Mark McGwire

One Man's Baseball Bucket List

The thought of baseball season is depressing for some people, primarily because the Astros are going to be so damn bad. But that doesn't bother me. I'm a baseball addict, and while the Astros will be bad, it's not really going to matter because I'll be watching baseball -- and thanks to Comcast Spor ... More >>

Straw Polling of MLB Hall Of Fame Voters Is (Sort Of) Good News For Craig Biggio And Jeff Bagwell

As potential Hall of Fame classes go across all sports, I'm not sure that one city has more invested emotionally right now than the city of Houston does in balloting for next year's induction class into the Baseball Hall of Fame. First baseman Jeff Bagwell is on the ballot for the third time, and ... More >>

Christmas Past: Top 10 Christmas Movie Soundtracks

While we celebrate the holidays, Rocks Off is resurrecting a few of our best Christmas-themed blogs from the past few years. (Wait... resurrecting is Easter. Never mind.) This blog originally appeared December 14, 2010. No doubt you have all been chin-deep in Christmas movies since you undid your b ... More >>

Roger Clemens, Steroids, and the Baseball Morality Police

There are still a lot of people upset about last week's Roger Clemens verdict. Sure, most of the people appear to be sportswriters and not actual tax-paying citizens, but that's beside the point. Sportswriter Ken Rosenthal and his baseball-reporting pals see the whole thing as a travesty of justice ... More >>

Louisiana Senate Votes to Beg Roger Goodell to Unsuspend Saints Players and Coaches

Let me preface what I am about to say by noting that I love the State of Louisiana. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip to the state. It's one of my favorite places to visit, complete with otherworldly cuisine, ultra-accessible alcohol and gambling, and unintentional comedy galore. In short, I a ... More >>

Top 10 Christmas Movie Soundtracks

​No doubt you have all been chin-deep in Christmas movies since you undid your belt on Thanksgiving evening. Rocks Off made sure to steal a copy of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation from our folks' house before the calendar even hit December. Unlike other blogs, we don't hate all Christm ... More >>

Favre In Charge -- "The Media Still Sucks" Edition

Brett Favre finally wins a big game for the Jets​The mainstream sports media couldn't avoid the topic forever. Eventually, the story of Brett Favre's penis would have to be addressed. And as deafening and infuriating as the silence in Bristol and points beyond was, we knew that the only thing mo ... More >>

Roger Clemens Gets His Day in Court

Rusty Hardin seekin' justice​What sports fans have been expecting for over two years finally happened Thursday as an indictment alleging perjury and obstruction of justice was handed down by a Washington D.C. grand jury against Roger Clemens. Perhaps the only surprise from the indictment is that ... More >>

Clemens to Be Indicted for Making False Statements to Congress

Falling Star: Clemens will be indicted on perjury charges.​Roger Clemens testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform over two years ago saying that his former trainer Brian McNamee had lied about his use of steroids. Today, federal authorities have decided the former Ho ... More >>

Game Time: An Open Letter To Texans Linebacker Brian Cushing

Three clean guys. Way to go, USC​Dear Brian,I won't even start off this letter with some colloquial phrase like "How was your weekend?" I know your weekend probably sucked, and the truth of the matter is I hate it when people ask how you're doing and don't really want to hear the answer. Along w ... More >>

For Opening Day: Five Terrific Baseball Movies, None Of Which Star Kevin Costner

Opening Day is finally here, and we can once again try to resolve our love/hate relationship with the Houston Astros.As of this writing, they are undefeated, so -- so far, so good.Baseball, for all its problems, has long had an unbreakable hold on Americans. So have movies. So here are five great ba ... More >>

Adam Carroll

Pop Rocks: Golden Bozos

You know awards season is in full swing when all the celebrities converge upon the Beverly Hilton to get drunk and act like receiving an award from the same organization that once honored Pia Zadora is something to be proud of.That's right, it was Golden Globes night last Sunday. And while the just ... More >>

Game Time: Saluting College Football's Greatest Liars

If you're into bending the truth, ignoring the truth, spitting on the truth...really any misdeed against the truth, then this has been a pretty good sports week for you. Hell, it's been a pretty good run ever since Thanksgiving when Elin either rescued Tiger from the fiery wreckage of his Escalade ... More >>

Game Time: Sifting Through Mark McGwire's Bullshit

​At this point, using the word "courageous" to define any of the performance-enhancing drug users of baseball's Steroid Era that "come clean" about their transgressions is a bit disingenuous. "Courageous" would be their giving back all of the money that steroids helped them make. So if you're look ... More >>

Announcements That Are Almost As Startling As Mark McGwire's Steroid Confession

​Former St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire gave a statement today to the Associated Press admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs during baseball's steroid era.The sports world is reeling from the confession, which came completely out of the blue. It is, of course, absolutely shocking; in fact, ... More >>

