From the summer of 1996 through the spring of 1997, I was a weekly columnist for the Daily Cougar, the campus newspaper of the University of Houston.
I wrote more columns than the ones linked here, but not all of them are currently accessible on UH's student publications archives. I'll add more columns if and when they become available.
Cultural apathy reigns in Houston - May 29, 1996 - My first column
Another Houston summer begins - June 7, 1996 - If you can survive the humid, mosquito-infested misery that is summertime in Houston, you can survive anything
Online or out of line, free speech has cost - June 17, 1996 - Free speech isn't free if you're the owner of a Major Leage Baseball franchise
The Allen Parkway Village controversy - June 24, 1996 - Allen Parkway Village was a public housing project just to the east of downtown Houston
Are the Astros really losing money? - July 1, 1996 - In the runup to a referendum on a new stadium, Astros owner Drayton McLane was claiming that his team was losing money and threatened to move the team to Virginia unless he and his millionaire players got a new taxpayer-funded playpen
Today's athletes are no heroes - July 22, 1996 - Seven years later, has anything changed?
Houston host the Olympics? - July 29, 1996 - Acknowledge my clairvoyance! Not only did I predict that Houston would never host the Olympics (Houston put a bid in for the 2012 games but was eliminated by the USOC in 2002), but I said that it would probably go to a city like New York (which was the USOC's choice for 2012). Houston also took a stab at hosting the 2016 games but was again rejected
NBC's Olympic coverage sucks - August 25, 1996 - One of my best articles
I'm bursting with Cougar pride! - August 22, 1996 - Doing my part to spread some school spirit
The Astrodome drools; Robertson Stadium rules! - August 29, 1996 - Another bit of clairvoyance! I suggested that the Cougars abandon the Astrodome and play their home football games at Robertson Stadium. In 1998, UH moved to Robertson Stadium full-time
Cleveland, Texas - September 5, 1996 - I always wondered why the freeway signs for US 59 north said "Cleveland" on them
AC failure makes for hot time in city - September 12, 1996 - Try living in Houston in the summer without air conditioning, and you will understand the true nature of Hell
New Astros stadium would revitalize downtown - September 19, 1996 - My argument in support of the new Astros stadium. There indeed has been some new development around Minute Maid Park since it opened in 2000
The concept of "urban federalism" in Houston - September 26, 1996 - I still support this idea, but I doubt it will ever happen in Houston; there are just too many petty politicians who fiercely guard their fiefdoms
Why US News & World Report's college rankings suck - October 3, 1996 - US News & World Report's annual college rankings are flawed and biased and should be ignored at all costs
I like to play the Ragin' Cajuns - October 10, 1996 - I used to annoy fellow UH fans by suggesting that UH and what was then USL be in the same conference. Now, with conference realignment threatening the makeup of C-USA, it might just happen
A dangerous new drug has entered our schools: Midol - October 17, 1996 - The "War on Drugs" has gotten out of hand, especially in our nation's schools
Thoughts on raising the minimum wage in Houston - October 24, 1996 - Why raising the minimum wage inside the city is not a good idea if wages remain the same outside the city
My choices for the 1996 election - October 31, 1996 - In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have written this one. A Natural Law party candidate? What was I thinking?
The fast food-gas station-bank - November 6, 1996 - They're all over the place now, but in 1996 they were still a novelty to me
Dr. Smith comes to town - November 13, 1996 - My advice to incoming UH President and Chancellor Dr. Authur Smith, who resigned in September 2003 after seven years on the job
Praise Helton! - November 20, 1996 - Of all the Daily Cougar columns that I now regret writing, I think I regret writing this one the most. I stupidly jumped on the Kim Helton bandwagon after the Cougars posted a 7-4 season and went to the Liberty Bowl. However, Helton followed up the 1996 season with back-to-back 3-8 seasons, clearly illustrating his incompetence as head coach. He was fired after the 1999 season; the Coogs went 7-4 again but didn't go bowling, as Helton promised
Thanks for all the memories - November 26, 1996 - This is my "goodbye and thank you" letter to the University of Houston. I'd keep writing for the Cougar in the spring as an alumnus
Downtown is on its way back - February 5, 1997 - This was written in response to an editorial that ran in the previous week's Cougar claiming that downtown revitalization was a lost cause
Ecuador: discos and democracy - February 12, 1997 - Ecuadorian president Abdala Bucaram,. who called himself "El Loco," had just been removed from office for "mental incapacity." Notice the note from Lori to me at the bottom of the article - Lori had the editor add it in for Valentine's Day
Houston needs rail - February 28, 1997 - More clairvoyance? With Bob Lanier the highway pimp leaving the mayor's office, I noted that Houston could once again discuss rail. In 2001, construction of a light rail line along Main Street would finally begin
The Pierce Elevated - March 5, 1997 - Why does it take TxDOT years to build Houston freeways when a section of I-45 through downtown was completely rebuilt in a matter of months?
Houston's "good ol' boy" network alive and well - March 11, 1997 - I think I was getting a little tired of Bob Lanier at this point
A developer's gift to the UH College of Architecture - April 2, 1997 - This was written in response to complaining among UH College of Architecture students regarding Gerald D. Hines's $7 million donation to the college
Remembering a friend, teacher, example - April 9, 1997 - Of all the columns I wrote, this one means the most to me
Pimpin' the CFL - April 16, 1997 - After the Oilers left town, I began following the Canadian Football League in anticipation of a possible expansion franchise coming to town. However, the CFL's experiment with United States franchises ended after the 1995 season
Frontier Fiesta - racist? - April 23, 1997 - Every year, the University of Houston holds Frontier Fiesta. And every year, some people complain that it's racist
A few random rumblings - April 30, 1997 - I end my Daily Cougar columns as I began them, with a bunch of random thoughts