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 Sports Role Model

Chris Myers

Heading into his tenth season in the NFL, Houston Texans center Chris Myers has been one of the team's true leaders in the transition from the Gary Kubiak era to the Bill O'Brien era. A two time Pro Bowler, Myers is anxious to help the team bounce back to playoff form in 2014. That's Chris Myers the player, the guy on the field. Great teammate, great leader. Yet as solid a player as he's been, it's Myers's off-the-field acts of kindness that have cemented his legacy, as he is extremely active in many charities, including Blue Cure for prostate cancer awareness, and Operation Smile, an organization that raises money so that children around the world with cleft palates, cleft lips and facial deformities can receive free surgeries. Myers's generosity is inspired by his young son Keane, who himself has had surgery for a cleft palate. Myers's Twitter bio says it all — "Proud father...loyal husband." (His bio also says, "Part time plus size model," proving that a good role model has to have a sense of humor, too.)

Best Picnic Spot

Menil Park

Menil Park offers a refreshing change of pace in the bustle of the Inner Loop. Even though the park is not huge, there's ample room to spread out a blanket in the shade. It's a quiet space that's anything but boring. The creative types who frequent this green spot make for good people-watching while you lunch al fresco. Parking is usually pretty easy to find, and once you're done, you can tour The Menil Collection or contemplate the inner workings of the universe at the Rothko Chapel. Pack what you want for lunch, and do what you want at Menil Park. This Sunday afternoon is yours.

Best Cheerleading Squad

Houston Texans Cheerleaders

We hear that every few weeks in the fall, thousands of people pack NRG Stadium for some sort of sporting event. We're not really sure what that's all about, because we're there to see 34 supremely talented young women dance about and shake their pom-poms. They're also wicked cool — cheerleader Caitlyn agreed to go to a Crosby teen's high school prom if his request was retweeted 10,000 times. Everyone stepped up to the plate. Well, except us, because we had invited her to dinner at McDonald's. But she's just one of a squad who look especially strong this year. We'll be there to cheer them on.

Best Sports Photo That Went Viral

Bull Runner Selfie by Derrek Barlow

It used to be that when you wanted to put your life in danger and have it captured for time immemorial, you brought along a friend with a camera. In the age of the selfie, thanks to technology, we can make already dangerous situations even more so by taking the photo ourselves. What photographer Derrek Barlow managed to capture in this shot was not just someone taking a risk but someone who took a risk and wanted the world to know about it. After all, if you put your life on the line but don't have a selfie to upload, did you really put anything on the line at all?

Best Astro

George Springer

The Houston Astros haven't really had the best anything compared to their competitors the past few years. George Springer is changing that. The 24-year-old outfielder isn't only the best Astro, he's one of the best rookies in Major League Baseball. He's second among first-year players in home runs and RBIs and fifth in on-base percentage. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve might be leading MLB in hits, but it's Springer who has breathed new life into the organization. He graced the cover of a June issue of Sports Illustrated. The headline: "Your 2017 World Series Champs."

Best State Park

Galveston Island State Park

Beach camping. That's right, beach camping. Even if Galveston Island State Park offered nothing else, beach camping would put it on our "must-visit" list. Of course, the park does offer lots more, including fishing, birding, kayaking, biking, swimming and hiking. There's an observation platform, boardwalks, trails, overnight sites and even a freshwater pond. (We're not sure how that got there.) We suggest a visit to Karankawa Reef. It's under water, so there isn't much to actually see when you get there, but it might be your only chance to visit the home of reputedly cannibalistic Native Americans in Texas, who would reportedly wade from the reef to the mainland, where we're pretty sure they scared the hell out of early settlers.

  • 14901 FM 3005 Rd., Galveston, 77554 Map

Best Basketball Court

Root Memorial Square Basketball Court

When it comes to outdoor basketball courts, the two key criteria are atmosphere and court quality. Nestled snugly across the street from Toyota Center amid several downtown high-rises and in absolute mint condition, Root Memorial Square's basketball court grades off the charts in both of those categories. It's the ideal place to participate in or watch a pickup game or just shoot around with friends, as its close proximity to the Rockets' home gives this area a cool "basketball campus" feel. With lighting for evening games, depending on the time of day, you never know whom you'll see showing off his basketball wares in the heart of downtown Houston. Root Memorial Square is most definitely where the big boys play.

  • 1400 La Branch St., Houston, 77002 Map

Best Play-by-Play Announcer

Craig Ackerman, Rockets

It's not easy to fill the shoes of one legend, let alone two, but that's exactly the task that Craig Ackerman was assigned back in 2008 when longtime Rockets announcer duo Gene Peterson and Jim Foley both stepped aside and retired and the Rockets chose to go to a one-man radio booth. Ackerman would be that man. Ackerman is a native Ohioan, but having graduated from Sam Houston in the late '90s, he's been a Texan for two decades now and a fixture around the Rockets' organization virtually that entire time, including handling play-by-play duties for the WNBA Houston Comets from 2006 to 2008 as well as the studio host assignment for the Rockets for five seasons before stepping into the big seat to start the 2008-2009 season. Ackerman's energetic style matches the fast pace of the team whose play he describes, since he hopes to voice the championship memories for the next generation of Rockets fans, as Peterson did for so many Houstonians back in 1994 and 1995.

Best Skate Park

Spring Skatepark

You won't find any trees, ponds or hiking trails at Houston's newest park — that's because it's made for skateboarders. Instead of green grass or playground equipment, the newly opened Spring Skatepark offers 72,000 square feet of concrete, which is more footage than any other skatepark in the country. Challenges for skaters include a ten-foot bowl, a 12-foot vertical ramp, banked walls, speed hips and a couple of backyard-style pools. There's also a section of stairs, banks, benches, rails and ledges, replicating the obstacles that riders find on public streets. Organizers are still putting together a website and getting an office phone installed at the facility. As of press time, there also was the pesky question of whether to allow access to BMX bike riders. But these are minor details that will soon be worked out. With some 1.6 acres of smooth concrete, this place is a skateboarder's wet dream.

  • 12351 Kuykendahl, Houston, Map

Best New Jogging and Biking Trail

Buffalo Bayou Park

Runners and bikers don't always get along well in the wild, but Buffalo Bayou Park offers a setting where they can respectively jog and pedal in harmony. The park, which touches both sides of the bayou, now boasts ten-foot-wide concrete trails with passing space for joggers and cyclists. A five-year restoration project that began in 2010 has added native plants and trees, augmenting the natural beauty of the place. While the restoration is still under way, some sections are already done, offering a tranquil running or biking option right near downtown.

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. ©2023 Houston Press, LP. All rights reserved.
Powered By Foundation