Cork Belly Wines - Merlot, Round Two

Mirassou Merlot
Back of the Bottle
Offering fresh fruit flavors of dark plum, cherry, and blackberry, balanced with elegant toasty aromas and hints of spice, Mirrassou Merlot is a bright expression of California's most celebrated growing regions.

Right out of the Bottle
This is a wine that would match up well with the Smoking Loon. It has a more complex flavor, taking the fruitiness of your typical merlot, and sparking it with a slight spice. A very enjoyable wine for sure.

Red Bicyclette Merlot
Back of the Bottle
Rich, jammy, red fruit with hints of vanilla oak. Beautifully balanced and easy to enjoy, easy as riding a bike.

Right out of the Bottle
C'est magnifique! I must admit that I have favored Red Bicyclette as an eventual all out winner of this particular contest. It's really everything you could hope for in a good wine. It's a richer fruitiness than you find in other Merlots, and it has a special something that allows it to be very sweet without being frilly.

Winner, Out of the Bottle
It pitted the Mirassou and Red Bicyclette against eachother because I was pretty certain that one of them would prove to be the top Merlot of this little challenge. That said, the winner of this particular round will get one of the spots in the Merlot championship round.

That winner is Red Bicyclette. It's just too damn good to be beaten. I'll be interested to see if it can pull it out after a day or two. The Mirassou is very strong, and could take this round. After all, it's the day after that really counts in this challenge. Any wine can taste good out of the bottle, but it takes a great wine to stay good for a couple of days. I will probably sit down for the conclusion of Round 2 Tuesday night. . .

Houston, we have a legitimate Bowl

For the past two years, I have had the honor of volunteering my time to the Texas Bowl. As you can imagine, a Houston bowl game would be something that is right up my alley. Every year, it is an amazing opportunity for the city to strut its stuff for a national audience. It also gives us the chance to show other cities exactly how a bowl should be run. I know, I know, Houston has a dubious bowl history, but there are few, if any, bowls that take place in a stadium as fine as Reliant. In fact, until the Cotton Bowl moves into the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the closest any bowl comes to matching the quality of the Texas Bowl is the Fiesta Bowl in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Besides, Houston is the second largest city to host a bowl game in the country.

However, for the Texas Bowl to ascend to the top of the bowl heap, it's going to require a considerable amount of support from the city of Houston. That is what I was so excited about thie year's match-up between TCU and UofH. Two Texas teams were just what this Bowl needed after a very successful debut with last year's match-up between Rutgers and Kansas State. Also, let's be clear, the Texas Bowl is a NEW bowl, not a redo of previous, failed bowls like the EV1.net and GalleryFurniture.com. There is a new sheriff in town, and they are building a very strong foundation for what should become the next great NCAA bowl game.

This year's match-up gave the locals a great opportunity to see what this game is all about. The Texas Bowl, with one of the best bowl logos in the country, is a celebration of everything that goes into being a Texan. The mystique, pride and, yes, more than a fair share of bombast is on display for everyone to see. All you need to be successful in this region is to tap into that unquenchable thirst that Texans have for football.

The good news is that Lone Star Sports Entertainment is building a strong foundation for our local bowl, and is attracting a lot of positive attention from other conferences. Look, I love me some TCU and UofH, but I would rather see some nationally significant programs. As it turns out, the Texas Bowl's greatest coup may have been last year's Rutgers appearance. Rutgers was a bowl darling last year, and came from the BCS Big East Conference. They had nothing but glowing things to say about us when they went back to New Jersey, and, as a result, the Texas Bowl was deemed the greatest bowl turnaround in NCAA history.

Of course, it is too late to get involved with the Texas Bowl this year, but I must tell you that it was one damn exciting game to miss! No, I am here to ask you to start planning NOW for next year's Texas Bowl. As I will be involved in some fashion, I can keep you abreast of developments as they become available. In short, this needs to become an annual event for Houstonians to rally around. The fact that it will continue to fall between Christmas and New Year's makes it a perfect panacea for the holiday lull. Plus, this year would have been a perfect opportunity for out of towners to spend a full weekend in Houston for the Bowl and New Year's. People think me crazy for the idea that Houston is just as good as any other place on New Years, and I'll readily admit that I am stone cold crazy. 600 square miles gives you a lot of room for New Year's parties, and I am hoping with all hope that Discovery Green weighs in with a premiere event next year.

I am also hoping for more local participation from a retail and commercial standpoint. Bars, restuarants and clubs need to put on their A game for the Texas Bowl. You might be surprised to find out that the Texas Bowl brings in nearly the same economic impact of one Super Bowl, and it's an annual event. There is no reason we shouldn't be partying like its a Super Bowl every year! I know some folks aren't so keen on supporting a football game when you have no interest in either team, but I can tell you from experience, it's actually better because you never have to really care about who wins. I was as tense as a cat in a rocking chair factory last night throughout the entire game. I was up for a good two hours afterward because I couldn't wind down. Last year? After an exciting win by "my" team Rutgers, I was able to hit the sack pretty much right after I returned to the team hotel. Which reminds me, the Hyatt Regency, with this city's (inexplicable?) premiere New Year's celebration is one of the team hotels for the Texas Bowl. Tell me that doesn't scream opportunity!

No, it can be as easy as picking your favorite color between the two teams, and cheering with reckless abandon. I know, we've been saddled with Red (Rutgers and UofH) and Purple (K-Sate and TCU) these first two seasons, but they have to get new colors next season, right? It shouldn't take too much arm twisting to persuade you to purchase a new Texas Bowl outfit every season. Hell, you've even got the after-Christmas sales to help you find something at bargain price! Think about it, Super Bowl parties are all about having fun with friends instead of the game, why should the Texas Bowl be any different, I mean REALLY!

