Miami Heat

Which Texas Team Will Take Home the Title?

We Can All Be Golden State Fans for at Least a Day or Two

Jason Friedman's NBA Predictions: Mavs Beat the Jazz, the Suns, the Rockets and the Pistons, Take the Championship in '08

Jason Friedman’s NFL Picks, Week 12: Lions, Turducken and Bears...

Rockets-Heat: A Pair of Pleasant Surprises

Turning the Screw: Trae Day, Luke, DMX, Nas, Rick Ross and More

One-Fifth of the Way In, Whither the Rockets?

With about 20 percent of the season concluded, the Rockets' 11-7 record appears at first blush to be maddeningly inconsistent. But I think it's a lot easier to explain than it may seem. One way to measure the future success of the team based on its current record is to look at "bad losses" - ... More >>

Static

With about 20 percent of the season concluded, the Rockets' 11-7 record appears at first blush to be maddeningly inconsistent. But I think it's a lot easier to explain than it may seem. One way to measure the future success of the team based on its current record is to look at "bad losses" - ... More >>

Pro Athlete Musicians

Athletes step off the field and into the studio

Hustle Time

Damon Jones has traveled from UH to all around the NBA chasing stardom and a sound bite

New Year's Resolutions for Houston

We have a lot to forgive – and forget – about 2005; here's hoping local celebs do better next year

Best Sports Hairdo

We have a lot to forgive – and forget – about 2005; here's hoping local celebs do better next year

Oh, Say Can You See

The Star Spangles regurgitate the best of a punky rock stew

Rick Ross Is Completely Innocent and the Greatest Rapper Alive

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com.​Last year, president of Don Diva magazine Sam Ferguson played a major role ... More >>

Game Time: For Sale -- NBA Two Guard, 30 Y/O, Excellent Condition, Trades Accepted

​First, I want to thank everyone for their reaction, positive or otherwise, to my post yesterday which chronicled the high points of the era of Tracy McGrady's Expiring Contract I seem to learn something with every new post that I generate here on Hair Balls, and yesterday I learned that there are ... More >>

Game Time: NBA Free Agent Summit: The Four Horsemen Guide to 2010 Free Agency

Worldwide Wes, pulling strings​"The only time this much havoc had been wreaked by this few a number of people, you need to go all the way back to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!" -- Arn AndersonAnd with that seemingly throwaway line during a wrestling promo, one of the most entertaining fact ... More >>

GAME TIME: NBA Draft: 8 Winners and 8 Losers

As in most things in life, Calipari is both a winner and loser​"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2010 NBA Draft..." -- David SternI'm not going to lie, those words give me a tingly feeling every year that I hear them. It never gets old -- like reruns of The Sopanos or seeing that Bree Ol ... More >>

Game Time: NBA Free Agency -- So Is Dwyane Wade Gonna Hold It For You While You Pee Too, LeBron?

A Vogue cover, but no ring​Nothing worth chasing in life comes easy, so to say that by pooling their collective talents together to try and chase an NBA title in Miami that LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade are taking the "easy way out" isn't entirely fair.Actually, to be fair, with a ring ... More >>

Game Time: LeBron James -- Seven Scenarios For Thursday Night

@dramaqueen​"Hello World, the Real King James is in the Building 'Finally'. My Brother @oneandonlycp3 gas'd me up to jump on board so I'm here. Haaaa" -- LeBron James (oh sorry...@KingJames on Twitter, and what is sadly his most interesting tweet thus far)I've always thought that when Twitte ... More >>

LeBron James: Five Reasons Why He Will Announce Tonight He's A Houston Rocket

Forget GQ -- You can be on the cover of the Houston Press​As our Game Time blogger Sean Pendergast has ably analyzed, tonight is the big night for LeBron James. Tonight -- on a primetime special devoted solely to the specialness of him and the sheer giganticnessof his decision -- he will announce ... More >>

Game Time: LeBron-athon -- Five Backstabbings That Will Get You Ready For Tonight

Anakin Skywalker: Thanks for nothing, kid​In anticipation of LeBron James' decision as to where he will ply his trade for the next few years, shares of MSG stock rose 6 percent yesterday for a period of time before settling back to where they were earlier in the day. The reason for the brief bump ... More >>

