Olympic Boxer, Marlen Esparza, photo courtesy of Facebook Vogue

Houston Olympians to Keep an eye on in London (6)

With the Olympic Games underway, it’s time to pick your favorites. We’re all cheering for the big names — Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin, Natalie Coughlin — but lets put some hometown pride in our Olympic pom poms this year. Out of the 10,490 elite athletes headed to London, here are six from Houston (or with close Bayou City ties) who I’m going to cheer loudly for.

Olympic Boxer, Marlen Esparza, photo courtesy of Facebook Vogue

Olympic Boxer, Marlen Esparza, photo courtesy of Facebook Vogue

Marlen Esparza

This Pasadena native was the first American female boxer to qualify for the Games as women’s boxing makes its long awaited debut in London. At 5-feet-3-inches and weighing 112 pounds, this flyweight can pack a punch. Literally. In a sport not highly touted for its beauty, Esparza brings a new light to everything we once knew about boxing. As the new face for CoverGirl, her ambitions will take her well beyond the ring in London.

In a sport not highly touted for its beauty, Esparza brings a new light to everything we once knew about boxing.

Esparza’s top two goals both in and out of the ring are to make the first women’s Olympic boxing team (check) and to graduate college. She was student body president at Pasadena High School and graduated in the top 2 percent of her class.

Esparza, who came to love boxing thanks to her father’s love of the sport, is now trying to show the world she, too, can fight. In a Los Angeles Times article she admits, “I got into a lot of street fights. Once after school I beat a guy up. My big brother was always getting into fights. So I’d jump in and help him,” she said.

Even Vogue Magazine has tabbed Esparza “America’s best hope for the gold” in its July issue.

Esparza turns 23 today —just two days after the opening ceremony — and I can’t think of a better present than an Olympic gold medal, can you?

Twitter: @marlen112boxing

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Jonathan Horton

Veteran Gymnast, Jonathan Horton, photo courest of Ralph Lauren

Veteran Gymnast, Jonathan Horton, photo courest of Ralph Lauren

I had the opportunity to chat with Horton just days before heading to London and became an instant fan. This will be his second time heading to the Olympics; four years ago in Beijing he won a silver medal in the high bar routine as well as a team bronze medal.

When asked where his motivation comes from, Horton had a pretty standard answer: “From within. I set my goals and go after them,” he said. “I visualize being an Olympic champion — standing on the podium with my teammates and that’s what motivates me.”

Horton’s best event, the rings, is ironically his least favorite. “It takes a lot of strength and is a tough routine to get through,” he admitted.

Horton, who at 26 is six years older than the next oldest guy on the U.S. team, feels he’s much more mentally prepared this year compared to 2008. “Everyone knows how big the Olympics are. When I got off the plane in Beijing, it hit me — all the hype, the pressure. But this year I know what to expect. I feel I’m more prepared, a better gymnast and more technically sound,” he said.

“A lot of people are expecting me to retire [after these games], but I told my wife, as long as I can contribute to Team USA, I might as well stick around. After the London Games, I’ll reevaluate,” Horton said.

Twitter: @j_horton11

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Steven Lopez, photo courtesy of NBCLatino

Steven Lopez, photo courtesy of NBCLatino

Steven Lopez

Trying for his fourth medal, this Sugar Land native comes from a family of Olympic athletes, all in Taekwondo. His brother Mark, who won silver at Beijing, did not qualify this year, but his younger sister, Diana, did (see below).

According to USA Today, “Only South Korea and Taiwan have more Olympic Taekwondo medals than the Lopez family.”

In Beijing, the Lopezes became the first set of three siblings to compete on the same Olympic team in the same sport since 1904 and all three came away with medals. (Can you imagine the roughhousing that went on at the Lopez house? As an only child, I certainly cannot!)

Steven, who was included in People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, is the only member of the Lopez family to have won gold (doing so twice). He was 21 when Taekwondo made its Olympic debut in 2000 in Athens, where he took gold in the welterweight division. He has gold medals from the 2000 and 2004 Games and a bronze from 2008.

