Michael Jordan

Waka Flocka Flame Needs to Stay Away From EDM

Electronic dance music genre is corrupting trap music, and this trend is driving me bonkers. It's worse than any country/rap collaboration ever made. The mix of electronic and/or dubstep and Southern rap music is not a good blend. It's gotten so bad that poor Waka Flocka Flame barely even knows he' ... More >>

Taking Risks, Making Provisions

Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegel-Gardner are taking risks, most of which are paying off.

Michael Morton: Cleared Of Murder By DNA, Bill Would Extend Time He Could Sue Over Prosecutor Misconduct

Imagine being accused and convicted of killing your wife and being stuck in a jail cell and missing out on Michael Jordan, Y2K and Avatar. It must suck, especially when you didn't do it and there are others driving around in their white broncos and writing books on if they did it, how they would (Bu ... More >>

Goodwill Ambassador

Kenny Smith on All-Star Weekend and His Eventual Return to Clutch City

The Five Greatest Houston Rockets Who Played In The All-Star Game: A List That Might Surprise You

The Houston Rockets have only sent 14 different players to the NBA All Star game. The team's most celebrated All Stars have routinely been big men and the playground atmosphere of the game does not lend itself to players who need help getting the ball leading to some forgettable performances. Still ... More >>

The Jet Loves Houston: Kenny Smith on All-Star Weekend and His Eventual Return to Clutch City

Former Rockets guard and current member of the best pre-game sports show on television, Kenny Smith, is a big fan of Houston, calling his ties here "deep rooted." "People I consider my best friends in the world are still in Houston," Smith told Hair Balls. "My godchildren are there." The NBA and i ... More >>

Five-Tool Player: Why JJ Watt Has the Skills to Be a Legitimate Superstar

In any competitive field, having aptitude for your work will help you get by. Throw in a handful of other characteristics, and you could be valued by your organization and excel at your career. But, to be one of the true greats in anything, it requires quite a bit more. In sports, I've always believ ... More >>

Houston's Bearded, Bald, Vegan, Hipster Athletes Getting National Attention

It ain't easy being a Houston athlete. Despite being the fourth largest city in America, we haven't exactly had a tradition of winning sports teams. The Rockets made big runs in the early and mid '80s before breaking through and winning back-to-back titles in the early '90s. Still, they haven't been ... More >>

Twin Towers: A Fascinating Tale of the '80s Rockets and What Never Was

On June 5, 1986, I was barely 17 years old and on my way home from a music lesson. While cutting through a nearby neighborhood, my car, an amazingly awful pumpkin orange Datsun B-210 I bought from a friend for 500 bucks, broke down...again. Fortunately, I was only about two blocks from a schoolmate' ... More >>

Roger Clemens Impressive In Start With Sugar Land Skeeters, What's Next?

If you build it, they will come. And if you start a 50-year-old, multiple Cy Young award-winning World Series champion, who has been in the headlines fighting doping and perjury allegations, they will pay more money to come, buy more merchandise, and cheer more loudly. Oh, and ESPN will be there, to ... More >>

Back On My Block: Celebrating 10 Years of Scarface's The Fix

Ten years ago today, Scarface broke through nationally for good with The Fix. His work with the Geto Boys had made him a cult favorite, making his story of being better than amazing to put Houston on the rap map. The Diary; Mr. Scarface Is Back rank as Nos. 3 and 6 on Rocks Off's list of the Top 25 ... More >>

NBA Finals: Series Prediction and a Few Prop Bets

Finally, it's here! If you had allowed David Stern to sit in a room with all 16 playoff teams on the wall by conference, and allow him to pick his dream matchup for the NBA Finals, it's without a doubt the Miami-Oklahoma City matchup we're getting here. LeBron versus Durant, big market versus small ... More >>

Connor's Corner: Texans LB Barwin Goes To Free Press Summer Fest

Recently I began work with Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin on an upcoming print feature. Anyone who follows him on Twitter knows that he is a huge fan of live music in Houston and can be seen at gigs all over town. I asked him if he wanted to write a few words about one of his Summer Fest ex ... More >>

Summer Ott: Memorial Hermann Hires The Michael Jordan Of Preventing & Treating Youth Concussions

Memorial Hermann now boasts the Michael Jordan of concussion expertise: Neuropsychologist Summer Ott, Psy.D, has been brought on board to head up the Sports Concussion Program at the Ironman Sports Medicine Institute at Memorial Hermann. Along with her deep knowledge of head trauma caused during a ... More >>

Chase Budinger's Painfully Awkward Dialogue with P-Diddy at the NBA Slam Dunk Contest (w/ VIDEO)

The logical evolution of most things brings about positive change. This is especially true in the world of sports and entertainment. Think about anything in either of those realms which you consume, and ask yourself, "Is this experience better now than it was 25 years ago?" For almost everything, be ... More >>

Jim Parsons on Broadway in Harvey, but Who Will Play Harvey?

It was just announced that Houston's favorite nerd, Jim Parsons, will return to Broadway this coming spring. Parsons, who made his big stage debut this past year in Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, will now take on the lead role in the Pulitzer Prize winning play Harvey. Harvey is about a seemingl ... More >>

Ask A Rapper: E.S.G. and the Rapper That's Going to be Better Than All You Suckas

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. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email introducingliston@gmail.com ... More >>

5 Signs You're Dangerously Starting to Think It Just Might Be the Texans' Year

Check yourself before you wreck yourself.​You have tried. You have told yourself you've been down the road before, and each time your hopes and dreams have been cruelly dashed. But you can't help it -- you are, once again, letting yourself become optimistic about the Texans. But this year th ... More >>

Carry That Weight: The Best Bands Pegged As The "Next Beatles"

Laugh now, but remember when Definitely Maybe came out?​How much pressure must it be to have someone, probably some flacky music journalist running out of metaphors and superlatives, call your band the "Next Beatles" just as you start your rock career? That's like being called the next Jesus C ... More >>

We Live In A World Where Dallas Has Won An NBA Title: Five Things to Consider

Old school Mavs​Way, way back in the day, when we lived in Dallas -- more or less against our will -- we were Dallas Maverick fans. The Dallas Morning News' offices were a block or two from Reunion Arena, and Mark Aguirre and Roy Tarpley were there to he enjoyed. The Mavs never made it over ... More >>

Rappers: Which NBA Player Would You Be And Why?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't the day after a gigantic local music festival, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Bun B, Zavey, Kyle Hub ... More >>

Rise Of Lil B And Odd Future Both A Gift And A Curse

​So you've written the greatest song the world has never heard. You spent a good two-and-half hours on those brain-melting metaphors, and another three laying them on wax. Every bar requires repeated listening to fully digest. Your ad-libs are on point like Chris Paul. The beat knocks harder ... More >>

Exclusive: Chamillionaire's New Major Pain Is Not Universal

​Earlier this week, Chamillionaire, still glowing from being free from the tyrannical grip of Universal Records, released Major Pain 1.5. Thursday afternoon, he was polite (or politic) enough to take a few minutes to talk about the tape. The notes from the conversation and the tape are kind ... More >>

Five Former Houston Rockets' Garage Sales We'd Like to Attend

Pippen loved him some beanie babies.​With an NBA lockout looming this offseason, current players should take note of the financial misery of former Houston Rocket and future Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. Once the right-hand man of Michael Jordan, Pippen has fallen into such difficult financial ... More >>

10 Meaningfully Awesome NBA Dunk Contest Dunks (with VIDEO!)

As All Star Games go, in terms of meaning, effort, enthusiasm, pomp and circumstance, the NBA All Star weekend is in the meaty part of the curve. Football's Pro Bowl becomes a bigger and bigger joke every year (highlighted by fanboy journalist Jay Glazer of Fox actually calling a play in this seaso ... More >>

Christina Aguilera's National Anthem: Better Than Carl Lewis', Anyway

​Today, Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are presumably on their way to Disney World, the Pittsburgh Steelers are praying Ben Roethlisberger did not do anything in the many, many strip clubs of the greater Metroplex to bring on a repeat of his season-opening four-game sus ... 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 >>

Resurrecting Phi Slama Jama

Can UH resurrect its basketball glory days?

