Here is a taste of what Burkablog says in his piece:

In a recent post, I raised the question of whether Perry could be reelected. I didn’t think so then, and I don’t think so now.

And:

The problem for Perry is that the American people have made up their minds about him–and so have most Texans. His brand is ruined.

Kuffer also gives us his take and here is what he says: 

Perry can be beaten in the (2014) general if he’s the nominee. Whether he can be taken in another GOP primary I couldn’t say. Until there’s a race between two people, who knows who can beat whom?

Here is Kuffer’s entire take.

2014 is a long ways from the first month of 2012.  Right now I would think that Dude’s toughest challenge in 2014 would be to win the GOP Primary. 

I like Burkablog and Kuffer and think they are pretty smart fellas, but I wish they would explain to me how Dems could take Dude down in a 2014 general election.   There isn’t anything in the Dem arsenal these days that would pose a threat to Dude in 2014 – nada.  Lone Star State Dems don’t have a coherent message, a GOTV infrastructure, and most importantly a serious program to engage the growing Latino vote.   We’re not going to do it with emails, yard signs, and bumper stickers that say “Vote Oops Out!”

The Rocket has won 7 Cy Young Awards – 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, and 2004.  How many times has he won the Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote? Bonus:  Go on ahead and name the year(s).

It is kind of scary to think that GOP Prez contenders are checking out Commentary.  Here is what I said yesterday:

Look for Latinos and immigration and The DREAM Act to get some major play tonight.

The first 20 minutes of the debate last night was spent on immigration.  They didn’t touch on The DREAM Act but they did talk a whole lot about potential Latinos in the cabinet, Latin America, English only, and Spanish language ads.   I was disappointed in Newt in that he missed some opportunities to hit Mitt and ended up getting slapped around.  He should have jumped into Mitt on not owning his radio ad.

A huge way to go goes to my good friend and pal and one of the sharpest folks I know, Melaney Linton at Planned Parenthood.  Check out their press release:

The Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast have appointed Melaney Linton as the next President and CEO. Linton, who currently serves as COO, will assume the role currently held by Peter J. Durkin on March 1, 2012.

Melaney has had a long, successful career with PPGC. Just two weeks ago, Melaney celebrated her 24th anniversary of employment with PPGC.  She has provided leadership in a variety of roles. Melaney has a knack for getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats so the individual and the organization can excel.

A 1985 graduate of Texas A&M University, Melaney began her career with us in January 1988 as a Clinic Assistant.  She was promoted to Quality Assurance/Risk Management Coordinator later that year.  In 1992, Melaney had a leadership role on our Security Task Force and trained hundreds of volunteers for clinic defense in preparation for the Republican National Convention.  Over the years Melaney has played a pivotal role in the expansion of our service area and of the range of services provided to our clients.

In 1993, Melaney was promoted to Director of Clinic Operations and Risk Management, after completing the renovation of the Greenspoint health center while managing the construction and expansion of our former Fannin headquarters. She helped open the new Stafford health center and reorganized the Rosenberg and Dickinson health centers. 

In 1997, Melaney assumed the role of Vice President of Medical Services and a year later was appointed Senior Vice President of Medical Services.  In that role, she oversaw the expansion of abortion services to our Bryan health center.

In 2007, Melaney was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and provided guidance for the management and ultimate merger with Planned Parenthood of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta (PPLAMD). 

Most recently she has played a key role in the expansion of medical services through two new proposed health centers: Northwest health center slated to open later this month in Houston and a new flagship health center for New Orleans to open next year. 

On the national level, Melaney served as consultant to the Consortium of Abortion Providing Affiliates (CAPS) from 1996-2000.  She chaired the PPFA National Patient Services Council Steering Committee from 2001-2005. She served on the PPFA National Medical Committee from 1998-2005. 

Melaney truly understands the Planned Parenthood mission and is prepared for her upcoming challenging role. This is evident from her statements made at yesterday’s PPGC Roe v. Wade luncheon.

"I am honored and humbled to be entrusted with such a sacred duty."

“I pledge to do everything in my power to fight back against the ideological attacks on Planned Parenthood and women, so that no teen will ever say she didn’t know how she got pregnant, no one will ever be denied basic reproductive health care, and no woman will ever be forced to bear children she cannot adequately support.”