Houston, 2008 is the year to embrace your local bowl. I'm telling you this at a time when we are all considering New Year's resolutions. Resolve yourself to getting into the full bowl spirit next year. This will incur the following "sacrifices":

1. A new Texas Bowl team specific, but tasteful, ensemble.
2. A number of great parties with visiting fans and alumni.
3. A visit from friends who may be alumni of one of the visiting schools.
4. Did I mention the parties?
5. Oh, and I did mention that you have a reason to shop for new clothes. (READ: After Christmas Sales!)

Hmm, let's see . . . shopping, drinking, socializing, football and fun? Do you really need convincing? See you next year!

Sporty Houstonian

I am very excited to tell you about an exciting new endeavor I began with this year's Texas Bowl. I am now a sports writer for the Houstonist. The Houstonist, for those of you who don't know, is a local blog that is part of an international network of city blogs. It all started with the Gothamist in New York (natch), and even includes blogs in Shanghai and Sao Paulo.

I'm not going to promise that this new job is not going to affect Urban Houstonian. I am going to try my best to not let it inhibit me too much. One thing I will say is that it is not likely that my commentary on sports topics will find their way to Urban Houstonian much anymore. That should be good news to those of you who are not as inclined to read about our local sports scene. Of course, I hope my writing for Houstonist will improve my writing overall, and attract a larger audience for Urban Houstonian, but I am not going to use the Houstonist to further that agenda. No, I have started to really consider becoming a more serious freelance writer. This is an exciting new direction I am taking, and hope you continue to follow me on this journey.

Thanks go out to everyone who has been reading and keeping up with my blog. That support has led to some pretty exciting developments, and I am looking forward to see where this all goes. Much love from this Urban Houstonian goes out to you!

Merry Christmas from Urban Houstonian

Just some interesting notes from me on this wonderful day.

Houston, I have an iPod
Frighteningly enough, I am now part of the iPod community. Kind of a scary development for me because I am drinking heavily of the Apple Kool-Aid, and I haven't even gotten my iPod fully charged. First I have to get a case for my iPod, I must budget myself to get AppleTV before too long, and I am also (enter the Houston angle) going to figure out how to use the newly created METRO bus schedules for the iPod. Yeah, expect some kind of Thoughts or random post about that experience soon!

Texting good wishes
With a holiday come the incessant text messages of holiday cheer. I have responded to most of the ones I have received, although I have also received quite a few from unknown numbers. I'm pretty militant when it comes to my cellphone contact list. I frequently clean the list out of people that I rarely, if ever, talk to. Sometimes I'll even forget who a particular entry is for. In these times, I delete with ruthless abandon. It's only when the holidays come around that I realize how many people I no longer speak to. It's not quite depressing, and almost fulfilling.

In any case, I gave up the holiday wishes via text this year because it got to be too cumbersome. I mean, between the limits on the number of messages I can send at one time, and interruptions from people as I prep the next batch of messages, it's kind of a pain. Then you are besieged by all the responses from each batch. Maybe I'm a big Scrooge, but I got tired of it all. I love you all, and hope you have a very, merry Christmas, but I'm not going to text you to tell you about it!

So I respond to those that I receive, and call it a day. However, even that has proven difficult as it would appear that everyone on God's green Earth has gotten a cellphone today, and the texting is reaching unheralded levels. I have given up responding because I have to send each response at least three times to get it through!

So, merry Christmas to you my dear readers and friends. My family are all napping at the moment. The afternoon nap is one holiday tradition that I never got hooked on. Now if my iPod would finish charging so I can knock myself out with my new toy, I'll be happy. For now, I content myself with a spreading some electronic holiday cheer, and perusing the Apple Store online for all the necessary accessories for this new gadget. Woo hoo! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good bite!

Ho, ho Houston!
Michael

Cork Belly Challenge: Merlot, Round 1, Revisited

Yellow Tail Merlot
I have finally gotten around to the rest of one of the Round 1 Merlots, and it definitely tastes much better than I originally reported a couple of days ago. The fruitiness is definitely a LOT more mellow than the first glass out of the bottle. And the Aussie spice is only a memory at this point. Now, it's not a good as the first glass, but it's definitely better than my last taste.

Smoking Loon Merlot
While I believe the Smoking Loon will tumble down the hill towards salad dressing faster than the Yellow Tail, I still think this is a better wine after a few days. There is a really hard edge to this wine, but it is softened, ever so slightly, by an enjoyable sweetness.

Last Call, Round 1
Smoking Loon, and I feel better about this wine's chances going forward.

Catching the Downtown Wave

I've been reading a lot about the new traffic lights Downtown. You know, instead of all going green in one direction, they now have what they call a rolling green that, when worked correctly, allow you to get from one end of Downtown to the other with only one light. The general concensus is that these new lights blow goats. Everyone is lobbying for the old lights to be brought back. I have been one of those people, but I am here to tell you that these lights can be conquored with a little bit of practice and know-how.

Catch the wave dude
Like man, there are some pretty gnarly waves in Downtown these days if you know how to find them. If you find yourself in the middle of Downtown going out, it will probably take a couple of red lights before you can catch up with the waves. If you are on the outskirts going in or across, you're more primed to catch the gnarliest waves (those that will take you straight across) Trust me, it's a pretty sweet experience.

