Chalk Talk, more than sports! (Andre Ware, Astros, Rockets, Texans)

foreign [Music] thank you here at HEB in the Healthy Living Department of probiotics you can find Jenkins seven days a week [Music] [Music] thank you [Music] foreign and they showed up today in our stadium and we sent them home and I think our fans felt the energy like man we ain't playing it like from the get-go so um I just want to tell you man like we're going to keep like we're gonna keep fighting every day just so y'all can walk around that's this big time man you know it's been a while doing that home 21. that's crazy think about it but we really need to go I don't know Pittsburgh was man but we needed that momentum um next week watch this game now um learn from you yeah man we getting that Reds on our mentality is keep the team going forward we don't want to go backwards unfortunately going backwards but you know every time we came to huddle with like hey bro next play we can't we can't worry about that we got to go forward and um if you look at it we scored three times in the drive man so uh they meant a lot for us all right so I was just informed that you can't hear me if somebody could drop it in a chat and let me know I think I had the mute button on the microphone we can hear the video but not you okay is there sound hello hello okay thank you so much thank you guys for that so listen as I said to start the show it is October it is the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2023 that means that uh you still got time to get some things done so I'm excited about what is happening in Houston on the sports scene the fact that it's the final quarter of 2024 I'm excited about just my business because now I've got one quarter to get things working before the end of this year to start a whole new year in 2024. if that's you you can just say yep me too drop drop drop it in the chat I also want to tell you um um oh that was something okay thank you Tony I appreciate that I think it was me it was a technical error on my side I switched the position of my mic and I think I accidentally hit the mute button it's called technical issues but that's why I'm so glad that this show is interactive so welcome welcome I'm super excited about Today's Show Andre Ware is going to join us um shortly and Andre where yes the former Heisman Trophy winner and current college football analyst for ESPN and Houston Texans radio analyst is going to join us to talk a little football this morning but there is so much to get to the Houston Texans are two and two this is what I think you may have missed me say they won their first game at home in NRG Stadium since 2021 since December of 2021 also they haven't won back-to-back game since 2019. y'all that was four years ago you know you think about it so yes excitement all around um they beat a very good Pittsburgh Steelers team or a pretty good Pittsburgh Steelers team the final was 30-6 that means the defense kept the Steelers out of the end zone right they only scored two um field goals and here's the other thing on that opening drive the Houston Texans actually scored got in the end zone three times before they actually were credited with a field goal with a touchdown that they scored three times it was called back three times but they stuck with it and scored again I think that's really what kind of set the tone for the day here's head coach Demico Ryan's talking about that first drive it really helped us right offensive we've been having a few slow starts coming out so that really helped us even with the penalties and being being able to move back a couple times there we were hurting ourselves when we positions before we've got we've not scored right it turned into a field goal and we just hurt ourselves so many times but to see us get better in that position you know we needed the scoring the Renaissance for us to score multiple times to get a call back I think it was it was really momentum shift for our offense right and they knew they could put the ball in the end zone and when you see that multiple times just gain more confidence and I think that's what helped them a lot throughout the game they knew they had confidence to put the ball in the ends on and move the ball and that spark that spurred a lot of movement throughout the game right we controlled it there at the end I love the fourth quarter drive there we held it we ran the ball and we needed to run the ball and burn the clock so it was really awesome to see our offense work when it did the offense worked through it it was cool to see CJ Stroud the the Ricky receiver Ricky running Ricky quarterback rather continue to just look man so cool so calmly and collected right it really is who he is when you see him you know I've had a chance to see him since he got here after the draft throughout the summer training camp practices game action what you see in the game what you hear when you hear from CJ Stroud on the podium after um something happens that really is that really is who he is and and it's really exciting to watch him play here is um Damien Pierce who was a part of the running game finally kind of getting going this weekend the Texans finished with 139 yards rushing um Damien I think finished with 86 but the running game has just kind of not been great of course a lot of that has been because they've not had great push up front with the offensive line but they got it going this week and here is running back Damien Pierce 36 when you have a home win since wake Christmas 21 love it man