Geographist

Tris Speaker Born: April 4, 1888 Sport: Baseball (3-time World Series champion, MVP, Batting Title winner, 617-520 managerial record, Hall of Fame) It is the very beginning of baseball season and the temperatures are on their way up, so we're returning to look at the boys of summer.  Just for fun, why don't we go way back in time and learn about one of the all-time greatest?  While he doesn't get as much recognition now and never played in an era where a major league team existed in the state of Texas, he is a native of the Lone Star State who came through Houston on his way up the minor league ladder.  He played the game 100 years ago but Tris Speaker still holds records that have never been matched, and in recognition of that fact he became the very first inductee into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.  But that was just one of the many honors and achievements he received after a storied baseball career.  Let's find out more about the man known as the Gray Eagle....

Chuck Norris Born: March 10, 1940 Sport: Martial Arts (183-10-2 career record, 6-time undefeated World Karate Middleweight Champion, Numerous Black Belts - Chun Kuk Do: 10th, American Tang Soo Do: 9th, Taekwondo: 8th, Kyokushin Budokai: 8th, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 3rd, Judo: 1st) Six years ago, my youngest daughter was in need of a physical activity that could teach her some discipline while also socializing outside the house.  A few friends of ours recommended a local martial arts school under the leadership of a man named Al Garza, a grand master in karate who held a number of belts in other disciplines.  On the wall of his school was a picture of Grand Master Garza alongside a familiar face who had become legendary in movies and TV, but who got his start on the mat as a dominant and respected martial artist.  This week, people around the world were shocked to hear that the second person in that photo, Chuck Norris, had died unexpectedly shortly after his 86th birthday....

Otis Birdsong Born: December 9, 1955 Sport: Basketball (All-American, 4-time All-Star, All-NBA) While the World Baseball Classic has caught quite a bit of attention in recent days, I wanted to wait just a bit before launching into posts about the boys of summer.  Instead, with college basketball season coming to its conclusion with this week's conference tournaments (not to mention that it's Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament and I'm taking my daughter to the regional final that will hopefully include Houston) I've decided to shine the light on one of the great players to take the court for the Houston Cougars.  Otis Birdsong may not be the household name that some other UH alumni have become but his career stands among the very best, and his jersey is one of just five to have been retired by the school.  So even though he played on teams that didn't reach the same levels of success as other Cougars squads, let's give credit where its due and get to know t...

Calvin Murphy Born: May 9, 1948 Sport: Basketball (3-time All-American, All-Rookie, All-Star, Hall of Fame) I hope you've enjoyed our time focused on the Olympics, but this week we return to basketball which is the most significant US sport currently enjoying a regular season.  Football has been in the news because players are getting released or traded, contracts reworked, and rosters otherwise prepared for the upcoming draft.  Baseball has entered spring training while also going through its once-every-four-year World Baseball Classic tournament.  Hockey...well, we've already covered the one guy I could come up with that was related to Houston.  The spotlight falls on someone who originally came to Houston along with his entire team, and he ended up becoming the shortest member of the Hall of Fame during his lengthy career.  And once he took off the uniform and sneakers Calvin Murphy stayed in town, becoming a regular and well-loved face of the team's TV broad...

Bela Karolyi Born: September 13, 1942 Sport: Gymnastics (Coached 9 Olympic champions and 15 world champions, Hall of Fame) It's been a week since the 2026 Olympics concluded, and even though several other sports are currently getting their share of the spotlight, including basketball and baseball, I wanted to make one more post before shift our attention to a new arena.  So in keeping with the theme of the international games I wanted to take a look at one more important figure in the Houston area that loomed large on the world stage.  Although not a competitor himself, Bela Karolyi was the driving force behind two of the most successful gymnastics programs of the last century.  The number of champions and medals that he, alongside his wife Marta, are responsible for is unprecedented in the history of the sport.  He has not been without his share of controversy, however.  Let's turn our attention towards another sports figure who may not have gotten his start in...