The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Anything Goes Friday! Rockets Gets Comeback Win! Astros Bats Are Cool

Episode Date: February 27, 2026

Anything Goes Friday! Rockets Gets Comeback Win! Astros Bats Are Cool

is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Welcome to a Friday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. Yeah, why are you throwing Jonathan on the bus? I'm not trying to be dude on dude. Our producer Jonathan doesn't want to be dude on dude. A man can't get boned enough. Oh, sports RV.

You sound better today. Looks like you're on the road to recovery. I'm very happy about that. I'm very happy about it as well. well, put me on the list. How many boxes of tissue have you gone through in the last handful of days? It's just been more rolls of toilet paper. Oh, really?

Is that, I don't know, I'm not classy enough to buy tissues. I mean, both that they get the job done. No, I would say, aren't they basically the same thing? Maybe there's a little emit of moisturizer anymore. I mean, Kleenex with Alo is nice, but it's also expensive, Maddie. Yeah, yeah, I'm not going to spend, I'm going to the dollar general to get in care of. All right, good morning, everybody. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

Our time is 10.04. I'm coming to you from Miami, Florida, or tomorrow afternoon. The Rockets will be taken on the Miami Heat last night. The Rockets were in Orlando. And Ross, before we get into a deep dive of all the big things that are going on in sports today, I think it's very important for this show to recognize greatness. And when we see greatness, we have to recognize it because sometimes we feel like we do too much of negativity.

That's true. Too much sadness in sports. And not only in sports, but in life and the news and everything, Matt. So ladies and gentlemen, here at 10.04, 1104 in the Eastern Time Zone, I'm going to recognize greatness. The greatness is the women of Miami are amazing. Okay. I had no clue where this was going. I went to have breakfast downstairs. I mean, it's a heavy hitter. Go ahead.

So it's 9.45, 10 o'clock Eastern Time. There are women getting croissants and fresh fruit and squeezed juices like they're going to an ambassador's ball. You just don't understand that Miami women have to look the part almost 24-7 in this town. Yeah, and you're in the nice part of town, too, I imagine. I'm in downtown. And I mean, my goodness. Look, I love our Houston women. I love my Houston wife.

Yeah, make sure you get that one in there. You know, make sure I said that bunch, Rosalie. Yeah, we might want to say that one more time. Yeah. I love my Houston wife. There you go. And we are pretty in Houston, too. But I got to say, Ross, it's not a downplay towards Houston, but Miami's just a different level.

It is. It is. There's no denying that. Cartel money associated with it? Yes. Are there illegal activities going on with some of these women, and their boyfriends that are 285 pounds that have five buttons undone? Oh, because everybody's above board in Houston.

Hey. There's probably more cartel money in Houston than there is in Miami. Let me tell you something. We're so clean and nice in Houston that hundreds of thousands of kids are running to spring break in Houston just because we're so nice. That's actually true. Yeah. 1130. I'm sorry, Matt.

Did you make sure I'll listen. Oh, ho. He wants an apology. You're not getting an apology. You got one person tweeting you saying there's too many spring breakers here. How many? How many impressions it have? How many impressions it have?

I said to tweet last night. I'm going to be honest, I started to fight the group chat. I was the group chat instigator among the three of us last night. It's fine. Hey, we've got a few things on the agenda today. We've got, I'm sorry, it's at 1130. and I'm not apologizing until I see the numbers from like the Chamber of Commerce.

I'm not trusting Jonathan Allen's numbers. Now, if hotel room rates of the next two waits, two weeks are going up 150%, and you've got every restaurant is full and every freeway the traffic is worse, then I will apologize in future weeks, but not this week, not yet. There's been bikini beach parties on missing it.

Yeah. Let me tell you, if we'll call the P.I. later today and see how business is going. I mean, I think he's not wrong. I don't know. I don't think, I think half a mill is probably overselling it. A little bit of an oversell. Are there people coming to Houston, of course, because

Goveston is just an hour's drive away. And of course... It's a little too far. You run out of gas. Mr. Texas allows throughout southeast Texas to experience a greatness of our... Who's that? For sure. All right. We've got, I'm sorry, he's at 1130. We'll wake the strippers up today at noon,

which probably I could just go down a couple doors down to my hotel, if you know, if you're being brutally honest with you. We have the return of Florida stories at 130. The rules of any of three of us are in the state of Florida for any length. I think we should get three Florida stories apiece.

It's almost like we could do the entire hour of just Florida stories, right? It'd be pretty good. It may be better than Cussing to discuss it whether or not C.J. Stride's a coach killer. Is that we're doing today, Houston? Is that what's going on in those streets? Is that what's happening? I'd rather than talk about teams in season and teams that are

playing. Like teams, they're having amazing comebacks. Last night, I mean, I got to be brutally honest

when they were down 19. I had my hand on my chin going, can we get out of here fast enough? I'm like,

we're going to let Tristan de Silva beat the Rockets. Javon Carter's going to do this. And then Reed Shepherd woke up, Kevin Durant,

woke up. And Rockets Twitter. Did it wake up this morning in a better mood? Because it was a cranky mid-third quarter yesterday. They're all patting themselves on the back because Reed Shepard closed a game. Which I think I need to pat myself on the back and take full credit because I asked coach yesterday what it was going to take to get him closing. And then he's closing. You're welcome, Houston.

You hear that, folks? There are very few people in this town. Trust me when I say this that can responsibly talk about the Houston Rockets. My partner, Rossville, Real is one of them. Oh, wow. Thank you, Matt. You're welcome. So you inspired E. Medi-Medoca. Yes. In the fourth quarter of the game to say, you know what?

I was on my radio show, my weekly radio. Yes. And this great idea came from one of the guys. I don't know his name, but he kind of a great idea. He has no clue, but that's okay. He barely knows my name, stop. Still appreciate him. Comes on every week.

Does great. Not dropped a damn dude on anybody. No damn dudes. No, I think I know what I'm doing. It's a tough one or an easy one? I asked Dusty what Yiner needs to do to play more, and he said, I think I know what I'm doing. Yeah.

He didn't like you either. He didn't like that. It was good times. Good times. Good times. Truth story. One of our members of our traveling party was talking to another member of the Houston Rockets.

I won't say who it was, but it was a starting five. And this person said, yeah, I went to have lunch with Matt. and that player's who's Matt. He says our radio announcer. Oh, I like that. That's my guy. Yeah, it's your, you're his guy. They don't know my name.

That's okay. It's okay. They meet 500 people a day, man. It's, you know, it's tough. I've only been doing this for 10 years. I mean, I mean, you know, you can go to the building and meet the security guard every single day for 10 years and don't know his name. It happens.

That's actually fair. That's fair. As long as he says, hey, as long as I get the head nod and then, in the elevator and then what's up how you doing big dog what's up big dog what's up my main man my main man yes chief yes here are things that I've been referred to

my main man my dog my guy yes boss hoss I got them all yes Matt not one of them and suspect no that's never brought up oh

my grandfather never brought up maybe my older brother but that's as far as it's ever gone. So, Ross, what did you think about last night? That was pretty impressive. And the best part of it was, not only did they erase the 19-point lead, Rossi, they did it in five minutes.

Yeah, they were one for 14 from three at one point, and then they got down, what was the most they got down, 19 or 18? 19. 19. And I was just like, this is not their night. And they just completely turned around. And Reed Shepherd was a huge part of that. He also closed the game when it was late and close, which a lot of people have been

asking for and wondering about. and that was great to watch and he was fantastic. And Kevin Durant is ageless. 40 points and 40 minutes. 40 points. 40 minutes. He wasn't even good. Efficient and went to the free throw line 10 times and made all 10 of them.

He started 0 for 6 from 3, right? 0 for 7. So he could have been better. That's the crazy part. And then Orlando was a good game. And that's a good win. I mean, Orlando's mid, but they just finished a 3-1 road trip, beat both L.A.

teams while they're on the road. So that was a hot teammate 1-6 of 8 coming in. I'm in a good mood because I've seen a lot of epic collapses. I saw the 25-point loss in New Orleans. I saw the 18-point loss last Saturday in New York and I'm in South Florida. I mean, life couldn't be any better, Rossi.

I wish you were here. We could be doing the show together. We'd go out and Tessie's Miami streets after the show today. I love Miami. Miami's amazing. Good town. Ladies and gentlemen, on this Friday edition of the program, it's like every Friday that has been in the history of the 16 years plus of the show.

It's an anything goes Friday. Ross, explain the essence of anything goes Friday. Yes, Matthew, anything you want to get in on, you can. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. We have the Rockets with the comeback victory last night. Reed Shepard playing in clutch time minutes. As far as I know, at least with a fully healthy team for the first time all season long, you have Astros in spring training action.

Tatsuya I Mai made his debut yesterday. He got hit with a comebacker and only pitched one inning, but apparently that was the plan anyways. You also have, who is it, Lance McCullors Jr. On the Hill today, Matt? I forget. He is a night game. Yeah, and I think that's also not on TV.

So make sure you tune here at Sports Talk 790. And then Matt Thomas is going to break down cartel violence in the history as it relates to U.S.-Mexico relations coming up in the next hour. Yeah, and am I in a bulletproof room? Just curious, just asking for a friend? Probably. Did you pay for the bulletproof suite? I'm just saying there's a little more, I mean, look.

It's like we have the presidential suite. We have the bed and breakfast suite. We also have the bulletproof suite. Yeah. I mean, there's street. There's crime on these streets in Miami. Don't kid yourself. Yeah, I know.

I mean, I've seen Scarface. I have not. Yeah. It's got a lot of violence. I'm not surprised. It's fine. Okay. Whatever.

Anything goes Friday. 713, 212, 570. 713, 212, 579. Matt, Ross, anything goes Friday here on 790. On the radio program today, besides it being an anything goes Friday, we're going to get into some rockets. We'll get into the Astros. Can I say it, Rossi, quiet bats so far this spring?

Not that it makes any difference at all, but they're pretty damn quiet. It'd be nice to see some results. Some results? It'd be nice to see. We're going to talk about how an NBA team is going with an interesting marketing plan on the radio show today. I don't know if you saw that. Okay. I think maybe.

We have the Texans. You know those report cards, the Players Association? Yes. That the NFL owners tried to squash. Well, everybody released them anyway. Not to the happiness of some teams. Yeah, what happened to that? I thought it was illegal.

It just leaked. That wasn't illegal. Not when you were making to a media. It's not illegal. Yeah, I was going to say. I thought they lost their injunction or whatever. and are we going to get into Clint Capella versus DeAndre Aiton? That is a little inside baseball, but it's certainly still a fun topic.

And then we have President Trump getting involved in a creation of a college sports commission. Really? Okay, I had not heard of this. Yeah, we'll be telling you about who he's invited to this get-together. It's an interesting collection of people involved with college athletics, both from a fundraising standpoint, a coaching standpoint, and an amazing. administrative standpoint. So we have that going on.

Now, it isn't anything goes Friday here on the show. We have two phone callers here. We have Cliff with a barbecue question. Oh, great. I'm assuming he's talking about the rodeo cookoff this weekend or just barbecue in general. Don't ask Matt, though, because he's not

very barbecue educated. If you would like to talk about ribs, sausage, chopped beef, I'm all for it, beans, coleslaw, potato salad, onions, pickles, jalapinos, white bread, let's go.

Sauce? No, no, you don't even like sauce. Like sauce? You say sweet baby raised as good as homemade sauce. No way, he says that. Yeah, because some people go out there and sell, you're sauce that's about the same. Matt, this is not a bit.

I can get you five sauces. Listen to me very carefully, John. Okay, okay. Stay with me on this. I can get Bubba Joe McCreary I'm sorry to give me this amazing

sausage it took him hours and hours to make and I can put it up against the sweet baby rays and you will not have a noticeable difference and you put your name on that you put your name on that

I put my name on it and Mr. Texas knows do you hear this folks I know you know I go to Jonathan is speechless actually he's got his hands in his head I thought he was missing wrong Now, I did say one time, and I'm ready to back off with this a little bit,

I did say Walmart generic sauce. Yes, you did. You said great value, and I believe Casey Masterpiece. Casey Masterpiece is fine, too. Oh, boy. But I don't want you guys. Oh, man, I spent so many hours putting the ingredients to get in my barbecue sauce. It's so special.

Let me guess. It's got brown sugar. It's got a few peppers in it, ketchup, and that's about it. There's your sauce. congratulations. Why did I make the best sauce? Oh, hell no. Let me get some sweet baby raise.

It will be just fine. The worst candidate for Mr. Texas. I am, Mr. Texas. The worst candidate. John of it is still speechless. He's got his hands in his head. Now he's doing the prayer hands. He's praying for you, Matt.

Literally live on air. Cliff on 790. Good morning to you. Hello, guys. I got a quick question on cooking. I know you guys, it's the heat and the wood you use, but what's the accepted time does it take to choke your chicken properly? 713-212-5-790.

Stunna! You're on 7-90. Good morning. What's up? Happy Friday, y'all, y'all. Same to you. Hey, Matt. You forgot the name that I call you, but I really don't say, you're a big temp now.

You up in Miami, you and Ross and Johnson, y'all are big pimps. That's fair. Of course. You're big pimps, but hey, man, man, I wanted to put it in on my, since y'all cut it short yesterday, man, you know, the 80s, honeys. man you have to do with phobicates and um and stacy dash and one other thing matter of for i let you go hey man we are already thinking about slump busters for the astro already he ain't even got into the season good and i'm already thinking about hey we got to start working on slump busters i hope not stana thank you for the phone call my friend

have a good weekend i don't think you need a slump buster in the spring right i wouldn't think so It seems a little early. I mean, it feels like you could use it as a slum box. Well, I'll say this. It depends on what side of 995 you're going to. You go, let's say you go west on 95 off of a 95. You're going to find the ladies. Now, they're going to be walking on the street,

and they may have a few teeth missing, but the job will get done. You go to the right of I-95 towards the water. That's a different story. You better, you better bring, you know, a prepay check or something. No, I don't, Ross, I don't think anybody's worrying about spring

training slump busters. Well, they did get shut out in a spring training game yesterday, so. Oh, we'll do this. Let's be fair and balanced here. We will look at the spring training stats so far. No, we don't have to. Oh, come on. It'll be at least for the sake of it.

Okay, well, just let's record you saying zero so we can save some time. Oh, no. No. You're telling me there's a button. We hit the zero button every time you go through somebody's batting average. Do we have to look at the strike count numbers too? Zero. Yeah, you know what? Actually, come up, find a list

of how to say zero in 15 different languages. Let's at least make it educational. Well, how about based on balls, they are drawn a lot of walks. Set off with Brian McTaggart's tweet a couple days ago. Nine. Zilch. Not up next.

