A Conversation With Hilton
Part I
Today, I decided to try and do something about the lack of info from the Comets, and to let Hilton know some of the Comets hard core fans craved information. First and foremost on my mind were the issues of Janeth Arcain's #9 possibly being used by another player and my fear of the Comets turning into a dirty LA type of team.
Hilton graciously spent quite a bit of time with us today talking about the Comets. He was friendly, sincere and open, and he gave his OK to share the following information with the other online fans. He said there are many issues/concerns that he wants to get done, things that have to be done to meet important league requirements/deadlines, but time has been short, and we are still short of staff. Many things have had to be done on the fly since he became owner on 01/31/07.
He assured us the Comets would not be a dirty team. He also mentioned the league has strengthened the sanctions for unsportsmanlike play.
Concerns about Janeth's number have been addressed. At first, he said he would double check with Karleen when they get back from the scrimmages in Las Vegas. Later, he actually spoke with Karleen on the phone before they boarded the 1:30 flight to Las Vegas, and she said she had talked to Maiga Ba who would be fine with using #99 rather than Janeth's number.
The Comets have gotten more corporate sponsors, but, interestingly, some of the larger corporations can't even be approached because of conflict with Toyota Center building sponsors (e.g. no other hospitals because Memorial Hermann is a building sponsor; no other car dealerships because Toyota has its name on the building, etc.). Some of these corporations can contribute in other ways, such as advertising their sponsorship at non Toyota Center venues and functions/events.
We do have six billboards going up around Houston, a poster has already mentioned the one on Hwy 59 coming in from Sugar Land around Shepherd, and Hilton said he was pleased with it as he drove by. Some of the others will have a player (I think he mentioned Sheryl and Tina, maybe Michelle, one of Coach Thompson, and he said he was talked into having one Comets billboard of him and his family). Those will be nice to see.
He really seemed to like the idea of a blogger, someone reporting on team practices, etc., as well as perhaps a player blogging like Mistie Williams and Dawn Staley did last year. He will look into this when the team gets back from Vegas on Tuesday. As we know, there is also the new director of media communication for the Comets, Ms. Djacarda Richard, and she may be the one addressing this and getting back to us on it. He liked the idea of Djacarda having an e-mail address on the website for fans to send questions, suggestions and ideas, and to be responded to promptly. He said that the league is handling the Comets website.
The Houston Rockets have a group of fans called the Red Rowdies whose job is to be really loud at the games in their own section. Hilton is looking into this concept for the Comets. There will be a loudest, proudest, craziest fans contest, and they will be called the Comet Crazies. He says it is going to happen, and the tentative date for this is 05/15/07. About 50 seats in the upper arena will be given to the Comet Crazies.
Hilton asked that anyone with ideas, and specifically connections, for a pep band they could put together to please get in touch with the Comets.
Hilton is also asking for suggestions/ideas from anyone that knows the functions of the section leaders and would be willing to share how that operated in past seasons. Volunteers are encouraged. :-)
There are Team NRG dance auditions on Saturday, 05/05/07, at the 24 Hour Fitness Gulf Freeway. Registration starts at noon, bring current photo and picture ID, $10 registration fee, free 2 week pass for every participant. The words "Funk" and "Hip hop", are written on the pamphlet. Had I noticed that, I would have asked him what about some fifties music. :) He mentioned a lady named Erica Davis (former cheerleader with I think Texans and Rockets) as the consultant for the tryouts.
The Comets are looking into having a "Van Day" sometime during the season.
Regarding the preseason game of 05/15/07 that was to be held at TSU, that became a closed scrimmage at Delmar: This had been in the works before Hilton became the owner but had not been finalized. It wasn't able to be worked out with TSU. There were talks of Univ. of Houston but that also didn't work out. There was no facility for the preseason game. Since the Comets and HISD have a new partnership, Delmar (Hwy. 290 and 610 loop) was chosen as the site. A large number of HISD students are being invited to attend. He also said the decision for Delmar gave them a couple of more weeks to prepare for the first home game from a business perspective.
Hilton is working on an open practice for all fans as in previous years. The Comets have been having practices at U of H, as well as Toyota Center when the Rockets aren't there.
Hilton wanted us to get the message out there that the Comets games are affordable family fun. The Comets are Houston's team, and that he feels fortunate to be involved in keeping the team here. He said, "We need everyone's input to maximize the excitement of the experience."
Part II
Okay, a little player news straight from Hilton. :D
We have an owner that has actually been going to practices! As I said previously, practice has been at UofH and Toyota Center.
Hilton is impressed with the entire coaching staff. He mentioned Karleen overseeing practice in the background and letting the assistants run the team, but she also steps in as needed.
Sheryl Swoopes: She is happy where she is and where we (Comets) are, she's excited about the new players. Jordan is at most practices and is good buddies with Hilton and Baby Hilton (who is 5 years old now). He said Jordan has very good basketball skills, and he is hoping Baby Hilton learns from him.
Dee Davis has been outstanding, quick, handles the ball well.
Kristen Newlin has been impressive pushing through the intense training, lots of running. He brought Kristen up himself so he was impressed for a tall post player to run that well is what it sounded like.
What he has seen of Ashley Shields has impressed him as well. He mentioned her quickness, steals and shooting ability. He also mentioned seeing her nearly "break another player's ankles" with a crossover dribble.
The Comets look to be fast paced offense, focused on defense, and the team chemistry is better. The players' professionalism and sportsmanlike conduct has been excellent in practice.
Finally, he said the league is hoping for 2 more teams in the next 2-3 years, and Atlanta and Denver are being mentioned alot.
