All of the Houston Rockets' hopes for the future center on the idea that Yao Ming will return as a healthy All-Star. Rockets coach Rick Adelman might not be so sure of that though.
The Sacramento Press is reporting that Adelman has emerged as a leading candidate for the University of Oregon's coaching job. Oregon is determined (and somewhat desperate) to hire a big name and its using all of its Nike money to try and do that. Nike chairman Phil Knight is a Duck alum (he donated $100 million to the school in 2009 alone) and he's already used his immense wallet power to offer Michigan State coach Tom Izzo the largest coaching contract in college basketball history. (Izzo has turned it down so far.)
Now, with Adelman on Knight's radar, there is little chance that the Rockets could better Oregon's offer if Knight goes all in.
Adelman leaving for a college job would reverberate beyond mere financial realities though. It would send out an unmistakable message that the Rockets coach has his doubts about Yao being able to return from his latest devastating injury. With a healthy Yao (always the ultimate IF in basketball), many NBA observers expect the Rockets to be a challenger to the elite teams in the league next season.
The inside-outside combination of Yao and Kevin Martin (who the Rockets acquired in a trade this season) brings particular optimism.
But now the coach who guided a Yao-less team to a surprising winning record this season is flirting with Ducks.
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