Astro's spring training stats. Oh, no. And Jonathan, please find appropriate music, Ross, can't have them out. Find music that will fit the essence of me reading Astero Spring Training Stats. 1027. Madden Ross with you here. I'm here in Miami. 713, 212, 5-790.

7-1-3-212-5-790. This is a terrible piece of music here. This is a jam, Matthew. What are you talking about? It's a jam, but it just doesn't, it's just rude. I think it's a perfect pick. All right. So let's do this.

Let's do OPS. That's on base plus slugging. Great. What's zero plus zero, Matthew? Just a quick question? Look. I'm just asking. And the problem is I have every player that is played, so it's going to take me while there's like a hundred deep on this roster of these players.

Let's go roster invites. Yeah. Let's care about people we care about. Carlos Korea has an OPS of zero. As I said. Okay. Great. Let's see here.

I'm going down the list. There's pitchers in this thing, too, which just makes it hard. Pitchers. Pitchers. OPS of zero. Okay. Oh, my God. You're not kidding.

Like 5,000 players have had a plate appearance. OPS for Zach Desenzo is 100. Okay. It's an improvement. Joey Lopofito's OPS is 250. Let's go. Slugging. Cam Smith, OPS of 333.

It's something? It's not nothing from nothing. OPS is 444. Remember OPS is considered about average about 725. You want to be in $800 or higher. That's correct. We haven't crept close to that yet.

Shea Wickham, OPS 476. Sneaky snake Jake Myers, OPS of 533. Baller. Jeremy Pena, OPS of 583. Okay. Cesar Salazar, Backup Petter, OPS 661.

Not good. Bryce Matthews OPS 708. Okay. Alan, guys, what's his first name of the backup shortstop? Nick. Nick Allen, 875 OPS. Okay. Taylor Tremel,

OPS of almost 1,300. There we go. Taylor Tremel, MVP season is on. And Walter Yannick or Jannick, however they pronounce that, we'll have to figure that out eventually. That's hopefully. OPS of 1550.

Baller. So it's Walker Yonick and the boys. Who is Jack Winkler, by the way? I believe it's the younger son of Henry, the youngest son of Henry Winkler. Oh, okay. That's cool. He's been in a couple bit parts. Why'd you bring him up?

Because he's got a 1500 OPS for the Astros in spring. What position is he play? Second base. Oh, that's great. That'll help. Imagine being a second baseman in the Astros organization for the last 15 years.

He's 20. You've got to be like, in every minor league Hall of Fame the Astros have. He's 27. Oh. He's like, get me out of here. And of course, their OPS spring leader, Anthony Hoiso. 33 is his OPS. You see his jersey number?

I'm going to hit the number here. Do not say it. Here it comes. This is me being live and authentic on the show. 96. He's only 20 years old, though, so that's good. That's good. Do you think as you get older and you've been in the minor leagues as longer

that you get better numbers in spring training games? Like, is his goal to get in the 80s by next year? Oh, like your number whittles down. Yes. Like, if they hand you a 50,000. That means you've got it. You're on the cusp of making the roster. Yeah.

96. We'll see you next year. Enjoy being a woodpecker. Yeah. 713-212-5-790. Doesn't anything goes Friday here on the show? 7-13-212-5-790. I'm here in Miami.

Ross is back in Houston. Kevin and Pearland. I want to talk some rockets at 1035. Kevin, good morning to you. Good morning, Matt. I'm Kevin, the one that Ross is probably, he thinks I'm his like favorite fan anyways you know get the website photo on there I appreciate you Kevin thank you for your support Kevin even though I'm a cougar brother with

Maddie and you're a T-sipper I still love you that's great so so Matt read Shepard you know anything goes you know and I apologize to read even though he doesn't know me I'm on a fantasy basketball team. I got him for $1, and I dropped him after like two or three weeks. And so now I'm actually, I'm sorry to myself because he's really starting to play good.

So I love Reed. You know, he's great. And Matt, I had to ask you, you love your Houston wife. How about your Kingwood wife? Do you love her? I love her too, yes. Okay. I was going to greater metro

area when I was talking about my Houston wife. That's all right. Do you have a, I see, do you have any other, like, wives that we know of or Utah? You were in Utah at one time. I was in Utah. That's, you know what? Kevin, that's a fair question to ask me. And if I had not lived in Utah for two years, I'd be offended.

But since I lived in Utah, that's a fair question. Right. Okay. That's all. Nothing really important. Have a great day. Love y'all. All right.

We'll see you later. You know, I don't want to get caught up in who starts and who doesn't start, but apparently I think Rocket fans do. Oh, they love it. I am. I look, I've been watching basketball and calling basketball, been around basketball all my life. I love

sixth men. I love scoring guys off the bench. I love that burst. And frankly, if you go back to what the Rockets had, again, 30 plus years ago, and there's so many more examples since then. But if you go back to the Rocket Championship years,

people were clamoring Ross for Kenny, Smith to not be the starting lineup and have Scott Brooks come in and start or Sam Cassell. Yes. I like Change a pace thing and if Reed wants to give me 13, 14, 15 points off the bench every single game, you need that because

I don't know if you check the Rockets bench roster right now, they have a whole lot of scoring on it. Yeah, I think it's just something that fans get hung up on and have like you said and maybe Reed Shepard should, maybe it is the best thing that he's in the starting lineup. Who knows? That's for the Rockets to figure out, but the

most important thing is that he played 30 minutes and 41 seconds. That is more than him in Thompson and more than Jabari Smith Jr. And 10 seconds fewer than Alperin Shingoon. So three starters he was on par with in terms of his minutes and he was in the closing lineup. And as you said, he provides scoring punch off the bench, which you need because your other bench guys, you got 20 from Reed and you got to combine 13 from the rest of your bench with Clint Capella, Dorian, Finney Smith, and Josh Okie. right and obviously if fred is with his team my guess is tariessen is coming off the bench which would have

had some scoring punch too but there's been nights where he has been i mean he didn't score double digits last night but he's his three ball has not started has not dropped in about two or three weeks so he's starting to cool off there yeah that would be a you know yeah sorry he wasn't going to shoot 50% all season that's what i was going to say go ahead no it was not no and he's still in the top 10 but he's starting to fall off a little bit. By the way, I don't have any word about Jabari Smith and the ankle. There's no report needed because the guys are completely off today, so there's no injury update, no practice anything. So we won't know anything until tomorrow morning, but hopefully whatever he, I think, did he step on or Alperin step on his ankle? Yeah, he stepped on

Alprin's ankle. At first it looked like non-contact and I got real worried because he went down in a heat. But then on the replay, he's slightly, and you can never go off the eye test because I'm not a doctor, but just from my eyes, it didn't look like he turned it too bad. It didn't look like, you know, when you see it like at a 90 degree angle, you're like, okay, that's going to be a couple weeks. It looked like a slight turn of the ankle, so hopefully he won't miss too much time. Frankly, I was more concerned about Tari Easton. He was on the floor for about 45 seconds limping from one end of the floor to the other.

He gets, the, the Rockets intentionally foul a magic player, and then he goes to the end of the bench, doesn't even sit down. He lays down on the court on the baseline, stretches out a little bit, and then he got back on the court. In fact, he was on the court when the game ended. So I was way more encouraged about that than I could have been because I thought really when he was struggling just to run up and down the floor, this could be something serious.

Because obviously, Tari's had his issues with legs over the last couple of years. But, yeah, I don't think all of a sudden the rockets go into this different type of basketball team because Reed Shepard is running point to start the game over him in Thompson. Now, will he may change his tune on this? I don't think he will, but the best coaches sometimes want to, if things are working out well, again, to me,

Reed starting doesn't, is not the reason why the, not starting is not the reason why the rockets are having fourth quarter meltdowns. That's the, if there is a story about what's gone wrong for the rockets this year, it's been close-out games. That has nothing to do with who starts the game

or who starts the second half. Yeah, the easy criticism in the next game was that Reed wasn't on the floor. They turned them, they didn't get into their sets, they didn't have good office. offense and then they turned the ball over nine times and gave up 15 points off of that. They only scored 15 points themselves.

So if you're giving up as many points as you're scoring on turnovers, you're not going to win a fourth quarter. Well, here's the thing that you brought up with EMA yesterday, and this is where the metrics will come into play. Does Reed provide enough of a scoring presence that you can live with his defensive inefficiencies? Because he's just not a good defender. He hasn't been yet.

Just because you steal the ball does not make you a good defender. Now, he does have good intuition when it comes to passes coming, stripping the basketball. He can take the ball away from just about anybody. But there are still some things about his game defensively from his footwork that cost him opportunities to play late in games. Because, you know, he may as a defensive-minded coach, and he wants his best defensive lineup out there, especially when you're playing a game within five points. Yeah, I think it's, I mean, even last night, Reed Sheper was great. I mean, there was times he was miscommunicating on picking rolls.

There was times he was getting muscled up by Desmond Bain. He was getting blown by by, I think I can't remember who it was. Somebody was blown by him a couple of the other times. I think it was maybe Javon Carter or somebody like that. He got blown by a few times. It wasn't perfect defensively. And he's trying to get better and he is, but you also have to realize you have a defensive-minded coach.

And when you, he's going to look through a defensive-minded lens. So he's going to focus on that. And it makes sense. I get it. I would rather have Reed Shepherd more out there, especially in closing lineups. We got it last night, and it was great. And, like, it's not like EMA is like, I'll never put Reed in in the final four or five minutes a game. Because guess what?

He was out there last night. Was he not? Yes. So it's not like he's inflexible to this. But I do like read a lot. He is very easy Ross to like and appreciate. And he is, I mean, think about just the leaps and bounds he's made one year. I mean, he hardly played relatively speaking.

speaking last year and now he's your first guy off your bench he's been in double digits from the jump and his three point shot at least for the last two weeks has been absolutely fantastic and as you mentioned it would be probably in lieu of tarry easen starting and tarry easen even though he's been struggling from three lately i believe his season numbers are still higher than than reed shepherds or if at least if not they are yeah yeah now here is the the wild card on this look, Doreen Fennie Smith just had a terrible year. I mean, it's just been off. Whether it's the health, the legs, whether the shots not dropped or whatever,

but it's just hasn't worked out. But Doreen Fennie Smith has had a very nice NBA career. You may not have him on the front page on your cover of your video game, but he's been a very solid player. He just hasn't a good season. So if you can get two, three, four baskets a game from Josh Akogi Ross, that is kind of a little bit of a walled, card provided again Josh Choky

makes a rotation again. They're trying to get, because Dorian Finney Smith in theory has a higher ceiling than Josh Akogi, but he's playing. So they're trying to they're trying to, A, win games, but B, and B, put him out there and get him into shape and get him into the rhythm and it's just not working. And all by the way, you have them under contract for

not only this year, but two more years plus a player option. So it's not like, people are like, Doreen Phine Smith, you got to cut him, you've got to get rid of them. You've got to stash him on the bench. They can't do that. They have to try to figure out, have to put him out there and figure out a way for him to get better and improve. And the only

way to do that is it put him out there. So it looks bad, but they need Dorian Finney Smith to be good for the playoffs because he's better defensively overall in theory, or at least comparable, I should say, with Josh Okie, and then he's supposed to be a better three-point shooter if you look at their track records. Yeah, it's the thing is, DFS is having

his worst year from three. Joshiokey's having his best year, and that's, those are certainly opposite ends of the spectrum. 1044 is a time, but it's mad at Ross. I'm here in Miami. We've got Rockets basketball tomorrow against the heat. We will not get into the Astro Spring Training numbers anymore. That was not fair because, again, the sample size is incredibly small.

We do have baseball tonight here on 790s. Lance McCullors will take the mound, and he is backed up by Spencer Erigetti. So two frontliners will be on the mound today for the Astros. We'll have the broadcast for you beginning at 450 today here on Sports Talk, 790. Coming up at the top of the hour, the air, the air. NFL Players Association secretly gave a bunch of media the grades on NFL teams and how they treat themselves, treat their facilities, and how they feel about their coaches. We'll tell you how the Texans scored. It's pretty good if you think about it.

It will run through some of the grading of how the Texans did when it was coming to the players and how they assess and evaluate their own franchise. That's coming up at the top of the hour. Now, this was a little inside baseball to me, but it is funny, and I want Ross, if you don't mind explaining it. And Guantipelie is a backup center for the Houston Rockets. He has had a nice long NBA career. It was a late first round pick for the Rockets. What about 10 years ago? 10, 15 years ago.

Maybe not that long. But had a nice rocket career. Got some good money to go to the Atlanta Hawks. And then the Rockets reacquired him back. And his career as a rocket, I mean, he's not playing a whole lot of minutes. He's a little older, but he still, I mean, he ran the floor beautifully last night. Did he not? He went 94 feet one time.

I didn't score off of it, but at least he did it. Yes. So, oh, go ahead. You want me to start? No, keep going. Yeah, I want you to go explain what's going on here. DeAndre Aidan has been struggling with the Lakers and, of course, former number one overall pick. And then after a game with the Lakers, he said, they're trying to make me Clint Capella.

Aidan said, I'm not no Clint Capella, unhappy with his role with the Los Angeles Lakers. So Clint Capella, a lot of it. lot of people came to Clint Capella's defense, who especially in his prime, Matthew, as you know, I mean, he finished sixth in a defensive player of the year. He was a great rim running, do everything, switchable defender for the rockets in

the Chris Paul slash James Hardin era. Click Capello was a really good player in his prime. And they, so people were bringing up his stats when he was 26, 27 compared to Aiton's and how he's better. And then the cherry on top was last night. Everybody was talking about, oh, look at Clint Capella.

He had, I think it was like four points. and two rebounds, but he had four blocks. And then DeAndre Aitin for the Lakers was worse. He had, I'll have to pull up the box score. He had like two points and two rebounds in 23 minutes or something like that. And a defensive liability, by the way. The Lakers' defense is atrocious. I cannot wait for the Rockets to play the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

Yeah, DeAnd D'Andre Aten had two points, four rebounds and zero blocks. And Clint Capella, who is longer in the tooth, was better than him. And DeAndre Aten is a former number one overall pick talking about about I'm not Clint Capella. He's averaging 13 and 8. Clint Capella and his prime was averaging like 17 and 9. Yes. So back up, DeAndre.

It was so weird, though. Yeah, it was so weird, Ross, that he would pull out a Clint-Chapella random. I mean, Clint's been the NBA a long time, but Clint by no means is a household name around 30 NBA streets. Yeah, but put some respect on Clint Capella's name, baby. 31 years old, he's had a great career. He's made a lot of money, too, Clint Capella has. Yeah, made a lot of money. 130 million

I was a former emcee of a Clint Capella Foundation event as a matter of fact Oh that's great Yeah and also by the way Yes a swell fella Clint Capella And by the way he's I'm one of his my guys Oh good

Doesn't know my name but I'm a my guy That's great Yeah that eight It's a 18 19 year The Clint Capella average 16.6 points per game And oh I'm sorry 12.7 rebounds

with Atlanta, he led the NBA and rebounds with 14. DeAndre Aidan has never done that. How about this? Who's at the better NBA career? Right now, it's Clint Capella. It's not even close. What has Aitner Aiton ever done? Yeah.