Get away from losers man, they totally waste your flavah
The only real way to make the lights work for you is to keep an clean lane in front of you. Dance back and forth as often as you need to keep your path clear. Here's what a lot of people are doing, and it's causing all the problems. When you speed up fast to catch a couple of lights, you end up wiping out at a red light. When those fools sit there, they block those smarter drivers who are actually working the lights to their advantage. You'd be surprised how fast a car going 28 mph will catch up to a car at a red light. Once you lose your momentum, it's red light city for you. Keep your path cleared of rushers.

Hustle & Flow
The game of getting across Downtown with the new lights is a little bit of hustle, a little bit of flow. In an ideal wave, you'll have about 1.5 to 2 blocks of green lights ahead of you. Watch the lights that are red in front of you. Lay off the gas until they go green, then kick it back up to around 28. Also, those new street crossing signals are REALLY important. Generally, if you see them counting down before you get to a green light, you are running a bit behind. Speed up to get through them. But keep it generally between 23-33 (avg. 28mph) when you're driving. I think most of the people who hate these lights think they need to go 35. They gum up the works with their stop and go, and end up screwing up the system for everyone else.

Catching a wave
When you want to ride the waves, sit back at green lights. I mean, you MUST go forward, but resist the desire to push the pedal to the metal. The lights go two at a time. Take your time until you get those two lights in front of you, then push it to the magic 28. Of course, keep an eye on your rear, you don't want one of the Andretti's jumping up your tailpipe! And, the harder part of the cruising for a wave, you have to worry about people getting in your lane, and thus blocking your flow. Running the waves Downtown is defensive driving at its best. You really have to be aware of your surroundings.

Directional Challenges
You're going to find the North/South lanes much easier to ride than the East/West lanes. Why? Two words: Light Rail. The LightRail is the big wave killer, and it sits right smack dab in the middle of your wave. It's not too terribly hard to bypass, you just have to anticipate it. It's at Main Street that gunning it to get through is totally justified and recommended. If you can get past Main, you'll be in great shape. Just know that even when you gun it past Main, it will mess up your momentum on the other side. It's just the nature of the beast, I'm afraid.

Whatever!
I know there will be more than a few people who will not be able to read this without a petulant chuckle or two. All I have to say in response is that I have been regularly able to get around Downtown with the new lights without a lot of grief. I will readily admit there are times when I wipe out just like everyone else. Then again, driving Downtown has never been perfect. However, these are the things I watch for when I'm Downtown, and I am successful more often than not. Try it out sometime. I will try to fine tune the approach.

In short
1. Slow down, the average speed of 28 is necessary. Speed up to catch up, and slow down to let the wave come to you. If you can't work an average speed, maybe you should try going back to driving school. It ain't hard.
2. Keep your path clear. Let people speed by you, but make sure they don't get in front of you; they will fuck up your wave.
3. Watch the crossing signals. Speed up, ever so slightly, when they begin the countdown.
4. Keep about 2 blocks of greens in front of you. Any less than 1.5 blocks, slow down.
5. Cruise to catch waves.
6. When going East or West, watch for the train.

Oh, and don't forget to enjoy the ride. A full wave across Downtown is a really cool experience.

Team Arrival

Houston, the HornFrogs have landed!

Texas Bowl Week

And so it begins!

Twin Peaks

In Roar of the Crowd, Texas Monthly's January issue:

It is a shame that Skip Hollandsworth would taint an otherwise enjoyable article about Jenna Bush with all-too-easy potshots about her father. Here is a young woman who has risen above her maligned past to do something meaningful with her life, and Skip seems more concerned with the next clever jab aimed at Dubya. Perhaps the problem with presidential children doesn’t reside within the White House but with the journalists who are so reluctant to allow them to live outside the shadows of their fathers.

Cork Belly Challenge: Merlot, Round 1, cont'd

Smoking Loon Merlot
The flavor of the Smoking Loon has mellowed after a day exposed to the elements. It's a much smoother taste, and a little uneven. Honestly, I'm not sure I even like it. It is this dip in quality that I made this secondary test. After exposure to air, the flavor of a wine can change. Once subtle flavors become more defined. Stronger hints smooth out. Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Loon improved overnight.

What does this mean? Well, if you're going to down the whole bottle in conversation, this isn't a bad bottle to pop open. However, if you are drinking this casually, it does not appear that it will hold up past the initial opening.

Yellow Tail Merlot
Unfortunately, the Yellow Tail did not hold up very well either. Maybe it's a problem with Merlots, but the Yellow Tail lends itself to cough syrup after getting aired out. The fruity sweetness from last night is now almost syrupy. It is not a pleasing development.

Winner, The Day After
Again, it's not an easy decision. I mean, I'm having to choose between two wines that simply do not hold up against their original tastings. Both of these wines were very nice last night, but did not breathe well. While they would make suitable choices when you are entertaining, I do not expect either wine to make it past their next competition.

Still, I've got to put one of them up for the next round, and it's going to be the Smoking Loon. While it did not impress, it did not falter as much as the Yellow Tail. I am also going to say that this may be a case of tainted palette. Two things could be possible. I just have a bad taste in my mouth or I never gave this much thought to a wine in this situation before. Again, the whole point of this is to develop a real taste for this stuff instead of just drinking it indiscriminately. In any case, I will have to see how the next round develops. We'll just have to see how the Smoking Loon holds up in its next match-up.

