—————————————————— Best Way to Break In to the Big Time 2003 | Strake Jesuit joining the UIL | Best of Houston® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Houston | Houston Press
Navigation
Support Us

Houston's independent source of
local news and culture

I support

Houston Press
Houston Press
Local
Community
Journalism
Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of the Houston Press free.
Support Us

Best Way to Break In to the Big Time

Strake Jesuit joining the UIL

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and Dallas Jesuit, its brother school in the Metroplex, had a big problem: For years, they had competed in the Texas Catholic Interscholastic League, but when that league merged with the rest of the private schools, they left the Jesuits in the cold, saying Strake and DJ were just too big. Ever since, these two schools have been looking in from the outside of high school sports. But thanks to the efforts of Texas state rep Joe Nixon, that's set to change next year when the Jesuit schools will join the University Interscholastic League, the public school league. At last, the winner of the Strake-DJ game won't be a state champion in a league of two.

Best Color Commentator

Jim Deshaies

The best managers in baseball are those who made the worst players. That's because they had to work harder, to try more things to succeed. It's easier for them to teach the game because they understand the struggles. This holds true for color commentators as well. Jim Deshaies survived in the big leagues on guile. And it's this guile, along with an out-of-left-field wit, that puts him head and shoulders above the rest in the broadcast booth. Why did the pitcher throw that pitch on three-and-one? Deshaies will not only tell you how the pitcher got to that point, but he'll also call attention to how the fielders positioned themselves because of the selected pitch. Jim Deshaies's star didn't shine bright on the Major League diamond, but that's turned out to be to his benefit -- and ours.

Best Color Commentator

Jim Deshaies

The best managers in baseball are those who made the worst players. That's because they had to work harder, to try more things to succeed. It's easier for them to teach the game because they understand the struggles. This holds true for color commentators as well. Jim Deshaies survived in the big leagues on guile. And it's this guile, along with an out-of-left-field wit, that puts him head and shoulders above the rest in the broadcast booth. Why did the pitcher throw that pitch on three-and-one? Deshaies will not only tell you how the pitcher got to that point, but he'll also call attention to how the fielders positioned themselves because of the selected pitch. Jim Deshaies's star didn't shine bright on the Major League diamond, but that's turned out to be to his benefit -- and ours.

Best Play-by-Play Announcer

Bill Brown

The job of the play-by-play announcer is simple: Give the score and the details of the play. The job of the play-by-play announcer is also difficult: Keep the viewer involved in the game and direct traffic so that the color commentator can explain and enlighten. Nobody in Houston is better at this job than Bill Brown. He doesn't shout. He's not a homer. He doesn't try to be a comedian. He just lets the viewers of Houston Astros games know what's happening. And to anyone who has ever been stuck in car listening to Milo Hamilton scream about the height of the press box, this is a blessing. Brownie took over for the sainted Gene Elston in 1987. He's been more than up to the task since that time, and here's to hoping he's up to it for many more years to come.

Best Play-by-Play Announcer

Bill Brown

The job of the play-by-play announcer is simple: Give the score and the details of the play. The job of the play-by-play announcer is also difficult: Keep the viewer involved in the game and direct traffic so that the color commentator can explain and enlighten. Nobody in Houston is better at this job than Bill Brown. He doesn't shout. He's not a homer. He doesn't try to be a comedian. He just lets the viewers of Houston Astros games know what's happening. And to anyone who has ever been stuck in car listening to Milo Hamilton scream about the height of the press box, this is a blessing. Brownie took over for the sainted Gene Elston in 1987. He's been more than up to the task since that time, and here's to hoping he's up to it for many more years to come.

Best Sports Talk Show

Sports Rap

Native Houstonians are rare on the sports radio dial. Most of the guys on 610 and 740 came to Houston as adults, and don't identify with Houston teams as strongly as people who grew up here. Sports Rap host Ralph Cooper is a notable exception to that rule. He's not an uncritical homer or anything like that, just a guy with a knowledge of Houston sports that's as broad as it is deep. The Worthing graduate got his start in the sports world in the early '70s and has been at every major Houston sporting event since, including the 1974 Super Bowl at Rice Stadium, the Phi Slamma Jamma and Luv Ya Blue eras, and the pair of Muhammad Ali bouts at the Dome in 1971. Cooper covers everything from junior high football to women's pro basketball, all from a Houstonian and African-American perspective. What's more, he does it with wit, punch and style. If you want to be in the know, hangin' with Mr. Cooper every weekday from 5 to 7 p.m. is the thing to do.

Best Sports Talk Show

Sports Rap

Native Houstonians are rare on the sports radio dial. Most of the guys on 610 and 740 came to Houston as adults, and don't identify with Houston teams as strongly as people who grew up here. Sports Rap host Ralph Cooper is a notable exception to that rule. He's not an uncritical homer or anything like that, just a guy with a knowledge of Houston sports that's as broad as it is deep. The Worthing graduate got his start in the sports world in the early '70s and has been at every major Houston sporting event since, including the 1974 Super Bowl at Rice Stadium, the Phi Slamma Jamma and Luv Ya Blue eras, and the pair of Muhammad Ali bouts at the Dome in 1971. Cooper covers everything from junior high football to women's pro basketball, all from a Houstonian and African-American perspective. What's more, he does it with wit, punch and style. If you want to be in the know, hangin' with Mr. Cooper every weekday from 5 to 7 p.m. is the thing to do.

Best Sports Columnist

Richard Justice

Viewers of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption best know Richard Justice as that show's Southwest bureau chief. But Richard Justice is also the only reason to read the Houston Chronicle's Sunday sports section. In his column, which appears every Sunday during baseball season, he's not gossipy and he doesn't kiss up to his favorite players. He just discusses baseball with concise sentences, acerbic language and a refreshing absence of clichés and star-lust. This column enlightens. The only thing better than Justice on Sundays during baseball season would be Justice on Sundays all year long.

Best Sports Columnist

Richard Justice

Viewers of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption best know Richard Justice as that show's Southwest bureau chief. But Richard Justice is also the only reason to read the Houston Chronicle's Sunday sports section. In his column, which appears every Sunday during baseball season, he's not gossipy and he doesn't kiss up to his favorite players. He just discusses baseball with concise sentences, acerbic language and a refreshing absence of clichés and star-lust. This column enlightens. The only thing better than Justice on Sundays during baseball season would be Justice on Sundays all year long.

Best Sports Music CD

Pulltab's Greatest Hits

Until we get a CD of classic Houston sports songs (anyone remember that Astros ditty about "stealing round the bases / driving in the runs / no place else but Houston -- As-tros Num-ber Ooooone"?), we'll have to content ourselves with the offerings of Pulltab. Their sound is a little like Smash Mouth, but those guys never sang about Jeff Kent, Steve & Cat, Daryle Ward, Aaron Glenn, and of course, Yao Ming. Still, with our teams so mediocre lately, we long for an album of songs from or about the glory days. Potential song titles: "Lew Lloyd's Stouffer's Suite," "Let's Kill Mike Torrez (Dickie's Revenge)" and "Where Have You Gone, Guido Merkens?"

Best Of Houston®

Best Of

California Privacy Policy California Collection Notice
Do Not Sell My Info
Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy The Houston Press may earn a portion of sales from products & services purchased through links on our site from our affiliate partners. ©2024 Houston Press, LP. All rights reserved.
Powered By Foundation