After watching the Houston Texans Professional Football Club dismantle the Kitty Cats of Cincinnati, I headed to a Lions bar for the night cap. Needless to say this was tons of fun and made me long for the company of other Texans fans here in DC.

With that in mind, I would like to spur the creation of our very own bastion of Texans fandom here in the nation's capital. I know there are other BRBers in DC and northern VA, I've seen you in the comments! And if you're a district lurker, now is the time to reveal yourself. Are there others that would be interested in watching the game with Texans compatriots?

Off the top of my head, I was thinking somewhere like The Ugly Mug or Molly Malones in Eastern Market (metro accessible!) but am open to suggestions. What say you DC Texans? Let's make a home for ourselves. And if you aren't in DC but know a Texans fan who is, direct them this way or tell them where we wind up!

It sure is tough being a Texans fan.  The 2010 iteration of this team provided more heart-breaking loses in a season than most fans endure in a decade.  Yet here we are.  Back for more punishment - "More fool you!" as the Bard might say.  But maybe this time will be different!  That's what we tell ourselves!  Except this fan base stopped doing that somewhere along the way.  Instead, we all parade forward like depressed lemmings proclaiming loudly to the heavens that we await their smiting.  "Doom!" we cry, before free agency has even begun.  "Why God why?" we lament, before a ball has even been kicked.  

But this time could be different.  It could be.  Sit down, stay with me a bit, and maybe I can change your mind.

I wont bore you with the details, but the last year of my life presented me with a number of unique challenges I'd not previously encountered.  This caused a bit of introspection and with it a changed outlook on certain things.  One of those things was sports.  I love sports.  I'm a fanatic.  I'd hazard to say I follow more sports and more teams than 95% of you reading this post right now.  (Sidenote: Bodog has India at +350 to win the second test against England.  I like those odds.)  But sports made me angry, pessimistic, bitter, furious.  One of my few outlets from the day-to-day grind of life was tinged with the cynical emotions I was already dealing with.  No good that.  Things needed to change.  I decided I refuse to be preemptively pessimistic about sports (which can lead to the loss of $10 to MDC).

So what's this got to do with the Texans?  There seems to be a notion that optimism and realism are mutually exclusive.  This isn't true.  I don't see the Texans through rose-colored glasses.  I don't ignore the many flaws this team has, nor negate the troubles we may encounter if we don't address them.  I see these issues, I see these problems but I also see reasons for optimism.  And I want you to as well.  I want this blog to be a place of intelligent discourse about this game and team we all love.  So let me give you a few reasons to hope.  Then you can tell me why I'm wrong, and we can reason it out.  Like modern day, pad wearing Descartes!

Wade: I like this hiring.  No wait scratch that.  I love this hiring.  I think Wade Philips is exactly what our defense needs.  A tried and true coach who's spend years on the sidelines and knows his shit.  Our coordinator isn't learning along with the players anymore.  He's telling them what the fuck to do and I for one think it's going to help a lot.  I don't think it can be emphasized enough - we don't need an elite defense.  With our offense, we just need an average defense.  And with the talent we have on defense, I think Wade gets us to that level.

The AFC South Is Garbage: The Jags are at best stagnant.  The Titans have likely taken a step backward, in no small part because of what I consider absolutely atrocious coaching hires.  The Colts are getting older and will be trotting out an unproven LT to face OLB Mario.  Speaking of....

OLB Mario: Look at this picture.  Doesn't he look a little slimmer?  Leaner?  Meaner?  I don't know about you, but I am ecstatic about seeing Mario line up at OLB.  I think he's going to ruin lives, destroy dreams, crush LTs, murder QBs.  It's going to be a one-man wrecking crew of biblical destruction and he's lining up for your Houston Texans.

Our Offense Is Still Amazing: Matt Schaub.  Arian Foster.  Andre Johnson.  Not to mention Jacoby Jones, Owen Daniels, and Eric Winston.  Oh right and Ben Tate coming off the IR.  And James Casey.  Maybe even Vonta! (Just kidding!)  Need I say more?