Coming Up in Round Two:
Mirassou vs. Red Bicyclette

But give me a while, I need to finish these other two bottles first. Given their subpar performance, this might take a while. I may also make some changes; maybe these wines will improve after a couple more days exposed to the elements.

Also, with Christmas and the Texas Bowl next week, I'm going to be on Cork Belly hiatus until New Years. Don't miss my 2007 recap and my look into my crystal ball for 2008.

Cork Belly Challenge: Merlot, Round 1

Yellow Tail Merlot
Back of the Bottle
The Merlot jumps from the glass with crushed berry aromas and a touch of that typical Aussie spice. Soft tannins complement the ripe fruit flavors and deliver a fine fruit driven wine which is rich, soft and simply delicious.Out of the Bottle:The back of the bottle does hit the mark on this wine.

Right out of the Bottle
I gotta say I really like this wine. The fruitiness is offset perfectly with that "Aussie" spice.

Smoking Loon Merlot
Back of the Bottle
This Merlot is dark garnet in color and has aromas of fresh basil, blueberries, and Bing cherries. With good richness without being too heavy on the palate, the flavors of fresh cherry pie, sweet plum, and soft cinnamon spiked cranberry dressing finishing with notes of rich, vanilla French oak and delicate cherry and strawberry flavors.

Right out of the Bottle
Mmm, I like me some Smoking Loon. I'm watching Dreamsgirls for the first time while I sip on this wine; it's a very nice combination. Particulary with Beyonce (hey, I had to make some kind of Houston reference, right?) belting out Listen. (Windows Media Player sample)

Winner, Out of the Bottle
This was a tough call. It comes down to the playful fruitiness of the Yellow Tail versus the more complex refinement of Smoking Loon. In the end, I have to go with the Smoking Loon. It was the Beyonce factor. I was finishing up the Yellow Tail at Jennifer Hudson's And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going, (Windows Media Player Sample) and was more interested in the performance than the wine. However, when Beyonce was singing Listen, it was one of those sublimely relaxing nights at home. I know that might seem like a silly reason to base this decision, but a good wine makes an otherwise regular event better. The Smoking Loon did that tonight, and it gets the Versace.

Cork Belly Wines

Oenophiles around the city would faint if they heard of this little project I am planning to begin this evening. I don't know about you, but I love me some wine. I prefer reds because whites just don't go with my general wine drinking occasions. (i.e. I generally drink wine with a good book, magazine, television show, movie, etc.) However, in the past I just drank wine, I never really took the time to appreciate or develop a good taste for it. I mean, I'd order something if it sounded nice, but never really know what to expect. I'd pick up a bottle at Kroger, but never put any thought to what kind of mood I was in. Honestly, I was drinking wine because I like wine.

Now this isn't some kind of oenophillic circle jerk. This is an honest attempt at finding a decent selection of cheap wines that I can enjoy. I want to buy a bottle of Merlot because I am in a Merlot kind of mood. I want to pour a good Pinot Noir because, dammit, I need a little pinot every once in a while. Oh, and I don't know about you, but when I drink wine, whether by myself or with friends, I don't want to pop open a $20-$50 bottle of wine. No, one does not wear Prada when you're cleaning the bathroom, nor does one pour a bottle of Chateau St. Fancy Pants when you are dishing about the last episode of Desperate Housewives. Certain occasions call for certain wines, and I am looking for casual wines. That said, you will be reading about wines that are, *GASP*, under $10 a bottle. No, when you are socializing with friends, the wine tends to flow freely, and it's helpful if that flow doesn't cost $20+ a bottle.

Now, I had to pare down the field a bit; if you've been at the West Gay Kroger lately, you are surely able to see how many bottles there are to choose from. So, in my own little world, I have chosen the following wines for consideration. Some are favorites, others are a oenophile's worst nightmare. It's okay, we're not here to judge, we're just here to find a nice wine that can goes well with friends and relaxation without breaking the pocket book.

Okay, so our list is follows:
Blackstone
Mirassou
Red Bicyclette
Smoking Loon
Yellow Yail

And the varietals:
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvingon
Shiraz/Syrah

Now for the methodology. With each varietal, I will pair off two wines of the same varietal. (i.e. Blackstone Merlot vs. Yellow Tail Merlot) I will open both bottles, and try a glass of each straight out of the bottle.

Then I will put a stopper and each, and see how each of them hold up overnight. I don't generally put down a bottle in one night, no, really! :) That said, I need a wine that is great straight out of the bottle, and good after one-two days of sitting around. I suspect most people out there are the exact same way. One or two glasses, then it sits on the table for a couple of days until you get around to those other two glasses.

Now, the winner of each round will be graced with the gayest personal item I own; the Versace Wine Stopper. I have another normal crystal wine stopper for the runner up. Now, after two nights and two glasses of each, I'll choose a winner between the two. I'll pair off wines in the same fashion until I find the winner of the Cork Belly Varietal award.

Okay, so now that all of this explained, let's get to the first match-up in the Merlot category . . .

Need system in Loop

In today's Chronicle:

There is little doubt that a city like Houston, with its vast area and bustling suburbs, needs commuter rail. However, Rep. John Culberson would like to just throw it down the "record-setting" Katy Freeway. How does this serve the people of Sugar Land and The Woodlands? Do all Katy residents work in downtown, or do they all work in the Medical Center? Without a comprehensive light rail system inside the 610 Loop, commuter rail will serve no one.

This post introduces a new label, Letters of an Urban Houstonian. As you can probably tell, I am big on writing to the editors of various publications; namely The Houston Chronicle and Texas Monthly. Letters will be a running log of those missives that get published.

