I was thinking the other day how we as a city are not portrayed as a huge sports market, even though we have two franchises with a history of winning (Astros and Rockets) and a young team who will boast arguably the most exciting football player in years... so it got me wondering...is it because our guys who cover the teams (John McClain-Texas, Jonathan feigen-Rockets, Jose de Ortiz- Astros) are lackadaisical and dont do a great job?...I enjoy reading McClain from time to time, but I've seen better beat writers than Feigen... what do yall think about the coverage of our sports in Houston?
sucks. probably one of the worst sports sections among american newspapers. competition fosters innovation and creativity. Wish the post was still around...
It sucks, but it's not one of the worst. Travel to some other cities and you may BEG for the Chronicle.
Well, both our sports radio stations have sucked for a long time. The Ticket in Dallas was so much better in my opinion. Although I have to say that 610 has gotten much much better over the last year or so. With the exception of Rome (which I can't stand), my dial stays pretty much locked on 610 nowadays.
I couldnt agree more. I lived in Cleveland, OH and St. Louis, Mo, both of their newspapers stunk and made the chronicle look like award winning journalism. I also have to say that we are lucky when it comes to sports radio because, if you go to other towns and listen to their sports talk, they are usually horrible. St. Louis is the worst. As for the radio in this town, 610 has gotten better, I still switch to charlie in the afternoons. Charlie is the best sports talk show host in this city. period.
It's not too bad, IMO. Dallas is pretty good, but Austin's was horrible for anything non-UT. Of course, any city that doesn't have a pro team is going to have lousy sports coverage. I remember Albuquerque's being especially bad. In my experience (with is admittedly limited), Chicago's sports coverage is great. You get several different voices for one topic, which I like. I would love to get another rag like Chicago has two. I'd prefer it to be in the same format as the Sun-Times, please. FWIW, my Dad says that Phoenix' sports coverage is horrible. All he knows about non-Arizona sports is what he reads in the box scores.
I think it's too old. There is really no young, hip presence here. It's all older guys that gather on weekly talk shows and bore the hell out of me, or younger guys that act 50.
Having heard sports radio around the country, I don't think Houston is any better or worse than any other market, really...It's sports radio, not the Oscars. Keep Kenny Hand off and you're doing okay.
And it still is. Compared to what I listen online to Houston sports radio and what's here on Dallas sports radio, Dallas sports radio kicks ass. The Ticket pushes the limit, but they have a good mix of sports and entertainment. ESPN Radio has the same upkeep as all the other ESPN radio stations around the country, but they have some good local talk shows to cover the local sports. The DMN has always kicked the Chronicle's ass in coverage and having that "IT" factor. They have some really good sportswriters that are pretty much nationally known compared to McLain, Lopez, and that crappy Justice. Houston sports coverage has always sucked. The city hasn't portrayed the type of talent and quality of teams we have had for many, many years. Unless something changes, it's going to be the same crap over and over.
Sports radio coverage got a LOT better after 790 came along and added competition to the market.. The chronicle was good when the post was around, now it is bad, and getting worse..
I don't think most people nationally would say the Astros have a history of winning... they've won recently. but still are one of the only few teams to not win a champ.... and didn't even make it past first round unti last year.. so I wouldn't call it a history of winning... the only team nationally that the media would see as winning .. probably Rockets... but they do try and discount that because of MJ stuff .. sadly
Agree. I cancelled the choronicle at my house after having it for over 10 years. If I want to read something, I go to Chron.com. I feel better about how bad it could be since I'm not paying for it. I do like Richard Justice though. He tells a story. McLain's head is too big and he's such a damn name dropper as far as being on the radio. His columns bore me also. He's just to damn old and won't let the Oilers die away. It's like listening to your grandpa telling old stories about being on the farm or something. Charlie, though pompous and arragant as hell, is very educated and knows his sports. Vandermer should only do play-by-play. He is horrible on his show in the afternoon. He just stinks. He knows more about Britney Spears and the freakins Rolling Stones than about baseball or basketball.
opps. when I say last year. .I really mean two years ago... until the next season starts I have the habit of thinking of the world series we just had as "this year"
I feel the same way about Texas Monthly now. I used to read it when I was in junior high.. my teacher always had an old copy laying around.. I found it interesting, even at frickin' 13 years old.. I kept reading it all the way through high school as my uncle had a subscription.. I recently subscribed over the past two years and I just called last week to cancel. It is now a bunch of vapid fluff.. the photography got stale after the art director left.. then the writing got crappy after they were bought out.. It's a damn shame, there are hardly anymore TX publications I can read anymore.
Agreed...he is definitely not an idiot ranter, and actually has some intelligence to carry a show by himself for 4 hours. Second place for me is John and Lance in the AM mainly for Lance's insight and comedy...3rd is Matt and Adam when they're on, because they don't bug the hell out of me when I listen.
The Tennesseean / Nashville Banner has the worst sports section in the known universe. Hell, China Daily has a better sports section.
The Post-Dispatch in St. Louis is terrible. The local sports on the evening news was all St. Louis and your lucky to catch a score maybe at the bottom of the screen. Tucson's news is even worse. It is so bad my wife can't even watch the local evening news programs. Tucson sports news is all Arizona Wildcats. Anytime the big sports news of the day is women's college volleyball, you know your living with a small town mentality. Thank God for the Internet.
Actually the Astros have one of the best win/loss percentages of the past 8 years and have been given props for that in several national publications (esp ESPN). Look how many playoffs we have competed in since the first NL Central Pennant: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2005. The Rockets on the other hand have been pretty mediocre since the strike shortened season and are not known for having a recent history of winning whatsoever. However in the 90s they were great.