DeAndre Aid looks like he's always miserable, too. I mean, he's like, I'm seven feet tall. I guess I have to play NBA basketball, but I'm not happy here. He finished third in rookie of the year, his rookie year, did DeAndre Aden, and hasn't had it finished in any kind of voting since. At least Clint Capella's been into, well, he went to a Western finals, and I guess Aten went to an NBA finals with

Chris Paul and Devin Booker. But 14th into defensive player of the year in 18 and 6th in the defensive player of the year in 21 did Clint Capella. Yeah. And by the way, just a sweet kid. I mean, and I thought last night, block shots were great. I mean, four of them. He ain't going to do it for 25 minutes a night, but he can do it for you for 12 or 13. Yeah. So DeAnder, Aiden was Hayton. I didn't mean to rhyme that, but it works. And then he had a worse box score than

Clint Capella. Beautiful stuff. And I think Clint Capella went to his Instagram and started ripping on him. He can't be saying that about me. He went on his Instagram basically and said he said you have two of the best floor generals in the league. Lock in. I think saying like when Clint

Capella benefited from James Hardin and Chris Paul. He was throwing down lobs like crazy. Like DeAndre Aiden can get under the basket. I think that's what DeAndre was getting now. Like, I don't want to be just some run running defender. He wants to be the offense run through him, but you're not that guy, Deonre Hayden. You're not.

That's stupid. That's stupid. All right. I have been called out because Mr. Texas failed to do something an hour ago that I'll start the 11 o'clock hour off. Hmm. And it's a, and I should have known better, but since I'm in Florida

today, because I'm, I feel like I'm transitioning from Mr. to Mr. America. You're not Mr. Texas. No, you're not Mr. Texas. I want to stay

strong to the Lone Star State. As much as I do travel from sea to shining sea, coast to coast, border to border. So bad. I've got to stay true to my roots. I'm not even sure you're Mr. Kingwood.

No, I have, no. You know what? I'm going to be Mr. Bridgland, too, when I go to Torotown. No, you're not. I'm going to kick you right out. No, they'll let me back. They don't want

Texans haters in Torotown. I'm not a Texan hater, but Texans realist. My value to the Houston media market is unbelievable. So Mr. Texas, I'm going to water carriers in this town. I'm going to serve you a plate of enchiladas

and tamales and brisket and with a side of sweet tea and you're not going to touch any of it. And you call yourself Mr. Texas. I will I will eat the enchilada. I will eat the briskets. I'll eat the tamalee. I will not drink the sweet tea. Yeah, you know what we're going to do?

Kick you out of the state? What are we going to kick you out of the state? We're going to, no. No, no, we're not, no, we're going to, we're going to find me, we're going to name, we're going to follow those historical markers and say Mr. Texas was here. We're going to go eat in some time in the next two weeks. We need to, by the things you think I hate. I'm going to eat them.

Hibachi on me, let's go. Shut you down. We'll go get, we'll go get some enchiladas and some tamales and probably some man acids. 1059. It is the second hour of the Matt Thomas show with Ross coming up in a moment. Mr. Texas from Miami, wishing you a very special something in a matter of moments here on 790. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Madden Ross with you here on 790.

Anything goes Friday. 713, 212.5.790 if you want to chime in and say hello, 713, 212 5790. I want to wish all of my fellow Texans a happy go-texans. a happy go Texan day today sports RV oh okay that's what i forgot to do wonderful we get the big Texan pizza at school uh yes now i remember when i was going to school growing up in katie we used to get uh go katy texin day off from school i don't know are people really off days today because of go texan they didn't prioritize school in those days that feels personal by the way when do the trail riders come into town to completely stop traffic

I'm not sure honestly do you have your cowboy hat and your boots ready for go Texan day Matt mr Texas well since I'm not in Texas today I don't need it and but you also don't own a pair of either or own either I mean I'd be willing to invest in some sure I did bring a bunch of Tommy Baha'amish shirts were mine. That sounds about right. Okay. You got Tommy Bahamas shirts, flip-flops, and some sunscreen. And don't forget the big straw hat.

Yes. You're like a parrot head. And you've got your pineapple ready to put on your stoop. That's only in Santa Plantation. Oh, I don't mean to out, y'all, Santa. Sorry about that. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790.

If you would like to join us today, it's anything that goes Friday. We have, I'm sorry, it's coming up at the bottom of the hour. So the player responses are back from 1759 players. Anybody that was on a 2025 NFL roster was eligible to participate in things about your football team. And all 32 teams were judged on a variety of things. and I don't particularly care how the Cleveland Browns people thought about the Cleveland Browns. I don't care how the Panthers thought about the Panthers, but I care about how the Texans feel about their own organization. And honest for Ross, I think if you're the Texans, you don't necessarily mind these things getting out.

Let me tell you, among the 32 NFL teams, they were scored seventh best. Now, usually every time the Russians are involved in some sort of survey, they are like 14, 15, 16th. from offense to television ratings to ticket prices to tickets. I mean, they are the epitome of mid in the national football league. Is that fairly accurate? The picture of mediocrity, the Houston Texans. The picture, yeah, thus no AFC championship games, and thus the fan that Battle Red is still Battle Red,

and I'm just still the Texans observer. They're going to get there. Here we go. We're going to get there. Let me give you the A's. Would you like the A's? Here they come. Food dining.

area. This is a, excuse me, this is where the players, where they eat, got an A. Their nutritionist, dietitian got a nay. Their training room got a day. That's good. Their training staff got a day. Excuse me. Their weight room got an A. Wonderful. Strength coaches got an A. Their team ownership got an A. Their defensive coordinator got an A. Their special teams coordinator got a name. This is great. This is good This is really good

If you're the Texas PR department You want this stuff getting out Let me give you the A minuses Still great I mean look my life was full of A minuses General manager A minus Head coach A minus Okay

Offensive corner coordinator A minus Oh really Yeah that's a pretty high grade For a first year play caller Nick Cayley's doing okay Well They didn't rate the course of it They didn't rate the quarterback in this, did they?

No, they don't, they don't rate their own team. They didn't rate the offensive line, did they? No, they didn't. Okay, good. These are Texas players grading their own organization. Okay, great. Let me get you to the Bs. B plus locker room.

B plus position coaches. I.e. Gerard Johnson, you're out. Just sick. The revote, is it back up to A? I don't know. That's a good question. The Bs, the B minus, treatment of families. Interesting.

Not enough sweets? Well, you know, there's areas where, like, if you're married to a player and you have young children and you want to watch your husband compete, you have little kids areas where they will hire babies to watch the kids where you can go watch the game. and there's areas that you can congregate with your other families and the team they usually feed them there's probably play toys there's big screen TVs there's it's just a kind of little private area that's you know depending on how big it or small it is accommodates a handful of or maybe the entire team so the Texans don't do great on the treatment of families and that's what I'm presuming is just the game day you know like

I don't think they're worried about how they treat them on or Randall Wednesday but they want to make sure that when they go to the game on Sunday or they get tickets or whatever. Overall treatment of families is a B-minus. Other things, team travel B-minus. I need a nicer coach. That's hard to really get criticized for. I mean, they all fly on jumbo jets because you're carrying 200 people with you.

You're staying in these massive big convention center hotels. The buses are about the same. I don't know how necessarily you could change that unless you got even a bigger plane and you just gave everybody their own row. I mean, I don't know what that would be. They did not. Oh, they only got one C, and it was a C plus. The only thing the Texans players did not like about being a Houston Texan,

relatively speaking, because the grade is the lowest of the group, is the condition of their game day field at NRG Stadium. C plus. That makes sense. It's just turf nowadays, right? But they don't like it. And my guess is I wonder if it's because, I mean, I know there's dirt underneath it because of the rodeo and whatnot,

but what if it's carpet, how do they screw that up? I don't know. Maybe they want grass. Maybe people want grass. I think the players have been pushing for grass. Yeah, I'll say this, because I'm looking at some other teams, Ross. The Indianapolis Colts gave their home game field a D. Do you want to know what the Steelers is this?

They have F minus. Oh, I didn't think there's such a thing as F minus. New York Jets, F minus. New York Giants, same thing. F minus. Yeah. It's funny, Miami, grassfield here in Florida, A minus. I'm trying to think what else is. Oh, home game field in New England.

That's grass too, right? They planted grass field in Foxboro, do they? I believe so. A minus for the. Niners, yeah. What's the same? Superdome. C. Hmm. F minus.

Isn't F minus essentially like a zero? That means nobody gave them even a single positive number. It's redundant, yeah, but I think they must have done something to earn it. The absolute worst ranked team overall was the Pittsburgh Steelers. With everything. Their treatment of families

was minus seven. What are they doing, spit and kicking their family members? Hey, can you watch your kids while my husband plays? No, they can sit with you. Yes, they have the kids like in labor camps. Sweeping chimneys. What's the in the family room?

Well, we've got bags of Freetoes for you. Knock yourself out. And we got gruel. The session stands above you. There's a big pot of gruel in there for the kids. That's right. You got any diaper changing stations? Nope.

Good front of everybody. treatment of families F for the Steelers. Get it together, Steelers. Wait a minute. How do you get an F? That's almost like being like making fun of them. They're roasting them. You get an F.

It's like, don't come. Don't come to our games. They're roasting the kids. That's not fun. Oh, here's one for you. Here's how you get an F. You go into the family room and the woman says at the door, where's your kid's ticket?

What do you mean? What about kids? ticket. They charge them. They charge them. It looks like I'm trying to scroll through. I think the Steelers is the only team that got an F for treatment of families.

Brown's got a D-minus. Oh, Bingle's got an F-minus. What are the Bengals doing in the fans? It's all the same teams. Yeah, it's the teams that you've always had the reputation of not doing things right are still getting greater poorly. How about team travel? You know, can you get an F on a team travel?

Well, you don't usually get on jump-o jets. We're going to put you on prop planes. We're going to go from The dolphins are going to go from Miami to Seattle. We're going to make four stops along the way because they're only up to 14,000 feet. Panthers got a D. And they put them on the Wright Brothers plane?

Yeah. Like in Major League, the movie where they go from the charter plane to the prop to the bus. I don't know. These athletes come across to me, Ross, it's just spoiled us beyond get all right. Definitely, but something's got to be wrong. Chief's got a D-minus travel.

I want further details in an investigation. Ooh, Patriots got an F. Team travel. They have their own plane. How do you get an F? I don't know. And make them walk to the airport. Okay, so let's think about this for a second.

How do you, if you're an NFL team, how do you give your own team an F or D-minus and traveling? Okay, the plane is tightly packed. Maybe everybody's got to be in three to a row. You know, no middle seat separating. Maybe no first class. They're on regional jets. Maybe you're getting, maybe you're,

You're getting peanuts and not getting a full meal on the plane. I don't know. No, look. You're not staying at a Hyatt or a Rariat or a Riltern. You're at a. Steelers and Eagles got an F. Steelers and Eagles got an F on team travel. How?

How does this happen? Tampa Bay Buccaneers F. Now, as you said, this is probably some spoiled players, but still, something's got to be wrong. I mean, you're not saying extended stay places, right? I mean, it's in the CBA, probably. How does this happen? I don't know.

I just think it's crazy. I'm just telling you being around them. And look, I think the rockets are very chill. You know, the only person over the years has always ever worried about travel, frankly, was James. But everybody else is like, just give me to the next city. I can make my own life, you know. It's just crazy. How do you complain about being on a jumbo jet?

They feed you five times of me on the plane, five times do you get off. You're staying in these huge convention center hotels. What are they? I mean. Are they, I don't know, it's just, I didn't think it's against diva NFL athlete. Maybe. And you're gone for one day. You leave it Saturday at noon, you come back right after the game out on Sunday.

It's, it's, I don't know. But you know what, Ross, our Texans are seventh among the 32 teams. Oh, now there are our Texans when they're good at something. I found something that finally the Texans are not mid at. Team travel, B-Miles. They like their coach. They like their general manager. Team ownership.

Hey, they love the McNair's. Who doesn't love the McNair's? Haters. Maybe the taxpayers, you never know in the next year or so. You never see. Just thinking about it. Anything goes. Friday continues here on Sports Talk, 790.

Matt and Ross with you, 713, 212, 5, 790. 713-212-5-790. The Rockets with an impressive win over the Orlando Magic. And again, the national folks say, you know what? The Rockets need a point. Well, it's not going to happen at this point. Read and amend. In a men we trust, in Reed we trust.

As hopefully the Rockets will be a, I would say, maybe even a surprise team among NBA circles because nobody seems to think the Rockets have a chance. They're right now, again, third in the Western Conference. 713212-5-790. We'll say, I'm sorry. Well, in about 15 minutes here on Sports Talk 790. 7-1-3-2-5-790.

If you'd like to be with it, then it doesn't even goes Friday. Sorry, he's coming up in about to 10 minutes from now. And I might ultimately apologize to Jonathan, but I'm going to need 500,000 people to come to Houston in the next two to three weeks for that to happen. 713212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. So, rockets get the 19-point deficit into a win last night. Is that the best win of the year for the Rockets? Ooh.

In terms of a comeback variety? Yeah, if you want to factor in the comeback, it'd be a pretty good one. It was a good team. Yes, it was. You did beat San Antonio once this year. They came back. The home comeback against San Antonio was pretty nice, and then they, well, they gave them back like a week later.

You did beat Oklahoma City in O'KC. Now, there was no SGA in that game and no Jalen Williams, but you didn't have a manned Thompson in that game, so. I'll go with the Spurs win at home in January. Man, I really hope. And I'm actually just speaking this to you, hopefully into existence here, right? Ross. I really hope we can get some good NBA

playoff. You and I talking to the folks about it. How honest do you want me to be? How about this? We won't get that until they win a playoff series. Just one series. We won't get full bore until more than that. And the problem is Spurs have won 11 in a row, Matt. The Spurs are looking more in the Thunderclass. We thought it was going to be thunder and everyone else.

Now it's looking kind of like Thunder Spurs and everyone else in the West right now. Yeah. Yeah. Denver has had their issues. The Lakers are imploding. Who else? Minnesota. I mean,

y'all don't know this. I mean, I'm not saying everybody doesn't know this, but I would think the majority of people do not. The best player in the NBA that no one talks about, relatively speaking, is Anthony Edwards. Ooh.