This blog allows me some great latitude in what I can write and say about things in Houston. I feel it is important to get that message out in other ways as well. While it is no difficult task to get a letter published in the Chronicle, I am quite proud of the fact that I am consistently published whenever I sit down to write a letter to the editor. I feel like I am, in some small part, participating in the great debate.

This will be followed shortly by another letter that I has been published in Texas Monthly's January issue. For those scoring at home, that is twice in three months that I have graced their Roar of the Crowd section. As a writer, I get no small amount of joy out of seeing my name on the printed page.

The Little Rep That Couldn't

There was so much to comment on regarding Rep. John Culberson's article in this morning's Chronicle, that I felt it required a special edition of Thoughts to address all of its wealth of misguided ideas.

John Culberson cares about your time. No, really. He is very concerned that the average Houston driver spends 56 hours a year in a car in traffic. But there is good news, the Katy Freeway corridor is about to be completed, and will half our travel time. Nevermind that he describes the I-10 project like Roger Ebert reviewing the latest Steven Speilberg film.

". . . record-setting reconstruction . . ."
John Culberson, Houston Chronicle

" . . . signature toll lanes and express commuter bus service."
J. Culberson, The Republican Review

"This model freeway is being completely rebuilt in half the time originally planned"
Mr. Culberson, Mass Transit Weekly

"cut your travel time in half."
Rep. Culberson, Really Wrong News

I have yet to understand how the Katy Freeway expansion will help the folks in Sugar Land, The Woodlands and Pearland, but if Culberson says it will, I have to believe him. Oh well, moving on.

After praising his pet project, he turns to criticism of METRO. He wonders how 8 miles of commuter rail can solve the traffic problem,

"I would be hard pressed to find a single commuter from the suburbs who thinks that 8 miles of commuter rail is sufficient for an area with a population approaching 5 million people."

Mr. Culberson, if you think that's difficult, trying finding a commuter that thinks 23-miles of reconstructed I-10 saves time for anyone that lives North, East or South of the Katy Freeway. I reckon a good chunk of those 5 million people whose time you care so much about have no need for I-10 when it comes to their daily commute. Spare me.

I've said this before, but the whol concept of commuter rail is vitally important to the future of this city, but it will be a useless venture until we have a solid foundation of Inner-Loop LightRail to hook it into. There isn't a mass transit system in the world that was constructed from the outside. You start with the Central Business District, and work way outward. When you're dealing with an area of 600 square miles, you simply cannot afford to make mass transit unviersally available. Also, why does Culberson want Harris County residents to foot the bill for Fort Bend and Montgomery county residents to have an easier way to get to work?

What am I missing here? I am so tired of this idiot. I also have to question the intelligence of the people in West Houston who have voted for this guy. Actually, I take that back, it's clear that they are voting for the man who will do anything he can to further their own interests at the expense of everyone else in the city of Houston.

Patriotism, Hypocrisy and Eating Crow

Every team in the NFL would love to be like the Patriots. For the Texans, that should be something they strive for on and off the field. While I am not sure what is going to happen with the Astrodome redevelopment, I would like to ask the Texans to take a look at Patriot Place. Why a development like this hasn't been considered for the Reliant Entertainment Complex is beyond me. It would appear there is not a lot that will stop the Astrodome redevelopment at this point, but there is no reason it shouldn't also be built into something like the Patriot Place.

* * *

You might have heard something about a guy named Mitchell this week. In short, the Mitchell Report was the results of an independent investigation of steroid use in Major League Baseball. If you have heard anything about this report, you've probably figured out that it isn't all that great for baseball. However, there is a bit of a silver lining for Astros fans. There wasn't a single Astros icon on the list. Yeah, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Ken Caminiti all made the list, but their legacies aren't necessarily tied to the Astros. Roger did not win a Cy Young or Championship here, Andy was never going to the Hall of Fame as an Astros, and Caminiti, while a fan favorite, saw his best years in a San Diego Padres uniform. Now compare that to Bagwell and Biggio's legacies, and you'll see what I am not all that worried about the report. The two men who were responsible for turning this MLB laughingstock into one of the more respected clubs in baseball are not on the list of steroid users. Honestly, I was very surprised that Bagwell's name wasn't on the list. I had assumed that he took steroids, and am very relieved and proud to know that it does not appear that he was part of that crowd. More investigation is sure to come out, but for now, the history of the Houston Astros wll survive relatively untouched.

That said, we must also take some of this report with a grain of salt. There is not a lot of hard evidence that can back up this report. The media and some fans have gone off the deep end, calling for the heads of some players, and even threatening to keep them out of the Hall of Fame. I think this is the biggest pile of hypocritical bullshit I have ever seen. Let's all be honest with ourselves, and get off the high horse. We knew there was something fishy going on in baseball, and to get sanctimonious now after all these years is cheap and ignorant. Dick Justice of the Houston Chronicle is telling readers to stop buying tickets in one sentence, while praising the incredible work of GM Ed Wade in the next. Of course, that is what you should expect from a guy named 'Dick'. Other writers are saying they will not allow Roger Clemens into the Hall of Fame. Okay, I think Roger is a horse's ass, and I pretty much have little to no respect for him. But that doesn't mean he isn't more than qualified to take a spot in the HOF. Same goes for Barry Bonds who these same writers couldn't praise enough when he was breaking the single season record for homeruns. How quickly they turn on you. As someone who was hammered with the nobility and honor that comes with being a journalist, I find it nauseating the level of hypocrisy that exists within the sports media. Not one of them has the balls to admit when they are wrong, they only alter their opinions in an effort to appear like they know what they are talking about.

