Category Archives: Other sports

Rice seeks naming deal for Rice Stadium

I dunno about this. Rice Stadium opened in 1950, once held a maximum capacity of 70,000, and has played host to a Super Bowl and presidential speech. It’s also one of the most direct and to the point names for any venue out there. … Continue reading

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MLB buys equity stake in pro softball league

Cool. Major League Baseball is purchasing an equity stake in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, partnering with the fledgling league that is preparing for its first four-team season and plans to expand in future years. With women’s sports revenues now … Continue reading

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More on the visa issues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

It’s a problem for Houston, too. Experts are now raising questions about America’s ability to receive such an influx of people, however, as some tourists wait months to obtain a visa, and the Trump administration strains relations with international allies … Continue reading

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Resolution Calling for the Banning of Ted Cruz at College Playoff Sporting Events

As you know, I’m a Democratic precinct chair. As of this year, so is my buddy Bill Kelly, who had been before that the head of Governmental Relations for Mayor Sylvester Turner. After long discussion and one too many “oh … Continue reading

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A brief digression on wacky fan contests at sporting events

I love this kind of stuff, and I hope you do too. Every night across the country, fans vie for prizes in contests staged during breaks in the action at sporting events big and small. In basketball, it might be … Continue reading

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On immigration and the 2026 World Cup

Yeah, there are some big issues that we need to talk about. Last month, Dallas officially announced the procurement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup International Broadcast Center. It will turn downtown’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center into a “nerve center” for … Continue reading

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More on the new women’s pro softball league

Former Miami Marlins GM Kim Ng will be the first commissioners of the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). Kim Ng’s three decades in Major League Baseball were relentless and unprecedented. Her departure was swift and unexpected. She remains, 18 … Continue reading

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A high school transfer portal

Almost certainly not going to happen, at least this session, but an interesting thought experiment. House Bill 619 is a straightforward two-page document. But the ramifications of its potential passing would drastically alter the landscape of high school sports in … Continue reading

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Another name emerges as a possible Houston hockey team owner

New player alert. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league has received interest from multiple prospective owners about a Houston hockey franchise. On Thursday, the identity of at least another interested party became public. ESPN reported that Houston billionaire … Continue reading

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US and Mexico get 2031 Women’s World Cup

Excellent. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the United States-Mexico and the United Kingdom are the sole respective bidders for the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cups. Infantino made the announcement on Thursday at the 49th UEFA Congress in … Continue reading

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WNBA appears set on Cleveland

But Houston could be next in line, and soon. The WNBA is preparing to award Cleveland its 16th franchise, multiple sources have told SBJ, with an approximate bid worth a league record $250M. The sources put Cleveland’s expansion chances as … Continue reading

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World Cup preparations update

There’s a lot happening. Houston is officially 500 days from hosting its first FIFA World Cup in the 95 years of the globe’s biggest tournament. Representatives of the FIFA World Cup 26 Houston Host Committee held a joint press conference … Continue reading

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Comet alums unite in support of Fertitta’s WNBA bid

They’re getting the band back together. Cynthia Cooper did not get closure when the Houston Comets folded. One minute, she was a star player on Houston’s four-time championship-winning WNBA team. The next minute, her phone was blowing up with texts … Continue reading

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Replacing NRG Arena

Someone’s gotta pay for it. If NRG Arena were a car, it would be totaled. A 2019 assessment commissioned by the county found the arena, where the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo holds its horse show and auctions every March, … Continue reading

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Houston to get a pro volleyball team

Pretty cool. As far as professional volleyball goes, there isn’t much two-time Olympic medalist Micha Hancock hasn’t done. Hancock won gold with Team USA at the Tokyo Games and a silver medal at the Paris Games. She played professionally in Italy for … Continue reading

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“MLB for softball”

Awesome. For the first time since its founding in 2020, Athletes Unlimited (AU) is organizing a traditional team-based league meant to be “Major League Baseball for softball,” in the words of former Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, the senior … Continue reading

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Austin’s pitch to the WNBA

Interesting. Fran Harris has a plan. The former Texas women’s basketball great has the financial backing, she insists. She’s got the support of the school administration and the city’s mayor and has had constructive conversations with the sports investment group … Continue reading

