Houston Texans to get Thanksgiving game? Arian Foster & Co. in line for showcasespot

Thanksgiving is one of the NFL's ultimate showcase spots.
The Houston Texans' Miracle Defense will have to deal with the best receiver inthe NFL next season — Detroit's Calvin Johnson, aka Megatron.

Move over turkey. H-Town's next Thanksgiving could include sitting down to watch the Houston Texans in a national TV showcase.

A source in Detroit tells CultureMap that the Texans are "the clear favorite" to be the AFC opponent in the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving Day game in Motown.

The official 2012 NFL schedule will not be released for months, but the Texans already know which teams they'll be playing and where (just not any times or dates). Detroit is one of the Texans' eight road opponents for next season.

The Texas team that's often forgotten has captured America's attention in defeat like it never has in victory.

CBS, which holds the AFC rights, is set to broadcast the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game Nov. 22. That means Detroit must play an AFC team. Which means Jim Nantz — the Houston-raised No. 1 voice of CBS — could finally get to broadcast a Texans game for sure.

Of course, Nantz could be doing more Texans games than just a Thanksgiving matchup.

As CultureMap detailed on Monday, the Texans' national profile is undergoing a huge upswing as a result of that 20-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the playoffs. The Texas team that's often forgotten has captured America's attention in defeat like it never has in victory.

Tailback Arian Foster, in particular, is attracting national love.

It's easy to see how having Foster and Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson — the most explosive passing game threat in the league — on the same field would make for an easily promotable Thanksgiving showcase.

The other AFC team playing at Detroit that could be moved into the Thanksgiving spot is the Indianapolis Colts. The Peyton Manning/Andrew Luck possibilities would also intrigue.

Thanksgiving is a huge showcase day for the NFL, with whichever teams play in the holiday games enjoying the national spotlight for days. An appearance on Thanksgiving would be another breakthrough for Bob McNair's franchise.

Houston's schedule will be packed with marquee teams in 2012 — Green Bay Packers (at home), New England Patriots (on the road), New York Jets (on the road) and Baltimore Ravens (at home) included. Playoff teams get the tougher schedules the following year, making repeating success in a parity-focused league, tough.

It's a task the Texans swear they'll embrace.

"We're not going to be one of those one-year wonder teams," Houston defensive end Antonio Smith said. "The last thing you want to do is make the playoffs one year and be out the next. That's when everyone calls you a fluke.

"This team is not going to be a fluke."

It figures to be working the holidays to prove that.

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pucker up

Growing pickleball franchise smashes into Houston with 2 locations

Two men play pickleball on a Picklr court.

Photo courtesy of The Picklr

A Picklr court campus similar to the ones soon to open in Houston.

Pickleball is one of the hottest sports sweeping the nation, and one of the biggest names in the game is setting up two new facilities in Houston. Picklr is scheduled to open indoor sports campuses in Cypress and The Woodlands in the coming months.

“Bringing a pickleball facility to Cypress will not only provide a fun and engaging recreational outlet for residents of all ages, but will also foster a sense of community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Steve Nguyen, owner of The Picklr Cypress.“This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for social interaction, skill development, and friendly/competitive competition, enhancing community bonds and offering a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.”

Although the game is approximately 60 years old, pickleball saw a massive spike in popularity following the pandemic when people were looking for fun group activities with easy points of entry. Though a racket sport like tennis, it is far easier and slower thanks to using perforated balls, smaller courts, and lighter paddles. This means the game is open to players of all ages, and was originally most popular with retirees. Now, there are roughly 5 million players across America, with players under 24 making up the majority. Houston even has its own professional team, the Hammers (not the Texas Hammer; that's this guy).

The court in Cypress will be located in the old ASI Gymnastics building at 8920 Barker Cypress. It's a relatively modest facility with only six courts including a practice court. By contrast, The Woodlands location will be much more opulent. At 66,517 square feet, it will have 20 courts, 4 private event spaces (one with an exclusive viewing area), as well as a shower, changing room, dry bar, and kitchenette. Picklr The Woodlands will be located at 16590 Interstate I-45 South.

These locations are the first for Picklr in Houston. They have twelve locations all throughout Texas, including in Round Rock and McKinney, and many more nationwide. Picklr locations operate on a membership model similar to a gym. Memberships run $159 a month for adults and $89 for minors, with unlimited access to open play, league play, and tournaments , as well as four free clinics a month. Additional coaching is available.

There is currently no set opening date for the two Houston-area Picklrs. Players interested in learning more may sign up for updates at ThePicklr.com.

pickleball openings