the energy was great that was probably the deepest I see in the stadium the deepest I see NRG night since I've been here so you know it's just cool to be a part of that man seeing coach Migo get a big win at home just being a part of that energy hopefully the beginning of great things to come you know of course you know anytime we have a 30-6 win you know defense did a great job you know what I mean they kicked two field goals so defense you know holding up they playing lights out you know offense we put out 30 points you know like I think I think all of it started with Jacksonville we you know seeing that you know we can be a great team you know I'm just you know having have an opportunity you know to come back home and showcase that you know to show that Improvement that we've been putting in you know off the field you know away from the cameras you know it's great to see it come fruition like that it's great to see it come to fruition like that it's great to see them you know get a win and it's interesting you heard that first piece when CJ talked about the Pittsburgh Steeler fans that were in the building it was a Steelers crowd in terms of the number it was a sellout crowd I I believe that there were more Steelers fans in the building than Texans fans but what Texans fans did was you know they they took over and gave that team the home field advantage of having their crowd behind them and that was you know that was pretty exciting I've heard some people say man it's a shame that that Houston fans aren't showing up if they're selling their tickets well there's a couple things you got to think about Steeler fans have been Steeler fans for a long time they travel there are a lot of Steeler fans in Houston and yes it is it was the day that JJ Watt was inducted into the the Texans um Ring of Honor only the third person after Andre Ware I mean Andre Johnson and um founder Bob McNair but but I think houstonians Texans fans are still trying to see if this team is for real I mean when you fall off like they did for such a long time it takes a minute for fans to get back on board so you know it may be a minute but it was kind of cool to see the way the Texans fans kind of took over if you will that game on Saturday that game on Sunday because it definitely was a Texan crowd I'm going to bring in now our uh our special guest for the day the big interview um Andre Ware former Heisman Trophy winner and current ESPN college football analysts and Texans play play-by-play or color analyst Andre Ware hahaha good morning my friend how are you I think you muted Dre foreign how are you doing I'm good how are you thank you for hopping in I know how busy your weeks get so we appreciate you um your thoughts are just finally being able to call a Texans win at home for the first time in a few years uh you know it's it's been a while and so it feels pretty good feels good to be able to say that you've won two in a row which hasn't happened in in uh in quite some time either and then a game that you feel that you're going to be competitive in in the third uh week in a row going to Atlanta this week so there's some good things going on on Kirby I'm excited about what's what's happening with D'Amico the hiring of him coming in and then CJ being drafted all the parts and pieces starting to to gel together and you're starting to see it and reap the benefits from it are you surprised in what you've seen from CJ Stroud so quickly at this level yes and uh usually he's playing you get a quarterback that's playing like him or similar to him in a year about the second year two and a half years into it and by that I mean a lot of guys are just running players if coach calls a play you're just you know you're the hardest part is just being able to articulate the play in the Huddle and then get out of the Huddle into the line of scrimmage and then run it uh that goes on for about the first year then you start playing quarterback you actually start learning to read defenses and you you what works best against this look and that look and then checking plays and things so there's a progression in a progression into play in the position along with being uh anticipating throws and things of that sort he's already there and this is you know anticipating throws he made a couple of throws on Sunday that even I had to stand up and was like whoa wait a minute you don't make that throw till year three or so but uh he he anticipates well it's a young man that you can tell he's extremely bright between the ears um he studies the game a lot because you can't anticipate and know the things that he knows without being you know studied up so to speak the other thing Andre about him that I think is so impressive is he is so mature for his young age and he's so poised he's mature at the podium but he's so poised and calm on the field yeah well when you uh when you're not trying to be cool and help and all of that good stuff and I'm sure he he's that way with his buddies but he knows how to uh button himself up when the camera's on and things of that sort and that that's going to take him a long way and and uh it's good to see it uh you don't have to worry about what CJ's doing CJ's always going to take care of business and and just it's refreshing to see a young man uh kind of walk in his shoes you mentioned D'Amico um I think everybody was excited about D'Amico coming back to Houston I think there are people who had questions about can Bobby Slow it I mean is he going to be able to fall and run this offense I think