Our sports blogger friends weren't the only ones affected by Hurricane Rita. Some of the players for Texas and Texas A&M had to deal with the tragedy as well.
Texas RB Jamaal Charles, a Port Arthur native, told the San Antonio Express-News that he was "heartbroken" when it happened, but also says that his family is safe.
Texas A&M CB Danny Gorrer, also of Port Arthur, said that his family is in Lufkin and OK, and DT Red Bryant, who is from Jasper, said that his family is OK also despite a tear in the roof of their house. (Dallas Morning News)
Where was this from the Rangers' in August?
The Texas Rangers are 15-10 in September, which is a nice September record to have until you consider that they were 18-29 from the All-Star Break to August 31.
Quips Rangers' blogger Austin Swafford, "Yeah, now they start winning. Go figure."
The Ticket of a Generation?
This weekend's Saints-Bills game in the Alamodome is seen as huge. Some say that a sell-out would go a long way towards landing the Saints in San Antonio long-term.
The Express-News's Buck Harvey wonders about the true significance of the game:
The NBA Finals seventh game just three months ago — that doesn't compare to watching someone named J.P. Losman play quarterback, does it?San Antonio has a small TV market in terms of actual people, but it's a Sun Belt market that is growing, and San Antonio is home to major companies like SBC Communications and Clear Channel (they of the radio, billboard, and concert promotion buisness). San Antonio also has a high per capita income. Throw in the fact that the high-tech hub of Austin, another growing, high-income market, is only 2 hours away, plenty of time to drive to a game on Sunday, and you can see why Tom Benson might find this market attractive.
The Saints' historic first regular-season game here is worth a watch, but San Antonians would react far better if they had their own team. They would react differently, too, if an offseason had been spent marketing the team.
Instead, the Saints were unsure where they would play until 17 days ago, and the Spurs know how demanding selling that ticket would be. They market a well-run and championship organization, and yet they have to work the full year to optimize sales.
And when the first round of the playoffs come? Then the Spurs scramble, even with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to sell, because there's so little time.
Given that, San Antonio has done well to break the 50,000-ticket barrier for Sunday's game. But is that enough, or will fans also need to throw wadded-up bills at the Saints as they leave the field?
Still, I get Harvey's point. San Antonio should not have to prove that they deserve an NFL team based on the ticket sales for this game.
Of course, Jerry Jones could still find a way to thwart the whole thing, and render this all a moot point.
Tomorrow: Weekend Preview
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