He heads to London looking for redemption after a controversial loss in Beijing. He was defeated after a bad call, which the World Taekwondo Federation later acknowledged as an “unintentional judgment error.” At  33, he is back and better than ever after putting in long hours to get not ready — physically and mentally.

Twitter: @stevenlopeztkd

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Diana Lopez, photo courtesy of NBCLatino

Diana Lopez, photo courtesy of NBCLatino

Diana Lopez

The youngest in the Lopez family, Diana has taken gold in the Taekwondo Junior Nationals for 10 years in a row and is looking to snag a gold medal at the London Games. When she won the gold at the World Championships in 2005, she made the Lopezes the first three siblings in any sport to win World Championship titles at the same event.

Diana claims in an espnW article that she followed her brothers into the ring so she wouldn’t be left out.

Currently in her last semester at the University of Houston, where she studies childhood education, the 28-year-old who goes by “DLo” has put her studies on hold until London is over. Here’s hoping she returns to classes with a gold medal around her neck.

Twitter: @dianalopez25

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Christina Loukas

Diver Christina Loukas, photo courtesy of xinhua

Diver Christina Loukas, photo courtesy of xinhua

In her first Olympics (Beijing 2008), Loukas finished ninth in 3-meter springboard and contemplated retiring after her subpar perfomance. Lucky for us, she thought better of it and is now off to London to try and earn a gold.

Currently a resident of The Woodlands, but originally from Chicago, Loukas, 26, will be competing in the 3-meter springboard. (She and her partner, Kassidy Cook, barely missed qualifying in synchronized diving by less than one point.)

Less than two years ago, Loukas decided to give diving another chance and is now headed to London with a refreshed attitude and a renewed spirit, happy and thankful to have another shot at the Olympic stage.

Twitter: @christinaloukas

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Jason Richardson makes his Olympic debut in London in track and field

Jason Richardson makes his Olympic debut in London in track and field

Jason Richardson

London marks this track and field star’s Olympic debut. Richardson, who was born in Houston and raised in Cedar Hill, has high hopes of snagging the gold in the mens 110m hurdles, where he is the reigning world champion in the event (he initially won silver but winner Cuba’s Dayron Robles was disqualified for impeding another hurdler).

In the Olympic trials semifinals in Eugene last month, he ran an impressive 12.98 seconds – becoming only the 13th man to break the 13-second barrier in the hurdles.

Richardson, 26, may have the best “what I want to do when I grow up” line as quoted on NBCOlympics.com saying, “I would like to amass wealth and prestige and invest well [enough] that I could sit up in the house and eat Skittles until I figure out what else moves me in life.”

Richardson, who studied sports entertainment management at the University of South Carolina, where he also, obviously, ran track, is eagerly awaiting his chance to show the world that his event may just be the best in all of track and field. A guy after my own heart, Richardson plans to handle the pressure with his “no-filter personality” and by making as many jokes as possible as he recently told a Vanity Fair reporter.

Twitter: @jairich

This article ran in the Dream’s Summer Olympics 2012 section in Culture Map.

The Blonde Side editor’s note: my apologies for missing Camille Adams, Houston native and Texas A&M sophomore who is also competing. If anyone has her contact info, I’d love to do a solo interview with her – email me jayme [at] theblondeside [dot] com

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Top 5 Reasons to Tune into London Olympics

In support of Team USA and all the elite athletes who have spent the better part of their lives training for this moment, I’ve compiled a list of reasons to support London 2012. Let us not forget the summer of 1980 where the U.S. boycotted the Games in Moscow for political reasons — there is never a guarantee of the next Olympic Games and certainly not a guarantee your favorite athletes will return. These athletes, not to mention our country, deserve our undivided attention and quite frankly a few chestbumps interwined.