people are starting to say you know what maybe he can yeah I mean there's a little trickery that's going in the halfback pass from uh from uh Singletary the other day and and uh to Schultz for a touchdown there's been end arounds for tank Dell there's all all kinds of uh you know little tricks and of the trade so to speak and I think this is what fans have been clamoring for for years just some imagination to the offense I just wanted a hitch and a slant Throne every once in a while and uh you're finally seeing that kind of stuff work itself through the offense so it's it's been fun and you know there were question marks I guess early in the preseason but Bobby wasn't going to show you much there's no reason to show it in the preseason and I think they're starting to really evolve as the seasons progress you know um one of the things too it's early there hasn't been a this kind of a feeling around this Houston Texans team and in quite a while and people are already saying okay well they're two and two they're tapping first in the division maybe they can get to the playoffs and I kind of say well let's wait but you know how what are your expectations for how good this team can be I thought you know ease into it they get a little better each year is it way too soon is it too soon to imagine the chance that they could somehow get into a playoffs I I would not too soon but even I have kind of allowed myself to to think that way a little bit and I'm about you you know me I keep it about as real as you possibly can coming in at the end of the season I thought maybe six wins yeah but then you start looking at the divisions that they played um in the AFC North and the NFC South I think the south is gettable I think you can sweep this out with Tampa being the toughest game uh in that division along with New Orleans I think they're they're still gonna they're still going to be heard from but you start looking ahead and we as because we don't play we don't put on a helmet or a chance to put a chin strap on them button one up so we could do these things we can look ahead they won't but we can and uh for the first time I allowed myself to go through the schedule and start to to uh to pick wins and then you start looking at the division the Colts are going to bounce back they get Jonathan Taylor back tomorrow I think he starts practicing Tennessee's always tough but then you know we've taken on Jacksonville and beaten them already so the division's getable so you look at you know the the five games or so within the division um you've won one of those already you look at the NFC South I feel like they could sweep there so you know you're starting to put wins together and it the schedule looks favorable for a playoff run I am I'm with you I was like yeah I was telling people at the start of the season I was doing some shows another Marcus kind of tamper your expectations pump the brakes pump the brakes but then you start to see what they're doing right you see a Nico Collins becoming the guy we you thought you might be able to be right you you see this offensive line somehow be able to keep CJ upright you know yeah and you're gonna get help back in that area so you're gonna get Laramie tonsil back at some point Titus Howard's coming back you're gonna get a sinner and another guard back uh here in a couple of weeks so you're talking four-fifths of the offensive line that's out but CJ's getting the ball out and that's to that's another credit to him is that you know he's not holding it taking sex and you you watch you know even on the Collegiate level and then across the NFL teams with bad offensive lines the quarterback holding the ball and that just makes the situation worse well he knows to get it out and then when you start getting players back from injury on both side sides of the ball and the schedule that I just talked about maybe it may be able to make a run you may be able to make a run I mean you've seen some things on special teams uh tank Dell from your alma mater like oh he's small I'm like yeah but he's explosive he's exciting he can make some stuff happen you can see it you can see the explosiveness in tank just by him warming up and moving around and things of that so you watch him at practice and he just kind of this glider that that eats up a bunch of uh space in in a small period of time and then you know they're using him the right way uh to keep him healthy so to speak and and so I just like everything that's going on right now it's been a long time coming it's uh I want to enjoy it as as long as I possibly can because I've seen the other side of it uh way too much it's not been pretty and I won't keep you along Andre a couple other things I want to ask you when CJ was you know headed to the draft they're all that became all this chatter about some tests that he didn't score well on and you know was he going to fall and how good help viewers understand where does that kind of where does that come from I mean when you start hearing a player who we've not only heard good great things about it gets closer to the draft and then there's another conversation about it it's amazing though isn't it how certain players test scores get leaked and others don't you know it's amazing how that happens right right and so uh it doesn't mean a hill of beans uh it just means that maybe you're not a good test taker but it doesn't mean you're not a good football player it doesn't mean that you're not a good quarterback does it or or any of the questions on that test football