Well the Texans just lost their 8th straight game and could be on track for the #1 overall pick in the draft (very possible if they lose out). The Astros already have the #1 overall pick. Neither team has won a game since mid-September (it's possible that note stays true until the spring).

Yes, there have been some semblances of sporting success in this city (the Rockets a long time ago, the Dynamo and even the Comets). But generally this city has had very little professional sporting success. Most of Rice's sporting success occurred before professional sports came to town (outside of baseball), and UH is perhaps best known for "Cooging It".

I'm personally excited about the 7-3 record, the 7-game win streak at Rice Stadium and the future of some of our sports. And if things go sour, I guess I'll just blame it on the city's athletics curse rather than an individual coach or player.

I wonder: is the Bayou City the biggest pro sports failure of any city in the country?

(11-17-2013 05:06 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  I wonder: is the Bayou City the biggest pro sports failure of any city in the country?

One word: Cleveland.

(11-17-2013 05:47 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(11-17-2013 05:06 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  I wonder: is the Bayou City the biggest pro sports failure of any city in the country?

One word: Cleveland.

Buffalo has an argument as well, but...yeah, Cleveland.

Pro:

Houston Aeros, WHA champions x 2

Houston Comets, WNBA champions x 4(?)

Houston Rockets, NBA champions x 2, but no one paid attention because St. Michael was on sabbatical playing Baseball for AA Birmingham.

College:

Houston Cougars with Elvin Hayes and later with Clyde Drexler

Houston Cougars football has been successful in the last 30 years

Houston Cougars Golf with mult team championships

Rice Baseball

Astros in 1980 and 1986, then the NL pennant in 2005(?)

I know I am missing some but there has been success,

Considering their relative size -- Houston 4th largest, Cleveland 47th -- Houston biggest failure.

The Oilers in the early 60s won the AFL.

Cleveland's small size is a function of rust belt reduction. It's less than half the size it used to be. Its decline paralleled Houston's rise.

(11-17-2013 07:50 PM)texd Wrote:  Cleveland's small size is a function of rust belt reduction. It's less than half the size it used to be. Its decline paralleled Houston's rise.

Yep. Cleveland was one of the country's 10 most populous cities from 1890 to 1970, peaking at 5th (1920) and 914,808 (1950).

Houston entered the Top 10 in 1960 (7th - 938,219) and has been 4th most populous since 1990. (Source)

Cleveland's current (2012) population is 390,928 (48th in the U.S.)

Houston's 2012 population is 2,160,821.

(11-17-2013 04:51 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Well the Texans just lost their 8th straight game and could be on track for the #1 overall pick in the draft (very possible if they lose out). The Astros already have the #1 overall pick. Neither team has won a game since mid-September (it's possible that note stays true until the spring).

Yes, there have been some semblances of sporting success in this city (the Rockets a long time ago, the Dynamo and even the Comets). But generally this city has had very little professional sporting success. Most of Rice's sporting success occurred before professional sports came to town (outside of baseball), and UH is perhaps best known for "Cooging It".

I'm personally excited about the 7-3 record, the 7-game win streak at Rice Stadium and the future of some of our sports. And if things go sour, I guess I'll just blame it on the city's athletics curse rather than an individual coach or player.

At least the Astros seem to have someone steering the ship. After what Gary Kubiak did today, it is clear that ship is rudderless.

(11-17-2013 05:57 PM)baker-13 Wrote:  

(11-17-2013 05:47 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(11-17-2013 05:06 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  I wonder: is the Bayou City the biggest pro sports failure of any city in the country?

One word: Cleveland.

Buffalo has an argument as well, but...yeah, Cleveland.

Hey, no need to rub it in.

(11-17-2013 11:56 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(11-17-2013 07:50 PM)texd Wrote:  Cleveland's small size is a function of rust belt reduction. It's less than half the size it used to be. Its decline paralleled Houston's rise.

Yep. Cleveland was one of the country's 10 most populous cities from 1890 to 1970, peaking at 5th (1920) and 914,808 (1950).

Houston entered the Top 10 in 1960 (7th - 938,219) and has been 4th most populous since 1990. (Source)

Cleveland's current (2012) population is 390,928 (48th in the U.S.)

Houston's 2012 population is 2,160,821.

Cleveland's MSA is a little over 2 million, and 28th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Cleveland

Houston is still bigger, but 48th mentioned above is a little misleading. Houston drops a bit when you look at MSA also.

Forbes actually tracks something similar with their list of America's Most Miserable Sports Cities. Houston comes in 8th, with Seattle at #1

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper/...-cities-2/

Of course, the big difference is that they're not solely tracking futility. Forbes gives bonus points for heartbreak - making the playoffs or championship game, but not winning it all. I think that's what helped propel Atlanta to the #2 spot in their ranking.

The Texans just lost their 14th straight game to end the season one better than the Astros' 15-game losing streak at the end of the season. Still no wins by either team since September 15th. The Rockets aren't doing too badly but something tells me they will end the season with a 13-game losing streak.

And Schaub's last pass as a Texan is ... wait for it ... an interception! Perfectly sums up the season.

T[/php]he Texas fans need to stop wasting money on the Texans and start supporting Rice.

[php]

(12-29-2013 03:58 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  And Schaub's last pass as a Texan is ... wait for it ... an interception! Perfectly sums up the season.