HoustonSports.com

Yesterday, was the third consecutive Saturday I appeared on "Prep Talk" which is webcasted (live, of course) on HoustonSports.com. Prep Talk airs from 9am to 12pm. Originally, the show focused on high school sports in the Houston area; however, college teams have been included in the discussion the last two years or so.

Case in point, Art Briles, University of Houston Cougars' football coach, appeared on yesterday's show, during the 9 o'clock hour. Coach Briles discussed the team's upcoming season; the success of the football program; "re-loading versus re-building"; football camps; etc. During that hour, Bubba McDowell, UH's defensive backs coach, called into the show, too. Toward the end of Coach Briles' time on the show, Dave Maggard, UH's athletic director joined the show.

Maggard appeared on the show for the next hour or so discussing his career at Cal-Berkeley; his participation in the Olympics; his work with the 1996 Olympics; his time as the University of Miami's Athletic Director; UH athletics; alumni support; etc..

We (Terry Burdick, "Big" John Chandler, Jerry L. Woodley, Jr., King Arthur Prayther, and Darrell K. Ardison) wrapped up the final hour of the show discussing high school football; the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling regarding the recruiting of middle school athletes by high schools; the UIL; Rice Owls baseball; etc.

A link to the show should be added to the HoustonSports.com website (click on the "Prep Talk" link) tomorrow which will allow anyone to view the show in the archived area.

I'd like to start my own college and pro basketball show (men's and women's hoops) at some point; so, perhaps I can add to the line-up of "Prep Talk" and "Nothing but Net". "Nothing but Net" focuses on boys high school hoops; and, it's hosted by my buddy Jimmy Hicks. Hicks is the foremost authority on high school basketball in the Greater Houston area. His show airs on www.HoustonSports.com Mondays from 9pm to 10:30pm.

I'm aiming to accomplish big things in the future; and, HoustonSports.com may help me accomplish some of those goals.

Dear Hilton

This is a simple open letter to the owner of the Houston Comets, Mr. Hilton Koch.

Dear Hilton,
Please do something. Anything. Pronto.

Your team is the only winless team in the WNBA. Currently, your team is 0 and 10. Your team leads the league in turnovers per game (nearly 20 per game). Your team allows the most points in the league (85 ppg). Your team, as we've been told ad nauseum, cannot play well for a full 40 minutes.

Yet, the Comets' fans have not heard from you. Send them a letter.

Before forward Sheryl Swoopes was diagnosed with a bulging disc in her back, the team was not in a "rebuilding mode". However, without Swoopes, the team's woes on offense continue in an ugly, and almost dark comedic downward spiral; and, the team's defense collapses when an opponent begins to impose its will.

Hilton, let your fans hear from you. Tell them you apologize for the awful start. Let them know the team is indeed rebuilding. Ask the fans to be patient. Encourage them to not give up on the Comets. Assure the fans better days are ahead.

Do something.

Write a letter to the Chronicle's sports editors and address it to the fans of the Houston Comets.

The WNBA's regular season is only 34 games long. Ten games have come and gone; and, the Comets have yet to earn a victory.

Tick, tock, Hilton. Take some type of action. Please.

Radio

I've been discussing basketball on sports radio shows in Houston since 1994; however, this past Friday, I was given the opportunity to host the first 30 minutes of Sports Rap on KCOH 1430 AM. The opportunity wasn't planned at all. Mr. Ralph Cooper called me roughly an hour before the regular 5 pm start of the show; and, he told me he would probably be late. Ralph asked me to host Sports Rap until he arrived at the station.

I told him "No problem".

Except for a minor glitch, I believe I did quite well. Many, many people called to discuss Thursday night's Game 1 match up between the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers; so, I was clearly in my element talking hoops. Heck, I even talked, intelligently, too, some Astros baseball with one caller -- see, I do know more than just basketball. (I know football, tennis, and hockey, too.)

I felt comfortable hosting the show. I let the listeners know they were listening to "KG -- filling in for Ralph for about 30 minutes and KCOH 1430 AM which is available on the Internet at www.kcohradio.com." Of course, I plugged the phone number to call in numerous times; and, the listeners were great and responsive.

The next day, Saturday, June 9, I finally stopped by Houston Sports Network's studio. "King" Arthur Prayther of "Prep Talk" and "King-Sized View" invited me to come by the studio two months ago; but, I kept putting off appearing on their Internet radio show. "Something" told me to get off my butt and drive to the studio yesterday. When I arrived, King was outside waiting on a guest; and, I know he was surprised to see me. I wasn't planning to talk on "Prep Talk"; but, King put me on the air along with himself, Charles White, Joseph Pickens, and host Terry Burdick. We talked about basketball and other topics from 11 am to 12:15pm.

Internet radio is different from "network" radio; but, I think I did well. The plan is for me to be a regular on Saturday's in the 9am to 10:30am slot to discuss the Houston area college teams as well as provide some guests for the show. Hopefully, I'll be able to provide another avenue to promote women's basketball.

"Prep Talk" airs live on the Internet each Saturday from 9am to 12pm. The show can be seen on the web, too. Check out www.HoustonSports.com and click on the "Prep Talk" links. Archived shows are also posted. Yesterday's show should be archived and posted tomorrow.

As a result, in the last few days, I've hosted 30 minutes of a radio show and been a guest on an Internet radio show. Maybe, I'll turn these opportunities into my own sports show. The sports radio landscape in Houston is currently undergoing changes; so, I'm curious to see how my future in radio unfolds.