related no you know they're all you know it's the most complicated of of whatever you can find and so it doesn't mean a hill of beans what he scored on that test can he learn the offense absolutely can he uh get in the Huddle and call a play absolutely can he read a defense absolutely can he run throw all those things are yes the answers are yes and I think you're starting to see that he's a damn good football player as well talking with Andre Ware who also so is a analyst for ESPN does a lot of college football so I've got to ask you about the story of college football this year which is coach Prime uh do you have any Colorado games and what do you think about that phenomenon and what is happening what he's brought to Colorado and some excitement around college football I thought I was going to have them next week against Stanford and somehow we got clipped by another crew well that's a story for a different day so I thought I was headed there next Friday night and uh we're headed to Memphis instead so that's uh that's a fight for a different day and a different show but uh I I've just been elated in what he's been able to accomplish in a short period of time and you know a lot of people were hey the transfer rules and he you shouldn't do this that well he's playing within the guidelines of of the rules that were have been set up and so if you can't get it done you don't try to you know re reinvent the wheel and try it with the same Personnel you've got to shake things up and that's that's what exactly what he's done uh he has been successful in doing it the effort last week against uh USC was was unbelievable how they fought back and they're without players two really good Playmakers on the defensive side of the ball one being his son and then obviously Travis Hunter who goes both ways they lose him on and in the secondary and as a wide receiver that's tough to uh when you have a player like that go down it's tough to come back from and so to see him compete like that after the Oregon Oregon loss was uh it was inspiring and and I know that they'll play better down the stress the schedule gets a little bit easier for him a little bit lighter uh it's it's amazing what the he he is he's hit a home run if he doesn't win another game in my opinion this year one because I've been I think people who watch football and know football when you look at the rosters and those teams of Oregon and USC no one expected that he could come in and win those games before you go how good is your door um as a quarterback now that we see him you know on a power five conference oh I think he's as good as anybody in the country the the one thing that I would say is get rid of the ball because but he doesn't have what he needs in front of him yet and that's coming that help is coming if he decides to come back next year but so there's a first round draft pick and he'll play on Sundays and and uh we'll watch him play football for a long long time all right well I appreciate you my friend thanks for hopping in uh well the you guys are going to go to Atlanta and get a win this weekend against the Falcons will it will it be three and two better first time I'm I'm betting if I had money to bet on this one it would be that they'll come back three and two with a win over the Falcons all right Andre where thank you my friend I'll see you soon I appreciate it and um all right another time we'll talk about your cougars absolutely thanks Kim take care all right everybody that was Andre Ware Heisman Trophy winner from 1989 he's also an ESPN college football analyst and he has been the Houston Texans radio play-by-play um analyst since the team started so he has seen all of it The Good the Bad and the Ugly and he's right it is exciting um I'm with him when people ask me at the start of the season I did some shows over at Fox and some stuff from I think one of the shows at Channel 11 we talked about how good could this team be and I was like yeah I'm not really sure um it's exciting but like he said pump your brakes and I'm not putting him in in the Super Bowl so I still say pump your brakes for those of you who've just gone all the way they won't lose again but it is something special happening over on Kirby it starts at the top and I say that's what D'Amico um I think he has been doing some great things with this roster in spite of um some challenges he's been dealt in in terms of you know just the the construction of the roster and that's a Nick casario Converse station that we won't bother with but I do think that uh those guys are buying in and it's exciting to see what's happening and I CJ Stroud I was talking to his mother after the game on Sunday um I had a chance to chat with her briefly and I said I was like you know I just was like thank you for your son I mean he's just refreshing and and and you know he inspires me and she goes yeah he inspires me too and so some of that has to go to something that he's gotten at home right but he is really an amazing young man not putting you know a Halo of wings on him but it's just refreshing to see and so far he's shown up the same each time he's shown up he is who he is and he wants to work he told the fans one of the things he said on Sunday was Hey listen um what I say to the fans is we we you know to not have won a game at home since 2021 like that's unacceptable and so we are here I want you all to know we are here fighting our tales off every single day we want you to have the swag that we have when we get a win so that you can walk around