Carol of the Balls?

NBA's best players dribble out holiday tune to promote new Christmas Day jerseys

The Houston Rockets are among 10 NBA teams playing televised games on Christmas Day when they take on the Bulls in Chicago. For the occasion, the teams will wear special one-color Winter Court jerseys. The Houston version — the Jeremy Lin No. 7 jersey in gray with red lettering ($89.99) — is available on the NBA website, along with a Rockets red Lin T-shirt ($19.99).

To promote the new athletic apparel, the NBA recruited Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade to show off their dribbling skills.

In this video, they dribble furiously, using only the sound of basketballs hitting the court to create the tune to the classic holiday song, "Carol of the Bells."

Or as The Basketball Jones blogger calls it, the "Carol of the Balls."

The other Christmas day matchups are the Boston Celtics vs. Nets in Brooklyn, the Knicks at the Lakers, the Thunder at the Heat, and the Denver Nuggets at the Los Angeles Clippers.

BOOTS TO THE GROUND

Luxe Houston boot brand sets up court in Hill Country castle

Republic Wine Castle Johnson City

Photo courtesy of Republic Boot Company

This isn't exactly a typical location for a boot store.

When most stores want to expand into a new town, they look at strip malls. Houston-based Republic Boot Company bought an entire castle. The company is turning Johnson City’s famous 290 Wine Castle at 10191 W US-290 into its newest outpost, though exactly what will happen behind the stone walls remains to be seen.

Republic is known for its high-end artisan cowboy boots and celebrity clients like Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and team owner Cal McNair, plus unexpected fans like rapper Paul Wall. Although the flagship is housed in a 100-year-old building in Houston’s hip Heights neighborhood, the branding hasn’t exactly embraced turrets and drawbridges.

“We’ve always said that Republic isn’t just about making boots; it’s about preserving the soul of Texas,” explained Chris Conrad, CEO and Founder of Republic Boot Company, in a release. “Acquiring this castle allows us to create a legendary destination where our customers can immerse themselves in the craft and make bucket-list memories. It’s bold, it’s unique, and it’s exactly where the Republic belongs. We have some wild plans for this property that the world hasn't seen before.”

For now, the company is keeping most details a secret, but Conrad told the Houston Business Journal that the bootmaker plans to continue the winemaking and hotel business on the property. The castle compound has plenty of room to grow with 14 guest rooms, a tasting room, a cigar lounge, a covered deck, and a full commercial kitchen. Oh, it also has a full dungeon.

Republic is no stranger to unique shopping opportunities. Its $6,000 Gator Hunt Experience allows clients to shoot their own alligator hide and make it into a pair of custom boots. Hunters also get a taxidermy mount, 10 pounds of alligator meat, and hopefully a few recipes on how to cook it.

The brand’s expansion comes as the Texas Hill Country transforms from a well-kept secret to an international tourist destination. Among the upcoming attractions are The Meuse, a luxury retail center with a Lucchese store and a Waldorf Astoria hotel with a new restaurant from acclaimed chef Dominique Crenn.

Republic Boot Company hasn’t shared any renovation details for the Medieval-style castle, built in 2019. The brand promises to reveal more details and a grand opening date in the coming weeks.

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