Houston, We Have a Problem

In the turbulent history of Houston, Texas, sports, the past few years have marked rock bottom for fans. The city has suffered countless humiliations, scandals, and losses in the past months alone. The last relief for Houston sports fans came in 2017 when the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to secure a World Series title, only to be tarnished by a cheating scandal. Since then, the city’s sports teams have been a mess, undergoing continuous decline. In particular, the departure of elite players from Houston’s major league teams has dealt crushing blows to the city’s already weak sports culture, making one thing clear: the city officially has a problem on its hands.

Rewind to the 2017 World Series, when the Astros defeated the Dodgers four games to three and clinched their first World Series in franchise history. The win ended one of the worst decades in Astros history, one consisting of the retirement of favorites like Jeff Bagwell, a losing record from 2009 through 2014, and several consecutive 100-plus-loss seasons. The victory also restored hope in Houston, which had recently been shattered by Hurricane Harvey, one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. The hope was short-lived, however, as an allegation arose accusing the Astros of illicit sign stealing or deciphering the signs of their opponent through technological aid. MLB confirmed the Astros’ flagrant cheating through an investigation and fined the team $5 million as a result. While the Astros were not stripped of their title, their only championship was tainted with a reputation of cheating.

Since the scandal, the world has witnessed a long history of Houston sports that is nothing short of depressing. Whether it be the Houston Rockets blowing a 3-2 lead to the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 NBA playoffs or the Houston Texans blowing a 24-0 lead against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL divisional round, the city has always found a way to squander its chances. Accordingly, many frustrated stars have parted ways with Houston, leaving the Bayou City even more heartbroken.

The last year alone has seen the departure of five major sporting stars from Houston. The most recent was the departure of former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who reportedly signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year, up to $31 million deal. The departure followed an embarrassing 4-12 season record, which highlighted the Texans’ need to rebuild after countless self-inflicted damages. However, Watt showed disinterest in rebuilding. He holds the franchise record for both sacks and forced fumbles and was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year in 2017. Evidently, he has had a legendary 10-year tenure with the Texans, but seeing that he is 32 and running out of time, Watt emphasized his desire to play for a viable championship contender and potentially earn his first Super Bowl ring.

About a year prior, the Texans dealt wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals after six seasons. The trade left a gaping hole in Houston’s offense and began the Texans’ tumultuous season, leaving many perplexed as to why the team would release one of their star offensive playmakers. Since the trade, Hopkins has thrived in Arizona, ranking third in the NFL in catches and fourth in receiving yards, while the Texans have suffered one of their worst season records in franchise history. Houston’s star quarterback Deshaun Watson has also implored the organization for his release. In spite of his making it known that he never wants to play for the Texans again, the organization has instead granted him the ability to sit out the 2021 NFL season. However, sitting out means Watson may have to forfeit $20.2 million from his $156 million contract extension, pay $50 thousand daily fines, give up his game checks, and jeopardize his signing bonus, making it clear that the Texans are adamant on keeping their star quarterback, despite his misery.

In December of 2020, the Rockets saw the departure of dominant point guard Russell Westbrook. The trade request shocked the sports world as Westbrook was coming out of an outstanding season in his franchise debut, averaging 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and seven assists per game. Though his tenure with the Rockets was short, Westbrook expressed discontent and frustration over the Rockets’ direction and lack of accountability. Eventually, the Washington Wizards and Rockets agreed on a trade, landing Westbrook in Washington and former Wizards point guard John Wall in Houston.

Two months later, in a four-team trade, the Rockets sent former MVP and shooting guard James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The release came after a two-month trade request in which the former Rockets shooting guard attempted every means to agitate his release to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets last won back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995 and have yet to advance to the finals since. Following yet another playoffs loss, Harden seriously doubted that the Rockets could be a championship contender. As a result, he pursued a different team. To accelerate his trade request, he began to party and publicize it, violating the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols. Harden even avoided trading camp to attend parties and staged severe weight gain to force the trade, emphasizing his desperation to leave the city. Harden has thrived in Brooklyn, where he has displayed a strong case to be the MVP once more, averaging 25.5 points, 11.4 assists, and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Harden’s move is not the last of Houston’s sports troubles, however. The Astros lost outfielder George Springer at the beginning of 2021. The announcement was finalized in a six-year deal worth $150 million. Springer’s impact was unmatched due to his formidable defensive and hitting abilities. He is also a three-time All-Star and winner of the 2017 World Series MVP award. Thus, the Astros have some serious adjustments to make in order to offset the loss of one of the best in the game.

While Houston has housed several star athletes over the years, its ability to retain the talent is lacking. While the city has struggled, its players have continually lost faith, leaving even more gaping holes. As the city faces countless humiliations and losses, it has been stripped of its chance to be a premier sports city and has even declined to one of the most miserable sports cities in the U.S. Houston has lost some serious star power, and rebuilding is more than necessary to revive its sports culture.