Daily Archives: November 12, 2007

2007 Weekly local football review

Posted on by
4

Jamaal%20Charles%20against%20Tech.jpg(Eric Gray/AP photo; previous weekly reviews here)
Texas Longhorns 59 Texas Tech 43

The Texas Longhorns (9-2/5-2) had been left for dead after losing to Oklahoma six weeks ago, but the resurgent Horns are in solid contention for a BCS bowl game after defeating the defenseless Red Raiders (7-4/3-4). Although Tech closed to within 10 points a couple of times during the 47 point 4th quarter, this one was really never in doubt because Tech’s defense simply could not slow down, much less stop, the Horns’ offense. At least Coach Leach didn’t fire his defensive coordinator or blame his players after this defeat. This time, Tech’s loss was apparently the fault of the referees. Referring to Randy Cristal, the head referee for Saturday’s game, being an Austin resident, Leach asserted the following in post-game comments:
“That can be argued in a variety of directions. Maybe it is something as simple as guys sitting over the water cooler in their office, in Austin, talking to their friends about the great game they are going to see, the great players they are going to see. Perhaps a preconceived notion has developed how it’s going to come out.”
Leach apparently forgot that Tech was the beneficiary of a couple of dubious hometown calls at the end of one of Tech’s rare victories against Oklahoma. The reality is that Leach is a mediocre coach of a one-dimensional program that is 1-11 against ranked teams and 2-13 against UT and OU during his tenure at Tech. The Horns close their regular season against Texas A&M (6-5/3-4) in their annual rivalry game the day after Thanksgiving.
Update: Here is Leach’s after-game rant. The remarks will almost certainly result in the Big 12 Conference levying sanctions on Leach.
Update 2: Leach was fined $10,000 by the Big 12 on Tuesday and received a public reprimand. According to a Big 12 press release, Leach is ìon notice that any future such behavior will result in a more serious penalty, including a possible suspension.î
ìCoach Leachís public statements called into question the integrity and competence of game officials and the Conferenceís officiating program,î Dan Beebe, the Big 12 commissioner, stated. ìAccordingly the seriousness of this violation warrants a public reprimand and the largest fine issued to date by the Conference.î

Tulsa 56 Houston Cougars 7

The Cougars (6-4/5-2) laid a major egg in their effort to win their second straight Conference USA title when they laid down and rolled over to Tulsa (7-3/5-2). Houston has had problems with its defensive unit for years, so giving up 56 points to Tulsa is not all that surprisng. But It’s hard to understand how a team such as the Cougars, that is averaging almost 550 yards per game, would generate less than 400 yards of total offense against a poor Tulsa defense, 97 of which came in the Coogs’ only TD drive of the game while behind 56-0. The Cougars will attempt to regroup next week against an improving Marshall (2-8/2-4) that has won their last two games. Meanwhile, perhaps Houston head coach Art Briles won’t be such a hot commodity for other head coaching jobs after the Tulsa debacle.

Missouri 40 Texas A&M 26

The Aggies (6-5/3-4) actually were in a position to pull ahead during the 2nd half of this one when Aggie head coach Dennis Franchione called a series of plays that is typical of why he will be fired come season end, if not before. Early 4th quarter, the Aggies were marching down the field pounding the rushing game against a tired Mizzou (9-1/5-1) defense after closing to within 24-19. After reaching a 1st and 10 on Mizzou’s 12 yard line, the Aggies telegraphed a dive play on first down that was stopped for a one yard gain, QB Stephen McGeen threw an incompletion on second down and, on 3rd and long, Franchione inexplicably called a middle screen pass that was completed for a seven yard loss. Thus, rather than continuing to pound the rushing game against an overwhelmed defense in clear four down territory, Franchione inexplicably turned to the Ags’ ineffectual passing game, which stifled the drive. After Aggie kicker Matt Szymanski pushed the 36 yard field goal attempt wide right, the Aggies had completely lost the momentum, prompting the Tigers to score 16 fourth quarter points to put the game away. The Aggies close their season on the Friday after Thanksgiving in their annual rivalry game against the Longhorns (9-2/5-2).

Rice 43 SMU 42

What more can you say about the resilient Owls (3-7/3-3)? This time, the Owls came back from a 15 point 4th quarter deficit to pull out the victory on a game-winning 31 yard field goal. The potent Owls offense generated 535 total offense, including 365 yards passing from QB Chase Clement. The Owls finish with two home games, next week against Tulane (3-7/2-4) and against Tulsa (7-3/5-2) on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The Texans (4-5) were off this past weekend. Next Sunday, they play Reggie Bush and New Orleans (4-5), which is coming off a loss yesterday to previously winless St. Louis.

Why is the Chronicle beating this dead horse?

Posted on by
1

ReliantStadium%20and%20the%20Astrodome%20111207.jpgThe Chronicle continues its apparent campaign to breath life into the second largest local urban boondoggle (second only to the Metro light rail system) — the proposed Astrodome hotel project (previous posts here). Rice professor and local political pundit Bob Stein comments about the apparent dilemma:

“For public officials, it’s like being in a maze,” Stein said. “You don’t know which turn you make is going to help you. You have the rodeo and the Texans ó the stakeholders ó and then you have the public.”

