The McHero?

Last night Commentary watched Anderson Cooper’s interview with Charles Ramsey on CNN.  Ramsey is the fella whose Big Mac dinner was interrupted by one of the kidnapped women in Cleveland Monday evening.   Ramsey is very animated and entertaining in the interview.  It’s the best McDonald’s ad I’ve seen in a while.  I’m thinking McDonald’s will probably send him a year’s supply of McMeals.

Yesterday a supporter of the Ben Mendez for City Council Campaign sent out a mean spirited and classless attack item on Graci Garces.  I guess they are trying to take the focus off of Mendez donating dough to the GOP.  Last week the Mendez campaign had a cyberspace back and forth with a veteran Latino community activist on the GOP donation matter.

Albert Pujols is in town and everyone knows he won the NL MVP Award in 2005, 2008, and 2009.  He was runner-up in 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2010.  Name the players that won the award when Pujols was the runner-up?

Speaking of, whatever happened to the meeting that The Mayor was supposed to put together with CSNH, U-Verse, Dish, and Direct TV on carrying the ‘Stros game?  Did I miss it?  Was any progress made?

Some fella saw singer Paulina Rubio on a flight from Miami to H-Town.  He claims to have asked permission to take a picture of her and after he took the shot he claims she snatched his camera from him and put a knee to his groin area.  Now he’s gone to court to have a judge order Rubio to hand over his camera along with some walking around money.  I’m thinking Rubio already tossed that camera to el ultimo adios land.

I’m thinking that your neighborhood doesn’t qualify for one of those National Night Out parties or a Neighborhood Watch Organization certification if none of the neighbors notice that someone on your block has been hiding three kidnapped people in their crib for the past ten years.

Barry Bonds won the NL MVP Award in 2002 and 2003, Ryan Howard won it in 2006, and Joey Votto won it in 2010 of course.

We won last night but it is way too early to say that the changes made to the roster will result in more wins.  Jose Altuve should not be batting in the three spot.  Stay tuned!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Graci Garces Campaign,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Legislature,Housotn City Council Races

Stop the Bleeding

The Killer Ds of 2003 are having a ten year anniversary get together in Austin.  Good for them?

If the legislature is in Special Session this summer, I wonder if the Texas Eleven will have a get together.  That means The Dean will miss more time at The Yard.  Hey Dean, you ain’t missing much!

Christians for Good Government sent out another email yesterday with another ad complaining about HISD.  They mentioned that they held a meeting at a church this past weekend and that’s all I know about them.

How many of the current ‘Stros have ever made an MLB All Star team?

We’re at a point in the MLB season where things have to turn around or else we may end up witnessing the worst season of any team in the modern era (post 1900) of the MLB.  You have to wonder if collectively they think that they aren’t capable of winning.  It doesn’t help that they started calling themselves out this past weekend. 

Yesterday they shipped out three players and brought in three more.  Of our starting rotation at the beginning of the season, two have already been replaced with a third on the way.  

The Chron’s sports columnist has a piece on the losses that have mounted up.  Here are parts:

You can’t help but feel sorry for them.

Didn’t they know how outmanned they were against the Tigers, who outscored them 28-2 in one 18-inning stretch of the four-game sweep?

The Astros’ starting batting order Sunday had a combined total of 59 RBIs. Two Tigers – Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder – have a combined 68.

And this:

For all you National League traditionalists in Houston who didn’t want a designated hitter, you got your way.

The Astros don’t have one.

Through Sunday, their designated hitters had a batting average of .210 and had struck out 50 times in 124 at-bats. Their two most often used designated hitters – Chris Carter and (Carlos) Pena – are hitting .217 and .200, respectively, with a combined 35 strikeouts in 91 at-bats in that role.
Ouch!  That hurt!  And:

This is not a team built to win.

This is a team of sacrificial lambs.

The Astros were built this season primarily with players expected to hold down positions until the talented young reinforcements are ready to be called up from Oklahoma City and Corpus Christi.

We are 8-24.  Today’s Chron points out that the 2003 Tigers started out at 7-25 and ended up losing 119 games.  Guess what?  Carlos Pena played on that 2003 Tigers team – yikes!  Our new radio announcer Steve Sparks also played on that 2003 Tigers team – yikes!

The Chron also points out that the 1987 Padres started out at 7-25 and ended up with 97 losses.  Of course that team had future Hall of Fame greats Tony Gwynn and Goose Gossage along with Gary Templeton and John Kruk. 