wearing your Texas gear and and be proud of it that's that's the young man who is CJ Strauss so excitement happening over on Kirby for sure and of course this weekend they're headed to play the Falcons in Atlanta also this weekend the Houston Astros will start their seventh straight playoff appearance okay they won the American League West the last day of the season they are the AL West champions you know that's this time last week there was a lot of hand-wringing and complaining and whining and oh my gosh they should just fire Dusty now this team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs I heard some of the most ridiculous things I've heard right um even from people from from people that I would call colleagues I was like if you get there you deserve to be there so they went on the road and did what they needed to do they played well they pitched well Verlander had two really good outings you got some good outing from Javier you you got good work from farmer um maldi called great games on the road especially in Arizona his defense was great and oh yeah there's this guy um Jose Abreu the much aligned Jose Abreu who has just been a leader he led the lead he led I think he led baseball with RBIs for the month of September what does that mean it means he's scoring he's he's producing runs and so I think he finished with 19 I have to look it up and see how many home runs he finished with but he finished with um he may have gotten to 90 RBIs what I know is he is a he is a factor he was their offense on the road in Seattle and they were able to come away with the wins they needed uh the Rangers fell off at the end and the the Astros did what they needed to do so they are again your American League West champions and I want to say this there was an interview last week that Dana Brown the general manager of the Astros did on um on on a local radio station and he was asked a question about the lineup and Dana's response was well Dusty is the one you know listen that's Dusty's job he puts together the lineup and we just hope that you know it'll be the lineup we need to have the office we need to be productive and win and so there was so much made about the interview like ah man Dana Brown you know he threw Dusty under the bus and I was like that just didn't sound like Dana I don't really know Dana brown but you know so I went and listened to the interview those are 10 minutes of my life I cannot get back and it was nothing it was him answering the question it is true Dusty does make the lineup but it wasn't I had to listen to it to get the tone and the context of the interview it wasn't like Dana was on there saying man I don't know you know Dustin make the lineup hope he can sure hope he can do it that wasn't what he said that wasn't how he said it and so I say that because you got to listen to stuff for yourself so I don't know what Dana's intentions were but I know what it sounded like it sounded like he was answering the question and he gave a very valid response hey Dusty makes the lineup he puts it together that's that's his job it is Dusty's job and here's what I say Dusty has done a great job of managing this team and yes there have been other teams with injuries I saw somebody write that that is not the point the point is the people that this roster has missed especially when you talk about starting pitching has been um it's taken it's taken it is it is required a lot to get this team to be here right so that you have people ready because when somebody goes out if somebody else is not ready and oh my gosh if I never have to hear about the whole Chas McCormick isn't being treated fairly again it'll be too soon I digress the Astros are in the playoffs they're getting a chance to rest a little so that um the second set his lineup his pitching they open the playoffs on Saturday at home at Minute Maid Park they have the second best record in the American League so they're the number two team in the American League they will play the winner of the Wild Card series between the Blue Jays and the twins so that means that the Houston Astros will either be facing uh they'll face uh one of their former teammates either Carlos Correa if the Twins win it or they will face um George Springer if it's if it's the Blue Jays so that is what's happening with the Astros I was pulling up something to see um I just want to make sure I'm right that they have yeah they're the number two team in the American League the Baltimore Orioles uh finished with the best record at 101 and 61 and the the Astros are 90 and 72 so are the Texas Rangers but of course the Astros won um the tie break because of the the head-to-head matchup in the season which is why the Astros finished in first place in the American League West the only way they would face the Rangers if is if somehow the Rangers and the Astros both got to the American League Championship Series but first things first it's the ALDS game one and two or in Sunday are in Houston at did I say Energy stadium I was wrong I meant Minute Maid Park they're at Minute Maid Park this Saturday and Sunday both of those games games one in game two and then um they go to the away team either Minnesota or Toronto for game three and if necessary game four for game three and if necessary game four it's the best uh three out of five and then if there's needs to be in game five that's back in Houston on the 13th but let's get through games one and game two that is this weekend so congratulations to the Houston Astros to uh Dusty Baker and that