Inside Tony Romo's Houston Visit

Tony Romo proves to be an annoyingly good guy in his Houston visit: Duke's Justin Bieber only brings love

Tony Romo walked into NRG Stadium like he owned the place — and then did the one thing he could do to annoy Houston Texans most.

He played nice. In fact, the Dallas Cowboys' lightning rod quarterback could not have been more annoyingly nice in his Duke fanboy trip to the Bayou City. Having long ago adopted Duke (because who doesn't love a front runner?) as his college basketball team, Romo came to cheer Mike Krzyzewski on to another Final Four.

The QB brought his own posse to Sunday's Elite Eight game in Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and tight end Jason Witten (not surprisingly, Dez Bryant apparently had cooler things to do). The trio was allowed into the stadium before the regular fans, which is a pretty standard celebrity perk. But once inside, Romo did not big time anyone.

He happily posed for photos with regular Duke fans. He made sure to come over and pay his respects to George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush — and even got several laughs out of the ex-president. He hobnobbed with CBS announcers Jim Nantz and Grant Hill, who is a devoted Cowboys fan because of his dad.

He does not attempt to make it all about Tony Romo. Instead, he lets kids like Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones have their moment.

And Romo did not even pull a Justin Bieber or a Drake after the game.

Romo didn't insert himself into the Duke locker room like Drake did after so many Kentucky wins last March. He did not hone in on the net cutting down ceremony. He does not attempt to make it all about Tony Romo.

Instead, he lets kids like Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones have their moment.

"I didn't even really notice him," Kentucky guard Matt Jones tells CultureMap when asked about Romo.

Tony Romo just left after the game like any other fan.

He said he didn't want to talk because he was just there to watch a game. As Sundays go, this was another win for Tony Romo. The silly talk of him being a jinx from Duke losses past even took a huge hit with the Blue Devils' rather matter of fact 66-52 brush back of Gonzaga.

Some guys just make it hard to hate.

unspecified

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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