"Fresh legs"

Super Punter runs down Texans speedster: Keshawn Martin has some explaining todo

Keshawn Martin had his best game as a pro in the Houston Texans' wild, 43-37 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He returned five kickoffs for 162 yards, added a 71-yard punt return and scored his first career NFL touchdown to boot (on a 9-yard reception).

And he got ran down by the punter.

That last little fact is threatening to overshadow all else for the rookie from Michigan State.

"That's the fastest punter I've ever seen in my life."

Kick returners — typically the fastest players on an NFL team — are not supposed to be caught from behind by punters — always the most mocked players on a team. Martin himself ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

And it's not like Martin doesn't know how to take one to the house. He returned three kicks for touchdowns at Michigan State (including the one highlighted in the video above).

But there was Jaguars punter Bryan Anger chasing down Martin from behind and getting him to the ground, preventing that 71-yard return from being the touchdown it should have been. Martin was well clear of Anger by midfield, but the punter made up the ground in the next 25 yards.

Now, Anger is not your ordinary punter. He was drafted in the third round and he's known as an "athletic punter." Which is sort of like being known as the smart Kardashian, but still.

"I was mad," Martin says. "I was mad the punter got me. That's the fastest punter I've ever seen in my life."

Martin could feel his nightmare playing out even before ignominy hit.

"As I was running I told myself I could not let the punter catch me, but he tripped me up . . . " he says. "It's over now."

Maybe. The rookie getting run down by the punter is sure to bring some laughs when the Texans review the Jacksonville game tape as a team. It's already been getting plenty of attention on national highlight shows.

But publicly the Texans have Martin's punter-tracked-down back. Sort of. Quarterback Matt Schaub said that Anger must have had "fresh legs" in his weekly radio appearance on 610 AM Monday morning.

See that's the ticket: Fresh legs and a Super Punter. What could Martin be expected to do?

chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Houston Astros Daikin Park rendering

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.”

houston astros daikin park business

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