The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - The Matt Thomas Show 12-22-19

Episode Date: December 20, 2019

The Matt Thomas Show w/ @SportsMT, @SportsRV, and @ProNickLow 12/20/19Special Guest Host @ChronBrianSmithRussel Westbrook Lights It Up In A Comeback Win Over The Clippers (0:00)Juke Box Hero (31:06)Eli Manning Benched (49:20)Brian T. Reviews Star Wars : The Rise Of Skywalker (1:10:34)

Much larger than life Yeah! Lunch timers Is the Matt Thomas show. H-Town. Strippers. I can't just belt it out like Matt. I just don't have the fortitude.

Matt Thomas is out. It is the Matt Thomas show. Ross Viriel with you. Brian Smith with you. Nick Lowe with you. It's 713. 21, 2.25. 97-13-21-2-1-2-5-7-90 on a dreary Friday afternoon as Matt Thomas is out traveling with the Rockets,

but we are with you. And we must talk about what happened last night in the NBA. Yes. We have to play the best sports theme in the history of TV sports themes, at least in this man's humble opinion. A little round ball rock with John Tesh as the Houston Rockets get a hard fought. 122 to 1-17 win over the Los Angeles Clippers last night. They got down as much as 17, but they would not be denied as the Houston Rockets overcame. A huge lead in their last couple of games getting down 25 to the San Antonio Spree.

and winning. Getting down 17 to the clippers and persevering. Ball lost near mid-court picked up by Daniel House, one on two, hands it to Russ Westbrook, floats it up, blocking foul, he makes the shot and a chance of a three-point play. Underhand toss against two LA defenders. Clock at 12, Hardin attacks the lane and lays it up with the left hand for two and the Rockets have a nine-point lead with a minute 50 remaining. So this sounds like that. weird to say, Brian, to say that somebody only scored 28, but only 28 scored

by James Hardin. Russell Westbrook scored 40. The first rocket player not named James Hardin to score 40 in a regular season game since Clyde Drexler. Kevin Martin. Hakeem Olazorne.

Camusio won. Camuselago had a couple of 40-point games. Calvin Murphy. Kevin didn't go back that far. Mom alone, no, you don't have to go back to Elvin Hayes. Kevin Martin. Kevin Martin is the last non-James Hardin rocket to score 40 in a regular season game. I make it very simple. That's just crazy.

The Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Clippers on the road and another comeback because of Russell Westbrook. Feels nice to say that, right? Considering what we were talking about a couple of weeks ago and Westbrook and the shooting percentage and was this going to work and we said Ross. The shooting percentage still wasn't good, but good. It's going to take time.

Yes. And it's a work in progress. And I wrote about this in The Chronicle a couple days ago. and everything, you know, game by game, theoretically, Westbrook, if it's going to work, he gets more comfortable and he finds more of a rhythm and becomes more inservive and he takes better shots, all those things. It's still not perfect, but we have seen the pro side, the plus side of Russell Westbrook with the Rockets and back-to-back games. Yeah, so, I mean, he scored 40, which is a season high for him.

Of course, he's had games where he's gone for 40 and 50 plus. He was the best rockering on the court last night. It was the best rocking on the court last night in a game where they needed him to be. And we saw flashes of what we would like to see in the playoffs and what Russell Westbrook is here to do. Russell Westbrook isn't here to be the number two. He's here to be the one B. He's here to be a guy if James Hardin doesn't have it. Or if James Hardin is getting doubled and he's not making his threes, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Somebody's got to step up. And last year, Chris Paul just couldn't be that guy. And it was obvious. Chris Paul was going to get you 18 points a game. He was going to drop 40. He was going to get you an efficient 18. He was going to drop, you know, nine assists. He was going to distribute.

He was going to do well with the second unit. But he was clearly past his prime, and you needed somebody in the prime of their career who can step up. And Russell Westbrook was that last night for the Rockets. And it was just a weird game in itself. It's one of those ones. I mean, we won't talk about a lot of this stuff come, you know, April or March or whatever, Brian. But, I mean, the thing with the, the. How about they're leveling out the basket because Russell Westbrook thought that the basket was uneven.

I've never seen an NBA game stopped after halftime to bring out a level. Patrick Beverly getting ejected and Russell Westbrook waving goodbye to him and getting himself a technical foul. It was just one of those games. Even early on, Patrick Beverly just flopping all over the place. Sign me up for seven Clippers versus Rockets games. But by about, I don't know, probably the first quarter of game one, I'm going to be sick of Patrick. Beverly, I think. I'm sick of Patrick

Beverly. Yeah, it's just like, I'm going to be honest. I love Pat, but when he plays the Rockets, it's just the flopping around and all this stuff, it's a little too much. I love Pat, greatly respect him as a basketball player, incredible story on and on.

I'm going to be honest. I was tired of Pat Beverly's stick by the end of his run with the Rockets. It's just, it was, you know, I mean, he is who he is. And if Pat Beverly wins an NBA championship with the clipboard, playing this role, good for him. You did your job to the maximum of your capability, and it worked and you won a title.

I am not convinced that Pat Beverly will win a title. It might happen this year. They've got a pretty good shot. But right now, I'm not convinced that he can do it, that he can do it an entire playoff run. He is okay. He does a couple things very well. He's not a great shooter.

I'm not sure that if he's in your one-through-way, for 82 games and a two-month playoff run that you can win a title. And I was reminded that again last night. There's so much talk with Beverly. There's so much of it's fake. I mean, when he went up to Mecklamour and act like he was going to fight and kind of put his hands up to him and then he immediately backed away, that's kind of the real Pat Beverly at times.

And then there's good Beverly, there's bad Beverly, there's great Beverly. I am tired at this moment of Pat Beverly. The Rockets won last night. And while I can't be a fan of the Rockets, I did enjoy seeing the road team win in L.A. and Beverly get called out once again on what's become increasingly in some ways a fake tough guy act. Yeah, and Russell Westbrook was tired of that act. Here's what he had to say. He was asked about the ejection and getting a technical last night. Pat Beverly after he got ejected and then James Harding came over to you, did you wish you didn't do that? No. I wish I didn't do it.

Technical. What else was new? got a technical. What else is new? I'm sorry. What kind of question is that? Yeah, did you regret? Not, dude, it's kind of a weird question. That is such a stupid question. And I'm sure it's a nice person, like, I don't mean that personally. Did you, did you regret? Again, it's also a very weird way to frame it. Did you wish you didn't do that? It's like you're talking to it. They won the game. It's like you're talking to a six-year-old. Like, did you wish you didn't do that? Yeah. It was kind of a weird, definitely, a weird question. But Russell, Russell, you know what he's

going to say. He's going to say, no. It's Russell Westbrook. It's. He's going to say one of two things. Next question, or he might actually answer it and give you that. No, why would he regret it? He's probably getting no regrets tattooed on his chest as it's happening. It's spelled R-A-G-R. Of course. No regrets from Russell Westbrook.

But, I mean, he was fantastic last night. And, yeah, I mean, just so many angles on this game. And honestly, I mean, when they got down huge, I just felt like the defense from the Clippers was suffocating the rockets. And then I just felt like, I mean, kind of, like when they got down 25 against the spurs. I was like, this game's over. And you know what?

I was wrong. This team has shown some perseverance the last couple of games. So I'll have to save this for a future segment, and I will tease this right now. I need to get something very serious off my chest, which is the new Star Wars movie. So I went to go see Star Wars last night. And I came home and I have a lot to say about it. And it's not all good. No spoilers.

It's not even close to good. So I came. They don't care. They got your money. Yeah, I know. I went to the fancy screen. I went to the RPX. It was like the $20 screen.

And I came home, listened to it on the radio, watch, you know, first half, second half, et cetera. But when they were down about 15, even the way that the Clippers

closed the second half, though, and they closed it strong. But Hardin had a basket right at the end. And just watching this rocket team, knowing Hardin, having seen enough of Westbrook

for years now, I mean, though it's obviously his first year of the team, all those things together, I didn't feel like it was over. And I, Doc Rivers,

by the end of the game, said the, you know, the Clippers kind of had a let down. To have that much talent on the court, to be at home, the Clippers should have won that game. The Rockets took that game. I mean, the Rockets overall with the better team, Russell Westbrook was the best player on the court. And it was the Rockets defense. It was PJ Tucker's defense. That was what I need to see from the Rockets. They can be that team. They don't even have Eric Gordon. They can be that team. I'm not sure why it keeps taking them getting down 25 and 15. you know, messing around and taking into the second half to get it going,

but they can be that team. They can be that good, and we saw it last night. Yeah, and to your point, Mike Dantonie said, the comebacks are good, but the team can't keep getting down. Exactly. Good, obviously, and we're happy, but we've got to quit coming back all the time. That's just not going to happen. But, you know, once, and then, you know, again,

those two teams came out in the first time. They didn't miss anything. Like, you first didn't miss anything. So it could have been down a few, but they played really going to first half, and then we really am. up our defense. We got into them, and they cooled off, a little bit like spurs, and kind of the same result. I mean, classic Mike Dan Tony there. They got the win, but you know what? You have to, as Jeff Van Gundy used to say, you can't ignore in a win that things you would in a loss. So, I mean,

just because they won the game doesn't mean things was perfect. Mike Dan Tony doesn't want the rockets getting into those holes. You guys want to talk some rockets with us. You can do so. 713-21-75-790 is your phone number 7-1-3-21-5. 790 tweets to at Cron Brian Smith and at SportsRV. We also got a lot of stuff to get to, including Texans and Buccaneers. We got some baseball news that we haven't gotten to that I need to discuss with Brian Smith. So a lot of stuff going on. So stick with us.

We're with you all the way up until 3 o'clock here on Sports Talk 790. At least now we know that losing sucks. And if anybody knows how much losing sucks, it's Matt Thomas. I'm outstanding. This is Whitney Merciless. Back to the Matt Thomas Show on Sports Talk 790. Matt Thomas Show without Matt Thomas, rolling along here, Sports Talk 790. With you all the way until 3 o'clock.

Got a lot of stuff to get to. We will get Brian Smith's review on the last Skywalker or the Rise of Skywalker or what was the last Jedi. Now it's the Rise of Skywalker. That's the thing. It's so hard to even know the title now. It's very confusing. The Rise of Skywalker. Okay. We'll just call it Star Wars 9, right?

Is it the 9th one? It is the ninth one. and then there's technically 11 because of Rogue 1 Solo and Solo but technically it's Star Wars 9 it's the end of the Skywalk or saga. I was so excited and that was the high

point. We will definitely talk about that as a show goes along. Also talking about the Rockets are you guys who want to get in 713-2125790 713-212-5-790 getting a tweet in you can tweet to at SportsRV and at Cron Brian Smith. This one from Aaron Burgess 713.

Hey, Sports RV, do you think P.J. Tucker gets enough respect for his shutdown defense. He was lights out last night in LA. Love your show. I listen whenever I can, including replay podcast when I miss a live show. First of all, Aaron, thank you very much. That's a big fan, Ross. I didn't even see that.

No, I didn't read that just because he said that. I was trying to read the whole time. I just read the PJ Tucker part, I promise. But thank you very much, Aaron, for the kind words there. But yeah, that's something we didn't gloss up. We mentioned it, but we didn't go into detail. But, yeah, that's absolutely a huge part of the story last night was P.J. Tucker and his individual defensive effort against Kauai Leonard and basically his team defense. And that's what PJ Tucker is here for. And that's what PJ Tucker is going to have to do. If the rockets are going to be successful, if they're going to win a championship, you need every part of the team to be there. And that's why I love the way that this rocket's roster is comprised is you have the star power and then you have, you always need those. the next layer of guys with like the Clint Capellas, the PJ Cappellas, the PJ

Tucker's, the Eric Gordons when he comes back and all that type of stuff. And PJ Tucker is going to have to be that dude defensively. He's their best individual defender. He's the perimeter or post. He's the best defender on this team. Yes, he's overshadowed. He's overlooked. You know, he's not on the Rockets.

He's not within the league. I mean that by the players and the coaches and the executives. But big picture. I mean, if you flip on ESPN, are they ever going to be talking about PJ Tucker? No. But PJ Tucker was fantastic last night. They won that game because of Russell Westbrook. They won that game because of PJ Tucker and his defense

and how they were able to change that game in the second half. And, you know, he has to do a few corner threes and at times be a little more aggressive on offense, but you've also got Hardin and Westbrook, so you can only take so many shots. And you have Capella and when you have Gordon healthy. But PJ Tucker, it's about the defense and the grit and the intensity and the focus. And when the Rockets have been at their best the last few years,

PJ Tucker is often at his best, Ross. And like championship teams throughout history have had a guy like PJ Tucker. Like Shane Battier on the Miami Heat teams back in the day. Or I mean, what Dennis Rodman did for those Bulls teams in their second three Pete. And we can go on and on and up and down. I mean, like those Lakers teams had like Derek Fisher playing defense and knocking down threes and doing all the dirty work. We can just point to teams up and down the spectrum. And that's what PJ Tucker's role is.

is you don't win a championship because of PJ Tucker types, but you don't win a championship without PJ Tucker types. And that's exactly what he's here for. And it's amazing to me, Hardin was not aggressive at all in the first half. Now they're double teaming him, and he's passing off and trying to find the open shooter. But for them to win that game against a very good Clippers team on the road, you have to travel to the West Coast,

you're starting your road trip, to be down 15 to be down a significant margin at halftime. And you can see the Clippers were celebrating at the end of the first half. that they won the game, but they were confident. They're like, man, we were smoking these guys. Hardin was not aggressive enough in the first half. He was deferring. But he would say, and rightfully so, that plan worked out.

He got Westbrook involved. He got the other guys involved. You'll see LeBron James do that a lot. Pre-Lakers to where LeBron would set up, set up, and then take over. And look, that, I don't want to say that was the best when the Rocks have had this season, but in terms of getting to the next level this season, the next, taking the next step this season, this team's starting to get to where they need to be in the West and the top five in the NBA, they needed that win last night and they found a way to win it.

Yeah, I like that point, Brian, because it's an 82 game season, right? And sometimes we complain, like, the season's way too long, the NBA, they need to shorten it up to generate interest and all that type of stuff. But it is an 82 game season. It's an 82 game season, and it allows teams, especially when you're just mishmashing superstars together like the Rockets have, it allows. allows them to find themselves. And so far early in this season, the Rockets are, what,

28 games into the season? You can find yourself. Right now, right now they are tied for third in the West with Denver, good Denver team. They're a game behind the Clippers who they beat last night, obviously, for second in the West. And the Lakers, all of a sudden, I knew this is going to happen. The Lakers have lost two straight.

They have depth issues. They haven't really been tested. And we're not even 30 games into the season. Look, we've been critical, analytical of this team. I wrote in the chronic club days, they have to be better. They know they can be better. They either were underperforming, which they were a little. Mike Dan Tenney would say that, or it's an 82 game season, and they have yet to hit their stride,

and they are a classic work in progress without Eric Gordon. And I'm not going to let one win swing things, but if you're going to take the optimistic view of this team, being four and a half back, tied for third, a game out of the second spot, I mean, name me another team in the NBA right now, Ross, who is significantly better than the rockets with Eric Gordon, right? The rockets are clicking. Milwaukee maybe, but Milwaukee also has issues outside of the Greek freak. I mean, they've still got some issues.

They beat the Lakers last night. That's a very good team, best team in the NBA right now. I like Boston. Boston still has some issues. I love what Miami's done this year. Miami still has some issues. Clippers, we saw that last night. I mean, until the Clippers actually finish a series, win a title,

As the Clippers, it's not just Kauai, as the clippers with Doc Rivers or the coach, they'll have to convince me. And Denver's good. Denver's not great. The Rockets are in that top three to four mix. Yeah, the Rockets are absolutely in that mix. And I think they're still figuring themselves out a little bit and still trying to get better. And oh, by the way, missing Eric Gordon, who's one of their top five best players,

the top six, however you want to put it. I'd have him as their number two defender. I'd have PJ Tucker and then Eric Gordon. I think that's a great point as well. So, I mean, you get him back and you hopefully just stay healthy from there. There's no guarantees, right? We always put it on our mind. Oh, you get Eric Gordon back.

You're set for the season. Like, anything can happen. Somebody else goes out the second he comes back. Right, et cetera. You know, but I don't want that to happen. But you can't necessarily plan for that. Full strength. The rockets are there with just about anybody, and they're still getting better.

You guys want to talk about that. 713-212-5-790. The phone number, 7-13-2-1-2-7-90. Where are you at? right now on the Rockets. To get to that here on the phone lines, we also can talk about Texans, Buccaneers, we got a story from the NFL.

Somebody got arrested, a Pittsburgh Steeler. That's a funny story we need to get to. You better play my song on the jukebox, rocks. Well, otherwise, there are going to be some terroristic threats. We got to get to that. We got a lot of stuff to get to, so stick with us. Short break here, don't go anywhere. Sports Talk 790.

You're home for Houston Rockets Basketball. Red Nation lives here. Thomas show without Matt Thomas continues here on Sports Talk 790. Matt Thomas continues to be out with his fancy madness just to set for you guys the next couple of days here. Of course, it's the holidays, guys, and running out and all that type of stuff.

Matt Thomas out today. He will be back on Monday from Sacramento. Then he will be out Christmas Eve. There are no shows here, Christmas Day, and then he will be back the 26, 27. of that weekend. Then after that, I will be gone the next, the 30th and the 31st. So you'll have Matt Thomas there. And then, of course, after the new year, we'll all be reunited and it feels so good, the Matt Thomas show in full. So just setting that guys, setting that up for you guys.

If you want to get in, 713, 2125790. The phone number, 713, 2125790. Brian Smith with me. He will be giving us his Star Wars review. Spoiler free. at some point. I'm not that type of person. Later on the show, I don't think you are. We also have a funny NFL story to get to, but also talking a little bit of NBA. Are you going to the Alam Bowl? I am not going to the Alamo Bowl.

What a missed opportunity, Ross. No, I would actually go. I would absolutely go. I'm sure you would. Look, the team's not good, but I still support my guys. All right. Somebody's got to pay that Todd Orlando buyout. He was making $1.7 million a year to be the defensive coordinator for the Longhorns.

And I remember being pumped that Todd Orlando was coming with Tom Herman from the University of Houston. Yeah, it was. It was kind of a partnership. I mean, despite the fact that he had a square head and a weird haircut, he was a he was like he was, he was a guy who was talked about as being a head coach, other places. He was considered for the U of H job over major Applewhite. I'm trying to think if anyone would top this. I believe Texas was the most disappointing team in college football this year. Can you top it?

I guess. probably maybe not. I mean, what were they? There were seven and five? Seven and five. Probably aspirations of ten wins or somewhere that neighbor. They won the sugar bowl last year, beating Georgia.

Yeah, they went ten and four last year. In a game, they weren't supposed to win. Yeah, but I... And they go seven and five, and in Tom Herman's third year, with your quarterback coming back, and you end up by completely, completely cleaning house except for himself.

And now everything, not that it wasn't the first three years, now every spotlight is focused on Tom Herman entering year four. Huge step, I'm sorry, huge step backward for this team this year. Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, the national narrative was, are they going to vie for a playoff spot? But I didn't necessarily buy into that. Because everything that I read, because they had some holes, they lost a lot on the offensive line. They lost eight starters on the defense. And some of the guys that got back,

they honestly didn't develop well. And that was going to be the optimistic point. It's like, you got a lot of, four, five-star recruits coming in. Can Tom Herman develop these guys and get them ready? And you add into the fact that the development wasn't good. There were a lot of injuries.

And Sam Ellinger didn't necessarily regress, but there were a number of games where he was inconsistent. And it all adds up to a seven and five season. And definitely a disappointment. And it's fun. It's fun to make fun of the Aggies. And praise them as well when they play well. It's fun to make fun of Longhorns.

And they had a fantastic year last year. Fantastic year last year. But I just going to the Alamo Bowl, like what's worse going to the being A&M? Well, I know the answer to this. They're going to Texas Bowl. Yeah. You know, being A&M and your bowl game is 90 miles away, you know, and you're like, oh, Energy Stadium again, which if you're the Texans playing in NFL, that's an honor. If you're A&M and that's your bowl game, that is not an honor.

That's like the Liberty Bowl. Or what's worse? Or being Texas and the Alamo Bowl. For me, it's easy. It's Texas in the Alamo Bowl. At least the Aggies, even with the no-show, not even a no-show. They didn't even take the bus to Baton Rouge against Joe Burrow and LSU and Go Taggers. But at least the Aggies are playing an interesting opponent, and you know, you win that game,

and you can move that toward next year. All your losses are to top 10 teams as well. You can build that toward next year. after the Sugar Bowl and beating Georgia national TV huge game Texas is back to go 7 and 5 clean house and then have to play the Alamo Bowl that's pretty low

yeah it's not great I'm not trying to mess with you yeah no it's I mean look it's it was a disappointing season now there's no other way to slice it you go to the Alamo Bowl if you think you're going to the playoff and you go to the Alamo Bowl speaking of disappointments that's what exactly happened to Utah but later in the season right right right right they thought there one went away from going to yeah no what's worse worse worst worst Utah

Utah is the one who really should feel horrible about themselves right now. Yeah, that's unfortunate, Utah. But things got to get cleaned up. I mean, obviously, it's kind of, I've read. One article I read, I think, put it really well, worded it well. Tom Herman used his get out of jail free card. If you're a coach who has a disappointing season, it was by somebody smarter than me. I think it was somebody in the Statesman, either golden or bowls.

I can't remember. Well, they're not very smart. It was If you're a coach At a big time program You get the jail Get out of jail free card Where you fire your assistance

You make new hires And you start refresh And you say We're reinvigorating Right You can't do it again You can't have You can't go

You know Six and six and six Or something next season And then where are you You're probably gonna be on the hottest of seats And maybe even out If Tom Herman goes six and six Seven and five

Again next year Bill O'Brien successfully Has done that Yeah that's true he's had a couple of get out of jails. He is like a Teflon Dawn. He is. He's got Johnny,

but you know what? Johnny Cochran in this corner. Bill O'Brien's team also went to Nashville and beat up on them Titans last week. I was there to watch it. That's true. Well, they beat the bucks. We'll get into that later.

They should. Yep. That's going to be an interesting, tough, I actually feel like hard to predict game, partly just because of the timing, but Bill O'Brien at least has several AFC championship

should have his four. six years this season, make the blighter four times. Did he, you know, have it done it on the next stage? No, but at least he's in the, Tom Herman, like, his butt is on the line

next year. And I mean, Texas is just, they haven't one of the, stop head button people. They, oh my gosh. Stop, stop, stop talking junk. Like, just like, double burning the, the camera on. If you're going to do that, man, you cannot, like, you can do that. Signing day. And you do that when you win the Sugar Bowl and beat

Georgia. You cannot. do that and play in the Alamo Bowl. All right. Quickly, Matt wanted to talk some college football, so let's get him in. Matt, go ahead. Good afternoon, guys. Yes, sir.

What's got? Well, you made me laugh and maybe stepping and calling about the bowl games. I mean, I'm a transplant from Missouri, and, you know, Missouri's played in some just senseless bowl games last few years. But you're right. You look at University of Texas playing the Alibol bowl. That's a no-win situation. You win, okay?

If you win, Utah doesn't care because they're disappointed. It was kind of like last year. If you win, a lot of people are like, oh, Georgia doesn't care because they wanted to be in the playoffs. If you beat Utah, they want to be in the playoffs. They're not trying. If you lose, you're like, oh, I can't believe y'all lost to Utah. It is a no-win situation. And the thing is also, though, as athletes, and I didn't play football.

I played a different sport, but it was competitive. And there is a mentality going into a certain bowl games. Just like when Oklahoma beat in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama, three years ago, five years ago, something like that. but didn't show up. It was because they wanted to be someplace else, and that does have an effect. I'm old about to tell you that I remember when a bowl game meant something from the 1970s and 80s.

Today, I mean, there's so many bowl games, and the goofy names of them, they've lost their luster, so to speak. And I know that as I read this morning in an article in the paper, that about half the teams lose money going to bowl games now. That's pretty surprising because they're just not the big enough payout. And the Independence Bull is one of them. Like Miami's playing

in the Independence Bowl, that's not a win situation for Miami. That's not a recruiting tool for them. But I don't know. I was interested in your guys' perception of all the stuff you just said. It's pretty funny. That's why I called it. I like your show. All right. Thanks a lot, Matt. Appreciate it. Yeah. I mean, it was interesting

reading. I read that book, Death to the BCS when it came out like several years ago, finding out, yeah, these teams lose money on some of these bowl games. It's a racket. It is really interesting. It's really set up now. I don't know if you have time to get in this segment, but it's really for me set up now where so much emissists,

National on down, like ESP, I mean, right? It's a racket. Like ESPN, Disney, ABC, right? It's a huge, huge corporate conglomerate. What a coincidence that all ESPN does from the preseason. And, you know, before the season even starts in college football, is to push the CFP and who's going to be in it. And there were reveals every week in the rankings, which don't really change. And the final four and on the bubble and all these things.

