A golden era without a title? Houston’s rise risks an incomplete ending With stars heading to the NBA and no clear replacements arriving, Houston’s path back to contention looks uncertain.

With stars heading to the NBA and no clear replacements arriving, Houston’s path back to contention looks uncertain.

🏀The South Regional is electric, btw.

Opening Day for the Astros was… kind of a dud! The most interesting moment of the day? A first-inning moonshot from Yordan Alvarez that was robbed by the Daikin Park roof.

Here’s manager Joe Espada on whether Houston will re-think its current closed-roof policy.

These superstar siblings are becoming Texas basketball royalty As Houston’s freshman All-American leads a title chase, his sister Bella—Texas’ top recruit—is ready to do the same at Duke.

Enjoyed chatting with the Flemings family. Learned plenty about Kingston:

• Devours Captain Crunch sans milk
• Prefers wings with no sauce at all
• San Antonio native is avid Seahawks fan

Kelvin Sampson on his star point guard:

“Deep thinker, independent thinker.”
www.chron.com/sports/colle...

New @chron.com: Kingston Flemings is an All-American and potential top-5 NBA draft pick. He’s also not the best shooter (or best Uno player) in his family.

More ⬇️ on Kingston Flemings & his sister, Bella, a Duke recruit + the reigning Texas Girls Player of the Year

🔗 www.chron.com/sports/colle...

swing by my desk @kissphoria.bsky.social and we can chat 👀

Astros fan struck in eye by stadium firework sues team for $1 million A Houston-area woman claims a postgame fireworks show left her with lasting vision loss.

New @chron.com:

Astros + their fireworks provider are being sued over an incident last July, in which a fan was struck in the eye (!) by a firework in the lower deck of Daikin Park.

Astros have’t offered any compensation to date. Scary situation. Details ⬇️

www.chron.com/sports/astro...

“Must read” is quite the compliment!

Appreciate you @kissphoria.bsky.social (and anyone who reads the piece!) 😎

He knocked on Houston's doors to teach Hispanic families about the Astros Meet the 96-year-old Texas Legend and iconic broadcaster who helped solidify Houston as a baseball town.

Must read profile of MLB broadcasting (and Houston Astros) legend René Cárdenas, by @michaelshapiro.bsky.social
www.chron.com/sports/astro...

Texas congressman urges Rangers to remove 'segregationist' statue "As fans and families prepared to celebrate a new baseball season, they were instead confronted with a monument that echoes the language and symbolism of racial terror."

"As fans and families prepared to celebrate a new baseball season, they were instead confronted with a monument that echoes the language and symbolism of racial terror."

And, finally, I was delighted to chat with José Contreras, a former MLB All-Star and World Series champion turned proud dad.

Contreras’ son, Joseph, shined on the mound for Team Brazil on Friday. The 17-year-old (!!) induced a double-play of Aaron Judge with bases loaded in early innings.

And, finally, I was delighted to chat with José Contreras, a former MLB All-Star and World Series champion turned proud dad.

Contreras’ son, Joseph, shined on the mound for Team Brazil on Friday. The 17-year-old (!!) induced a double-play of Aaron Judge with bases loaded in early innings.

Zach Dezenzo joined World Baseball Classic in most Italian way possible Team Italy enjoys the brotherhood of a certain travelling white tank top.

Astros youngster Zach Dezenzo was invited to join Team Italy in the most Italian way possible 🇮🇹

www.chron.com/sports/astro...

Alex Bregman reminded Houston is always home at World Baseball Classic Astros fans at Daikin Park sent a loud reminder on Friday that Alex Bregman is still their guy.

Alex Bregman was thrilled to reunite with Orbit, and happy to be back in his former home clubhouse at Daikin Park.

www.chron.com/sports/astro...

The Astros villain Houston might suddenly fall in love with The Yankees slugger Astros fans love to hate returns to Houston this week as Team USA's captain. Will they boo him?

I’ve been quite derelict on here sharing World Baseball Classic content. Let’s change that!

🧵 time, starting with Aaron Judge as a strange hero in enemy territory.

www.chron.com/sports/astro...

Happy World Baseball Classic week, Houston.

One person responsible for adding international flair to the area around Daikin Park? Urkanian painter Alex Maksiov, a street artist selected for a special project along Texas Avenue 🇺🇦 ⚾️

More @chron.com ⬇️
www.chron.com/sports/astro...