Like I said, Melaney is one of the smartest people in town.  She could be a CEO of any corporate entity in town if you ask me.  Way to go Mel!

The Rocket was the unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner in 1986 and 1998 of course.

“Lights Out” Lidge is now a National and I don’t have anything from The Yard!

Nothing in the poll surprises me and I can probably explain a number that may have some baffled.   One of the questions asks:  How has Gov. Perry’s run for the presidency affected your view of him?  Less favorable is 41%.  Unchanged is 47%.  More favorable is at 9%.

You see those 9% “more favorable” thought he was a complete dumbarse before he got into the race but at least he had the good sense to get out and endorse Newt, so they have a “more favorable” view of him.  You have a better explanation?

Newt has to score some points tonight at the debate or he will lose Florida next week.  Look for Latinos and immigration and The DREAM Act to get some major play tonight.  Also look for Newt to be a lot more aggressive.  I’ll be watching.

Yesterday, Comerica handed over to the H-Town Mayor $100,000 for the Julia Ideson Library renovations.  In 2000, Comerica took over the naming rights for whose MLB crib?  Bonus:  How many World Serious titles does that MLB team own?

Commentary was watching the H-Town City Council meeting on the tube yesterday and lost track of how many times CM Helena Brown was the only “no” vote on a bunch of agenda items.

Yesterday I mentioned the Vice President not sitting still during The President’s State of the union address and I got this from someone:

Undeserved – "V.P at least did not pick nose" The man’s, what, right at 70 and can get uncomfortable! To ascribe "potential" bad manners to him is an undermining tactic of the right.

Otherwise,  good Commentary.

Oh, well!

I don’t have a problem with the GOP anti paperless folk Governor of Arizona trying to get in The President’s face yesterday.  All it does is remind Latino voters of the anti Latino GOP rhetoric.

Comerica acquired the naming rights to the Detroit Tigers’ new crib of course before it opened in 2000.   The Tigers have won four World Serious titles of course, in 1935, 1945, 1968, and 1984.

At yesterday’s H-Town City Council meeting, CM James Rodriguez asked the new ‘Stros owner to take the name change issue off of the table.

On the proposed team name change, The Mayor said her first reaction was “negative.”

I hope they heard about this at The Yard!

Somebody should have provided the Vice President with throat lozenges.  A few of his coughs were very noticeable.  He also couldn’t sit still.  The only thing he didn’t do was pick his nose.

The silliest thing said was at the start of the GOP response when Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels referenced that he was speaking from the site (Indianapolis) of next month’s Super Bowl 46.  Who cares? 

The President got a so-so response when he mentioned ending the practice of insider trading by members of Congress.

I thought he did a nice job stressing the need to pass The DREAM Act even though he didn’t mention The DREAM Act by name.

Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee, who probably has the State of the Union world record for getting her mug with Presidents, once again got face time with The President as he departed and apparently invited him to H-Town and of course he is going to say OK, so SJL immediately announced that The President was coming to H-Town.  

Of course he is coming to H-Town.  He has to come here at least once or twice this year to pick up some dough for his campaign.

Commentary has to admit that I got misty eyed when The President and Gabby Giffords hugged.

Former Brewer Prince Fielder is now a Detroit Tiger.  The slugging great got him a nice contract.  Name the last Tiger that had his jersey number retired by the team?

The Chron’s Lisa Falkenberg has a column on my pal Massey Villarreal, a GOPer, and his consideration of supporting Newt because of his support for The DREAM Act.  Check what he has to say:

Villarreal says the former House speaker told him he wanted his ideas, about immigration reform, about international trade. And then he assured Villarreal that he too believed in El Sueno Americano, the American dream, and the name of an influential book by San Antonio-based political consultant Lionel Sosa. (Unbeknownst to Villarreal at the time, Sosa has become a consultant on Gingrich’s campaign.)

Here is Lisa’s column.

I wonder if Massey was watching the debate Monday night and saw Newt retreat some from The DREAM Act.   Massey and Sosa better start getting Newt back on full support of The DREAM Act or they are going to look like chumps.

Former skipper Sparky Anderson of course had his numero 11 retired by the team in 2011.  Sparky managed the Tigers from 1979-1995 and is no longer with us.

