blue-chip" lists many see his control over the play and pace of games has declined. His first real top national recruit was Kevin Durant. Surrounding him were hard working and very coachable, but less talented players. Had Durant stuck around that club could have developed into a big winner. That didn't happen, but Barnes and his staff had opened the door wider for a higher level of recruit. The Longhorns have had some outstanding season records since they can often simply overpower their foes. They have not, however, made much of dent in the NCAA tournament. Texas is far from unique in this problem. Remember how many super star players Dean Smith used to recruit to North Carolina, yet Dean never dominated the NCAA tournament. He did win a couple, but for the talent he had...
Kentucky is probably the best current example that recruiting the top of the line does not always pay off--at least up to now. Of course, a major factor now--and what cost U-T Durant--is the ability of the NBA to draft players after only one year of college play. Really what good does it do to recruit five NBA first rounders if they will only be with a team for one season. Actually coaching them as a team is another problem. Those five NBA first rounders may win a lot of pickup or playground games, but they can be beaten by well coached veteran clubs with less talent in the NCAA tournament.
We see that every year. Of the teams still alive in the Sweet 16 schools like Butler, San Diego State, Marquette, Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth and probably Brigham Young are examples of teams with few, if any, NBA prospects and a good number of juniors and seniors who have played together for some time. Those teams are usually smarter than the talent only guys. If they can keep games close they are capable of winning down the stretch.
So, while we are down to just 16 teams in the field including biggies like OhioState, Duke, Kansas and North Carolina don't discount some of the other guys from knocking down one or two of the powers. It happens every year and not just in the early rounds.
BILLY GILLISPIE TO TEXAS TECH
It was buried in the NCAA tournament news, but Texas Tech's hiring of Billy Gillispie to be the new head men's basketball coach was a good move for the Raiders. Billy IS a Texas basketball man. No one could fault him for accepting the job at Kentucky when it was offered even if it mean leaving an unfulfilled and unsigned contract at Texas A&M. Any coach would prefer to work where basketball is king and football is that other college sport. Plus, the money was great and the future promising.
But Gillispie did not fit in in the other aspects of the job in Lexington. The head basketball coach at Kentucky has to do a whole lot more than recruit and coach. In that regard he is like a major college football coach in Texas. Dealing with alums and big money boosters is crucial. When his teams were not as dominant as desired that greased the skids more quickly.
After his career and lawsuits over how much money he was still owed were finished Billy still wanted to coach. He fits Texas Tech wonderfully. Billy doesn't have to recruit national blue chippers to win games. He showed that at UTEP and rebuilt the program at Texas A&M without a bunch of future pros. In fact, Billy may be a better coach with lesser talent. There are a lot of coaches like that. It will always be very tough to recruit nationally to Lubbock. But Billy can recruit Texas as well as anyone. Just the two six million plus markets in Houston and Fort Worth-Dallas are loaded with players. Billy also can find the gems from the smaller schools around the state as well.
As the late Neil Hohlfeld once told me Billy is basketball first and forements. Hohlfeld remembered visiting Billy in his College Station apartment one time while Neil was covering the Aggies. All Billy had was a TV, VCR, very little furniture and virtually nothing in his refrigerator. But he had piles of video tapes of basketball games. Watching and scouting from those games was Billy's job--and love. Nothing has changed except we can expect his living conditions to be better. Look out Big 12-- Billy is back.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
College League Names Only Matter in the Big Sports
With the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments taking center stage in sports the next three weeks we will hear a lot about teams and their conferences. How well will the Big East teams do in the tournament? How about the Big 10? Is the ACC really "down" this year?
All that is well and good in sports like football and basketball where all the schools in those leagues are represented in both. That, however, is NOT the case in all the sports under the NCAA umbrella.
This weekend I am journeying to Columbia, Missouri for the Big 12 Conference women's gymnastics championship. There will be some very fine gymnasts and teams represented. Three of the schools are ranked in the top 20 nationally. The problem is that only four schools will be in the finals because the Big 12 only has four schools that compete in women's gymnastics.
