NERDS AROUND TOWN
The nerd report: Comics, sports betting, Nerd radio and more
Apr 26, 2019, 5:56 am
ART BY JESUS RODRIGUEZ
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!
Hey guys it's been another great week, and now we've made it to one of the biggest nerd weekends in recent memory. This Sunday the battle between the living and the dead happens on HBO, Avengers Endgame debuts this weekend, Houston Outlaws actually play in Texas this weekend in Dallas on Saturday and the NFL Draft is this whole weekend. Pick your poison.
GOOD DEED OF THE DAY
This weekend have a good weekend, volunteer a little time this weekend helping out the elderly or hanging out with some sick kids or helping an animal shelter. I don't know, just find a way to actually add something back to this great thing we call life. Next week I'll make it easy for all of us again and point people in the direction of a cause. Also, I started using a new hashtag to try and rally people to causes, #NerdsUnite.
WHILE YOU'RE OUT
Check out your local comic shop, there's all sorts of cool stuff to get into and check out. Avengers #18 is part of Marvel's line wide War of the Realms, and is a cool reintroduction of The Squadron Supreme. They are essentially a team of Justice League knock offs for the Marvel Universe, each publisher has their own version, but here as of late they've tried to expand and include The Squadron Supreme in the Marvel universe and this is just the latest attempt. Punk Mambo #1 is a new series from Valiant and it looks really cool, it's a punk rock female version of Constantine kind of, is the vibe it gives off. The Valiant universe has been making a comeback as of late and this is just the latest step, check it out. Wonder Woman #69 continues Wonder Woman's promise to help Aphrodite find her son, the writer on this is one of my favorites and if you aren't reading Wonder Woman, why not?
THIS IS LEGAL RIGHT?
While I was watching the draft, a buddy of mine mentioned that the Raiders are moving to Vegas, and that got me thinking the NHL is already in Vegas and the NBA has an official sponsorship with a casino. The NFL has a business relationship with either Draftkings or one of those fantasy football gambling apps, so literally is this allowed now? Betting on sports is a billion dollar industry and the best sportsbooks make crazy money from this thing. Somehow we went from Pete Rose being banned from baseball to now you can actually bet anytime you want even during the games. This is starting to get a little surreal to me. Some states have totally allowed sports betting and some states are still making it illegal, it all comes back to me like, if all of this is going on, when are we getting a casino?
WHO ME?
This weekend I actually will be pretty busy, Nerd Thug Radio is booked to be out at Sportify. So for sure I'll be out there Saturday, Saturday is also the last part of the draft and there's an Outlaw's match so I mean, I'm going to find some things to get up to all day no matter what. Based on how it goes we'll either hang out Sunday as well or we won't. If we don't we'll find something fun to get into Sunday and maybe hangout at The Adventure Begins out in Conroe, we keep saying we're going to get out there more and we just haven't had time. Maybe this is the weekend.
NOT THAT YOU ASKED
So I LOVE the draft. I just do, it's fantastic to see how organizations show their thinking by the moves they make. You can kind of see if they're "desperate" or "happy" right now with their roster if they trade up or trade back, New England somehow trades back every year it seems and still takes great guys and obviously builds a top level roster so it was a little odd to actually see them make a pick but it might have been because Atlanta traded into the Rams spot right in front of them so they had trouble finding someone looking for their spot. I don't understand The Cardinals move yet of drafting Kyler Murray but I'm trying to wait and see what they do with the quarterback they already have. We will see, but this is why I love the draft.
I'm going to jump out and wish you guys a great Friday and remind everyone to be kind to each other and try a little harder to have a great day! I'm coming back Monday 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 $.50 from every shirt is donated to a good cause or listen to Nerd Thug Radio or support our Patreon Page. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
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Expectations
The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.
New faces
OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.
Key losses
LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.
Strengths
Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.
Camp development
Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.
Fantasy player to watch
Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Win Super Bowl: 35-1.