How do you say you’re not into someone, without actually saying it? You nominate a random Black dude. Tat’s exactly what the GOP did in that sh*tshow of a public hearing recently held in the House of Representatives. By press time, Republicans had voted SIX times against Rep. Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker of the House. McCarthy failed to secure the needed 218 votes from his party, which currently holds a slim majority over Democrats. Democrats unanimously nominated House Minority Leader U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jefries, but neither nominee received the needed 218 votes. For the frst time in 100 years, the House has no speaker and, by proxy, no one to swear in the other current 433 members of the House.
In their “anyone but Kevin” campaign, the 20 holdouts not only remained steadfast in their vote against McCarthy, they nominated and voted for Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida for speaker. Donalds, who is Black, was nominated by U.S. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who argued: “this country needs a change.” He noted that the nominations of Donalds and Jefries mark the frst time in U.S. history that two Black Americans have been nominated for speaker of the House. “We don’t seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character,” Roy said. (Why must white folks always quote MLK when trying to push their ‘Black’???”
Republicans have a history of trying to mirror diversity refected in the Democratic Party. When Barack Obama became the nation’s 44th and frst Black president, the GOP elevated Michael Steele as the frst chairman of the Republican National Committee. Most recently, the party nominated Black Republican Herschel Walker for U.S. senator in Georgia against Black Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock. We’ll see how this plays out this time....I have my popcorn and am staying tuned.
We’ve seen far too many times in history how U.S.-Africa relations seem to result in more negative outcomes than positive. Te U.S has ofen lacked clear objectives on what its motives are on the continent, and its reactionary policies, exploitation and irresolute actions at democratization and humanitarian assistance has brought scrutiny from Africans worldwide.
President Joe Biden recently hosted 49 African leaders in Washington, D.C for the frst U.S African Leader Summit since the inaugural event was hosted by former President Barack Obama in 2014. For three days, African heads of
state participated in a number of meetings and discussions around U.S.-Africa relations, and the issues that impact Africans, including organized crime, climate change and security.
Biden seemed determined to strengthen the relationship with Africa and to break away from the embarrassing position former President Donald Trump put America in with his vulgar comments on African countries and immigrants. Biden proposed that the African Union join G20 (Council on Foreign Relations) to have a stronger voice at the United Nations considering South Africa is the only member. Te publicity around the summit was said to encourage American and business interests to view the continent as a place of opportunity and not a place in need.
Tough it looked great from the outside, economic and human capital policy expert Obiageli Ezekwesili said that if African leaders want the world to take them seriously, they should host these summits on their continent, and not the other way around. It signals “Africa’s readiness to engage the world on its own well-articulated terms.” Let’s also bear in mind that there were several African heads of state who are accused of committing human rights abuses and still operate as dictators and shamefully attended the summit.
I’m sure what they learned in the summit will go in one ear and out the other. Te U.S has its share of responsibility for what it has done on the continent, but those corrupt leaders should be equally accountable for the mess they’ve created.
A months-long road closure is underway in Houston as part of the ongoing I-610 West Loop/ I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange project. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the I-610 West Loop southbound entrance ramp from Westheimer Road will be closed until 2023. Te $259 million interchange project began in 2017 and aims to “improve safety and mobility, reduce congestion, and upgrade the interchange to current design standards.” Tere have been a series of closures due to construction since the project began. Te best advice, fnd an alternate route because it’s going to be sheer madness.
• Sunnyside’s new Black farmer-owned grocery store.
• PVAMU gains three winners of the AT&T Rising Future Makers.
• Meet the Black woman on a quest to make a group of Houstonians lotto millionaires.
Rapper and philanthropist Trae Tha Truth is out on bond a er turning himself in to Houston police over assault charges against fellow local rapper, Z-Ro, who also happens to be his cousin.
e community activist, who is known across the country for his passion for people and his countless hands-on help, including aid during natural disasters, youth givebacks, and more, in good spirits following the charges, which stemmed from an altercation this past August.
