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This column is dedicated to acknowledging examples of positives that express the community spirit of Columbus — our town.
Winning seasons — whether it’s the Cardinals or the Texans — bring magic to communities. Houston has just witnessed a revitalization in its sports history. One day a team may be struggling and the next day they may be the darlings of the press. It was such fun to see a rookie coach and a rookie quarterback transform a team into “stars.” The two Texans were leading a rather sub-par team and then magically transformed it into a winner. Suddenly, fans couldn’t wait to see their next game. Surely you were part of the anticipation. It was such a treat to see them win. There was always some remarkable play that thrilled us all.
The Houston television stations made the most of the situation. The seats at Reliant were filled and there were plenty of dreamers who began to talk about the Texans in the Superbowl. I heard people who said, “they had known it all the time.” Others added that the coach and quarterback were destined for fame. I even heard people say, “that the team was being led by God.” They of course witnessed the quarterback and coach giving the credit to the Lord.
After all the “lean” years, it was remarkable to see all this happen. The vendors sold more food, the cheerleaders danced with more vigor, and the tailgaters shared more spirits with their neighbors. Even the gals at the beauty shop knew Stoud’s name and wished he had used more chap stick on his lips.
There must have been some “naysayers” … there always are. In fact, they kept rather quiet. Still, to this point, the negatives are few and far in between. The commentators still hang on to the Cinderella happenings and the expectations for the future are strong. Fairbairn, the kicker, isn’t a Justin Tucker, but next year is a whole new ball.
So, the Texans went to Baltimore. The living room audience bought more peanuts, pizza, and drinks. Certainly, DeMarco and his staff had memorized the Ravens’ plays and no doubt knew about the crowd noise. Those of us at home shared the disappointment of defeat. We will be ready for an ambitious start for next season – yes, for the Houston Texans and the Columbus Cardinals,
