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Born with a comic book in one hand and a remote control in the other, Cory DLG is the talent of Conroe's very own Nerd Thug Radio, Sports and Wrestling. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio show at www.nerdthugradio.com!
Hey Nerds!
The week keeps rolling and we love it, right folks? Ok so Wednesdays are like the slow part of a roller coaster, probably required by the insurers to make sure the riders don't hurl everywhere, but hey it's almost Friday!
GOOD DEED OF THE DAY
With the recent news that the new proposed federal budget cuts $51 million dollars in funding from The Special Olympics, sometimes you have to wonder who's on the side of angels these days. Well one group that definitely resides with the good guys is The Arc of Greater Houston. They've been doing this for a while, helping both people and the families of people with disabilities, everything from helping them apply for SSA and solve the various needs and issues that come up from having this uncertainty in your future. That being said, these good guys are looking for your help, they're looking for volunteers to help their children's booth at this weekends Bayou City Art Festival. Check it out.
I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS
So regularly on Nerd Thug Radio (the show I co-host with Joey Savage and Nico) I regularly bring attention to topics and stories before they break nationwide, I usually find interesting things to talk about and what do you know? I have good tastes. This is another great example, just yesterday in my blog I was talking about how I love these paranormal things and I'm obsessed with any of these ghost shows and I'm always into it, if you have something paranormal on tape, I'm in. Which the news agency WXYZ in Michigan does in fact have, something crazily paranormal on tape, the story is going crazy and you should check this clip out.
IT CAME FROM THE HALF PRICE BOOK STORE
It can be expensive to be a nerd, some might think this goes without saying but unfortunately it just didn't and it will be said again and again and again. Everything from the tabletop games to the video games to the comic book collections to the cool statues, to the books, nothing is free and very little is ever cheap. But there's a secret weapon, used book stores. Man, these places are a treasure trove of great finds and fun new series to get into, so today I got a recommendation for you. There's a prolific writer that almost certainly has a shelf in every half price book store in America because she wrote some of the most prolific series in a young nerd's life, Anne McCaffrey. She wrote several series The Dragon Riders of Pern, The Tower and The Hive, The Freedom Series, Dinosaur Planet and early in her career she co-wrote a Planet Pirates series, later on her son joined her and wrote several more books in the Pern series himself. These are all really great reads, the last book in the Freedom series wasn't great but the other series are all great and the books before the last book in the Freedom series is also great. Seriously, check her out.
A WHAT SHOW?!
So I've always been fascinated by a burlesque show, the singing, peek a boo, vintage bombshell thing seems like good entertainment. I've only seen one and it was a long time ago but it was a lot of fun and honestly I kind of really want to get back to one, and guess what? This Friday at Numbers Dem Damn Dames Burlesque will be performing and the theme is Video Games vs Saturday Morning Cartoons, how can we the viewing public lose? I submit we CAN NOT! Also, you know, click on those links at your own discretion, it's a burlesque show not actual cartoons and video games. Yowza.
DO YOU LIKE BEER? I LIKE BEER, LET'S BUY A BREWERY!
If you have a couple million dollars lying around, and these days who doesn't? You too can be the proud owner of your own brewery. What's that? You don't want to build your own? You don't want to leave Houston? You wouldn't even know how to set one up? Oh, there's great news, there's one right here in the Heights that is built out, all the equipment in place, and literally is looking to turn key sell. Yeah but businesses only sell when they are failures someone dumb will probably mutter, well that's just wrong. You see, Houston Cider Co is having an amazing run and business has been SO GREAT that they're honestly looking to sell their existing building, gear and all because they're moving into a much larger facility. The building alone is asking for $1 million bucks, so with the gear and essentially a ready made manufacturing process installed right there at your disposal it's probably going to take a pretty penny to get into the building as is. But if you do buy it as is, well, you'll be well on your way to owning the skeleton of a very successful step one of a brewery, may I suggest GeekBrew? Just a thought.
SUPPORTING ARTIST IN GENERAL
No fun text convo today, today I want to reach out to each and every one of you readers out there. Every day you guys watch Netflix, read books, consume content, watch movies, television, radio shows, blogs and all kinds of things that people work really hard to produce for you guys day in and out. The reason I share kickstarters, indiegogos, share local artists and have my links in the bottom of the column is because it is hard for creators to create. There are bills to pay and lights to keep on, and we all have our own networks to tap and people to lean on but long gone are the days of wealthy patrons collecting artists like trading cards (which by the way helped spark The Renaissance) but those people alone are never enough to push things to the next level, so just reach out to your friends and families who are creating and remember sometimes they just need a little help.