The Chron asked ‘Stros fans to weigh in on the name change issue and 80% said leave the name alone.  I would hope that the new owner would announce today that he is taking the name change proposal off the table and focus on making the team better.

“Jerry Eversole is not a crook," O’Rourke said. “He didn’t take bribes or kickbacks. That’s just not who the guy is.”

Evergoner pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI so I guess that doesn’t make him a crook.  Also from Watchdog:

“Based on what I saw, I would not have removed him from office,” said O’Rourke, who attended as much of the case as he could. He also reviewed the voluminous trail of paper that such a case emits.

Here is the entire Watchdog piece.

Here is Hunker Down’s take on O’Rourke from Texas Watchdog:

It was ill-advised, (Harris County Judge Ed) Emmett said in an interview last week, “particularly since that office is supposed to be the ethics watchdog for the county.”

“I think we’re going to have a lot of conversations about the role of the county attorney’s office and the role of ethics,” Emmett said. “We passed an ethics policy over two years ago, and the way it’s being implemented leaves a lot to be desired. It will have to be discussed, and this letter is another piece of it. It relates to the ethics committee and whether the county attorney has told them what they can and can’t do.”

The Chron also has a take on the matter here.

Instead of being a watchdog for the County, O’Rourke was a lapdog for Evergoner.  That’s too bad.

The new owner of the ‘Stros is studying a team name change.  What a dumbarse thing to contemplate!  We’re the ‘Stros!  We wear the brick red!  We have the open star!  Leave it alone!  If you want to change anything, get rid of that Junction Jack fella!

Speaking of the team, name the pitcher that holds the franchise record for pitching losses in a season?

Alan Rosen is a nice fella.  His campaign for Harris County Constable, Pct. 1, put out a press release yesterday with the following headline:

DIVERSE GROUP OF LOCAL DIGNITARIES ENDORSE ALAN ROSEN, CANDIDATE FOR CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 1

Here is how it started:

Houston — Alan Rosen today welcomed the support and endorsement of local Black and Hispanic leaders.  Joining the list of high-profile community leaders supporting the Alan Rosen for Constable  Campaign include the Hon. Lee P. Brown, former Mayor of Houston; Hon. C.O. “Brad” Bradford, ! ! Member of Houston City Council, Rev. William A. Lawson, Pastor Emeritus and the founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Gilbert Garcia, Managing Partner Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P., Howard Jefferson, Member of the National Board of the NAACP, Dr. Benjamin Hall, III, Attorney and Founder of The Hall Law Firm, Roland Garcia, Attorney/Partner, Greenberg Traurig Law Firm, and Rev. Dr. Edwin Allen Davis, inspirational community leader, Pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.

And:

“Needless to say, I’m honored to have the endorsement of community leaders I have admired  and respected through the years,” said Alan Rosen. “I have had the honor and privilege to have worked with many of these men over the course of my 21 year career in law enforcement. There are none better.”

It was a nice try at “diversity” but it would have been nicer to see some females in the press release.

Notes from last night’s debate:

The candidates are running Spanish language ads in Florida but favor English-only.

Newt backed off a bit on The DREAM Act.

Romney sounds like a whiner.

Notes from the gathering at The Yard last night:

About 200 season ticket holders showed up.

Some fans want to know how come ticket prices aren’t reduced yet team payroll is significantly reduced.

Some domestic beers will be cheaper.  I’m betting St. Arnold isn’t domestic.

The team has been losing money.

They are going to review discount pricing.

A number of folks spoke out against a name change.

Now you can bring in water and grub to the games.

The grub they served last night was nice.

The new GM touted the signing of former UH star Chris Snyder who plays catcher. 

Turk Farrell of course was 10-20 back in 1962 when we were called the Colt ‘45s.  The 20 losses are the most in franchise history. 

You can read about the changes at The Yard here.

From The Texas Democratic Party:  “The Supreme Court did not strike down the interim maps.”

Tim Eaton from the Austin American Statesman:  The U.S. Supreme Court this morning rejected the redistricting maps drawn by a panel of federal judges in San Antonio.

From AP: The Supreme Court has thrown out electoral maps drawn by federal judges in Texas that favored minorities.

