Geographist

Andre Ware Born: July 31, 1968 Sport: Football (All-American, Heisman Trophy, College Football Hall of Fame) The NFL preseason ended this weekend while the college football season kicked off with a partial slate of games.  The city of Houston has been no stranger to producing talent at both levels, and with several universities calling the city home we've had our share of local players to cheer for.  But only one player to play their college career within the city limits has ever brought home the top individual award for performance on the field, and that was Andre Ware.  A local talent who soared to unprecedented heights, Ware made it to the professional ranks as a quarterback after his time in college and then returned to his roots to be a long-time contributor for his hometown team.  This week, we'll learn more about the local legend who is now heard every week by fans across the region. The Astrodome, home of the UH Cougars during Ware's 1989 season As the only c...

Mike Scott Born: April 26, 1955 Sport: Baseball (124-108, 3-time All-Star, 1986 Cy Young) As major league baseball continues its relentless march through the "dog days of summer", the kids of little league have been rapidly working their way towards their championship.  In just one week the Little League World Series will be played in Williamsport, PA, but today the kids get to see some of the stars of their sport perform in the annual Little League Classic, with the New York Mets playing against the Seattle Mariners.  As a 10-12 year old playing the game you love, it's inspiring to see the professionals perform at the highest level, especially when you recognize that many of them started off as little leaguers themselves.  This week we'll look at the story of Mike Scott, a Houston baseball legend who took that very path, learning the sport on a team that his dad coached before rising to the major league ranks to make his mark in the history books. The Astrodome durin...

Gene Elston Born: March 26, 1922 Sport: Baseball - Announcer (2006 Ford C. Frick Award - National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Like many sports fans, I follow games and events on numerous media formats.  Although the modern increase in apps, websites, and regional TV networks has increased the ways games are consumed, the radio broadcast has remained a staple of sports coverage for over a century.  Baseball, long known as America's Pastime, has been especially associated with radio as the frequency of games and pace of play allowed for announcers to not only to explain how the action on the field would play out, but also tell stories, explain rules, discuss players, or provide other commentary.  Houston has been no stranger to quality broadcasters over the years, and this week we will learn about Gene Elston, the city's first play-by-play baseball announcer whose voice became synonymous with the team itself.  The Astrodome and nearby Colts Stadium, where Gene El...

Brian Ching Born: May 24, 1978 Sport: Soccer (82 MLS career goals, 6-time All-Star, 2004 MLS Golden Boot, 3-time MLS Cup Champion, 2006 World Cup participant, 2007 Gold Cup champion) The world's most popular sport took a long time to reach Houston at the professional level.  Once it arrived, however, the city that boasted a massive international population (including a plurality of the residents descended from Latin American nations that love "the beautiful game") could proudly boast one of the most talented and recognizable names in the MLS.  From the day the Houston Dynamo relocated from their previous home in San Diego, Brian Ching was the face of the franchise.  He achieved success on the field, but made himself beloved to the city due to his work off the field.  This week we'll dig into the story behind the first professional soccer star in Houston history. The Houston Dynamo moved to their new permanent home near downtown in 2012 Brian Ching was born in Hawaii,...

Don Wilson Born: February 12, 1945 Sport: Baseball (104-92, 3.15 ERA, 1-time All-Star)  Professional athletics is often a glamorous arena, with the best individuals earning a significant measure of fame and income.  However it always involves a measure of sacrifice to reach the pinnacle of any sport, usually in the form of hard work and commitment but sometimes also with relationship or health challenges.  Other times, the bright lights tend to obscure the reality that the players that fans are excited to follow are simply normal people.  Today we'll take a look at the abbreviated life of Don Wilson, a Houston athlete who had a promising trajectory that was cut off all too soon.  Houston's Astrodome and surrounding areas in 1966 Although Don Wilson was born in Monroe, Louisiana, he and his older brother began playing baseball together after moving to the Los Angeles suburb of Compton, California.  Don initially played the infield for the local Little League...

Billy Wagner Born: July 25, 1971 Sport: Baseball (All-American, 7-time All-Star, Reliever of the Year, Hall of Fame) Before we begin, I want to once again extend my thanks for another milestone number on the website.  Earlier today, this website notched hit number 250,000 - a quarter of a million!  Wow, it's incredible for me to think about reaching that number, and I want each reader to know that I appreciate whatever amount of time you spend on the site.  Hopefully you get something enjoyable and enlightening from it.  With that being said, let's pivot to this week's subject.  In a few days, the Houston Astros will celebrate their third inductee to the MLB Hall of Fame in the person of Billy Wagner.  The accomplished closer also becomes the first pitcher to wear an Astros cap on his plaque in Cooperstown.  So in honor of this occasion, I thought we'd get to know the man that Houston fans came to know as Billy the Kid. Houston in 1999, when Wagner and...

Hello everyone!  I just finished some travel time with the family, and although it was very enjoyable we had some drama getting back home.  In lieu of a post this week I'm going to provide a few pictures of Scotland and be back next week with more Houston athletes.  Thank you for continuing to be part of the journey!  - The Geographist

Colin Montgomerie Born: June 23, 1963 Sport: Golf (2-time All-American, 54 professional wins - including 3 PGA Championships, 4-time European Golfer of the Year, World Golf Hall of Fame) I'm spending time in Scotland right now, enjoying my first trip to the land where my family and its name got their start.  It seemed to be appropriate to find an athlete that linked my new home with this stunning land of my ancestry, and I didn't have to search long to find the perfect candidate.  Today we'll learn more about a Scottish man who came to Houston to play the game made in his homeland.  Colin Montgomerie would eventually become a champion on both sides of the Atlantic while endearing himself to fans from around the world.  Houston Christian University in 1985, where Montgomerie led the golf team to three titles Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Colin Montgomerie came from a family that had played an influential role in the confectionary industry.  His grandfather was said ...

Lance Berkman Born: February 10, 1976 Sport: Baseball (All-American, 6-time All-Star, World Series Champion) I'm in the process of getting another year older, and as part of my birthday celebrations I received a gift from my awesome mom that helped me decide who to write about this week.  As a lifelong Houston sports fan, I've had a few pieces of memorabilia that have found their way into my possession.  Like many kids, I started with baseball cards along with my brother, and we'd spend lots of time comparing and swapping cards we'd found, purchased, or traded for.  As time went on and we started attending games now and again, we would pick up collectables or give-away trinkets at games.  Bobbleheads, signed player pictures, jerseys, and even a World Series replica ring have found their way into my house.  And today, a new piece of Houston history found a new home at my address - a Lance Berkman signed baseball.  So let's take this week to find out more abo...