I think he gets talked about. he does I thought you were going to say Denny Otvie or something Yeah that's true Anthony Edwards could be the face of the NBA if you're looking for an American player to do it

problem is he has such a foul mouth that the NBA can't put him on that stage Oh he's awesome Do you ever watch those Sunday conversations with Caleb Presley? I do know

It's like an interview thing it's he did with it's pretty funny you would like those because they're kind of deadpan and uncanny well I don't know you like you like cringy stuff a little bit right Of course I work with you Hey hey That was good

I don't know I think you would like it The one Anthony Edwards is pretty funny I got into a YouTube wormhole of those recently But Anthony Edwards is great He's got personality Yes I got You're absolutely right I was on YouTube and I watched

I watched like six movies That's what the flu. The problem with Anthony is he just can't not swear. No, he doesn't care. You can't have a face of an NBA team. He will swear on national TV. He'll swear on streaming. He will swear he made a big three-pointer last night for his wolves against the clippers,

and he was swearing at his coach during the game. I mean, he doesn't want to do it. He doesn't want to clean his act up when it comes to his, because his talent is, I mean, I'd rather watch Anthony Edwards play. than Chey Gilders-Alexander over any day of the week. Oh, yeah. Period of his story. It's more fun, more entertaining, more explosive.

Yeah. He's shooting 40% from three this year. Like, he's the complete offensive package. There is an honest spot on the floor he can't shoot, but enough about them. Jalen Green has struggled the last three games, my leave for the Phoenix Sun. Oh, I was wondering, I hadn't heard any sons fans of my mentions lately. Yeah, it's been a little quiet on those Phoenix streets a little bit there a little bit. Interesting.

And I'm just going to tell you this for the five millionth time, and I'll probably say another million times before he eventually retires. I get to see Kevin Durant. Now, largely, I was in the Orlando airport control tower last night, so I can see it close. But I'm a witness to just amazing, unbelievable, just beat you down moments from one of the great all-time players. He just reached 32,000 points for his NBA career.

I'm speaking, of course, of Kevin Durant. I think he could very well be the last of a dying breed in that he also, it's not only the shots that he can take and make, it's like difficult pull-up mid-range. That's getting erased out of the game. And that's something that young players don't even get asked to do. And he can do it. And he's just one of the all-tides, I will say, yeah, second-grade a shooter ever.

And what he does is so unique and is so special and so fun to watch because of the degree of the difficulty of the shots he makes with defense, over multiple guys. Well, first and foremost, he's a gym rat. So he gets in there. I'm guessing, look, the rockets are off today. They're like, go away. He's probably found a gym somewhere to shoot up 5,000.

He's shooting right now, yeah. He's probably shooting right now. But size does matter. He's 6'10, and that helps. Because you may have guys with a hand in the face, and they may have freakishly good jumping ability, but he can still see over, oversee you. And yeah, he makes those tough contested shots,

but when you still have a two to three-inch size advantage of the guard and guy in front of you, you have to have delicate touch. Yeah. Because it's at a different angle. If you're a six-three guys shooting at a 15-foot rim as compared to 6-10, especially if you're shooting it from, say, less than 15 feet away. You've got to have special touch. You've got to get it around people.

And he just, I mean, there was, he had scored. What was he scored? Like the last eight points of the third quarter by himself. I mean, he goes on these tangents like Jordan did. like LeBron did in his prime where he would just say give me the ball and I'll score every trip down the floor. He did it last night. He's done so much of his career. He's a four-time scoring champion. He's one of the all-time

greats. As you mentioned, he's got the extremely high release. They have metrics and data on this stuff. These days, Matt, the highest release point in the NBA is Victor Wimbunyama. Number two is Kevin Durant. And talk about what, a five-inch sides of difference between those two guys? Yeah. So, I mean, so So he gets up there, and it's impossible to contest his shot, and then how lengthy he is and how great of a shooter he is. It's just the sheer hand-eye coordination and the work he puts in, like you said.

It's amazing. It's awesome, man. We're watching All-Time greatness in a rocket uniform, and he's charging up the rankings, and he's going to pass Michael Jordan this year. He'll do it this year. And I brought this up while you were gone. You know, he wants to play for the Olympic team in 2028. Well, guess what?

You just can't retire at the end of this year or next. next year and go, I need some time away, and then I'll get back and jump on the court. That means he's going to want to play at a high level for the next couple of years. Guess who will be doing that for? The Houston Rockets. Let's go. All right. The next half hour is your most cathartic half hour in your life.

We don't judge on this show. Matter of fact, we come to appreciate those of you that take the time that will call 713-212-5-790 and say you're sorry for the things you've said and done this week. this is a cleansing for you you want to apologize for something you've done or said 713 212 570 30 minutes for you do something you've been meeting to hold on to all week long you need to release it come on in join us and say these words I'm sorry so sorry I actually Jonathan and Ross, I behaved myself this week. I don't think I've done anything to really

be regretful for. All I've done is take the message of the lone star state being me, Mr. Texas, and run to Orlando, Miami, going to Washington, D.C. to spread the word as well. About our great states. What word?

The word is that you're probably you're probably yelling at people with day jobs and ruining our good reputation. I mean, that could be fair. Can I do a quasi-I'm sorry slash I just don't get it? Can I do that? Okay.

It's 2026. I'm sorry, but I don't get the trail ride bit. I'm sorry. Wait. Explain. Because basically it causes complete shutdown of major stress. streets in Houston for several hours. There's nefarious activities that are happening on these things.

I mean, I understand trying to go old school with the trail ride, and this is how they did it back in the day. But, come on, we're... Houston, as sweet as we are, we're a concrete jungle. And I think I wouldn't do anything to get rid of our stereotype of us in horse and buggies and riding in our cowboys. We don't need the trail rides. So I'm just going to say, I'm sorry to those of you that are on the Houston livestock show or rodeo.

I know it's an important thing. But I don't know. I'm kind of glad I'm not in Houston today for that because it just makes me mad when you're having to dodge horse manure and dodging these things because you can't go on Memorial Drive because it takes you an hour to go three miles. I haven't been affected. So I guess it's just an old school. It's a fun tradition. It's so old school. Yeah, of course.

You guys do know trail rallies to go on around all the Texas, right? Throughout the year. Yeah, Matt, trail rides everywhere. You? Yeah, trail rides is a very big thing in the country, especially up in Nacadocious, Tyler. You've been on a trail ride, John? Oh, my God, that's not helping our cause here. No, but I'm just saying, it's a very, it's like, that's what Texas is.

I don't know. That's just the culture of Texas, you know? But last time I thought about the trail ride was when Felicia Moon, Warren Moon's ex-wife, was hooking up with a guy on a trail ride. Literally. I'm so sorry. It was like in the 90s, was it? I don't know.

They've been incident free since then. Marital strife. Did she just behave in herself since then? I don't know if she's been getting rowdy on the trail ride since. If you've ever gotten rowdy on the trail ride, 713, 21, 2, 5, 790. Wait, man, have you rid of a horse before? What a horse? Oh, when I was a kid, yeah.

Okay. I did once when I was a kid. What was the last time you were on a horse? Over there in Kentucky. I think I was in Glasgow, Kentucky. Glasgow? Like Scotland? No, but that's the, yeah, two same cities. They named it after Glasgow. Ross, last time you were on a horse. Mustang Island, Texas, probably in I was around 18, 19 years old, went on a trip with my mom and sister.

You have a good time? Yeah, we went to, I mean, it was Corpus Christi, Mustang Island. What else is over there? Puerto Ranzas. We went to the Aquarius. Love that part of the state. Texas State Aquarium. Yeah, it was a wonderful time.

And I remember the instructor. Oh, my God. She was a bouncing, Maddie. Oh, she was? Was she Miami bouncing or were she Texas bouncing? Oh, she was Texas bounce. Okay. And then I had inner thigh soreness for the rest of this trip.

Really? Yeah. Ladies gentleman, Ross admitted he has inner thigh sort of. I didn't know how to ride a horse. And clearly I didn't do it properly. I should never do it again. I'm sorry. Sorry.

Jonathan, what are you apologizing for? I know there's one thing you should apologize for. I think we're on different pages here. Oh. What I'm apologizing for, though, is, um, I'm going to say apologize to the rocket's organization because I turned the game on yesterday. And they look so sloppy that first quarter,

and the first color at the end, we're down with seven. Desmond Bain's just going crazy on us and I was just I'll turn this off. We're losing this game just for them winning. So I just want to apologize. I lost hope. I'm sorry. Sorry.

Oh, sorry. I'm getting crushed. I'm getting crushed for not liking the trail rides. I knew you were. Mr. Texas. There's no way you can be Mr. Texas if you're anti-trail ride.

Another reason that SportsMT isn't Mr. Texas. never will be. He hates the rodeo. Thank you. I'm glad some people are seeing the light. Not enough people are. My true friends know that they can call me Mr. Texas, and they mean it is ridiculous. You know, you're going to apologize to the state of Texas right now is what you need to do. Oh, come on. Your life would be better without trail rides.

I just, Mr. Texas is bold enough to say it. You know what? I hope you get caught up in a trail ride and you get, you're going to be late to a movie that you really wanted to see because of the trail rides. You know how big trail rides are, Matt, in high school. This is 2019. We had a dude that rode a horse to school every day. Wow. Oh, my God.

You want to admit that. Oh, I already. He was in Fort Bend. I was in Fort Bend. I was in Fort Bend. That's how big trail rides are in the culture. And we didn't have anybody riding horses. Ross, you want to apologize for something before we go to the phone?

People riding Toyota Celica's on rims. I had something. You guys made me forget. And I've been sick, so I'm sorry. You know what I'm sorry? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being out the first three days of this week. No, that's going to happen.

I just don't want you bringing that flutis to the station. I know. I've been wiping everything down. Because Jonathan wasn't, he's like, I don't tell him. Tell Ross take his time. I said, yeah, I did tell him. Take his time. My viral load is low now.

All right. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. Koso, what are you apologizing for? Mr. Texas. Mr. America. Yes, sir. I'd like to apologize.

I was at a work meeting maybe a week ago, and my boss was talking about how she lives with her mother-in-law and how it annoys her and how wife would be simpler without her there. So I uttered these simple words, just put her in a home. Everyone looked at me with disgust. I just wanted to say to the person I writes my child, checks. I apologize. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I don't know what's worse, Casey, what you said or the fact he did it in front of numerous people.

It was about seven people, so it was a small meeting, but I do feel bad. Did you apologize to her off after the meeting or as soon as you said it? As soon as I said it, but I don't think it made anything, anything better. No. So there goes the raise, the promotion. I'm sorry. Actually, I just got a raise, so pretty good, pretty good move. All right. That's what you guys. You read something called reduction in workforce.

Good luck with you on that, my friend. Yeah, you can't, you never want to utter put her or put him in a home ever. Those are not the magical words, Ross. Especially if it's not related to somebody in your own family. What if it's like a retirement castle? And wasn't she complaining to? I mean, yeah, as long as it's not one that's been featured on date line. But Jonathan, you bite your lip on that.

I complain about a lot of things in my life, and Ross bites his lip, so I give him credit for that. That's what we call Ross the lip bitters. 713-1-2-1-2-5-790. Neagle. I'm 790. What are you apologizing for, Neal? Hey, guys, so I'm going to guess that you both are familiar with the Martingale strategy and gambling, correct? Yes, I am.

I've talked to you about it before, Matt. It's where you keep doubling your bet until you finally win. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, it works 100% of the time eventually. But until you run into table limits, that's why it doesn't work. But go ahead. Correct. So I made a wager a couple of weeks ago on a team that's very high-ranked team in the country,

and they lost. And, you know, a few days later, I was like, there's no way that this team can lose two in a row. So I doubled it up and they lost. And then a few days later, I was like, there's no possible way that this team can lose three in a row. And they lost. So, yeah, I'm sorry.

Sorry, please. What is he talking about that? I have no idea. Ross? Maybe like DePaul? Who's lost three in a row? Didn't you call it Kevlar University, Ross? Oh, hey! Oh, my God. You know what? I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Hey. Yes. Jonathan, do you want to get Ross to spend it again? I remember. Yeah, that's good stuff. Number one, I will apologize for that remark to the University of... I remember what I wanted to apologize for. I apologize as well, because I said the same thing as I believe as well.

Because we were talking about cheap spring breaks and I brought up Galveston out of nowhere. I'm sorry that Galveston continues to catch strays from my mouth. I'm sorry, Galveston. Let me just tell you Galveston, Mr. Texas loves you. You're not Mr. Texas. I mean, more and more people are finally opening their eyes. You are not Mr. Texas. Let me tell you something.

Chicken fried steak, Corpus Christi, Huntsville, Lubbock, Dallas, I-45. cities. Just listing cities and places doesn't make you Mr. Texas. That's ridiculous. I know them all. Eleventh 44. Brownsville, El Paso. Okay, good stuff. I've been to El Paso many times. Thank you for bringing

that up. Mr. Texas has not gone to Midland Odessa yet, though. I don't know if that's worthy of a trip. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-79. If you want to apologize, you've got 15 minutes to do so. We wake the strippers up at noon. around 790.

Can I do a preemptive? I'm sorry. I want to do it real quick, Ross, and to Jonathan, for the people that I'm going to be gambling with tonight at the Rod Rock or Reno in Hollywood, Florida. If you don't play blackjack properly, I'm going to give you a dirty side-eye look and probably make fun of your blue hair. So with that, I say I'm sorry. Oh, sorry.

Matt, we've got to get you working better on things that, on not worrying about things that are out of your control, A. Okay. And be certainly things that are just as likely to mathematically. You know what? I'm going to give you a task. I know you've got like 50 of those tablets you've been stealing from all the hotels you've been going to. Take one.

Can you the latest one I got today? And keep a help versus hurt. Just keep a tab. It's just as likely to help you as hurt when people play wrong. And you always forget. I talked to my mom today. Yes. She gave you black check advice?

She goes, do you? She said, she asked me, do you hit 16s? I said against a seven and higher, I certainly do. She goes, I don't like doing that. I said, I can someone live with that? You're yelling at your sick mother? What's wrong with you? I didn't yell at her.

We had a nice and polite conversation. I was eating my croissant and crispy bacon. I couldn't yell at her. But I might have to if she's playing poorly. Crescent and crispy bacon, I was that about $48? I don't want to discuss that with you. I'm sorry. I mean, I mean, I'm at a ridiculously bougie hotel.

Okay. Apparently the cost of croissants are extra bougie. One being floppy and ten being like almost burnt to a crisp. How do you like your bacon? Eight. I'm probably about seven or eight. I'm with you. I've had ten before and I got six, so I don't do tens anymore, but I can do eight.