Gary Martin and Nolan Hicks of the SA Express News:  The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a Texas panel of federal judges on Friday to redraw its interim redistricting maps, a decision that will probably postpone Texas’s already-delayed primary elections.

Aman Batheja, Star Telegram:  The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously Friday to toss out court-drawn maps that had been intended to be used for the 2012 elections.

Lone Star Project:  Earlier today, the US Supreme Court overturned the interim Texas redistricting plans ordered by a San Antonio District Court in November.

From GOP AG Greg Abbott:  The Supreme Court confirmed that the San Antonio court drew illegal maps, without regard for the policy decisions of elected leaders.

My pal Robert Miller put out a take Friday to let everyone know he got it “right.”  Here is part of his take:

In closing, I will note that I received pushback when I wrote the following after attending the Supreme Court January 9 hearing:

My read of the oral argument is that the Supreme Court is likely to issue an opinion before the end of January.  I believe that ruling will overturn the San Antonio court plan, and instruct that greater deference be given to the legislative plan.

I was right.

Robert was right alright.  Maybe I’ll just tune everyone else out and just listen to Robert when it comes to the maps as long as he doesn’t take me down spin lane or it is revealed he has a secret agenda.

I’m betting the folks that have been running HCC are wishing that new Trustee Carroll Robinson would go away. Here is a 10 minute YouTube titled “Don’t Treat HCC Trustee Carroll Robinson as a ‘Stupid Ass’”
Check it out here.  I’ll go out on a limb and say that Carroll is going to shake things up over there at HCC and let us know what is going on.  I don’t have a problem with that.

Some members of the 1986 ‘Stros got together this past weekend at a Tristar sponsored reunion of sorts. In the 1986 NLCS between the ‘Stros and the Mets, both teams combined for 8 dingers during the 6 games series.  Name the players that hit the dingers?

This past Saturday the Chron E-Board weighed in on the stern lecture H-Town CM Rodriguez gave to CM Brown a couple of weeks ago at a council meeting.
Check it out here. 

Also this past Saturday, Bill White penned an op-ed that ran in the Chron giving advice to Guv Dude now that he’s back home.   I’m betting that Dude doesn’t give a rat’s arse what White has to say and I’m also betting that he won’t read the op-ed.   If you want to read it you can check it out here.

It looks like the City of H-Town is going to finally settle this red light camera mess.  Check out the Chron story here.   The Kuboshes of course led the effort to kill the cameras.  They were also big donors to CM Helena Brown and in fact one of the Kubosh brothers was her escort at the inaugural.  I wonder if CM Brown will support the settlement and vote to cough up 2 mil or so.

I’m not going to say anything but watching the Newt and Mitt show is kind of fun.  What a nice way to spend last Saturday night.  The two latest polls taken last night now show Newt leading in Florida.  Well what do you know!

During the 1986 NLCS Glenn Davis, Bill Doran, Alan Ashby, Dickie Thon, and Billy Hatcher of course had dingers for the ‘Stros, Darryl Strawberry had 2 dingers and Lenny Dykstra one for the Mets of course. 

I’ll be going to The Yard this evening to hear from the new leadership.

Pam Gardner leaves Astros with ‘no regrets.
and:
Gardner to assume role as adviser to Crane.

If you ask me the new owner and his sidekick Postolos just made a dumbarse bonehead move.  Pam-In-Charge ran the side of the operation that was actually functioning well.   Up until yesterday the ‘Stros were one of the few major professional sports franchises in the U.S. of A., heck in the world, that had a high ranking female President.  Not anymore. 

I could go on and on about Pam’s accomplishments over at The Yard.  The one I like to champion is the 30% minority/women ownership of the food service operation since The Yard opened in 2000.  Some folks think that it is just the team and Aramark that make the dough off of food, concessions, and souvenirs.  A stellar group from H-Town’s minority/women community also profit.

The new owner came in under a cloud of a diversity challenged past.  That cloud is still there if you ask me.

Every now and then I check out the comments after an article.  Some fella tossed a good riddance message to Pam and this fella was still complaining about the “Sweet Caroline” tune being played when the Red Sox were in town last summer.  I’m betting the fella wasn’t even at the game.  There were only a handful of us ‘Stros fans in attendance and about 38,000 from Red Sox nation.