That's just a few things for you guys to feel good about.  I didn't even touch on what I think was a stellar draft class nor a schedule that I think is actually not as bad as many say.

Will any of this come good?  I haven't the slightest clue!  Maybe it will, maybe it wont.  But this time - this 2011 - I refuse to accept defeat before we've even kicked off.  All the things that could go wrong?  They might.  But then again, it might all come up Milhouse.  Either way, I intend to enjoy the season.  As of writing this, your 2011 Houston Texans are undefeated.

That's the beauty of sports.  You can't lose until the game is actually played.  And sometimes - get this - sometimes you win!

"Winning isn't everything.  It's the only thing."

Dog days of summer got ya down?  Tired of reading inane tweets from Schefter and Mort?  Desperate for the sweet embrace of a Eugene WilsonTroy Polamalalaloo tackle?  I think I've got just the fix.

After a series of tense negotiating sessions involving Coors Light (really, Tim?) and chicken tenders, I am delighted to announce the BRB Madden Tournament.  Surprising to no one who frequents this blog, Brandon and the guys at the always excellent 360 Sports Lounge have stepped up and - with the help of Silver Eagle, the folks who provide this city with the sweet nectar of Bud Light - granted us a venue for digital gladiatorial combat.

Relevant information after the jump, friends.

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Backup point guard Goran Dragic, who was acquired for Aaron Brooks last season, had his option for next season picked up by the Rockets. This was reported on Monday afternoon, but was confirmed this morning by the Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

Dragic played in 22 games for Houston after the trade. He averaged 17.2 minutes, 7.7 points and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 51 percent on 54 three-point attempts. 

A few other Rockets-related things floating around Tuesday morning: Richard Justice profiles new head coach Kevin McHale, but somehow doesn't say anything particularly interesting about him. We do find out he turned down at least one head coaching job before deciding to take the Rockets and that he's got a bum ankle. Here's the extended version of the interview, thanks to Richie's blog.

Here's a ranking of the Southwest Division for next season (a little premature) that, predictably, has the Rockets picked last. Oh, and they get a shot in about Morey collecting a bunch of assets.

Rahat Huq over at Red94.net has a Q&A with Zach Harper of ESPN.com, who's also a big Timberwolves fan. They discuss all things McHale, but we still don't learn much, other than that Minny fans are still sorta bitter over McHale's time there. So, he coached twice, improving the team both times, but he doesn't deserve credit?

Finally, Red94 also breaks down the two main trades Houston made last season to see what Morey got. When you look at it like this, how can you not be impressed when Morey does his thing. That's a serious haul, even if part of it does contain Hasheem Thabeet's useless husk.

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The men’s side of the bracket can best be described as “business as usual.” Nadal and Federer are rolling along, Soderling continues his fine clay court form, and Djokovic has extended his 2011 winning streak to 41 matches. He may be seeded number two, but it’s clear Novak is the guy to beat. Should things continue on pace, things are set up for a tantalizing semi-final match between Roger Federer and MechaDjokovic. May god have mercy on Roland Garros.

Only Andy Murray finds himself in a bit of trouble, but considering he’s the male version of Wozniacki, no one should be surprised if (when) he bows out. Murray is in the midst of a storming come-back after falling behind two sets to zero against Serbian Davis Cup winner Viktor Troicki. With play suspended for the evening, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a resolution.

Looking for an outsider that might be able to sneak into the final? I like the cut of Gael Monfils jib. He’s shown flashes of talent over the last couple seasons, and as the last remaining Frenchman, the crowd is sure to get behind him. Lot of good tennis ahead as we move into the quarterfinals.

The women’s bracket presents an entirely different scene: one of chaos, devastation, and madness. The following names are out: Clijsters, Wozniacki (SHOCKING!), Zvonareva, and Stoser. And we haven’t even reached the quarters. Some might call things “wide open,” but I’ll be so bold as to call it “Sharapova’s to lose.” Maria’s quietly put together a solid tournament, and with her top rivals falling faster than 9.8 m/s (it’s possible!), she’s presented with a fantastic opportunity to prove her game is back on track.