It's comfortable. Yeah. The floppy bacon is terrible. Oh, the greasy and limp and you can hear the pig-oinking. Same thing about my grilled onions and my fajitas? I like my onions done really well done too, but if you ask for them to be really well done, they bring them black and then you want up getting sick there too. You ask for really well done onions? Yeah, and your fajitas, absolutely. How do you feel about the bell peppers?

Take it or leave. I think they're just filling the plate up to charge more money. Oh, come on, man, you got to have peppers with the onions. No, onions, fajita meat, piquita, guilla, tortilla, let's go. No guacamole. Mr. Texas. No guacamole. 713-212-5-790.

Joseph, what are you apologizing for? No, man, you need to apologize to Jonathan. I got my boys, Jonathan, back. Jonathan, the other day, made a comment about the spring breakers. And so you need to apologize to Jonathan, because if you were Mr. Texas, Matt, you would know that Houston is one of the hoddusts to come and party my daughter was raised in Georgia she flies down here Matt on the weekends

just the party they have day parties all kinds of stuff so it's not about the beach it's about the party so I totally believe Jonathan and you need to apologize to him Joseph Joseph listen to me very careful Yes. Joseph, how old is your daughter? Right now she's 36. Now she stopped coming when she got married. Yes, sir.

Why would she stay when she came to? Hold up, hold up. Where would she stay when she came to Houston? Hell, she didn't even stay with me. Sometimes I didn't even see her. I don't believe that for a minute. You lie. You are liar.

Matt, I promise to God. Oh. I would call, she would, she would take. She would text me and say she's in town. One day I had to drive downtown. She came out of the club. During the day, Matt, I had to drive downtown just to see her and give her a hug. And she went back.

I'm telling you, this happens. These young people, she lives in Atlanta. She lives in Atlanta and she flies here, Matt, to party. With a bunch of our friends, these young people are coming from all over the place. Tell them, Joseph. Yeah, okay. Yeah, I can't wait for people that live in Long Beach, California. Hey, let's go to Houston and said to party because we can't party in Southern California.

Joseph, I love you like a stepbrother, but that's a one-off. Sorry. Matt, we'll see you later. Houston's got a big party reputation. Drake, Drake, it's kind of... Of course it does. He doesn't know. Yeah, you're right.

He's in the woods. I got news for you. Atlanta parties, Dallas parties, Austin parties Chicago party Every city parties People party We're not greater partiers in Houston

We are other places When you watch gentlemen Come on Matt When you let me tell you something When you're watching the Price is Right Do you ever hear And what's the next prize It's a trip to two to Houston

Nobody does that I love our city but we're not doing that We're not talking about people on the Price is Right Talk about cool people Matt, and then you got a thing The rappers and all the celebrities, they all talk about Houston.

Sorry. 500,000, he said, folks. 500,000. I don't know about 500,000, but that's the, that's the, that's the one on the street, guys. Let me tell you something. That's the chamber comments.

I like that. Ryan on 790, Ryan, what are you apologizing for? I like to apologize to you, Matt, last Friday. called and said something very hurtful that hurt your feeling. I said that John Lennon was overrated. That's right.

You did. I'm so sorry. My dad got on to me. I just want to apologize. I still don't think Eric Clapton is overrated, but John Lennon is not overrated. I believe he's properly rated. And I wanted to apologize to you, Matt. Oh, I'm sorry.

Thank you, Ryan very much. Have a wonderful weekend. but you if you besmirate if you're going to besmirch a beetle I could see you doing Ringo okay that's fine but you can't besmir

you the three I've got a song about an octopus a good stuff I mean again ringo is one of the greatest drummers of all time so that's going to be a situation that you don't want to go into

but you cannot blast John you cannot blast Paul and you cannot certainly besmirch the great writing ability of a George Harrison. George Harrison. Underrated, by the way.

Undurated. Thank you so much for that. Last call. Let's go to John in the Heights on 790. John, who are you apologizing to? Hey, I'm going to apologize on behalf of our good brother, Matt Thomas. Matt,

because I know that, you know, he's been so enthralled with the celebration of his daughter signer with Rhode Island that he has no idea how much of a party city to Houston really and truly is. I mean, for God's sake, you have Rick Ross living here now,

you got Drake living here, now, you've got Trace of McGrady living here now. You have all these actions, all of these people. I mean, and then on top of that, the nightlife, they actually, to that other callous point, that they come here for

what it's called Sunday Sunday. And people will literally stay Friday through Sunday and not leave our gray city until Monday because there are so many events from Midtown to Washington to the Galleria area to downtown and all parts in between. But I'm just going to say I'm sorry for you, Matt, because I know you're hip. I know you're hip. I've seen you bob your head at Rockets games for some rap songs, even though you don't know. Yes, I have.

who happens all this is. That's correct. I'm just going to say, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for you, M.T. I know you're a hip dude. You just weren't aware of how much of a party city of Houston is because of your daughter. And congratulations on her side, by the way. Thank you very much, John.

Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, Jonathan, this is exactly what people do. They say, hey, I hear Tracy McGrady lives in Houston. Let's go vacation there. That's exactly what people do. I'm sorry. all I'm going to say is there's a reason why James Harden had to leave because all this clubs out there. All right, that's all I'm going to say.

All right. Speaking of that, at 1220 today, that's in 20 minutes from now, we have one NBA team that is embracing their party mentality. Be on the listen for that. I swear to God, you will not believe the story we tell you in 20 minutes. It is 12 noon. Let's wake the strippers up. The news at noon is coming up next as well.

We have Florida stories today at 130. What is today's edition of Hellyer and out at 150, Sports Harvey? And we're skipping it. All right. We're going to have it at 150 right here on Sports Talk 790. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. In H-Town, good, the edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790.

Well, I mean, I will drink anything that, like, for instance, the only thing I will not drink to get myself faster is Alka-Seltzer to me makes me gag. Yeah. The plot, plod, fizz, fizz makes me yak, yak, yak. And at sports RV2, where he actually took his tissues that he blew his nose and he left him out of table, and he's got videos of them. I do have basically an entire trash can full of tissues. Wait.

That sounds bad. But from the flu. Don't you? I don't think so. John is reaching for his note. Where's it at? Four runs, all of which were earned. One walk.

One strikeout. Two home runs. Do this to us this early a strap? No, I mean, at some point, like, you know, next week or something. Yeah, we'll do next week, something like that. We've got to do males, too, don't you think? Aren't there songs about dudes in there? Dude names?

Dudes on dudes? Yeah, you and Jonathan can do that one. Hold on. Yeah, why are you throwing Jonathan on the bus? I'm not throwing the bus. I'm not trying to be dude on dude. I have gone many a time to have a boneless day. Because sometimes Ross is tired of taking the bone.

Yeah, you like bones. Matt loves the bone in, all right? Matt can't get enough of the bone in. He loves bone in, and he says, give me some more bone in. It's okay. Bone in wings. Yeah, you like getting bone. I always regret the things we say.

And hopefully Jonathan erases them quickly after he plays them on Fridays. I think there's like an archive. Yeah, I know. It's like he could do an entire hour one day in December, I think. It's like the library congress in there. If you know one of us is sick on the same day, we could just play these sound bites over and over again. Yeah, that's true. What are you sending me, by the way, on Instagram?

What is this? Somebody sent this to me. Let me go find out. On my Instagram at SportsRV, appreciate you all. I'm over 1,400 now followers. Trying to build up. Thank you very much. I'm trying to, I think it was Rolando

was his name, let me see Rolando Luna, appreciate you, he sent me a message on Instagram that has a reel of a guy talking about three million people coming to Houston for spring break. What? You don't say it?

Three million. Oh, he just sent it to me too. Yeah, I sent it to both of you. No, Orlando sent it to me too. Oh, okay, good. Okay, I don't, let's let's put this in perspective. here. My man, the urban CEO, thank you, Tyron, for listening to the show.

I know what a city, what a party city Houston is. I never said we weren't a party city. Y'all are just making stuff up now. I never, ever said that people in Houston don't party, because you do. You don't party in downtown much, but you party other places. The only thing I questioned was Jonathan saying that 500,000 people are going to come to Houston over spring break. And I said, that's not possible. This says... Houston has some people come in for the rodeo. Houston is officially the capital of spring break in the south,

with 500,000 plus people flooding the city. That's what this guy says. Well, just because it's on Instagram doesn't mean it's real. Okay. Well, I don't see one that says nobody's coming from Houston. Well, that's because we all assume that. I mean, no one, people are coming. You know what they're coming for?

They're coming for the rodeo. They're coming for... What else is coming up? We got the regional tournament coming up in basketball with a sweet 16 in Houston. Maybe coming for Astros. But, I mean, come on. There is nobody in Denver, Colorado, going, man, I can go for a little getaway for three or four days out of this winter weather. Where can we go?

Houston. Man, I love our city, but let's deal in realities here. Well, this guy on Instagram says it could be up to three million people. So you know what? I'm fully, I'm giving Jonathan the win here. Oh, I got the win. million. I mean, I'm sorry, Matt. Three million? I'll give him 500,000. Three, yeah, three million people are coming to Houston for spring break.

That's certainly an over-south. Yeah, sure. I was questioning, now, I wasn't questioning, Jonathan, people come here for spring break, but apparently this is more widespread than I even knew. Houston officially the capital of spring break in the south. You might have to apologize, Matt. I'm going to tell you that that's not true. Do I, again, rodeo yes baseball yes concerts yes

an influx of people that live in Detroit Cleveland Ronoc Virginia Nashville I like these comments if y'all break a tooth come find me

all I hear is traffic so many cars are getting broken into 16 let's get to the news and noon hurry please I'm going to start selling parking spots Oh my God

See this is what you want Is that what you want Three million? Jonathan You want three million jokes About Houston You're getting them I said 500,000

You discredited me This reels got like a million news I'm discredit in three million dollar dude Three million people Yeah this is This is crazy Sorry Matt You want the news at noon

Reports of up to three million people Hitting Houston for spring break Leads to the news news in noon. Okay, fine. How about the Rockets? You know what? We'll sue you with a nice Matt Thomas call of a big Rockets bucket last night.

How about the dagger from Reed Shepard? The Rockets Closer. Katie's got it at mid court with Black in front of him. Shot clock at 9. Need a basket here. Lottes Shangoon. Out right side. Shepard sets, launches.

Biggs another three. Reed Shepard had a career high. three-pointers one night ago. This might be even more impactful. Wow. You ready for a compliment, Matt? Please. I love the little need-a-basket here

out of urgency to the call. I love that. I would agree as well. Great stuff. Thank you very much. You know why three million people are coming to Houston? Why? You can't even take it to listen to me on Rockets Radio.

That's what it is. I was being jingling that. You can't get this from Indiana Pacer Radio, guy. 113-108, the rockets come back down as much as 19, and they get the victory over the Orlando. Magic Reed Shepherd was huge with 20 points, 5 of 7 from 3-point land. Not only did he play more minutes than I'm in Thompson or Jabari-Smith Jr.

He also was on the floor with the closing lineup, which has been an important step in his development. And it was nice to see as the Rockets closed the show in Orlando and got the victory. Excellent. Astros, 450 first pregame show today here on 790. And we will see Spencer Erigating pitch second. Lance McCullors first, little spring training action sports survey. All right, Matt, elsewhere in the news.

Are you familiar with Matt? Waldron. I just saw the name, so refresh it quickly for it. Yes, he's a Padre's starter, Matt Waldron, could begin the season on the injured list, according to Padre's manager, Craig Stammon. Oh, I know

there's a reason why. Unfortunately, the pitcher recently sustained, quote, an infection in his rear end. Mm-hmm. The 29-year-old knuckle baller required a procedure this week to fix the ailment.

And hopefully, everything's going to be okay for Matt Waldron on the IL with quote an infection in his rear end. Is there any news of how he received such infection?

Hmm. No. Good. That makes me happy. I guess he's not going to be able to sit this one out. Let me tell you something. If I ever ever had a rear end infection, I would

never tell you. If I was a. an athlete. Say ankle soreness? Hamstering. Gluteal discomfort? No. Pulled hammy. Quad contusion.

Right wrist brain. Make something up. I don't want anyone to know I've got a hurt ass. That seems like a very easy clip. Okay. And elsewhere, Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imi throwing a 10-pitched inning for the Astros. He was struck by a comebacker in spring training yesterday. against the New York Mets after Marcus Simeon

hit him with a sharp hit in his lower right leg. Ten pitches are apparently... Did they throw hands after that happened? It's just a comeback or it happens in baseball. Apparently one inning was the plan anyways for Tatsuya Imi, but certainly something we will be monitoring for your Houston Astros. All right. Coming up, listen to me very carefully.

Atlanta is trying to become the new spring break capital of the world after Houston. I'll explain how they're going to try to do it next. It is 1217 on Sports Talk 790. All right. How Atlanta is trying to take away the Houston Spring Break Break crowd. I'll tell you about that in a minute. Right now let's go to Adam on line three on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Adam, thank you for holding a good afternoon.

Hi, how are you guys doing? Good, thank you. Great. Oh, yeah. So I don't see three million people coming here because the population in Metro Houston is seven and a half million. And that would take us above 10 million. But the reason I was calling is because I really wanted to go to the Arizona-Histon basketball game last weekend. Okay.

And just to get in the door was $200 for the cheapest ticket. And the most expensive tickets were above $1,400. And like you guys' debate on what to do with the Astrodome every once in a while, I'm just wondering for a winning program like Houston basketball, why you guys settle on the Furtita Center when it only holds 7,000 people? And most mediocre university basketball programs have stadiums that are like 12 to 14,000 or more. Well, the reality is that for the longest time, the University of Houston is not drawn 10, 11, 12, 13,000 fans. Secondly, college basketball arenas, the new ones are being built, are built to smaller capacities.

And third, you want to certainly spark interest and create a demand. Well, if there's too much supply, there will not be enough demand. So I'd like it to be that every seat is full every single game, and it has been the last. last five or six years, but you go to 10, 15 years before that, they were lucky to draw 3,000 in the building. So that's, those are the reasons why. What about for large matchups like, you know, Arizona or Iowa State, would they consider putting that in the Toyota Center if the rockets aren't using it that day? Well, the Rockets of the, the Cougars did play a game at Toyota Center, and they played at least

one game there every year. it does okay but it's not 17,000 full and I think intimacy does help when it comes to home court advantage look think about this Adam Duke University could probably fit every one of their fans in a 15 or 16,000

seat arena at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina they still play an 8,000 seat Cameron Indoor. So it's not if there's big games it doesn't necessarily mean you should go to bigger facilities. If that was the case you could put Duke North Carolina Carolina in a 20,000-seat arena and be full every single time.

You know, you want to create the place to be. You want to create a high-priced ticket, and that's exactly what a lot of colleges do, not just the University of Houston. Okay. All right, thanks. Yeah, thank you. Okay. I mean, I'll deal in realities.

