Category Archives: Other sports

The NYT takes a closer look at the Deshaun Watson situation

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s even worse than it looks. It is time, Watson and his representatives say, for everyone to move on. Yet a New York Times examination of records, including depositions and evidence for civil lawsuits as well as interviews of some … Continue reading →

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

Get ready to start raking in the cash, UH

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Money, money, money. As the athletic director at Texas, Chris Del Conte is the CEO of one of the richest college athletic departments in the nation. He also knows what it’s like to have to make every penny count. At … Continue reading →

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

What is going on with the Houston Dash?

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing good. The Dash have suspended coach and general manager James Clarkson, who is being investigated by the NWSL and its players association. The suspension came “in light of initial findings received this week,” the Dash said. The team opens … Continue reading →

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

No collegiate gymnastics in Texas

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I did not know this. Ragan Smith did not lack options when it came to choosing a college, as tends to happen when you’re an elite gymnast with a national title on your resume. One option was unavailable to Smith. … Continue reading →

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

Big XII may get temporarily bigger

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The dominoes fall when they fall. Next week, the Big 12 plans to discuss the future of the conference regarding its expansion, per Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. Houston, Cincinnati and UCF are expected to join the Big 12 in the 2023–24 academic … Continue reading →

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

Houston Comets 2.0?

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’d be happy to see the WNBA come back to Houston. From 1997 to 2000, legendary players Cynthia Cooper, Tina Thompson, and Sheryl Swoops led the Houston Comets to the first four national WNBA titles. The team was a dynasty: … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Houston Comets 2.0?

Texans added to Brian Flores’ discrimination suit against the NFL

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Of note. Former Dolphins coach Brian Flores amended his class action racial discrimination lawsuit Thursday to include allegations that the Texans retaliated against him by removing him from consideration for their head coach vacancy because he sued the NFL and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texans added to Brian Flores’ discrimination suit against the NFL

“Due diligence”

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just gonna leave this right here. The Browns said they did due diligence before agreeing to give Deshaun Watson a $230 million contract and complete a trade with the Texans. Watson is facing 22 civil suits for sexual harassment … Continue reading →

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

Deshaun Watson traded to Cleveland

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

He’s someone else’s problem now. The Texans have traded Deshaun Watson to the Browns. The quarterback waived his no-trade clause for Cleveland after initially eliminating the franchise, a person with knowledge of the negotiation said, but Watson reversed his decision … Continue reading →

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

The COVID College Football Playoffs

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. If a team is unavailable to play in College Football Playoff semifinals on New Year’s Eve because of COVID-19 issues, the game will be forfeited and the available team will advance to the championship. With COVID-19 cases spiking across … Continue reading →

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

COVID puts NHL on pause

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of an ominous throwback. The NHL is beginning a leaguewide shutdown Wednesday amid a rise in positive COVID-19 test results among players, and with 10 of the league’s 32 teams’ schedules already paused and their facilities closed. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on COVID puts NHL on pause

Settlement in Larry Nassar abuse case

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The legal wrangling between USA Gymnastics and the hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by former national team doctor Larry Nassar, among others, is over after a $380 million settlement was reached. The fight for substantive change within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Settlement in Larry Nassar abuse case

Quinn Ewers

Posted on December 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This story caught my eye. They got played by an 18-year-old. Depending on your sports acumen, hearing the name Quinn Ewers either makes your ears perk up or leads you to ask, “Who?” The former Ohio State quarterback’s name is … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Quinn Ewers

USFL 2.0

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all 1985 up in here. Houston will be home to another spring football league. A Fox Sports-backed reboot of the United States Football League, which originally existed from 1983-86, was announced Monday with play starting in April 2022. The … Continue reading →

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

There were settlement talks with Watson and his accusers

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They did not succeed. The attorney representing 22 women suing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson says settlement talks between the two sides broke down before the NFL’s trade deadline because of language Watson’s legal team insisted they include in nondisclosure … Continue reading →

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

A brief meditation on the Deshaun Watson situation

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Let us pause for a moment and contemplate this John McClain column about the likely football fate for the Texans’ soon-to-be-former star quarterback. Deadlines have a way of initiating action, and if the Texans are going to ship quarterback Deshaun … Continue reading →

