The question that has burned in men's minds since 2000, invading their slumber and disturbing their very ability to enjoy music, has finally been answered emphatically. It was Jerome Mathis, wideout and kick returner for the Texans, who let the dogs out. Mathis was given a citation by Brazoria County authorities on Saturday when four of his pit bulls were menacing neighbors near his home in Manvel. Animal control officers were able to intervene without......

It appears that the Astros are set to sign Craig Biggio's heir apparent: Kaz Matusi. Matusi batted .288 for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies last year with 84 runs scored and 32 stolen bases. Along with Michael Bourn, the two speedsters should wreck havoc for opposing NL catchers. Though the Astros have yet to comment on this deal, the Daily Herald and the Houston Chronicle both report that sources close to the situation have......

Apparently competing to find the most thankless college football head coaching position in the state of Texas, University of Houston head coach Art Briles today accepted the Baylor job that was made vacant by the firing of Guy Morriss last week. Briles' contract with Baylor will extend through seven losing seasons at $1.8 million dollars per losing season. Cougar athletic director and all around quote machine Dave Maggard has said that Briles will leave immediately,......

Texas A & M has scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference today to announce that Houston Texans offensive coordinator Mike Sherman will be the next head coach. Sherman is returning to A & M where he was the offensive line coach from 1989-1993 and 1995-96. Sherman replaces Dennis Franchione who resigned after a 38-30 A & M upset win over rival Texas Longhorns. This is Mike Sherman's first college head coaching job, but he......

The Houston Dynamo came from behind against the New England Revoloution to claim their second MLS Cup Title in as many years and becoming the first back-to-back MLS champions in 10-years. After being down 1-0 at halftime, Houston made the necessary adjustments to attack New England's defense. In the 61st minute, Joseph Ngwenya tied the game at 1-1 when he jetted a five-yard goal past New England goal keeper Matt Reis. In the 74th......

The Rockets have been afflicted with shooting woes on a couple of occasions already this season. But the injury bug had stayed away so far, leaving many people optimistic about the team's chances for a high playoff seed in the Western Conference. But then Tracy McGrady's elbow barged in to the discussion. In the waning seconds of a disappointing first half against the Lakers at Toyota Center, T-Mac collided hard with Lakers forward Luke Walton......

The Dynamo Dynasty? Yeah, that sounds pretty good. The Orange are headed for their second consecutive MLS Cup appearance after shutting out the Kansas City Wizards at Robertson Stadium on Saturday night. However, the win did not come without a high cost. Forward Brian Ching, who has been one of the cornerstones of the franchise since its arrival in Houston last year, went down with a calf strain in the 69th minute with the game......

In October of 2005, there were many voices to be heard in Houston calling Brad Lidge to be shipped out of town or worse; two years later, those voices were heard. Tonight, the Astros finalized a trade to send Lidge and utility infielder Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies for center fielder and University of Houston grad Michael Bourn, relief pitcher Geoff Geary, and third base prospect Mike Costanzo. This marks the Astros' first serious move......

Houston vs. Dallas. Does anything else need to be said? Robertson Stadium, which is located on the campus of the University of Houston, will be hosting two different versions of this great Texas rivalry. Tonight, the 2006 MLS Champion Houston Dynamo will take on FC Dallas in the second game of this home-and-home Western Conference semi-final playoff game. In the first game, which FC Dallas hosted, the Hoops took game 1 of this aggregate-scoring......

Did you see the news Uncle Drayton? Joe Torre said no to the Yankees. Now it's your turn to make a move and pick up Andy Pettitte. That's right, Houstonist said it: "Bring back Andy Pettitte!" We know, we know. He left us at the altar and bolted back to New York for the bright lights and big city, but everyone deserves a second chance. We need him. Pettitte has a player option of......

Houston Astros Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton survived a heart attack scare yesterday and is doing OK. Hamilton, who was having Sunday brunch with his son Mark at the Four Seasons, noticed his father wasn't OK. I could tell something wasn't right," Mark Hamilton said. "I said, 'Are you OK?' He said, 'No,' and pointed to his heart. He wanted me to take him home and I said, 'That's not an option.' I......

Texans DT Cedric Killings, who was almost paralyzed during Sunday's game against the Colts, arrived at the Texans practice facility yesterday, not to work out with his teammates, but to show them something none of them had expected: he was walking. A full recovery from the fractured vertebrae he suffered while attempting a tackle is expected, and he wanted the team to join in his celebration. Surgeons at Methodist Hospital stabilized Killings soon after the......

Craig Biggio's final weekend as an Astros player will feature a particularly fun blast from the past. Biggio, who has played catcher, second base, and several outfield positions throughout his 20 year career in Houston, will catch the first two innings or so of Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves. The original plan had called for Biggio to be matched with ace Roy Oswalt, but Oswalt is skipping his final start of the season so......

The Houston Astros have just announced a 3 p.m. press conference to introduce Ed Wade as new GM. Wade's last job was with the Philadelphia Phillies as GM from 1988-2005. Wade is the main reason the Phillies are a contender today; stockpiling their future with superstars such as Ryan Howard ('06 NL MVP), Cole Hammels (14-5, 3.59 ERA), Chas Utley (.333, 97 RBI) and Jimmy Rollins (.293, 88 RBI). Wade returns to Houston where......

If the Texans are going to take over sole possession of first place in the AFC South on Sunday, it will have to be without Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson. Johnson is recovering from a sprained knee which was injured in the fourth quarter after he fell awkwardly after a 10-yard reception. An MRI on Monday revealed no damage, but the injury does leave doubt on when Johnson will return. "If you look......

