Every-Thing Sports

Here's who really deserves the credit for O'Brien getting fired

Texans Bill O'Brien
Give credit where credit is due. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Did you hear those cheers all over the city around 3-4pm? They were loud, joyous, and audible from anywhere in the Houston metro area. Word on the street is they could be heard as far east as Beaumont and Lake Charles, as far north as Huntsville and Livingston. Hill Country and Galveston were able to hear them as well. Bill O'Brien is no longer employed by the Houston Texans!

This has been a long time coming and way overdue in most people's opinions. He's set this franchise up for failure. Now he's left a flaming hot dumpster fire of a mess behind for the next regime to come in and attempt to clean up. But why now? Why was he finally fired after an 0-4 start this season when there were so many other reasons and opportunities to get rid of him before? I'll tell you why. More importantly, I'll tell you who I believe is responsible! Me! That's who!

Recently, I started writing a series of articles titled Not my job. It was named after one O'Brien's infamous soundbites saying "it's not my job to do that." In games, and losses, against the Ravens, the Steelers, and the Vikings, O'Brien demonstrated his lack of coaching acumen. There were things that worked that he'd go away from inexplicably, strengths that he wouldn't or couldn't accentuate, and basic football 101 things he'd fumble at the most crucial times. I tried to be fair and honest without crushing the poor sap, but he was such an easy target, I couldn't help but take shots.

Then there was the time I compared him to that one uncle or friend we all have. You know who I'm talking about. The uncle who talks a lot of crap, but can't take it when he's the one getting roasted (Exhibit A: yelling back at a fan at halftime who tells him he sucks). Or that one friend who thinks they know everything and will stubbornly struggle instead of asking for help (Exhibit B: hiring an offensive coordinator, but foolishly choosing to call plays yourself). At the end of March, I appealed for my candidacy to replace O'Brien and the following week I laid out a plan for his exit.

I would like to take this time to tell the city of Houston and Texans fans thank you very much since I feel personally responsible for the removal of the cancerous tumor known as Bill O'Brien. I have it on good authority that team ownership, the McNair family, happen to be big fans of my work and hardcore fans of Gow Media in general. Sources have told me they pay close attention to this website, as well as ESPN 97.5, and more recently 92.5 when they're out at their ranch. These sources have also told me that there will be an exhaustive search for the new head coach and general manager.

My name was tossed into the ring, but because they appreciate my opinions in the realm I'm currently in, they'd hate to lose my valued contributions on this end of things. I'd like to thank the McNair family for alleviating this city and franchise of the infected boil on the butt cheek of this city/franchise. They managed to lance and drain it before it became too cancerous. Too bad that it spread, or else it would be easier to overcome. Now we'll have to wait until the new hires are made to see what's next. Fortunately, things can't get any worse right? Let's look forward to what is to come and not what was.

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The Royals beat the Astros 2-0. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Michael Wacha scattered four hits over six innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight night Saturday to run their winning streak to six.

Wacha (1-3) once again received little run support, but the veteran right-hander made the meager production stand up on chilly evening at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out six while walking two and never allowed a runner past second base.

Steven Cruz worked the seventh for Kansas City, his seventh appearance this season without allowing a run. John Schreiber left runners on the corners in the eighth, and Carlos Estévez had a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and scored in the first inning for the Royals, extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.

Framber Valdez (1-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Canha in the first inning and Pasquantino's shot down the right-field line in the fifth. Otherwise, the Astros left-hander kept Kansas City in check, allowing three hits and two walks over eight innings.

Valdez had tossed seven shutout innings against the Royals last August in a 3-2 victory.

The Astros, who have lost five straight at the K, have managed just nine hits while getting shut out over the first two games of the series. They had rolled into Kansas City having won three straight and five of their last six games.

Key moment

Isaac Parades hit a two-out double and Jeremy Peña followed with a single to give Houston runners on the corners in the eighth inning. Schreiber bounced back to strike out Christian Walker with a four-seam fastball to end the threat.

Key stat

The Royals have only scored seven runs in the 32 innings that Wacha has pitched this season.

Up next

RHP Hunter Brown (3-1, 1.16) tries to extend a 24-inning scoreless streak for Houston in the series finale Sunday. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.45) gets the start for Kansas City after tossing seven shutout innings against the Rockies his last time out.

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