Musings on the 2011 Houston Texans

(UPDATED: January 15, 2012)

The Houston Texans will play their first playoff game in franchise history starting with the Cincinnati Bengals here in Houston on Saturday. Regardless of how they finish this season, they have done something that gets you noticed- make the playoffs. I will certainly cheer on and salute the Texans regardless. The following blog post is just a bunch of musings from yours truly.


I know there may be people from other sports cities that may have the same thoughts that I am about to express (like Cleveland, OH), but it's about time Houston sports has some sort of relevance. It is also good there is a Houston pro sports team actually doing well. Look at the 2011 Astros. The more they kept failing, the more I stopped caring about the 2011 season. The Astros have been afterthoughts since making their improbable 2005 World Series run. The Rockets are a talented team; just too bad their record hasn't reflected their talent. I was even glad they had a winning 2011 season despite all the failures. The Rockets need to get back to being playoff contenders and true winners so that we can get back to championship-winning basketball. The Dynamo haven't won championships in Major League Soccer since winning two in their first two years in Houston. While the premise of this post was on Houston PRO sports teams, I also salute in football the University of Houston Cougars as well as the Sam Houston State Bearkats. I salute lots of teams, but it's all about the Texans at this time.

So the Texans are about the best thing going in sports right now in Houston unless the Rockets and Astros can somehow become contenders instead of either doormats or mediocrity. If the Rockets and/or Astros don't get better any time soon to where we can be a REALLY proud sports city, then I'm almost hoping the Texans get as far as possible through the 2011 NFL Playoffs. The Texans have won their games with heart and with spirit. Some may simply criticize that we only made it this far because of a fairly weak AFC South division. Almost as if we don't belong where we ended up at. The Texans could have played terribly and just be a middle-of-the-road team that could never win the big one or make the playoffs. Considering the injuries and shortcomings, I thought we've done pretty well. Both of our Matts (Schaub and Leinart) went down with injuries. Now, the keys to the car are with Taylor Jonathan Yates (T.J. Yates) out of North Carolina. I just hope this car can last long enough for this first playoff run to be memorable. That's even if we have some sort of magical run similar to George Mason going from first round to Final Four a few years ago. No matter what happens, a long-lasting goal for the Houston Texans is complete- make the playoffs. Time will tell just what the Deep Steel Blue, Liberty White, and Battle Red can do in the postseason. And when their playoff run for this season ends, the Texans will need to prove their worth in subsequent seasons to show they can be consistent playoff contenders as well as make deep playoff runs all the while (or at least play and show they can be contenders).

What I Would Tell the Houston Texans (if they were to read this)...

Since playing that first game in September 2002, since that epic 19-10 over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, I've long supported the Texans. I didn't care much for football until 2002. Since, I've started watching and enjoying this lovely game of American football. Anyone who supports a sports team knows (or at least dreams) they can go all the way. Considering all the different sports teams in the Houston area, you all are clearly the best thing going unless our other teams step up and start winning more. Even that one season when the Texans went 2-14, I still remained strong. Even in games I know you all could have won, I still believed. Maybe I never thought you all win the AFC South, but you all did it.

You finally made it to the postseason. While being in the postseason is nice, it all means nothing if you don't play with passion, pride, and perseverance. The NFL Playoffs are "win or go home." Who wants to be an also-ran when you have a chance to play for the game's biggest prize? You've established yourself as being among the best teams in the league by making the playoffs. Now play like it. Never mind disappointments like vs. the Raiders, at the Colts, and stuff like that- those games are all behind you. Press forward and make as great of a run as you can. The city of Houston as well as its many fans around Texas, around the country, and perhaps even NFL fans around the world are all pulling for you to do your absolute best. Even if seemingly outmatched, even if the [mostly] ESPN types don't give you a chance, at least you know you can make believers out of even the most discerning sports fan.

Go forth and finish this season strong! Even if in a losing effort, I have never stopped caring or supporting the Texans; and I won't stop caring or supporting. I am no bandwagon fan of the Texans. I am no fair weather fan of the Texans. Stick with your beloved team(s) through thick and thin.

Now go make some noise in the playoffs!





(ADDED: January 15, 2012)
With today being my 29th birthday, I was somewhat hoping for an improbable upset by the Texans. Sadly, the Texans lost 20-13. I'm still very proud of the Texans regardless. Hope they can build off of this for next season and future seasons.

Loyal reader Eric was proud that my Texans and his Saints won last weekend. This weekend... BOTH of our teams lose. Crappy how life rears its ugly head, right?





Win or lose, I'm pulling for the Texans. A great season deserves a great finish, and that's what I hope for the 2011 Texans. Thank you for reading!

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John's Corner - Mobile

This "John's Corner" is about my mobile audience. People who visit my blog(s) via mobile devices are as special of an audience as anyone who visits on basic desktop computers. If I had an iPod Touch or an iPhone or some Internet-enabled mobile phone, I often wonder if I could make my blog more accessible to my mobile visitors.

You see, my purpose is to make my content enjoyable for everyone. Some just say they make it best for everyone; I at least ATTEMPT to make my content enjoyable for all. Part of that involves trying to see if I could make my blogs better for my mobile visitors. There is a big problem, though- I am horribly inexperienced in any sort of mobile media matters. When you use Blogger/Blogspot, there is an option you can use to enable mobile templates. I have mobile templates enabled for all of my blogs. Of course, I'd love the opportunity to dress up even a mobile version of JBS blog in blue and gold.