Texans legends say new HQ is long overdue after NRG frustrations Former players reveal past issues with rodeo and Monster Jam, while reveling in the potential of new digs in Houston's outskirts.

Our story from yesterday @chron.com as former Texans talk Houston sprawl, rodeo headaches and unwanted “chaos.”

Texans’ new facility will be state of the art. It still won’t open for three more seasons.

www.chron.com/sports/texan...

My biggest takeaway from @houstontexans.bsky.social practice facility and HQ announcement yesterday? The current setup at NRG Stadium isn’t sufficient.

Here’s former Texans’ tight end Owen Daniels on his old digs and its challenges:

🔗 www.chron.com/sports/texan...

NBA Cold War? Kevin Durant talks AAU criticism, European pipeline "A lot of us are products of AAU. It changed our lives."

New @chron.com:

As Kevin Durant defended AAU and American youth hoops Monday night, one former Team USA teammate identified a major flaw in the current system.

“Now it’s become, like, pay-for-play and feels like a country club sport.”

www.chron.com/sports/rocke...

Got extended comments last night from Kevin Durant in defense of AAU and the American basketball pipeline.

Durant: “A lot of us are products of AAU. It changed our lives. Being able to leave our neighborhood + play against the best around the country from an early age, come on.

Full quote ⬇️

Texans' new practice facility won’t be near NRG Stadium at all Texans eye Cowboys-style sports district with massive development deep in the Houston-area suburbs.

New @chron.com — Wait, the Texans’ new practice facility and headquarters will be HOW far from NRG Stadium??

All you need to know about the Toro District, soon-to-be located in the Bridgeport area of Cypress ⬇️

www.chron.com/sports/texan...

Here’s video of KD’s answer, btw.

KD calls out Dončić, Jokić and Wemby over All-Star effort The future Hall of Famer says criticism of ‘old heads’ ignores how others treat the All-Star Game.

Fun moment w/Kevin Durant postgame last night. I asked if his self-proclaimed “Old Heads” team will play hard in All-Star Game.

KD says he can “read between the lines.”

“You should ask the Europeans + the World Team if they want to compete.”

More ⬇️ @chron.com

www.chron.com/sports/rocke...

Durant says he briefly chatted w/Tucker tonight. Loved seeing a friend he's known since visit to Texas as high school senior.

More from Durant ⬇️

"That's my brother. He was one of my hosts on my visit at Texas, so I got to know him when I was 17-years-old, so to still have a friendship [is cool]."

I caught up with P.J. Tucker tonight. He said Houston will "always be my home."

Here's Tucker on love for fellow UT alum Kevin Durant:

"One of the all-time greats, maybe the best scorer to ever play. Kev's the man, everybody knows that. It's good to see him toward the end, being here in Houston.”

MJ, Glide and Dream? Rockets legend says historic trade almost happened. The Rockets could've had the ultimate Big Three after the 1984 NBA Draft.

The Rockets could've had the ultimate Big Three after the 1984 NBA Draft.

Busy year ahead for Maldonado.

• Will play for Puerto Rico in March’s World Baseball Classic.

• Spend summer as advisor for the Atlanta Braves

• Manage Indios de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico in Nov. + Dec.

(More on Maldy’s new roles + managerial ambitions later this week, btw)

Astros former enforcer speaks up for Framber Valdez The catcher who knew him best weighs in as questions swirl around Valdez’s future.

New @chron.com: I chatted w/Astros’ 2022 champion Martín Maldonado last week on an assortment of topics.

One item of note?

Maldonado’s endorsement of Framber Valdez amid a cold free-agent market.

“He's a guy that, you know, like me, he competes. Everyone knows that.”
www.chron.com/sports/astro...

“The PVIL Story” creators traveled across Texas for the film, adding stops at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and Jimmie Johnson’s Big Chill in Key Largo, Florida (equally as prestigious).

McClain + his team did this story justice. Watch the trailer ⬇️

Historic Texas All-Black football league finally gets big-screen treatment The Prairie View Interscholastic League built Hall of Fame talent and awesome rivalries, but its legacy remained overlooked for decades.

New @chron.com:

Stay tuned Super Bowl Sunday for the online release of "The PVIL Story: Separate But Equal?”

New passion project from legendary Texas journalist John McClain gives a historic Texas All-Black football league the big-screen treatment.

More ⬇️
www.chron.com/sports/artic...