Three weeks ago I worked the Big 12 Swimming and Diving championships from Austin. Both men and women's swimming and diving teams competed. But only three men's teams exist in the Big 12, Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri. For the women it is better. Six schools field teams, but that is still only half the league.
None of this is an any way to castigate the Big 12 or the schools within. It a common problem with college conferences all over the land. Not all the teams in any league field the same sports. As you know some of the schools in the highly regarded Big East basketball league do not even play football let alone all of the non revenue sports. For years the Pac-10 had only six of their members playing baseball on the top level. The baseball schools were known unofficially as the Six-Pac.
In the highly ranked Big 10 not everyone plays hockey. But schools like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan State often draw as well or better than their basketball teams.
So how are these disparities handled? In many cases separate leagues have formed only for those sports. Hockey, for example, is quite regional. Those Big 10 teams that play hockey don't play it in the Big 10. They play it in a separate league that includes non Big 10 schools, but schools who emphasize hockey.
The same thing exists in wrestling and bowling. Separate leagues that pit schools from the same regions have formed. Swimming and Diving (in some cases), Lacrosse, Volleyball, Rowing, Field Hockey and Soccer are other sports that might be ripe for more regionally based leagues that go outside the boundaries of the football/basketball loops.
So, I ask, why not do the same in sports like gymnastics and swimming and diving. After Nebraska leaves the Big 12 there will be only three women's gymnastics teams in the league. Over in the SEC there are only four. So why not merge into a gymnastics only league? Presuming the competition level is high enough why not consider adding Texas Women's University to the loop?
These thoughts are all part of a way to cut the costs of college athletics a bit--especially the travel for the mostly non revenue sports. If you can find enough schools in closer proximity to forming a sport specific alliance go for it. The guys and gals who play the big sports for the big leagues won't be affected, but making some changes in the non revenue levels may just eliminate the need to cut some sports down the line.
All that is well and good in sports like football and basketball where all the schools in those leagues are represented in both. That, however, is NOT the case in all the sports under the NCAA umbrella.
This weekend I am journeying to Columbia, Missouri for the Big 12 Conference women's gymnastics championship. There will be some very fine gymnasts and teams represented. Three of the schools are ranked in the top 20 nationally. The problem is that only four schools will be in the finals because the Big 12 only has four schools that compete in women's gymnastics.
Three weeks ago I worked the Big 12 Swimming and Diving championships from Austin. Both men and women's swimming and diving teams competed. But only three men's teams exist in the Big 12, Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri. For the women it is better. Six schools field teams, but that is still only half the league.
None of this is an any way to castigate the Big 12 or the schools within. It a common problem with college conferences all over the land. Not all the teams in any league field the same sports. As you know some of the schools in the highly regarded Big East basketball league do not even play football let alone all of the non revenue sports. For years the Pac-10 had only six of their members playing baseball on the top level. The baseball schools were known unofficially as the Six-Pac.
In the highly ranked Big 10 not everyone plays hockey. But schools like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan State often draw as well or better than their basketball teams.
So how are these disparities handled? In many cases separate leagues have formed only for those sports. Hockey, for example, is quite regional. Those Big 10 teams that play hockey don't play it in the Big 10. They play it in a separate league that includes non Big 10 schools, but schools who emphasize hockey.
The same thing exists in wrestling and bowling. Separate leagues that pit schools from the same regions have formed. Swimming and Diving (in some cases), Lacrosse, Volleyball, Rowing, Field Hockey and Soccer are other sports that might be ripe for more regionally based leagues that go outside the boundaries of the football/basketball loops.
So, I ask, why not do the same in sports like gymnastics and swimming and diving. After Nebraska leaves the Big 12 there will be only three women's gymnastics teams in the league. Over in the SEC there are only four. So why not merge into a gymnastics only league? Presuming the competition level is high enough why not consider adding Texas Women's University to the loop?