One thing I might admit is that people wouldn't want to read a lot of what I discuss. I do type a lot, but it all makes sense. One of my loyal readers suggested I be more concise with whatever it is I discuss. I am just not very educated or experienced with mobile devices or mobile browsing. Because of this, I am usually unsure how to make my blog better for the mobile crowd, if there is anything I can really do.

Blogging Insight: Mobile Hits to JBS.

To prove the point that my blog even gets mobile hits, let me share with you some statistics about John's Blog Space. The past seven days leading up to the date of this post, 1% of my visitors visited "John's Blog Space" either with an iPhone or an iPad. I got 181 hits from the iPad the past seven days and 178 from the iPhone, and 132 from Android phones. Less than 1% of hits to JBS the past few days have been from mobile devices (and even a PlayStation Portable). In order: BlackBerry (97 hits), iPod (46 hits), and Nokia (24 hits). I had picked up 24 hits from a PlayStation Portable from the past seven days leading up to this post.

Among mobile browsers, Mobile Safari accounted for 156 of blog hits on John's Blog Space the past seven days. Some other Mobile browser accounted for 37 hits the past seven days. Some of the different browsers used that have visited JBS are some of the more common ones. However, I am not sure if any mobile versions of usual browsers (like Internet Explorer or Opera) visit my blog on a mobile device.





So when you consider the scope of your audience, you want to make things better for everyone. I am just not sure if I can really do anything for any of you mobile visitors to John's Blog Space (or my other blogs). Thanks to all of you for reading!

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Steve Madden "Viktoree" Pumps

(UPDATED: April 5, 2012)

Steve Madden is one of my personal favorite designers. I was inspired to blog about these mary jane pumps after seeing a few individual posts from Maytedoll. The Viktoree mary jane pumps are a luscious pair of fiercely high-heel platform mary jane pumps. Think of them as a sugar-sweet pair of mary jane pumps, but with plenty of spice to jazz these up. No average girl can proudly wear these- the girl unafraid to be fierce and make a statement can wear these. This blog post is dedicated to Steve Madden's "Viktoree" pumps.

This is the first post of 2012 for John's Blog Space as I begin my third or fourth year of blogging on JBS! So happy new year to all of you before I begin!

--- Steve Madden "Viktoree" Pumps ---

So, who is Viktoree? Viktoree from Steve Madden is a sweet girl with a wild side. Don't let that schoolgirl-like look deceive you... she makes the grade with her enticing and inviting style. Viktoree is not for any girl; she's for the diva who wants to stand out and deliver a powerful fashion statement. They can be worn for occasions ranging from around the office to a night out.

Here are the shoes in question and some figures on them:


^ from: endless.com - The "Viktoree" mary jane pumps from Steve Madden.

Here are some figures on these pumps:
• man-made upper
• man-made sole
• 5.5-inch (13.97-centimeter) heels
• 1.5-inch (3.81-centimeter) platform


What do I think about these? I think they are truly beautiful for any female who can style these shoes proper with her outfits. Most of you may know from my "Mary Janes" blog post that I truly love mary janes. The Viktoree pumps has a wicked high heel as well as an even more wicked platform base. They are the perfect balance of sexy and cute. Whether under voluminous pants, long skirts/dresses, or worn out with some cropped bottoms, you can't go wrong when you have attention-grabbing pumps like these.

I mentioned another blog. If you want to see an outfit post with the Viktoree shoes being worn, here is one for you. In fact, it was the first blog post of hers in which I saw these pumps for the first time. That blog post includes a YouTube video, so you can see how the shoes look in action. This link is provided only for educational purposes:

• "back to neutrals." - Maytedoll

A QUICK NOTE: Let me just tell you something before I go any further. Usually when I try to discuss shoes or something, I try to find posts and images where you can actually see what it is I'm talking about. If someone wears black shoes with black tights, leggings, or socks; you don't get to see the shoes in proper detail. So that's why I try to find certain posts where you can make out whatever it is I am discussing. The reason why I'm saying all of this is that Maytedoll has some other posts featuring these pumps. One has her in black leather shorts; but they are paired with black tights, and the pumps are in black as well. So I can't really use that in talking about these shoes.

Having said this, moving on...

Here are more bloggers rocking the Viktoree pumps:

• "If Alice Had a Party With Steve Madden" - Song of Style
• Holiday Outfits - AprilAthena7

Will you fashionable girls think about adding these to your shoe lineup? If I could re-style these shoes, I'd make them either as a leather or patent leather with a very narrow peep-toe opening. High-heel peep toe shoes with a wicked platform base usually equals sexy/hot more than 90% of the time. I would actually have them as an alternative look for these pumps. The closed-toe Viktoree pumps are perfectly fine in their design and look.



Find out more about these lovely pumps (or order them) by checking out VIKTOREE on stevemadden.com. Here are the shoes on Amazon. Check it out:


^ "Viktoree" from Steve Madden. Availability of sizes differ, but sizes (in US measurements) range between 5.5 B(M) US to 10 B(M) US.

Thank you for reading!

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