The ‘Stros need better talent.  They need an attitude adjustment.  They need to play harder.  They need to believe in each other.

Carlos Pena and Jose Altuve are the only ‘Stros ever to have made an All Star Team of course.

I just hope that this isn’t the series that Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton get hot.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,State Senator John Whitmire,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Legislature

Mild Criticism

Every now and then Commentary becomes relevant like in yesterday’s Chron E-Board take.  The other day Commentary mentioned The Mayor and her lists.  Well guess what?  Check this from the E-Board yesterday talking about The Mayor’s State of the City speech:

Job growth is tops in the nation, crime rates are down, and we seem to make every top 10 list.

She listed new programs to help people land jobs, touted the success of past projects like Hire Houston First and thanked Houstonians for contributing every day to making our city a better place. But the mayor’s speech seemed to lack one key item: the big picture.

How are we using the boom to help us when times are tough? How is Houston working to bridge the growing gap between wealthy and poor that threatens to render us economically vulnerable and socially stagnant? How will Houston look in 50 years?

These are questions that can’t be answered by a top 10 list. But Parker’s speech was exactly that – a list.

The E-Board take is a bit interesting in that they are nudging The Mayor to articulate a vision for H-Town.  Here is more:

Parker is not lacking for accomplishments, and we’ll probably hear all about them as the election approaches. As the mayor coyly said to rebut challenger Ben Hall‘s growing campaign: "I don’t need a campaign, I have an economy."

But Houston needs a future.

Two things here:  How do they know if Ben Hall’s campaign is growing?  Was it because he was parade marshal at Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo parade?  The Mayor does need a campaign.  Everybody that is running needs a campaign.

Here is one of the more interesting lines of the take:

One day Houston will become a city where people live because they want to, not because they have to.

I’m kind of thinking that The Mayor and her leadership circle are wondering what prompted the E-Board’s take yesterday like where did that come from.   Oh, well!

I encourage you to check out the entire take here.

When we played in the World Serious in 2005 and got swept by the White Sox in four, who were our four starting pitchers?

I’m not going to say much about the FBI and HISD other than it made the front page of Saturday’s Chron.  Stay tuned!

I don’t think I have ever been to two straight games of very bad ‘Stros ballgames.  Saturday night we got blown out 17-2.  Yesterday we were no hit through 6 1/3 innings and got whipped 9-0.  Now the players are calling each other out as we are 8-24 and the only big league team with single digit wins.  Here is from the Chron:

Reliever Wesley Wright said the Astros’ constant failure had become a “manhood” issue.

From closer Jose Veras:

“It’s easy to come here, lose a game, take a shower, guys can go home and say, ‘OK, we’ll get it tomorrow.’ No. It’s not that way.  We get paid to win ballgames. We are here to win ballgames. You (played) on teams in the minors to be here. Now you’re here. You’ve got to find a way to be successful to stay here.”

“People say, ‘It’s 162 games; we’ll get it later.’ Later when? It’s (32) games. When you going to take it?  So that’s all, you know? We’ve got to turn it around. We’ve got to find a way.”

From pitcher Lucas Harrell:

“It gets old, and it’s wearing on us.  We’re better than what we’ve been playing. … We’re embarrassed as a whole. We’re a team. We’re a family.”

From Wesley Wright:

“We all felt the performance has just been god-awful the last couple days and we can’t continue to put that type of showing out there.  It’s a challenge. Just to see what type of men we are and what type of baseball players we are.”

First of all the players ought to be calling out the front office.  They put together this $20 million team.  A lot of us aren’t surprised.   We are just as bad at home as we are on the road.  I don’t see it getting any better soon.

Check out the entire Chron piece here.

In the 2005 World Serious we started The Rocket, Andy Pettitte, Roy O., and Brandon Backe of course.

There sure were a lot of Tigers fans at The Yard this past weekend. One even had on a Kirk Gibson jersey.  We have the day off then the Angels are in for three. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Mayoral Race,Annise Parker,Ben Hall,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Housotn Politics,Texas Politics,Houston City Hall,Houston Elections

Celebration of Guns

The Chron today let NRAer Ted Nugent pen an Op-Ed today celebrating guns.  According to Nugent, if it weren’t for guns, we wouldn’t be here.

Check it out here.

The Chron E-Board has another piece on guns today here.

I’m not going to say anything about the welcoming party for the NRA out at Terminal B yesterday.

The Tigers are in town.  Name their Triple A affiliate?

Happy Birthday today to CM James Rodriguez!   Join him at his BD Party tonight at 8^th Wonder Brewery at 2202 Dallas at 7pm. 

Happy Birthday today to Jose Soto!

I’m kind of moving in the direction of what the Houston Press is talking about in regards to sports talk on some stations. 

Check it out here.

What was the whole point of one station on their website calling out the Thunder’s cheerleader on her weight?  You know there are other options including NPR and other sports talk shows.

It looks like The Mayor’s opposition research team is in high gear.  Kuffer suggests that more may be on the way.

Check it out here.

The Toldeo Mud Hens of course are the Tigers’ Triple A club.

We should have won last night and no, I didn’t stay for the entire 14 innings.  There were quite a few Tigers fans at The Yard last night.  Some were wearing Verlander gear and a couple Kaline gear.  I’m looking forward to seeing Verlander this Sunday. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Mayor Annise Parker,Houston Mayoral Race,Councilmember James Rodriguez,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,National Rifle Association

NRA in H-Town

The NRA is having their annual meeting in H-Town this weekend – YIKES!  I wonder if The H-Town Mayor will give them a welcoming speech and tell them to spend their ammo in H-Town – DOUBLE YIKES!  I wonder if any of the NRA members will show up at The Yard this evening or weekend and root, root, root, err shoot, shoot, shoot!

The Tigers are in town for four.  How many World Serious titles do they own?

The Chron E-Board has a take on the NRA being in H-Town.

Check it out here.

Former astronaut Mark Kelly has a way better take on the NRA being in H-Town.  Kelly actually calls out the NRA leadership.

Check it out here.

Way to go Captain Kelly!

The outgoing Transportation Secretary gave H-Town and METRO a spanking in today’s Chron.  Check this:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood likes Houston’s light rail that’s up and running but warns that regional transit officials have squandered opportunities the past decade by not building greater consensus.

"The region needs to get its act together," LaHood said during a brief question and answer session after an unrelated news conference Wednesday in Houston.

And this:

Though the Main Street line has been a success, and three more lines are under construction, LaHood said the area is coming up short because more hasn’t been done to extend lines to the suburbs where most people live.

He said he spent the morning in Houston talking about projects to extend transit farther from the downtown area. Suburban taxpayers who supported referendums in 2003 and 2012 especially have demonstrated a desire for development, only to have officials shortchange them.

"The fact that these people voted for a referendum and are paying these taxes and have never seen any benefit from it is just not right," LaHood said.

Some will probably disagree with Secretary LaHood’s characterization but a spanking is still a spanking.  You do have to admit though that METRO hasn’t lived up to its potential.

The Chron article is only available to subscribers.

The Tigers own four World Serious titles of course:  1935, 1945, 1968 and 1984.

In recognition of the NRA Annual Convention in H-Town, firearms accessories manufacturer Magpul Industries is tonight’s promotions sponsor at The Yard.  The first 10,000 receive a magazine clip.

Not really.  The first 10,000 get a gym bag thanks to Methodist Hospital – WHEW!

I wonder if NRAer Ted Nugent will throw out the first pitch or sing the National Anthem or God Bless America at The Yard this weekend.

You know how bad it is?  We had to call up a pitcher from Triple A that has a 5.32 ERA.  The ten game homie starts this evening and we need to start playing better.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Gun Control Controversy,Houston Traffic Congestion,Mayor Annise Parker,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Texas Latino Politics,Houston Latino Politics. National Rifle Association

Living off Lists

Commentary was watching The Mayor on TV the other day talking about her reelection campaign and she touted H-Town being on all these national best this and best that list – you know – Best City for Economic Growth, Best and Brightest Employers, Best Businesses and Careers, best food, best restaurants, best bike lanes, best margaritas  – you get the picture.  Here is from the Chron:

(Mayor) Parker referenced a lengthy list of Top 10 rankings that recently have included Houston, and she noted successful sporting events hosted and international flights added on her watch.

Heck, the City of H-Town puts these lists on the City’s website.  If you live by the list you can also get hurt by the list.  Here is one that came out yesterday that won’t get on the City’s website.  H-Town has a couple of neighborhoods on the Best Neighborhoods to Get Mugged In.  Check this from the Chron today:

First, the terrible news: Two Houston communities are ranked among the nation’s 25 most dangerous neighborhoods, according a new study by NeighborhoodScout.com.

The website analyzed FBI data from 17,000 local law enforcement agencies to find specific neighborhoods in America with the highest predicted rates of crime, MSN Money reports.

Coming in at No. 15 in the U.S. is a Houston neighborhood centered at the intersection of Dowling and McGowen Streets, located in Houston’s historic Third Ward – a broad geographical area that includes stately mansions, the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.

The community "stands out to NeighborhoodScout partly because it has more sales and service workers than nearly any other neighborhood in the country," according to MSN Money. "The area also has a very high concentration of studio apartments and other small living areas."

The violent crime rate (per 1,000) is reported as 75.89, and residents there have a 1 in 13 chance of becoming a victim of crime in one year.

The sixth-most dangerous neighborhood in America is Sunnyside, a historically black community located off Texas 288 south of downtown Houston.

The violent crime rate (per 1,000) is reported as 91.27, and residents have a 1 in 11 chance of becoming a victim of crime in one year.

One thing about the Best List business is that we don’t control them and don’t know when they are coming out and a burg like H-Town is likely to have its share of Best and Worst.

In head-to-head record all time against AL clubs, who do we have the best record against? 

Commentary didn’t have any intention of talking about the Sacramento Bee cartoon on the West explosion that got Guv Dude all hopped up.  Now I changed my tune.  Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News was on CNN a couple of days ago and he said he wasn’t offended by the cartoon.  My pal Nick Anderson of the Chron has one today referencing the Bee cartoon that will probably get under Guv Dude’s skin.

Check it out here.

Here is the one from the Bee.

Here is an earlier one from Anderson on West.

Like Slater, I wasn’t offended but I can understand if someone was.  I can also understand if some folks were offended when Guv Dude said we don’t need any more steeenkeeen regulations.

Next time you see a HISD big shot, give them a high five for keeping the NRA out of our schools.

Check out the Chron story here.

We’re 5-1 all time over the Jays at a .833 clip of course.

We lost 7-4 last night at Yankee Stadium and go for the series win this evening then finally come home.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,mayor Annise Parker,Governor Rick Perry,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Houston City Hall,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Latino Politics,Houston Latino Politics,Texas Democratic Party,Texas Republicans

Frightfully Hilarious

On a historic day when NBAer Jason Collins announced he was gay, here in Texas the state Attorney General came out with a non binding legal opinion saying that local political jurisdictions cannot offer domestic partnership benefits.  As this great country of ours becomes more tolerant and accepting, it is kind of sad, scary, and downright funny to watch Guv Dude, the Lite Guv, and the Texas AG try to lead Texas back to the Stone Age.  Some of the State’s GOP leadership including State Sen. Dan Patrick continues to try to hold on to the notion that intolerance and inequality is good public policy. I guess they didn’t even bother to look down the road to College Station to see the A&M student body president veto an anti GLBT measure a few weeks ago.

Here is what the San Antonio Mayor said in the SA Express News on the AG’s opinion:

“I’ve instructed the City Attorney’s Office to do an immediate review to see whether the attorney general’s opinion even applies to San Antonio and, if it does, to let the City Council know what our options are. I don’t think our policy is unconstitutional, but I believe the attorney general’s opinion is wrong for San Antonio and a step backwards for Texas.”

Let’s not forget that this is just an opinion – an opinion that has more to do with the 2014 election and which candidate can look the meanest on GLBT issues.   It may work for the next election and maybe the one after that, but that’s it.  The day is coming when Texans will reject the Pied Pipers of Intolerance.

How many games have the ‘Stros won in the Bronx?

Here is from Politico:

Barbara Walters agrees with Tom Brokaw: Celebrities have overrun the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

"It’s why some of us didn’t go this year, because it’s got movie stars,” Walters said on “The View” Monday. “You used to see other members of the administration and other politicians, … but it’s become more and more about the movie stars at the table."

"It used to be a wonderful opportunity to meet all different people in Washington,” she added. “But when it gets to be about movie stars, it’s not that it’s not fun, but it’s a little different.”

This is from a person that used to interview major movie stars on Oscar night.  You could say she made a living off of celebs.  You could say she was a celeb moocher.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander pitches this evening at Comerica against the Twins.  That means we will be on his Cinco de Mayo menu this Sunday at The Yard – YIKES!

Last night’s 9-1 drubbing of the Yankees was our second win in the Bronx.  The first was the six pitcher no-no back in 2003 that Commentary witnessed in person.

I couldn’t find the game on TV last night.  I think it was preempted by the Rockets or something like that.  I missed a good one for sure!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Gay rights in Texas,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Attorney General,Texas Politics,Texas Elections,Housotn Politics,San Antonio City Hall