Cougar Hall of Famer

Jim Nantz almost loses it as long overdue UH legend finally makes Basketball Hall of Fame

Most sports hall of fame announcements are formal, largely muted affairs. If you're looking for emotion, you have to turn to the inductees. The men doing the announcing tend to play it straight as can be.

But that wasn't an option for Jim Nantz when it came to Guy V. Lewis.

Nantz — a University of Houston graduate who considers Houston his hometown — virtually waged a one-man campaign to draw attention to the injustice of Lewis, the UH coach who guided Phi Slama Jama, not being in the Basketball Hall of Fame, during the 2011 Final Four in Houston. CBS' lead voice made sure that Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's bigwigs were at a dinner he held to honor Lewis, gave shout outs to the old coach at several high-profile events including the NCAA Salute, talked about him at every opportunity.

"It's personal for the city of Houston, which has wanted this moment for a long, long time."

So when Nantz found himself reading off Lewis' name as an official Basketball Hall of Fame inductee-to-be nearly two years later, he couldn't help himself. The usually unflappable Nantz almost lost it in an Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

"This one is very personal for me," a clearly emotional Nantz said in an announcement broadcast on NBA TV Monday. "And it's personal for the city of Houston, which has wanted this moment for a long, long time.

"The whole city of Houston is rejoicing right now at this very sentence: Welcome to the Basketball Hall of Fame, Coach Guy V. Lewis."

The news was expected. It leaked out days before that the 91-year-old Lewis had finally made it this year. But that didn't make actually being able to finally officially call Guy V. Lewis a Hall of Famer mean any less to Nantz.

Lewis' record long spoke for itself: Five Final Fours, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances (back when making the tournament was an accomplishment), 27 straight winning seasons, 592 wins overall, coach to three of the 50 greatest players of all time (Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes and Clyde Drexler). But for some reason it still took others like Nantz speaking for him to nudge Lewis into the Hall — 27 years after he retired.

That's something to get a little emotional over.

Guy V. Lewis cut quite a figure on the Houston sideline, towel and all.

Guy V. Lewis cut quite a figure on the Houston sideline, towel and all.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Stunning new Heights Chinese restaurant heats up this week's top stories

Mala Sichuan Bistro Heights MKT exterior

Photo by Bill Krampitz for TK Images

Mala Sichuan Bistro has opened in the Heights.

Editor's note: It's time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week.

1. Acclaimed Chinese restaurant’s new Heights location opens with stunning design details and 'fantastic' menu. "There’s a Chinese saying that it takes 10 years to wield a great sword,” the owner tells CultureMap. “This restaurant is the sword that I took 10 years to wield.”

2. University of Houston debuts new ultramodern legal center named for fierce and legendary local lawyer. Students now have amenities such as a two-story library, meditation room, commuter showers with changing rooms, an outdoor terrace, and more.

3. River Oaks comfort food restaurant's big move brings new patio and more. A larger kitchen will allow the restaurant to accommodate more to-go business and expand its catering operation.

4. Houston's never-'klosing' restaurant's new Galleria location opens with deli faves, full bar, and NYC vibe. The new restaurant puts diners in a New York state of mind with globe lighting, white subway tiles, and black-and-white framed photographs of New York landmarks.

5. Wildly popular Great Wolf Lodge breaks ground on massive Houston-area indoor water park resort. The 27-acre destination will boast 532 rooms, a 95,000-square-foot indoor water park, and a 58,000-square-foot family entertainment center.

hot-headlines

tuning up the triangle

Bellaire's oldest shopping center set for major modernizing makeover

Rendering by Boucher Design Group & Levy Dykema

The new-look Bellaire Triangle.

At nearly 63 years old, Bellaire’s first shopping center is in need of an update. Now, a Texas company is stepping in to give the Bellaire Triangle, developed in 1959, a refresh.

Dallas-based Shop Companies is teaming up with MC Management & Development, which owns and developed Bellaire Triangle for a multi-phase renovation to the venerable shopping center.

The renovation is slated to begin in late 2022, according to Shop Companies.

Design focus will highlight both original designs, married with new public art installations from local talent. A centerpiece of the makeover will be the restoration of the open-air arcade between the two main buildings, meant to provide a relaxing, naturally-lit space during daytime shopping activity and a warm social gathering spot for area residents and families in the evenings.