Plenty of intriguing match-ups this week and it looks like we’re on course for an exciting finale in France!

Some of you may remember from last year our attempt to have a BRB Madden Tournament to determine the blog's representative at the SBN tournament.  It worked out better in theory than in practice.  Nevertheless, I remain undetterred and am attempting to put together another blog-wide tournament!  With that being said, I am soliciting entrants for the innaugural Battled Red Blog Madden Tournament.  Join me after the jump for the details (note: this is a work in progress, all terms and conditions subject to change at my whim.)

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After an extended lull following the Upside Down Open, the second major of the tennis season kicked off teed off started off this week at Roland Garros.  Thankfully, the French Open has picked up right where the Australian left things - Novak Djokovic is winning.  The twenty-four year old Serbian and current world number two is winning a lot.  Thirty-nine straight matches to start the 2011 season (but who's counting!?) after defeating Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-1, 3-2 (ret) in yesterday's second round action.  He faces an early test against 2009 US Open Winner Juan Del Patro in the next round, but considering his current form it'd be rather shocking if Djokovic fails to reach the second week.

Elsewhere, the usual suspects of Nadal, Murray and Federer roll on, with only Nadal facing adversity in his first round match against American John Isner, the marathon man from last year's Wimbledon.  With Andy Roddick absent (who surely would have lost within two rounds anyway) and the rest delivering typically disappointing clay court performances, American hopes at this point rest on Mardy Fish.  Which is to say there is no hope. Huzzah!

On the women's side, Italian Francesca Schiavone finds herself in the odd position of being both defending champion and underdog.  Her title defense got a bit of help today after number two seed Kim Clijsters delivered a horrid performance that ended her tournament early.  Coupled with the absence of the Williams sisters, that's good news for number one seed Caroline Wozniacki as she seeks to disprove the haters and win her first major (she wont).

A relatively upset-free first week should lead to a bevy of good match-ups next week so be sure to tune in.

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With the playoffs in full swing and Rocket’s management suffering a bit of a shake-up, now seems like the ideal time to turn our attention toward the 2011 NBA Lockout Draft!  And that means everyone’s favorite exercise in futility – mock drafts! As we still don’t know the draft order, we’re stuck speculating based on percentages and sheep entrails.  You’ll see this reflected in this weeks SB Nation mock, which has the Rockets taking Oakland center Samson Satele Keith Benson.

14. Rockets: Keith Benson, C
The No. 14 pick seems to be the right time to play mid-major darts.

Oh. Uh. Ok. Well he’s a center and we definitely need one of those. His senior year he averaged 17.9/10.1/3.6 (pt/reb/blk) a game, respectable numbers that made him the 21st most efficient player according to Hollinger. So there’s that. Unfortunately he’s no where to be found on Chad Ford’s top 20, nor on the wondiferous ESPN draftstravaganza machine (which still has us taking Faried). I vaguely recall him being touted as the most pro-ready player on a lively Oakland team that gave Texas a bit of a scare, but I don’t remember him being anything special.

Frankly he looks like Hasheem Thabeet on paper (13.6/10.8/4.2 for comparison), a player who is rumored to be a Houston Rocket.  And since Benson had the gall to stay in college and earn a degree, he’s only a year younger than Thabeet.  This pick stinks of “Houston needs a big man, hey this guy is big!” but this early in the process, that’s as good a guess as any.

I maintain that Morey has other plans in mind.  “These are not the picks you are looking for.”

It’s hard to pick a starting point for recapping today’s proceedings at Augusta. At one point, there were five players tied for the lead with four more one stroke behind. But when the dust settled, South African Charl Schwartzel reigned supreme after a brilliant round of 66. That’s just the primer for one of the most thrilling Sunday’s of a major in recent memory.

After playing 54 holes of composed and intelligent golf, Rory McIlroy delivered a round of golf that would make Dustin Johnson (great pick Evan!) proud. The lad from Northern Ireland started his round with a bogey, and it just got worse from there. The wheels came completely off the Rorywagon on hole 10, when he drove his tee shot between two cabins well off the fairway. This was the beginning of a Van de Velde-esque hole and after posting a day-worse 80, McIlroy finished tied for 15th.