It's, you know, you're not going to get 14. If the Toyota Center was 15,600 people, when Kennesaw's state comes into play, you're not going to have that people there. So you're not going to build an arena just to build it so you could have three or four games a year. Even the University of Texas, even the Moody Center is not even at 16,000 for basketball. That's around 10. The new arena for where

what's that? It's around 10, yeah. Yeah, the new Baylor Arena where the Baylor Bears play. That's not a super big stadium. I mean, gone of the days of filling up 17, 18,000 seed arenas because you're only doing that a handful of times a year. Maybe you're getting a concert or two in there, but I don't know. No one has ever complained about the fact that it's too small. I'd like someday to be in that situation, but we're still not there yet.

Someday, Matt. Someday. Yeah, it doesn't bother me at all. Moody Coliseum where SMU plays is 8,000 seats. I think a reader is pretty big. The game he's talking about is the exception rather than the rule as far as the high demand in the high prices. That's exactly right. Yeah.

So, you mean, look, there's a lot of bigger arenas around college basketball. I mean, the Memphis Tigers play in the FedEx form. They don't draw flies. I mean, they draw 10, 11,000, I think, but nothing super big. So, you know what, let's continue to make the Fertita Center loud. And you know what? If the secondary market happens meant a couple bucks, so be it. It is what it is.

All right. Now, we're going to discuss an intro. I'll say this, Ross, I'm going to. I'm going to characterize it as an interesting marketing strategy by one NBA team. Now, I know there's going to be some giggles because of it, but I want you to put yourself in the role of a CEO for one NBA team, and then I want you to think about it as from the commissioner standpoint, how you think about this.

An interesting marketing plan by an NBA team is up next, 1227 on Sports Talk 790. I'm all the way up. All right. For those of you that do not know, the Atlanta Hawks, I mean, Ross, would be fair to say there about the most mid-Mid NBA teams.

I mean, just nobody cares about them really with the exception of what they were like when they had Spud Webb and Dominique Wilkins back in the 80s. Are you saying they're the Houston Texans of the NBA?

You said that, Battle Red, not me. I mean, are they the most, like, irrelevant? Like, who can? I mean, no, because, like, it, least for example, like the

Kings suck terribly and it's like a joke how bad they are. Nobody thinks about the Hawks. They're just like floating in the NBA abyss. Nobody Atlanta thinks about the Hawks. Their soccer team

draws better than their basketball team. It's not good at Atlanta. I mean, if the Atlanta Hawks won a championship in June, and it impaired the people's ability to drive to Atlanta's baseball seems to the Braves, you'd have people boycotting the Hawks parade.

The Atlanta Hawks are about as irrelevant to the NBA as maybe any team. Like there have been sucky teams like the Wizards Super Suck, and they're probably as irrelevant as the Hawks. But all the Hawks do every year is win 38 games. They're never so awful they get the number one pick. Or they actually got number one pick was Zachary Rich Arsachay. But they're never so sick. 60 win good.

Right. They had that 161 season. They lost the LeBron and the playoffs. Yeah. All right. So Ross, March 16th, the Atlanta Hawks have a home game in their arena. By the way, the State Farm Arena is a really nice place to watch a basketball game. They're playing the team the Rock has played yesterday, the Orlando Magic.

They're going to have a magic city night at the Magic versus Hawks game. For those of you that do not know, Magic City is Atlanta's famed strip club. As part of this, they're going to have music that you would hear at the club. You will have a special DJ.

Ti is coming in there for that to perform at halftime. Oh, thank God. They're also going to have their famous lemon pepper wings available for sale is that the lou will lemon pepper ones those are the lou william pepper ones yes along with music

and exclusive merchandise that you can purchase actress jamie gertz who is the principal owner of the atlanta hawks says the following this collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work

we did to put it together The night is called Magic City an American fantasy. What? The iconic Atlanta, stay with me on this, the iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture. Hmm. I got to be honest with you. I don't know how they're getting away with this.

It's kind of awesome. I mean, some cities are known for strip clubs. Atlanta is one of the one we live. live in would be one of them. But even with the vibrant strip club seen in Houston of the 7 million people that live in Houston, 99% of

have never been in one, and Joe Houston strip club in their life and probably never will. So we're getting treasures night with the Rockets soon. That was the first thing I thought as are we getting Colorado night at the Rockets? And I believe the Rockets would say no to that.

I mean, I guess the only thing I can think of is people who are in Atlanta. little different. Like, people say that they actually just go for the food or they order to go and the food is incredible. But it's also a house of ill repute. It's a strip cream. I know why they did this.

They're not doing this to celebrate magicity. They're doing it because they knew the press release would gain them a lot of interest. And it has. We're talking about it on this show. We're talking about it on this show. March 16th, Orlando plays a lot of it. Atlanta. No one in America, certainly in Atlanta, would care that Orlando played Atlanta. But if you're serving the lembren pepper wings that ultimately got Lou Williams suspended by the NBA

for breaking protocol during the COVID years? Good times. There must be some damn good wings. I know, we have to go. I think it's my civic responsibility as Mr. Texas to go see what other people are serving. Is this just one location, by the way? I mean, are these fry cooks working 24-7? It seems impossible. Is this place like as big as a super Walmart? Like, how does this work? I would assume that the recipe would

be given to the people that cook in the arena to begin with. I'm just saying in general. Because if you're serving if you're serving Magic City wings, you're going to want to do it in more than one section, right? Oh, my work laptop just blocked me from going to magic city dot com.

It gives the reason as adult theme. but okay so let's take one or two steps back here this is odd I mean nightclubs I kind of get maybe I don't know maybe a theater district night maybe I don't

you're gonna honor a strip club during a basketball game now it does beg the question who's taking the tickets when you enter the arena and I guess Ross What are they wearing? Ooh, that'd be really nice. Get some of the dancers over to be ushers on Magic City Night? What's the halftime entertainment?

It's that guy, T.I. Oh, that's right. Was he going to have strippers on poles? What do you think Adam Sober's thinking about this? Are you going to get in lap dances in Road 19? I like this, actually. Now, if the Rockets ever did this, the question would be, what I want to have a stripper next to me is my color analyst.

Hmm Hey, your thoughts on that high horn set, Fantasia. Hey, Destiny, I see that the bulls have gone to a two-three zone. What do you think about that? You should know a lot about drop coverage. All right, folks, how many more puns will Ross have here in the next four minutes of this show? I'm done. No, I don't think you're done.

No, I'm demanding at least one or two more. I don't want to run it into the ground. I saw this. and because I think of things from a business perspective and I think of things as a sports fan perspective I mean honestly what's that going to be like and again all kidding aside

how do you explain to your kids that have tickets for that game hey mom and dad what'd you think of that contact in the restricted area why the girl who took our tickets wearing pacy's only or dad focus

why aren't you looking at me dad why are you looking at them I only can think of this is one thing the wings must be just incredibly I'm sorry we have to try the Lou Will lemon pepper wings we got to try them we're going to have to

Matt and Ross from Atlanta next year show live let's go because we're not going to West Palm because I can be no baseball next year It makes me sad even thinking about it I forgot about that We'll go there for spring training

In Atlanta Yeah We'll get some cheap flights Oh it's cheap to fly to Atlanta for sure So I just I just want to throw that out there to say that I understand you're trying to market yourself And gain attention

But I think I got a feeling this is going to backfire a little bit Unless it's tastefully done but how do you say tastefully in strip club in the same sentence, Sports Harvey? You just don't. No, it can be tasteful. How?

Explain. Keep it classy. How many people, and I don't, again, I'm going to presume that most of you that listen to our show do not frequent strip club. Some of you might, but I'm not going to say majority. If I said, hey, Matt, hey, say, Ross, let's go to a tasteful strip club. You're like, no, thank you. You don't want tasteful and strip club in the same sentence.

Hmm. Atlanta Hawk basketball remains irrelevant for 40 years except for one night against the magic. Magic City Night. Good luck, Atlanta. I'll tell you what? 29 of the NBA teams, we'll look and see how this thing goes. I can't tell you that for sure. Can't wait.

So, yeah, there'll be no men's club night at the Rockets game, no Colorado night, no Caligula night. I think I run out of names. The landing strip over there by Intercontinental Airport. That's not going to be a special night. Rossum tapped out on club names. Okay, me, I don't know. I've never been to one. Yeah, see, good.

See, that's the thing that Ross separates himself from others. He's quiet when necessary. 1242 on the Matt Thomas show with Ross, 713, 212, 790. Can you all tell we're in the dog days of sports? Oh, the Rockets are getting a nice win. And we have the Astro lineup for today's game. We'll get to that as well. 713, 212, 5, 790.

It isn't anything that goes Friday. David wants to talk some more U of H. Cougar basketball. for that too. And he goes Friday here on Sports Talk 790. Oh, right after this highlight from Magic City Night. Dollars, 14th and points allowed. Eighth and field goal defense.

And that says a lot. Here comes McCrity. Oh, they just sucked the gravity. You just suck the gravity right out of the building. By the way, a friend of the show, I will not mention his name, suggested there being only fans night at the Rockets games. That's a good idea.

They can get subscribers and they can wear their like usernames on their name tags. By the way, I need a ruling very quick before we go to David and Kingwood. You sent me a text during the game last and as I was calling it. Oh, yes. Now, I'm not the first person's ever said it, but I think there's less than 10 people in the world that have ever said it during a game. You told me that I and Eagle on Prime yesterday said nothing but nylon on a, was it a Kevin Durant shot?

Bolemi, I'm going to refer to the text because whatever it was. And he didn't say it like you. He didn't go nothing but nylon. He just went and it was more of like a regular, and that's nothing but nylon from Kevin Durant. All right. First of all, Ian's got a much better resume than me, and so I'm going to acquiesce to him and go,

you know what? Good for you, Ian. That's great. Great friend of the show. Yes, nothing but nylon for Kevin Durant. That's what he said. It was more, it wasn't like a big, you know. right big call so i mean you tell me okay

no i'm not offended about it ian's a friend of mine and he's awesome he's a national treasure he's one of the five best broadcasters going on in today so zero issue with it did you now where did you when did you start that call because you're also not the first person to say but i mean it's kind of you're not no i'm not no i've got two calls that i like to go sets fires hits and nothing but nylon and i try to use

them just once per game. I don't do it on a right basis. You don't want to be like Mike Brain dropping 15 bangs. Is he calling the Hawks game with the magic? I'm just curious. I don't know. I mean, that would kind of fit, right? It could be. And Marv Albert

would make some sense too. You know what? I'm sorry. I'm sorry to Marv and the Albert family. Oh, Lord. Tom and downtown says, Matt, you have to somehow work the old back in it in, back in an in call on Stripper Night. That's pretty good.

Tom and down, you're a funny person, you're going to get a like for that. You're just opening up a can of worms, right? They know what they're doing. But the hell, it gets the Atlanta Hawks some attention. How much Hawk talk have we had on the show, and I don't know the 16 years we've been doing the show. This is about it.

Not a lot of Hawk Talk. Welcome to Hawk Talk. I don't even know who's still on the team. After Tray Young's gone. I mean, you mentioned Zachary. or is sache. Yeah, poor Zingis is gone. Jalen Johnson still, right?

Sure, why not? He's hurt or he was hurt. Is he okay? How's he doing these days? Again, I don't look at it last. We're down with the Hawks. Yeah, okay. Let's talk to David and Kingwood on 790. David, thank you for holding a good afternoon.

Hello, Matt. To my fellow King Woodian, if that's the term myself, Ross, how y'all doing? Cheers. Hey, excellent. Matt, I got a little comment. I have a little comment and see I want to hear what you say. I always check in a few times this time of year with you

or garden youth face basketball. So check it out. So me and my friends were all talking a week and a half ago that the Big 12 was going to be a bloodbath last week. I mean, everybody's schedule was just and across the college basketball, but Big 12 is just, it looked nasty.

I mean, I thought if everybody had to come out with one of those wins, it'd probably be a good week. but we dropped all three. And I'm not just saying this thing, we feel better, but we played great against Iowa State. We went on, I think, a six-minute, scoring drought in that late second half

and dropped that one. That was easily a winnable game. We competed hard. Arizona, which I still think, then in Michigan are two of the top teams in the country. I thought we competed really good against Arizona. The second half came back,

you know, got up a little bit. and then we, you know, we fell off the end, had another, I think, if not mistaken, we had the longest drought we've had all season, scoring droughts, seven minutes and 20 seconds in the second half, which didn't help. And Samson said it, and I felt the same way, even before he said it, I think we were just out of gas come Monday night, and you don't win in Kansas on Monday night very often. I mean, I think it's 41 and 0 for herself over there.

So I wasn't, I was hoping to win that, but I wasn't, You know, I didn't, I wasn't count on that, to be honest with you, but all in all, my point is I used to really feel strong about the seeds, you know, one seed, two seed, feel pretty good. But this year, I'm a little different. We played the best. We competed hard against them. If we get a two or three seed, you know, known NCAA, I can see him, put us out of four seed. You never know. But I feel good about our team, especially with a two, three guard pretty strong this year.

I don't think the defense is playing as good. I think Samson said a couple years ago, a offense that is really synced up good, the defense being synced up good is just as important. And I don't think our defense is, I mean, there's so many balls, passes I see on defense that two, three, four years ago, we'd snack up and take it down for a turnover.

I don't see a lot of those this year, but I think we're still getting better as year goes on. I guess saying all that, how do you feel about where we're going? Are we getting better? How you like our seating? Is that as important to you as it is this year? Not so much to me. I think we've played the best.

I think that Michigan and Arizona and, of course, Duke are the top. But I think we can pee with anybody, especially in the tournament when you go to those two to three guards, strong teams. That's all I had, Matt. Ross. Thank you all. and Madeline, like to hear how you feel about it. Thanks, Debbie very much.

It was a really good phone call. This is whatever team's going through right now, Ross. It's not just Houston. It's Arizona. It's Michigan. It's Duke. It's Kansas. You're playing in these blood-bath conferences, and you think, well, oh, we've been exposed about something.

I brought this up. Maybe even if you were sick. tell me what team in the country could have three top 15 opponents in seven days and go three and oh. I mean, those are just special teams that do that. And I'm not devastated over the fact they went 0 and 3. Would I have liked them to get a victory? Absolutely. But come tournament time, this team, even though they've got two freshmen leading the way, it's well tested.