Squad and Justin Verlander these last two outings has given them the kind of pitching they needed good solid Innings gave him a chance to give the the the bullpen a little bit of a break and so you know listen on Sunday you saw a hunter Brown closing out against the Diamondbacks you know don't tell me Dusty doesn't know what he's doing right so Dusty Baker I think is um his is just yeah oh I know right Tony says Astros Twitter will always want Dusty gone yeah imagine that what has he done that makes you want him done um they've been in the playoffs each year since he's been here he stepped in when the team was in the middle of total sheer chaos and disruption and they've been to the World Series twice under him they won one they lost one and they're back in the playoffs uh and the American League West champions again I mean you know tell me the bad parts about it so congratulations to this Houston Astros and Dusty Baker and you know the Jim Crane because he hired Dusty um I don't know what's gonna happen at the end of the season here's my goal if I could if I could write this script and and somebody would follow it and it could be lived out the Astros would win Another World Series um Dusty Baker would tip his hat he would get two because he said when he when he wins one he wanted to get two and he could retire and go off to his Winery back home in California I'd go visit him and his wife and and check out his Winery and he could be done with this he has earned it but for now I think the focus is on that they get through it and listen they went into the playoffs with momentum a lot of things about are about momentum the Astros have it and now we just got to see what they can do the rest of the way so uh kudos to the Houston Astros and you know you hear me talk about this time of year well all of these things are happening at once football season is underway baseball is getting to the Pinnacle right we're in postseason and guess what yesterday was media day the Houston Rockets and teams around the NBA held media day so we got a chance to uh visit with the rockets and as they are today right now they should be practicing the open training camp today and they started practice I think about their first practice about 10 minutes ago I'm not there I'm here with you but listen we did get a chance to talk with Raphael Stone um new head coach email dolka and and Raphael Stone started by really addressing um the Kevin Porter Junior situation here is general manager Raphael Stone going back a few weeks as soon as I heard the allegations I informed his Representatives that he could not be part of the Houston Rockets they understood and he has not been with the team or around the team or having interaction with the team since that time and will not be a media day today or in training camp um as it relates to everything else these are matters that under the CBA are handled by the league not the team and what's left for the team to do is to evaluate the step the best steps for our organization that we make it in compliance within the domestic violence policy we'll take first questions so um there were a couple questions asked of Rockville about you know do you foresee him joining at any time in the future or anything happening so a couple things to know as he said In that clip right now it is in the hands of the NBA because of the collective bargaining agreement the way it reads about domestic violence um they have to make whatever ruling the league has to make whatever ruling it's going to make before the Rockets could do anything regardless of what they'd like to do so that's that he can't even really comment about it because because of the CBA and with being compliant with how the league runs these situations so I you know if you would ask me I don't see kpj being a Houston Rocket again I don't even know if the young man has a shot to get back in the league I don't know uh it's unfortunate and for those of us who knew him and covered him first of all obviously the allegations are disturbing I mean when you talk about um you know what happened to the young woman and it doesn't really matter why it is it's very it's disturbing and I just don't know how he comes back from that um but man you know I wish him well I wish her well hopefully they have uh they definitely stay will stay away from each other moving forward because that's clearly not the relationship for either of them but you just hate to see something like that that level of volatility and violence is just it's just unacceptable it's and you just really can't it's tough to get it's tough to move past it for organization I would imagine but you know what we know about whether Rockets stand as it relates to Kevin relates to Kevin Porter Jr email doka is in his first training camp with the Rockets as their head coach and I asked him about what style of play I mean what can people expect in terms of not really style of play but the identity of this team and here is head coach email playing extremely hard but unselfishness on the offensive end uh collectively playing defense together as a group and individually so and Fred Van Fleet is one of the veterans of rockets brought in in the off season he was uh he's he's the max contract guy they brought in he's a guard he came in from [Music] you know he's he's in his seventh season um he came in from Canada and he is he has won a championship he's been there he's come in as undrafted I mean his his career has had you know he's had quite the journey to get what he is but he is