KEEPING IT RAHEEL
Raheel Ramzanali: Hey Houston sports fans, stop hating on Clay Walker!
Apr 10, 2018, 6:00 am
You hate this man for what reason? Jamie Squire/Getty Images
We as sports fans are a weird bunch. We’ll get upset and latch onto the weirdest hate towards a person or thing and pass that hate on. I get it, this is nothing new and I’m not breaking ground on the weird hate patterns we have, but i’m standing up and speaking out against it. Specifically the hate towards native Texan and Beaumont’s own Clay Walker.
Earlier this month when Clay Walker performed the national anthem at the Astros home opener and World Series pennant unveiling ceremony, Houston sports fan lost his mind and regurgitated the played out “Clay Walker sucks!” hate. I’ve had enough - Clay Walker doesn’t deserve this hate. He’s done nothing wrong. In fact, he’s done everything right. The reason Clay Walker performs 4-5 times a year at various games around town is because teams trust him to do a good enough job on the biggest stage. Clay Walker is GOOD at singing the national anthem. But this has nothing to do with the national anthem or the success story that is Clay Walker.
Let’s be honest, most of us don’t even care who sings the national anthem. In fact, you can’t even name any other national anthem performances you’ve seen at a local game. The only reason Houston sports fan immediately hates on Clay Walker is because of the world famous perfectly-crafted-banger It’s Football Time in Houston team song that plays during Texans games. If this is the origin of your Clay Walker hate, then sit back and relax because I’m about to change your mind about this bnager and why it shouldn’t be something you hate, rather something you embrace as a sports fan.
“Well It’s Finally Here
I’ve Been Waiting All Week
Just To Kick This Thing Off
I’ve Been Rocking Away On the Edge Of My Seat
Now I’m Ready To Roll.”
In under 10 seconds, Clay captures the excitement of game day and how all week long we’ve discussed the ins and outs of everything regarding the Texans game. Now, just minutes away, you’re on the edge of your seat and are close to getting some answers. Hell, you can even say you’re ready to roll to enjoy an NFL game.
“Here they come to mix things up.
Bet Your Boots They’re Tough Enough
Let’s Get Ready To Root For Our Team
All You Texans Get Up And Scream.”
The average pair of boots in Texas costs about $350. Clay is so confident that the Texans have prepared hard all week that he’s giving you free betting advice that you should play the Texans money line because this team is tough enough AND they will mix it up. However, they do need your support so be ready to scream and root for your team. So far, all I see is a confident insider that wants to help you make money with a betting tip.
“It’s Football Time in Houston
And We’re ready to Play
You’ve Got no time to lose now
It’s Red White And Blue Today”
If you’ve ever attended a Texans game, you’ve heard this one line probably twenty times over the course of a game. It’s really not that bad once you put it in context. Clay is just stating the obvious, on a Sunday inside NRG during a game it really is football time in Houston. Sure, sometimes the Rockets or Astros are playing at the same time and it could be basketball, baseball and football time in Houston, but that happens so rare that he just left it as football time in houston. Clay also makes an insightful point that “you’ve got no time to lose now” in the chorus that should resonate with everyone reading. Tomorrow is not promised so we really don’t have time to lose. If an Instagram motivational guru posted this line, you’d all eat it up, but because Clay wrote it first, we’ll hate for no reason.
“Welcome to the greatest city of all
Houston Texas
Are you ready for some football!”
I’m sorry, all Houston sports fan does it brag about how great his/her city is and how other cities suck. Clay puts it into song form for you to sing and you HATE IT? Get out of here. I love Houston and I’m glad Clay Walker wrote an anthem for my city. Also, once you’re done letting the world know about the greatest city of all you can ask them if they’re ready for some football.
“It can rain, it can pour
it can snow I don’t care.
I’m here til the end”
I’ve seen Texans fans hang around until the end during a snow game at Lambeau Field and Clay is right, we didn’t care! We supported the team. As for the rain, it doesn’t matter because NRG’s roof will be closed. Also, if you actually listened to the song, maybe you would have stayed until the end of that Colts game and watched a great comeback two seasons ago.
“The spirit of victory flowing around in the air
We’re Gonna Win”
Be honest, you’re getting chills, right?
“I’m so excited we’re all here.
I love the sound of those hometown cheers
Men, Women, Girls And Boys
Get On Your Feet
Make Some Noise!”
This is one of my favorite parts of the song. It’s so nice to be appreciated and thanked for being a fan. Clay takes the time in a song to thank us, the fans. You still hate this song? This song has been with the team since it started and even back in the 2000s Clay was all about being inclusive. Clay could’ve done the “men only watch sport” bit, but instead he shouted out all.
“Courage
Pride
Independence
Tradition
Strength
The Texans are about to March
Toro’s getting ready to charge!”