LeBron James: Five Reasons Why He Did Not Choose Houston

Why LeBron said no​Despite what we thought were pretty compelling arguments yesterday, LeBron James did not announce last night that he will become a Houston Rocket.We blame the Children's Museum. And the Astros.Still, we're not bitter; we're analytical. And we have determined the five reason why ... More >>

Game Time: LeBron James: The Decision -- You Suck, ESPN

LeBron is Cleveland's new "Cuyahoga River on fire"​"It's been a real humbling experience to be in this position." -- LeBron James on his self-requested, one hour made-for-LeBron TV special on ESPNIf you lived in Houston at the time, you remember September 13, 2008. That was the morning after Hurr ... More >>

Game Time: LeBron is Making Me A Texas Longhorn Fan

Kevin Durant -- the anti-LeBron​It's July, it's the All-Star break, the Astros have reached the "what P.R. grab can we make?" part of the season about six weeks earlier than usual, and if I may say, hiring Jeff Bagwell as hitting coach should have far-reaching ramifications on the ball club that w ... More >>

LeBron James -- Society Hates You, I Love Society

LeBron: The power is waning​Mankind, I have to say that I was just about to give up on you. I'm a very patient person, but with every kid running around in a Ben Roethlisberger jersey or every nimrod that decides to turn right on Hamilton at the Texas Street intersection next to Minute Maid Park ... More >>

College Football and NFL: This Weekend's Best Bets

The Dr Pepper commercial can't be far behind​Now that The Office has turned into a big, directionless mess, the title for Most Watchable Thing on Thursday night television (with apologies to It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and The League) is the two-minute "Dr. Lou" segments that run at halftime ... More >>

The Quotable Tracy McGrady: "It's About Winning."

Blame Canada....or PEDs​Well, apparently I've pissed off Canada.In a post that was largely meant to illustrate the cavalcade of clown that is Les Miles and make a salient point or two about the Houston Texans, the biggest reaction to yesterday's "5 Winners, 5 Losers" came from north of the border, ... More >>

The 7 Basic WWE Metaphors For Real Life Situations (w/ video)

Let's get ready to....examine life!!!​I'm working on my 2009-2010 NBA Preview which should be done by tomorrow. I hope that some of you will cut me slack given that a whopping three games will be in the books by the time it gets posted here on Hair Balls, including the Rockets opener against the L ... More >>

NBA 2010-2011 Preview -- Reconstructing LeBron

Please, no more operations on Yao Ming​"What should I do?" -- LeBron James, over and over and over again his new Nike spot The fact that LeBron James is posing the question in his new Nike spot perhaps tells us that he is not completely devoid of self-awareness, as he appeared to be last summer. ... More >>

Cory Mo's Star-Studded It's Been About Time Mixtape

Photos via myspace.com/corymoCory Mo and Bun B in Europe​We've been writing about Houston rap for nearly three years now, and have yet to hear someone - ANYONE - say a bad thing about Cory Mo. Not once. That's remarkable. Given the sometimes irritable nature of Houston's rap scene, that's like ... More >>

One Guy's Thoughts On The Sports Year: 25 Things To Remember

So with the end of the year fast approaching, I thought I would take some time to revisit some of the highlights, and lowlights, of this past sports year. Your list is probably different, but these are the things that caught my attention this year. maxim.com Thanks for everything, Jenn​1. ... More >>

Top Ten Houston Sports Stories in 2010 (Alternate Title: "Here Comes The Prozac")

Brian Cushing will bring a keg and Fear of Tumors to your party​Putting together a "Top 10 Sports Moments" list is not supposed to invoke these feelings of anger and depression. But then again, I live in Houston, so try as I might to make this a list that is uplifting and inspiring, I can't. ... More >>

Remember Show's R.N.C.?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Show R.N.C. (Self-released, 2010)  There are different branches of the New Houston Collectiv ... More >>

Jerry's Time to Shine

Speaking truth about Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The Chris Bosh 2010-2011 Experience (In Quotes)