Because ultimately, they're pushing what they want you to watch. Generating conversation. But point being, it wasn't like that, you know, you had the BCS, but it wasn't nearly like that 15 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, on and on. This is very, very recent. So what has basically happened is, and we saw this last year with Georgia, Ross against Texas. If you don't make that final four, I mean, unless you're programs on the rise, unless you're a smaller program trying to take down a glyph,

you know, whatever it is, it's all just underwhelming now. And yeah, you're playing in these bowl games because you have to be in a bowl game to even be relevant, but the bowl games don't matter. And it actually takes a special situation for a, you know, a late December bowl game for it to even be mentionable or worse something or meaningful.

And I would go back to U of 8. beating Florida State in the Peach Bowl a few years ago. That wasn't a college playoff game. Didn't have it at the time. I mean, that was, I believe still BCS, I'd have to think back. But point being, I think there was a playoffs. Was that college football play?

Point being, for that, that meant something to the fan base, to the program, you took down Florida State, your program was on the rise. But it's also CFP-focused now, the four teams. And so everything else to me and the college bowl games feels completely underwhelming to the point that I don't give a crap about the Texas Bowl or the Alamo Bowl. They're not even still real bowls.

You could not make me care about the Texas Bowl this year, other than the fact that it'll be on at some point, and I will turn it on at some point and see if the Aggies are winning or losing and playing Utah. And it may end up being a good game, but you cannot convince me anymore that a lot of these bowl games mean anything, and the teams are losing money. That's why you got to gamble on them, Brian.

All right, time for a break here on the Matt Thomas show. when we come back a Steelers player was cut. Why? We'll tell you next here on the Matt Thomas show. This is Ricky Williams. I may have worn a wedding dress on a magazine cover, but it still looks better than any

outfit Matt can put together. Let your wife dress you, man. Texas fine. Texas five. Back to Matt Thomas on Sports Talk 790. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas. Is this a top 10

TV theme ever? For me it is. Probably not on most people's list, because I used to love Law & Order. You get the guitar going. It's instantly recognizable. Right. Well... It's so cheeseball, too, I love it.

Oh, it's so bad, but it's so great. And at the end, at the end of the song, where they're just... Oh, here we go. Oh, no, it's going to go. Yes. We got this on a loop. That's so awesome.

All right, so if you hear this music, you know, we got a some sort of court case or arrest or something to talk about here on the show. Steelers cut Cameron Kelly after charges for making terroristic threats and resisting arrest. The Steelers have cut Cameron Kelly after the safety was arrested outside a bar in Pittsburgh's Southside early Friday morning on two counts of making terroristic threats. They cut him? One count of resisting arrest, yes. According to court paperwork, police say Kelly was being disorderly at Marston. Mario's Southside Saloon. Good place to hang out.

I love Mario's. Get the curly fries when you're there. When an officer told Kelly he had to leave, he became confrontational. See, now this is the thing. Whenever I've been told to leave or do anything by an officer, my reaction isn't to say, screw you, officer, and become confrontational. And you chest bump him?

My reaction is to leave. If he tells me to do 15 push-ups. Here's the problem. And we've all been there. But even if they are totally wrong and totally being bleep, which they can be. But even if they are, you're probably not going to win that. Not even the physical fight. You're probably not going to win that encounter.

You're probably going to spend a lot of time of jail. If you theoretically approach it, you enter that encounter having zero leverage in life. I don't care if you're worth a billion dollars or two or you're a backup on the Steelers. You're probably not going to win that counter as this shows. You're going to have like a SWAT team and a tank on you in 30 minutes. Like what are you doing? Per the complaint, Kelly had already threatened to knock out an employee at the bar

after his music choice was skipped on the jukebox. Outside the bar, what do you think his music choice? We'll get to that in just a second, Nick. Outside the bar, according to the complainant, I'm sorry, the complaint. The arresting officer accidentally stepped on the foot of a woman who then began arguing. Kelly said the woman was quote.

quote, his girl, and pushed his chest against the officers and threatened him. So he did chest bump him after he stepped on his girl. Kelly then resisted arrest, arguing with officers, and an officer punched Kelly in the face multiple times during the struggle, according to the complaint. Kelly was treated at a Pittsburgh hospital for a split lip, and then was taken to Allegheny County Jail. Other than waving him, the Steelers have not commented on Kelly's arrest.

Now, I do want to fault Kelly. for getting in the fight with the police officer who apparently stepped on his girl. However, I love that he said that's my girl. I can't fault him for being mad that his jukebox song got skipped. I'm on his side on that part. Well, here's the thing I don't understand.

When I go to bars, they have a jukebox. I'll still play the jukebox because I'm old school. None of these guys play jukeboxes? What do you think Cameron Kelly was playing on the jukebox? What is he like 25? What do you think Cameron Kelly was trying to get on the jukebox? He was trying to get the crowd. He was trying to get Mario's Southside solution.

It sounds fishy to me, man. Here we go. This is what he's 23 years old. He's playing a jukebox. Come on. Kelly wanted a little, a little, a little, a little, a little Garth Brooks. Now, that's understandable. He's trying to get him going, and they skipped his song.

The last one to know. Do you want to play like We Are Family, which was the Pirates theme in the 70s? Yeah. You thought you'd see there. And I saw a surprise. And the fear in is hot. If this is your jukebox play, it's your. be skipped because everyone's heard it way to be

This is a jukebox Like jukebox classics are this Piano Man Living on a Prayer Bohemian Rhapsody living on a prayer You're just trying to get the crowd going, okay? So Cameron Kelly This is what I submit

Was Cameron Kelly's? Maybe he wanted to play some Megadeth or Do you think so? Slayer. He's probably a big Slayer fan. The cannibal corpse guy. Cannibal corpse. Okay. Um So I think I'm actually on Cameron Kelly

Because you put in like a dollar into the jukebox First of all, I remember when a jukebox song costs like 25 cents That's the thing, so they're almost all electronic Yes, he's probably playing sweet Caroline All right He's trying to get the people going With a little bum, bum, bum, so good, so good Or he wanted to play the Law & Order theme

I should do that We should go somewhere and go to a jukebox and play the law and order thing And start some bleep He's trying to play a song It probably costs him a dollar and sometimes it takes you like an hour you're waiting around for your song and then eventually it gets skipped

or it gets lost in the shuffle and you get pissed off. So you know what? On that part, I'm on the side of Cameron Kelly. Now should he have chest bumped and punched an officer and got his lips split and went to the hospital and then got arrested and then cut? Probably not.

But all I'm saying is Cameron Kelly I feel your pain. If you're in the NFL and you're going to fight with a cop. If you're going to fight with them Reach it out Like don't you have to get a couple Like you're just going to let them punch you

That's that's embarrassing Look If you're going to fight with a cop I think he got And then they kick your ass You know No fly zone Cornerback

Bum Bob Yeah he probably got held down By the cops And they just started Because there's always like eight of them Pummeling them in the face You're not going to win

You're not going to You're not going to pull you Oh And they think you can hold you back jukebox hero from Cameron Kelly. Of course, he's probably never heard of any of these songs that we just played. But I feel like if you're on the south side of Pittsburgh at Mario Saloon. And we don't even know.

Maybe the south side's been gentrified or it's like a cool area now. I know nothing. It sounds tough, but it might be like the hipster area now. Could be. It probably is if Cameron Kelly was sitting in there. All right, we should have to get that story in. Cameron Kelly, thoughts and prayers, man. You shouldn't have punched the cop or gotten in a fight with the cop, but I feel your pain.

I will say I never heard of him before this, and I probably won't ever hear of him again. But he allowed us to spend a segment on him on the Matt Thomas show, and that's what's important. We're going to take a break here when we come back. Texans versus Buccaneers, call your shot. What will happen in the game? 713-1-2-5-790. 1-3-1-2-5-7-90. NFL talk next.

Is the Matt Thomas Show. Two of the Matt Thomas Show without. Matt Thomas here on Sports Talk 790. Ross Viria, Brian Smith. Nick Lowe with you, folks. It has just come in, fresh, hot off the presses. I made Nick Lowe work today. He had to write, believe it or not,

so it's going to be a, believe it or not, Star Wars edition coming up at the end of the show. Looking forward to that. I think Brian, what's the level of difficulty on these questions, would you say, Nick? Nope, I don't want any prequel. They're insanely difficult. They're insanely difficult.

If they're good, but it's still a bleat, then I'll probably get them. By the way, did you know there's a bowl game going on today? What? Yeah, we're here working hard as Americans, and someone's playing a bowl game in the Bahamas or something? See, now that's... Buffalo versus Charlotte. How many people are going to be there? That's a big one.

A thousand? If that. That's like, why did they even have these anymore? Because it's the Bahamas Bowl. It's probably sponsored by the Bahamas. And then ESPN puts it on TV. That's it. It's a conspiracy, man.

No, but it's really just for TV. It's really just so ESPN has something to show for people who are already off for Christmas. Yeah, what else is going to be on right now? Well, us working stiffs. You're right. They're talking about sports for a living. Slaving away in front of these microphones. If you guys want to get in, 713, 2,1, 2, 157.

790. 7. 7.1.3, 2,1, 2, 5, 790. Also get Brian Smith's review of the Rise of Skywalker. Let's do that. 1.45. 145. Okay, because I'm ready.

I'm ready right now. He's ready to... I'm so pin up. He's like a teapot. He is ready to blow. Last time, my wife said to me, she's like, don't be mad at me

just because you're mad at Star Wars. There's a little spoiler alert for his... I was like, I'm not mad of you. I'm not mad of you. I'm mad at the situation. George Lucas. All I bet... I didn't see any...

I didn't see any spoilers. I didn't see any spoilers. I didn't even check Google News. for five days because I knew that some review would pop up. And I mean, I went into it with, and I even said, I even said, don't have expectations because you only get hurt. Like, I did everything right. And I got so hurt.

And now I've read 100 reviews since then. And they've all confirmed what I thought. Look at it. There's nobody at this game. There's literally nobody at the Buffalo Charlotte game, but that's okay. Well, you know what? There's a, I'll tell you a game that some people are going to be at. What is that, Ross?

That's tomorrow at noon. to Texans visiting the Buccaneers. I've been preaching all season. Matt has been like, oh, Buccaneers are going to win. I was like, Matt, Buccaneers are sneaky. And James Swenson is... You want to talk about another trap game? A trap game.

Like, this doesn't have... This doesn't fall into the definition of trap game because if they win this, they win the AFC South and the Titans are in a little... are in serious trouble right now in terms of even making the playoffs. But considering what just happened, considering how up and down the Texans have been, how inconsistent, how when they...

They've been good. They can beat the Chiefs on the road, come back, beat the Patriots on national TV, beat the Titans at Tennessee. And Tennessee was the second hottest team in the NFL. Or the Texans can, you know, have the Carolina game and have the Denver game. And James Winston is going to throw eight picks tomorrow and eight touchdowns. I mean, he has that type of potential. He can throw for 450.

They're missing key receivers, and he could still throw for 450. They have a pretty good defense. They're playing at home. It's a short rest. You're playing at noon on a Saturday. That's basically a bowl game time. You know, that's, so they will look, very simple. They'll either win that game or it'll be like, oh, my gosh.

Like, I don't care how they win that game again. Just win it. When the AFC South, maybe you can find a way to improve your seating, et cetera, et cetera. They lose that game. It'll get nasty again. Yeah, like you mentioned, Mike Evans, of course, have been shut down for the season. Chris Godwin is going to miss the game.

Yeah, who's he going to throw to? Their number one receiver is going to be Breshadne Perriman, who was he a number one, was he a first round pick for the Ravens, I think, back in the day and kind of just washed out from there. But they'll have Cecil shorts, trying to think. They'll have, you know, a variety of people who are not longer playing anymore. They'll just get phone calls. Hey, can you show up today and catch a couple TD passes from Javis Winston?

And yes, on the up and down nature of the, the Texans. I played this yesterday for Matt. I got to play it again because I think it is just the perfect analogy for what the Texans have been so far this season. Okay. Or it's not going to work. That was good or awesome. Yeah, thanks. Good stuff here. Oh my gosh. It's going to work.

I want to like them. I like flirting with the Texans. I do. They're fun to flirt with. I've dated the Texans before. I think we all have. It's just too wild. And you go back over the thing, it's like, okay, so they beat the Chiefs. Yeah. She does karaoke and not likes her mix-out.

But then they lose to the Colts. He's got kind of a weird laugh. Then they beat the Jags in London. Meads a big deal in the AFC South. She loves margaritas, that's it. But then they lose to the Ravens really badly, and you find her checking your email. I don't know if I can do that.

