Category Archives: Other sports

Postseason expansion: Not just for the NCAA

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Texas high schools may be getting into the act, too. There is growing support to create a Conference 6A that would send even more Texas high school football teams to the playoffs, the head of the University Interscholastic League said … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Postseason expansion: Not just for the NCAA

There may be hope for FIFA yet

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. We’ll see. But it’s a start. With pressure for video replay mounting after two blatant missed calls at the World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said soccer’s governing body will reopen the issue after the tournament. Blatter said Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on There may be hope for FIFA yet

68 is a difficult number to work with

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The poobahs of the NCAA are gathering this week to discuss the nuts and bolts of the new 68-team basketball tournament, and they’ve got a challenge on their hands. After meeting in May, the [10-member Men’s Basketball] committee asked NCAA … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 68 is a difficult number to work with

Tell me again why there can’t be instant replay in soccer?

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Item one, Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal for England against Germany: Note how utterly out of position the official’s assistant was for this. Seems to me that if you’re going to have a camera in the goal, you may as well … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

UH’s academic argument for the Big XII

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting strategy. The head of the Big 12 insists there are no plans to add Texas teams to the conference, but Renu Khator, chancellor and president of the University of Houston, apparently didn’t get the message. She’s still pushing for … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on UH’s academic argument for the Big XII

More on the legislators’ push for UH to the Big XII

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on that letter a bunch of area legislators sent to Big XII Commissioner Dan Beebe and the presidents of Texas universities in that conference in support of adding UH. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe is on … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Utah to join PAC 10

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In case anyone still cares. Oh, and the Big 10 is having some scheduling issues now that they have 12 members. Boy, no one could have predicted that. I think I’ve decided that the now-misnumbered Big 10 and PAC 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is the Big XII in UH’s future?

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we know the Big XII will survive, one question that now arises is whether it will try to replace defectors Nebraska and Colorado, and if so with which teams. Already, there’s a drumbeat for UH being included. Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Big XII lives

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. “The University of Texas’ athletics programs will continue competing in the Big 12 Conference,” the school announced Monday in a statement. Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin released the following statement: “Texas A&M is a proud member of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What about A&M?

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

On the one hand, there’s evidence to suggest that the Aggie faithful want to sever ties with UT and go East. SEC commissioner Mike Slive visited College Station on Saturday, according to Billy Liucci’s Maroon & White Report, and A&M … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What about A&M?

UT headed to PAC 10

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So says the Statesman. The University of Texas is virtually certain to abandon the Big 12 Conference for the Pacific-10 Conference when its governing board meets Tuesday. Texas Tech University is expected to follow along. Texas A&M University officials apparently … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Bye-bye, Big XII

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good-bye, Colorado. The Pac-10 announced Thursday that the University of Colorado has agreed to leave the Big 12 to join its conference. “This is an historic moment for the conference, as the Pac-10 is poised for tremendous growth,” commissioner Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Baylor-PAC 10 emails

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s impossible to keep up with all of the Big 12/PAC 10/Big 10 stuff, and the many possible permutations of what could happen, but I was amused by the emails from a Baylor regent trying to whip up support for … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“How much was that game worth?”, Dallas edition

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The question of how much a big sporting event affects a city’s economy is one I’ve pondered numerous times over the years. With the Super Bowl coming to Dallas Arlington, following on the heels of the NBA All-Star game, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on “How much was that game worth?”, Dallas edition

Baylor versus Colorado

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Like Justin, I find this a little hard to believe. Political forces in the state of Texas are preparing to demand that Baylor — not Colorado — should be one of the schools in the mix should the Pac-10 extend … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The PAC-16?

