Kubiak's lament

Bye bye playoffs? With Mario Williams out with season-ending surgery, the Texanslook snakebit

Mario Williams (No. 90) is out for the season.
Courtesy Houston Texans
Mario Williams is arguably the Texans' second most irreplaceable player.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Everything seemed set up perfectly for the Houston Texans to finally make the playoffs this season. Then, the injuries started happening and . . . now everything's back in turmoil.

The Texans players found out Monday that Mario Williams, the team's best pass rusher and arguably its second-most irreplaceable player behind quarterback Matt Schaub, will miss the rest of the season. ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported that Williams was facing the end of his season. The Houston Chronicle's John McClain then reported that Williams would have the season-ending surgery.

When Williams left Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders with a pectoral injury, few of his teammates thought much of it. Williams' departure wasn't anything close to as dramatic as wide receiver Andre Johnson's untouched collapse to the ground the week before (Johnson, the Texans' top receiver, could be out a month). But it turned out, Williams had a torn pectoral that requires surgery.

And now the Texans — and head coach Gary Kubiak, who is fighting to keep his job beyond this season and desperately needs a playoff berth to show owner Bob McNair — are in serious trouble. Rookie linebacker Brooks Reed now becomes the starter at a crucial position in Wade Phillips' revamped defense.

"It's a huge responsibility whenever you're in for Mario," Reed told CultureMap on Sunday, before he knew just how long he'd be filling in. "He's a big impact player and I have to try and play up to that level."

The Texans have now lost their No. 1 tailback (Arian Foster), No. 1 receiver (Johnson) and No. 1 pass rusher (Williams) for chunks of the season already. And the year is only five games old.

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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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