Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan Ain't Riding In On A White Horse To Save The Astros

The Nolan Ryan crisis in Arlington is well in its second week. Thus the questions over his future with the Rangers, and his future in general, continue. But while it appears Ryan is losing the battle for power, it's just not known what role he will continue to serve in with the club. Ryan issued a ... More >>

Do The Right Thing, Astros. Retire J.R. Richard's Number

Let's stipulate that the Houston Astros have retired too many numbers, especially for a franchise that's been to just one World Series. Let's also stipulate that most of the retired numbers are for players who, while fan favorites, really didn't do anything to deserve having their numbers retired. L ... More >>

The All-Time Ultimate Astros Roster

The Astros are celebrating their 50th season in major league baseball this year. The team's going to be rolling out the throwback uniforms on Friday nights, and they'll probably find other ways to celebrate their history before making a new start of it in the American League next season. I thought ... More >>

For St. Patrick's Day: 10 Notable Irish Texans

This weekend brings St. Patrick's Day, the annual celebration of all things Irish. Even in Texas there are parades. As well there should be, because Irish Texans have definitely made their mark on the world. Like these ten: 10. Matthew McConaughey His Mom was a McCabe. "McConaughey" is Gaelic for ... More >>

So How Much Do You Really Know About the Astros and the DH?

​There has been a strange uproar over the Astros' possible move to the American League. There's been whining over start times, bitching about Bud Selig, and much, much discussion about the designated hitter not being real baseball. And while people are upset, it needs to be noted that the As ... More >>

Nolan Ryan....Or Old Man Potter From It's A Wonderful Life?

​Watching the terrific ending of Game Six last night, we kept getting shown shots of Rangers president Nolan Ryan looking extremely annoyed in the stands. Something about it felt familiar. And then we realized:

20 Ways the Astros Are Still Losing Even Though They're Not Playing

Yep, Ed Wade's even a fool in the movies.​This past season was a painful one to watch and endure for Houston Astros fans. But even in the off-season the painful hits just keep on coming. 20. The owner of the Texas Rangers, Nolan Ryan, is getting plenty of airtime from Fox and TBS every nigh ... More >>

Worst Sports Night Ever? Texans Lose, Cards & Rangers to the Series

You'll have to put up with Tony LaRussa's mug for awhile.​Our Houston Texans analysis will be coming later, due to some unforeseen circumstances, but in its place let us ponder how the sporting gods have toyed with us. Sure, beating the Ravens in Baltimore would have been a big upset. But the ... More >>

Is Drayton McLane Really the Best Astros Owner Ever?

John McMullen, former Astros owner​Sometime this month the 29 MLB owners will approve the purchase of the Houston Astros by Jim Crane. Drayton McLane, the man selling the Astros, will be referred to as the greatest owner in Astros history. The man who turned the team into a winner. Who took ... More >>

Nolan Ryan Out of Hospital

Nolan Ryan is a free man again.​Baseball great Nolan Ryan has been released from the hospital after a health scare, the Texas Rangers have announced. Ryan, 64, entered a Houston hospital yesterday after experiencing discomfort in areas that a man who has had heart bypass surgery doesn't want ... More >>

Nolan Ryan Hospitalized In Houston

Nolan Ryan, hospitalized​Nolan Ryan, the pride of Alvin, has been hospitalized in Houston for chest pains, the Texas Rangers have announced. "Ryan was resting comfortably and reported he was feeling better," said the Rangers, where Ryan is the CEO.. The Hall of Fame pitcher started experien ... More >>

You Can't Spell Thexbas Without H-E-B (Note: The H and B Are Silent) -- The Fallout

If you were watching the Super Bowl in Texas, you probably saw the nicely shot ad for H-E-B stores, featuring scenes of the state and Jack Ingram singing a song called "You Can't Spell Texas Without H-E-B." This is troubling, on several levels. (It is perhaps not quite as troubling as H-E-B's other ... More >>

Carlos Lee, Team Leader? Well, the Astros Have Had 25 Worse Ideas

Believe it or not, this guy's not actually running the Houston Astros​Astros Manager Brad Mills traveled to Panama last week to meet with his left fielder/first baseman/slacker Carlos Lee.  The trip was billed as a bonding mission.  And while there's nothing wrong with a manager an ... More >>

Dear Mr. Santa: A Houston Sports Fan's List

Dear Mr. Santa...​Dear Mr. Claus: I know it is Christmas Eve, and maybe I'm a bit late with sending this little note to you, but I'm sure that with this newfangled internets thing you'll get it in time. I'm also aware that I might have been a bit naughty, and that I've made a few people an ... More >>

Andre Johnson Vs. Nolan Ryan: Which Beatdown Wins?