They beat the Patriots. She's got a great family, great family. But then they lose to the Broncos. She's just 12 cats. It's up and down. And then they meet the Titans. It's like she got me this incredible Christmas present, and I'm back.

It sounds like a lot of fun, but I just can't put a ring on the finger. You know what I'm saying? I can't. It's too wild. I'm 40. I can't do it. That was good.

It was way too personal and reveal, like oddly, sadly revealing. Sounds like someone who actually should be in therapy. That's Kyle Brandt talking about dating the text. They're so up and down. That's the thing is, you never know. And this is a schedule. This is a tough game to predict, to get a feel for. Yeah, I mean, there are three point favorites right now.

Which is nothing. I mean, that basically means you're not. Yeah, it's a feel. goal. It's basically a 50-50 game. It is a big total. They expect a lot of points to be scored in this one. I mean, because James Winston is at a minimum is going to throw like three or four touchdowns, and in a minimum he's going to throw like two or three interceptions. I mean, just look, the last, they put up 38 Tampa Bay did and with depleted wide receivers. They put up 38 on the road against Detroit. They put up 38 and a 38, 35 won against the Colts.

They won 28 to 11, so they put up 28 against the Jaguars. They also lost to the Falcons, 35 22. I mean, they are not a good team, but they are 7 and 7. They're technically second in the NFC South. They could win their Lex 2 and finish 9 and 7 and build on next year and James solidifies a spot with Bruce Ariens as a first year coach. It's it. Much tougher game than Matt Thomas has been making out for months. That's the whole point of this. Right. I mean, you have this point where they lost five out of six and now they've won five out of six. with both of those with four-game winning streaks and a four-game losing streak. I mean, we're talking about the Texans in the up-and-down season that they've had.

Up-and-down is the pure definition of what the Buccaneers have. And we're talking about, you're talking about all the points that they scored. Remember earlier in the season, they hung 55 on the ranch. They don't have a good running game. But here's the thing, though. It's Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones. They have a good defense. Barrett is fantastic.

James can put up 450 yards on you. It'll be a very interesting game. Yeah, the run defense is good for them. They do have issues in the secondary there. I mean, I just expect, I don't know, I expect to not know what to expect. We don't even know who their wide receivers are. Of course we don't know what to expect. I've come into this show and I've completely flat outright admitted.

I have no clue what's going to happen with the Texas. Well, O'Brien doesn't know. That's true. Like last week, I'm sure he was a little surprised they beat the Titans the way they did. I said they were going to lose the Patriots. I said they're going to beat the Broncos. I said they're going to lose the Titans. I mean, up, we can just go up and down on the whole schedule.

And you're not the only one. It's just. who will the real Houston Texans please stand up? But see, here's the thing. I don't think there is a real Houston Texas. I think this is the Houston Texans right now. Just consistently inconsistent as the cliche goes? They have serious holes.

Here's the thing, though. Like, just look at their defense. Their defense is missing JJ Watt who could come back in time for whatever. You know, the E.FC. Divisional game. Maybe the wild car game, I guess. That'll be interesting. So they're missing J.J. Watt. They trade away clowning at the start of the season.

They've had games where, I mean, Ross, look just two games ago, the Broncos game. They couldn't defend Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl. I mean, the past defense was, I don't even know the word, because they can't curse on the air. Atrocious, humiliating, embarrassing, not existent. Abhorrent, pathetic. And right, that's just two games ago. And their defense, a week later, goes to Nashville against a very hot Titan team,

and Derek Henry and Ryan Taney Hill and A.J. Brown. And they brought it. special teams brought it. The defense brought it. They were hitting. They had huge stops at critical times in the game. There's no rhyme or reason to that. And it's not like Romeo Cronnell phones it in one week. It's not like Bill O'Brien's phoning it in. They just, they have holes at some spots. I don't, this, this is who they are. They are good enough. I heard somebody say this early this week and it was a little, you know, it was very over the top. But the point is there. They are good enough to get super. super hot and end up in the AFC championship game and things far their way. They are off enough to be hosting a home wildcard game and lose that game, you know, 20 to 7.

Yeah. I don't know what we're going to see these. And normally I'd say, well, let's watch these next two games maybe they can find some consistency, get hot, that's what I was saying last year. I don't even believe that right now. With Deshawn Watson, they can put up 40 on you. They can be brilliant.

They also still have times where they can't run the ball and Kenny Stills disappears and Will Fuller's banged up and Hopkins isn't getting the ball and off and they forget about the tight end. So this to me is who they are. Well, we don't know who the Texans are, but we will have to predict. What's going to happen?

You'll get, you gain more information every week or every game of any sport. And so we're going to gain some more information about the Houston Texans as they have the game tomorrow at noon. What will happen in the game? We want to hear from you, 713, 212, 5, 790. 713, 2,1, 2, 5, 790. We can't figure this team out, but we still got to make a prediction.

We'll do that next here on the Matt Thomas show. Rip it H-Town, light, 5, slamma, jammer. Yo, what's up, this you boy, Bumbed to Trill OG with the whitest man in America. Matt Thomas. You are now tuned in the Sports Talk 790, man. Sad news in just a second here on the Matt Thomas show. First of all, a makers wanted Bahamas bowl update. Makers wanted Bahamas bowl?

I don't even know what Makers wanted is. Is that Maker's Mark? No, it's not. Go for a little Maker's Mark. Buffalo leads Charlotte 7 to 0. Your analysis, please, Brian. Nobody asked for that update, Ross. Oh, okay.

And how many people would you say are in the crowd here? It looks like it's a compressed field. This looks like a Little League's field. Number one, it's in the Bahamas. so they don't play football in the Bahamas. That field doesn't look. What's the regulation? Like 35 yards wide or whatever it is?

It looks like a soccer stadium. But a small soccer stadium. Here's the thing I was just thinking about. I couldn't even imagine the mindset of being a fan of one of these teams. Like nobody cares about Charlotte if you're in Charlotte. And you're big enough of a fan, crazy enough of a fan, that you're going to go to this bowl game with like 1,000 other people in the Bahamas. and you're going to have one person.

Well, it's in the Bahamas. You're still going to drop $3,000 to go watch your team playing the Bahamas ball on December 20th against Buffalo. And your team is seven and five. I think there's the Atlanta's casino up there too, though. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. See, there's always someone like you who says that.

I said 30, it's 30, I said 35 yards. You just don't go to this game. It's 53 yards, not 35 yards. I had it flip. Anyways, we're playing this song. I have some very sad news for you. Did Jake Norsen get traded? No.

Yeah, that's right. We did that treat you last year. Did Garrett Cole sign with the Yankees? Daniel Jones is going to start for the Giants against the red skins. I saw that. I saw that. This is the end of the road for Eli Manning. We're always remember you, Eli Manning, for your three interceptions championships. 117 and 117 all square as a starter in his career.

I'm glad he got that last win. That was fitting. It was good for him. Because it's very fitting for Eli Manning to be exactly a 500 quarterback. 500's fine with two Super Bowl rings. Being below 500, that's a little rough. Gotten too soft. Good night, sweet print.

366 touchdowns, 244 interceptions. Not should he get in the Hall of Fame. Does he get in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? I said this last time. Yes, eventually. Not, I mean, hell no, not right up the top. But yes, eventually he'll get in. Whether it's some veterans ballot or whatever.

Ross, no, no, no, you got to know what you're dealing with. You see these guys that get in the Hall of Fame. They'll get in 30 years. But Adams might get in the Hall of Fame right now. I'm not saying he doesn't belong to the Hall of Fame. He eventually. It's just bus going to have him doing double birds. He does belong in the Hall of Fame, but he's going to get in the Hall of Fame

you know, 30 years, 25 years after he was relevant. So, yes, eventually Eli Manning will get in the Hall of Fame. It's just going to take a while. All right. Let's go to the phone lines. We were talking some Texans and some Buccaneers, the last segment. Want you guys' predictions. 713, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 5, 790.

7.1, 3, 1, 2, 5, 790. Esteban, and Katie here on Sports Talk 790. Esteban, go ahead. Hey, good afternoon. How are you? Good, man. What you got? Doing good, man.

So, just want to talk. Bill O'Brien here, you know, I've called the last two or three seasons. I think the guy is maximum 9-and-7 coach. Okay? Do you think the Texans will fire him, or do you think they'll continue to allow him to stay on and basically destroyed Deshawn Watson, J.J. Watt, Nuck's career. I find him as a very mediocre

coach, possibly even lower than mediocre. I think he's got, you know, he shows flashes of brilliance, but then we find out it's just the Andre Hopkins and the other guy calling up plays. I mean, he's horrible at all fancy. He has gotten better this year in challenging plays, whereas the last few years he always challenges the ones that he shouldn't and the one that he should he doesn't he let dea deaubon clownie go will fuller is a guy ever going to get freaking healthy and be able to play for more than three games straight and um are we even going to make it pass the first first round of the playoffs i'm not sure if you guys watch the film thanks for the call that's ridiculous uh is will fuller going to be healthy um i mean no

probably not at some point. Estabon, look, I know you're... That was a... Number one, he will not be on Bill O'Brien's Christmas card list. No, he will not. Number two, that was a very negative call not based in reality. Okay, number one, he starts by saying Bill O'Brien, and respect to the call, respect to the call, respect to the person, it's the holidays, we're all good. He's hopeful. You can't say Bill O'Brien's not better than 9 and 7 coach when Bill O'Brien won 11 games last year, and Bill O'Brien will probably be 10 and 5. on Sunday. So right there, he's won more than nine games. Nine and seven is not the bar. It's not the bar. Number two,

some of the things in that were correct, but it's just, he's not going to be fired. It's so funny to me like how the Bill O'Brien haters, and I'm not waving the flag, you know me, I'm not. But I'm not going to sit up

here and just hate. Like, just hate on Bill O'Brien. like that caller just did to the point that it's, it's, it's, it's lunacy. Like,

a lot of that didn't even make sense and wasn't factual. So I, I'll never understand that mindset. I mean, obviously the person's a fan of the Texans. They watch all of the games. They've been dealing with Bill O'Brien for the last six years. Like,

either don't watch the games and do something else more productive with your life, or deal a little more in reality. So by saying he's at nine and seven, he's at best a nine and seven coach, he won an 11 games last. year. He's probably going to win 10 or 11 this year, and he'll hit 10 with a victory Saturday against Tampa Bay. He's destroying Deshawn Watson's career. Come on. That's ridiculous.

Thanks, Bill. Yeah, I wouldn't go that far. And he said, do you think if he goes nine, like, if he's going to be fired, there's just no chance? Bill O'Brien. The only way Bill O'Brien, they would even consider it, and I wrote about this a couple weeks ago, I mean, he would have to just fall so far after that Denver game, right? They lose to Tennessee, they lose to Tampa, they lose to Tennessee, or they make the playoffs, and they're embarrassed 40-0 at home, and they lose three of the last four, and things blow up, and this is coming after the Brian Gain, you don't have a GM, and, you know, somewhere in there, it looks so bad.

Or if he's punching cops. Yeah, right, right, right, after he doesn't get his karaoke song play. They don't play his karaoke song. It would have to be so bad. He trades Deshawn Watson for two, like, third round talent. And a mascot. Yeah, and a mascot. It's not going to happen.

I mean, if anything, the guy's getting, if anything, the guy's going to get an extension. Even if he loses out and misses the playoffs, he's not going to get fired. That was good. That worked out good. That's what I'm saying. It would have to be very, very bad. And that's 99.9% not going to happen. So again, like, deal a little with reality.

Yeah, Bill O'Brien's going to be here. And you might not be that enthused about Bill O'Brien being the Texas head coach. You might not want to watch him for the next couple years because you're probably having to be dealing with him. It's okay. It is brutal, Brian. But you know what? You can find another coach. He must improve.

But like, it blows on mind. Did you watch, actually, did you watch the Tennessee game last week? Did you watch the Patriots game? Did you watch the Chiefs game? If you're going to hate that much, why ignore the other side of reality, which is reality, which is that Bill O'Brien, and I'm saying this, coached a good game against the Chiefs. Bill O'Brien coached a really good games against the Patriots. Bill O'Brien coached a really good game against the Titans.

He is not destroying Deshawn Watson's career. That's absurd. Yeah. And here I am having to take up for Bill O'Brien on sports 5-790. Here's such a Bill O'Brien lover. Brian, we know that. We got you on record now. There's some good.

There is some bad. He can be very frustrating. On and on and on. He's just very Texans. He's up and down. Yeah. And that's what they've been. They're inconsistent.