These thoughts are all part of a way to cut the costs of college athletics a bit--especially the travel for the mostly non revenue sports. If you can find enough schools in closer proximity to forming a sport specific alliance go for it. The guys and gals who play the big sports for the big leagues won't be affected, but making some changes in the non revenue levels may just eliminate the need to cut some sports down the line.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Classic Had some Classic Games...On to MLB Next
Since I continue to announce and follow college baseball even after my work with Houston Astros games begins I don't want to say that now that the Minute Maid Park College Classic is over it is time to change focus to the Astros. But for the majority of baseball fans in the city that is exactly what it is.
Fans had their chance to see the ballpark and its new video board display while watching baseball over the weekend. Those who were primarily Astro fans got their appetites whetted for the real major league thing which will debut in Houston with a Red Sox exhibition on March 30th and get going in the National League on April 8th.
However, if they were paying attention to the action on the field they saw some pretty good baseball--in most cases far less sloppy than what we are hearing from some of the Astros spring training games being played now in Florida.
The competition in the Classic was great. Everyone won at least a game. No one went through the field unbeaten. One game was played in just 1:45. Another, involving one of the same teams went 3:31. There were some wonderfully pitched games and others in which the hitters prevailed.
Unlike many seasons past, however, the pitching was much stronger. Was that a result of the newly designed aluminum bats? Or was it just that these six college teams had stronger pitchers than in the past?
Truthfully it was a bit of both. Hearing many balls hit off the new bats actually had a "wood" sound. Only when grips were loosened on swings or bunts was the old "ping" much in evidence. Furthermore hitters were actually jammed many times and got nothing lucky out of it. All that resulted were easy ground outs or soft easily catchable pop flies.
Home runs were still hit, but not as many as in past seasons. The truly great hitters--like Rice's Anthony Rendon--were able to hit the seats, but few others were able to go deep.
No question, though, that the most signficant home run of the weekend was hit by Baylor's Max Muncy. Looking just to get a fly ball deep enough to bring home the winning run in the last of the 10th against Rice on Sunday he got enough for a game winning grand slam home run. The Bear's 12-8 win kept the Owls from going unbeaten and gave the Bears the same 2-1 record.
That game, by the way lasted 3:31.
It was twice as long as Rice freshman Andy Kubitza's complete game 1-0 shutout of Texas A&M on Saturday. Kubitza who was named the weekend MVP threw only 88 pitches in the game that lasted a Classic record one hour, forty five minutes.
Perhaps the surprise team of the weekend was Utah. The Utes came in still looking for a victory and left with two. Three teams went 1-2: Houston, Kentucky and Texas A&M.
Now with the college clubs getting back to pre conference play at campus stadiums we shift most Houston focus to the Astros. Based on events in Florida so far it may have been good to be distracted up to now.
Not only is the season ending injury to starting catcher Jason Castro a bummer, but play of most in the spring has not been opening eyes. Hunter Pence has played well and hard. But that is not a surprise. Young players like Brett Wallace and Brian Bogusevic have had some hits, but too many of the very soft or lucky variety. Early on, that number five starting rotation spot is heading toward Nelson Figuero based on results. Nothing wrong with the results of young Jordan Lyles either, but if Figgy proves he can do the job there is less chance the Astros will feel Lyles must start the season on the big club.
The club has often played sloppily on defense, but that has often been by players who do not figure to make the club yet anyway. Tommy Manzella has done some hitting so far. How well he can show the ability to fill in at other positions may go a long way toward his making the club. Who fills the infield and outfield backup spots and how the catching finally breaks down are the most interesting items to follow for thenext few weeks.
As for the game themselves...don't worry until Brad Mills starts having his main pitchers go longer and his regular players in the lineup more often and for longer periods. That is when fans can start putting some value on wins and losses. We are still two weeks away from that point.
Guess that leaves more time to go out and watch Rice or Houston or Texas A&M or Texas or Baylor play a bit more college baseball.
Fans had their chance to see the ballpark and its new video board display while watching baseball over the weekend. Those who were primarily Astro fans got their appetites whetted for the real major league thing which will debut in Houston with a Red Sox exhibition on March 30th and get going in the National League on April 8th.
However, if they were paying attention to the action on the field they saw some pretty good baseball--in most cases far less sloppy than what we are hearing from some of the Astros spring training games being played now in Florida.
