You can't vote (or bet) against your own team - even when there's not much hope. Terrible karma. I either give us the nod or abstain. And right now, you have to be all in behind the team. Cardinals and Giants run to the SB were both inexplicable. And I think we're better than either of them. Clutch City 1 and 2 were crazier runs and against worse odds. We're fans, and it's time to believe.
Not picking on you, emjohn - I know this is a Rocket forum, and I know they actually won championships, which sets them apart - but has anyone else noticed an emerging narrative that this city has been success-free since 1995, completely ignoring the sort of pretty doggone good run the Astros had in the interim, including some pretty improbable postseason success in '04 and '05? Foster was on NFLN the other day; piggybacking on the Dream Shake tribute after his first TD, he said something to the effect of this city having not experienced this kind of high since the Rockets. Even my wife was like, "Does he not know about the Astros?" I've heard this elsewhere, too, and emjohn's post brought it up again. Not a big deal - and, again, I recognize one won championships, the other didn't - I just feel kind of bad for the poor, forgotten 'Stros..........
I don't think he's dissing the Astros, I just think that Houston is obviously a football town. A playoff win for the Texans carries about as much weight around this city as a World Series or NBA finals appearance. Nothing against the Astros, '04 and '05 were certainly exciting, high-water moments, but even modest football accomplishments seem to matter more around here for some reason.
Yeah, I don't think anybody is trying to diss the Astros. However, it's pretty plain to see that right now, this city is rocking even more than when the Astros were doing their thing. This is first and foremost a football town, and right now, the Texans have taken a stranglehold on the city's fanhood. The Astros were a pretty special team from about 1997-2005, but since that success was followed by such an incredible low afterwards, I think people tend to forget about it a lot easier. Can you imagine what this place will be like if, by some grace of God, we somehow beat Baltimore this Sunday?? I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
meh. Only in a "what have you done for me lately" sense. This town was as electric in '04 and '05 as it ever was, including last weekend. We just forget as it fades in the distance. This town, like any other town not named "Chicago" likes winning.
Yes, it's mosty assuredly a football-first town. But it wasn't between 2004 and 2005 and this place was rocking with its collective youknowwhats out while the Astros were on their back-to-back runs. As much as it ever has in this city, I assure you. Any other depcition of that time is simply not accurate.
This town likes winning at football a hell of a lot more than winning at basketball or baseball. Most anybody would tell you that baseball is likely a distant 3rd in terms of Houston's sports psyche. Not a knock on the Astros or their achievements, it's just a characteristic of the city.
Count me among those who thinks Donny isn't accurately remembering how crazy this town was for the Astros in both '04 and '05.
I couldn't have put it any better. I know its a difficult matchup but that doesn't mean we're going to give in and say the season is over. We're true fans GLENRICE, its not over til its over. And if we do win, you better not be on board.
I agree with you, but you also have to agree that IF the Texans can pull out a win this Sunday in Baltimore, those 2004-2005 Astros might just get left by the wayside. The 2011 Texans would then be getting mentioned in the same sentence as the 94-95 Rockets (the allusions have already started, and we've only won one playoff game). I'm with you though. That era of Astros baseball was really, really special. Unless you're the Yankees or Red Sox, you just don't enjoy a decade of dominant baseball like the one we experienced here in Houston. Heck, even the Red Sox and Yankees struggle with that.
Anyways, back on topic. I think the Texans are going to have to take a couple of shots deep early on to get the Ravens defense to back off a little bit. Foster really struggled in the last game to find space to run, and if that happens again this time around, it's going to be a long game. However, if we can connect on a deep one early (or even just come close), that's going to make the Ravens think twice about stacking the box. Also, we will NEED our receivers to step up in this game, and make some catches to help TJ out. Last time, Flacco got some serious help from Boldin on a couple of plays downfield, and that allowed them to put points on the board. While Flacco played out of his mind in that game, his receivers (and Ray Rice late) were the ones who stepped up for him. If we can get the same performance from our guys, we have a chance to take this one. The other key (and probably most important) is the battle in the trenches. Baltimore's offensive and defensive lines beat you up for 4 quarters, and then just lean on you, and expect you to break. If you can withstand that, and give it right back to them, you have a chance against them. The reason why they lost 4 games this year was because they lost the battle at the line of scrimmage in 4 games. If the Texans offensive line can push Suggs and Ngata into areas they don't want to be, Foster has the ability to make his cut, and get into the secondary in a flash. On the defensive side, in the last game Flacco was getting hit left and right. He was just making some insane plays under pressure. Continue to do that, and if he makes plays like that again, then so be it.
Currently? Or historcially? I would wager, given their longer history, not to mention homegrown credentials, that, generally speaking, the Astros have much stronger roots here than the Rockets. But that's beside the point. In 2004 and '05, this town was gaga for the Astros every bit as much as they were for the Rockets in '94-'95. I think it's... a sad representation of how far the Astros have fallen that an 8-9 year old celebration is trumped by an 18-19-year old celebration.
That's how I've always heard the hierarchy referred to. Football 1st, basketball (distant) 2nd, baseball (close) 3rd. I'm guessing there's some kind of TV ratings or attendance % numbers to back this up somehow, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who wants to put baseball 2nd, especially during the high times.
I'm going to agree with Ric on this. I recognize that the Rockets were the shiznizzle there for awhile because they won the titles, but I don't think historically the Rockets place above the Astros in Houston. I think the only reason they would right now is because the Astros have been bad for awhile.
I seem to recall the '94 game 7 rating in Houston being some astronomical 90 share. I don't mean to necessarily suggest one was bigger than the other; only that the emerging narrative seems to be this is the best it's been around here since '95, which completely ignores a pretty doggone special run by the Astros. IOW, IMHO - this is the best its been since '05. And if we DO win the Super Bowl, then, yes - it'll be '94-'95 times infinity + 12.
Blah blah blah Astros blah blah blah... If we win this game, it will be the farthest a Houston NFL team has advanced in the playoffs in 32 years. Who could have predicted this 365 days ago? Unbelievable.
