Sports Roundup: Aug. 26 – Sept. 17
Houston Texans
Week 1 – The Texans lost their season opener at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 29-7. The Texans’ offensive line struggled to keep the Jaguars’ defense out of the backfield, allowing a total of 10 sacks. Defensive End J.J. Watt made his return to the field after playing in just three games last season due to back surgery. The Texans’ defense, coming off a season in which they ranked first in the NFL, could not contain the Jaguars’ rookie Running Back Leonard Fournette or put any pressure (zero sacks) on Quarterback Blake Bortles. Texans Quarterback Tom Savage was benched at halftime in favor of rookie Deshaun Watson, who contributed to the Texans’ only score of the game on a 4-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins.
Week 2 – The Texans rebounded from a blowout loss to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals on the road on Thursday Night Football, playing on only three days of rest. The Texans entered the game with five players out due to concussion from the previous game (including all three tight ends) and rookie Deshaun Watson made his first career start on his 22nd birthday. Watson made the deciding play of the game with a 49-yard touchdown run with 50 seconds remaining in the first half – the only touchdown scored in the game by either team. The Texans’ defense also fared much better in Week 2, picking up three sacks and a forced fumble.
Texans Linebacker Brian Cushing received a 10-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s rule against the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Cushing received a four-game suspension for the same violation in 2010.
Houston Astros – The Astros sit at 92-58 and clinched their division Sept. 17 – their first division title since 2001. They have the second-best record in the American League (AL) after a 22-game win streak by the Cleveland Indians caused Houston to fall slightly behind. Former AL MVP Justin Verlander, who the team traded for Aug. 31, has made three starts and given up just two runs across 21 innings pitched since joining the Astros.
University of Houston Football – The Cougars won their season opener 19-16 over Arizona after their original opener against UTSA was canceled due to Hurricane Harvey. They then defeated Rice University Sept. 16 in dominant fashion by a score of 38-3, having scored all of their points in the first half. The marching bands for Houston and Rice performed a joint rendition of “Amazing Grace” at halftime in honor of Hurricane Harvey victims.
Other News
J.J. Watt’s Harvey Fundraiser – J.J. Watt’s fundraiser, which was launched Aug. 26 to raise money for Hurricane Harvey victims, surpassed more than $37 million. Watt set the original goal for his fundraiser at $200,000.
ESPN vs. Donald Trump – ESPN anchor Jemele Hill called President Trump a “white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself [with] other white supremacists” in a series of tweets aimed at the President. Trump responded via Twitter by linking ESPN’s downfall to its continual involvement in politics. ESPN released a statement saying that they discussed the issue with Hill and that she recognizes that her actions were inappropriate. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that Hill’s tweet about Trump was a “fireable offense.”
NBA – Many teams will feature advertisement sponsor patches on their uniforms during the upcoming 2017-2018 season. This will mark the first time that an NBA, NFL or MLB team has placed an advertisement on a game-day uniform.
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