Running out of dream

Heartbreaking finish: After fighting to play, Beren Academy loses in state titlegame despite fierce rally

Zach Yoshor scored 24 points in the semis after having put up 40 points in thequarterfinals.
Beren Academy just wanted to play basketball while staying true to its faith.
Chris Cole talks with his Beren team in the huddle.

FORT WORTH — Beren Academy lived the dream. It just didn't get the dream ending.

The small Orthodox Jewish day school in Houston that fought so hard to get the chance to play in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 2A final four lost 46-42 in the state title game to Abilene Christian Saturday night.

Trailing by 10 points in the fourth quarter, the Stars pulled off a frantic rally led by senior guard Isaac Mirwis (15 points). Down 41-38 in the final minute, they had several good looks at a triple.

With 22.2 seconds left, Beren pulled within 42-40. But Abilene hit four free throws in final 22 seconds. The Stars who'd made national and international headlines with their quest to get to play without being forced to violate the Sabbath and their religious beliefs wouldn't get that storybook finish.

Beren's white team vans didn't pull into the parking lot of Nolan Catholic High School till 7:29 with an 8 p.m. tip looming. The Stars could not leave the hotel till after complete sundown to observe the Sabbath.

And they looked a step slow early, falling behind 12-7 after the first quarter.

By halftime it was a 19-19 game, with Beren forward Zachary Yoshor putting in 11 points in the first 16 minutes.

Beren needed a lawsuit to even get the chance to complete its dream season. Without forcing the games to be scheduled outside of the Sabbath, something TAPPS rejected not one, but twice before seeing the lawsuit and relenting, the Stars' season would have ended with a forfeit.

Yoshor and his teammates never set out to stand up for religious tolerance, but that's how it turned out.

"This has become bigger than just our school," said Ari Gold, a Beren parent who has been calling the games on a Livestream that's been watched in several countries.

Stay tuned to CultureMap for a full column from the scene later.

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chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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