The competition in the Classic was great. Everyone won at least a game. No one went through the field unbeaten. One game was played in just 1:45. Another, involving one of the same teams went 3:31. There were some wonderfully pitched games and others in which the hitters prevailed.
Unlike many seasons past, however, the pitching was much stronger. Was that a result of the newly designed aluminum bats? Or was it just that these six college teams had stronger pitchers than in the past?
Truthfully it was a bit of both. Hearing many balls hit off the new bats actually had a "wood" sound. Only when grips were loosened on swings or bunts was the old "ping" much in evidence. Furthermore hitters were actually jammed many times and got nothing lucky out of it. All that resulted were easy ground outs or soft easily catchable pop flies.
Home runs were still hit, but not as many as in past seasons. The truly great hitters--like Rice's Anthony Rendon--were able to hit the seats, but few others were able to go deep.
No question, though, that the most signficant home run of the weekend was hit by Baylor's Max Muncy. Looking just to get a fly ball deep enough to bring home the winning run in the last of the 10th against Rice on Sunday he got enough for a game winning grand slam home run. The Bear's 12-8 win kept the Owls from going unbeaten and gave the Bears the same 2-1 record.
That game, by the way lasted 3:31.
It was twice as long as Rice freshman Andy Kubitza's complete game 1-0 shutout of Texas A&M on Saturday. Kubitza who was named the weekend MVP threw only 88 pitches in the game that lasted a Classic record one hour, forty five minutes.
Perhaps the surprise team of the weekend was Utah. The Utes came in still looking for a victory and left with two. Three teams went 1-2: Houston, Kentucky and Texas A&M.
Now with the college clubs getting back to pre conference play at campus stadiums we shift most Houston focus to the Astros. Based on events in Florida so far it may have been good to be distracted up to now.
Not only is the season ending injury to starting catcher Jason Castro a bummer, but play of most in the spring has not been opening eyes. Hunter Pence has played well and hard. But that is not a surprise. Young players like Brett Wallace and Brian Bogusevic have had some hits, but too many of the very soft or lucky variety. Early on, that number five starting rotation spot is heading toward Nelson Figuero based on results. Nothing wrong with the results of young Jordan Lyles either, but if Figgy proves he can do the job there is less chance the Astros will feel Lyles must start the season on the big club.
The club has often played sloppily on defense, but that has often been by players who do not figure to make the club yet anyway. Tommy Manzella has done some hitting so far. How well he can show the ability to fill in at other positions may go a long way toward his making the club. Who fills the infield and outfield backup spots and how the catching finally breaks down are the most interesting items to follow for thenext few weeks.
As for the game themselves...don't worry until Brad Mills starts having his main pitchers go longer and his regular players in the lineup more often and for longer periods. That is when fans can start putting some value on wins and losses. We are still two weeks away from that point.
Guess that leaves more time to go out and watch Rice or Houston or Texas A&M or Texas or Baylor play a bit more college baseball.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
We are Getting Closer...Here is How You Can Be
Over the last couple of years we have gone from the mis-named "Email the Booth" (you were actually emailing me and I rarely sat in the booth) to the use of Twitter and Facebook as methods to connect fans to game telecasts on Fox Sports Houston. You can still reach us through the website. Your message will go to one of the email addresses I check regularly.
With the 2011 season less than a month away let me suggest that fans consider going "back to the future" for ease of use connecting to me and indirectly to both Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies. I have two email addresses for you to consider. This is especially important if you want to ultimately reach BB or JD. Emails can be FORWARDED. Facebook or Twitter entries are trickier and it is highly unlikely either BB or JD will be checking either location during games.
Now, I will be returning to a mostly sideline commentator spot both home and road in 2011. We have not done this since 2008. Interesting comments from fans may be incorporated into games occasionally. But I need to get them either on email or Twitter. Facebook is too cluttered to wade through during games.
The addresses to use starting now are: foxsportshouston@yahoo.com or greglucas@hotmail.com. The latter address will ONLY be seen by me. The first address MAY been seen by others with Fox Sports Houston. These addresses are essentially reserved for baseball/sports communication. Do not ignore the importance of good subject lines in gaining attention.