Video showed Trae and Z-Ro fighting in a downtown parking lot the weekend of 50 Cent’s Tycoon Weekend event. A er the fight, Trae a Truth, whose real name is Frazier Othel ompson, 42, went live on Instagram to deny any hate for Z-Ro, whose real name is Joseph McVey, 45. Nonetheless, the video footage posted to TMZ shows Trae a Truth repeatedly punching Z-Ro while he’s on the ground
covering his head. Later in the video, Z-Ro stands up, ready to fight just as police officers step in between both men to stop the confrontation.
Both rappers tell a different story about exactly what happened that night. Z-Ro claims he was ambushed by Trae a Truth while walking to his car a er taking pictures with fans. He says he was sucker punched a er he asked to chat with Trae a Truth, then jumped by Trae’s crew, who he claims also stole his jewelry when he was down on the ground.
During the Instagram Live, Trae Tha Truth denied the narrative that he jumped Z-Ro and said the confrontation was based on “family business, internal stuff, that’s been going on for 10 to 15 years.”
“I’m going to address this one time and one time only. I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I’m not finna sit here and let stuff just linger around. But I do feel I owe it to people to know — especially people who
s*it
Anyone who has been caught in Houston’s rush hour traffic or ongoing construction probably has a thing or two to say. Well, the Texas Department of Transportation wants to hear it. In fact, TxDOT is looking to pay residents to weigh in on how to improve our roadways.
TxDOT has hired ETC Institute, a third-party vendor, to conduct what they’re calling the “Texas Travel Survey.” e institute is offering $40 gi cards for data collected that will help TxDOT decide what projects to prioritize to help traffic flow in metropolitan areas. e survey was initially released in early December, but hasn’t received the response they were
hoping for.
“ is is a big survey we’re doing, up to 10,000 households conducted in five different languages,” said Emily Black with TxDOT. “[It] started at end of the year and it will be going for two years.
It’s not just auto drivers they’re looking for. e survey covers all forms of transportation.
“Whether it’s bikes, bus, driving, we want the public feedback,” Black said.
Whether you’ve put it off or are just learning about it, you have until 2024 to let your voice be heard.
Take the survey at www.texastravelsurvey.com/signup.
e Black Heritage Society, in partnership with the City of Houston, is sponsoring its 45th Annual Original MLK Jr. Day Parade & Festival on Monday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. e parade will be held downtown starting on Lamar at Smith Street.
e theme is “Climbing the Mountain to a Better Future.” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will serve as grand marshal. e co-grand marshals are Rev. Dr. Derek King, nephew of Dr. King and Dr. Camille Cash, a Houston plastic surgeon, with a memorial tribute to the late activist John Bland.
“ e 2023 Original MLK Jr. Day Parade will be the last one held during Mayor Turner’s administration, and the Black Heritage Society believes he is a wonderful representation of Dr. King’s dream,” said Teresa Brewer with the Black Heritage Society.
“Over the past seven years, Mayor Turner has led our city through natural disasters, pension reform, and creating a more resilient Houston for the future. He also will leave a legacy of unity – bringing together diverse people in our city and putting Houston on the global stage.”
e MLK Festival is held immediately following the parade and ends at 5 p.m. at Hermann Park Square at Houston City Hall and is free to the public. e children will enjoy a Day of Service learning about Dr. MLK Jr. ere will be food trucks, vendor booths, live music, aDJ, youth activities and more.
Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) introduced the American Teacher Act to incentivize states to increase the minimum K-12 teacher salary to $60,000 and adjust for infation.
Wilson, the chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, said the fnancial incentive supports ongoing state eforts to provide competitive wages for teachers and address the national teacher shortage.
“Teachers deserve a raise. Unfortunately, our nation’s teachers have been underpaid, overworked and deprived of resources for too long,” Wilson said.