Tiger Woods couldn’t keep the momentum going after his stellar front nine. The his charge really deflated when he missed a short eagle put on 15 that would have given him a one stroke lead. Still, Woods looked sharper than he has in some time and seemed to be enjoying his golf. The PGA has to be happy that it’s biggest ratings draw is rounding into form.

Brilliant shots, missed puts, shanked drives, and tossed clubs littered the course today. Jason Day, Luke Donald, Angel Cabrera, and Adam Scott all held a share of the lead at some point, and plenty of other names were in the mix. For a golf fan, it was a glorious day of action.

But when all was said and done, it was the unheralded man from South Africa wearing green. The twenty-six year old Schwartzel started his round with a chip-in on one and a brilliant iron shot on three for eagle. Then finished his round with four straight birdies to win the Masters.  Standing on the 18th green, he needed only two putt to win the Masters.  He birdied it instead.  It was that kind of day for him.

And with that a fantastic four days of golf comes to an end. If the other three majors are half as entertaining as this, we are in for a brilliant summer of golf. See you all at Congressional in June!

I said it was Rory’s to lose and he’s certainly doing his part, but some unknown player named Tiger Woods is making a Sunday funday run and it’s all kicked off at Augusta! McIlroy’s off to a shaky start, bogeying one and pulling off a stellar bunker shot to help save par at two.

Woods is at five under after eight holes, including a highlight reel second shot on eight that set up an eagle putt. Which he promptly sunk to bring himself within one of McIlroy. He finds himself in a spot of trouble on nine, but a blistering front nine has put Woods right in the mix.

He’s not the only one threatening the leader. South African Charl Schwartzel got off to a blinding start, chipping in for birdie at one and then hitting a magnificent iron on three that found the hole for an eagle. He briefly shared the lead at -11, but has since given one back.

Sunday at the Masters. Crack open a cold one!

ADDENDUM: And just as I’m about to post, Rory misses a short par put to drop another shot. It’s a three-way tie at -10, but Tiger has a long par putt on nine – which he makes! The Masters!

Rory McIlroy continues to play impressive and composed golf. Over 54 holes, he has three bogies, which is one less than his playing partner Jason Day had just today. Small wonder the lad from Northern Ireland sits comfortably atop the leader board at -12, four strokes ahead of his nearest competitor.

And who will Rory be playing with on Sunday? None other than the chain smoking gum chewing 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera. After shooting a day-best five under, Cabrera is at eight under and should at least give McIlroy something to think about tomorrow. Cabrera has two tour wins in the last five years – the aforementioned Masters, and the 2007 US Open. What he’s doing most of the year is anyone’s guess, but he certainly picks the right time to shine.

But while one former champion emerged, another struggled and ultimately faded. The troubles and inconsistencies that have plagued his game recently were on full display. Brilliant shots repeatedly saved him after erratic drives and he made more than a few laborious pars. At five under he’s by no means out of it, but it will take a vintage Tiger round to pull it off, something we haven’t seen in quite some time.

This is Rory’s to lose. Over the last three days, he’s demonstrated a maturity and composure that belies his age. Still, you don’t get the green jacket for playing 54 holes of good golf. Sunday at Augusta can be a treacherous experience – just ask Greg Norman.

Will a European emerge victories for the first time since Olazabal’s win in 1999? All will be revealed on Sunday.

There’s a scene in Howard Stern’s “Private Parts” where the radio executives talk about the average amount of time people listen to Stern on the radio. Long story short, those that hated the guy tended to listen for twice as long as Stern’s fans. Enter Tiger Woods.

People love to tear down the mighty, and Tiger has endured a rather toxic year and some change. But love him or hate him, when Tiger’s on the hunt, people watch golf. So you can bet your bottom dollar the big wigs at PGA HQ are dancing a happy little jig because Mr. Woods appears to have hit a bit of a hot streak.