I'm going to jump out and wish you guys a great Wednesday and remind everyone to be kind to each other and try a little harder to have a great day! I'm coming back tomorrow and we'll be bringing more good times your way. Feel free to check out my digital short story The Wilson House, or buy a shirt from Side Hustle Ts where every shirt is now under $20 or listen to Nerd Thug Radio. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
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The Houston Texans have a chance to win a third straight AFC South title this season with quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans.
The challenge?
Nobody has won three straight titles since Peyton Manning was in his prime with the Indianapolis Colts in this division’s early years. The Tennessee Titans most recently came the closest only to come up short in 2022.
“I’m not really sure like what the next step is,” Houston general manager Nick Caserio said. “I mean we have a good football team, so we’ve been one of the best eight teams in the league the last two years. So what’s going to happen beyond that nobody has any idea.”
The Texans have advanced to two straight divisional rounds each of the past two postseasons, losing both with the most recent to Kansas City 23-14 in January. Caserio made a variety of moves to help Stroud, and coach DeMeco Ryans switched offensive coordinators as well.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz said they just have to do one thing to get past the divisional round.
“It’s never the same as the year before, and there’s always some little wrinkle that is going to hit the league or hit your team,” Schultz said.
Houston went 10-7 in 2024 with the Colts at 8-9 with everyone working furiously to catch up — or else.
Indianapolis switched starting quarterbacks. Jacksonville hired a new coach and general manager before trading up to draft Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Tennessee has No. 1 draft pick overall in Cam Ward starting at quarterback after firing and hiring a new general manager.
“This league is a year-to-year league and what do I feel is best for the Colts in 2025,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said.
Texans’ challenge
Houston has to protect Stroud better. Only Chicago’s Caleb Williams was sacked more than the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. With the pounding, Stroud’s production dipped as he was sacked 52 times with his interceptions more than doubling to 12 from his rookie season.
Stroud still threw for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns. Ryans fired Bobby Slowik and hired Nick Caley as offensive coordinator.
“He comes from a different style than I’m used to, at least in the NFL,” Stroud said of Caley. “So, it’s cool just to learn something new and put another tool in my toolbox.”
Caserio traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington during the offseason to clear space to sign younger players. The Texans are expected to start a rookie at left tackle in second-round pick Aireontae Ersery with Tytus Howard at right tackle where he started 16 games last season.
Houston also acquired Christian Kirk, signed Justin Watson and drafted a pair of receivers out of Iowa State to provide depth behind Nico Collins after letting Stefon Diggs leave in free agency. Caserio also sent wide receiver John Metchie to Philadelphia for tight end Harrison Bryant on Aug. 17.
Hey Danny Dimes
Indianapolis has missed the playoffs the past four seasons, and a fifth straight could cost Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard their jobs with the late Jim Irsay’s daughters now running the franchise.
Going with Daniel Jones means the franchise who went two decades with Manning and Andrew Luck at quarterback will have yet another starter on opening day. Since 2017, only Anthony Richardson has started back-to-back season openers.
Yet the fourth overall pick in 2023 couldn’t stay healthy or help Jonathan Taylor nearly enough. Taylor ran for 1,431 yards and 11 TDs as Richardson completed just 47.7% of his throws, the lowest rate of any regular starter in the NFL.
Steichen said Richardson, 23, was thrown into the fire. The Colts coach isn’t ready to talk about Jones’ future.
“Let’s see how the season goes,” Steichen said.
Jacksonville’s youth movement
The biggest makeover came in Jacksonville, firing a Super Bowl-winning coach in Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke. The Jaguars hired Liam Coen as coach and James Gladstone, 34, as their new GM.
The Jaguars are trying to fix a team that went 3-10 in one-score games in 2024 with the franchise losers of 18 of its past 23.
In his first head coaching job, Coen, 39, has a pair of first-timers in offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. As coordinator in Tampa Bay, Coen became the first NFL coordinator in at least 25 years to help a team average more than 28 points a game.
He has Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, who was limited by injuries to 10 games in 2024. Wide receiver Brian Thomas now can get help from Hunter, even if the rookie will also play some defense.
Tennessee time
Brian Callahan also was a first-time head coach a year ago with the Titans. He brought in a former NFL head coach in Mike McCoy this offseason among a handful of other changes to apply his lessons learned.
Mike Borgonzi was hired as GM when Ran Carthon’s big offseason spending spree didn’t pan out. The Titans have embraced their rebuild even if they added veteran receivers Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson along with left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right guard Kevin Zeitler.
Predicted order of finish
Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville.