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A weekly look at all things Houston sports from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority: Bob McNair picks up an award

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A weekly look at all things Houston sports from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority: Bob McNair picks up an award
Texans owner Bob McNair is set to be honored. Bob Levey/Getty Images

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In a year filled with #HoustonStrong moments, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame added one more to the list when it chose to honor Houston Texans owner Bob McNair with the Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award.

McNair, a businessman and philanthropist who brought the NFL back to Houston after the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee, is the sixth recipient of the TSHOF’s highest honor.

He will be honored at a March 1 reception and dinner at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.

“I am extremely honored to be recognized by the Texas Sports Hall of Fame with their Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award,” McNair said. “Sports, especially football, have been a passion for the better part of my life. I am humbled to be recognized for simply doing that which has brought me so much joy.”

McNair is the first Houstonian to earn the honor. He joins Don Carter,  the founding owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Sidekicks; former San Antonio Spurs owner Red McCombs; former Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr.; legendary Waco sportswriter and sports editor Dave Campbell and former University of Houston Athletic Director Rudy Davalos as winners of the Lamar Hunt Award.

"It's quite an honor," McNair to the Houston Chronicle in June. "There's some great sports owners who have been honored this way. I'm delighted and humbled that I'd be included in the group.

“It is special because many of the honors I've received were based on things I did in prior endeavors. This is in my sports endeavor. That's a real honor to be recognized that way."

McNair’s vision to return the NFL to Houston started in1998 and on October 6,1999, the NFL awarded the 32nd franchise to McNair. Houston has subsequently hosted two Super Bowls – in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and Super Bowl LI last February.

McNair’s legacy in Houston also extends to his philanthropic efforts to, among others, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Grand Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts.

“We are thrilled to recognize Bob McNair’s incredible impact on sports in the state of Texas,” said TSHOF President and CEO Cooper Jones. “He not only brought professional football back to the City of Houston, but his strong leadership and unwavering commitment to his community, and the state of Texas, is truly an example for us all.”

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If you’re still looking for a holiday gift for a sports fan in your family, or want to give yourself a little gift, think about purchasing a Golden Ticket. The $100 ticket – there are only 500 available -- enters you in the inagural Houston Sports Awards Golden Ticket Raffle and gives you a chance to win a pair of season tickets to all Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston Dynamo, Rodeo Houston & Houston Open home games/events during the 2018-19 season. In addition, the winner receives tickets for two Houston Texans home games, the 2018 AdvoCare Texas Kickoff and the 2018 Texas Bowl. The Houston Sports Awards is February 8 at the Hilton Americas. Information on event and the Golden Ticket is available at www.houstonsportsawards.com

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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