Milo's Uzanne has been there before. You've got a lineup that's got seven or eight players deep. you've got Fleming's is one of the most dynamic freshman in the country. Seenek has been playing better as of late. I think they have just as much chance as anybody else but the one thing that has hurt them

like it's hurt them in the last couple of years in regular season play even though they ran for the Big 12 pretty easily last year is that they are prone to scoring droughts like any college basketball team is. And you know if Fleming's gets into foul trouble and all of a sudden they've double team

who's going to come through and help out, Jojo Tugler, when he's on the floor, is outstanding as a rebounder, as a rim protector, and as a shot blocker because of his wingspan, but part of the greatest, it's him staying on the floor and saying on a foul triple. I'm as bullish as I was before the three-game streak. If they had won all three games, Rossi, I don't think I'd have been clamoring for them to be a chalk pick to win the national championship. It would have been nice, but at the end of the day, I mean, it's not like they got completely blown out in any of these games. I mean, the Kansas game was the biggest deficit in all of them,

but that was a close game at halftime. It would have been nice to win, especially one of the first two where you had more of a shot. Yeah, I'll just say this. The big 12 tournament's going to get them ready. Again, coach will have them ready. Their defense still remain strong. They're just going through some scoring issues right now.

And as far as I'm concerned, I just think this year is going to be more competitive. I'll be honest with you. I watch Duke and I watch Arizona and I watch Michigan. I'm much college basketball. You're catching Ross. But there's like six or seven teams that could comfortably win this whole thing. And that's usually with the cases year and a year out.

I just mostly watch Texas and get disappointed. They were close with Florida for a while. And they lost. I mean, I'm sorry about that. Yeah, Florida went on like a 15-0 run. And Florida, by the way, is playing really good right now, too. Yeah, I know. You know, I do need a manual sharp to shoot better.

Can I get that at least? I don't know. I hope so. I need sharp to shoot better. I need Tuggler to stay out of the... Sharp shooting, huh? I see you. I see you working.

And the fact is, Kingston Flumings is playing it above his age, but this will be his first turn, and for all what might most likely be his only tournament runs here. So, yeah, I thought everything in the caller brought up made a lot of sense. there's nothing that makes me go, oh my gosh, they don't typically turn the ball over a lot. They're smart.

They do get into foul trouble, but like most college teams, and ultimately, speaking to foul trouble, I wish the Cougars shot better free throws. But I could say that about every NBA, every college basketball team. They're not the favorite, but if you go to anybody that has any sort of betting interest in it, the Cougars are always,

and then have been this year, even though they've lost three straight games, a team that is six or seventh favorite to win the whole thing. And I'll take my chances. with that. We have non-Florida excuse me, we have Florida stories coming up in a half an hour from now.

And we have Hellie or not at 1250 today or 150 today. What's the topic? Sports Talk 790s. If you want to get in. What's that? What's the topic today? A topic. Have we ever done a Reed Shepherd,

believe it or not? Hellier or not? No. Maybe when he was drafted? I mean, his parents are athletes. You're more than, they're welcome to do that.

It seems like a little much. Okay. What else is going on? Oh, by the way, because my Twitter algorithm is apparently listening to the show. Average walk-in price for Atlanta versus Orlando? $278. Oh, wow.

So Magic City Night, they're not messing around. Nope. $200 to see those two. mid to NBA teams? That's got, that's crazy. Good for them, I guess. By the way, Joe Lannardi has a Hell yeah or not. Cougars has a three seed.

Yeah. Is he got us in the south, please? Tell me yes. Is that in Oklahoma City and then Houston? It looks like it. Yes, and then down to Houston? Oh, they would have Texas as the 10 seed as the, huh, in the same bracket. You ready to make a bet? Oh, hell no. I'll give you points.

Yeah, give me whatever. We can make a point spread, bet. Whatever the point spread ends up being. Probably like cougars by what. Very good. They were seven and a half point dogs, I think the Florida at home. So in a neutral side to Houston, probably nine and a half, ten, ten and a half. I like it.

I like it. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Final hour next year on 7-90. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. 105 on Sports Talk 7.9. We've got Florida stories coming up in 25 minutes from now.

We've got Hellier, not at 150. And we welcome you for this final hour of the show. For anything goes Friday, at 713-212-5-790. Rockets with a big, big, come from behind 19-point deficit, turning into a Rockets victory. Thanks to Reed Shepard. Rockets won 1113-108 over the Magic. Reed last night had 20 points, including five-three-pointers.

at one point in the game were under 10% from three. And I want to say, Ross, did they hit one three-point in the first half? I think that's what it was. I think they started one for 14. It was a Dorian Finney Smith, like top of the key, he was leaning in and somehow snuck in. And other than that, they were, I think, one for 14 to start. Yeah, they finished 10 to their last 15, something like that from three. Still finished at 38% from three, which is at their season average.

But, yeah, it was a tail of two halves. Rockets will be taken on the Orlando, the Miami Heat tomorrow here in Miami. We'll have it for, I think it's a 2.30 start time, 2 o'clock on the network of 2.30 start time from here in South Florida. Rockets will have Sunday off and then we'll

travel to play the Washington Wizards on Monday. Texans and wrapping up the rest of the scotting combine. Have you watched much of the combine? Again, I've been busy with rockets, and you've been homesick. Has that been on your NFL network watch list?

No. That's okay if you say no. I'm just not a combine guy. I just think it's ridiculous how, again, these young men are asked from 32 different media markets. What does it like to play for the Panthers? What does it like to play for the Texans? Of course they're going to say I want to play for them. This is weird.

But again, it just shows you again how much football is consumed. And even though maybe you and I don't get into it, there are millions and millions and millions of people that love, combine interviews and guys running the 40s and in their t-shirts and underwear flexing and doing that kind of thing. Getting all excited about high jumps and short shuttles and stuff. It's just not my jam. Well, the reality is this, if the Texans are the top three pick, we maybe would feel differently about it. You're right.

But when you're picking 28th, it doesn't necessarily warm the cockles of your heart. Astros are going to take on the, is it the Marlins today? It usually can default to the Cardinals, the Mets, the National. those are the Marlins for spring training games. It is a night game tonight, which will have it for you here on 790. It'll start at 4.50. And as far as the lineup is concerned,

Jose Al-Tubei makes a spring training debut. He'll play second base. Love it. Taylor Tremel, Rossi, the slugging Taylor Tremels is a D.S. He's on fire! Yonair Diaz is going to catch and bat third today. Zach Cole is in right field,

batting fourth. Sneaky Snake Jake is in Centerfield Hill bat fifth. Some dude named Unroo is going to play at first base today. Riley Unro! Did you interview him at Astros? Bring, uh,

Dave and Pastor? Hey, come on. No. No, you were at Fan Fest with me. That's right. Riley Unro. Oh, Ryder Unro from Lord of Louisiana, baby. Is Gordy there getting an exclusive interview with him?

Yes, he is. They're asking him if he prefers a dark rue or a lighter roo. in his gumbo. And apparently from what we learned last week, the ruin West Palm is a little different than the ruin, say, Lafayette. Yeah, there are certain Louisiana snobs that wouldn't try the gumbo in West Palm.

And it rhymes with the bandler gnome. Rod Unro is 30 years old. Young Joe Loporffito bat seventh and plays left field today. Looking for his first spring training hit. Is that true? 0 for 6? Let me ask us, why, Why would you give low perfido less at bats and Unro?

In theory. You got to get a look at Unro. No, you don't. Nobody wants to look at Unroo. Hey. Maybe the Unroo family does. I'm waiting for you to get to the nine spot. Alan's batting eighth.

Yes. Mr. Utility for 2026. Something called Biggers. Jacks. J-A-X. Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. What?

know you don't like guys named Jax. Jonathan, step in here for just a second. What's going on? First of all, no black guys are named Jax. You met a white guy named Jax and are normally not a douchebag. Well, the Jacks from Mortal Kombat was black.

That's the only one I'm thinking of, actually. Matt, you have a very, that's a very strong stereotype, and I'm not going to lie, you're kind of right. He's from... I'm 100% right. He's from Missouri City, by the way. Oh, it's a Houston kid. Okay, good.

We went to University of Arkansas. Is there a Shreveport branch of the University of Arkansas? I'm missing out on here? They're close. He will be 29 in April. His name again is what? Jacks Biggers. Excuse me?

What? Jacks Biggers? That's the name of my pre-workout. Okay. If any, let me tell you this. Anybody knows a good dude. I mean, just a really, really solid. Why can't he be a solid guy?

There's no chance. Come on. John. Back me up on this. Jacks. I'm not going to lie. That reeks of douchebaggery. He's playing.

He's 5'9. He's playing third base. Poor kid. You know what? And he's got a douchebaggery name. He's really got a tough life. I hope somebody from the Biggers family calls in and yells at you. Let me tell you something.

If we'll get him on the show, he may be the nicest kid in the, he's not a kid anymore. How old is he said? 30. He'll be 29 and April 7th. It's a young prospect. I'm just going to say this, and I will not ask for any responses from any of you,

but I want you to think about this in the back of your mind. Give me some other first names of complete debags right off the stop. Start. I can't, man. Just because a baby gets a name doesn't mean, their D-bag. I'm Matt. Is it Matt?

No, not Matt. It's not one of them. That's exactly right. Good. I got one for you and you know I'm not wrong. Jonathan, here it comes. You ready? Three, two, one.

Brody. I don't think I've ever met a Brody. Jacks and Brody. Stay with me on that. On the phones. Roger with us at 112 on 7. Hello, Roger. Hey, Tom.

Matt and Matt and Russ. Hey, so real quick on the Astros. I know it's late for good feelings and all that, but I have a funny feeling, Mr. Diaz, Mr. Ina Diaz is going to be a DFA before the All-Sher game. I just feel it. I think he's going to bring a whole bunch of nothing. DFA. It looks like what happened to it. Yeah, man.

I don't see him pretty well. I just, I see him framing out, man. I just, I don't know what's going on. Oh, hold, hold, hold, hold, hold on the other. Roger, Roger, Roger, Roger. Roger, Roger, I have a bouchback season. Roger. I want you to say the very first thing you said again.

Hi, Matt. Hi, well. No, past that. How's it going? Who do you want, who's going to get DFAed? Now you said? Yider Diaz. Roger.

You're starting to catch you. You are not allowed to sniff blue on my radio show. From second base. Roger. That guy. This is like a. The guy who has two left. like a Brad

horrible take. This is like a James and Klein horrible take. It is absolutely pathetic. It's not, though,

it's going to happen. That guy's, I don't know what's going on and he's not in the game, man. I just don't. Give us a month

and we'll see about what happened. We'll revisit this. That's my feeling about this guy. Well, you need to get that feeling. You need to get some, antibiotics for that feeling is that's a horrible feeling not happening okay well i'm okay well uh hopefully

walker yanna can can can show us something too uh also on the rockets uh the key to uh to our rocket success along with health um is is uh the key is re shepherd man uh he's he's he's the he's a he's a he's a wild card man this guy brought us back from the dead uh last night and you know he's he's He's a wild card, man. If he flames up like that during a playoff run, he knows. But we've got to have that outside shooting, man. And hopefully, you know, in the offseason, because that KD. windows closing, that hopefully Thompson and maybe even Alpi can develop some kind of shot, man.

And that's all I got, man. I'm good with. I can't get past his. Janair Diaz take. It's so bad. It's very bad. Was it Cesar Salazar? It's going to be the everyday guy? Yeah. Well, he wants Yonick to take over the spot. Which, I mean, look, there's a chance Janair Diaz could get DFA'd in three years, maybe.

Let's relax. Should we start doing a segment called The Absolute Worst Caller of the Week? And I love Roger like a second cousin. You know this, right? We appreciate his calls and his listenership. He's a 10 o'clocker and his support. We love Roger. He's a 10 o'clocker. clocker he's a he's a believe it or not a prize whore we love you for that too yeah two things can be true we love your support roger and that was a dumb ass call yeah and we love you roger but we do and know that from the bottom of one 15 we've got uh florida stories coming up in 15 minutes here on sports talk 790

anything goes friday continues including getting rid of the starting catcher d f a m okay 713 212 5 790 7190 7190 5790 and Conroe at 121. Hello, Jason. Look, I'm not going to sit there and say that was a dumb take. I mean, it kind of was, but, you know, it kind of makes sense, because honestly, some of us just don't like Yanni or Diaz. We just don't like what he does at the plate. He has these lucky streets, and then sometimes he goes cold. And I'm just going to be honest.

I like Marker Yonni. I believe there's a reason why they drafted him in the first round. You don't draft a catcher that high. And I believe, and I'm not wishing injury on anybody, but I'm just saying, if Diaz gets hurt and that kid comes up and shines, he might lose his spot. I think he's better than Diaz. I don't think that's a dumb take it off.

How often have you seen him play? I've been watching and playing the minors. I keep up with that. I keep up with the minors. because I like to be familiar with the players that they eventually will call up. I keep up with all that. Okay. And I respect that.

That means you're a good baseball fan. It makes me happy. Last time Ross and I looked at the Walter Yonik numbers, they weren't good at spring training. I mean, in the minor league, excuse me. No, but that was this first season. You've got to give the guy some credit. What kind of credit does he deserve? I'm not saying right now he's better than Diaz.

I'm just saying eventually he has a potential to be better than Diaz because I think once that kid gets hot and there's no doubt, they like him. When you call somebody to spring training, with spring training to spring training, you want to see what they can do. I mean, he's not too horribly bad, but my thing is what Diaz is he, like I said, he has these hot streaks and he goes cold. I don't think he's very patient into play. I don't like the fact that he swings at everything. And when he does swing and actually gets a hit or makes the home run, people get happy about it. I mean, it's something you want to see.

You want to see a player be consistent. I just don't think he has. He's consistent. Now, defensively, a catcher, he's great. But, like, when it comes to offensive, he's just, I'm not high on him. Okay. I think you're confusing the people. Yonick is 23 and hasn't been above A ball.

Well, maybe I have a dumb take, so I don't know. You're the judge. I don't know. I mean, it could be not their smartest one. I don't know. It could be a great take. You never know. I mean, I'm going to tell you right now, Walter Yonix career minor league batting

members. He's a career 244 batting average with an OPS of 7-11. Not great. I do want to ask you a question, though, about a basketball question. Uh-oh. I might be a little bit out of the. the realm here, but I got to be honest, everybody in my household

is a rocket stand. I grew up in Louisiana, we were Spurs fans. If it came down to a seven-game series between the the Rockets and the Spurs, who would you take? Rockets in four. Thank you for the phone call. I appreciate it.

Yonick had a good Arizona fall league. That's encouraging. 59 plate appearances. Yeah. 770 OPS. but he's 23 and he hasn't hit double A yet.

So, I mean, let's pump the brakes on he, he's the heir apparent. It'd be nice if he can develop. He should be the heir apparent. He should be, it'd be nice. That's where you drop him the first round. Right. But, yeah, there's no foundation at this point

that says he's going to necessarily take over for him. He hits 12 home runs. Ooh, and 400 plate appearances in high A ball. 22 years old in high A, last year. He's 23. He turned 23 in September. We'll see. Maybe he's a late bloomer.

