That Rockets loss to the Charlotte Bobcats last night was as bad a game as they have played this year.

Except for a bright spot or two, I predict the Rockets are going to be nothing short of disgraceful this season.

And it was not so long ago I remember Jeff Van Gundy had all the mojo working for him when he arrived. New coach, new arena, new big man -- things were really looking good. In fact, Van Gundy's clout was the reason there was no place left for Rudy T when he got well; VG didn't want the iconic coach with two championships looking over his shoulder. Then came the gradual disintegration of his relationship with Stevie Franchise (to be fair, the marriage wasn't strengthened when Stevie skipped a practice to go the Super Bowl). Ultimately, though, that JVG just didn't like him -- din't like his slightly-out-of-control style, didn't like his decison-making, especially at the end of some games, and probably just didn't like him personally -- is what got him traded. And look how Francis, Mobley, and even Cato (before he was injured) have thrived in a run-and-gun offense in Orlando. Again, just to be even-handed, a rejuvenated Grant Hill could have a little something to do with their success.

But after just a season and a half, the pendulum has swung. VG's "system" still doesn't seem to be working even with T-Mac playing beside Yao. Yao in fact has taken a step or two backwards this year (which may or may not be JVG's fault). The real problem is that there's no one -- absolutely no one -- on the roster besides those two the Rockets can trade to get better.

Even Eddie Griffin is making their personnel decisions look bad. Which is to say that almost all of this is actually Carroll Dawson's heat to fade, but he's been part of the organization for so long I can't see him getting axed. And no matter how bad they play the rest of the season, JVG won't be fired because the Rockets can't afford to cut and run from their 'strategery' after two seasons.

Juwan Howard or Jim Jackson or Bob Sura or Maurice Taylor or someone is going to have to step up their play.

Of course, there's always the indomitable Scott Padgett...

From ESPN:

Atlanta, Houston, Miami and Tampa, Fla., were selected as the four finalists for the 2009 Super Bowl.

The four were recommended by a committee of owners at a meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday. One of the four will be chosen as host by the league's owners next May.


This season's game will be played Feb. 6, 2005, in Jacksonville, Fla. The 2006 game will be in Detroit, with Miami host for the 2007 game and Phoenix in 2008.

Those other three are certainly fine, fun cities with wonderful people (well, maybe not Miami and I don't think they're seriously in the running for '09 anyway since they are hosting in '07, because would the NFL dare give any city the Supe twice in three years?), but the simple truth is:

Houston gave the world Janet Jackson's nipple (guard).

And isn't that the kind of entertainment we all, deep down, really want?

If you expect more than just football and erectile dysfunction commercials on Super Sunday; if your family craves gratuitous nudity followed immediately by the blinding irony of howling, sputtering conservative (faux) outrage, then you want the Super Bowl in Houston.

Admit it. You know that's what you want.

What you reallyreally want.

Is the noose tightening around the neck of the Imperial Bugman, La Cucaracha Grande de Tejas, the self-proclaimed "Federal Government", Tom DeLay?

Or will he manage to scuttle back under the baseboards (again)?

The Stakeholder has the story:

A company that made a $50,000 contribution to a Republican political action committee has agreed to cooperate with a state investigation into possible illegal campaign contributions in exchange for the dismissal of charges against it, according to a motion approved by a judge Thursday.

Diversified Collections Services, Inc. was one of eight corporations accused of giving a total of $190,000 to Texans for a Republican Majority during the 2002 legislative campaign. The use of corporate money for political purposes is illegal in Texas.

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle said in the motion to dismiss that the company agreed to cooperate with the state "in its prosecution of any other indicted person for any offense related to the corporate contribution."

Three associates of Republican U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay also have been indicted in the ongoing investigation.

One can only hope that the captured canaries at Diversified Collections will actually sing enough to nail our Dear Majority Leader once and for all.

My friend Bean, at Prairie Weather, has reawakened my desire to blog.

Go read her (and me, occasionally).

Sorry I've been gone so long.

I just decided I'd find this and start writing here again, even though it's been almost two years.

Not much has changed in the time intervening, it appears...