That's what they've been basically their entire existence. Do they have the right coach to win a Super Bowl? Do you want seven years of Bill of Brian? Trust me, man. I get the frustration. all I do is hear it. I've been dealing with it for seven years. I get it. He's not the most likable coach. He hasn't really converted fans onto his side, but that was a good win last week at Tennessee. Doesn't mean you're going to win a Super Bowl? All those big questions are still out there, but he's not getting fired tomorrow.

Breaking news. AFC South champions, two years in a row. It's going to be four years out of five, AFC South champions. And it hasn't been the strongest division, but there's still something to say for that level of success. There is. in the NFL there is there is and you know they would actually

on Kirby they would laugh at us because we're going to sit here and professionally say they're an inconsistent team and O'Brien acknowledged that behind the podium two weeks ago but

winning your division four out of five years is pretty consistent and I think the thing that yeah that's true but the thing that makes it so difficult I think they just are they going to get

to that next level with him as their coach that's the real question if you're going to call in and you're going to rip him that is fair game I mean, no. But you can't say that he is a 9 and 7 coach when he went 11 and 5 last year.

They were not even having a logical conversation. Okay, yeah, I think he just means the caliber of the coach he is. So, I mean, I kind of get if he's trying to say it that way and not take it, not be completely literal with it. And I think the problem that I think a lot of fans do have is not just that they lost to the Broncos. It's not just that you got your, you got shredded, you got your ass whooped. And there have been about... You weren't even in those games. Ten of those since 2014.

And two of them have come at the absolute worst inexplicable times in the playoffs on your home field. 30-0 Chiefs and against the Colts last year. I get it, man. I get it. But he's not the worst coach in the NFL. All right. We'll talk some more Texans here in the next segment. We've got to get to a break here.

7-13-21-1-2-5-790. The phone number 7-1-3-2-125-9. Matt Thomas Show continues after this short break. don't go anywhere. It's Clint Copella. Hard and no look past Cabella. Two-hand jam! Sports Talk 790 is your home for Houston Rockets basketball.

Yes! 132 here on Sports Talk 790. Ross Villarreal, Brian Smith, rolling along with you. That's 7-13, 2,125, 790. 7-1-3-1-2-125 7-790. So I've teased it a little bit. Now, I just need you on the record, Brian.

Your prediction, what will happen tomorrow at noon when the Texans face off on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a chance to clinch the AFC South Championship? AFC South Champions. Four years out of five. Back to back. They're going back to back. Back to back. 2723 Texans. Ooh, that's right on the number of the total is 50.

I do write about sports for laying rules. That's a Texans cover and a push on the total if you're playing at home there. Texans three point favorites at the Buccaneers team. Every instinct about the Texans has been wrong. But they can also be 35-31. I mean, these teams can put up some points. I have to go Costanza here. Every instinct I've had about the Texans have been wrong.

I think they're going to win, so I'm going to predict them to lose. I'm going Buccaneers. I will say the safe prediction. I mean, professionally, I'd have to pick that, but the safe prediction is for them to lose. 31, 24. I want to be surprised at all if they lose this game. So I'm going to go with that. James Winston,

and it doesn't hurt that I need him for my fantasy championship. The lack of receivers does concern me at some point, especially you lose a day of practice, at some point you think that would catch up to you. And, I mean, he's dealing with the, he's got a torn ligament and his throwing thumb, and he's still through. Crazy.

He still threw four touchdowns and 450 yards or whatever it was last week. All those crab legs has been eaten, man. Those crab legs keep you strong, all right? They say it's the good fat, right? The non-saturated or the polysaturator or the monosaturated. I can't keep track of it. It doesn't matter. You know what?

You know who we need to ask about this? We need to ask a doctor. Which are the good fats for you, Howard and Memorial? By the way, it keeps changing. Once upon a time, fats were bad. Now, fats were good. Carbs are bad. He's right.

And sugar is bad, but the fat. And let me tell you, since you ask me, I'll give you some advice. Don't trust these meatless hamburgs until for five years, until you see what's in them and how they're made. Because just because it's vegetable, you don't know what the fertilizer is. God forbid it's made in China, and you cannot trust it, too, for five years, you've got to see the end result. This is really the highlight of the 2013 year on Sports Talk 790. Howard saying on the air, don't trust the meatless burgers. I love that, Howard.

I mean, and can you even think of trusting anything made in China? Do you know how many? You remember when they killed all the pets with the dog food? And their idea. Ross, what have you created? I didn't do this. Sorry, Howard. All right, Howard, you had a Texan stick.

Let's get to that. Yeah, basically, I think they're going to win. and I really don't know what kind of coach O'Brien really is now that he's both GM and coach on the field I don't see how he can possibly keep doing his job

and keep his sanity and never sleeping but he's the GM the scout manager and the coach on the field and offensive coordinator he beat the Titans beat the Patriots be the Chiefs

I hope he gets a GM he respects by next year. And by the way, I don't want him to win the Super Bowl. Just get there. If he can get to the Super Bowl, then that's... But I know what you're saying, and that's a fun point. But if they, I've always thought about that with Texans fans, because it's the whole idea is they haven't even been, right? But if they get there, this is like with any team. If you like a team and they're in a championship game, nobody feels that way. I mean, think about the Astros last year in Game 7. It was, it ended up being more painful that they lost game.

But it's different with the Astros. The Astros had all that talent. I thought it's going to prove to be a terrible trade, giving all those draft choices for that last pitcher. I forget its name. Grinky? Yeah. He'll be their number two starter this year. Excuse me?

He'll be their number two starter this year. I know because they have nothing else. They have just two quality starters, the way I see. Lance McCullors will fight you on that, but I know what you're saying. How long does it take a pitcher to get his full quality back after having that kind of surgery? Two years? It depends. He'll be on a severe inning's limit next year.

And he will be on an innings limit. But Zach Rinkie was really good last year. And he was – I mean, the guy's ERA was hovering around three the entire season. Zach R.C. He wasn't really good. He wasn't really good. Well, as a Houston Astro, he wasn't great. but overall the balance of the season, Grinky was good.

Let's say, and let's face it, neither he nor our number one pitcher are youngsters. They're both 35 plus, right? Yeah. At some point. Howard, how are the holidays going for you? Man. Reasonably okay, you know? Yeah.

I don't quite celebrate the way you guys do, but it's reasonably. You don't know how I celebrate the holidays? All right, I need you to, quick, Howard, before we get you out, I need to say one positive thing about a Houston sports team. about a Houston sports team. I think that the Texans

have shown a lot of guts and from time to time. And I think that the end of the season... You can't qualify your qualify. And I think the defensive coordinator at the end of the season

may get a lot of credit for having patched this defense together, having lost his two best players. All right. And what do you think about Alex Bregman? career so far. Has it been okay? I think his career

has been fine. I don't think he's sure. All right, that's enough. Let's move on from Howard. I've had enough of this. I tried to get him to say something positive and he just couldn't do it. And happy holidays to Howard. Thanks for the call. Hope everything goes well for you, Howard.

My goodness. Imagine, I don't know, let's move on. 7-13-1-2-1-2-5-7-9. It's got a Chris in Moe City wants to respond to Howard. Man, what the hell is wrong with Howard? He starts off the call talking about meatless meat and don't eat it for five years. That's Ross's fault. That is totally Ross's fault.

I mean, he needs to pick up a book and read. I have the crappy each he probably doesn't know what's in it. Right. The way he sounds. Yeah, you go to a restaurant. Do you know where the stuff is from? No. Right.

Good point. And just everything this entire country is made in China anyway. So. Aggravating. All right, Chris. Exactly. Exactly. Anyway, I got one thing about the Rockets.

What's up? Do you guys think that this partnership between Westbrook and Hardin is really going to work out? Because I'm not convinced. I hear you. And thanks for the call. Well, define, hold on. Define workout. Well, I need a definition.

If workout is, if they don't win a championship, it doesn't work out. I would phrase it that way. I don't think it's going to work out. Why are you so negative? Yeah. Let me say something positive about the Rockets. Can you say something positive about Houston sports teams? Yes, I can.

Russell Westbrook had 40 points last night, and it was great, but he did take 31. That came with a qualifier. James Hardin was very efficient and dropped 10 assist, and PJ Tucker had great offense. And the Rockets got a really good win against the Clippers. And Deshaun Watson is good. And DeAndre Hopkins is the best wide receiver in the NFL. There I just said like four nice things about Houston sports teams. And Howard couldn't come up with one.

No. To the last answer the last caller's question. And we appreciate the call. I would define it by championship just because they were so close before. And you moved up from Chris Paul. And that's the only thing, Dantone and Mori and Fortita and Hardin are all missing. So is it going to work out on that level?

My honest answer, I don't know and I'm going to lean toward slightly toward probably not but we've got 60 games you know 50 games and the playoffs and a few and more years too

yeah and this this is not set up to be I think the clippers if we're talking about like the next four years or something I think the clippers are going to be Russell start to decline at some point theoretically he's what 31 32 32 okay I think you got a couple of years of him

I mean, Hardin is going to be able to have his game until he's like 40 because he doesn't really necessarily rely on explosiveness as much as Russell Westbrook does. He'll be doing that under and up move driving to the basket until he's 44 years old. Yeah, you got to hope. I mean, I guess your hope is that LeBron James falls off cliff. Russ is 31. He turned 31 on November 12th. Okay. So, yeah, you got a couple more years of their prime.

This year isn't like, I mean, it's, I guess if you want to go with their hashtag one mission at championship, shipper bus, but this is good. The Russ and James Hardin area is just starting. They could have a coaching change. Maybe that'll help. Maybe that'll help. Maybe it'll hurt. Yeah. We'll see. We'll see. All right. We've got to take a break. We'll definitely talk some more rockets as the show goes along with you up until three. But when we come back,

oh yeah. It's time for the rise of the Skywalker review from noted Star Wars nerd. Brian T. Smith coming up next. Star Wars expert. Oh, I'm sorry. Star Wars nerd. Right. Half the workday is done. Celebrate with Matt

Hey Matt Love your show What was I talking about? By the sound of it Some of you started the party at breakfast Matt Thomas On Sports Talk 790 It is now time here

On the show when we dance No okay We're not gonna dance It's not Sprockets It's a Matt Thomas And Well Brian You went to see

The Rise of Skywalker Last night The Final chapter in basically what do they call that? The Skywalker Story or saga. It's the ninth installment. Nine is too many, by the way.

They went four, five, six, one, two, three. And then seven, eight, and nine last night. And the floor is yours. There's so many things, I could say. I feel like I'm writing about the Texans in the Chronicle right now.

I will try to make this concise and meaningful. It goes as long as you. light. And slightly, no, because I would talk forever. First, first one. Okay, this might be a, I'm sitting, a spoiler. Is baby Yoda, is Baby Yoda in it? Boyle, spoiler, alert.

Baby Yoda's not in it. It was disappointing. It was disappointing. It was frustrating. It was a major letdown. And I said, Ross, during the break, coming into this, I intentionally went into it with no expectation. like some college relationship.

I didn't see any spoilers. I stayed off the internet for it. I did everything right. And I was still disappointed. And I was still let down. And it's just not a good movie. And I am a movie. Nick is awesome.

Like I don't do the cartoon crap. I don't watch the Clone Wars. I'm kind of like some, you know, we all have our bits. I'm more of an old school Star Wars who's kept up with the new stuff. but only pretty much the movies. I know some of the other stuff, but I try to keep it pure. I try to keep it just...

It's why you fail. George Lucas. Very good Nick. And the original and on and on. And I... The Force Awakens was a complete rehash and actually quite insulting if you wanted new Star Wars modernized

of a new hope. But I like, like Ray. I really do. I like Ray. I have a soft spot for Ray. Very good character. A lot of potential there. Adam Driver.

I like Kylo for the most part. And I liked The Last Jedi. And that's very divisive in current Star Wars world. Star Wars world also is the Twitter world now. It's like Astros Twitter or Rockets Twitter or Texans Twitter or politics Twitter. It's so divisive and nobody's happy. And everyone just argues and things don't get any better. Like Star Wars.

Very good. Star Wars has not gotten better. So here's what I would say. If I really want to be honest with you, Ross, when was the last, and I did like The Last Jedi. I thought The Last Jedi had potential, and it was artsy, and I like Ryan Johnson as a director, Ryan Johnson, whatever. I was actually just watching his older movies. I love Night, I was out.

And I feel like I'm a movie expert. I've been, you know, on a whole old Scorsesee quick and I kick, and I could talk movies, movies, movies, forever. John McLean thinks he knows movies. I feel like I know movies better than John McLean. I was disappointed, and it was a letdown. And here's the thing, here's the worst part. It's supposedly the last one. And so it just did not end well.