Chris Bosh, on the rise​OCTOBER 27, 2009 "[Bosh] will never be the best player on a 50-win team. Sorry, someone will spend $100 M on him next spring and regret it." -- Me, in my 2009-2010 NBA preview, prior to Chris Bosh's final season in Toronto SPRING 2010 "Keep in mind, Chris -- this team ... More >>

Rockets Playing Well Under the Radar

Photo by Jeff BalkeFinally, the Red Rowdies have something to actually cheer about.​Houston's three major sports franchises have spent the last few seasons in the equivalent of purgatory. None have been good enough to contend for a title, but none have been horrid enough to elicit the types of ... More >>

The NBA's Top-Selling Jerseys List (And Seven Things It Tells Us)

NBA jerseys: We CAN just all get along!!​I'll admit, I don't own any sports jerseys. I'm not a jersey-wearing guy, partially because the fit and feel of an authentic professional sports shirt are not optimal, but mostly because I'm over the age of 14. Full disclosure, I don't buy many jersey ... More >>

NBA Playoffs Schedule Maker, a Mother's Day FAIL

Could have been the best Mother's Day match-up of all time.​It's not easy for a sport's postseason that lasts practically as long as the entire college football regular season to be compelling from beginning to end, but so far this NBA postseason is doing as good a job of just that as it's eve ... More >>

The Chris Bosh 2010-2011 Experience (in Quotes -- PLAYOFF Addendum)

Chris Bosh is no Never-Nervous Pervis.​"Was I effective today? It's common sense. I think it's evident. I just have to get it where I'm effective. I have to get it where big guys get it. Then, I feel I can start helping out this team more. I'm effective down in the low-post area. That's where ... More >>

Dallas Mavs' Promo Video: A Life & Death Battle of the Gods, Examined Second By Excruciating Second

Above is the official promo video put out by the Dallas Mavericks for their ongoing playoff run. It just may be the single most defensive and embarrassing such video ever, but hey, it's from Dallas. Let's examine this thing. Throughout, the music is so over-the-top dramatic it makes "O Fortuna" s ... More >>

Rick Perry V. Florida Governor Rick Scott: Who Makes The More Pathetic NBA Finals Joke?

Meeting of the titans​The NBA Finals start tonight (the Rockets are not involved, if you haven't been keeping up). It's the Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat, and that means a silly little bet between Governor Rick Perry and Florida Governor Rick Scott, two of the more Tea Party-esque go ... More >>

Eskabel: Houston Rapper Says You Can't Beat The (Miami) Heat

The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place -lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good- so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ... More >>

NBA Finals Game 2 -- Anatomy of a Meltdown

On the "Play-by-play" Web page for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, it simply reads "Dwyane Wade makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mario Chalmers assists)," one simple play out of a few hundred plays during the course of an NBA basketball game. But if you were watching the game, you knew that Dwyane Wade' ... More >>

NBA Finals -- LeBron James Hits Rock Bottom

Snipes would play LeBron, but he's done his own disappearing act​"He struggled. Point blank, period. He struggled out there. ... I want to see him aggressive again. He can turn it up, his aggression, a notch." -- Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh, talking about his teammate LeBron James after Tue ... More >>

Chris Bosh's Hideous Back Tattoo Gives Me An Idea

"Awsome," maybe, but you're no Chris Bosh​My views on tattoos have been made clear in this space before: I don't begrudge people getting a tattoo, or even several tattoos. It's legal, it's your body, do what you want with it. I just would like to be around to see the people cover every inch of ... More >>

What Google Music Means To The Music Industry

techonzo.com​Google is finally launching its own music service. Google Music is a full-scale music service/store designed to compete with Amazon and Apple. Android boss Andy Rubin says they're very close to launch. About a dozen independent labels are have already joined forces with Google and ... More >>

One Man's NBA All-Star Reserve Selections

NBA All-Star time already?​Go ahead and chalk up the NBA All-Star Game taking place in a few weeks (Sunday, February 26, to be exact) in Orlando's Amway Center as the next "feels weird" moment of the NBA season. It feels like the season just tipped off a few weeks ago and yet here we are, abou ... More >>