Obviously we want fans to continue supporting and reading the entries on the http://www.foxsportshouston.com/ web site and checking in on the Facebook and Twitter sites. I will continue to update game info on Twitter, but may cut back from every half inning to when runs are scored and/or more spaced out updates. I am hoping a return to heavy email communication will make that necessary. That is where the fans and me (and by extention the entire telecast) really connect.
I started the fan connection through email in 2000. Of all the methods we have used it has been by far the best. This season we hope to revive it back to what it once was.
One last note. Some of you have been nervous because the Astros schedule on their website lists all games on MLB.TV and has no mention of local telecasts. That is because the breakdown between FSH and Ch20 games has not yet been announced. Suffice it to say that all Astro games will be on one or the other for Houston fans. The Channel 20 telecasts may not always hit all markets outside Houston, but it many cases, as has been in the past will find a spot on FSN auxiliary cable or satellite channels. Please check your local listings.
I will start checking the above mentioned email addresses daily starting now...and far more frequently once the season begins.
With the 2011 season less than a month away let me suggest that fans consider going "back to the future" for ease of use connecting to me and indirectly to both Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies. I have two email addresses for you to consider. This is especially important if you want to ultimately reach BB or JD. Emails can be FORWARDED. Facebook or Twitter entries are trickier and it is highly unlikely either BB or JD will be checking either location during games.
Now, I will be returning to a mostly sideline commentator spot both home and road in 2011. We have not done this since 2008. Interesting comments from fans may be incorporated into games occasionally. But I need to get them either on email or Twitter. Facebook is too cluttered to wade through during games.
The addresses to use starting now are: foxsportshouston@yahoo.com or greglucas@hotmail.com. The latter address will ONLY be seen by me. The first address MAY been seen by others with Fox Sports Houston. These addresses are essentially reserved for baseball/sports communication. Do not ignore the importance of good subject lines in gaining attention.
Obviously we want fans to continue supporting and reading the entries on the http://www.foxsportshouston.com/ web site and checking in on the Facebook and Twitter sites. I will continue to update game info on Twitter, but may cut back from every half inning to when runs are scored and/or more spaced out updates. I am hoping a return to heavy email communication will make that necessary. That is where the fans and me (and by extention the entire telecast) really connect.
I started the fan connection through email in 2000. Of all the methods we have used it has been by far the best. This season we hope to revive it back to what it once was.
One last note. Some of you have been nervous because the Astros schedule on their website lists all games on MLB.TV and has no mention of local telecasts. That is because the breakdown between FSH and Ch20 games has not yet been announced. Suffice it to say that all Astro games will be on one or the other for Houston fans. The Channel 20 telecasts may not always hit all markets outside Houston, but it many cases, as has been in the past will find a spot on FSN auxiliary cable or satellite channels. Please check your local listings.
I will start checking the above mentioned email addresses daily starting now...and far more frequently once the season begins.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Round and About...Baseball to Hoops
The Astros could have won two games on Wedneday afternoon. They didn't, but no one should despair that the "B" team lost a 5-1 lead to the Yankees in the 9th inning. The defense did it and not the pitching. You may have seen what happened since the game was carried on the MLB Network.
Doug Arguello was on the mound. The first batter he faced hit a grounder to third that eluded the third baseman. (Forgive me for not mentioning names. The Yankee telecasters were doing very little to say anything about Astro players and he was not identified.) Then the next hitter slapped a ball to the left of the second baseman who "short-armed" apparently trying to turn the DP before he had the ball. Then there was a walk followed by a wide throw from SS Jiovanni Mier toward second base. Bases loaded through no fault of Arguello. He did unload a wild pitch to let in a run. The Yankees went on to win.
In a regular season championship game that would have been an awful loss because presumably all the players on defense would have been major leaguers. None of these are now. Arguello was put in an impossible situation and the results showed it.
In the other game at Lakeland against the Tigers the "A" team won 6-3 for the Astros first spring victory. Hooray for the locals.