In reality, there is no dilemma at all. As USC economics professor Peter Gordon observes with regard to such issues, three simple questions need to be addressed: 1) At what cost? 2) Compared to what? and 3) How do you know? Despite the public’s fondness for the Dome, it is an obsolescent hulk that serves no useful purpose and costs a considerable amount each year just to mothball. The cost of the renovation is enormous and will almost certainly require some type of public contribution, particularly given the currently spooked credit and equity markets. Even if the deal could be financed without a large public contribution (I doubt it can), the county still has to face the prospect that the project will fail (many new hotels do) and that large operating subsidies will be necessary in the future. To make matters worse, there is inadequate demand for the city’s existing supply of hotel rooms, much less a supply that is increased by 1,300 rooms that the Astrodome hotel project would contribute. Finally, the current tenants of Reliant Park object to the hotel project.
So, in the face of all of the foregoing, why does the Chronicle continue to beat the drum for the project? Inquiring minds would like to know.

More on the matter of Judge Kent

Posted on by
Reply

sam%20kent%20111207.jpgThe Houston Chronicle continued its investigative series into the matter of Galveston U.S. District Judge Sam Kent with this Lisa Olsen/Sunday edition article that provides the most detailed account to date of courtroom deputy Cathy McBroom’s sexual harrassment allegations against Judge Kent (previous posts here). The Chron’s account is based primarily on the Chronicle’s interviews with a close friend — Charlene Clark, a San Antonio schoolteacher — with whom McBroom apparently confided after the alleged incident with Judge Kent, Ms. McBroom’s mother and another former courtroom deputy of Judge Kent, Felicia Williams.
Under the Judicial Council of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sanctions order relating to the matter, Judge Kent is barred from commenting on the matters relating to the investigation and his attorney — Maria Wyckoff Boyce of Baker & Botts — has refused all requests for interviews and referred all questions to the Fifth Circuit. Judge Edith H. Jones, chief judge for the Fifth Circuit, has also refused comment on the investigation.
According to the Chronicle’s account of McBroom’s friend, the following is what McBroom told her occurred:

McBroom was summoned to the judge’s chambers on Friday, March 23, at about 3 p.m.
Her hands were full of legal papers when the judge ó a former high school athlete who is more than 6 inches taller and at least 100 pounds heavier ó asked for a hug.
She told him she didn’t think that was appropriate, but reluctantly approached.
The judge grabbed Mc-Broom, pulled up her blouse and her bra and put his mouth on her breast. Then, Kent forced her head down toward his crotch.
As McBroom struggled, Kent kept telling the married mother of three what he wanted to do to her in words too graphic to publish. The papers fell to the floor. The pet bulldog Kent kept in his chambers began to bark.
The incident was interrupted by the sound of footsteps from another staff member in the corridor, and the judge loosened his grip. As she left, the judge said McBroom was a good case manager and then made suggestions about engaging in a sexual act.
McBroom ran out crying. [. . .]
Between 2003 and 2007, McBroom experienced about 15 to 20 other incidents of alleged harassment, five involving improper touching, according to Clark and another source.
“He talked incredibly crudely when he was under the influence,” Clark said. “He described sex acts. . . “

Olsen reports that McBroom, Ms. Williams (the other former case manager) and at least three other women later gave statements to Fifth Circuit investigators regarding Judge Kent’s alleged abuse of employees. According to Olsen, women with knowledge of Judge Kent’s actions contend that the first incidents of alleged harassment and unwanted physical contacts with female court employees began about ten years ago. Williams, who is now retired, also spoke with Olsen regarding her experience with Judge Kent:

Williams, who had worked for Kent from 1993 to 2002, said her firing came days after she apparently offended the judge with a comment she’d made about his arriving late for a hearing, though she says she was given no official reason at the time.
Williams told the Chronicle that over the years she frequently had seen Kent appear inebriated at work after long lunches with lawyer friends, was regularly asked for “hugs” and subjected to lewd remarks.
The judge said he could “service me when my husband was being treated for prostate cancer,” Williams said. “He told me sexual dirty jokes, and (I) was expected to listen to his rude comments regarding other people.”
Williams said she never told co-workers or even her husband about most of the comments out of loyalty to the judge ó and out of fear that he would retaliate.
“I need to relay how Cathy and I felt threatened due to (Kent’s) power and authority and were always concerned about our positions and knew we could be dismissed at a moment’s notice,” Williams said. “Since (I) no longer work for him, I feel more comfortable talking but will always feel the emotional pain.”
Williams later worked at the federal courthouse in Houston until her retirement in 2006 with 33 years of U.S. government service.

McBroom filed an internal judicial conduct complaint against Kent on May 21st. On Sept. 28th, the Judicial Council’s formal reprimand was issued and, about a month later, Judge Kent was reassigned to Houston. Judge Kent remains on a leave of absence until January, 2008.
With these latest revelations, my bet is that the matter of Judge Kent is headed to the House Judiciary Committee after the first of the new year.