After bogeying the seventh to return to even par, Woods rattled off seven birdies on the last eleven holes to take him to seven under and a share of third place with KJ Choi, three strokes behind the leader Rory McIlroy. For his part, the Irishman (take that Great Britain!) shot a respectable three under to push his lead to ten under.

Tiger’s run slightly overshadowed an exceptional round from Australian youngster Jason Day, who posted an eight under (no bogies) and sits two strokes behind Mr. McIlroy.

With the cut projected at +1, a few notable golfers will be packing their bags and heading home including 2010 US Open winner Graham McDowell and current world number one Martin Kaymer.

Oh and some guy named Fred Couples is hanging around at five under, good enough for seventh.

Can Tiger win his fifth green jacket or will one of the young pups earn their seat at the Champions Dinner? Check back tomorrow for more.

Day one of the Masters is in the books, and the youth movement is in full effect. After a storming first round, 21 year old Rory McIlroy shares the lead posting a seven under 65. The rest of the field might consider themselves lucky, as the lad from Northern Ireland missed a few make-able birdie putts on the back nine. He’s not alone at the top, however. Spaniard Alvaro Quiros played a magnificent round, accented by a birdie on 18 to grab a share of the lead.

Tiger Woods (-1) and Phil Mickelson (-2) had their share of ups and downs, with Lefty in particular spending a bit of time in the azaleas. Tiger looked more comfortable and relaxed than he has in some time, no doubt enjoying the familiar comforts of a course he’s had enormous success on.

Notable first round struggles included Dustin Johnson (2, great pick!), Vijay Singh (4), and Padraig Harrington (+5). Plenty of golf left to play, but if Rory and Alvaro turn in another day like today, we could be looking at a cut around even.

The greens caused more than a few problems today and the curses and prayers were heard in equal measure at Amen Corner. Assuming the weather holds, we’re in for a spectacular weekend of golf at Augusta National.

Do you hear that friends? The soft cooing of Jim Nantz. The wearing of boat shoes and polos. The screaming of "GET IN THE HOLE" off a par five drive. The donning of a green jacket.  It's Masters time!

The unofficial start of summer and the cornucopia of majors that comes with it tees off this weekend at Augusta National. Before letting Nantz - the former Houston Cougars golfer and Fred Couples roommate - guide you through the weekend, lets take a look at some stories to follow.

Can Lefty Repeat?  Mickelson returns to Augusta in search of his fourth green jacket in eight years, an astounding feat if he manages it. (Though three-in-seven is nothing to scoff at.) He picked up his first win since the 2010 Masters this past weekend at the Shell Houston Open, and from the look of it he's rounding into form at just the right time. Being the "favorite" in a golf tournament means absolutely nothing, but Lefty deserves the moniker going into this year's tournament.

Tiger On The Prowl:  It's easy to take shots at Woods.He slept with porn stars and now his career is in shambles and he's playing terrible golf!  While that may be true, I'd like to point something out to everyone. Last year in the midst of the cyclone of misery surrounding Woods, he finished tied for fourth at the Masters. Playing some of the worst golf of his career,Tiger Woods still managed a top five finish at Augusta. Write him off at your own peril.  Augusta is Tiger country.

Youth Movement: Just behind the established aristocracy of the tour sits a host of talented youngsters.  Dustin Johnson can rip it and had an excellent 2010 (outside of a certain Sunday at Pebble Beach). Anthony Kim possesses a well-rounded game and continues to tease with excellent showings. And Hunter Mahan is always dangerous.  Golf could use an infusion of youth and the good pub that would accompany a breakout winner. Can one of them finally make the leap to major winner?

The Pick:  Mickelson is the easy pick, but there's no fun in that. I gave Bubba Watson serious consideration, especially since he can bomb it on drives and is a joy to follow. But I believe in karma and like the chances of another big hitter. Dustin Johnson, I choo-choo-choose you!

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After last night's barn burner insomnia cure of a NCAA title game (still more legitimate than football!), we turn our full attention to the NBA.  Temporarily ignoring the fact that a lockout is practically guaranteed, the first set of mock drafts are beginning to trickle out and true to form they make no sense.  The problem with early mock drafts - especially when the season has yet to end - is that no one seems to know enough about each team to make logical picks.

