Wacky Wade

The Commish of Hugs: Roger Goodell's man crush displays turn into comedy fodder,but Bulls On Parade have own welcome

As new Texan Whitney Mercilus posed for pictures with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips at Reliant Stadium, the old coach couldn't help himself.

"Do I need to hug him like the commish?" Phillips asked, sly grin spreading across his face.

Yes, it doesn't matter where you were for the first day of the 2012 NFL Draft, or what perspective you watched it from — from your couch, in an NFL team's "war room" or at a draft party — the enduring, unforgettable images seem to be commissioner Roger Goodell's over-the-top hugs of the selections who took the stage in New York. Forget that whole Andrew Luck/Robert Griffin III debate. Or the Dallas Cowboys' jumping up to No. 6 and apparently nearly causing Rob Ryan to soil his pants. Or any of the other trade drama.

Can you imagine Bud Selig trying to pull off any type of hug that didn't immediately qualify as one of the most awkward hugs in human history?

Did you see the commissioner's crazy, premeditated, secret handshake with San Diego Chargers draft pick Melvin Ingram? Or any of the other hugs Goodell pulled off? (The Ingram handshake ended in an embrace too, of course). The NFL commissioner is more touchy feely than Sofia Vergara in Modern Family at the NFL Draft.

There is nothing wrong with showing some love for your fellow man. It's just not what people expect from the leader of the No Fun League — or any major professional sports league for that matter. Can you imagine Bud Selig trying to pull off any type of hug that didn't immediately qualify as one of the most awkward hugs in human history?

For the record, Phillips and Mercilus didn't hug — at least not for the cameras.

The Texans are more than happy to have the nation's sack leader in the fold, but this wise-cracking, tight-knit Bulls On Parade defense does things a little differently than Goodell.

"He's a very easygoing young man. Easygoing along with hard working."

"I’ve seen that they’ve tweeted (at) me and called me The Rookie,” Mercilus laughed. "So I'm excited to meet them."

“They can’t wait for those rookies to get in," Phillips said. "They want a free meal."

For the 21-year-old Mercilus, fitting in with the Bulls On Parade and having an impact is about providing for his own family. His parents — Wilner and Yvrose — and his younger brother Donald and older sister Glory all sat in front row of Mercilus' first press conference as a Texan.

Wilner and Yvrose immigrated from Haiti and took on a host of jobs to get themselves established in America and give their kids a chance at a better life.

"He's a very easygoing young man," Wilner Mercilus said, the former New York city cab driver seemingly unfazed by being surrounded by a crowd of sports reporters and TV cameras. "Easygoing along with hard working."

Sounds like a perfect Bull On Parade. Connor Barwin, Shaun Cody and Antonio Smith would hardly be described as high-stress individuals. Or Phillips himself for that matter. Rather than make hokey proclamations about his pre-draft dreams like the Cowboys defensive coordinator, the Texans defensive leader entertains with his sharp, dry wit.

Mercilus isn't getting a hug. At least not until he makes a big play. But Phillips did make sure the new Texan left Reliant with something.

"He'll have a playbook before he leaves here," Phillips cracked.

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

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