“Tat’s why I’m fling the American Teacher Act, to give our nation’s teachers the raise they have earned and deserve.”
Wilson called teachers the backbone of America’s education system and economy. She noted that they play a foundational role in the development of children.
“For seven hours a day, they help shape and inspire young minds as well as nurture students academically and socially,” Wilson said. “As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, teachers continued to play a critical role in our recovery, underscoring their indispensability.”
Te nonproft Teacher Salary Project helped Wilson draf the bill, which they said responds to a national teacher shortage and low professional morale.
The bill creates a four-year federal grant program to increase teachers’ annual salaries to a minimum of $60,000 nationwide. Additionally, it would create a four-year federal grant available to states and local educational agencies to guarantee the $60,000 minimum wage.
The bill wouldn’t reduce salaries for those already making more than $60,000 and wouldn’t replace existing federal, state or local funds used toward teacher pay. Earlier this year, EducationWeek estimated that more than 36,500 teacher vacancies exist in the United States.
districts across the country forced to radically adjust school oferings to respond to turnover and prolonged vacancies.
Recruiting and retaining a diverse teaching force has become increasingly difcult — indeed, most parents say they wouldn’t want their kids choosing teaching as a career.”
RANDI WEINGARTENThey noted that uncredentialed teachers filled more than 163,500 positions. Meanwhile, the Teacher Salary Project pointed out that 74% of teachers don’t believe they receive fair pay.
Wilson said teacher shortages count among the most pressing threats to education access today, with
“While teachers have never received the wages and respect commensurate with the work they do to help all children reach their promise and potential, the culture wars and stagnant wages of the last few years have made this worse,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
“Rep. Frederica Wilson’s bill directly addresses these challenges by providing states with federal funding to incentivize school districts to create a minimum salary of $60,000 for teachers.
“It also funds a national campaign highlighting the value of the teaching profession and encouraging young people to become teachers, using many of the recommendations in the AFT’s Teacher and School Staf Shortage Task Force report “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?” for recruiting the best candidates into teaching, including increasing compensation. Tis bill says put your money where your mouth is.”
A record number of people – nearly 11.5 million –signed up for insurance on HealthCare.gov, about 1.8 million more and an 18% increase over last year. With enrollment remaining open through Jan. 15, and not counting those who signed up for coverage through their state marketplaces, President Joe Biden said such gains have helped to drive down the uninsured rate to 8%, the lowest level in U.S. history.
“In recent days, we received further proof that our efforts are delivering record results and bringing families the peace of mind that comes with health insurance,” Biden said.
“Right now, four out of fve people who sign up for health insurance through the Afordable Care Act can fnd health care coverage for $10 a month or less,” he said.
“Tese lower rates were set to expire at the end of this year, but thanks to the Infation Reduction Act, we were
able to extend them and save millions of Americans on Obamacare an average of $800 a year.”
Te Biden administration noted that, on Jan. 1, Americans would see the benefts of additional cost-saving measures because of the Inflation Reduction Act. Tat includes seniors realizing a month’s supply of insulin capped at $35, Medicare benefciaries paying $0 out of pocket for recommended adult vaccines covered by their Part D plan, and prescription drug companies needing to pay Medicare a rebate if they try to raise their prices faster than infation for drugs administered at a doctor’s ofce.
“We’re not fnished working to make health care a right, not a privilege,” Biden said.
Te administration continues to encourage individuals to visit HealthCare.gov by Jan. 15 to take advantage of lower rates and sign up for health care for the coming year.
By ReShonda Tate
The sports world was shocked during the Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals when Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field a er taking a hard hit. Thankfully, they were able to revive him and he was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The game was ultimately postponed. Despite their admirable professionalism, journalists were obviously emotional about what they’d just witnessed.
