Indoor skiing in the Dome?
It’s obvious the Astrodome should be an indoor ski resort, like Dubai has. So many Houstonians go skiing, let’s make it available to all. Plus, it would be great to get out of our summer heat.
J. Leary, Houston
The Mall of the Emirates in Dubai (I’ve been there) has indoor skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and wacky penguin mascots. But the longest run is only 437 yards. It’s more an amusement attraction than a skiing experience. An indoor ski resort wouldn’t satisfy Houston skiers, who can hop a plane and be sipping hot chocolate in Aspen in two hours. The Astrodome’s only viable future is casino gambling. Odds of that happening ... 0 to 1.
Where is Channel 11 weathercaster Chita Johnson? Has she moved on so quickly?
Bill Morris, Houston
Here’s Johnson’s explanation: “Hey, hey, I’m no longer on the noon show. Brooks Garner started doing the weather on the noon newscast, and he’ll eventually do the 4 p.m. news, too. I will still do the mornings. It will make my day a little easier.”
The last time I got an email from Johnson, it was after she beat me in the camel race at Sam Houston
Race Park. She ended her email with “haha.” Now she’s giving me the happy face. Wait till next year’s camel race, “Cheater” Johnson.
One side effect of nobody being able to watch the Astros on TV is that companies are reluctant to advertise on the broadcast. Two out of three ads are public service announcements. Thank you, Jim Crane — prior to baseball season, I had no idea how important low-energy light bulbs, flood insurance, drug counseling, eating vegetables, mentoring troubled kids, and being aware of buried gas pipelines really were.
Cameron Wallace, Houston
This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. This is your brain thinking that Houstonians would revolt if they couldn’t watch Astros games on TV.
Where can I find a restaurant that serves lamb around the Galleria area at lunch time! Need to know by Tuesday, please!
Jack Bates, Houston
Now you readers are giving me deadlines? Try Yia Yia Mary’s Greek Kitchen, 4747 San Felipe. “Yia Yia” means grandmother in Greek. Or try DiMassi’s Mediterranean Buffet, 6420 Richmond.
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year is Marc Gasol. Yet he was not on the NBA’s AllDefensive Team. How is this possible?
Robert Yost, Houston
Here’s SportsTalk 790 know-it-all Charlie Pallilo with your answer: “It’s happened before. The media votes the Defensive Player of the Year, while coaches vote for the AllDefensive Team.”
If you haven’t been to Reckling Park (at Rice University), you are denying yourself a great baseball fan experience. It is a beautiful venue with the Medical Center as a backdrop over the outfield fence. Another good feature, Prince’s Hamburgers has the concessions there. Cougar Field (at UH) isn’t bad either, but a little smaller and not as picturesque. And it has just the standard ballpark grub you could get at any high school game. Both have winning traditions as you will see by the banners at Rice and the plaques at UH. Parking is easy and free at both. There is much more umpire verbal abuse at UH than from the more subdued Rice crowd. It’s pretty entertaining. I heard some things I had never heard and I thought I had heard it all, especially being a former Little League umpire.
Ron Cook, Houston
The C-USA tournament begins Wednesday at Reckling Park. I’ll walk over.
You nailed it. You said, “Look for the Astros games on all cable TV providers within 72 hours,” and that’s exactly right. It appears owner Jim Crane got tired of taking the heat for former president George Postolos’ failure to negotiate a TV contract. Ralph Hackemack,
La Grange
Thanks for giving words to my position about the “I Want My CSN” campaign. I personally feel that anyone who represents that effort should be ashamed of themselves (saw Andy Pettitte this morning on the website). Those videos and the display on the crawling strip around Minute Maid Park during the game are an insult to my intelligence.
Kaye Driscoll, Houston
I’m confident that the dispute between Comcast SportsNet Houston and local program providers such as DirecTV and Uverse will be settled shortly. I sense a new spirit of compromise coming from Astros headquarters.
ken.hoffman@chron.com