Doug Glanville: A Book That's Interesting But Superficial

He was there for the Steve Bartman game​Doug Glanville wasn't the greatest player to ever play major league baseball. He lasted just nine seasons in the majors, playing for three teams, and getting only 1,100 hits. He was never exactly a household name. But unlike most of the people in the majors, ... More >>

Game Time: Celtics, Feel Better -- Five Officiating Decisions That Were WAY Worse Than Kendrick Perkins' Second Technical

Sorry about that fifth down.....​It's funny, because I'm from New England, people automatically assume that I am a fan of all the Boston teams. To wit, last night as the Celtics were imploding in Orlando, my iPhone was blowing up with text messages asking if I was starting to get worried about th ... More >>

It's Not Turning Into A Good Month For Metro

​If the paper-shredding scandal were not enough ... it seems the Metropolitan Transit Authority aka Metro has more problems than it can handle.Remember the rail lines approved by voters in 2003 ... yeah that 2003 when Michael Jordan was still playing basketball and YouTube did not exist? Well, se ... More >>

Longhorns Join The Undeserved-Victory Hall Of Fame

​The UT Longhorns will be playing in the BCS title game, thanks to a thoroughly undeserved win against Nebraska for the Big 12 championship, such as it is.How badly did the Horns play? Against a completely mediocre Cornhusker team, the vaunted Horns offense was utterly stymied. QB Colt McCoy threw ... More >>

Five Spot: The First Annual Pimp C Hip-Hop Health and Wellness Fair

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It's five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. ​Today marks the two-year anniversary of Pimp C's death. Quick a ... More >>

Piss Up a Rope: Songs R. Kelly Probably Won't Sing In Concert Friday, but Should

​Get out your towels: R. Kelly is coming to town. The singer would be best known as "that guy who sang that song in the Michael Jordan/Bugs Bunny movie" if not for the allegations in 2002 that he engaged in sex with an underage girl. Kelly was found not guilty of child porn charges last year, but ... More >>

Oh, The Lakers Will Learn All About Ron Artest

On the way to his fourth championship, Kobe Bryant was guarded by Mickael Pietrus, Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Dahntay Jones, Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, and all of the Jazz players whose names Jerry Sloan could remember. None of them had the combination of speed, size, and advanced weaponry ne ... More >>

Ten Other Excuses Charles Barkley Could've Told the Phoenix Cop

For those of you who missed the news in all of the New Year's reveling, former Houston Rockets power forward, current TNT basketball analyst, and renowned gambling addict Charles Barkley was arrested outside of Phoenix early on New Year's Eve and cited for DUI. The Chuckster was pulled over because ... More >>

Amazingly, the Comets Couldn't Survive

Who's Got Next?

Seven Things We'll Miss About The Houston Comets

Shocking news this morning -- the Houston Comets are no more.First reactions were predictable. "The Houston Comets were still around? Do tell." But then reality began to sink in.The Comets won the first four WNBA championships at a time when no Houston team was winning anything. They brought joy to ... More >>

WTF? Lance Berkman Doesn't Think Michael Phelps Is a Real Athlete?

Enough with This Brett Favre Business Already

Turkeys Talk Back

Where Do We Go from Here?

Welcome back, Rock Star

Dilana comes home to the reality after reality TV

Top of the World

You've never heard of him, but Mike Willcox is one of the best on the planet at what he does

We Know What You Should Do This Summer

Your guide to beaches, water parks, day trips, festivals and more

Fire in the Belly

Rice's new basketball director reveals the secret of his fall from NBA stardom

Jaa Rules

Martial arts sensation Tony Jaa makes the most of his screen debut

Risqué, Medium Rare

Steak and tits -- how can you go wrong at the Strip House?

The Love of Giants

Yao Ming and Ye Li won't be seeing each other May 6 after all

Letters 09-21-2000

Listen to the Music, Still Fuming, Building Bonds