How Stephen A. Smith's charged Texans comments should be a wake-up call on credibility
APOLOGY COMING?
10 January 2024
The Houston Texans are back in the playoffs after several disappointing seasons that led to three head coaching hires in three straight years.
The Texans fired David Culley and Lovie Smith both after one season, before hiring DeMeco Ryans to lead the team in 2023. Texans ownership took a lot of criticism from the national media for firing African American coaches two years in a row. Many believed that these coaches weren't given a reasonable amount of time to turnaround a franchise in such bad shape.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith was one of the most vocal media members, even going so far as to suggest African American coaches need not apply for the coaching vacancy with the Texans.
How quickly things can change in a year. DeMeco Ryans accepted the Texans head coach position and already has the team hosting a home playoff game after winning the AFC South with a 10-7 record. It's a good thing for Texans fans that DeMeco didn't follow Smith's advice.
Which has many people on social media clamoring for an apology from Smith for his take on the Texans' ownership.
Does Stephen A. owe Texans ownership an apology, or was he right to express his opinion considering the state of the organization at the time?
Don't miss the video above for the full conversation!
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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