Southwest Airlines flights are (mostly) back on schedule following a holiday week’s worth of unprecedented cancellations that stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers across the country. While many weary travelers are reportedly still waiting to reunite with their lost luggage, others continue to voice bewilderment at how such a logistical nightmare occurred within one of the nation’s most popular aviation providers. In all, Southwest canceled about 15,700 flights. Some travelers weighed in.
If there was any doubt, there shouldn’t be anymore.
Actress Angela Bassett is 1,000 percent a Black mama. She got her son ALL THE WAY together a er a Tik Tok prank.
ramifications of this of my actions upon his family nor my parents as they deserve none of the backlash.”
“We have been stranded in Denver since before Christmas with no luggage. There’s no way out to Houston. It’s a nightmare! “
- Kimberly Kibbe
“They have been lying since Dec 21st and they have lost their reputation as a decent airline. They will have to do a lot of free flights refunds and extra to keep their customers.”
- Maria A Parks“I am a diehard Southwest flier. My flight was canceled and had NO feedback and ended up having to take an $800 flight on United. can’t wait until they have their apology sale because that’s the only thing that will redeem them.”
- Morgan Billingsley
We got to see a side of football that is extremely ugly—that no one ever wants to see or never wants to admit exists. When you see both teams on the field crying in that way, your first thought is Damar Hamlin. Your second thought is his family. And this isn’t about a football player, this is about a human. This is about a brother, this is about a son, this is about a friend. This is about someone who is loved by so many that you have to watch go through this.”
She may have emerged victorious in the trial over the July 2020 shooting with Tory Lanez, but Megan Thee Stallion’s legal woes continue. She has been involved in a battle with her label 1501 Entertainment, fighting to be released from her record label contract that she signed when she was first starting her career. A judge denied 1501 Entertainment’s motion for her project Something for the Hotties to be declared less than an album, and now the rapper is headed to court.
Megan Thee Stallion wasn’t asking for monetary damages at first but is now requesting $1 million in damages.
Pete should be allowed her day in court to present evidence and testimony to the jury demonstrating that she has done all that was required of her in the delivery and release of her albums.”
– Court filing
Slater Vance issued an apology a er receiving backlash for a viral video of him telling his parents that actor Michael B. Jordan had died.
“I would sincerely like to apologize to Michael B. Jordan’s entire family, his extended family, and him directly as he is an idol of mine,” Slater Vance said in a video apology on his Instagram account. “Taking part in a trend like this is completely disrespectful.
I don’t wish any bad
In the 27-second Tik Tok video, actress Angela Bassett and her husband actor Courtney B. Vance are in a room with Slater, 16, who is heard asking his parents if they had heard about the death of actor Michael B. Jordan. Bassett, who is clearly emotional a er hearing the news, is seen walking up to her son as if she is looking to see where he is reading the news.
The video, which has since been removed, doesn’t show what Bassett’s reaction was when she learned that she was being pranked.
County Attorney Lina Hidalgo delivered a spontaneous 10-minute speech calling out Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, her fellow county leaders and opponents of her 2022 reelection campaign.
“You will not cut me out. You will not beat me down; you will not tell me to sit down and shut up like Lieutenant Dan Patrick did,” Hidalgo said, referring to a Feb. incident where Patrick confronted the judge for standing with other state and county leaders at the funeral of slain Harris County Deputy Corporal Charles Galloway. During the encounter, the lieutenant governor told Hidalgo to “sit down and shut up” and accused
her of defunding the police. Hidalgo’s remarks were an unscheduled occurrence at the night’s symbolic festivities. No elected officials were slated to speak during the swearing-in ceremony, and Hidalgo’s scheduled remarks were expected to be given during a later reception with attendees. Hidalgo did not attend the reception, and later that night Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner appeared to reference the judge’s no-show.
“Even though elected officials have their own private swearing in, it is important to show up at the public swearing-in ceremonies,” Turner said.
Calling all college-bound students. Fort Bend County Libraries is set to host programs to help students and their families prepare for college.
From Jan. 12-26, county libraries are offering a full schedule of seminars ranging from “How to Choose and Pay for College,” where students will learn how to prepare a competitive college application, to “FAFSA 101,” which helps families gain a better understanding of the financial aid process.
The programs are designed to provide information and resources to help youth have successful college experiences.
The county is also offering opportunities to encourage young adults to be active participants in designing and organizing new activities for teens in the library system.
The Defender spoke with Sandy Johnson, marketing and communications manager for Fort Bend County Libraries, to find out what students and families can look forward to in the coming weeks.
DEFENDER: What is the Fort Bend County Libraries’ goal for youth?
SANDY JOHNSON: We try to plan programs and activities that encourage teens to continue to engage in the library for lifelong learning. Libraries are more than just books – they are places for people to gather and exchange ideas and feel connected.
DEFENDER: Is this the first time the district library system is hosting this? If not, how many people have attended in the past?
JOHNSON: We have had programs on
University Branch Library Thursday, Jan. 12, 4-5 p.m., Conference Room 1.
George Memorial Library (Richmond) Wednesday, Jan. 18, 4-5 p.m., Room 2C.
Cinco Ranch Branch Library Wednesday, Jan. 18, 4-5 p.m., Conference Room.
Missouri City Branch Library Tuesday, Jan. 24, 4-5 p.m., Conference Room.
Sienna Branch Library Thursday, Jan. 26, 4-5 p.m.
completing the FAFSA application in the past, and they are always very well attended. I would recommend coming early to get a seat. Kathy Rose is presenting the program on “How to Choose & Pay for College” – she is a repeat presenter for us and always does a great job. Again, I would recommend arriving early since seating is limited.
We have the Young Adult Advisory Council meetings on a monthly basis, as well as the Young Adult Book Clubs. The activities [crafts, games, etc.] take place every month, but the topics may vary. The Young Adult Advisory Councils are a great way for students in grades 9-12 to earn volunteer-service hours, and the teens offer excellent insight into activities that they would like to see in our libraries.
DEFENDER: Can families from other counties take advantage of this?
JOHNSON: Yes, Fort Bend County Libraries is a public library system, and everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of county of residence. There is never a charge for library programs or services. A library card [also free for all Texans] is not required to attend programs.
DEFENDER: College and student debt is a hot button topic.Will the program introduce strategies for parents to secure grants and scholarships if loans aren’t what they want for their child?
JOHNSON: In the program “How to
Choose & Pay for College,” Kathy Rose will touch upon different options that families and students can explore for financial assistance, including grants and scholarships. This will be an overview of options, however, providing direction for families to explore on their own. George Memorial Library in Richmond will have a program on Feb. 9 called “Funding Your Future: Scholarships & Grants,” which will provide more detail on these options.
DEFENDER: Does the teen program
provide mentorship or career advice on understanding college majors and which ones provide lucrative career paths?
JOHNSON: Other than the regularly scheduled book clubs and YA Advisory Council meetings, the YA programs that our libraries present are on a variety of topics. In December, our Sienna Branch Library had a YA program on “Mock Interviews.”
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In the past, Fort Bend County Libraries has had college fairs and programs highlighting different career options.
Candice D’Meza is a Houston artist whose body of work spans theater performance, multiple literary genres, activism, dance, critical pedagogy, ritual, social practice and multiple types of flm (documentary, experimental and short).
D’Meza is big on “world-building,” and thus attracted to and a participant in the genres of science fction, Afrofuturism and fantasy, with the spiritual technologies of Pan-African spiritual practices and belief systems.
So, yes, she’s big on connecting with ancestors, the power of imagination and moving above and beyond the confnes of racism and white supremacy.
As her website says, D’Meza’s work has been “featured, grant-funded, commissioned, published, screened and archived at institutions across the nation” at places like the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston, DiverseWorks, PlayBill, Latinx Playwrights Circle, BOLD Ventures Grant through the Helen Gurley Foundation, Rice University, Colgate University, the
Catastrophic Teatre, Alley Teatre, Ensemble Teatre, Stages Teater, Houston Arts Alliance, Red Bull Arts, City of Houston, Black Spatial Relics, American Teatre Magazine, the Acentos Review, Houston Press, the Houston Chronicle and various national flm festivals.”
D’Meza, a four-time award winner at the Houston Press Teater Awards, including the 2018 win for Best Utility Player, is a proud member of the Actors Equity Union.
Here’s D’Meza in her own words.
proud of calling myself Haitian. I grew up with my African American mother. Tat identity is very close to me. Tat’s the way I’ve experienced the world. And because my father wasn’t around, I didn’t get a chance to grow up as a part of Haitian culture. So, it’s something I’ve had to choose because those ancestors have chosen me and continued to call to me.
To call myself Haitian has come through a lot of work and a lot of active choice versus just only birthright. So, I’m proud to also consider myself Haitian as part of my identity. And I think a mom/artist. My work as a mom/artist means that my children have been a huge part of my creation process.
D’MEZA: Creating a world comes natural to me. So, if I’m in a particular theater play as an actor where the material is really rich and I can create a world, I’m going to really feel good in that process; feel more at ease. If I’m writing or creating a project and
I can build the world how I want, and it’s just me to create it, that will also feel more natural. I don’t know that it’s always the artistic discipline that’s easiest, just the process of it.
D’MEZA: I have a play commissioned with Catastrophic Teater and it will go up, I believe in May 2023. It’s called “A Maroon’s Guide to Time and Space.” It’s going to be strange. I love that theater. Tey have been so instrumental to my journey. Tey produced last year my “30 Ways to Get Free” project, which is now three short flms, all based on how Black people could get free. And it’s important to me that they’re not trying to get free of racism because I don’t even want to center white supremacy at all. It’s not even in the world. I don’t even care about it. I don’t even want to talk about it. Tere’s more to us than that.
Brittney Griner will play for the Mercury in 2023
A er 10 months of captivity in Russia, WNBA star and Houston native Brittney Griner let her intentions be known of her plans for the upcoming WNBA season. “I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,” Griner said via her Instagram page.
There are rumors that former Rockets star James Harden wants to return to play for Houston next season. Harden, who forced his way out of town two years ago, is currently playing for the Philadelphia 76ers but can become a free agent this summer. Harden has denied the rumor he wants to return and the Rockets have not commented.
Prairie View
A&M Athletics celebrated the Fall 2022 student-athletes by recognizing them for their achievements in the classroom. In all, 214 student-athletes achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, with 26 of them posting 4.0 GPAs. As a whole, the PVAMU student-athlete population achieved a GPA of 3.02, with nine teams – track and field encompassing indoor/outdoor as well as cross country – achieving a team GPA of 3.0 or above. Saturday at 2 p.m.
Another disappointing Texans’ season will come to an end this weekend. But will that mean the end of Lovie Smith’s tenure a er just one season?
Speculation is it could go either way following Sunday’s regular-season finale at Indianapolis. A er the recent NFL.com report that the team will “evaluate everyone” at the conclusion of the season, the idea that Smith could be the Texans’ consecutive oneand-done coach and that the team will be conducting a search for its third coach in as many seasons seemed to gain steam.
e speculation that Smith could be fired a er just one season is a complete reversal of the thinking just a week ago that he would be given another season, but with some likely changes to his coaching staff. Surely, things can’t move forward as is with the Texans set to finish the season with the NFL’s worst record.
But firing Smith would seem to be shortsighted. e veteran NFL coach was handed a job that was always going to be impossible to have a lot of immediate success with given the void in talent a er general manager Nick Caserio almost completely turned over the roster, dumping valuable veteran players without much thought.
Caserio has certainly put both Smith and David Culley – African American coaches – in unwinnable situations over the last two seasons.
e most glaring void offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and Smith have had to endure this season is at quarterback. Second-year quarterback Davis Mills has done nothing but prove he isn’t the answer. It’s become so bad in recent weeks that Hamilton has reverted to the collegiate two-headed monster quarterback system, intermittently using Mills and Jeff Driskell to create some resemblance of an NFL quarterback.
It seems almost certain that the Texans will grab either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud with the first of their two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Dra .
But the lack of explosive and difference-making talent isn’t just at quarterback but seemingly all over the field at the skill positions and the defensive front. It’s hard to win much in the NFL with the talent Smith has to work with.
But to Smith’s credit, he will never point the finger at the Texans’ across-the-board
lack of talent. He shoulders the blame for the Texans’ NFL-worst 2-13-1 record going into the final week.
“I don’t quite know how to answer that,” Smith said when asked to evaluate how he has coached this season following the Texans’ 31-3 loss to AFC South rival Jacksonville.
“We’ve won two games. When I talk about what the players haven’t done, I mean, we’re leading them. I’m leading the team. So, it’s pretty simple on how I’ve done this year. Haven’t done as good enough of a job to win games.
“So sometimes I mean it ends up like that for whatever reason,” Smith said. “I know we showed up; we’ve been trying hard but we didn’t get it done. What I’m focusing on as much as anything is we have one more opportunity to get a win, and then a er that you can look at the body of work and what we’ve done with what we’ve been working with.”
Speculation is intensifying with former Saints coach Sean Payton circling in the water and looking for a new head coaching job. Former Texans linebacker and current 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans
has also become one of the top hot head coaching prospects and would make an interesting hire in Houston.
But either of those moves comes with some risks. While Payton walked away from the Saints more than a year ago and is considered to be one of the best offensive minds in the game, he remains under contract in New Orleans and the Saints are said to be asking for a first-round dra pick from the team that hires him. Payton also will want a great deal of power and influence, which would also likely mean the Caserio experiment would be over a er two tumultuous seasons.
While hiring Ryans would create some excitement among the Texans fan base, he is unproven as a head coach.
Smith, meanwhile, symbolizes stability for the organization that seems to be constantly in flux. But at 64, he does have that feeling of being just a placeholder while the Texans look for or develop their coach of the future.
At any rate, the Texans have some big decisions to make in the next seven days or so. It doesn’t seem right to move on from Smith so quickly, but this is the NFL, which o en stands for Not For Long.
Katy Seven Lakes junior guard A.J. Bates is a 3-star playmaker who is more than capable of creating offense for himself and others off the dribble.
At 6 feet 2, Bates has the height to make plays over smaller guards and can maneuver around the big guys using a quick move to the rim.
Seven Lakes currently leads its Class 6A Region III District 19 group with a perfect 5-0 district record and a 20-4 overall record.
e Defender spoke with Bates post-game a er a victory to discuss his style of play, keys to victory, leadership and more.
“I don’t let people speed me up or slow me down. I like to play at my own speed. I am also more of a facilitator.”
“I use my presence as a key factor for us. When I am able to attack, find my teammates for open threes, set screens to give my teammates open shots, and on defense set the pace and get the win.”
“Shooting off the dribble and just shooting in general. And be more athletic.”
“As a unit, we are all leaders. We all take ideas from each other and bounce ideas off each other. So, we are basically a team that leads and it is not
“I’m looking for a school that is going to give me a chance to play, and for me one key factor is education.
Twitter: @Ajbates_24
AAU team: Houston Hoops
Current offers: Lamar, Sam Houston State, Louisiana Tech
Player he studies: Chris Paul
Favorite artists: Metro Boomin, Lil Baby, NBA Youngboy, Drake and Kanye West
Intended college major: Business Shout-outs: “My mom, my dad and Coach Heston.”
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