Among active MLB pitchers, who leads in career strikeouts?

It is back to the drawing board as the Supreme Court has thrown out the San Antonio court maps.  We still don’t have districts!  We still don’t have an election date!  What a mess!

Commentary went to check out Wikipedia to read their take on “open marriage.”  It is pretty much what I expected.   What I didn’t expect to read is the number of notable folks on the “open marriage” list – allegedly.  There is a big time talk show host, Academy Award winners and nominees, noted philosophers, and an NBAer.   Newt is in good company – allegedly!

Commentary got a big laugh out of Newt’s pious act last night when John King asked him about the “open marriage” stuff.  This ain’t going away Newt!

New HCC Trustee Carroll Robinson just got sworn in and now he has an op-ed in today’s Chron telling the City of H-Town how to fix their finances – huh! 
Check it out here.   Commentary heard the Trustee was in rare form at his first meeting.  Trustee Carroll needs to focus on cleaning up the HCC mess first.

My pal Michelle Wittenburg told me yesterday about a website where you can find pottery with Beatles themes.  Check it out here.  You can never get enough Beatles stuff if you ask me and this stuff is pretty cool. 

Javier Vazquez of course leads all active MLB pitchers with 2,536 Ks.  Vasquez played for the Fish last year and right now he is a free agent.

I don’t have anything else from The Yard.

He embarrassed himself on the big stage and he wasn’t ready for prime time. 

He comes home with a lot less swagger and that limp shtick of his that is looking more and more like phony cockiness.  He kind of reminds me of “Yosemite Sam.” 

The only contribution he made to the 2012 presidential campaign was “oops”.

Like I said yesterday, I hope he comes home and gets on a diet that includes a lot of humble pie.  If he starts up with his old act again he’s going to get a lot more pushback than he’s been used to getting.  I also hope he understands that most of the state now looks at him a whole lot differently than when he embarked on his ill fated quest last summer.  Stay tuned!

Note to Dems:  Harry Zamora, Democratic candidate for Harris County Constable, Pct. 2, and his wife Leslie own a video production company called Sky Way Productions.  Sky Way Productions is listed as a $3,500 in-kind video production contribution to the Leticia Ablaza for City Council Campaign on her January 17 Campaign and Expenditure Report.  Ablaza just ran against James Rodriguez.  Ablaza is also a known Tea Party activist and current Chief of Staff to District A Council Member Helena Brown.

FYI Disclosure:  Joe Martinez, Democratic candidate for Harris County Constable, Pct. 2, is Commentary’s client.

When was the last time an MLB World Serious game was scheduled for a daytime start?

It didn’t take long for H-Town City Council District A CM Helena Brown to upset some of her constituents. Check out the Chron story here.

At yesterday’s H-Town City Council meeting, CM Brown tagged six agenda items – yikes!  One agenda item involved parks projects in four different council districts – double yikes!  

Word is Dude will endorse Newt this morning.  Newt’s second wife will be interviewed on “Nightline” tonight.   It turns out Rick Santorum won the Iowa Caucuses and Mitt Romney is now claiming that in Iowa, tie goes to the runner – got it!  I wonder if Dude’s staff is going back to work for Newt? 

4 p.m., Saturday, October 24, 1987 of course was the last time a World Serious game was scheduled for a daytime start.  Game 6 was held in the Metrodome in Minneapolis between San Luis and the Twins.

News from The Yard:

The Urban Invitational, the annual, round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed to give Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their baseball programs national exposure, is relocating to Houston, Texas and will feature five HBCUs – the most-ever in the tournament’s five-year history. The Houston Astros MLB Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park will be the primary site of the tournament on Friday, February 17^th and Sunday, February 19^th, while the games on Saturday, February 18^th will be played at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. Two of those contests will air live on MLB Network and MLB.com.   Here is the entire story.

Here is part Burkablog:

These are terrible numbers for Perry. He faces the potential embarrassment of losing the Texas presidential primary to Romney and perhaps not even finishing second. He will have to evaluate whether he is a viable candidate for reelection. I think the answer is no. He is damaged goods, and the more he prolongs the fiction that he belongs on the debate stage with the other Republican aspirants, the more damaged he will be.

