Hook 'em Horns

UT is nation's most valuable college sports franchise

Here's something that Longhorn fans already knew: The University of Texas is the most valuable team in college sports.

Forbes magazine says the team had a value of $119 million last season, easily overshadowing No. 2 Notre Dame by $11 million. According to Forbes, Texas made a $59 million profit. (It's no wonder they were able to give coach Mack Brown such a big raise.)

Alabama, who the Longhorns will face in the BCS Championship game on Jan. 6 in Pasadena, Calif., came in fifth, with $92 million. After Texas and Notre Dame, the list includes Penn State, Nebraska, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma.

Such news only exacerbates the pride Longhorn fans have for their team. One rabid fan wrote CultureMap, "For every Longhorn, the trip to Pasadena is another vindication that UT dominates football in a football crazy state. And it turns out that UT is one of the most valuable sports franchises, even making some pro football teams envious. Most teams at least have some identifying initials on their helmet, or their T-shirts. UT just has that outline of a cow and that burnt-orange. That’s all it takes. It’s branding at a very high level, indeed!"

Reminds me of the old saying, "It's hard to be humble when you're good."

unspecified

don't get burned

Talented performers fire up new store and training facility in Houston

Supplies for fire performances to open in Houston in 2025.

Photo by Matt Hellman

Kira Bailey performs with fire fingers.

Have you ever wanted to juggle, swallow, or dance with fire? Houston will soon be home for a place that sells the gear and offers lessons in that art.

Chris and Kira Bailey of the Solar Rain Performance Troupe have been firebending for audiences for more than a decade, as well as running their own online store for tools of the trade, TheOddPropShop. In 2025, they plan to open a combination storefront and workshop for Houstonians to enter and practice the fiery arts.

"Having a physical location allows us to connect with our customers on a more personal level that can’t be replicated online — which is especially important for building props that performers must trust with their lives," the Baileys wrote in an email. "Because of that, we’re building this workshop to become a space to create and test products, and invite our customers in when they want custom-made props. We go through a long trial-and-error with each of our new ideas, often using affordable items from Temu to build our prototypes, and then improve our designs until they’re ready to sell."

The space will be located in Kemah and is scheduled to open in the second half of the year. It will be a combination storefront, living space, and workshop area that will serve aspiring fire performers in a variety of ways. The Baileys will sell their signature fire bubblers, fire jump ropes, and sun wheels that are perfect for both professionals and hobbyists.

The brick-and-mortar OddPropShop will serve as a hub for greater Houston's performance community. Interested first timers will be able to take classes, while established performers can try out new routines and equipment. According to the couple, Houston is home to a significant community of fire artists.

"We wanted to be in a city that not only has a great arts scene and supportive creative community, but is also in a location where we could quickly and easily get the materials we needed to build our props," the Baileys wrote. "Houston was the only place that checked all those boxes. We were also personally drawn to Houston because many of our friends and fellow performers live in the city. In many ways, Houston already felt like home."

In addition to the tools of the fire trade, TheOddPropShop will sell costumes and accessories such as leather and stone jewelry. These small pieces of flair help add to the pagan ambience of the overall fire package.

performing-arts shopping fire performers