a guy that is thought who was believed to not just have really good talent for himself and what he will bring as he shows up on the court but what he can mean to the locker room for these young men right you know that the team is still very young um with a lot of 19 and 20 year olds they drafted that two first round picks this year so they've got two other young guys and I'm in Thompson and and um and in cam so it is still a young team but they've got some great veteran leadership you've got Fred Van Fleet you've got Jeff Green who LP said um he's been picking his brain and another another um NBA champion he won one with Denver this year so he's got a chance to play with um with uh Doki and so with Nicola actually I'm just looking to see if I got some update on something and so he said that uh Alfie's been asking him lots of questions and just you know there are people who sometimes kind of compare Alfie and say you know is that the kind of player he is that's a tough uh comparison to make but alpie says he calls him Uncle Jeff and um you know you can just see already the the fact that it seems to be a good locker room they're they're going they're in Camp they spent some time in the Bahamas as a team this summer just getting to know each other try to build chemistry but it is great to have an influx of some veterans that these young guys can learn from and can help to groom them and um we'll see what happens nobody wants to talk about numbers right no one wants to put a number on wins and what should be expected I mean everybody's very careful about that from Raphael to email and to players but there was somebody who said listen we are they all said we're tired of losing I mean they said that you know from Jalen green to you know tari and Jabari or Jay Sean Tate who's been here a little bit longer they're all tired of losing they want to win and they love to be in the conversation about getting to the playoffs but you know it's changing the culture of the organization and and really uh turning around their mindset and approach here's Fred Van Fleet on um being a part of this organization what he brings and um what he thinks his tenure could be first of all you know the first step was just begin this in the right spots right a lot of Defense especially at this level and just being in the right spot being in the right position the letter athleticism and your talent you know take over and be able to make plays we got some Supreme athletes and guys that can make incredible plays on this team so um getting our system in getting us in the right spots and being ahead you know whether that's watching film or game planning and just being ahead of the play a lot of young guys they start off behind the play so once you're able to get ahead of and play you know you can anticipate and that's where you see you know most good Defenders have success but um myself along with with Dylan I'm excited for that uh to play with a guy like that and to have that identity kind of rub off on the rest of the team to where you know you take pride in playing defense and and you know that that energy is very contagious that was Fred Van Fleet um and it's interesting you know when you talk to when you talk to um email odoka he has a a um a very stoic kind of stern demeanor if you will um and so that's different and and in terms of there's not a lot of light and that's just not who he is you know I I don't think people care I think what matters to uh fans and and probably the organization is if he can run the kind of ship that they hope he can and that this team can turn the corner and get back to being uh competitive being a respected respectable um Team um I think that's that's the goal and you know because he's not really oviolin super it's just different but it's exciting it's exciting times for the organization they of course have also announced um that they have uh partnered with the Houston Astros to start Space City Sports I believe is the name of the is the name of the regional Sports Network it was a t Sportsnet I think they have officially flipped the switch to become um I can't remember the name of it I think it's Houston I think it's um Space City Sports and you know there was a lot of talk about Bally's pulling out which is the owned all these Regional Sports operations and networks saying that they just hadn't made money um that it had just been a struggle and they were pulling out going bankrupt what was this going to mean but the good thing is that um trying to find the actual announcement on it it came out about a last weekend but they actually are starting to um I think they officially flipped the switch on Sunday after the Rockets after the the Astros regular season ended with a T and T Sports now at any rate that's new for the organization in the postseason for the Astros of course those games go to network and they will probably do some other shows that they can put on the network since now they own it but just a lot of exciting times that are happening in the Houston sports Market on this landscape oh yeah let me give congratulations to Texas Southern University they won their homecoming game beating Lincoln over the weekend so congratulations to uh to Texas Southern University and um I don't know I'd love to know how you how they showed up I mean were there a lot of people in the stadium did y'all go to the game it was on campus I know you show up for tailgating so hopefully it was a great turnout you supported those young men and um they they did get a win they did