Which brings me to my final Thought today. Mario Williams. I must apologize right now for everything that I said about the Texans in response to their drafting Mario Williams #1 last season over Reggie Bush and Vince Young. I was wrong. You were right. There really isn't all that much to say. We all jumped to the wrong conclusion. Of course, many people (read: Longhorn Fans) were still drunk off the National Championship, and thought their hero would have made a fine Texan. I'm here to tell you he is not likely to ever be a great quaterback. In fact, I'm almost willing to guarantee that the Titans will not win a Super Bowl with Vince Young at QB. In the end, all the heart and determination in the world cannot compensate for the lack of a strong passing game in the NFL. He is a great leader, but he cannot carry a team in the NFL. The same thing can be said for Reggie Bush. He is infinitely talented, but not suited to be the kind of player the Saints need him to be. He's not an every down kind of running back. He can be explosive, but he's not going to be an Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders. He does have a little bit of Thurman Thomas in him though. I do like his chances better than VY's.

Which brings us to Super Mario. It's not like I didn't like the guy, it's just that, at the time, when I was watching Bush and Young light up the NFL in their rookie years, I wanted our defensive pick to be chewing on the livers of QB's all over the NFL. As it stands, he is now second in the NFL with 13 sacks; half a sack less than the league leader. That's a pretty big improvement off last year's paltry 4 1/2 sacks. He's expected to represent the Texans in the Pro Bowl this year, and it well on his way to become a fearsome leader of what is growing into one of the most devastating defensive units in the league.

All the more reason to turn the Reliant Complex into a Patriot Place-esque entertainment facility; we're going to have company in January 2009, and we need to look our best.

The Amazing Adventures of an Urban Houstonian

I doubt I will ever dive this deep into my personal life in a future post on this blog. I am not sure if it is just a geyser of emotion driving this or the slight buzz from the Red Bicyclette Merlot, but I know that the thoughts, feelings and emotions that washed over me as I finished the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay should be put into the scope of the Houston Heart Beat. This is, after all, my autobiographical journal of how my love life is faring in the city of Houston.

But before we get to all that, I would like to give you an update on what has been going on since the last time we met in Heart Beat. I had just met a new guy, and things were in what I consider to be the best place when meeting someone new. I was pretty much flying by the seat of my pants, and finally had become comfortable with the whole idea of seeing where things go instead of my usual neurotic overthinking. Well, in any case, things have not fared very well since my last post. I did have a good time with him on the Thursday one week before Thanksgiving. I did say that I wanted to do something before the holiday, but that was a promise that I couldn't, didn't fulfill. I must admit that I was not very good at really contacting him at all, and have not really moved on that front since. I'm actually quite okay with it because while I did not call, write, text, etc. him, he wasn't exactly beating my door down either. When all is said and done, my new point of view has given me the strength/wherewithal to allow myself to be the pursuee instead of always taking the role of pursuer. In the end, this entire interaction was worth it in my book because I was finally able to let go and be comfortable with something, while new and exciting, crash and burn with little or no regret. That may sound foolish to some of you, but for me, it was a giant leap in a new/right direction.

But enough about that, you want to get into the nitty gritty, right? Let me start with a little history about me and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. I discovered this little gem in the pages of Entertainment Weekly. Let it be known that EW can churn out some pretty remarkable suggestions when it wants to. In the middle of one of my many attempts to up the sophistication and literary quality of my reading choices, the 2001 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was just the kind of novel I was looking for.

Kavalier & Clay is set in the Golden Age of comic book making, and right before World War II when a Jewish boy, Josef Kavalier, from Prague is sent to live with his aunt and cousin in New York City. This ultimately leads to the creation of the Escapist, a publication company's entry into the funny book war of the 40's. The Escapist is a cross between Superman and Harry Houdini, able to break any bond and escape any predicament. These sentiments are reflective of the bonds and ties and bind Kavalier and his American cousin Sam Klayman (shortened to Clay for the purposes of their partnership.)

NOTE: I'll warn you now that I will be revealing some pretty big plot points from this book. I'll do my best to soften the blows because this post is, obviously, also a recommendation that you read this wonderful book yourselves.

I was just coming out when I first picked up Kavalier & Clay. I was really a newbie to the whole idea of being a gay man. However, despite my general ignorance to the challenges of being gay, I definitely realized my good fortune to have gotten out of the closet when I did. Sammy Clay ends up married towards the end of the book, and even adopts Joe's son. You see, Sam carried the fact that he was a fairy like a heavy chain around his neck. His fear of being discovered as such forced him into a false, albeit comfortable, marriage. This is the sad truth for more gay men that I would like to admit. Pressure from society, family and friends can become unbearable to face, and these men do what they need to to hide the truth from these people and themselves. Have you ever asked yourself how some gay men have children from previous marriages? Well, there you go. While this pressure has relented in the past 10 or so years, it still claims its victims today. Personally, I used to have trouble with men who did this, but have recently changed my tune to an extent. I just wish more men had the support to give them the strength to not go down that path. Hopefully things will get better as gay men and women continue to become more accepted in the community.