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New Sports Authority CEO

Not sure what to make of this. The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority on Friday fired CEO Janis Burke after 18 years with the organization, a high-profile termination that came hours after Mayor John Whitmire and Houston’s sports executives gathered at … Continue reading

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The Ted Cruz Curse continues

Sorry, Astros fans. Guess who was at the Astros game today? #Cruzcurse 😡 — Barbi (@Barbi__7) 10:00 PM – 02 October 2024 The Ted Cruz curse strikes (no pun intended) again. Allegedly. The Texas senator’s attendance at sporting events across … Continue reading

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PAC-12 adds Gonzaga, UTEP to MWC

Round and round they go. The Pac-12 is adding Gonzaga as a member in all sports the school plays starting in July 2026, the conference announced Tuesday. Gonzaga brings a rich basketball tradition to the refurbished Pac-12, as the Zags … Continue reading

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More on Fertitta and the WNBA

He does sound serious. The Houston Rockets are putting together a proposal to bring a WNBA franchise back to the city but are currently awaiting further instruction from the league’s representatives, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and president of business operations … Continue reading

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PAC-12 sues Mountain West over exit fees

Realignment season keeps heating up. The Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over what it calls an unlawful and unenforceable “poaching penalty” that would cost the rebuilding conference more than $40 million for adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State … Continue reading

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Fertitta to bid on a WNBA expansion franchise

Rooting for him to succeed. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta on Thursday confirmed his intention to bid on an WNBA expansion franchise, a step toward returning the league to Houston at a time the WNBA is setting ratings and attendance records. … Continue reading

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PAC 12 lives again

Wow. The Pac-12 is poaching four Mountain West schools to join Oregon State and Washington State in an effort to preserve the league. Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State applied for Pac-12 membership and all have … Continue reading

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The NFL will use facial recognition for its ticketing at all stadia

The future is here, like it or not. It’s just a month away from the Cowboys’ season kickoff, and fans better stay on their best behavior once the stadium doors reopen. This year, the Cowboys and the rest of the … Continue reading

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NCAA has a March Madness expansion plan

I feel confident something like this is going to happen. College basketball moved one step closer this week to an expanded NCAA men’s basketball tournament. NCAA officials on Wednesday presented to Division I conference commissioners at least two models of … Continue reading

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Rice Stadium 2.0?

This was unexpected. Rice University might build a new football stadium soon, according to a new report. Although the Rice Owls football team’s home has already undergone improvements, Rice school administrators have stated that some significant changes are now required. … Continue reading

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Not just Fertitta wants a hockey team here

Do tell. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has company when it comes to bringing a pro hockey franchise to Houston. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Tuesday that the league has received interest from other parties about a team in Houston. “Tilman … Continue reading

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A longer look at why we don’t have hockey in Houston

Some fascinating stuff here. “I think it’s surprising that if you look at the growth of the NHL and you see that Atlanta and Houston aren’t represented, that is sort of shocking given the size of those markets,” said Neil … Continue reading

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Let’s wait till 2031 for that Women’s World Cup

Maybe 2027 was too soon. U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) have withdrawn from the 2027 World Cup bidding process on Monday, only weeks before the public vote scheduled on May 17 at the FIFA Congress in Thailand. … Continue reading

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Don’t hold your breath waiting for the WNBA to come back to Houston

The WNBA will be expanding from 12 to 16 teams by 2028. Houston is not on their list of potential new locations. The WNBA is looking to continue growing in the next few years. The league intends to reach 16 … Continue reading

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Fertitta still interested in an NHL team

Also possibly a WNBA team. For the second time in more than a month, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has stated his interest in bringing an NHL team to Houston. Fertitta, in an interview Wednesday on CNBC’s “Power Lunch,” was asked … Continue reading

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Once again seeking Comets 2.0

I would of course love to see this happen, but if it ever does it likely won’t be in the near future. Travis Scott was struck by basketball motivation in the middle of the night — crack of the morning? … Continue reading

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Are you ready for some World Cup cricket?

It’s here for you if you want to see it. The United States men’s national cricket team will play two series this spring at Prairie View Cricket Complex ahead of June’s historic 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The U.S. … Continue reading

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