Today, I decided to try and do something about the lack of info from the Comets, and to let Hilton know some of the Comets hard core fans craved information. First and foremost on my mind were the issues of Janeth Arcain's #9 possibly being used by another player and my fear of the Comets turning into a dirty LA type of team.
Hilton graciously spent quite a bit of time with us today talking about the Comets. He was friendly, sincere and open, and he gave his OK to share the following information with the other online fans. He said there are many issues/concerns that he wants to get done, things that have to be done to meet important league requirements/deadlines, but time has been short, and we are still short of staff. Many things have had to be done on the fly since he became owner on 01/31/07.
He assured us the Comets would not be a dirty team. He also mentioned the league has strengthened the sanctions for unsportsmanlike play.
Concerns about Janeth's number have been addressed. At first, he said he would double check with Karleen when they get back from the scrimmages in Las Vegas. Later, he actually spoke with Karleen on the phone before they boarded the 1:30 flight to Las Vegas, and she said she had talked to Maiga Ba who would be fine with using #99 rather than Janeth's number.
The Comets have gotten more corporate sponsors, but, interestingly, some of the larger corporations can't even be approached because of conflict with Toyota Center building sponsors (e.g. no other hospitals because Memorial Hermann is a building sponsor; no other car dealerships because Toyota has its name on the building, etc.). Some of these corporations can contribute in other ways, such as advertising their sponsorship at non Toyota Center venues and functions/events.
We do have six billboards going up around Houston, a poster has already mentioned the one on Hwy 59 coming in from Sugar Land around Shepherd, and Hilton said he was pleased with it as he drove by. Some of the others will have a player (I think he mentioned Sheryl and Tina, maybe Michelle, one of Coach Thompson, and he said he was talked into having one Comets billboard of him and his family). Those will be nice to see.
He really seemed to like the idea of a blogger, someone reporting on team practices, etc., as well as perhaps a player blogging like Mistie Williams and Dawn Staley did last year. He will look into this when the team gets back from Vegas on Tuesday. As we know, there is also the new director of media communication for the Comets, Ms. Djacarda Richard, and she may be the one addressing this and getting back to us on it. He liked the idea of Djacarda having an e-mail address on the website for fans to send questions, suggestions and ideas, and to be responded to promptly. He said that the league is handling the Comets website.
The Houston Rockets have a group of fans called the Red Rowdies whose job is to be really loud at the games in their own section. Hilton is looking into this concept for the Comets. There will be a loudest, proudest, craziest fans contest, and they will be called the Comet Crazies. He says it is going to happen, and the tentative date for this is 05/15/07. About 50 seats in the upper arena will be given to the Comet Crazies.
Hilton asked that anyone with ideas, and specifically connections, for a pep band they could put together to please get in touch with the Comets.
Hilton is also asking for suggestions/ideas from anyone that knows the functions of the section leaders and would be willing to share how that operated in past seasons. Volunteers are encouraged. :-)
There are Team NRG dance auditions on Saturday, 05/05/07, at the 24 Hour Fitness Gulf Freeway. Registration starts at noon, bring current photo and picture ID, $10 registration fee, free 2 week pass for every participant. The words "Funk" and "Hip hop", are written on the pamphlet. Had I noticed that, I would have asked him what about some fifties music. :) He mentioned a lady named Erica Davis (former cheerleader with I think Texans and Rockets) as the consultant for the tryouts.
The Comets are looking into having a "Van Day" sometime during the season.
Regarding the preseason game of 05/15/07 that was to be held at TSU, that became a closed scrimmage at Delmar: This had been in the works before Hilton became the owner but had not been finalized. It wasn't able to be worked out with TSU. There were talks of Univ. of Houston but that also didn't work out. There was no facility for the preseason game. Since the Comets and HISD have a new partnership, Delmar (Hwy. 290 and 610 loop) was chosen as the site. A large number of HISD students are being invited to attend. He also said the decision for Delmar gave them a couple of more weeks to prepare for the first home game from a business perspective.
Hilton is working on an open practice for all fans as in previous years. The Comets have been having practices at U of H, as well as Toyota Center when the Rockets aren't there.
Hilton wanted us to get the message out there that the Comets games are affordable family fun. The Comets are Houston's team, and that he feels fortunate to be involved in keeping the team here. He said, "We need everyone's input to maximize the excitement of the experience."
Part II
Okay, a little player news straight from Hilton. :D
We have an owner that has actually been going to practices! As I said previously, practice has been at UofH and Toyota Center.
Hilton is impressed with the entire coaching staff. He mentioned Karleen overseeing practice in the background and letting the assistants run the team, but she also steps in as needed.
Sheryl Swoopes: She is happy where she is and where we (Comets) are, she's excited about the new players. Jordan is at most practices and is good buddies with Hilton and Baby Hilton (who is 5 years old now). He said Jordan has very good basketball skills, and he is hoping Baby Hilton learns from him.
Dee Davis has been outstanding, quick, handles the ball well.
Kristen Newlin has been impressive pushing through the intense training, lots of running. He brought Kristen up himself so he was impressed for a tall post player to run that well is what it sounded like.
What he has seen of Ashley Shields has impressed him as well. He mentioned her quickness, steals and shooting ability. He also mentioned seeing her nearly "break another player's ankles" with a crossover dribble.
The Comets look to be fast paced offense, focused on defense, and the team chemistry is better. The players' professionalism and sportsmanlike conduct has been excellent in practice.
Finally, he said the league is hoping for 2 more teams in the next 2-3 years, and Atlanta and Denver are being mentioned alot.
posted by Coopsback @ 9:28 PM
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