Case in point: ESPN published their annual "someone in IT learned flash and OH LOOK PICTURES!" lotto machine-come-mock draft and SB Nation contributed a mock of their own.  Both have the Rockets taking Morehead State's Kenneth Faried.  ESPN describes him as follows:

Faried is the best rebounder in this class and has a motor that doesn't stop.  His offensive game is still a work-in-progress, but he finds ways to score.  His lack of size and strength hurt his stock, but Faried's the type of player that's stuck in the league of late.

Wait, did someone just copy and paste Chuck Hayes's scouting report?  You know what doesn't work over the course of a season?  Playing Hayes at the five.  You know what this pick doesn't address?  Playing Hayes at the five.

I realize this draft is both short on talent and short physically, but even a cursory glance at the Rockets roster should make it apparent we have no need for another power forward, particularly a less-developed Jordan Hill.  The Rockets biggest need is a center, of which there are no good ones this year.  (If this were Battle Red Blog, I'd scream about trading down.)

There are approximately 50 moving parts leading up to a draft pick, and with Daryl Morey involved more like 1,500 parts.  I haven't the slightest idea what the board will look like when we pick or even what our pick will be.  But I am confident that pick will not be Kenneth Faried.

I come here not to bury our Rockets, but to praise them. Playoff hopes remain on life support, but what a run this has been.  Kyle Lowry is playing like a man possessed, Patrick Patterson continues to impress, and the Chuck Wagon just keeps rolling along. Full credit as well to Memphis and New Orleans for upping their game when the Rockets started knocking on the door.

The rankings this week read like obituaries and it’s reflected by the Rocket’s position in the various polls. Which is to say, it’s practically the same as last week. It appears our friends doing rankings already have one eye on the playoffs. Take solace Rockets fans, in fantasyland, the Rockets are a playoff team!

SB Nation: 12 (11)

12. Houston Rockets (41-36, Prev: 11) — Houston’s playoff hopes are tied to an implosion from the Hornets, which is to say Houston’s playoff hopes are likely dead. But it’s been a helluva run for the Rockets, and if this is the final season for Rick Adelman, it’s been a helluva run for him.

ESPN: 13 (12)

They’re on pace to finish with a better record than three East playoff teams. They’re the NBA’s No. 4 team since the All-Star break at 15-5. And they’re on fumes, playoff-wise, because the West-less Hornets refuse to crumble.

Pro Basketball Talk: 12 (13)

They are 8-2 in their last 10 but just can’t get over the hump and into the playoffs out West. If this was the East, they’d be the six seed.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (10)

This gives the Rockets a respectable average of 11.75 but they stay number one in our hearts. What if…?

To borrow a phrase from English soccer commentators, it’s “squeaky bum” time for the Rockets in their quest to snag the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. Every game from here on out qualifies as “must win” and with a packed schedule this week, the playoff picture should be much clearer this time next week.

In practical terms, our rooting interests remain pro-Rocket but have shifted to an anti-Hornets stance. The Grizzlies just keep winning, and with a much more favorable schedule than New Orleans from here on out, our chances of slipping past them don’t look good. Here’s what on tap this week:

Houston Rockets

Tonight: Hawks at Rockets
I feel comfortable labeling Atlanta as overrated. That doesn’t make them less dangerous, but the set-up favors the Rockets. Our form is sparkling, the game is at home, and Atlanta is woeful against over .500 teams. If this squad is serious about the playoffs, there’s no margin for error.

Tuesday: Kings at Rockets
Our second game in three days pits us against a lively Kings team strengthened by the return of Tyreke Evans. Another winnable game so long as the Rockets stay focused. For those of an offensive persuasion, this should be a fun one.

Wednesday: Rockets at Hornets
Insert hyperbolic statement of choice here. If the Rockets make the playoffs, they certainly earned it. Our third game in four days – and the business end of a back-to-back – sees us traveling to New Orleans. Simply put, losing is not an option.

