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The new BCS list is out..   Florida and Bama are 1 and 2 like it should be.   Sorry about that Horns Nation.  UT is number 3 after playing another below average Big 12 team.  That’s the problem.  the Big 12 is weak in both the South and North so those strength of schedule boosts are happening now or anytime soon.

Meanwhile the SEC is its normally stout conference with no weak sisters.   Ok, Kentucky, Vandy…don’t count.  Everybody else can win on any Saturday..   Not the case in the Big 12.

Read another scenario that again pointed out why Alabama/Florida meet in the SEC Championship and the way the computers could break down, they could meet again .  I think that’s a long shot but in this system you never know.  Texas finishes with Kansas and A&M so they need blowouts in both and hope for a blowout loss by Alabama against Florida in the SEC Championship. 

Then there’s TCU.  Big fan here of Gary Patterson. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet in the college coaching business.  I used to play in the TCU golf tournament when I covered the Frogs w/FSN and Patterson was as approachable as they come.   This team he’s got…. Very salty bunch that will give Texas fits and probably any team in the country.  They are that good and probably should be in the top 3 but the system won’t allow it….  yet..

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LPGA Championship in town this week at the Houstonian.   Christina Kim and Stacy Lewis are on SPORTS SUNDAY with me tonight. 

I’ll be there much of the week, playing in the Pro-Am Wednesday and hosting the kickoff breakfast at 7:30am Friday at The Houstonian.   For 25 bucks you get the breakfast and a one day tournament pass with parking.  Go to www.fridaysportsforum.org  to register.

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comments:   sports@click2houston.com     or      randysrants@click2houston.com

Short and sweet because it’s been a long one and time to head out….. Frenzy Game of the Week announced tonight:  Pearland vs North Shore.  We’ll hand out our Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and Rehabiliation Athlete of the Week Award tomorrow night at 10pm.

Now to our local NBA club..

Rockets blew a big lead, 13 at one pont and wound up losing 121-103 in Dallas tonight.  Love this tempo and the heart of the guys but scouting is detailed these days.  In baseball they figure out weaknessess and tendencies quickly and same goes for the NBA.  Teams will figure out the Rockets can’t win consisently with this bunch running and gunning every night. 

Before the game, Tracy McGrady told the media in Dallas that he was “misunderstood” in the Yahool article Monday. 

What?

Adrian Wojnarowski is one of the best and well connected NBA guys in the country.  Something tells me he read the email response from Tracy correctly.

Anyway, we’ve been there before with Tracy.   He thought he said November 18 as a return and today backtracked and said it was only a target date.

The Rockets, who were not informed by Tracy that he spoke with Yahoo, say there is no timetable on his return.

Not sure what the posturing is all about .  Maybe Tracy is showing he doesn’t want to be here in Houston?   I think there are plenty of fans, and I’m convinced a few inside the organization that would show him the door. 

He’s making something like 23 million this season which makes him the highest paid athlete in any sport and he’s not even playing…..yet.

Good gig if you can get it.

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your take or comment:    sports@click2houston.com       or  randysrants@click2houston.com

Here we go again.   Tracy McGrady decides to play doctor and gave Yahoo Sports the scoop that he’s planning to play November 18th at Minnesota.

What?

That’s funny.  It’s news to the Rockets organization..  Again.   We’ve been down this road before. 

We spoke with GM Daryl Morey today and he downplayed Tracy’s status . That interview was before Adrian Wojnarowski’s story on Yahoo came out.

Click here to watch and listen to the Morey interview at practice Monday.

Tonight, Morey and the Rockets released this statement:

“While we are all encouraged by the fact that Tracy’s rehabiliation has been ahead of schedule, we must remain vigilant through the next stages of his recovery.  No timeline has been set for his return.  He will return when team doctors, officials and Tracy all agree it is best. We will refrain from further public comments.”

So, when he’s back is anyone’s guess.  

 Another reminder though Tracy: get with your team and boss before laying out your own playing plans next time and causing more confusion.

  That’s kind of how it works.   Just saying…

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I can feel your pain people.  I have read the emails today and from the SPORTS SUNDAY blitz last night.  Some are blasting the Texans for their inconsistency, others are praising the Texans with a few  ‘atta boys”!  What? 