A lot of late bloomer's on this squad. Yeah. And look, we're not trying to be the president and the vice president of the Yonner Diaz. He struggled mildly. He is. He was bad last year. And he's not a great defensive catcher. No, he's not.

No, again, I think he's looking at something else. I don't know. 2019 Martine Maldonado tape maybe Hey now All right Well now that the show has come to a screeching halt with Yarn Air Diaz Hate

Love Kind of I guess Well he said he was up and down That's what most Major League Baseball players He's got to have a better year though He was bad last year No he needs to have a better year There's really no other fans are butts about it

Especially because arbitration years are kicking in now And you're gonna be thinking about free and seeing a couple of couple years down the road. He's got to be better. If not, Walter Yonix's got to get, but, you know, I hope I'm pronouncing it right. I think it is Yonik, if I'm not to say. Let's roll with that, yeah. It's a soft job.

I have a high school teacher named Mrs. Yonick. Oh, really? They could be related. He's from the Houston area. She was my algebra teacher for two years. When I was in junior high and eighth grade, I took algebra two with her when I was a sophomore in high school. and when I got honored by the May Creek High School from their Hall of Honor,

I went down to say hello to some people and she happened to be at the school the same day because she was doing some substitute work. She's since retired. I said, Mr. Johnick, this is Matt Thomas. They're putting me in the Hall of Honor, and she goes, were you one of my students? And I'm like, okay.

She can't remember everybody, Matt. She's been as if you were there decades ago. But don't you remember the great Texans? built the school for what it is today? You know, it's hard to remember you because you had the mascot hat on. That feels fair. By the way, I said, I'm in Portland, Texas. He's from Portland, not the Houston area.

Portland, Texas, which is like further southwest. All right. People are sending me texts. Are you going to be at the cookoff tonight? Are you? They're asking me if you're going to be there. They're asking you if I'm going to be there? Yes.

I don't plan on it. I'm not feeling well. you know, I mean, you're kind of a celebrity in these streets. Yeah. Let's get a calling before we get to down to Florida Stories. Vince is with us on 790. Hello, Vince. Hey, I'm getting into the show late this afternoon, so I had a thought about

yesterday's a Rocket Game. Yeah. So, yeah, I've kind of caught that the last five, ten minutes. But concerning the Rockets game last night, with Reed actually even being in there on defensive purposes, not purposes, but basically he was in there on defense when, you know, normally he wouldn't be at late in the game.

Where do you think that's going with him with Shepard and and Amen? I love Amen. I love them both, actually. But just kind of what's that dynamic you think is going to, how that's going to play out? I really don't think anything's going to change. I think you're going to still see a man in the starting lineup. Now, if Jabari can't go tomorrow, do you put him in and read on the floor at the same time?

That certainly could be something into play. If Tar Isson's leg, you know, he stumbled a little bit towards the end, but he did finish the game yesterday. I would not read much into what happens tomorrow, especially if Jabari and or Tar, you're less than 100%. But this was asked an answer to a week ago.

Now, certainly, E. May I doke can change his mind wrong on this? But the question was, do you anticipate Reed, Sheppard being a part of the starting lineup? And he said, not now, if ever. And it's not because he hates Reed. I mean, Reed's been had two dynamic turns in a row. I've just said this before, and I don't know if he may would back me up on this,

but I love bench scoring punch. And if you take Reed out of the starting lineup or put him in the lineup, you're losing a guy that gives you typically most nights, 14, 15 points a game off the bench. Well, my angle is more about late in the game situations, because I think there was a lot of criticism of, them of a couple of games with they kind of blew

where Reed wasn't in there. So I don't know. I think it's interesting. It's a good problem to have two decent ballplayers and that can, you know, give you different aspects of the game. So anyways, I'll hang up. Thanks for the Vine, man.

Thank you. That's our pleasure to have you on the show. I mean, you asked them point blank, what did they have to do? And it came across to me, Ross, he said it was about defense. It was about, of course, I need shooting on the floor, but I need somebody to stop somebody in the fourth quarter as well. Yes, and I mean, last night he felt with the matchup that that's the way he was hot.

And a lot of times, I mean, Josh Okie played a ton in the second half as well. And that's something Emaudoka has done. When teams have been down big and then they make a big comeback and Reed Cheper was part of it, I think Okoey was on the floor for a lot of that. He's six with those guys. And he did it last night. He rewards them. And Reed Cheper got rewarded.

Yeah. I think things are fluid on this for sure. I think absolutely things can change on a game-by-game base, especially if guys are not at 100%. All right, Florida stories are up next. We'll take some more phone calls as well if you want to get in. 7-13-213-2-1-790. 7-1-2-5-7-90.

We find interesting stories that occur outside the state of Florida and share them with the people of Houston. It's time for non- Noelle Jonathan Ross or myself are in the state of Florida at any point during the week We change it from non-Florida stories

To Florida Stories And here we go at 137 on Sports Talk 790 Richard Jarvis gentleman Is 43 years old He faces charges of assault and battery He's an Orlando man He was arrested when he went into a Chinese restaurant And tried to destroy the restaurant

And the customers and the staff they were at the Chinese restaurant. I saw this one. He threatened to kill everyone before entering through the front door. When he got in, he just began tossing and destroying over $4,000 worth of food and cooking instruments. The owner tried to run away, but Jarvis struck him in the back with a shovel telling the owner, if you run away, I'll kill you. That's not good.

Deputies found Jarvis in the kitchen, armed a shovel, shouting the quote, He had to destroy the food because all the Chinese were poisoning the food. He went on to later say, ladies and gentlemen, that Mr. Jarvis says all these Chinese restaurants are going to release a new strain of COVID on July the 6th. I'm a profit. I'm trying to save everyone. Jarvis faces charges of assault, aggravated battery with a weapon, burglary, and criminal mischief. He is being currently held without bond. He is a prophet and said, I'm going to a Chinese restaurant to stop COVID. And that's my Florida story.

Apparently you stole Jonathan's. Oh, I'm sorry, Jonathan. No, it's okay. I'm not looking leg. I'll get that to you. All right. Well, I guess I'll go while. Jonathan finds another one.

Matt, let me take you to Lee County, Florida. Where... What buyers, baby? Florida Highway Patrol troopers said they found a man, unfortunately, asleep behind the wheel. early Tuesday morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident happened around 140 a.m.

At the Taco Bell, located at 17-460 Ben Hill Griffin Parkway in Lee County. The 21-year-old man was arrested after he was asleep behind the wheel in the Taco Bell drive-thru lane. A state retruper who was in the drive-through line reported, now this is bad luck, you fall asleep and pass out of the drive-out

of the drive-through line, there's a state trooper behind you. The Black and Fronity in front of his patrol vehicle failed to move forward. After activating an air horn and a siren with no response, the trooper exited his vehicle to check on the driver. Evan Joseph Villano of Astero was found behind the wheel, asleep, and did not initially respond to verbal commands. He was awakened and placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Authorities added his breath alcohol level measured approximately twice the legal limit. So he gets to the drive-thru and then just falls asleep as he's about to order? Yes. And a state trooper has passed out behind him and he doesn't wake up from his air horn or his sirens.

Man. I want to say that I've probably fallen asleep in a drive, not a drive-boat and a fast food restaurant parking lot. I've done that. Really? Yeah. You get tired and take a nap to get you a QP with cheese, fries, drink.

You put the radio on. You fall asleep for a little bit. But not in the drive-through line itself. Yeah. Evan Villano was unable to make a run for the border, Matt. And he was also, as I mentioned, a twice the legal limit. Yeah. Wow.

At the taco. What time of the day was this? 1.40 a.m. Well, yeah. But who goes, I guess the question is whoever goes to Taco Bell pre 10 p.m. Nobody. Because you want to go with the shroud

or night. You want to get spotted there. And you got that right. Jonathan, do we kill enough time for you to get your Florida store? Okay, good,

because I got it right, believe it or not. All right. So, just the title of the headline. Florida man used taco seasoning in a $10,000

trading card thief scheme. Keith Wallace faces up sentenced to 90 years. A Florida man arrested Monday was accused of still another $10,000 worth

of trading cards at self-checkouts by scanning seasoning packets in their place. 39th Wallace faces two counts of organized retail theft, three counts of dealing and stolen property, and a charge of mundering laundering, the chief office said on social media.

According to the statement from the sheriff's office, the Attorney General said Wallace made approximately $40,000 in proceeds through online sales of trading cards and now faces to sit in terms of 90 years.

So tell me again what is, what he did wrong? So you know, all right. So you know when you go to self-checkouts, right? They're trusting you to scan it. Yes, at the grocery store. So he's getting like trading cards, like Pokemon cards, whatever he's getting. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he's getting some taco season he got at the house and scanning it or at the store

and scanning that instead and then selling it online. So you know how like the cards or the taco seasoning? The cards. The cards are trading cards online for money. So like, you know how Gordy's always upset with the. He's a bobblehead like scalpers. Yes. So think about how they're doing that and selling it online.

But he's doing this and stealing from the store and using the taco seasoning to have a cheaper price. So it's like $2 for how much he's doing and then selling it online for. Oh, so he's using the taco seasoning as kind of a decoy. Yes. Okay. That's an odd thing that used as a, why don't you mean, it'd just be easy if he just flat out stolen. Yeah, it was a 99-scent packet of taco seasoning. He did it to 75 retail stores

Across Orlando to Homestead So he's covering the entire state basically This guy's legit Do people Do kids even use training cards anymore? Oh it's a big Especially Pokemon cards

Do you know Pokemon? I hope you do We used to talk about Pokemon On the show quite a bit back in the day Yeah no Pokemon cards still sell for a lot You got those UVO cards All the types of stuff man I'm sure they still sell baseball cards and everything like that in football cards.

Ross, we had that audio of me reading on that Pokemon, was it a Facebook post or Instagram post? Yeah, let's pass on that. All right. Pokemon Go. Oh, those. Yeah, Pokemon. Hey, Jonathan, when we used to do the show with Pokemon Go conversation, we had some interesting times. To make y'all feel old, I was in seventh grade when that came out.

Okay, that's enough. I was out on a skateboard going to pop stops. You're just young. We're not old. You're young. It's a difference. Yeah. Let me tell you, we are not, let me tell you, we are not old.

Yeah. Yeah. Tell them, man. I don't care. Let me tell you something. I might be something, something age, but my mentality, I'm about 19. You're about 14. Really?

I was going to say 12. 12. I was going to be nice, Chattano. You were going to say 12? No. Seriously. I meant 21. I meant 21.

Yeah, the number is dyslexic. Yeah, exactly, exactly. All right, let's play some hellier or not. Ross, what's the category today? You'll see. Uh-oh. I like when you say you'll see. It is a, you know what we should do?

We should tell you what we're playing for, at least. We can't tell you what the prize, what the game is. We can tell you what the prizes are. On today's edition of a hellier or not, you're playing four tickets. See Rascal Flats at the Rodeo March the 4th. Or Santana and the Doobie Brothers, August 21st at the Woolens Pavilion. Tickets are on sale for that Santana,

Doobie Brothers event at Ticketmaster.com, rodeo-hustin.com if you want to see Rascal Flats. But we'll give the way those tickets next. 145 on Sports Talk 790. Our friend Bonnie just said that she's selling, they were selling a lot of trading cards, Pokemon, sports, magic, UGO. Card game's still strong.

I think it's pronounced Yu-Gi-O, by the way. Eat the bubble gun, that's a question. Are you a big Yu-Gi-go guy, Matt? Yeah, by the way, what else? What's that? You're a big Yu-Gi-o guy? Yu-Gi-o? Yeah, I love Yu-Gi-O.

I think I do, right? Sure, why not? All right. Five minutes left to go on the show. You guys are going to love today's edition of this. So get ready. This is spectacular. It's time.

We've got five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play America's fastest growing sports radio game show Monday through Thursday we call it B leaving or not but on Fridays we call it a hell yeah or not and here's how it works you call 713213212 570 719 7 1 3212 5 790 today's category is all things about the Magic City strip club in Atlanta Ross 16 years of this first time ever for strip club correct I think so I think Ross is checking out here

You, is he, is he, are you fluent again on me here? You can't hear me? I'm going to read you a statement. The statement's completely utterly accurate. You'll say this. Believe it. No, you won't. You'll say this instead.

I guess they, there is. Look, we're in a time delay here. A statement's erroneous full of bunk and made up. You'll say this. Not. All right. Two hell, yeah or nots are going to win you a prize. I mentioned Rascal Flats March 4th, Santana the Dubies,

August 21st at the Woodlands. Let's play, hell yeah or not. Ruben on 790. Rubin, you're ready to play Hell yeah or not. Hell yeah. Magic City's famous chicken wings only came about so that the club could meet the legal requirement to continue to serve liquor after 2 a.m.

Hell yeah or not? Hell yeah. Not. Let's go to Ryan on 790. Ryan, you ready to play hell yeah or not? Hell yeah. Many prominent Atlanta hip-hop figures have previously DJed at Magic City

including ludicrous and Shawty Low, is that right? Shottie Low. Hell yeah or not. Hell yeah. They may have gone as a guest, but they were not DJing. Jason on 790. Jason, your favorite part of today's 10-2 radio show.

All the fascinating Johnny or Diaz talk. Magic City was rated by the Department of Justice in 2008 with violations including suspended liquor licenses and prostitution. Hell yeah or not? Hell yeah. Not. Three wrong answers so far.

One on 791. You ready to play, hell yeah or not? Hell yeah. In 2014, Magic City faced a lawsuit from its dancers who demanded to be compensated as employees and not independent contractors.

Magic City settled for over $1 million. Hell yeah, or not? Hell yeah. Statement number two for the win. Magic City's official Instagram at Magic City, Atlanta, has over one million followers on Instagram.

Hell yeah, or not? Hell yeah. Not. Oh. No, no, I'm sorry. Let's go to Brian on 790. Brian, you're ready to play Hell yeah or not? In 1994, Magic City

Ownersical Magic Barney was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a drug ring. Hell yeah or not? That's a hell yeah. Statement number two for the win in 2018, the MLS Cup champion Atlanta United Squad celebrated their victory at Magic City. Hell yeah or not. That's a hell yeah, too.

Thank you very much. One more, Joe on Seminary, ready to play, hell yeah or not? Hell yeah. Magic City burned down and suspected arson in 1995 and reopened about a year later. Hell yeah, or not? Not. And that's it for the radio program today. Have a great weekend.

Awesome work by Ross on Hell, yeah, not very late. Thanks, Jonathan, for producing. Thanks for all of you for being a part of our Anything Goes Friday. I'll talk to you for Rockets and Heat tomorrow here from Miami. Up next is Clinton. It's Wexler. It's the team on Sport Talk, 7-Bats. Music