Texans fans got a rare chance to cheer this weekend, and not only because the team won (we won't mention exactly how low on the totem pole the opposition's starting QB was). There was also an unusual helmet-free fight, between Andre Johnson and the Titans' Cortland Finnegan. Johnson's widearmed fac ... More >>

The Five Most Overrated Houston Athletes

Nolan Ryan: Ks are nice, how about wins?​In Houston, we mostly love our athletes. It takes a lot to get on our bad side.Of course, sometimes we overlove our athletes. Not only do they hold a special place in our hearts, but we insist that they were much better than they actually were.So what athle ... More >>

This Week in Deliciousness

Sexy Pancakes would be a terrific name for a funk band.​ Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where man cook meat with fire. This includes cooking froggie with fire, which, while delicious, look disturbingly like a bunch of little naked half-people on the grill there. Y ... More >>

Dear Drayton: Be Like Nolan Ryan And Lower Some Prices

This could be you, Drayton​Dear Drayton,I know that you probably don't pay any attention to anything that I say. If you did, Ed Wade would be on the unemployment line, Carlos Lee would be playing rancher fulltime, and Pedro Feliz would be playing baseball in some independent league where he belong ... More >>

Mark Cuban: With Nolan Ryan Out, It's Now Up To You To Save The Astros

Mark Cuban: Houston needs you, desperately​My dream for the Houston Astros was destroyed very, very early on Thursday morning when Nolan Ryan and his business partner, Chuck Greenberg, won the bankruptcy bidding for the Texas Rangers. I've written before that I was hoping Ryan's bid would lose, an ... More >>

Was Roy O The Best Pitcher In Astros History? No

Wasn't this guy, either​The talk of greatest Astros pitcher ever was part of the discussion when Roy Oswalt was traded last week. And it seemed that most of the Houston media were in agreement that Oswalt was, indeed, the greatest pitcher in Astros history. But as much of a Roy Oswalt fan as I am, ... More >>

Houston's Top Ten Sports Moments: Another View

The bosses came out their Top 10 Greatest Houston Sports Moments today, so I thought I would share mine.1. September 25, 1986: The magic number for the Houston Astros to clinch the NL West is one game. The Astros are playing a midweek day game against the San Francisco Giants, the team that just ... More >>

Please, Let Mark Cuban Buy The Rangers, For The Astros' Sake

Help us, Obi-Wan KenNolan, you're our only hope​Don't despair, Houston Astros fans. I know you're tired of bad baseball. I know you're a tired of good ol' boy Drayton and his bumbling sidekick Ed. I know you're tired of laggards like Carlos Lee and contracts wasted on the likes of Pedro Feliz. I k ... More >>

Nolan Ryan: Abandon The Rangers And Run The Astros, Please

We'll take sloppy seconds if that Rangers deal falls through​The news is that Drayton McLane is still attempting to sell the Houston Astros. After the laughingstock that he turned this franchise into, I can't say that I blame him for wanting to dump the club on anybody who will meet his financial ... More >>

The Ten Least Intimidating Athletes In Houston History

There have been some tough guys in Houston sports history -- native sons George Foreman, Nolan Ryan, and Roger Clemens (even if you factor in his chemically-aided roid rage) -- all come to mind. Anybody can rattle off a list of ten of those guys -- and we might just do that next week -- but we were ... More >>

They're Making A Documentary About The Dome, And They Want Your Family Keepsakes

Via the always-entertaining Bayou City History blog at the Chron we learned of a budding documentary about that quaint old abandoned building that used to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.Chip Rives, one of the producers/directors/writers of The Dome, tells Hair Balls he and his partner have do ... More >>

Please Come Home, Nolan Ryan: All Is Forgiven, For God's Sake

There's not much discussion of the Texas Rangers down in these parts -- except for when they're beating the asses of the Houston Astros, which they seem to do quite often. So Tom Hicks announcing now that he's willing to sell a majority interest in the franchise normally wouldn't generate much inter ... More >>

The Mt. Rushmore of Texas Sports

ESPN is about to start on one of those stupid SportsCenter promotion things that has helped to make SportsCenter virtually impossible to watch. But over here at Ballz, we like stupid things - I'm sure that many of you think anything I write is stupid and virtually impossible to read anyway. So I' ... More >>

The Mt. Rushmore of Texas Sports

ESPN is about to start on one of those stupid SportsCenter promotion things that has helped to make SportsCenter virtually impossible to watch. But over here at Ballz, we like stupid things - I'm sure that many of you think anything I write is stupid and virtually impossible to read anyway. So I' ... More >>

A Dream Team for Barack Obama

Top Five Beatdowns in Houston Sports

Top Ten Astrodome Sports Moments

Every Girl's Crazy `Bout A Real Old Song

The Top Five Astros-Killers of All Time

John Royal’s Roster of the Greatest Astros Ever

The Five Best Trades in the History of Houston Sports

Losing Nolan Ryan. Again.

Why John McMullen, Not Drayton McLane, Is the Best Owner in the History of the Astros

ZZ Top, David Allan Coe, Hank Williams III, Old 97's

ZZ Top, David Allan Coe, Hank Williams III and Old 97's perform Saturday, July 14, at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands, 281-363-3300.

Cred Sheet

Stuff you need to know to avoid musical ostracism

J.R. Richard: The Human Condition

Aging with Grace (and Science)

American steaks: second of a three-part series

Best Use for the Astrodome

Mock naval battles

Getting to the Show

Minor leaguers toil away, hoping for a shot at the majors. One of them, Round Rock's Jason Green, got a call from the Astros, giving him a chance to live the dream. Others labor on.

Striking Out

Reid Ryan embarked on a new career as a team owner facing one big obstacle: voter approval of a new stadium. Then he called in a campaigner with the perfect pitch: a father named Nolan.

News of the Weird

Letters

Letters

Born to Win ... or Lose?

Can Drayton McLane bring Houston a World Series champion on a budget? Can Houston support major-league baseball to Drayton McLane's satisfaction? It's time to find out.

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