OK, I’ll be honest - this part is kinda weird with him just chanting important traits that most leaders value in a job setting. In fact, I don’t think any of us have even gotten this far into the song, but damn it, it’s beautiful. We as a society hate on millenials for everything, yet here is a song that could drive home the value of tradition, courage, and pride if we let it play all the way through. Maybe all the millenials needed was Clay Walker just saying important traits over a mildly entertaining riff.
So there you have it, It’s Football Time in Houston isn’t this horrible song that you’re making it out to be. As with anything in 2018, I encourage you to dig a bit deeper and form your own opinion instead of following the group think that occurs on social media and sports talk shows. If you’ve made it all the way here, turn up your speakers and let your entire office know, IT’S FOOTBALL TIME IN HOUSTON!
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
After finishing up with the Guardians the Astros have a rather important series for early May with the Seattle Mariners heading to town for the weekend. While it’s still too early to be an absolute must-win series for the Astros, losing the series to drop seven or nine games off the division lead would make successfully defending their American League West title that much more unlikely.
Since their own stumble out of the gate to a 6-10 record the Mariners have been racking up series wins, including one this week over the Atlanta Braves. The M’s offense is largely Mmm Mmm Bad, but their pitching is sensational. In 18 games after a 4-8 start, the Mariners gave up five runs in a game once. In the other 17 games they only gave up four runs once. Over the 18 games their starting pitchers gave up 18 earned runs total with a 1.44 earned run average. That’s absurd. Coming into the season Seattle’s starting rotation was clearly better on paper than those of the Astros and Texas Rangers, and it has crystal clearly played out as such into the second month of the schedule.
While it’s natural to focus on and fret over one’s own team's woes when they are plentiful as they have been for the Astros, a reminder that not all grass is greener elsewhere. Alex Bregman has been awful so far. So has young Mariners’ superstar Julio Rodriguez (though not Breggy Bad). A meager four extra base hits over his first 30 games were all Julio produced down at the ballyard. That the Mariners are well ahead of the Astros with J-Rod significantly underperforming is good news for Seattle.
Caratini comes through!
So it turns out the Astros are allowed to have a Puerto Rican-born catcher who can hit a little bit. Victor Caratini’s pedigree is not that of a quality offensive player, but he has swung the bat well thus far in his limited playing time and provided the most exciting moment of the Astros’ season with his two-out two-run 10th inning game winning home run Tuesday night. I grant that one could certainly say “Hey! Ronel Blanco finishing off his no-hitter has been the most exciting moment.” I opt for the suddenness of Caratini’s blow turning near defeat into instant victory for a team that has been lousy overall to this point. Frittering away a game the Astros had led 8-3 would have been another blow. Instead, to the Victor belong the spoils.
Pudge Rodriguez is the greatest native Puerto Rican catcher, but he was no longer a good hitter when with the Astros for the majority of the 2009 season. Then there’s Martin Maldonado.
Maldonado’s hitting stats with the Astros look Mike Piazza-ian compared to what Jose Abreu was doing this season. Finally, mercifully for all, Abreu is off the roster as he accepts a stint at rookie-level ball in Florida to see if he can perform baseball-CPR on his swing and career. Until or unless he proves otherwise, Abreu is washed up and at some point the Astros will have to accept it and swallow whatever is left on his contract that runs through next season. For now Abreu makes over $120,000 per game to not be on the roster. At his level of performance, that’s a better deal than paying him that money to be on the roster.
Abreu’s seven hits in 71 at bats for an .099 batting average with a .269 OPS is a humiliating stat line. In 2018 George Springer went to sleep the night of June 13 batting .293 after going hitless in his last four at bats in a 13-5 Astros’ win over Oakland. At the time no one could have ever envisioned that Springer had started a deep, deep funk which would have him endure a nightmarish six for 78 stretch at the plate (.077 batting average). Springer then hit .293 the rest of the season.
Abreu’s exile opened the door for Joey Loperfido to begin his Major League career. Very cool for Loperfido to smack a two-run single in his first game. He also struck out twice. Loperfido will amass whiffs by the bushel, he had 37 strikeouts in 101 at bats at AAA Sugar Land. Still, if he can hit .225 with some walks mixed in (he drew 16 with the Space Cowboys) and deliver some of his obvious power (13 homers in 25 games for the ex-Skeeters) that’s an upgrade over Abreu/Jon Singleton, as well as over Jake Meyers and the awful showing Chas McCormick has posted so far. Frankly, it seems unwise that the Astros only had Loperfido play seven games at first base in the minors this year. If McCormick doesn’t pick it up soon and with Meyers displaying limited offensive upside, the next guy worth a call-up is outfielder Pedro Leon. In January 2021 the Astros gave Leon four million dollars to sign out of Cuba and called him a “rapid mover to the Major Leagues.” Well…
Over his first three minor league seasons Leon flashed tools but definitely underwhelmed. He has been substantially better so far this year. He turns 26 May 28. Just maybe the Astros offense could be the cause of fewer Ls with Loperfido at first and Leon in center field.
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via YouTube: stone cold stros - YouTube with the complete audio available via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.