Saturday: Clippers at Rockets
The Blake Griffin Ducktacular Traveling Circus rounds out the Rockets week, and presents the third winnable home game. Not an ideal schedule, but all things considered a manageable week. Take care of business and we might find ourselves on the cusp of a playoff birth come Sunday.

New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets face Indiana, Houston, and Phoenix at home this week before an absolutely massive (for the Rockets) trip to Memphis next Sunday. Sans David West, the Pacers and Psycho T could cause some problems. Wednesday is self-explanatory, and the Friday match-up against the Suns should at least be interesting (so long as Phoenix still believes it has a chance). Sunday could decide the Rocket’s season.

Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis has an easy week with only the Clippers and Kings coming to town before Sunday’s home game against New Orleans. The Grizzlies have notched some big wins recently and are playing solid basketball without the injured Rudy Gay. Barring a serious meltdown, the Rockets aren’t catching this squad so come Sunday we’re all Grizzlies fans.

Everything to play for this week. See you all on the other side!

Hear the buzz around Redstone Golf Club?  Feel the excitement?  The Masters is only a week away, and a rather fortuitous position on the PGA calendar infuses this year's Shell Houston Open with a little extra oomph.  Current world number two Lee Westwood and the always-dangerous Phil Mickelson headline a packed roster of participants in the final warm-up before the trip to Augusta.  And without the added burden of the Tiger Woods Traveling Circus, this promises to be a lively tournament.

Players will be tackling the Tournament Course at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, which possesses one of the toughest three-hole finishes on the PGA tour. 

Rees Jones' Redstone GC Tournament Course is carved out of trees and wetlands, the result being a beefy 7,457-yard test that is especially tough on and around the greens

The marquee group for the first two days contains the aforementioned Westwood and Mickelson as well as tour schizophrenic and last year's SHO winner Anthony Kim.  Don't be surprised to see this year's victor emerge from this loaded group, but there are plenty of other names to keep an eye on.  Major winners Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington are in the mix, as well as last weekend's Arnold Palmer Invitational runner-up Steve Marino.  And of course never write off former University of Houston golfer and 2003 SHO winner Freddy Couples.

With Woods continuing to struggle, there's no truly dominant golfer on the circuit at the moment, and the absence of current world number one Martin Kaymer leaves the field wide open.  Getting on the greens in regulation will be key as scrambling from the rough is difficult at Redstone.  Though with challenging greens, once up there the players will find little quarter.

I like Steve Marino to continue his good form and finally breakthrough for a victory in 2011, with Westwood and Couples also in the top five.  Lets hope for an exciting send-off in Humble this weekend.  The Masters is right around the corner, golf fans!

The United Center in Chicago hosted the future of college basketball (and the NBA?) last night under the guise of the McDonald's All-American Game.  A glorified pick-up game does not serve as the best environment in which to make judgments about these players, but they displayed enough flashes of talent to splice together a decent teaser trailer for next season.

A frenetic pace lacking any semblance of defense should have favored the smaller guard-heavy West, particularly with the presence of the nation's top ranked recruit Duke-commit Austin Rivers.  Streaky shooting and turnovers plagued the West however, and the East used its size advantage to control the boards and batter the West inside.  Game co-MVPs James McAdoo (UNC) and Michael Gilchrist (Kentucky) were particularly dominant with 17 and 16 points respectively.

Top Longhorn's recruit Myck Kabongo and Oklahoma State signee LeBryan Nash were the lone Big 12 representatives.  They produced disparate showing, with Kabongo shining in his limited minutes.  Plenty of reasons for excitement, Texas fans.

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Did you know the Rockets used to play in the Eastern conference? It’s true. If this were the late 1970s, your Houston Rockets would be the sixth seed in the East and staring at a first round match-up against the Miami Heat.

Speaking of the Heat, they handed the Rockets only their fourth loss since the all-star break by the exact same score line as the match-up in Houston. Going one and one on the week and getting no help from the Grizzlies or Hornets (way to keep winning, guys), the power rankings rather accurately reflect the Rockets current predicament. Playing well but on the outside looking in.