Extra attention will be also be placed on landscaping for open-air dining, shopping, and lounging.

“We have approached this project with history in mind,” said MC Management’s Dan Meyer in a statement. “The new design will expose many of the Triangle’s original architectural elements including steel columns, brick parapet walls and bright accent colors, all of which were typical of the ’50s era.”

So named in part due to its strategic location between three major streets — Bellaire Boulevard to the north, Chimney Rock to the west, and Bissonnet Street to the south — the Triangle shopping center encompasses some four acres and more than 70,000 square feet.

a woodlands wonder

Palatial, fairy-tale mansion in The Woodlands charms market at $13 million

Photo by Chris Allison

The grand front facade at 88 W Grand Regency Cir.

Clearly everything is bigger in Texas, and that’s definitely true about 88 W Grand Regency Cir. in The Woodlands. The home boasts more than 30,000 square feet unfold across more than four acres, including 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.

The palatial estate is on the market for $13 million and is represented by Diane Kink of The Kink Team.

This estate comes in at number two of the most expensive listings in the state, according to HAR.com. It’s only topped by 5531 Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas, which is just one more thing that will add to the never-ending Bayou City-Big D rivalry.

But back to 88 W Grand Regency Circle. This is the kind of house that’s tailor-made for a family that loves entertaining, both inside and out. When a home has more than 7,000 square feet of terraces alone, it’s definitely an A-list spot for wine on the patio, family birthdays, summer celebrations, and more.

Imagine an all-out bash by the in-ground pool or a smaller ladies weekend brunch on one of the covered side patios.

Prefer to be indoors? There are cozy alcoves for quiet conversations, a movie room with a giant screen and a casual eating space that’s modeled after a mid-century American diner. On the first floor, the “gentleman’s study” has a private elevator to the second floor. A third-floor VIP suite features its own bar and lounge, and a massive closet with bay windows.

Exquisite detailing is on display throughout, from inlaid and carved ceilings, to lighted glass display cabinets to Corinthian pillars.

There’s covered parking for six cars, two motor courts, two spas flanking the pool, two separate apartments, a pool house, an owner’s office with separate space for an assistant. This epic home truly needs to be seen to be believed.

And even then, it might still seem like something out of a fantasy.

88 W Grand Regency Circle The Woodlands for sale

Photo by Chris Allison

The grand front facade at 88 W Grand Regency Cir.

Cougar Hall of Famer

Jim Nantz almost loses it as long overdue UH legend finally makes Basketball Hall of Fame

Guy V. Lewis cut quite a figure on the Houston sideline, towel and all.

Buzzy EaDo brewery fires up new cannabis dispensary and lounge

Lady Gaga's glorious Minute Maid Park concert leads this week's top stories

Luxurious new pet boutique and cafe pampers in Katy with patio, bakery, and haute dog designs

This Week's Hot Headlines

Stunning new Heights Chinese restaurant heats up this week's top stories

Buzzy EaDo brewery fires up new cannabis dispensary and lounge

Lady Gaga's glorious Minute Maid Park concert leads this week's top stories

Luxurious new pet boutique and cafe pampers in Katy with patio, bakery, and haute dog designs

tuning up the triangle

Bellaire's oldest shopping center set for major modernizing makeover

Buzzy EaDo brewery fires up new cannabis dispensary and lounge

Lady Gaga's glorious Minute Maid Park concert leads this week's top stories

Luxurious new pet boutique and cafe pampers in Katy with patio, bakery, and haute dog designs

a woodlands wonder

Palatial, fairy-tale mansion in The Woodlands charms market at $13 million

Buzzy EaDo brewery fires up new cannabis dispensary and lounge

Lady Gaga's glorious Minute Maid Park concert leads this week's top stories

Luxurious new pet boutique and cafe pampers in Katy with patio, bakery, and haute dog designs

Cougar Hall of Famer

Guy V. Lewis cut quite a figure on the Houston sideline, towel and all.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

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tuning up the triangle

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a woodlands wonder

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Houston intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Houston intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Houston intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Houston intel delivered daily.

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