So what have I learned upon this third reading? Well, I have come to realize that I still carry chains when it comes to being gay. Personally, I never really experienced the self-loathing that I've heard and seen other men go through when trying to come out. What I have realized is that self-loathing was replaced with a superiority complex with other gays that I am having a very hard time checking at the door. One of my failures as a human being is my inability to see certain situations in anything more than black and white. I oftentimes stand by my own personal beliefs too strongly, and defend them entirely WAY too much. This is an issue, despite my awareness, has caused me no small amount of grief over the past two years. I honestly cannot tell you why I carry such strong convictions. I do know that it can be a great trait to have, but I have generally used it to my detriment at every opportunity. It has cost me in both my personal and romantic life, and recently cost me in a professional arena. In short, I have played myself out in certain circles, and I have to move on in some capacity; life doesn't stop because you fucked up.

The good news is that the situation I updated you one earlier in this post represents my shedding a particularly heavy chain that has stopped me from getting far in my romantic relationships. My recent declaration to get my personal shit together, and stop concentrating so much on finding a man is another chain I have wriggled my way out of. I'm not done by a long shot, but we're getting there one day at a time.

In the end, everyone carries some kind of chain around their neck everyday, and we all need our inner-Escapist to be a little stronger every now and then. Mine has been pretty busy as of late, and I must say I look forward to finding more keys as 2008 dawns on my 30th year.

I'm Fair, Not Fairweather

The alliteration of today's posts continues. . .

I just finished watching the Texans upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As excited as I am about this victory, I cannot help but be frustrated by it as well. I mean, where in the hell has this team been all season long? This was probably the most complete game the Texans have played all year, and it was when they were arguably at their weakest. With an NFL-leading total of 17 players on injured reserve, not to mention an injured starting quarterback, this team should have been railroaded by the 8-4 Buccaneers. Instead, they played with a level of heart and determination that has been woefully lacking this season.

I have already commented that I feel this team is much better than its 6-7 record. After today's game, I'm pretty much convinced that this team could be easily competing for a playoff spot. Of course, injuries are going to make things difficult, and I would never suggest that this team could compete with the likes of New England or Indianapolis. However, I believe the Texans would have won in Week 3 against the Colts had Andre Johnson not gone down with an injury in the game against the Carolina Panthers.

It just disappoints me that this team has squandered what could have been a truly special season of football. Of course, if they continue to play the kind of football we saw today through the next three games, we'll be at the top of the list (as we should) of teams to watch in 2008.

It should be duly noted that Mario Williams has proven to be worth the #1 draft pick the Texans used in 2006. As he continues to develop, he is set to become the leader of a truly fearsome defensive unit.

NOTE: I am watching the New England Patriots start a vicious ass whooping on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Anthony Smith, the 2007 NFL Bonehead of the Year, should be drug out into the streets of Pittsburgh and shot. Why would you talk trash against this team? It's like saying "Eat Me!" to Hannibal Lecter. Of course, the Steelers just scored to make it 14-10. We'll see how this game plays out.

Delayed, not Derailed

There was a lot of back and forth between METRO and the Federal Transporation Administration (FTA) this week about an apparent misstep by METRO to get the proper documentation submitted for the North and Southeast rail lines. Basically, the FTA is demanding that METRO resubmit their plans because the previous approval came when they were going to be building BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) instead of the recently announced plan to go with rail on the entire system.

METRO responded with shock over the move by FTA. FTA told the Chronicle that METRO ignored their warnings. The Chronicle, ever at the side of METRO, defended them in this morning's Outlook section. It all makes for a pretty confusing situation. Here are my thoughts:

METRO, as far as I can tell, has been pretty forthcoming and accomodating to the FTA throughout this entire Lightrail process. Given the strong opposition from some parts of the city, they pretty much had to. When your plan's success depends on landing federal funding, you're going to jump through a lot of hoops, wag your tail, speak, roll over, etc. until you get that yummy treat. That METRO would suddenly misstep in regards to their responsibilities to the FTA just doesn't seem possible; they have come a LONG way to fumble the ball away like this.

Some have suggested that John Culberson, one of METRO's staunchest opponents on the University Line had something to do with this issue. I sincerely hope that this wasn't the case, but it seems a bit dubious. Instead of outright denying it, he sticks up for the FTA, and quickly notes that the lines in question are in the districts of Sheila Jackson Lee and Gene Green. Of course, a Republican would NEVER do something to mess with two Democrat representatives, right?

In the end, I'm doubtful that METRO messed up, and hopeful that Culberson didn't take a cheap shot at METRO. The good news is that this does not appear, even if it takes months to fix, will delay the start of construction on any of the lines.

Preserving your cake, and eating it too
Lisa Gray added another log on the fire in the preservationists' battle against Weingarten in this morning's Zest section. While I agree, I am honestly getting a little fed up with this issue. At the end of the day, Weingarten is holding all of the cards, and there is little we can do to save those two buildings. Personally, I feel these two buildings are going to have to go down as martyrs that become the foundation of finally changing the laws in this city. Believe me, I would like nothing more than to see these two buildings saved, but I just don't see how it can be done, and the constant, with all due respect, whining that I keep reading is accomplishing nothing.

Weingarten is not going to be forced or guilted in this situation. They have the law on their side, and, unfortunately, every right to do what they are doing. This is an issue that needs to be brought to the forefront in the next major city election. Until we get a Council that is willing to do more than lending a sympathetic word or two, this is going to continue to happen. And let's be honest here, the tactic of "Demolition by Neglect" that Gray mentions in her article isn't an overnight process. It takes years for the kind of neglect to make these buildings endangered. The fact that they are only defended after they are too far gone to save is not only the fault of the developers. We are all to blame for the lack of change in this city when it comes to preserving our history.