SB Nation: 11 (10)

11. Houston Rockets (38-35, Prev: 10) — Houston faces long odds to get into the postseason despite having a better record than two East playoff teams and a better scoring margin than four East playoff teams (and, to be fair, two West playoff teams). It’s been an unlucky season on the court for an unlucky franchise: Houston has the point differential of a 41-32 team, but has lost more than half of its close games.

ESPN: 12 (12)

What does the league’s No. 3 record (12-4) since the All-Star break get you? In the Rockets’ case, it likely still leaves them needing an 8-1 finish and a Hornets fold after losing D-West just to get into the tournament.

Pro Basketball talk: 13 (13)

13. Rockets (38-35, LW #13). They are 7-3 in their last season and playing with a real push for the playoffs, but nobody in the west is coming back to them at all. They are 2.5 games back of Memphis, which has an easy schedule from here on out.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (10)

Sounds about right and the numbers back it up. Only a one-spot drop in the SB Nation rankings this week creates a sequential 13-12-11-10. An omen that things are lining up for your Rockets? Probably not, but the team holds strong with an average of 11.5. Not quite top ten, but everyone knows 11 is louder better than ten.

The Rockets find their playoff hopes alive and well after a late season surge, and the run of good form hasn’t gone unnoticed. A week of winning, accented by a thorough beat down of 1986 Finals nemesis the Boston Celtics, saw the Rockets make solid jumps in most rankings. This surge up the rankings helps the Rockets resume for an at-large bid has no meaningful impact on their season whatsoever, but hey it’s nice to read the encouraging words.

SB Nation: 10 (12)

10. Houston Rockets (37-34, Prev: 12) — The Rockets are tired, but given how well they’ve been playing, a one-game week might not be the respite the team wants. Kyle Lowry, in particular, has been incredible since the Rockets traded Aaron Brooks. In his last 10 games, Lowry is averaging 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds per game.

ESPN: 12 (15)

These are the days that longtime Rockets fans, remembering how their team actually used to play out of the East, see them stuck at No. 9 after winning 11 of 14 and must wonder what it would take to switch back.

Pro Basketball Talk: 13 (17)

13. Rockets (37-34, LW #17). They’ve won four in a row and moved into the ninth seed in the West, 1.5 games out of the playoffs. They are 7-3 in their last 10 ad have a legitimate chance of catching Memphis or anyone else that falters in the West.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (10)

A quick bit of number crunching shows the Rockets picking up a respectable 2.25 places, landing them with a 11.25 ranking. The team picked up places in the three wordiest rankings. Only Hollinger gave them no additional love. Thanks, numbers and math. With only two games this week, including a tough trip to Miami on Sunday, the Rockets will have limited chances to impress the voters.

Monday night marked the return of Aaron Brooks to the Toyota Center.  It turned out to be a homecoming Brooks will likely want to forget, losing out Homecoming Queen to Zabian Dowdell scoring an anemic two points on one of nine shooting and committing three turnovers in just 28 minutes of play.  This was not entirely out of place in a sloppy game the Rockets repeatedly tried to give away, but it can't have been the return he imagined.

His sole highlight consisted of tripping Chase Budinger after a comical Kevin Martin versus Jared Dudley jump-ball in the waning seconds of the game.  Budinger made one of two, extending the Rockets lead to two points, and eventually ensuring the win after Dudley missed a last-second three-point attempt.

The Rockets showed a brief but classy tribute video to Brooks during a timeout in the first half, and he received a warm round of applause from the crowd.  Still, the entire encounter had the chilly and uncomfortable air of a chance encounter with an ex-girlfriend, a sentiment seemingly echoed by Brooks after the game.

"That's out of the way," Brooks said. "I'm just glad these Houston games are over, and we can go about the season."

Indeed they are and so we shall.  Though they sit on the outside looking in at the eight seed, the Rockets continue to show more spark and fluidity (last night notwithstanding) than they have for much of the season.  How much of that can be directly attributed to the departure of Brooks is impossible to say, but his loss has not been the crippling blow some foresaw.  Lets consider this after the jump.

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