Tom Coughlin he's not

Monday Night Motivator: Wade Phillips fines himself for "lateness" to delight ofTexans defense

Wade Phillips
Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Danieal Manning took one to the house in Week Four. And he loved to see WadePhillips take a fine heading into Monday night.
Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Getting fined for being late to meetings is part of life for NFL players. You either show up promptly or you pay.

Around these parts, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin had made a virtual cottage industry out of fining players who don't show up to his meetings five minutes early.

Wade Phillips — the coordinator of the Houston Texans' No. 1-rated NFL defense — looks at things a little differently though. This week, just days before his team's biggest showcase of the early season, Phillips fined himself for keeping the players later than scheduled in one meeting.

"The man fined himself. Players love that. You just don't see coaches doing that. It shows we're all in this together."

"Normally, it's about players coming in late being fined," Texans safety Danieal Manning tells CultureMap. "But in this case, Wade stood up there and was like, 'I kept you guys a little longer than I was supposed to. Fine me.'

"The man fined himself. Players love that. You just don't see coaches doing that. It shows we're all in this together. We're all accountable to each other. It sounds like a little thing, but I can tell you it got everyone on the defense a little more pumped up to prepare even harder.

"That's a coach who gets it. Wade's so cool."

The 65-year-old Phillips' self fine came with the 4-0 Texans preparing to play the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. Texans head coach Gary Kubiak talked all week about how the Jets may be the most difficult team to prepare for in the league because of all the different things they do on offense and defense. Wade's Bulls On Parade had to get ready for not only Mark Sanchez, but the very real possibility of an increased role for Tim Tebow.

So how does Phillips react?

He destroys any tension by fining himself for keeping his players longer than usual. Everyone gets the extra work needed done — and leaves laughing.

"We've got a lot of self-motivated guys on this defense," Manning says. "But Wade makes you want to do even more."

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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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