One scary note from that game, though. Jason Castro got all twisted around and sprained a knee. He says it is not that bad, but the club got him an MRI just the same. Could have been worse. Red Sox star pitcher Josh Beckett will miss some time after he took a fungoed baseball right in the back of the head during batting practice.
I mentioned basketball in the header. What about those Rockets? As they finish strong--reaching the .500 mark and finding Chase Buddinger is much better as a starter than bench man-- hopes for the playoffs have been renewed. Much success in the NBA post season is unlikely. Still, making the playoffs is still a reachable goal--if only those teams ahead of them in the standings lose a few games.
Meanwhile with the college season heading down the stretch the Baylor Bears may have faded themselves out of the NCAA tournament after a Sweet Sixteen 2010. They are going to have to be impressive in the Big 12 Tournament. The Texas Longhorns are in a late season funk--again. As recently as three weeks ago dreams of the 'Horns making it to Reliant Stadium for the Final Four were not far fetched. They still have the talent to do it, but not the way that talent is playing right now.
Doug Arguello was on the mound. The first batter he faced hit a grounder to third that eluded the third baseman. (Forgive me for not mentioning names. The Yankee telecasters were doing very little to say anything about Astro players and he was not identified.) Then the next hitter slapped a ball to the left of the second baseman who "short-armed" apparently trying to turn the DP before he had the ball. Then there was a walk followed by a wide throw from SS Jiovanni Mier toward second base. Bases loaded through no fault of Arguello. He did unload a wild pitch to let in a run. The Yankees went on to win.
In a regular season championship game that would have been an awful loss because presumably all the players on defense would have been major leaguers. None of these are now. Arguello was put in an impossible situation and the results showed it.
In the other game at Lakeland against the Tigers the "A" team won 6-3 for the Astros first spring victory. Hooray for the locals.
One scary note from that game, though. Jason Castro got all twisted around and sprained a knee. He says it is not that bad, but the club got him an MRI just the same. Could have been worse. Red Sox star pitcher Josh Beckett will miss some time after he took a fungoed baseball right in the back of the head during batting practice.
I mentioned basketball in the header. What about those Rockets? As they finish strong--reaching the .500 mark and finding Chase Buddinger is much better as a starter than bench man-- hopes for the playoffs have been renewed. Much success in the NBA post season is unlikely. Still, making the playoffs is still a reachable goal--if only those teams ahead of them in the standings lose a few games.
Meanwhile with the college season heading down the stretch the Baylor Bears may have faded themselves out of the NCAA tournament after a Sweet Sixteen 2010. They are going to have to be impressive in the Big 12 Tournament. The Texas Longhorns are in a late season funk--again. As recently as three weeks ago dreams of the 'Horns making it to Reliant Stadium for the Final Four were not far fetched. They still have the talent to do it, but not the way that talent is playing right now.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
From Andy Strasberg to Jerry Levias
Over the past week I have had the pleasure of touching base with long time San Diego Padre exective Andy Strasberg and former Houston Oiler Jerry Levias. In neither case are the team associations I just listed signficant.
Strasburg was in Houston to speak to the local Society of American Baseball Research chapter on the occasion of it being 50 years since his good friend Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single season home run record when he hit 61 in 1961.
Andy was here not to detail the quest of 1961, but rather relate how a hero worshiping teenager and the Yankee slugger developed a close bond and ultimately a friendship that lasted until Roger's death to cancer in 1985 here in Houston at the M.D. Anderson Cancer center.
If you can find a copy of the book, "Baseball Lives" written by Mike Bryan and published by Pantheon in 1989 the story he related to the SABR members is there. It is a classic tale of how the outfielder who was described as moody and aloof by the New York media struck up a wonderful relationship with a fan that lasted long after Maris left the game.
On Monday I flew to Dallas and SMU University to be on hand for an airing of the Fox Sports special, "Jerry Levias- A Marked Man" as part of Black History Month. Patti Smith and I had produced the program several years ago after handed the project upon the departure of Tony Martinez from Fox. Tony had done or supervised much of the groundwork, but it was our job to turn the raw material into a feature.