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You know, nothing quite says “Pacific Coast” to me like Lubbock, Texas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma. Two reports surfaced Thursday, in the midst of the annual Big 12 meetings, that indicated the Pacific 10 is mulling offering six Big 12 schools … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The NCAA licensing lawsuit

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keep an eye on this. If you’re a sports fan with a legal bent, add this to your Memorial Day weekend reading list: The March 10 complaint in Case No. C 09-01967 CW, United States District Court, Northern District of … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The NCAA licensing lawsuit

Targeting Frito-Lay

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve talked about sporting events like the 2011 MLB All Star Game that are currently scheduled to be held in Arizona and of various ways that people who have some involvement with them have spoken out about Arizona’s “Show me … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Targeting Frito-Lay

Dynamo Stadium design

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wondering what the new Dynamo Stadium will be like? The Chron has some early information. “We hope to be on site with a shovel in the ground by the end of this year,” said Dynamo general manager Oliver Luck, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Suns take a stand

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m very glad to see this. In an extremely bold move, the Phoenix Suns as an organization made a strong political statement in opposition to the recent Arizona immigration bill. Discussions on taking action began last week after the bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Suns take a stand

Not just MLB

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Basketball writer Bethlehem Shoals argues provocatively that NBA Commissioner David Stern should take a stand on the Arizona “Show me your papers” law. Enter the NBA’s éne-bé-a campaign, launched at the beginning of this season in attempt to capitalize on … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t play ball with the state of Arizona

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What Kevin Blackistone says. About 10 years ago, the NCAA made one of its most bold and upright decisions: it refused to allow any more of its postseason tournaments, like March Madness, to be held in South Carolina until the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

NCAA tournament expands

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

To 68 teams, which is a lot less than 96. The three-team expansion is much more modest than 80- and 96-team proposals the NCAA outlined just a few weeks ago at the Final Four. The move coincides with the new, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

One last time for the Dome and the Dynamo

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose now that the Dynamo have finally gotten an official commitment from all relevant parties to go forward with their downtown stadium idea that it was inevitable the question of why didn’t they just use the Astrodome came up … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on One last time for the Dome and the Dynamo

Once again mulling the fate of the Astrodome

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Am I the only one who noticed the omission in this story about the current state of the Astrodome? Debt and interest payments will amount to more than $2.4 million this year, according to a payment schedule for the higher … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bye-bye, Texas Stadium

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It went boom on Sunday morning. More than 38 years of football and entertainment memories came crashing down Sunday morning when 11-year-old Casey Rogers pushed the button that set off 2,715 pounds of dynamite, leveling Texas Stadium in less than … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Commissioners Court to vote Tuesday on Dynamo Stadium deal

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

One presumes that since they were the holdup on this, the fact that they’re finally bringing it to a vote means it will go through. “I expressed concern (weeks ago) when we started getting this kind of Christmas tree built … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council approves Dynamo Stadium deal

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Two down, one to go. The Houston City Council unanimously approved an agreement this morning that is expected to pave the way for a new professional sports stadium for the Houston Dynamo and the Texas Southern University football team. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

NCAA 96 on the way

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Let the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the reactionaries begin. The NCAA appears to be on the verge of expanding the men’s basketball tournament to 96 teams. Insisting that nothing has been decided, NCAA vice president Greg Shaheen nonetheless … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Dynamo Stadium deal tagged

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

While City Council was able to complete the Lakewood Church sale, they were not able to vote on the other major real estate deal on their agenda this week, as Council Member Jarvis Johnson put a tag on the Dynamo … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dynamo Stadium deal tagged

If there’s a big sporting event in town…

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Then it must be time for a story about the economic impact of that big sporting event. For a city that has hosted the Super Bowl, the World Series and NBA and MLB All-Star games in the past decade, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on If there’s a big sporting event in town…

Sports Authority to become Dynamo Stadium landlord

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

One of the items on the to-do list after the city and county struck a deal on Dynamo Stadium was for the team to negotiate a lease for the stadium. The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority was proposed as the landlord, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

NFL passes new overtime rule

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The National Football League owners have approved a change in overtime, starting with the playoffs following the 2010 season, that will modify the sudden-death format and prevent a team from winning a game with a field goal on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Dynamo Stadium deal finally struck

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Took ’em long enough. The city of Houston and Harris County have struck a potential deal on a new stadium for the Houston Dynamo and Texas Southern University’s football team, agreeing to jointly pay for $20 million in infrastructure upgrades … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment