The Blame Game

I don't blame Hilton for the move to Reliant.

I blame the fair weather fans of Houston.

Plain and simple.

And my only regret is that I might be viewed in that manner, so let me make it perfectly clear... my decision not renew has nothing, whatsoever, to do with our team. It has everything to do with Reliant Arena, and Reliant Arena only.

Decision to Stay Home

Hilton's decision was likely an easy one. And mine was, too. Sad... but easy.

I've been a season ticket holder since mid-way through the inaugural season of the WNBA in 1997. I rode the joyous wave of championship after championship, and I've seen them through many heart breaking times.

My commitment to this team, to women's sports and to providing dreams and aspirations to young girls has been unwavering.

Initially, I purchased two season tickets, and over the past two years have downsized to one... for a little over the price of my intial investment. I've also renewed my tickets and given them away or let them go unused in years that I knew I would be too busy and travelling too much for work to attend.

I followed them from Compaq to Toyota. Last year I even attended a pre-season game at Del-Mar (an old, old, old sup-par high school arena).

I just can't follow them to Reliant.

Hilton's decision to move the team was based on purely financial considerations. My decision to stay home was based on a NUMBER of factors:

1. Integrity. Reliant Arena is beneath the integrity of these professional athletes. I shudder at the thought of our players being looked down upon by the visiting team. It's just a disgrace.
2. Physical Location. It is physically impossible for me to travel through rush hour traffic... from where I work to home and then to Reliant. I can't leave for work at 630am and not go home before the game. And I can't give up an extra hour of my life to traffic. I just can't. It doesn't work for my life and my priorities.
3. Poor Parking. Mind you, I've been to the dog sw a multitude of times, and while I don't know the attendance numbers, I can tell you that I've walked a quarter of a mile to the arena... many times in the rain. Imagine doing that two to three times a week, in the rain. And yes... it rains that much in Houston!
4. Security. The area of town isn't the greatest. You could maybe say that about Toyota Center, but the parking garage was connected with a covered walk and was as bright as daylight.
5. Spoiled. Yes. Toyota spoiled me. The oak bars, deluxe meals and never crowded restrooms of Club Level made for such a pleasurable experience... that the comparably priced dog show dogs, dome foam and sterile, indestructable restrooms of Reliant make me feel like I should get about a $300 rebate on my ticket. No?
6. Financial. Just like Hilton couldn't afford for seats to go unfilled. I can't either. I'm just not willing to donate $850 for a seat that will go unused, except for weekend games. I might as well buy individual VIP or floor seats.

Sad.

Decision to Move

We all saw it coming, so I can't say I'm suprised.

The Comets announced this week that they will move from the A-List Toyota Center to the Z-List Reliant Arena (yes, that's where they hold the dog show... the gun and gem shows).

Hilton Koch has this to say:

"We are very excited that Reliant Arena will be the new home for the (Comets). As an organization, our goal is to provide Comets fans with a phenomenal in-arena experience [read: high school gymnasium feel] while at the same time maximizing the team's long-term growth potential [read: continuing existence].

Reliant Arena's smaller venue [capacity of 5,800... which should be an easy sell and make every game a sell-out... but it's Reliant, so I'd expect about half that] will be a great setting for our boisterous fans and will help create a powerful home-court advantage."

Sad.

Dear Hilton: Thanks!

I've expressed my share of doubts and concerns, but I also want to express my gratitude.

Seeing you jump from your seat in excitement Tuesday and Friday nights, cheering loudly and urging the crowd to stand... did my heart a tremendous amount of good! And I know the team must have felt it, too.

Our former owner rarely even attended our games and, at the end, made it clear just how little he cared about "the product".

Your enthusiasm is contagious. Keep up the good work in the media... and the stands!

Photo: June 20 Game against LA Sparks: Hilton with his daughter, Paris Jade. Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Comets Fire Up First Win Against Sparks

We did it! We really did it!

Not only did the Comets log their first W, but they soundly defeated l.a. in the process!

The final score was 74-64 and while Michelle Snow (21, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turn overs) and Tina Thompson (20, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover) led by far in points, almost everyone who played, scored:

Hodges (9, 4 assists, 1 turn over)
Smith (8, 1 rebound, 4 assists)
Byears (5, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)
Maiga-Ba (5, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 6 turnovers)
Moore (5, 3 rebounds, 3 assists)
Shields (1)

The exceptioins: Sancho Lyttle started, played 13:40, snatched 6 rebounds, caused 3 turnovers and didn't score. Tari Phillips played 3:09 and didn't score but didn't cause any turnovers.

In a game that was equal parts lackluster and brilliance (because we never fell behind), our girls came out and played four complete quarters. They actually got the crowd in the game, for the first time all season. And when the final horn sounded, you would have thought we had won the Championship!

Congratulations Karleen and Hilton... on your first win. (I heard on the radio that Hilton got the game ball. I'm thinking he deserves it because the checks must have cleared!).

O... Hilton

As I was sitting here, stewing over a commercial I saw on television this weekend, featuring Hilton and Baby Paris half selling furniture and half cheering for the Houston Comets...

I ran across this letter to Hilton, on The Houston Roundball Review, which begins by saying,

"Please do something. Anything. Pronto."

I hope Hilton reads it. Something needs to happen, and soon.

I just have this bad feeling, though, that Hilton is in over his head. The lack of continuity in management and, frankly, coaching... has predictably sunk our ship. I know people had their problems with Van, but I always thought he was handcuffed by the League (conspiracy theory, I know and firmly believe). But if Van and his coaching and training staff had seen us through a couple of years in transition, I believe we would be writing about a different story.

(Wo)man The Lifeboats!

I heard a disturbing rumor that a key member of the "organization" gave notice a couple of weeks ago.

I recently saw this person ascending the steps, toward the end of a game, with head hanging low. It seemed odd to me at the time, because I recall so many games, win or lose, this person making the same exit, shaking hands and acknowledging fans.

Odder still, when it was the same night that an arena employee told me of rumors that, next year, there would either be no team... or they would be playing at UH.

That person's name is still on the Staff Directory, along with TBD... who is quadrupling roles as Chief Operating Officer, Vice President of Corporate Development, Coordinator of Corporate Development Service and Coordinator of Website and Database Management.

Wow. This TBD must be really busy... and maybe that's why the directory doesn't reflect the rumored departure.

Dear Hilton: Just Things I'm Thinking

1. Everyone who's thought about it knows that the two preseason venue changes were cost cutting moves. Season ticket holder paid up front and feel slighted at losing two games.
2. Moving the pre-season game to Delmar was a total embarassment. I don't care how much money you saved. Moves like that will cost you in the end.
3. I hear rumors that the Houston Comets will either... "be no more"... or play at UH next year. You've noted diminishing numbers of season ticket holders. How many do you suppose we'll lose with that move? I suspect a move to UH will cost somewhere close to 100% of the last 2000 season ticketholders.
4. If this is the last season of The Houston Comets, I'm truly saddened... but our professional athletes deserve better.

Thanks for your continuing efforts to sell more tickets. It's a tough sell with weak stats and scores, but particularly since both the arena and the concessions feel half stocked...

Dear Hilton: Just Things I'm Thinking

Please don't mistake my observations for lack of gratitude for your support and rescue of the Houston Comets organization. I just think a little honest feedback might serve us all well.

1. Why must you sit on the "bench"? From a fan's perspective that's way uncool.
2. And if you're going to sit on the "bench", must you talk on your cell phone?
3. Can you tell your friend to... "Keep your shirt on, Dude!"?
4. It might not be such a good idea to communicate with the referees, either... I don't know, maybe they've changed the rules and I haven't heard... but can you spell "T"?
5. Many of us are waiting to hear what season ticket holders (of the last 10 years) will receive as a souvenir... Did that tradition go the way of our previous owner?

Just a few things you might ponder...