Perry’s presidential campaign has left him vulnerable to defeat should he choose to seek a fourth term as governor in 2014. Republicans have to worry that he might even lose to a Democrat (Paul Hobby comes to mind, or John Sharp.) The numbers indicate that his stature in Texas has seriously eroded to the point that, if he decides to run for reelection, he cannot be sure of victory. Donors who contributed to his presidential race may think twice before throwing good money after bad.

The long-term significance of these numbers is that Perry’s poor performance on the campaign trail has destabilized Texas politics. Politicians understand the meaning of these numbers. It means that the aura of invinicibility that has surrounded Perry during the past ten years is gone. It means that the fear Perry has been able to generate has greatly diminished, if not altogether evaporated. It means that if Perry does run for reelection in 2014 and is victorious, he will face serious pushback from veteran legislators.

Perry’s term as governor expires in January, 2015. He can continue in office until then, but the end of the long Perry governorship is in sight.

I agree with most of what Burkablog says with the exception of the Democrats that might be able to take Dude down in 2014.  Can we please stop throwing John Sharp into the mix for anything?   I like Paul Hobby but do you really think that he is going to fire up the base?   Dems can do a lot better like maybe the Mayor of San Antonio or the Dem State Senator from Tarrant County. 

Of course on the other hand, Dude may just decide to hang them up and get out of the game altogether.   What he really needs to do is withdraw or suspend or whatever after South Carolina, come home and lay real low for a while.  Then he needs to get off of that bombastic red meat diet and start munching on some humble pie.  He’s not going to do the state any good if he comes home and acts like the same old Dude.

Of course, everybody knows that pitcher Wandy Rodriguez is the only 2005 World Serious ‘Stro who is still wearing the brick red.  How many 2005 World Serious games did Wandy get in to and explain the circumstances?

Commentary forgot to wish The First Lady a happy birthday yesterday.  I hope she’s not mad a me.

HPD’s Mounted Patrol is now in the naming rights business.  For $5,000 a year, you can put a name/sponsorship on one of the 31 horses.
Check out the Chron story.  I don’t have a problem as long as they have rules and guidelines and good taste.  For instance, I don’t want to see the Hand Doctor’s name on a saddle.  I don’t want to see political or issue advertising on saddles either.  If these guys can stop you for drinking and stuff like that, I don’t want to see beer logos either.  You get the picture.

Wandy Rodriguez played in two games of the 2005 World Serious against the White Sox of course.  He pitched 3 and 1/3 innings of Game 1 replacing The Rocket after The Rocket left the game early after two innings because of hamstring issues.   Wandy pitched the last 1/3 of the top of the 14^th in the 14 inning loss in Game 3.  Wandy is celebrating his 33^rd BD today.

The ‘Stros signed pitcher J.A. Happ to a one-year deal for $2.35 mil after going 6-15 with a 5.35 ERA last year.  I don’t know about that!

Here is how the incumbent GOP Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners reacts in the piece:

"The whole plan is to avoid criticism for leaving his office early," Sumners said. "I don’t know that he’s going to be able to pull that off."

CM Sullivan is trying to head off attacks:

In planning for his departure, Sullivan said, he looked for "the most democratic process we can engage in at no cost to taxpayers for there to be an elected representative for District E."

I think the Sumners campaign is going to make an issue of Sullivan not serving out his term and probably score a few points with GOP voters.

I wonder if Chris Moran is going to track down CM Wanda Adams and ask her about her plans.  I do think that leaving office early is a bigger deal among GOP voters though.

Of course, what happens if CM Sullivan wins the primary, submits his letter of resignation, the political climate changes somewhat, more Latinos show up to the polls in November, a number of Dems win countywide, and Sullivan is one of the GOPers that bite the dust?   CM Sullivan obviously doesn’t think much of Dem chances in November here in Harris County.

The Greatest is celebrating his 70^th BD today.    Muhammad Ali fought in H-Town four times, err five if you count the one against the federal government when he refused induction into the armed forces.  In the ring he took on Buster Mathis and Jimmy Ellis in 1971, Ernie Terrell in 1967, and Cleveland Williams in 1966.  Commentary had the privilege of attending the Terrell and Williams bouts at the Astrodome.  He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.  Happy Birthday Champ!

Among active MLBers, this player leads in career stolen bases and caught stealing.   Name the player?