“I don’t believe in moral victories,” said Andre Johnson after the loss.

I hate to break the news to you but we are 8 years into the franchise and ‘atta boys’ don’t fly anymore , at least not in this space  and thankfully Andre Johnson isn’t a moral victory guy either.

The Texans check into their bye week with a 5-4 record and it’s tough to digest they should of won yesterday and would of been 6-3.  Heck, they’ve left a couple of other wins out there as well so really 8-1 isnt’ a stretch if they would of made a play here or a play there..  Check that..  a yard here or a yard there.

A 5-2 finish may get them into the playoffs but I doubt it from what I can gather from the other contenders schedules.  6-1 would get them to 11-5 and into the post-season.  Tennessee on MNF is next and also there’s a home date with the Colts  and Seattle..Road trips to STL, Jax and Miami.. and the season ender with the Patroits.  If the Texans are lucky, the Pats will have already clinched and may not play the regulars very much in that final week. 

Looking at these final 7.  I’ve got some bad news for you diehards and kool-aid drinkers.   6-1 isn’t going to happen. Neither is 5-2 unless we get our wish with the Patroits.  Otherwise I see a 4-3 finish and a 9-7 regular season. 

A winning record!   But no playoffs and one win shy of the 10 I predicted back in July.

What’s your take? Can they shock the world?   Send your rants to  sports@click2houston.com

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Sports Sunday Soundoff question :    What disturbs you the most about the Texans loss? 

                              EMAIL SPORTS SUNDAY:     sports@click2houston.com

For those of you drinking the Texans Kool-aid, and your out there because I’m ready your rants in the Ebag.  Stop and pause and repeat after me if you want to learn something about football.

Moral Victories don’t count in year number 8 !    Got that?   If a Bearkat can figure that out, I’m sure you Aggies, Horns , Bears , Red Raiders and Sooners  can to.

The Texans played a good team today in Indy but when it was over…. THEY LOST. 

Sure there are the feel good stories you’ll hear and read about.  We all watched the game.  Yes it was nice to see the  fellas fight back and not cave in.  At the end though…. THEY LOST

They have 7 to play and they need to go 6-1 to make the playoffs.  5-2 if they’re lucky.  Boys it’s time to man up and play a full 60 minutes if you know what I’m saying and I think you do.

Concerns are endless for this team right now and as fans you should be worried  as well.

1  ANOTHER FIRST HALF MELTDOWN

2  POOR ADJUSTMENTS IN THE FIRST HALF

3   FUMBLES

4   POOR TACKLING

5   WEAK RUNNING GAME

6   MISSED FIELD GOAL

I can go on if you’d like but this being close to the Holiday season and all, you know I kind of want to be the nice guy that I am and take it somewhat easy on the gang. 

On SPORTS SUNDAY tonight though , we won’t.   Make sure you watch the FIRING LINE with me, Lopez (610)  and Harris(1560) .  It’s pretty darn good TV each week where the hot sports opinions fly from all directions  from the voices and faces you’ve grown to love (and hate ) in the  Houston media circuit.  We like it and hope you do as well.

See ya tonight at 11p or so after the Cowboys/Eagles and Local 2 News for SPORTS SUNDAY for our blowout Texans/Colts coverage from Indy, Dynamo’s Big day, Rockets and much more.

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Your take on Mills hiring?    sports@click2houston.com       or   randysrants@click2houston.com

VIDEO: watch Mills live on Local 2 with me at 4pm today.

An hour before and two hours after Brad Mills was introduced as Astros skipper not a single person made their way to the Astros ticket counter at Minute Maid Park.

Phil Garner would of sent a few if he was hired but Mills?   No sir.  Not today and probably to be honest, not anytime soon by today’s Mills hiring. 

   That said,  a Manny Acta hiring ( still not sure why he was offered) wouldn’t of caused a spark either. Acta has Major League experience but hasn’t won.  I know, your saying “Randy you bonehead it was the Nationals “…. I say, it doesn’t matter.  Drayton is a smart guy business-wise.  Why give an unproven manager a 3 year deal with an option?  Acta deserved the 2 year offer he got as would the rest of them except Garner.   Instead, Acta said no thanks to our decision makers on Texas Avenue and took his act to Cleveland. 

