Tag: Sylvester Turner

Rockets, City of Houston honor longtime TV broadcaster Bill Worrell

Friday was officially named “Bill Worrell Day” by the City of Houston, and the Rockets honored his legendary 40-year broadcasting career throughout tonight’s game at Toyota Center.

The Rockets and the Houston City Council honored longtime television play-by-play broadcaster Bill Worrell on Friday with “Bill Worrell Day,” which included both an official proclamation by Mayor Sylvester Turner and special activities throughout Friday’s home game at Toyota Center.

The Rockets honored Worrell throughout the game versus Dallas, including an extended halftime ceremony with special guests including former stars Elvin Hayes, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Clyde Drexler.

The first 3,000 fans in attendance Friday each received a Bill Worrell pin, while local artist Sarah Welch created a poster of Worrell that made available to fans for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Rockets’ Clutch City Foundation and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Fellow broadcaster and Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy joined Worrell for a pregame autograph signing session at Toyota Center, and AT&T SportsNet Southwest aired a special interview in its pregame show of Murphy taking a trip down memory lane with Worrell, his longtime TV partner. For fans in attendance, the Rockets played numerous video highlights from Worrell’s broadcasting career on the jumbotron, and AT&T SportsNet aired similar footage throughout the television broadcast.

Worrell, who began his storied television career in 1970 shortly after graduating from the University of Houston, retired as the Rockets television play-by-play broadcaster following Houston’s final 2020-21 home game on May 14. Worrell still serves as a special contributor for AT&T SportsNet, with this being his 40th season covering the Rockets.

See below for a roundup of Friday’s special activities.

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Houston mayor Sylvester Turner says the city loves Texans QB Deshaun Watson, prays they ‘move forward together’

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner is doing his part and trying to smooth things over between the Texans and quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner is using his platform to help smooth things over with the Houston Texans and quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The 62nd mayor in city history, who took office over a year before the Watson era in January 2016, took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon and expressed his thoughts on the Texans and Watson making up after a bumpy start to the offseason.

“Houston loves @deshaunwatson and the @HoustonTexans,” Turner tweeted from his official account. “Houston is a great City that is hungry to back our players and team. As a Mayor of a City that is second to none I pray we move forward together.”

Turner is a Houstonian through and through. Born in 1954 and a graduate of Klein High School, Turner assuredly remembers how the Houston Oilers wove themselves into the fabric of the Bayou City, and similarly how devastating it was to see owner Bud Adams rip them away and give them a new identity — like a loved one brainwashed and held captive in an oppressive cult.

While the city of Houston may be at DEFCON 4 at a maximum with the Watson situation, it nonetheless is on a trajectory that could provide as much heartbreak the city has endured since the departure of the Oilers in 1997. Turner’s words on Twitter are from a mayor who has the memories and historical perspective of what Houston NFL football means to the city, and how they can’t undergo similar heartache.

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Texans safety Michael Thomas acts to make a better world, not just talk

Houston Texans safety Michael Thomas doesn’t simply talk about making the world a better place; the 30-year-old puts in the work off the field.

Houston Texans safety Michael Thomas cares deeply about the African American community and the world that will be left behind for his children.

Thomas has taken concerted action to improve the lives of the African American community, such to the point that the Pro Bowl safety has developed a good relationship with members of Congress.

“Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee [Texas’ 18th district] is like, ‘There are already bills on the floor,'” Thomas said. “I’ve interned with her. I know the work her and her staff, her chief of staff, they do on a daily basis to try to get real, sustainable change done through the bills being passed.”

Houston, behind the leadership of Mayor Sylvester Turner, is a city that has welcomed Thomas’ desire to make a better world.

Said Thomas: “To see what the city of Houston has already done from hearing from the Mayor, from hearing from the police officers and officials and chiefs that I have relationships with to say, ‘We stand by the people in the city of Houston. We’re walking with them, we’re protesting with them. We’re fighting for change right along with them.'”

The 30-year-old is coming to a Texans team that already has some of his former allies. Receiver Kenny Stills played with Thomas with the Miami Dolphins from 2015-17 and the two were of one accord when it came to social justice issues.

Now, that support is buttressed by statements from coach Bill O’Brien, quarterback Deshaun Watson, and defensive end J.J. Watt — the triumvirate of Texans leadership at the player and coach level.

“Just keep pushing, keep trying to get everybody else not (just) in the city of Houston, to understand that our city is doing the right work, we’re on the right path, but we need to put pressure and try to hold all of the other cities accountable as well,” said Thomas.

Texans DE J.J. Watt to join Houston celebrities in honoring class of 2020

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will be a part of a commencement sendoff Houston celebrities are organizing for the 2020 graduating class.

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The 2020 class didn’t have a final year like the rest of society; it was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Deepi Sidhu of HoustonTexans.com, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is joining other Houston celebrities, including Houston Rockets guard James Harden and the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa, to give the 2020 graduating class a proper sendoff.

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner says he is proud of the 2020 graduating class and is appreciative of the honor they will receive on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. in a video tribute.

“The 2020 high school senior class has achieved a major milestone during what is certainly one of the nation’s most challenging times in recent history,” Turner said in a statement. “They have sacrificed and endured, and I am so proud of every one of them. That is why I have asked the city of Houston, along with some extraordinary personalities to come together to honor and encourage these amazing students with a unique and special celebration.”

Watt is a pro at commencement speeches. In 2019, the former 2011 first-round pick gave the commencement address at the University of Wisconsin.

Deshaun Watson, Texans teammates attend Houston George Floyd march

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and a couple of his teammates attended the George Floyd march in Houston on June 2.

Deshaun Watson and two of his Houston Texans teammates attended the George Floyd march Tuesday to memorialize the life of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police May 25.

Outside linebacker Jacob Martin was present and handed out bottled water to attendees. Fellow linebacker Peter Kalambayi was also at the march.

“Drastic change, change the landscape of the world,” Martin said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “How we think, how we proceed going forward, the days of yesterday, the days before this, the times we remember, after this, things won’t be the same. The reality is that this has been going on in the black community and to people of color for far too long. For generations growing up as a young African-American man, you’ve been afraid of police officers because of what your parents tell you and how to proceed. For that to be the case with a public servant, it’s ridiculous. That shouldn’t be the case. You shouldn’t have to have that conversation with your children. I pray that I don’t have to have that conversation with my children one day in the future.”

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner was appreciative of the presence of players from the city’s NFL franchise.

On June 5, 2018, coach Bill O’Brien told reporters after an organized team activities session that one of the things he admired about the players was their willingness to do more about social issues than just comment on social media.

“I think the people that disagree, just like we do here in our organization, we need to get in the same room and hear the different opinions instead of tweeting about it,” said O’Brien. “I think that’s where we have to all come together. I think that’s what our organization’s all about.”

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Houston mayor Sylvester Turner thanks former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins

Houston mayor Sylvester Turner took to Twitter to thank former Texans and now Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Monday’s news of the Houston Texans trading three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals shook the Houston sports scene.

Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, thanked Hopkins publicly on Twitter on Monday evening.

“@DeAndreHopkins was true to his roots on and off the field,” Turner wrote. “He worked to uplift our communities & invested to ensure our children had the chance to learn all sports. I appreciate his incredible athleticism & sportsmanship while with the @HoustonTexans #ThanksDeAndreHopkins”

Hopkins replied and thanked Turner for, “showing me what a real leader looks like.”

Hopkins was on pace to overtake Texans Ring of Honor receiver Andre Johnson in numerous career categories. For instance, after Week 16’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that delivered the AFC South to Houston, Hopkins extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 110, the second-longest in club history behind Johnson’s 133.

The streak is the fifth-longest active streak of games with at least one reception in the NFL. Hopkins will have a chance to add to that record with the Cardinals in 2020.