And I and many have devoted 40 years of their life to this. So now I'm kind of reminded like, you know, Star Wars is middle level. And when was the last great Star Wars movie? I'm going to be honest with you. And this will piss some people off. I don't care. Uh-oh. The last really good Star Wars movie, you have to go back to Empire Strikes Back.

And that is 39. years ago. Don't worry, Brian. They lied to you and they said this was the last one. Right. You know, exactly. So, all that being said, and I know that's a lot, because you can't talk about it without just talking about it. I was disappointed.

It's not very good. And I've rewatched the Force Awakens like five times. I like it. It's fun for what it is. It was a nice, fresh start. It's good and fun, but not great. It was a total, like everything in that movie is a rehash. Everything, like the droids and you're on a deserted place. You don't know who your parents are and

you know everything about that. They basically did a modern rewrite and made a billion dollars to make, basically make a remake of a new hope, which is not what it was supposed to be. It was supposed to be like a new start for Star Wars. The Last Jedi was strong. I like the last Jedi. I feel like that was my strongest. I strongly feel like that was the best of the current trilogy. The tallest midget. Rise of the Skywalker is better than the prequels, but when the bar, it's not even the 9 and 7 bar, when the bar is the grave,

when the bar is like childish, you know, commercialism with really bad CGI that now looks so bad 20 years later, it would be the number six movie out of nine. And it's the last one, so that hurts. Okay, so you have Rise of Skywalker as that was, that was going to be my next question. So of the nine episodes, you have it around sixth. I'd have it six. I would go Empire Strikes Back, New Hope, Last Jedi, Force Awakens, Return of the Jedi, Rise of Skywalker. Here's the thing about like Return of the Jedi, people will go back to that.

And I'll piss people up, I don't care. Return of the Jedi, half of it's really good. It's actually, for the time, it was dark. The story really peaks. And I'm not giving you any spoilers, but you have Darth Vader. Vader. It's like four years, 40 years ago.

It's fine. You have the emperor, well, relating to the new movie, you have the emperor, Luke, you get the full swing. But half that movie

is set in a forest with little teddy bears. And it's, that's not a good movie. I mean, it's not a good movie. I find your lack of faith disturbing. A lot of the stuff with Java's not good.

But the cool stuff in that movie I like. So for me, like the initial trilogy, not the prequels, which we don't, which don't exist. Yes, they do. We don't mention. Middichlorians. Two and a half good movies there.

Force Awakens was good, not great. Jedi was good. Like, that was a good movie. And they had a template to build. They actually had momentum. You could have really taken this someplace. So that, for me, Ross, is my ultimate takeaway. It was, it was disappointing.

It's a mess. The pace is horrible. The dialogue is horrible. And it was like, and I've read, all this and reviews, and they're right. They're totally right. It's like going to a Disney theme park and watching the end of something that a lot of us,

for all the frustration and it could be better, I think if you still like Star Wars, love Star Wars, you love it because of the good stuff. And that was not it. Oh, well, I'll have to get my joy out of the Texans and the rockets and, you know. It hurts, man. I was just reading a quick review on IMDB.

It says it's like a two-hour trailer for a Star Wars movie. What do you think about that assessment? I think that's actually nice. That's being on the nice side. There are four or five scenes in it that are really good. Like, that's the thing. I'm not just being the caller in the radio. Like, I'm not saying that Bill O'Brien can't reach nine and seven when he's reached 115.

There are four or five scenes that are really well done. And like, that's what Star Wars was supposed to go toward with the Force Awakens and this whole new era. That stuff, it's incredible. And I'm like, this is awesome. And then the next scene happens, you're like, I'm watching, you know, it's, I don't know, nothing that'd be anything that different than some B grade, um, superhero movie filmed in the 2000s. So, bummer. Sorry, Luke. It's going to take me a while to get over this. But there's no Jar Jar Binks or anything, right? There's no Jar Jar Jar. There's not, but there. Or Baby Yoda.

Baby Yoda's cute I've been watching all the Mandalorian Like even the Mandalorian It got so hyped up And it sort of is kind of the same thing Every episode There's not a lot of Plot development

Or character There's no character development Well there you have it That's it I'm hurt I am I'm bummed I'm glad you can pour your heart out

I don't really know I'm going to process this And I think a lot of Star Wars Because it's the last one of this saga Or is it No it will be They're gonna make They're making a new trilogy

But that's like a new a different story line. And they have no in all honesty, they have no idea where that's going. In a different galaxy, very far away. It was going to be the Game of Thrones guys were going to do it, but then they dropped out, right? They pulled out. It's in a galaxy somewhere over there, not that far away. My ultimate thing, and not to go

to Hollywood inside. Not that long ago. But good Star Wars and those. My feeling is, it's very clear that Kathleen Kennedy, I believe that's who it is. And if she heard this, she would laugh, because she's like, she doesn't even know my, but, you know, I'm like, I'm into it, but I'm not a nerd on Twitter. That with all the changes. they've had with directors and screenwriters on and on.

It's just very clear that they just didn't have it. And the best thing they had was The Last Jedi, and that pissed off half the fan base, and they clearly tried to rewrite that, you know, all those plots on the fly for the rise of Skywalker, which appears to barely... It looked like the last production was turned in, and I was reading in late November,

I mean, they were like up against the gun to even get this thing done. Just, yeah, it hurts, man. That's all I can say. Okay, well, we'll let you recover during this break. When we come back, we'll switch to something. We'll go to, we'll talk to Rockets. I need something uplifting. Yeah, the Rockets got a good win in L.A. last night.

We'll talk about that next. Final hour of the Matt Thomas show. Chewy, take the professor in the back and plug him into the hyperdrive. Is the Matt Thomas show. Harton one-on-on-on-again-hirtle-d triple dive. Floats to Capella with a two hand throw down. Time out. Clippers.

Shot clock at 12, Hardin attacks the lane, and lays it up with the left hand for two. And the Rockets have a nine-point lead with a minute 50 remaining. And up and down, back and forth, a fair weird game with a game of runs. Rockets get down 17. They get up 12. They lose the lead again. And they finally win the whole, not the whole shebang, but you know, They won the game last night against the LA Clippers 122 to 117.

Russell Westbrook, his best point total as a Houston Rocket, 40 points, also added in 10 rebounds, five assists. James Harden had 28 with 10 assists on an efficient 8 of 16 from the field. And the Rockets got a very, I wouldn't say much needed, but a nice, let's test ourselves in the middle of December win at the L.A. Clippers, one of the better teams in the NBA. Yeah, I'm going to be honest, coming back from 25 against the Spurs at home, I understand why people, you know,

got, we're into that, obviously. I mean, they were down by 25, but it's Spurs. But it's a Spurs, and they're not supposed to be down by 25, and you were at home, there's actually, for me, more to read in that. Like, this team just has not been able to consistently get to that next step yet. It's early,

but they got to get there at some point. The Clippers game, coming back, much, much more impressive and meaningful. And if you're Daryl Morey or Fertita or part of that brain trust, James Hardin, Russell Westbrook on down, that's one you say, hey, we have it. And we are putting the same together. And it is a work in progress. And we're missing Eric Gordon.

And we can still win this game down on the road and win it with defense and win it with offensive execution and everything they have to do. So that was an encouraging win. There's no way around it. Yeah, and PJ Tucker, the defensive effort, especially in the second half, was great. Overall, I mean, the numbers are pretty solid for the Rockets, 50% from the field, about 38% from three. And it was just, it was one of those up and down games, back and forth, national television. I mean, the doubleheader yesterday with the Lakers and the Bucks and then the Rockets and the Clippers.

NBA is starting to take over to it. It's almost Christmas. We're almost there. Yeah, I said yesterday, I know everybody doesn't want to pay attention until after Christmas. pay attention a week early because there were some big games last night on T&T and nice for the Rockets to come away with a win. And it feels like

I mean you go over the last several games of Russell Westbrook and what he's been doing. He's getting there. I think so. I mean he shot 13 of 31 last night but he played a game high 40 minutes. He was second on the team and rebounds with 10. He had five assists.

He had eight turnovers. He had five fouls, but his plus minus was 13. He had 40 points. He was there. He was main offensive weapon. Crazy. Westbrook took 31 shots. Hardin took 16. Westbrook almost doubled Hardin in field goal attempts. Hardin also had 10

assist. That's the coexist. That's how it has to be. Hardin's going to drop 50 on some nights, Ross. He's going to drop 54, 55. But he can't do it every night. He's going to get double team. He's going to have nights where he has to be a little more efficient passing the baller around. And they have to have

a all- all NBA, you know, true number two to step up. And last year you started off the program by saying, and I thought you were dead on. Chris Paul, just there wasn't enough there at that point in his career. Russell Westbrook, they brought him in with the idea that he can still do this. He dropped 40 last night. Yeah, he's supposed, that's what he's here for.

And, I mean, you look over the last several games. He went two of six from three last night. That's fine. I don't necessarily want him taking six on a night in, night out basis. Right. But you make a couple of me. I'll live with six. If he's taken 12, yeah, that's the issue.

I mean, that's better. And yeah, I mean, you have games. He was attacking, especially even in the first half, they were able to stay within striking distance because Russell Westbrook was attacking. And he was getting to the basket, you know, a very good Clippers team that can play defense on the road. He did not settle, especially in that first half. He was attacking and tacking and blowing by guys. That's the Russell Westbrook. When he plays like that, I've always loved him.

And he's, he's on. I mean this in a good way. He's on an island. Nobody else in the NBA, even at this stage in his career, 31 years old. Nobody else in the NBA can do what he can do when he attacks like that. And finishes. It feels like, I mean, the last couple of weeks, I don't know what you think, Brian. It feels like there's a little more spring in his step. I don't know if he's talked about this or anything. I mean, even a game one of this season coming off the surgery, he's faster than anybody else in the NBA. But now it looks like he's getting even more of the spring. and seeing him every game. It looks like comfort, getting healthy. Rhythm, health, all those. And just making that really small confidence. You know, it's hard to think that Russell Westbrook would ever struggle with his confidence. And when you talk to him postgame, he doesn't appear like he ever does.

But he's a human being. And just having that killer instinct mentality to take over, there's got to be a balance there. It's a new environment. It's a new team. It's a new coach. It's a new system. And he's playing with a number one. Like he's never play with before at this level.

I mean, he played with Hardin early in OKC, but James Hardin was a six man at that point. I mean, James Hardin on a normal Hardin night, is scoring 40 points a game, is shooting 30 times a game. So he has to adjust off to that to be a true number two in a different way than he was with Durant and in a different way than he was with Paul George.

Yeah, it takes time. He really got under the microscope when he had the 7 to 27 game and the 7 of 30 game. And everybody was talking about like, we need Russ to stop shooting. Since those games, he's played six games. He is averaging 29 points on 50% shooting from the field. There we go.

Which is what you want. He's been at 30% from 3, which is an improvement of what it was. And then to go along with 8.5 assists, I'm sorry, 6.5. 8.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists. He was even better from the line last night. He was struggling from the line before. He was 12-0-13 last night. So fantastic. And in those six games, he's shooting 90% from the free throw line.

I mean, so something has clearly changed. He's getting better. You know, we talked about, you know, something that Darryoramor, of course, is into is sample sizes and regressing to the mean and all that type of stuff. And I was like, he was shooting like 22% from three. He's a career 30 guy. So you're like, he's not going to continue to shoot this poorly from three the entire season. You have to believe. But also because it's Russ and he's such a poor three-point shoot, you're like, well, maybe he is going to be this bad.

But he's turned it around. his game has mattered a lot and his aggressiveness getting to the basket. We're seeing more of good Russ the last handful of games than bad Russ because we know he can be a little bit of both. 100%. 100%. He was the reason they won that game.

He was the best player on the court in a loaded game with championship winners and all NBA star MVP's Russell Westbrook was the best player. He was the reason the Rockets won that game last night. Yeah, here's very simple. Mike Dan Tony on the comfortability of Russell Westbrook.

going to win with that him playing really well, and James and a couple others. But I was just happy for him that I think he's obviously comfortable. So he's the biggest thing for him is comfort. So he's getting settled in. And that's what I was saying. And we knew there was going to be, I mean, I talked, we had it in his introductory press conference, we had Russell Westbrook, myself and Matt Thomas, on this show. And one of the questions I asked him is there's going to be growing paints.