I also bristle a bit at Gray's comparison of the Borders on Kirby with the West Alabama Bookstop. I would hope she knows the distinction between a book store and a superstore. I would also point out that a Bookstop, regardless of the historical significance of its confines, is an endangered store front in the Barnes & Noble corporation. Again, this is not a new development. The whole superbookstore movement started here back in the late 90's when Barnes & Noble opened their first stores in Houston. It was that "polished, bright-lit" Borders on Kirby that sounded the death knell for the Alabama Bookstop, not Weingarten or Barnes & Noble.

I'm not trying to defend Weingarten here, but I also think that railing against them is a total waste of energy in this fight. The key is to make preservation profitable, plain and simple. Instead we have articles about waterspots on the ceiling that do nothing but further misdirect energy that would be better placed in finding a solution to this problem.

Your Friend in the Theater District

Writer's Note: The opinions expressed in this post do not reflect the practices of all Theater District organizations, nor do they neccessarily reflect those of the writer's organization.

Lately I have been plagued with needless frustration over the fact that people do not really understand what it is that I do in the Theater District. For those of you that are linked up to me on Google talk, this would be evidenced by my status message, "I'm not your ticket monkey!"

In any case, I had been thinking about how to write this particular post ever since I finally used some free tickets I had received from another organization to one of their performances. It so happened that a dear friend of mine had broken what has become one of "The Rules" of having a friend in the Theater District. These rules are not etched in stone. In fact, I'd reckon they will vary wildly depending on which organization your friend works for. However, I think they cover the bases fairly well. If not, I'm sure my fellow Theater District employee, and dear reader, will set the record straight. ;)

Rules for Having a Friend in the Theater District

Know thy friend's organization
This is the most important part of having a friend that works in the Theater District. I don't know about my peers, but nothing irritates me more than someone asking me for tickets to a performance that my organization is not presenting. In some cases, this can be akin to asking your friend who works for Reebok if they can land you a pair of Air Jordans. Take some time to know your friend's organization; what they present, who they are, WHAT . . .THEY . . .DO! If you are a real friend, you should truly already know this anyway.

Read thy local newspaper
I've already pointed this out for your own general welfare, but it's also a great way to get in good with your Theater District friend(s). If your friend's organization is featured, positively or negatively, in the Chronicle, mention it to your friend. If it's positive, call them to congratulate them. If it's negative, call them to say hello (they may need a pick me up), and only discuss it if they bring it up. I am going to give tickets to friends that I know are interested in my organizations offerings. If they are tickets from another organization, again, I want to bring a friend that is interested in the arts. Commenting on reviews is the best way to get on the free ticket gravy train!

Patronage=Gift=free tickets
Your friend is going to more giving to those that show up without needing free tickets to be there. We're not talking about becoming regulars, just make sure you make an effort to buy one ticket for every ticket you are given. Dollar amounts are not a factor here. One ticket purchased equals a free ticket of any price level. NOTE: Ask your friend to get you primo seats when you are paying your own way. Honestly, this is how they can and should pay you back for offering to pay your own way.

Tell thy friend your honest opinion
Even if you thought it was the worst thing you have ever seen, tell your friend the honest feelings. Your friend should appreciate your honesty. If not, they're in the wrong business. Being honest will also help your friend better identify which performances you'll enjoy and the ones they should offer to someone else. This is, personally, where I get the greatest joy out of giving tickets to my friends. I love my job most when I am able to create that spark between my friends and the arts. Being honest with your friend will allow them to enjoy their job more. Trust me on this!

In any case, the following is a comprehensive guide of how to handle the sometimes uncomfortable post-performance assessment.

You LOVED it! (Hopefully your friend expected this reaction.)
Tell your friend: Gush like Ol' Faithful.
Tell others: Gush like Ol' Faithful. One of the best things you can do for your friend is tell as many people how much you loved the performance. It is the best support their organization can get!

You liked it, and once (blank type of performance) was enough.
Tell your friend: Exactly that. Sometimes, one kind of performance is enough to last a lifetime. Make sure your friend knows this to avoid being bored the next time around."
Tell others: If you need to see one (blank kind of performance) this is the one to see.

You didn't like it
Tell your friend: You didn't like it. Again, they should appreciate your honesty. However, if they ask you why, be gentle. There is a fine line between being gracious and stomping on your friend's generosity.
Tell others: It was good, but not my cup of tea. Praise the quality of the production of the content wasn't to your liking. Praise the content if the production wasn't to your liking. ALWAYS remember, just because you don't like something doesn't mean someone else won't love it.

You HATE it!
Tell Your Friend: You hated it, but sugarcoat it. Remember the fine line that exists here, and be as respectful as possible. Nevertheless, your friend should probably have known better, and you can ever-so-gently give them some hell. The tickets may have been free, but you cannot ever truly go to the theater for free with parking, drinks, dinner, time, etc. Still, we can presume that your friend did have your best interests at heart, so be gentle.
Tell Others: Same as you didn't like it. The worst thing you can do is pay back your friend's kindness by ripping their organization's offerings to shreds in public. You don't have to overdo it, just avoid all out criticism, and move on. Stop short of recommending it to others. While you should protect your friend and their organization, it is understandable that you do not want to ruin your reputation by exhibiting poor artistic taste. Furthermore, never forget that your trash is another man's treasure. You owe it to your friend to consider that adage.

NOTE: If your friend shares your negative opinion, feel free to rip apart the performance. However, that is ONLY when you are talking to your friend; the other rules ALWAYS apply to other people.