APOLOGY COMING?
How Stephen A. Smith's charged Texans comments should be a wake-up call on credibility
Jan 9, 2024, 7:17 pm
Stephen A’s charged Texans comments should be a wake-up call on credibility
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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.