Because we've seen it everywhere. Even like Kevin Durant getting added to the Warriors, you say, oh, you can't. just say, you know what, we got four all-stars, you guys just go win everything, which they did, but there's an adjustment period. The big three in Miami, there's adjustment periods. Chris Paul and James Hardin there was, remember that the first season there, they started out around 500, the first 12 games or something like that. There's going to be adjustment periods, and I asked them about that. What's going to go into those adjustment periods? Each I said, just playing and getting familiar with each other. And I think now we're

talking about getting closing in on 30 games into the season, and maybe the Rockets are kind of finally settling in. And because they are so talented as is, they can still win those games against the lesser talented teams without being completely comfortable. But now, a big win against a Clippers team on the road. Maybe we're seeing a little bit of flashes of what these rockets can be. I believe they are six and two in their last eight games. They continue to win without Eric Gordon.

The losses that were troubling were with Sacramento and Detroit. And those are games that they should not lose even without Eric Gordon or if they're having an off night. I mean, if you're going to win the NBA title this year, which is, that's their only goal, and it should be, you got to win those games. And you can't mess around and be fifth in the West and 11th or 12th overall in the NBA. I mean, that's not getting it done. But it is. It's, you know, we're a third of the way through the season. P.J. Tucker's still bringing it, Clint Capella, for the most part, is taking a step forward. James Harden is offensively out of his mind doing things that have never been done before, especially in a rocket's uniform.

And they get the good Russell Westbrook. That's what, you know, that's the optimistic, positive look at this new partnership. And we'll find out. It's an interesting road trip. They've still got a couple, you know, they have three tough games, but I mean, they have a couple of opponents who should make it very interesting. So we'll find out. I think this Mike Dan Tony said it two days ago at Toyota Center.

This should be another early season test for this team. Yeah, and so far passing with the win against the Clippers last night. All right, 713, 2,1, 2, 5, 790 is your phone number. Jay, we see you and hold. We'll get to you after this break. 713-1-2-5-790. Tweets to at Sports RV and at Cronn Bryant-Smith. We'll be right back after this short break.

Rockets Basketball. Rockets PA announcer and sports talk show host. One might get the impression Matt Thomas loves to hear Matt Thomas's voice. Go ahead, Matt, Talk, for us. Well, Matt's not here. He is out doing fancy Matt things in

well, let's see. What's the rocket's schedule? They played, of course, in Los Angeles last night. They play in Phoenix on Saturday. Then they head to Sacramento on Monday, and then

on Christmas day they will be playing the early No, no, I'm sorry. The 11A M game is Celtics Raptors, and then they play the third game. There's five games. That's Christmas action all day in the NBA. I just think it's so funny that the Rockets obviously deserve the national platform. I mean, that's, of course.

During the preseason, you're like, oh, okay, they're playing the Warriors. Yeah, that's cool. DeAngelo Russell, Steph Curry. There is no reason to watch that game. No. Unless, you know, you're just a hardcore Rockets fan. I mean, even if you're working the post game. I mean, yeah, maybe it's the NBA.

They play it in two games. Maybe it's close. It's a holiday. How many calls am I going to get on a post game? That's what I mean. It ends well. Okay. Look, the setup for, there is no setup for that game.

The Warriors are horrible now. If you're listening right now, please just call me and say hello and just wish me a Merry Christmas because I will be working the post game show. That will be probably. That's a rough job. Right around 7 o'clock, I'll be, you know, four eggnogs in and I'll be taking your calls on a rocket's wrap on a Christmas edition. You can just tell me what your favorite and least favorite Christmas presents were, and then you can hang up.

So just call me if you're listening right now on Christmas Day. Thank you. I'd appreciate that. 713, 2, 1,25-7-90. The phone number 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90. Matt Thomas will be back with us on Monday. Let's go to Jay. In Jersey Village, want to talk about some James Harden.

Go ahead, Jay. Hey, what's going on, guys? I am upset that fancy mad isn't there. I know. No. I just wondered, I mean, because there are a lot of people in this city that just don't like James, like what this guy is doing. It's prolific out there. Like, he isn't one of the best, maybe not the best score we've ever seen.

And usually, you know, I speak to older gentlemen and stuff like that, a little bit older than me. I'm 35. I don't know how old you guys are. Well, they're boomers. They're irrelevant. They're old people. We don't factor them in. That's got to be what it is, man.

It's always, yeah, well, he's no Jordan. He's this. He's that. why they called James a failure because of the playoffs you know, runs and stuff like that

that we didn't get to go through that we didn't get over the hump with the Warriors. Like I said, well, Jordan would have never, Jordan would have never, Jordan would have never,

Jordan would have it. Why is it so easy for people to dismiss him Scotty Pippen ones? Well, James. Jordan was great. Jordan was great. Yeah.

But why is it so easy for people to dismiss Scotty Pippen? This is the first time. Yeah. I mean, Dennis Rodman. Dennis Rodman is in the Hall of Fame also. and you had a Hall of Fame coach and Phil Jackson.

I wasn't even going to go to the last three championships. I was just going to go to the first. He played with one of the 50 greatest players of all time. I'm not taking anything away from Michael Jordan. But why are people so dismissive about who Scotty Pippen was? I would say, is Scottie Pippen better than any teammate James Hardin has ever had? I would say yes. As an all-around player, yes, yes.

This is the first time he's playing with another dog like himself. Okay? This is the first time. Let's see how it goes. All right, Jay. Thanks a lot, man. I appreciate it. These are things that all matter that we don't always get into like situations matter. Timates matter. Who the other guys are matter. Sure. Other guys getting hurt. Like the Toronto Raptors aren't NBA champions. If Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Clay Thompson don't all go down at different points in that finals. 100,000 percent. These are so much factors in. And then we just go look at at the end of the day and say, you know what? You're a failure.

Carl Malone, you're a failure. Number one, I'll use strong words, but I try to be, I'm not always, but I try to be correct as much as humanly possible. James Harden, who is, I get what the caller is saying a little strong for the moment. Nobody's saying James Harden is a failure. Maybe you're a lot of people, I mean. Maybe your television screamers and internet fans that Adam Clanton fights with. Yes, that's what those are. That's pretty much, but that's a lot of people.

That's a lot of people. That's what I'm saying. Those are the opinions that we get. I mean, that's what we have to go on in 2019. I've never said, I will never say in this current moment that James Hardin is a failure. Right. That's idiotic. Strong word.

James Hardin has not been able to get to that next level. Is this, I think the better point going off what the caller said, is this his best team? I don't think it is right now. I feel like he's had better teams and overall supporting cast. But this team could also change. You have the trade deadline coming up. The 18 team was the best team. They should have won that, man.

The 165 games. Not only did you have PJ Tucker, you had Trevor Areza. Trevor Areza, Tucker, Gordon, Paul, who was still towards the end of his prime before. He completely fell off a cliff the next year. That was the team, I felt like. So that's what we don't know. Well, we look back in five years, and if you look back in five,

you're looking back in 20 and 30 and being like, man, you know, that's one of the biggest misses in Houston sports history. That's going to be the what if for the rest of along with the Astros this year. Exactly. That we talk about for the Hardin, as long as we mentioned Hardin, if only if, but the story hasn't been written yet. That's true. And this era is just starting.

It's a new era for Rockets basketball, but probably, the best chance, I would say. I mean, if you had Luke Bob Mutei was just completely in the end of that, by the playoffs, he had that shoulder injury. He was fantastic. He was blowing a layups. His shoulder literally was falling off. Yeah. And he couldn't make a layup.

And he was barely playing. Ryan Anderson was worthless by the end of that run. They won 65 games. But they were still down to like seven or eight guys. And that's another thing with Dan Tony. Like, when you get Gordon back, you found away with Mecklamour. Clemens a little. Obviously, he's not going to be your 1 through 8 rotation.

Yeah. But can Mike Dantonie also find a way? And I know this has been a big thing for the Rockets with how they view everything. I mean, can he find a way to keep an eight to nine man? Or will he always go back to, I believe, in these seven guys. I remember when these seven guys, because often by the time you get around to the end, it's a eight-month season. By the time you get around to mid-May, your guys are a little worn out.

I need that. That's my biggest complaint. A lot of people complain about Mike Dantonio, his season. system sucks or he's not a good coach or he doesn't focus on defense, which is all, to me, incorrect. My biggest criticism of Mike Dantonie is the rotation and playing guys too much. Some of it has been because of injury. I mean, I understand you lose Eric Gordon. That's a big part of it. But I mean, you get only three minutes of Gary Clark last night, zero minutes of Chris Clemens, Tabocephalosha. I mean, you could play those guys a little bit more, I think.

It's worth watching the entire season. And it's, trust me, it's a big thing. I think sometimes he doesn't look at the forest for the trees. And you get it where he's coming from, right? He's like, I don't care about next week. I need to win tonight's game. But if you never be a little bit bigger picture. We saw that. Which is, and it's tough to tow that line because we talked about.

The Western Conference, every game matters. It does. But so does the long haul. And you can't praise the Warriors anymore. Yeah. But the re and they fell short in the finals last year, obviously, because of injuries. But the reason the Warriors beat. the Rockets last year in the conference semifinals was not just their depth, their star depth,

their depth depth, you know, and the guys that they were able to play and that Kerr had to use different people, but he kept going back to them and he was able to get stuff from them and critical moments in late April, mid-May, and almost to the point, I mean, they still had a shot against the Raptors even after they lost everybody. So that, that'll be, that'll be attest to this, but no, back to the caller's point, Hardin has never had a Pippin. And Western Westbrook is by far better than Chris Paul, Dwight Howard at this point in his career versus the others. Although Dwight was pretty good in the 15 year, but him and Hardin just were not

complimentary over the long term, obviously. That's why Kevin McHale was fired. No, no, no. But is this the best team? That to me is much more important than the number two. It's the team around him, and I would. I would go back to the 65 win team, but this team still a work in progress. I mean, you know, the cap-wise, it's not friendly, but Darry almost always finds a way to do something before it's over.

All right, we've got to take a quick break here. We'll get to you guys on the phone lines in a little bit. 7-13-21-2-5-790. 1-3-2-1257-90. Matt Thomas Show continues. We've got Star Wars edition of, believe it or not. Still more Rockets and Texans. you guys want to get to with you until 3 o'clock. Short break here. Don't go anywhere.

No fear. No worries. And no hair. It's the Matt Thomas way. Houston Sports Talk continues with the Matt Thomas show. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas experience without Matt Thomas. Here on Sports Talk 790, Ross, Vioriel. And Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle with you. want you to go to Houston Chronicle.com to check out everything up there. And we have an update on the, what is it, makers, something or other. Makers Mark. No, it's not Maker's Mark. Makers something or other, Bahamas Bowl. Buffalo leads Charlotte 17 to zero. Brian, your full breakdown, please.

Better than the rise of Skywalker. Ouch. Ouch. Brian was not very complimentary of the rise. of Skywalkers. It's still going to make like $2 million, $2 billion. But that's okay. All right. We're talking a little Rockets basketball here on the show.

713, 2,1, 2,000, 5, 790. Your phone number, Jay, on the north side. Jay, go ahead. Jay. He must be a Charlotte fan. Yeah, he's devastated. He's a fan of the Charlotte 49ers. Oh, man, that's a shame.

Why are they the Charlotte 49ers? I don't know, man. The 18, shouldn't they be like, well, I know the Charlotte Horn. I think that's what their mask on is. No, I think you're right. I saw 49ers up there. I guess mine.

And the Buffalo or the Bison? Yeah, I don't know. Or I don't know. Buffalo Bison, I believe, yeah. Yeah. Cahleo Mac. Caliow Mac with there. Yes, he did.

And who was there? They had that coach there that was like the hot name and coaching. Yeah. And Charles Barkley said that Auburn was racist because they would hire him. And then he washed out at Kansas. What was his name? I don't remember that, actually. I want to say Turner Gill.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Remember Turner Gill was the hot name because he was really good at Buffalo. Yeah. And, well, solid at Buffalo. Yeah. Then he washed out at Kansas. Oh, he's been at Liberty right now. He went 2.

Well, he went 6 and 6 at 2018 at Liberty. I think he got fired because they hired. Hugh Freeze. Yeah, he freeze. Anyways, that's your college football talk here on the show. We've been talking a lot of rockets and Texans as well. If you want to get in, 713, 2, 1,2, 5, 790. 713, 212, 5, 790.

So back to what I was talking about, my biggest criticism of Mike D'Antony. I think it's such a difficult line to tow, though, right? Because he wants to win every single game in front of them. And what I like... We saw last year that one win, one loss matters for playoffs. Yeah. It's huge. And you mentioned about how the Warriors were fresh.

And I think the biggest example for me is the way that Greg Popovich was able to extend the careers of Tony Parker, Manager, Managuen, Tim Duncan. He was the first guy. I think, was it like 2006 or something like that? When he sat all his players for like a T&T game and David Stern was like, no. And they dropped a huge fine on his head. He was way ahead of the curve. He was ahead of the game when it came to rest.

When it came to the rest. For better and worse. And that's what I like to point to because, I mean, as of at least last week, James Hardin was leading the NBA in minutes per game. I think he might still be doing that. So that's my concern. And a lot of people want to throw in the argument, oh well you know

Hakeem Olajuan used to lead the league in minutes The game has changed Because everybody If you have player A and player B And they're both playing as many minutes And possible Then it's an even playing field But if player A is playing as many

And player B is resting Player B is going to be more fresh for the playoffs Look at Kauai Leonard in the playoffs last year That's the most perfect example I mean look I understand that there's a lot of people like And that's why it's It's hard

just like it's hard to predict the Texans, the inconsistent Texans, et cetera, et cetera. It's hard to say anything definitive, unless you're just a sports talk TV idiot, about the Rockets because the ultimate qualifier still awaits the playoffs. Right? I mean, Harding can average 38 points. Russell West, a game. Russell Westport can get it going. They can win 55 games. They could finish third in the West, second in the West.

They can still finish first in the West technically. but they have to prove in the playoffs. And the other part is just because they win that we've seen this before too, though, Ross. Just because they look really sharp in the first round, doesn't mean they're winning the Western Conference Finals. It doesn't mean James Harden won't be exhausted by the Western Conference Finals. So all of this, with the rotation with Dan Tony, it all goes together. They're all puzzle pieces.

And, you know, we've seen Mike because of injury this year have to play different guys, but that doesn't mean they're going to be playing in April. Doesn't mean they're going to be playing in mid-May. Yeah, it's a tough line to balance. So basically my main criticism of Mike Danton is definitely handling other rotation. I mean, even if you look at last year, like in that Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors, like Hardin was great. He averaged like 35 a game in that series. Yeah, I mean, he had a couple off games, but that was, I left that series saying what I've said a couple of times now about Hardin in the recent playoffs.

Hardin was not the reason they lost that series. Yeah, I totally agree with that. 713, 212-1-2-5-790. Your phone number 7-1-3-2-5-7-90. Another thing I was noticed, because we were talking about the rockets and how tough the Western Conference is. If the rockets were in the East right now, they would be the 6-seat. Yeah.

Well, I've been saying this for a while. The East is bouncing back. I've been saying this for a while. The West is so loaded, da-da-da-da-da. I feel like for the first time this year, that's outdated. The Warriors are a joke. The Lakers are not a juggernaut. The Lakers are not invincible.

Denver's good, not great. There's nobody who's great in the West. For me, for it to just be, oh, my gosh, the West. Seven teams have 50 wins. How do you know, oh, it's so tight. It's competitive, but you go to number six, number seven, number eight. Well, the seven, eight teams are under 500. Okay.

Enough said. So, no, the West is no longer. I'm not have fun and say the West is no longer the best. The West is nowhere near what it was last year, two, three, four years ago, really for the last decade. I feel like for the first point, and it's all because of the Warriors. The West is just off and there's more balance in the East. But even the East gets a little iffy after like the six or seventh team. Yeah, the Nets are the seven spot of 15 and 13.

Then the map drops down to the magic. And I hate to be, you know, nasty here, the Brooklyn Nets are not winning the NBA Championship this year. No. No. I'm going on a lot. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if you want to go on record with that one, Brian. That's a hot take there, pal.

And it will not be freezing cold. The Brooklyn Nets are not winning the NBA Championship. So there are only four or five teams in the East. They're even close to being legit. And there are only five or six teams in the West. And everything else is just... I think so, as I mentioned, the Rockets

would be the six seed in the Eastern Conference. because they all have a lot of good records. But I mean, but it's just, it's the bucks in everybody else, though. I mean, the Celtics are the number two seed. They're good,

but I don't know that I'm buying in them as a championship contender. Same thing for the heat in the three spot. 98% right now on December 20th, barring Greek freak Giannis getting injured. 98% for me, I like that number. Milwaukee's in the NBA finals.

Yeah, I think I agree with you on that. It's going to be a little bit, it's going to be tough. There's going to be good teams, but there's not going to be great teams. And it's not even like last year where you had Toronto with Kauai. Right. And that was a very even series. Giannis will have learned. He has last year to go off of.

He's adjusted. He's shooting more threes. I think he had five last night and a nice win against the Lakers. They'll have home court advantage. All those things. I will take Milwaukee right now. So the question for me is, who is coming out of the West? And it's on the Rockets and Dan Tony and this team.

and Harden in Westbrook, etc. To be in position. You don't have to be number one, but you know, you want to be in the top two to three and be peaking going into mid-April because I feel like the West is open enough this year.

And I read about this two days ago in the Chronicle, Ross, that if you are in that two or three and everything's clicking going into mid-April, you're coming out of the West. It's possible. Lakers will also make moves. The Lakers will be interesting, I think.

I think they're for real and then honestly I mean it used to be in years past like we would say you would get to the finals and you're probably going to win because you came out of the West not the case this year

no bucks definitely are in I mean they have the best record in the NBA they have the best point differential in the NBA by far but even they have some issues in some holes I mean there's there's nobody

I was chatting with somebody a couple days ago at Toyota Center about this there's no somebody up the ladder there's nobody this year clutch Clutch knows everything with the Rockets.

There's nobody this year who can hold a candle to that warrior's dominance from the previous four years. No, but nobody. Yeah, but that's a dynastic force. Very true. Which for me, though, means everything's open. All right. Time for a break here. Final segment of the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas.

Do we have, let's see, we got some tickets to David Tell and Jeff Ross, and we have some tickets to. We're out of UFC tickets, I think. You know what? We're going to give away something good. That's all you need to do. 713. 212-5-790 for a Star Wars edition of Believe it or not. 7-1-3-2-5-7-90.

That is next. The morning sports show for those who partied in Midtown way too hard last night. The Matt Thomas Show on Sports Talk 790. All right, we got a special request from Texas Jorge 713. He says, finish up with some peach basket sound bites. And, of course, as you know, because Matt Thomas knows all things basketball. Back to the Naismith days, we call him Matt Peach Basket Thomas. So you know what?

I got to oblige, I guess. Matt, what do you say when you get a Christmas present? This package can't be that big. Okay. Thank you, Matt. Let's see. When we're talking in, I say a little quip. What do you like to say there, Matt?

You like to just slide it in there. Hmm. Okay, thank you. Who do you think should be MVP this year? Russell Wilson is a sexy quarterback. Okay. What do you know with your free time right now, Matt? If I didn't have anything else going on in the show, I would probably look at Red Tube. What's this one?

Okay, I'll go find a hooker that looks classy and class her up and put her in a nice dress and take her out to dinner of very expensive meals. Hmm. Matt, what are you doing your off time in L.A.? I'll go find a hooker that looks classy and class her up and. put her in a nice dress and take her out to dinner of very expensive meals. Oh, Matt. What are you going to have for a dessert?

There's nothing better than a cream pie. Okay, well, good stuff there, Matt. Appreciate you there. I guess, uh, what's going to be in the main course? I want me some Vince Young sausage. Do they still manufacture Vince Young sausage? I know they still make Earl Campbell's Hot Links, right?

I wouldn't know. You wouldn't know? I wouldn't know. Why not? You're not going to look for some Vince Young sausage? You're not recording anything I'm saying and playing it back. We're going to do that. Of course we are.

And then I guess, I mean, we know you're going to have the sausage in a cream pie. What about to drink? I haven't had his squirt in years. It's delicious. Oof. All right. Literally the whitest man in America who, when you flip his words, sounds a little different. You know what he has to say about that?

All right. You're an idiot. All right. Thanks, Matt. All right. Let's go ahead and do it. Five minutes left to go in the show. What should we do?

We should play America's fastest growing sports game show. We simply call it, believe it, or not. But today, we're calling it Star Wars or not, or actually something else, depending on what sound bites Nick Lowe is going to use. By the way, this is brought to you by Woodhouse Day Spa by a gift card today for the gift of relaxation. I will read you a question, and if it is 100% accurate, you will say this. Use the false loop. If it's erroneous, made up, or completely full of it.

Bunk, you will say this. Two correct answers in a row will win you a prize. Nick Lowe, what is that prize? You're going to get a pair of tickets to bump and mics featuring the comedy of Jeff Ross and David Tell at the Revention Music Center on Saturday, January 18th. All right, wonderful. Let's go

with our first contestant of the day. Let's go with Ray here on, believe it or not, Ray, you're ready to play? Yes, sir. All right, question number one. George Lucas originally planned for Yoda to be played by a monkey wearing a mask. Hell yeah or not.

No. Use the force, Luke. Hank is why you fail. Oh, geez. This is getting way too involved. All right, yeah, you lost. Thank you. Appreciate you, Ray.

If you couldn't decide for that, let's go next to John. John, are you ready to play? Use the force or not, or whatever we're calling it. Yes, sir. All right, John. The familiar lightsaber hum. was created by combining the sound of a vacuum cleaner

with the sound of an electric fan. Use the force or not? Yes, sir. The force. Oh, not. Unfortunately. Oh, man. Yeah, it was an old television picture to...

Damn you, Nick, Lowe. And a film projection motor. Yes, these questions are all courtesy of one Nick Lowe. Let's go to Nigel next. Nijil, you're ready to play the game? Yes, sir. All right, at one point, the return of the Jedi script ended up with Luke donning the Vader mask and turning to the dark side. Use the force or not?

Use the force or not. Get the force, Luke. Use the force, Luke. All right, nice. You're out of control, Nick. All right, one more for the prize in the original trilogy. You never see BubbaFet's face. Use the force or not.

Use the force, Luke. No. Nick, sorry. It's my you fan. Not. Jerry Bullock, the actor who played Bubba Fett, showed his face when he stood in for an Imperial officer at the last minute. That's a little minutia there, Nick. Come on.

Hey, you guys got to be serious Star Wars fans. Terrible, terrible. All right, let's go to Daniel next here. Daniel, are you ready to play Use the Force or not? Hell yeah. The boy band InSink had a cameo in the attack of the clones, but it was cut from the final film. use the force or not? No.

Use the force, Luke. Use it by you fail. 713-2125, 790 to get in. 7-1-3-21-25-7-90 for a pair of Jeff Ross. Tickets here on Use the Force or Not. Let's keep it going with Matt. Matt, in the Phantom Menace, the personal communicator used by Quigone Gin is actually made from a resin cast of Gillette Ladies' Razor.

Use the Force or not? What the hell? not use the force oh get out of here I'm sorry you know what you have my deepest apologies Matt that you were even asked that question

I'm so sorry sir all right let's go to well we're gonna let Nick go ahead and screen that we're to go to this guy Javier I'm gonna guess

Havi hello yes all right Javier are you ready to play use the force or not yes EWox speak a couple of

combination of Tibetan and Nepalese. Use the force or not? Use the force. Use the force. All right. Correct. One more to win the prize. The role

of Princess Leia was originally supposed to go to Diane Keaton, but she backed out due to a scheduling conflict. Use the force or not. Not. Sir, and you have won. A pair of tickets to go see Davidel and Jeff

Ross. Congratulations to you and my deepest sincere apologies to all of you who got asked those very minutia asked questions. How many of those did you know the answer to, Brian? More than half, but those were those were some inside baseball

very inside baseball Star Wars questions. Okay. I can't know what the easy ones. Everybody knows Star Wars. Can I just wish everyone happy holidays? No. Yeah. It's my last, it's my last villain shift. Okay, yeah. So you're You're not going to be here to the end of the year. Let's see.

I still have a whole other week of shows, and then I will be off the last two days of the year. I'm going to enjoy the holidays and recover from being disappointed by Star Wars. You're going to go see it four more times just in case. No, I'm not. I probably will not watch it again. But I've really enjoyed the last month of filling in on 790. Thanks to Matt, Nick, and the amazing sports RV and all the callers and listeners and readers.

And we'll see what the Texans ended up doing. this crazy season takes us. Well, you predicted a win. I predicted a loss just because I'm going against my every instinct because that's the only way I can try and pick a Texan's game. And also, of course, shameless plug for some Chronicles stuff. You only want to add to here. Houston Chronicle.com. Houston Chronicle.com. Well, Brian, thanks a lot for filling in not only today, but throughout the year. Thank you. Always an easy show to have you. So appreciate that. And we also appreciate all of you for listening to the show. Thank you so much. If you tweeted, called, got involved in the show,

anyway, an extra special thanks. That's going to do it for the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas. Matt will be back from Sacramento on Monday. Coming up right here on Sports Talk 790, you have the A team. It is Adam Wexler, and I actually don't know. I and Joe George for the A team from 3 to 6 right here on Sports Talk 790. Don't go anywhere.