Baseball's most self-pitying franchise is at it again. The Chicago Cubs are pissed at the Astros for the players that the Astros sent out to play against the Brewers this week. The Cubs and Brewers are locked in a struggle for the NL Central title, with the Brewers currently on top; baseball courtesy dictates that the Astros field their best team against the Brewers, so as not to hand them "cheap" wins. It's a supposed......

The Astros search for a replacement for Tim Purpura may be coming to an end. The baseball world is atwitter with reports that the new GM will be selected as soon as today. After interviewing eleven different candidates, owner Drayton McLane and team president/acting GM Tal Smith (pictured, on left) have narrowed the field and will be making an announcement some time this week. The leading candidate right now is Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro,......

Let's take a step back and look at the facts here. The Texans are undefeated to start the season, 2-0 for the first time in franchise history. They scored 34 points against the Panthers, a team record. Matt Schaub was not sacked, not one single solitary time. We'll emphasize that last part again: at no point in the game did Matt Schaub stare up at the Carolina sky, holding the football, while a very large......

This past Sunday, Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett was very nearly paralyzed in a brutal on-field collision during the Bills' game against the Denver Broncos. Doctors originally thought that chances of a full recovery were 80-90% against, with a strong possibility that he would be a quadrapeligic; today, the Port Arthur-raised Everett is moving his limbs and breathing on his own, and his family and doctors are optimistic for a full recovery. Everett played......

Astros pitcher Brandon Backe, in his second start of the season after Tommy John surgery, threw 97 pitches in his strongest outing since being injured last year. Showing a lot of the fire and self-criticism he's known for, Backe was not pleased with his showing, telling Astros.com: I was lucky, fortunate enough to make good pitches in big situations when the game could have gotten out of hand," he said. "But for the most......

Well, that was pleasant. The Texans started off the 2007 season with a bang, whipping the Chiefs 20-3 at Reliant Stadium yesterday. The defense in particular was the difference maker, forcing four turnovers, whileholding the strong Chiefs running game to just 72 yards in the game. (Which surely does not bode well if you have Larry Johnson on your fantasy football team) Mario Williams emerged, nay, exploded into the new season as the ferocious face......

Man, this is getting repetitive. While the Rockets will never be mistaken for the 06-07 Cincinnati Bengals, this certainly has been a productive off season for law enforcement personnel when Rockets players are around. The latest player to run into trouble with Johnny Law is recently-acquired forward Justin Reed, who was arrested last night in Jackson, Mississippi for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Reed played for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, and was brought to Houston in......

Thursday night saw the Texans fall in their final preseason warm up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-24. The defense was harried, but the much-maligned Mario Williams turned in a good performance, with 3 unassisted tackles and a sack. (Which, for you stat-heads, was one more sack than either Vince Young or Reggie Bush recorded last week. So there.) The first-string only saw limited playing time as head coach Gary Kubiak made evaluations leading up......

The Astros may have 99 problems, but the pitch ain't one. After stumbling out of the gate to start this week's series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Astros saddled up thoroughbred Roy Oswalt and rode to victory last night, securing Cecil Cooper's first major league win as the 'stros new manager. Oswalt worked with trademark efficiency, blazing through seven innings while throwing only ninety-nine pitches. Offensively, the team rode homers by Luke Scott and......

This time, the weapon wasn't just spittle. Less than a month after being arrested in Houston for allegedly spitting on a parking attendent, Rockets point guard Rafer Alston is facing more serious charges in New York after an altercation in a club last night. According to the police report, Alston slashed another man's neck at the club; he has been charged with felony assault. The New York tabloids have all the gory details, which can......

Cecil Cooper knew this day would come, but he didn't it expect it to happen like this; taking over a team from his good friend Phil Garner, but as destiny has it, this small town Texan has the chance of a lifetime. Although he was tabbed only as interim manager for the remainder of the season, Cooper has the credentials to deserve the full-time gig. Cooper, born in Independence, a small town near the......

The Astros made a decisive move today, firing manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura. Mired near the bottom of the NL Central all season, changes of some sort were necessary. Owner Drayton McLane stated that "a fresh start" was needed, and it's hard to argue with him. Bench coach Cecil Cooper will cover Garner's duties as manager, and Astros president Tal Smith will take over for Purpura. Cooper has been mentioned for the......

A couple of University of Houston stories for your Friday, so listen up Coogs. First, back on August 13th, Cougar offensive lineman Jarrod Butler collapsed while lifting weights in an on-campus weight room. It was later determined that he had suffered a heart attack as a result of an electrical abnormality in his heart. After spending the past two weeks under observation and treatment at The Methodist Hospital, Butler is being released today to return......

Eddie Griffin 25, died Friday in southeast Houston when his SUV smashed into an oncoming train. Officials stated that Griffin's SUV exploded on impact after he ignored all railroad warning lights and sirens as he drove around the railroad barrier as the train was crossing. His body was burned so beyond recognition that he wasn't identified until yesterday when dental records confirmed his identity. The Rockets thought so much of Griffin's talents that they......

Is it possible for one of the worst trades in Astros franchise history to get any worse? Well, it did. The Astros announced that Jason Jennings will be out for the remainder of the year with a torn elbow tendon. Jennings finishes the year at 2-9 with a 6.45 ERA in 19 games. For the month of August, he is winless with a 8.06 ERA. Jennings was brought over from the Colorado Rockies to......