Jacoby Jones owned it yesterday.  Here is what he said:

“I made a mistake.  It’s something I’ve got to grow from. I apologized to my teammates.”

It was still a very dumb play.

Commentary was watching the red carpet show before the Golden Globes Sunday evening and found it odd that Elton John called out Madonna and her song in the best song category.  Elton also had a song in the same category.  Madonna ended up winning and they showed Elton with a stern look as Madonna gave her acceptance speech.  Elton’s husband then went on to rip Madonna on twitter.   Come on!  This is just the Golden Globes, you know, the Academy Awards without the “esteem”!

The dreaded C&Es are due today. 

Juan Pierre of course leads active MLBers with 554 career stolen bases and 190 times caught stealing.  Pierre is a free agent and waiting to be signed.

There is absolutely nothing to report from The Yard.

Here is what Chron sports columnist Jerome Soloman said:
Jacoby Jones will be the most chastised, cussed and criticized figure in Houston sports for the foreseeable future.

And:
His first-quarter fumble was so ridiculously stupid that ridiculously stupid isn’t the best way to describe it. It is all I have right now.d, well, he deserves it.

And:
Now, I’m not saying Jones is the reason the Texans lost, but had he missed the team flight and been suspended for the game, the Texans would be playing in Foxboro next Sunday for the right to go to the Super Bowl.  Oh, he is going to be roasted this week and next week and the week after that and forever more.

Here is Coach Kubiak’s reaction in the Chron:
“There’s no excuse,” Kubiak said. “He shouldn’t even be around the ball once that happens. He just made a mistake.”

Here is from the Chron’s General:
Jacoby Jones went brain dead with one of the worst decisions a player could make and helped put the Texans in an early hole they never recovered from.

Jones’ play will go down as one of the dumbest in Houston’s sports history.

I can’t think of a dumber play in H-Town sports history.  If you can, let me know.  The sad thing is that to date, Jacoby hasn’t owned it.  I doubt he will be back in battle red next year.

Name the current active MLBer with the highest career batting average?

Check out this interesting piece on the GOP pi__ing off the Latino vote.
Here is a piece:
Mitt Romney “is done,” said DeeDee Blase, founder of Somos Republicans in Arizona. “He’ll be lucky to get 8 percent of the Hispanic vote” after saying he would veto legislation that would create a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants and accepting the endorsement of anti-immigration activist Kris Kobach, architect of two of the strongest immigration crackdown laws in the country.

Here is an interesting Chron article on GOP Harris County Commissioner Jack Morman’s first year in office.

Here are a few tidbits:
He’d never run for or held office, never voted in a Republican primary.

And:
(Dem County Commissioner El Franco) Lee said hiring political veteran Dave Walden as his chief of staff showed Morman’s maturity. Walden, a top aide under former County Judge Jon Lindsay and former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier, and road and bridge superintendent Jack Rodriguez, another of Morman’s hires, are a pair of “get-the-job-done people,” according to Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell.

Oh, well!

Commentary went out to cheer on my niece Cristina Alig running the marathon yesterday and I saw my old pal Kathryn McNiel making her marathon bid.  Way to go!

Commentary checked out a tame Ricky Gervais last night.  Nobody seemed to be offended and in fact Jodie Foster flashed the thumbs up when he mentioned Foster’s “Beaver” – err, her movie.   All the women on the red carpet looked great especially the older ones that have decided they don’t ever need to be touched up including Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, and Glenn Close. 

The Chron had an editorial last Friday about the County not paying its Rebuild Houston bill.  Here is from the editorial:

This past Tuesday, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted against paying the ReBuild Houston drainage fee for the county-owned Reliant Park Complex. Not only that, but the Commissioners Court also instructed Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan to pursue a refund of $88,000 in drainage fees that the county had already paid.

And:
In response, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff floated the idea of legislation to exempt city residents from paying property taxes to the county.
Here is the entire editorial.

Albert Pujols of course leads all active MLBer with a .328 batting average.

John Huntsman is out today and I’m betting he will be followed by Guv Dude in a week at the latest.

Organizers of the Tea Bagger gathering at The Yard this past weekend were hoping for a bigger crowd.  I hope they don’t try to blame the team’s 106 losses for their lousy turnout.