On the fan index meter, there is barely a pulse in this fine city when it comes  to our little Astros organization.  Too many bad decisions, not enough wins,  pricy tickets and oh….those horrible concessions.  Have I ever told ya about that flat coke and cold hot dogs for 10 bucks  I waste at the ballyard each summer?  They better watch it or I’ll be forced to plunk down the 8 bucks to eat in the media barn upstairs.  I love me some fried chicken and all but come on…just saying. 8 bucks? well, I suppose the free ice cream makes it worth it.

I had a conversation on the phone with Lance Berkman early this afternoon as he was hitting a skeet range with his brother in law. They have a pretty big weekend ahead of them.   Of course eventually I asked Lance about what he thought of the Mills hiring and he was pretty much to the point.

“You know I really know nothing about Brad Mills.  Really I don’t.   This process started with the Astros wanting a guy with major league managerial experience.  I look forward to meeting him though.”

Translation:   Lance was about as puzzled as the rest of us at this hire. 

I love the rush of a coaching search for us media types.  It’s actually fun to chase these things down in and around all of the other daily duties. Our viewers aren’t on the edge of their seats but as someone who contributes to Uncle D’s hopper, I certainly am along with the thousands of others out there who have to decide if season tickets are worth it.

 My phone has been burning up since the  season ended and this process began.  Daily calls to Ed Wade and others inside the Astros organization,  to candidates, candidates agents,  and in one case a friend of one of the projected top 5 candidates to get some scoopage and a funny story to boot.  Too bad he didn’t get the gig or this column would be taking another direction!   

Wade, Drayton and the gang are professionals though.  They know I have a job to do so late night calls ,early morning rings and constant texts and emails  are taken well.   Now how much info they are willing to give up, which isn’t much during these searches, is another story.   That’s when it gets fun.  I’ve found over all of these years of covering coaching hires that there’s not a lot of  “company loyalty” during  searches when you pester those under the same workplace roof.  A lot of , ” I’ll tell you this, but remember don’t use my name ok?” and  “alright I’ll talk to ya, now where are we going to lunch?’” 

Translation:  guess who is buying?

Alright, back to Mills.  He is an unknown to most fans and outsiders but inside baseball circles he’s a well respected name with a good baseball pedigree and no nonsense approach.   He’s been Terry Francona’s right hand man for the last 6 seasons, has many years as a major league coach and also spent 11 seasons as a minor league skipper.

Oh, those organizational skills?  Mills has those too.  He, not Francona,  completely ran Red Sox Spring Training and he’ll run a tight ship in Kissimmee this spring as well.

Memo to Carlos Lee:   HUSTLE and act like you care.

Memo to Roy Oswalt:  no more whining. Just win games for us hoss.  And where’s my invite to the new restaurant of yours ?

Mills said today, “  I”ll bring  experience and I’ll bring a fresh voice.”

Fans you should welcome that with open arms.  This organization has taken a “wheels off” tumble in recent years and are now paying the price for mistakes not only on the field but up in the front office under the watch of Drayton and Tal Smith.  It’s Ed Wade’s job to get it fixed.  He has his people in place now  and Mills is one of those he is comfortable with.

No excuses now but don’t expect 2010 to be a fun season.  The Astros won’t contend again until 2012 and if we are lucky 2011 . 

This is a patchwork club with a big band-aid on it.  The left side of the infield is a big question mark because baseball insiders feel Manzella (SS) and Johnson (3B) won’t pan out especially offensively.  Then there is the rotation.  Is Roy starting to decline or can he get motivated again?  Is Lance Berkman, now in his early 30’s,  still going to be a big time productive player or is he declining?   Will Kid Castro take the catching reigns in 2010 and start the process?

Lots of questions with the Astros but smile today and know there is hope.  

