Winter Olympics
Former Houston high school/Rice star McGuffie makes U.S. Olympic bobsled team
Jan 27, 2018, 2:57 pm
Sam McGuffie (back) will represent the United States in the Winter Olympics. Getty Images
Watching Sam McGuffie on the gridiron in high school was something special. He gave us more highlights during his collegiate football career at Rice and Michigan and added to that resume for a short time in the NFL.
He still loves the game. And with the announcement just a few days ago about the advent of the new XFL League, McGuffie, of course, could not ignore.
“They’re bringing the XFL back. I might have to check that out. I mean, I’d like to play. The back of my jersey, (football jersey), would say ‘Guff-Stuff.'" That led to a chuckle. But the truth of the matter is, McGuffie is such a tremendous athlete and wants to do all he can physically while he can. “I’ve got to use up this body before I get too old to do anything.”
But right now, winning gold is at the top of the list
McGuffie possesses rare skills and there are very few athletes like him. Those skills have translated to becoming an Olympian. As a result, Team USA announced that Houston’s Sam McGuffie has been selected to represent his country.
“I was really excited to make the National Team this year because I knew it was important.” That was McGuffie’s immediate response when asked exactly what he felt once he had been selected to represent the United States in the 2018 Winter Olympics on the bobsled team.
The Winter Olympics will take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea beginning Feb. 9. McGuffie, along with his two teams will be there ready to make his country proud. He’s currently training in Calgary. He will be a member of the push crew and has also been selected as Codie Bascue’s brakeman in the two-man.
“You actually have to make the National team to be considered for the Olympic team. So, just because you make the National team this year doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to make the Olympic team. So, you got to make both. So, it was a good time to make it.”
Obviously, his family here in Houston is truly excited for him.
“They were just like, it’s pretty cool," he said. "You know, they never saw bobsled coming in my life. So, it’s kind of different.”
Team is always first
McGuffie is a super-modest, low-key personality. Very little about him, in terms of his responses regarding his accomplishments, has changed since his days at Rice University.
But make no mistake; Sam McGuffie is a World-Class athlete who is bubbling inside about being on the team and is as competitive and talented as any World-Class athlete you will find.
“I just want to represent well. Hopefully, just do my part, you know. Let Codie, (Codie Basque), guide us the rest of the way. It’s a partnership. It takes everyone to do well.”
McGuffie says he excited about having two opportunities to win a medal. But to get there, he realizes the challenge of his job.
Challenging responsibility
“I’m the last guy. So, I pull the brakes.” There’s more to that responsibility that McGuffie explains. But, here’s what’s really challenging.
“I have to memorize the course blind. Everyone else kind of gets to sit up, just kind of crump, (fold), their heads down. I ride the whole way with my head between my legs. So, just to remember all the different tracks blind is kind of different.”
Along with Basque on the push-crew, McGuffie will work with Evan Weinstock of Las Vegas, Nevada and Steve Langton of Melrose, Massachusetts.
“We have to kind of work together a little bit now to kind of hone in our timing; like hitting the sled together at the same time. Because if you don’t, we push slow. It’s all about momentum.” Entering the sled at different times would amount to a slow time.
“PyeongChang is so short on the track, if you push fast, you get a chance to do well.” “It’s only 14 turns. Most tracks have more than 15-16 turns.”
McGuffie will compete in the two-man Feb. 18 and 19. He will compete in the four-man Feb. 24 and 25. McGuffie and the team will train in Calgary a few more days, head to San Francisco, and then fly to Seoul. The team will then drive three hours to PyeongChang.
Keeping an eye on Rice
While he’s obviously focused on winning medals for the U.S. Bobsled team, He still keeps his eye on Rice football. McGuffie talked about his former team and always thinks about his days at Rice. That comes with an unyielding respect and admiration for former Head football Coach David Bailiff. But he’s also looking forward to the future of the program.
“Shout-out to the new coach,” (Mike Bloomgren). I haven’t met him yet. But, I’m looking forward to seeing how they do.”
Almost time
Meanwhile, we’re keeping our eyes on McGuffie and what he has a chance to do during the Winter Olympics. The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics is Feb. 9.
This is wishing Sam McGuffie and his teammates the very best.
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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