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Clean Cut Johnson Getting Love From Companies

If you watch enough Texans games, you'll come away convinced that star wide receiver Andre Johnson is "underrated," "overlooked," or "low-profile." But Johnson is benefiting from a number of high class athletes getting pulled into scandals. As someone with a squeaky-clean reputation nationally, companies have started to target him as a low-risk pitchman: 

Johnson has signed endorsement deals with Verizon Wireless, Muscle Milk, and Brand Joy.

"That plays a big part in it," Johnson said of his clean image. "They (the companies) don't want somebody having problems or controversy in the media. They want guys with clean images. That's something that's important to me."

Apparently, it takes a lot of media fall-out to find the best receiver in football some endorsements, but at least it's finally happening. I'll be happy for him up until the moment Verizon plays his advertisement three times between a touchdown, a kick return, and a timeout. Then I will remember that This Is Our Country and look for a suicide booth.

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by Rivers McCown • Sep 2, 2010 9:27 AM CDT

Astros Sweep Of Cards Is Nice, But A Little Counter-Productive

What's better than watching the Cardinals lose? Well, seeing them lose three times is nice. Add in the fact that we shut them out twice and I get all giddy and whatnot. 

However, sweeping our rivals accomplishes nothing, at least not this late in the season. 

After the home stand, the Astros sit at a (still) unimpressive nine games below .500. With nine series left, only two are against playoff-caliber teams. Six of which are against teams with worse or equal records. And then we play the Manny-less Dodgers.

Sure, the sweep was a moral boost. But it doesn't help our future. The Astros are now tied for 3rd place in the NL central and their record is continuing to climb. For every game we win, we continue to lower in the draft. And though the past two years been abundant with talent, the 2011 draft may not share the same luck.

With series left against the Nationals, Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Cubs (twice), the Astros may very well end with a respectful record, and a mediocre draft pick. 

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by Alex Cohn • Sep 1, 2010 7:12 PM CDT

VIDEO: Rockets Take Batting Practice At Minute Maid

Rather self-explanatory title. Chase Budinger's got a nice swing, eh?

I smell a career resurgence for Shawn Respert. Suit him up, Drayton!

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by Tom Martin • Sep 1, 2010 6:45 PM CDT

Hey, Drayton: The Astros' Rookies Are Getting It Done

As of this writing, the Astros are ten games under .500. And while I knew this was a young team and was aware of Wednesday's call-ups, this sort of shocked me.

Hey, Drayton. Rebuilding sure is a bad idea, huh? Say, how about a riddle: what does an old Astros team with big contracts have in common with a young Astros team with small contracts? Ah, you guessed it. Each won't make the playoffs! 

(sigh)

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by Tom Martin • Sep 1, 2010 1:50 PM CDT