“We have a saying in Texas: the rooster crows, but the hen delivers the goods.” Former Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower
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So Long No. 80 – Andre Johnson to Leave Houston Texans
It now seems obvious that Andre Johnson’s days as a Texan are over. According to Johnson, he was told by Coach Bill O’Brien that his role on the team next year would be greatly reduced and that he might be a back-up with only 40 or so catches. Around the NFL writer Mark Sessler reports that Johnson laughed when O’Brien told him that.
“I just laughed,” said Johnson, the team’s all-time leading receiver. “They gave me my role, and I just laughed at them. How do you tell a guy who is used to catching 80 balls a year that he was going to catch 40?” O’Brien wasn’t finished, informing Johnson that he wouldn’t even start next season alongside DeAndre Hopkins.
“I was floored,” Johnson said. “I don’t feel like there is a guy on that team that can outplay me or outwork me. I mean, who am I going to play behind? So I was real honest with him: ‘If that’s your role for me, you’re going to be dealing with a miserable football player.’“
Although, we have not heard O’Brien’s side of the story, on its face it makes little sense. Johnson had a very productive season last year even though the Texans had mediocre quarterback play for most of the season from Fitzpatrick, Mallet and Keenum. Clearly, DeAndre Hopkins is the number one target now, but who would replace Johnson as number two? There is no one stepping up. And a number two in the pass-happy NFL is very likely to get at least 80 catches in a decent season. So either Johnson didn’t convey O’Brien’s message correctly when he spoke to the media, or O’Brien is orchestrating Johnson’s exit and was hoping to deflect the blame from himself. Either way, Texans’ fans are most likely to blame the team for the fact that they will not be able to see Johnson conclude his career in Houston – which is something to be expected in the harsh reality of the NFL.
Red’s Prediction – Texans’ fans will get to see Johnson in person one last time when he suits up in 2015 for the Indianapolis Colts.
Today in Texas History – March 4
From the Annals of “Warm Piss” – In 1933, John Nance Garner of Uvalde was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. Nicknamed “Cactus Jack” he was the first Texan to hold the position. Garner had been Speaker of the House and a candidate for President in 1932. Although he had considerable support at the Democratic National Convention, when it became clear that Franklin Roosevelt would get the nomination, Garner made a deal to be nominated as Vice-President. Garner was born in 1868 in a log cabin near Detroit. After dropping out of Vanderbilt, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1890 and moved to Uvalde, where he joined the law firm of Clark and Fuller. Garner was elected to the position of Uvalde County Judge and served as a state senator before heading for Washington as a congressman in 1903. Garner quickly rose through the party ranks. By 1909 Garner had become party whip, and he became speaker of the House in 1931. Garner was a master of congressional politics and he was influential in getting New Deal legislation enacted. His schism with Roosevelt came over the infamous court-packing plan. Garner became a leader of the conservative Democrats. After being reelected Vice President in 1936, he worked against further New Deal legislation. His estrangement from Roosevelt probably led to his famous description of the Vice-Presidency as being “not worth a bucket of warm piss” (often euphemized as “warm spit”.) After retiring from public life in 1940, Garner spent the rest of his years in Uvalde in relative seclusion.
Red’s Winning Bar Bets – Bet No. 4
What is the name of the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere?
99.99999999999 % of the folks do not have a clue. I’ll give you a hint – it’s not Denali (Mount McKinley).
Comment and find out the answer.
Take a Look at JJ Watt’s “Cabin in the Middle of Nowhere”
CBS Sports gives us a look at JJ Watts’ now famous “Cabin in the Middle of Nowhere.” The cabin is actually a 4500 square foot log home on 35 acres about 30 miles from Milwaukee. It comes complete with air conditioned barn/garage and very nice landscaping. For Watt, who signed a $100 million deal with the Texans last year, the $800,000 price tag was fairly modest – for what appears to be a very nice home away from home. Keep in mind that the photos show the contents of the previous owner.
No Easy Cruz to Victory
Jonathan Tilove breaks down the performance of Ted Cruz and other Republican presidential wannabes at CPAC.
A Lot of Dam Problems in Texas
The Houston Chronicle reports that more than half of Texas dams are in danger of failing. Some failures would be catastrophic. Overall Texas dams received a grade of D- from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2012. The Chronicle looks at what might happen if the Barker and Addicks dams which hold potential floodwaters from Braes and Buffalo Bayous were to fail.
