Not Exactly Namath

Rockets GM Daryl Morey Twitter teases Mark Cuban, sees it backfire — big time

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey seemed like a pretty confident guy heading into Game 1 of the first round series with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder. Confident enough to invoke one of the greatest upsets in recent playoff memory on Twitter.

And take a little shot — intentional or not — at the rival Dallas Mavericks in the process.

"Game day! Every home team winning yesterday shows tough task we have ahead. That said, lots of similarities to 2007 #8 GSW/#1 DAL series...," Morey tweeted.

Yes, Cuban is tweeting a smiley face at an opposing NBA general manager. At least, he didn't break out a heart emoticon.

The series Morey is referencing is the infamous one in which former Mavericks coach Don Nelson came back to haunt his former employer and guide the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors to an emphatic six-game upset of No. 1 Dallas. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban couldn't help but notice Morey's tweet and he shot back, "Thanks for the reminder :) Good luck this series."

Yes, the Mavericks billionaire owner is tweeting a smiley face at an opposing NBA general manager. At least, he didn't break out a heart emoticon.

Of course, Cuban still ends up looking better than Morey in this whole thing. For, as everyone knows, the Rockets ended up falling behind by 33 points to the Thunder in Game 1 on the way to a 120-91 playoff embarrassment. No, the Rockets didn't exactly channel those 2007 Warriors.

Nelson's crew won Game 1 on the road. They didn't appear to be mere traffic pylons in the way of a player as speedy and skilled as Russell Westbrook.

Morey's record as a prognosticator is not exactly looking stellar heading into Wednesday night's Game 2. But his Twitter clout is surely only growing.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey isn't proving to be much of a soothsayer on Twitter.

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16,000 amateur athletes coming to Houston for Junior Olympic Games

A boy in a gi breaks a stack of boards in a sports arena

Photo courtesy of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)

Taekwondo is just one of the events showcased at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games

The finest young athletes in the nation will be heading to Houston for 12 days of intense competition as the city hosts the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games for the fourth time.

“We’re very excited to once again welcome the country’s best competitors and their families to Houston for the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games,” Harris County - Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) CEO Ryan Walsh said in a statement. “The AAU has a long history of producing some of the most renowned athletes in the country, and we look forward to seeing the next generation of talent compete in this year’s events. It’s an honor to bring the AAU Junior Olympic Games back to our city.”

Competition will take place July 22 - August 2.

Founded in 1888, the AAU is the largest nonprofit youth multi-sports organization in the United States, and its Junior Olympic Games is the largest multi-sport youth event, featuring 16,000 athletes in this year's games. Previously, it was the primary feeder program for the International Olympic Games, and to this day many Olympic luminaries are AAU alumni. These include Houston's own gymnast Simone Biles, Dallas track star Sha’Carri Richardson, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and beach volleyball player Sara Hughes.

The schedule for the AAU Junior Olympics is as follows..

Swimming: Tuesday, July 22 - Sunday, July 27 at the Cy-Fair Natatorium
Indoor Sports: Wednesday, July 23 - Wednesday, July 30 at the George R. Brown Convention Center
- Baton Twirling, Dance, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Jump Rope, Karate, Taekwondo, Trampoline & Tumbling, Sports Stacking and Wrestling
Flag Football: Thursday, July 24 - Sunday, July 27 at Rice Stadium
Track & Field/Multi-Events: Saturday, July 26 - Saturday, August 2 at Turner Stadium
Field Hockey: Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31 at Episcopal High School

One notable aspect of Houston hosting is that the city is on track to be the second-most used home for the games. With Houston slated to also host in 2027 and 2031, the Bayou City will trail only Des Moines, IA.

“We are so excited to bring our premier event back to Houston,” AAU President Jo Mirza said. “The AAU Junior Olympic Games bring together athletes from all corners of the country and all walks of life to showcase their skills on a national stage. Harris County Houston Sports Authority has been an invaluable partner in helping us create such a successful event for these athletes and attendees.”

Tickets and more information can be found at HoustonSports.org.