I’ll miss Coop but there’s another good man with a focus that now has the keys to the Astros club.   Dave Clark, who didn’t get the job but will remain as 3rd base coach, says he’s ready to get to work and roll up his sleeves for Mills.   Hitting coach Sean Berry,  a friend  and California neighbor of Mills, told me today he’s fired up as well.

The road back to the playoffs started around 3pm today.

Third time is the charm for Brad Mills who was named new Astros Manager this morning after interviewing again with GM Ed Wade and the Astros brass.

Mills will be introduced at a 3pm news conference at Minute Maid Park this afternoon.

Mills has been the bench coach with the Red Sox for the past 6 years and has 11 years of major league coaching experience but has never been a manager on this level.   The 52 year old does have minor league managerial experience with stops in the Rockies, Dodgers and Cubs organization.

Dave Clark and Phil Garner were the other two finalists for the job.   Manny Acta was offered the position over the weekend but turned it down and took the Cleveland job.

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email and respond:   sports@click2houston.com         randyrants@click2houston.com

Astros manager fan poll:      www.click2houston.com/sports

Chris Del Conte says goodbye to Rice after 3 quick years on the job.  He did a fine job helping raise some funds but a nice chuck was done outside of his efforts.  So all the credit for Tudor Fieldhouse, Rice Stadum and Reckling shouldn’t go to him.  Some liked the guy, and many Rice insiders didn’t.  He wasn’t a long term fit and the perception was he never connected with the community like someone would who had big plans .  That said, he helped Rice make progress now and now gets a long term gig at TCU for big bucks.

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Astros GM Ed Wade confirmed with Local 2 Sports Wednesday that Manny Acta was brought in for a 2nd interview with a group that included owner Drayton McLane.  Jesus Ortiz also reported that Brad Mills was also brought in for a 2nd interview as well.   Wade would not confirm any candidate except Acta.  

I still believe this job is Garner’s if he really wants it.   Go to www.click2houston.com/sports to cast your vote.  From you fans, it’s Garner in a runaway.

Good morning to the Local 2 Sports nation.   Ready for some football?  there’s only 1 game that counts today and that is Texas /OU.   If you haven’t been inside the Cotton Bowl on gameday, do yourself a favor and get a ticket to experience the half crimson/half burnt orange .  I’ve covered many of these and there is nothing like it and I compare that to the Super Bowls and Final Fours I’ve been able to cover.  Those are huge too, but Texas/OU is special no matter how many times you go.

The best part about it ?  The chance to be on the field in the east endzone tunnel  ( if I have my directions right) about 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff.  The bands are there, Bevo is there, those chuck wagon yahoos are there and there is fights already brewing in the stands.  It’s a beautiful scene!

PREDICTION:   TEXAS  27    OU  21

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Astros bring in candidates #7 and 8  today at MMP.  All I care about is # 7 and that is PHIL GARNER.  Said it all along before the process even started.  Phil is the right guy for this job at this time in the organization.

Phil can bring stability and keep the ship afloat when it needs it the most.   He was fired in August of 2007 and down deep knows Drayton was wrong but Gar told me Tuesday during our 15 minute chat in  The Woodlands that he’s over that and had no hard feelings when he was ousted.

No big deal. It’s baseball.  Garner is ready to return now and he’s head and shoulders above these other guys that want the job.

Give Garner the job, let him steer things for 2 years and head to the front office to replace Tal Smith.  Better baseball decisions need to start being made in that front office . It may just be time to change upstairs.  Once Garner gets there the reigns in the dugout can be handed to someone who is ready and respected.

Phil’s up this morning .  Let’s not waste any more time.    Melvin, Acta, Yost  and the rest of you?  Sorry boys it’s not your time.

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As the Coaches Turn has begun at MMP on Texas Avenue.   MLB.com Astros writer Brian McTaggart with the story on the dismissal of Jose Cruuuuuuuzzzzz…  Read it here.

Vote on who you think should be Astros manager at www.click2houston.com/sports
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Phil Garner talks with Local 2 Sports Tuesday about the Astros job. Watch it here.
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Friday football Frenzy game of the week:    Hightower vs Elkins at Hall Stadium.   Live coverage at 4,5, 6 and 10:15 for the highlight show. check out the Frenzy page on click2houston.com sports

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