Let’s look at at one disaster scenario for the Houston metro area. From a 2011 Chronicle op-ed: “If either Addicks or Barker Dam failed when water levels were high, stored stormwaters would erupt down Buffalo Bayou, inundating the Memorial Drive area and crossing Westheimer into the Brays Bayou watershed. Extensive damage would occur in River Oaks, the Central Business District and even the Texas Medical Center.”
The article was published after the Army Corps of Engineers rated the Addicks and Barker dams as “extremely high risk” in 2009. Only six dams in the country received this designation. The state has made some short-term repairs to the structures, and this year long-term rehabilitation finally should get under way.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claims that there is no imminent danger of failure, but recognizes that problems exist.
It is important to know that Addicks and Barker dams are not in imminent danger of failing. These two dams form reservoirs that are dry much of the time. They are continuously monitored by a full-time staff to ensure their structural integrity. But, the fact that the Houston metropolitan area is the nation’s fourth largest population center is a primary concern. Any dam safety issues at Addicks and Barker could have a far greater impact due to the magnitude of people and property downstream, as opposed to other dams around the country in rural or low-population density areas.
Having our Addicks and Barker dams designated as “extremely high risk” is a big step toward increasing their safety. This designation moves them up to the front of the line for funding for repairs and studies, and all actions required for these two dams will be expedited.
If you live in Houston, keep your pirogue handy just in case.
Today in Texas History – March 3
From the Annals of the Forgotten War – In 1899, Congress authorized the formation of the Thirty-Third Infantry Regiment which became known as the Texas Regiment. The Regiment was formed for combatting the Philippine Insurrection – America’s forgotten war that officially lasted from June 2, 1899 until July 4, 1902 but lasted as a lower level conflict for at least another decade. The Regiment was organized at Fort Sam Houston. Approximately one third of the officers and enlisted men were from Texas. The Regiment served in the Philippines from October 27, 1899, until March 2, 1901. The Thirty-third fought in battles at Magnataram, Tirad Pass, Vigan, and Taguidin Pass. The Regiment was mustered out of service in San Francisco on April 17, 1901. However, some soldiers from the Regiment remained in the Philippines to serve with the Philippine Constabulary.
Texas Marriage Under Assault – From Serial Heterosexuals
Rep. Tony Tinderholt (TP- Headcase City) has filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct against Travis County District Judge David Wahlberg who recently ordered the Travis County Clerk to issue a marriage license to a long-time gay couple with two children. Tinderholt is understandably concerned about the sanctity of the institution of marriage – apparently having been married five (5) times himself. Tinderholt obviously believes that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman – at least until he gets tired of his current wife or vice versa.
Tinderholt has complained that Judge Wahlberg failed to give notice to the Texas Attorney General’s office before issuing his order. One problem – Wahlberg was not the judge in the court where the constitutionality of Texas’ ban on same sex marriage was challenged. That was in a case before Probate Court Judge Guy Hermann. Texas litigants are required to notify the Attorney General when challenging a Texas statute on constitutional grounds and that was done in the probate case. The AG declined to intervene and the case proceeded. Wahlberg was acting on a request based on the prior ruling. It seems highly unlikely that any action will be taken against Wahlberg.
And the current over/under on Tinderholt’s latest marriage – Red is putting that at 3.5 years and going short.
The Second Siege of the Alamo – By UNESCO?
Texas Sen. Donna Campbell (TP-Loonytown) has filed a bill that would prevent foreigners from owning, operating or managing the Alamo. Campbell’s unusual bill stems from her fear that designating the Alamo as a UNESCO World Heritage Site would mean that the revered shrine would come under some UN domination. As the San Antonio Express-News reports, there is little support for Campbell’s efforts to protect the Alamo from this non-existent threat.
The Alamo and four other San Antonio missions are being nominated for UNESCO’s World Heritage designation, which Campbell told the committee was “not necessarily” an honor. There are currently no historic sites in Texas that are on that list, but there are 22 around the United States, including the Statue of Liberty. “I can tell you anything that starts with U.N. gives me cause for concern,” Campbell said. The city of San Antonio and Bexar County support the designation.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, asked Campbell what kind of support she had from San Antonio. Campbell told the committee, “I don’t know.” “The only people who have talked to me about the bill have opposed it, and that’s why I assumed you had some support for it,” Zaffirini said.
