I personally feel that Chicago is one of the most overrated cities out there, including in its food. Houston does food better and has more diverse options. Until the pandemic downtown was getting better and better (and has continued to afterwards now). Back in the late 00s, east downtown was barely developing with discovery green just opening. now there are like 3 or 4 hotels around there including a W hotel that is going to begin construction soon, plus the entertainment complex the Astros are building. then with the Pierce elevated most likely becoming an elevated park (think Hi Line in NYC), downtown is looking up. The real rich folks don't even really go to the Galleria anymore. All the real high dollar stuff moved to the River Oaks District years ago. Dating scene is great in Houston. The amusement parks aren't as only Kemah and Pleasure Pier exist. Blame Six Flags and the Houston Rodeo. Houston is no dirtier than any major city nowadays. I see way worse trash everywhere in California than I do in Houston. 15 years ago the city starting this massive tree planting/landscaping program that years later has made a difference with everything all grown up. still a lot of work to do but this isn't 1990s Houston. Exactly. you get it! Players and coaches love Houston. Musicians love Houston. Actors/actresses are spotted in Houston randomly all the time. Folks still sleep though but that's okay!
And you said, "Because....he likes the booty. When I say, 'the booty', I mean, 'the wrong booty'. The, 'thou shalt not covet THAT booty'."
Having a high baskeball IQ doesn't mean you're the sharpest tool in the shed. You can be dumb as a rock and be elite at what YOU do. He simply see's things evolve at a higher rate of speed than others. Often times a bad pass is a sign that you didn't see the play evolve quick enough, nothing more, nothing less.... Go Rockets!!! ....... ....... .......
Another aspect of Udoka is that he is young. This is a coach that can grow with the organization and build a culture for the next 15-20 years.
....intimidating to a journalist and intimidating to a professional athlete are two different things. I imagine the bar for one is MUCH lower than the other.
The one encouraging thing I read was that Udoka's biggest change to the existing Boston team stuck in mediocrity was a culture of accountability that was being asked for from their 3 best players(Smart and the Jays). I see a similar situation here in Houston with Jabari and Green looking for similar accountability, but not yet being old enough/experienced enough as leaders to pull off on their own. If Udoka does nothing else but that, I think it will be a successful move. Even if he isn't quite the Xs and Os guy of Nurse - I think helping bridge our young guys into becoming leaders on the team is going to be critical for their long term development. All the Xs and Os in the world isn't going to help the team if they can't build on the accountability to execute to the plan and work through those lapses in game when the coach can't help you in the moment.
Strongly hope so because the only leadership I see is tweeting head honcho and sharing Instagram stories.
...yeah I don't think Houston is a bad place for a wealthy individual. I've spent a lot time traveling around the world and there is defintely "the city" and then there are "the things that really wealthy people get to do in those cities" and the latter isn't necessarily obvious at first glance for your average tourist. As you mentioned, there might be a fancy retail store in the mall that someone might go to as a tourist - some Gucci store front or something...and then there is the private shopping experience afforded to the uber wealthy that happens in other parts of town away from tourist's eyes. I think Houston definitely has similar offerings to New York and LA in that sense - discreet places that cater to extreme wealth and the need for anonymity/security. All that "the weather isn't always great" conversations don't apply to jet setters because when they want to go to the beach, they just fly to the best beaches in the world - they aren't trying to find a local beach for sure. When they want to ski, they don't say "aww - I wish Houston had skiing options" - they just hop on a private flight to somewhere in the Rockies and are having a blast a few hours later. The considerations of what makes one places better than another that most of use when deciding where to live, don't really apply here.
I know you are giddy. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Only one active coach not names Popovich has been with the same team for more than 10 years.
