Category Archives: Other sports

Bring back the Comets

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Jenny Dial Creech would like to see one more professional sports team in Houston. As [Tina] Thompson — the league’s first No. 1 overall draft pick — was inducted into the [Naismith Basketball] Hall of Fame, we were all reminded … Continue reading →

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

Another Lopez brother gets banned from taekwondo

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Steven Lopez this time. Two-time Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Steven Lopez has been banned permanently from competition by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, based on the results of the agency’s investigation into Lopez’s sexual relationship with an underage female in … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another Lopez brother gets banned from taekwondo

Taekwondo coach Jean Lopez un-banned

Posted on August 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to understand this. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has lifted a permanent ban imposed earlier this year on Sugar Land taekwondo coach Jean Lopez, clearing the way for Lopez to resume coaching while he and his brother, two-time Olympic … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Taekwondo coach Jean Lopez un-banned

Texans’ cheer coach quits

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Altovise Gary, the longtime director of the Houston Texans cheerleaders squad who was named as a defendant in one of two recent federal court lawsuits filed against the team, has resigned, a team spokeswoman said Tuesday. Gary resigned … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

The Prairie View cricket complex

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this. Growing up, Tanweer Ahmed’s mother, Kalsoom, always discouraged him from playing cricket. They were a poor family. His mother sold vegetables and milk from the few cows they had in his hometown of Sialkot in … Continue reading →

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

Final Four returns to Houston

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. The NCAA announced Monday that Houston and NRG Stadium will host the 2023 men’s Final Four. College basketball’s marquee event will be held April 1 and 3. It will mark the fourth time the event will be … Continue reading →

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

The World Cup and its possible infrastructure effects

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Assuming Houston does get to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, that could spur some major projects, for transportation and recreation and who knows what else. Houston will not receive final word on the bid until … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The World Cup and its possible infrastructure effects

Larry Nasser indicted in Walker County

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something, but it’s not enough. A Walker County grand jury Friday indicted two former USA Gymnastics officials, disgraced physician Larry Nassar and athletic trainer Debra Van Horn, in conjunction with Nassar’s sexual abuse of gymnasts at the Karolyi Ranch … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texans cheerleader lawsuit update

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Couple points of interest here. A former Texans cheerleader who says cheer director Alto Gary derided her as “skinny fat” and applied duct tape to her stomach before a 2017 game added her name Friday to one of two lawsuits … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texans cheerleader lawsuit update

San Antonio to get pro football team

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not the NFL or the XFL but the AAF. “After talking to [league co-founder and CEO] Charlie Ebersol, I knew the Alliance of American Football was right for San Antonio, and that San Antonio was right for the Alliance,” said … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on San Antonio to get pro football team

Texans move to dismiss one cheerleader lawsuit

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Standard stuff, I presume. Attorneys for the Houston Texans have asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the team by five former cheerleaders or to delay proceedings while the former cheerleaders’ complaints are submitted to arbitration. Team … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texans move to dismiss one cheerleader lawsuit

Here comes the FIFA World Cup

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Three cheers for the three nations. In a long-anticipated vote on Wednesday, the joint bid of the U.S., Mexico and Canada defeated Morocco, its only challenger, as 200 national soccer federations cast their ballots to cap FIFA’s annual Congress. The … Continue reading →

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

They’re still trying to make XFL 2.0 happen

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And who knows, maybe it will. Oliver Luck, the former Oilers quarterback and Dynamo executive who has most recently worked at the NCAA, was named Tuesday as the commissioner of the relaunched XFL that World Wrestling Entertainment will launch in … Continue reading →

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

More on the Texans’ cheerleader lawsuit

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a story in Vanity Fair about the second lawsuit filed against the Houston Texans by a group of former cheerleaders, who allege wage theft and harassment, among other things. The tale is from the perspective of plaintiff Gabriella Davis, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the Texans’ cheerleader lawsuit

Second group of cheerleaders sues the Texans

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Different group, same basic complaints. Hannah Turnbow spent the 2017 NFL season wearing a bright smile and a Texans cheerleaders uniform, dancing on the field, waving pompons on the sideline, meeting fans in NRG Stadium suites and concourses and attending … Continue reading →

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

Former cheerleaders file lawsuit against Texans over pay

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’d been wondering if something like this was going to happen here. Three former Texans cheerleaders sued the team and its cheerleading supervisor Tuesday, accusing the Texans of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime and accusing the cheer squad … Continue reading →

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

Add taekwondo to the list of problematic sports

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Also a sport with local ties. Last week, four female USA Taekwondo (USAT) athletes filed a joint lawsuit against the USOC and USAT, alleging that the two organizations engaged in sex trafficking by forcing its athletes — including minor females … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Add taekwondo to the list of problematic sports

Stadiums and sports betting

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Sheryl Ring at Fangraphs adds another dimension to the SCOTUS sports betting decision story. But there is another incentive for states to legalize sports betting aside from just basic tax revenue. We’ve talked about ballpark deals, particularly in the context … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Jackpot!, Other sports, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Stadiums and sports betting

Will the AG get involved in the Karolyi case?

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The gymnasts who were victimized by Larry Nasser at the Karolyi Ranch would like to see a higher level of action. The Texas Attorney General’s Office should take the steps of the Michigan attorney general in aggressively pursuing charges against … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tina Thompson

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to original Houston Comet Tina Thompson for her selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Tina Thompson was honored for her stellar college, professional and Olympic career when she was named to the 2018 Class of the Naismith Memorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tina Thompson

Houston makes final cut for FIFA 2026 bid

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Now it’s up to FIFA. The Houston Dynamos might have to make some room: Space City has been included in the bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On Thursday, officials announced that Houston is one of 23 cities … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

SaberCats Stadium

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Houston’s new pro rugby team will soon have a home. The city’s burgeoning rugby community is poised to have a new home after City Council inked a $3.2 million deal Wednesday that paves the way for the Houston SaberCats to … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Investigating the Karolyis

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fine with this, but I feel like we’re overlooking something. Nearly a week after prominent USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of several female gymnasts, Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Investigating the Karolyis

The XFL will be back

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And this time the gimmick is there will be no gimmicks. WWE founder and chairman Vince McMahon announced Thursday he is giving a professional football league another go. It will be called the XFL, the same name of the league … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Karolyi Ranch

Posted on January 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Once viewed as a beacon of “dreams, desire and dedication” for a generation of young women, now symbolic of years of abuse and betrayal, the Karolyi Ranch north of Houston will no longer serve as the national training … Continue reading →

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

Cricket in Houston

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

If cricket ever becomes a big deal in the US, the Houston region will play a key role in that. Houston has had adult [cricket] leagues since the 1970s. Most players, then and now, are from Commonwealth countries – nations … Continue reading →

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

Hockey for Houston (again)?

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It could happen. It’s early, the initial talks have only been exploratory and Mike D’Antoni doesn’t have to worry about slipping on the hardwood any time soon. But I can tell you this: [Tilman] Fertitta and Co. are interested if … Continue reading →

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

Texans take a knee

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. On Sunday afternoon, before the Houston Texans faced off against the Seattle Seahawks in Washington, all but approximately 10 Texans took a knee during the national anthem. This was a direct response to Texans owner Bob McNair … Continue reading →

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

The Sports Authority at 20

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A few stadia, a little mission creep. Where has the time gone? As the Harris County Houston Sports Authority celebrated its 20th anniversary Monday night with a reception for current and former directors and board members, it moves into its … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Sports Authority at 20

Tilman Fertitta buys the Rockets

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Meet the new boss. Houston billionaire Tillman Fertitta has reached an agreement to purchase the Houston Rockets from Leslie Alexander. The $2.2 billion sale price to break the NBA record sale of $2 billion from when the Clippers were sold … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Tilman Fertitta buys the Rockets

Houston part of bid for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Houston and NRG Stadium are on an official list for cities and venues that may be considered to host a FIFA World Cup match if the event comes to North America in 2026. The United Bid Committee of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The bathroom bill is a threat to Quidditch

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

How much more do you need to know? It’s not quite time to get out the broomsticks in Round Rock. A national quidditch tournament headed to town next year has been put on hold while legislators consider the bathroom bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hey lady, wanna referee a high school football game?

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Texas could really use you. The Houston chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials is somewhere between 50 and 200 officials short for the 2017 football season. TASO Executive Director Michael Fitch has referred to the statewide shortfall of … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Rockets for sale

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The end of an era. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, among the longest-tenured owners in North American professional sports, has put the franchise up for sale, team president Tad Brown announced Monday in a stunning, hastily-called news conference after Alexander reached … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rockets for sale