Having not grown up in an area of the country where racial bigotry was not as obvious as it had been in the South, as I did research and listened to the interviews deciding which pieces to incorporate into our allotted 44 minute content time I was amazed. I was amazed at what Jerry Levias had to endure. He was the first black scholarship athlete in the Southwest Conference a full 20 years after Jackie Robinson had signed his first contract with major league baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. I was in college in the North during the same period Levias was being a pioneer in the SWC. I had been rooting for black athletes for years following Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson with my favorite Cincinnati Reds...and big Walt Bellamy with the Indiana Hoosiers Big 10 basketball team. In Indiana I had no idea how little things had progessed in Texas or in the neighboring Southeastern Conference. My high school's football and basketball teams had had plenty of black athletes for years.
So when Patti and I started working on the Levias story we knew we would be educating a whole lot of folks and not just telling a story.
On Monday when the program was shown to those on hand it was obvious in the question and answer session following that many had been moved. Many of Jerry's former classmates at SMU only after the viewing admitted they had no idea what Jerry had to endure. There were death threats. There were many obscenely offensive letters. There were many dirty plays on the field.
But Jerry Levias hung tough. As years went on problems were reduced. Jerry won the war after some very tough battles.
Roger Maris did not have to overcome racial predujice--only the sports followers who did not feel him worthy of challenging the great Babe Ruth. But he was under the gun in another way just the same. Levias had to overcome something far worse and when he made it he represented a whole race. Maris' was a far more simple story. He was simply a friend.
Both had great stories. Both stories were hilighted in the last week. This was a great week to be in my business.
Strasburg was in Houston to speak to the local Society of American Baseball Research chapter on the occasion of it being 50 years since his good friend Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single season home run record when he hit 61 in 1961.
Andy was here not to detail the quest of 1961, but rather relate how a hero worshiping teenager and the Yankee slugger developed a close bond and ultimately a friendship that lasted until Roger's death to cancer in 1985 here in Houston at the M.D. Anderson Cancer center.
If you can find a copy of the book, "Baseball Lives" written by Mike Bryan and published by Pantheon in 1989 the story he related to the SABR members is there. It is a classic tale of how the outfielder who was described as moody and aloof by the New York media struck up a wonderful relationship with a fan that lasted long after Maris left the game.
On Monday I flew to Dallas and SMU University to be on hand for an airing of the Fox Sports special, "Jerry Levias- A Marked Man" as part of Black History Month. Patti Smith and I had produced the program several years ago after handed the project upon the departure of Tony Martinez from Fox. Tony had done or supervised much of the groundwork, but it was our job to turn the raw material into a feature.
Having not grown up in an area of the country where racial bigotry was not as obvious as it had been in the South, as I did research and listened to the interviews deciding which pieces to incorporate into our allotted 44 minute content time I was amazed. I was amazed at what Jerry Levias had to endure. He was the first black scholarship athlete in the Southwest Conference a full 20 years after Jackie Robinson had signed his first contract with major league baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. I was in college in the North during the same period Levias was being a pioneer in the SWC. I had been rooting for black athletes for years following Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson with my favorite Cincinnati Reds...and big Walt Bellamy with the Indiana Hoosiers Big 10 basketball team. In Indiana I had no idea how little things had progessed in Texas or in the neighboring Southeastern Conference. My high school's football and basketball teams had had plenty of black athletes for years.
So when Patti and I started working on the Levias story we knew we would be educating a whole lot of folks and not just telling a story.
On Monday when the program was shown to those on hand it was obvious in the question and answer session following that many had been moved. Many of Jerry's former classmates at SMU only after the viewing admitted they had no idea what Jerry had to endure. There were death threats. There were many obscenely offensive letters. There were many dirty plays on the field.
But Jerry Levias hung tough. As years went on problems were reduced. Jerry won the war after some very tough battles.
Roger Maris did not have to overcome racial predujice--only the sports followers who did not feel him worthy of challenging the great Babe Ruth. But he was under the gun in another way just the same. Levias had to overcome something far worse and when he made it he represented a whole race. Maris' was a far more simple story. He was simply a friend.
Both had great stories. Both stories were hilighted in the last week. This was a great week to be in my business.
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