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

Last chance to make a good FIFA impression

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Coming to the end of this very long process. Houston’s diversity is being played up in the city’s recent push to host the 2026 men’s World Cup. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joined forces with … Continue reading →

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

On Rice and the AAC

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a great move for Rice. It also means they will need to step it up in men’s athletics. On the job a few months in early 2014, Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard met with alumni at a fundraiser in … Continue reading →

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

American Athletic Conference to expand

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Time for some more dominoes to fall. The American Athletic Conference is set to consider expansion this week after six Conference USA programs applied for membership on Wednesday. If all six teams are added to the AAC, it would expand … Continue reading →

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

No vax needed to see a Rockets game

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

No, thanks. The Rockets will not have any entry or seating restrictions beyond those required by NBA health and safety rules this season, according to Rockets president of business operations Gretchen Sheirr. The team does provide an option for fans … Continue reading →

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

COVID and college football

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

We sure these sellout crowds are a good idea? At Virginia Tech last Friday, the packed crowd bounced to “Enter Sandman.” At the University of Wisconsin the next day, fans jumped around to “Jump Around.” College football and its crowd … Continue reading →

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

UH officially joins the Big XII

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Long time coming. Hello, Big 12. In a historic day, the University of Houston has accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference. The Big 12’s presidents voted unanimously Friday to formally invite Houston, BYU, Cincinnati and Central Florida … Continue reading →

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

The Big XII is finally ready for UH

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hope it was worth the wait. Five years after a potential match fizzled, the University of Houston and Big 12 Conference are on the verge of uniting after all. UH has emerged as a leading contender to join a reconfigured … Continue reading →

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

The PAC-20?

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one possible outcome for the left behind members of the Big XII. According to multiple reports, the commissioners of the Pac-12 and Big 12 met Tuesday to discuss how the conferences might benefit from working together or maybe even … Continue reading →

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

The Austin Bills?

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Maybe they’re negotiating. But in any negotiation, the negotiators need to be willing to act in order to have any credibility. As to the negotiation between the Bills and Buffalo that has begun with the Bills wanting … Continue reading →

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

Big XII visits the Lege

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something to do, anyway. As the University of Texas prepares for a jump from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, state lawmakers are working to determine how the move will affect the rest of the state — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Big XII accuses ESPN of sabotage

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting! In the long, sordid and divisive history of conference realignment, there has always been feverish levels of mistrust, backroom allegations and message board conspiracies when schools switch leagues. But in the decades of cloak-and-dagger maneuverings, political gamesmanship and rival … Continue reading →

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

SEC accepts UT and OU

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Time to start printing the money. The Southeastern Conference voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to invite the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Oklahoma to join their 14-member league during a meeting with the league member’s presidents and … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on SEC accepts UT and OU

More criminal complaints against Deshaun Watson

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Yeesh. Multiple women have filed complaints with the Houston Police Department related to Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to both sides in the football player’s civil sexual assault cases. Almost half of the 22 women who filed civil claims against … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More criminal complaints against Deshaun Watson

UT and OU make it officially official

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Smell ya later, Big XII. After a week of speculation, the University of Texas at Austin announced Tuesday that alongside the University of Oklahoma it has asked to join the Southeastern Conference starting July 1, 2025. The news came a … Continue reading →

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

UT and OU make their official move to exit the Big XII

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s just a matter of time now. And money. Always money. The University of Texas at Austin announced Monday morning that it will not renew its sports media rights contract with the Big 12 that is set to end in … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on UT and OU make their official move to exit the Big XII

A Deshaun Watson sighting

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Deshaun Watson made a shrewd move Sunday when he reported early for training camp with the other quarterbacks and rookies. Watson showed up at NRG Stadium for the first time since the end of last season, … Continue reading →

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

The A&M and AAC responses to UT and OU and the SEC

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Moving from denial to bluster. Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork has a message for any newcomers to the Southeastern Conference: “We’re ready.” Texas and Oklahoma are preparing to exit the Big 12 and join the SEC, just as A&M … Continue reading →

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

One more with UT, OU, and the SEC

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s happening. I know, it’s early, and there’s resistance, and stuff can happen, but come on. It’s happening. Texas and Oklahoma are prepared to inform the Big 12 they will not renew their media rights agreement with the league when … Continue reading →

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