Game Time: The Dysfunctional Macs

​I'm sure if all of you have heard, but Tracy McGrady has set a target date to return from microfracture surgery, and that date is November 18. What he's going to do once he comes back or whether he's even ready to come back are secondary issues, because chances are if you heard this news when it ... More >>

Lonesome Onry and Mean: My Son, the Guitar-Slinger

William Michael SmithLance Smith (left) and Mike Stinson​ LOM grew up in the oil patch, made a good living in it, saw the world because of it. So it made sense to want our son, Lance, to grow up to be a petroleum engineer. Alas, it was not to be. Now he's a guitar player. Two years into the petrol ... More >>

Lonesome Onry and Mean: Blacktop Gypsy and Shurman

Two fine bands who don't come through much are playing just blocks apart tonight. Dallas's Blacktop Gypsy will be knocking the audience out with their amazing harmonies and the virtuosity of fiddler Heather Stalling (wife of Max Stalling) and former Lake Jackson resident Rodney Pyeatt. Stalling was ... More >>

Richard Justice, Jeff Bagwell, Jose Canseco & Steroids

Richard Justice is up on his high-horse again, this time in defense of himself, his colleagues, and Jeff Bagwell. The subject, surprisingly, is steroids. And Justice is pissed that there are people out there who happen to believe that he might have known what was going on during the late-`80s, `90s ... More >>

Tonight: Blacktop Gypsy at the Firehouse Saloon

Not many acts on MySpace list as their influences Merle Haggard and Fleetwood Mac. Or George Jones and Sheryl Crow. But Dallas outfit Blacktop Gypsy does, and it doesn't take many listens to their music to get the connections. Certainly the template is country but with three women in the mix there' ... More >>

Top 10 Moments in the History of Minute Maid Park

Photo by Bukowsky18 The Houston Astros are asking for our suggestions for the top moments in the history of Enron Field Minute Maid Park as part of the stadium's tenth season. You know me. I love to give my opinions about the Astros. So here are my Top 10 Moments in the History of Enron Field M ... More >>

Top 10 Moments in the History of Minute Maid Park

Photo by Bukowsky18 The Houston Astros are asking for our suggestions for the top moments in the history of Enron Field Minute Maid Park as part of the stadium's tenth season. You know me. I love to give my opinions about the Astros. So here are my Top 10 Moments in the History of Enron Field M ... More >>

Barry Bonds Might Not Go to Jail

As far as I'm concerned, the big news is that Barry Bonds might be getting off. Yep, that's right. Barry Bonds might not be going to jail. For those who don't know all of the details, but do know that Bonds is going on trial in March, know this. He's not going on trial for using steroids. He's ... More >>

Tejada's Turn Under the Grand Jury Microscope

When word came out that a grand jury had been convened to investigate Roger Clemens, Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane asked him to not come to the Astros camp for spring training. I wonder if Drayton is going to ask the same thing of Miguel Tejada. Because it is now being reported that the Fed ... More >>

Barry Bonds Might Not Go to Jail

As far as I'm concerned, the big news is that Barry Bonds might be getting off. Yep, that's right. Barry Bonds might not be going to jail. For those who don't know all of the details, but do know that Bonds is going on trial in March, know this. He's not going on trial for using steroids. He's ... More >>

Last Night: Adam Carroll & John Evans at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

We Now Present... Steroids, The Musical

Steroids and Roger Clemens: More Awesomeness from Jose de Jesus Ortiz

Get Lit: Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and the Battle to Save Baseball, by Jose Canseco

Astros-Cardinals: Albert Pujols Goes Deep. Twice.

Steroids and Roger Clemens: A Love Letter to Rocket from Texas Monthly

Steroids, Baseball and Roger Clemens: Rocket and Brian McNamee Appear Before Congress Today

20 Questions for Clemens

Steroids in Baseball: Ken Caminiti, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Jason Grimsley, Gregg Zaun, Ron Villone, Chris Donnels, Miguel Tejada and Stephen Randolph

A-Rod Would Be Good for the Astros. Not as Good as Starting Over, But Good.

SoundExchange Wants to Kill Internet Radio

On "lost" artists, found money and the murder of free enterprise

Sold Out

At the MFAH and the HMNS, it's all about the bottom line

Ball Busters

The battle over Bonds's record-setting homer looks quaint four seasons later

Junkie, MD

A Houstonian makes an Intoxicating film

Encore or Bust?

Stressing about the 'Stros begins anew

Mark David Manders

November 7

No Need for Nashville

Houston Marchman fights for our cool country culture

Return to Normalcy

The Chronicle gets back to business as usual

A Dying Race

Houston boasts some of the biggest track legends in the world. Who cares? They do.

Letters

From the February 24, 2000 issue

You Gotta Want It

And other lessons for the Sharpstown All-Stars

Strike Three, They're Out