Uh, no. When I became a for-real fulltime sports writer at the Houston Post 54 years ago today – Oct. 1, 1972 – the Astros had yet to make the playoffs after a decade of futile losing, the Oilers were about to go 1-13 for the second season in a row and the Rockets were a half-year removed from their inaugural H-town season, when they finished 14 games under .500 and routinely played to crowds of less than 3,000 at the University of Houston’s Hofheinz Pavilion.
That spring, when I was still the sports editor of the Daily Cougar, I requested a couple of freebie tickets for a Sunday afternoon game. The PR director said I could have as many as six if I promised they would be used. I started knocking on doors in Moody Towers and was finally able to round up four others interested in joining me. One seat stayed empty.
By comparison, I’m sure you’ll agree, a one-and-done Astros playoffs series – even if the team that beat them, the Chicago White Sox, is only three seasons removed from one in which they lost a whopping 121 games – and a second consecutive 0-3 start by the Texans hardly feels like Armageddon. The Astros didn’t belong anywhere near the postseason to begin with given their .500 record, and didn’t the 2025 Texans go 12-2 the rest of the way, then also win a playoff game for the third year in a row?
Still, our expectations have changed, haven’t they? Joe Espada, pictured above at what was probably his final post-game press conference, was in a no-win situation from the get-go after the Astros had advanced to seven consecutive American League Championship Series and three World Series under his former boss Dusty Baker. The organization’s problems run way deeper than the skipper’s inability to extract maximum production from a flawed roster, but it’s a near-certainty Joe has to go to placate the disgruntled customers.
In 2025, the home crowd watched the Astros lose their final three home games to the Seattle Mariners, effectively ending their playoff hopes. A year later, two more desultory Ls at Daikin Park ended this season. The Astros also suffered a first-round sweep in front of their fans by the Detroit Tigers in 2024. And they dared whine about why only 30,000 or so folks showed up for both of this fall’s games?
Really? Just STFU, fellas.
As for the Texans, this was supposed to finally be their year according to respected pundits such as Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated, who predicted a 23-21 Houston Super Bowl victory over Seattle’s defending champions. I have a lot of respect and affection for DeMeco Ryans, but some seriously suspect in-game coaching decisions combined with a pathetic running game and an underperforming defense have contributed to a season already perched on the brink.
Only the 1992 San Diego Chargers have reached the postseason after an 0-4 start. A fourth Texans loss at home to – dear God no! – the Dallas Cowboys Sunday will surely bring on way more and way louder boos than the Astros were made to endure this week. The good times may not be over for good, but they’re definitely on hold until further notice. Anybody else ready for some hoops?
Now let’s move on to a less depressing topic. You guessed it – wine!’
Except there’s bad news on that front, too. The best among many superb ones I’ve tasted during my seven months ensconced in Haute Provence is no longer available for purchase via wine.com. I’m speaking of the Ceretto Barolo Brunate from the exceptional 2021 vintage. I had intended to have a few bottles waiting for me upon my return to H-town at the end of the month. Oh well. Read the following and weep with me . . .
From James Suckling, who scored it a 98: “Cranberries, dried herbs, underbrush, sage, minerals and violets on the nose. Very aromatic and absorbing. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with precise, linear and elegant fruit. The tannins are firm and balanced tannins, providing a compact, racy finish. Outstanding balance.”
From Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, which scored it a 97. “A classical expression of one of the most representative vineyards in (La Morra). You get the delicate fruits associated with nebbiolo, but you also get the mint that is common to Brunate. If you walk through this vineyard in springtime, you often smell fresh mint brushing against your shoes. Brunate also has an elegant mineral signature of crushed limestone. It ages in 300-liter French oak for 12 months followed by 24 months in French oak botte and then another 12 months in bottle.”
And from the Wine Spectator, which scored it a 94: “A spicy version, whose cherry, raspberry, rose, iron and eucalyptus flavors are shaded by a hint of new oak. This is pure and solid, while the dusty tannins exert themselves on the finish. Shows excellent balance and a long, fruit-infused aftertaste.”
No wonder it sold out for what I consider a screaming bargain at $149.99. Fortunately, I still have bottles of the 2021 Ceretto Bricco Rocche (98 from Parker, 97 from Decanter and 95 from the Spectator) the 2021 Ceretto Prapó (97 from Parker) and 2021 Ceretto Bussia (95 from Parker) in storage here, awaiting consumption. Note that the Prapó can still be had for $150.99 and the Busia for $132.99 from wine.com. Things could be worse.
Also, as the former president of the board of directors, I’m tickled pink – rosé? – about what Houston’s Alliance Française chapter is doing on the wine education front. The following events, to be held at the Alliance at 427 Lovett Blvd., unless otherwise noted, are on the fall schedule and, you bet, I intend to attend every one of them save for the first:
* Saturday, October 10, 6-8 p.m. – Bordeaux 102: Pessac-Léognan.
* Friday, October 30, 6–8 p.m. – Rosé Bash Honoring the Legacy of Steve Zimmerman at the Colombe d’Or Hotel.
* Friday, November 6, 5-7 p.m. – An Evening at Baccarat: Champagne Tasting and Private Shopping Experience.
* Thursday, November 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – The Perfect Pairing: French Wines for the Holidays.
* Friday, November 20, 6-8 p.m. – Beaujolais Nouveau 2026.
* Thursday, December 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Crémants de France.
Prices can be found at alliancehouston.org.
Cheers!