get it when at home so a lot happening uh locally to be a lot excited about Tony says uh great that Raphael gave that due to NFL contract little guaranteed money it was little a little guaranteed money and you know Tony somebody asked him about that yesterday um in the press conference um was that why the kind of contract that they gave kpj was it because they were just trying to you know be prepared you know that was how they were going to handle any risk and and Raphael said well we never expected this like it was a good it was it was a business decision on the rocket side but they didn't anticipate this this domestic violence issue they had he said they they had not heard any of this prior you know um and it was not an expectation or thought or concern that something like this would happen and when they heard it they were they were quite Disturbed so yes uh only 16 million guaranteed out of the 82 million and for some of us are going that's great money it is for those for the rest of us but in NBA terms not necessarily um Tony says just give me a better rocket product did not watch the games on a t sports that for the past few years yeah it was probably touch the wall cut the watch in because I covered the team and I'm there all the time you know when they're on the road I watch the games but I see how it was tough for fans um and here's the thing though and one of the things that I think um Fred may have said or maybe Dylan Brooks you know they got Dylan another veteran and Dylan Brooks from from Memphis he said you know this team he's when he saw them play last year they were really fast right he noticed that about them but they couldn't finish and so those of us who watch the team that were many games we set there at the Toyota Center covering the game and we're like okay I mean through two or three quarters they played pretty well but you just always question could they finish and more times than not they could not finish so finishing is going to be something so I think they're going to have a better product I think that an email is going to uh demand something different the the the the the players are buying in right because they're all they want something different they are in fact tired of losing and so they want to see something different I think it's going to be um an exciting time I don't know how good they'll be you know I don't know what the upside is here's the thing about the NBA I mean five or six games can make a difference in whether you are 10 or you know 10 11 or 12th seed talking about maybe trying to get into a playoff game play in game for the playoffs or being you know six seven or eight so it will be interesting to see what happens how good they can be um part of it will be how healthy they are and we'll see you know we um there's just a lot to see and I'm excited about this time of year I'm excited about the Astros getting started on Saturday with their playoff run um with the Texans going on the road again this weekend I think that they are in a prime position to be able to get a win in Atlanta and uh the Houston Rockets are in Camp so they're they're at McNeese State that's where the training camp is being held they'll be there through Friday I believe a Saturday and um they have an open thing in the stadium where fans can come and watch a practice or you know part of a practice or believe on Sunday so just a lot happening in H-Town as it relates to sports a lot of things to be excited about good morning Miss Alice thank you for being a part of the show so glad that you finally um uh got a picture and you got it with your mom so that's awesome for your profile so you're not looking like a stalker anymore all right thank you thank you for that all right everybody we are out of time for today's show as always thank you for being an engaging audience make sure you share this show this video with whatever platform you're watching it on if you're viewing it like Tony on um YouTube be sure to share it with the people on YouTube as we continue to grow our audience listen drop me an email or send me a note um inbox me or DM me you can send me an email at Kim Kim ydavis.com I'm going to put it in the chat I am planning a live um chalk talk event probably for the Cincinnati game with the Texans where we will um you can join me and watch a game in person and it will be um limit it to probably 25 people but you'll be able to get live chalk talk or watch a Texans game together we'll have a lot of fun and let me know um if early so I can put you on the list uh-oh so that you can get tickets um again it's going to be a limited amount of people so thank you thank you hello please tell Miss founder I said hello I'm so glad that she's watching and Josephine uh Josie glad you like the popcorn she's a big fan of the popcorn Kimmy treats get your popcorn today all right everybody make it a great great week a few things you still have time to register to vote I think the last day is October the 10th so that's next week um I will never tell you who to vote for I will encourage you strongly encourage you to get registered to vote consider getting the new covet vaccine covet is still alive and well and remember do something kind for yourself and do something kind for somebody else thank you so much for being a part of chalk talk make it a great great week follow me across all my platforms and you'll get updates on Rockets Texans and Astros throughout the rest of the week and I will see you next Tuesday right back here on chat peace foreign foreign [Music]