Allyson Felix reps Team USA

1. Allyson Felix

The 26 year old eight-time-world-champion (six-time U.S. champion) sprinter from Los Angeles is headed to London and she’s probably the best reason to tune in to the Games. Not only did I get the chance to meet this elite athlete at SXSW this year (she declined my challenge for a nice jaunt through Austin, but all is forgiven), this woman of firsts is also the same inspiration on about a million pieces of Nike training and motivational running collateral.
She is the first woman ever to win national championships in the 100, 200, and 400 meters and is a gold (a member of U.S. women’s 4×400 team in Beijing in 2008) and silver (200 meters) Olympic medalist. Aside from all she’s accomplished in the past, her tenacity and training regime are second to none. Literally, none.
You may recall a bit of controversy from the trials held in Eugene in June. Jeneba Tarmoh crossed the finish line in the 100-meter race to see her name pop up on the scoreboard for 3rd place, securing what she thought was her spot in London. Shortly after, it was ruled a dead heat with her training partner, none other than Felix as they both crossed the line in exactly 11.068 seconds.
The two were set for a rematch on the track days later on prime time television to see which would be heading to London alongside Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison. Perhaps the most talked about race in all of track and field, it never happened as Tarmoh pulled out at the last minute and conceded to Felix.
While it may mean Felix had it in her heart more than Tarmoh, it does mean one thing for sure: Felix is working that much harder to prove to the world she deserves to be there. In a statement in a recent Huffington Post article, she said, “I wanted to earn my spot on this team and not have it conceded to me so I share in everyone’s disappointment that this runoff will not happen. All I can do now is turn my focus to London.”
I can assure you this focus of hers is something you’ll want to tune in to.
Follow her tweets (@allysonfelix) and send her notes of encouragement during the next few weeks- the lady is beast-mode busy and has one thing on her mind: GOLD.
2. Joe Buck will not be announcing
3. The Ryan Lochte vs. Michael Phelps matchup

Ryan Lochte, photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Ryan Lochte, photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren

In 2008, American swimmer Phelps dominated every newspaper, every blog, every bit of Olympic coverage and every woman’s dreams thanks to his all-star performance in Beijing with a record-setting eight gold medals. This is the same Phelps who holds 16 Olympic medals and more world records than any other swimmer, but this year eyes aren’t juston him, they’re split dead even.While it seems last time we saw Phelps on the grand stage in Beijing, there wasn’t anything the Speedo-laden beast could have done to better prepare himself – either mentally or physically. He was king of the pool, not to mention the world and there was no denying that. Lochte on the other hand, has since changed his diet, started lifting heavier weights and gotten his mind right – although great in his last two Olympic appearances, he had room for improvement, where it seems Phelps did not.

Both 27, both in impeccable shape, both starving for gold, but perhaps Locthe is a bit hungrier. Although Lochte has won six medals in his last two Olympic appearances (including a gold alongside teammate Phelps in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay), he hasn’t had nearly the notoriety as Phelps. As with all things in life, change may just be around the bend.

Michael Phelps, photo courtesy of KerimOkten

Michael Phelps, photo courtesy of KerimOkten

It’ll be interesting to see what this additional training and focus does in the water and how it’ll serve as stiff competition for Phelps. In last month’s Olympic trials in Omaha, Lochte actually beat out Phelps in the 400-meter individual race which prompted addtional debate over who will reign supreme in London waters. This will be Phelps fourth appearance on the Olympic stage and Locthe’s third.

It’s no question we’ll get to witness two of the world’s best swimmers competing in parallel lanes in the 200-meter freestyle and the 200 individual medley, where Phelps is the defending Olympic champion. Lochte is certainly no stranger to the events by winning both world titles this year. The two claim to be close friends, but come Games time, the two are competing to see which hardbody will be donned with gold as the fastest swimmer in the world. No matter which one of these amazing athletes wins, it’s a win for the USA and will be worth watching.

Follow both of these great athletes, teammates and competitors @ryanlocthe @michaelphelps.

4. Bryshon Nellum

Bryshon Nellum, photo courtesy of PRK PR Photos

Bryshon Nellum, photo courtesy of PRK PR Photos

We all love a feel good story, and this is the one. Almost four years ago, Nellum was shot three times in the leg after a Halloween party near the campus of the University of Southern California, where he was on the track and field team. Fearful he’d never walk again, it seemed any Olympic journey was out of question, but now, his dreams are coming true.
It took 44 months and three surgeries (his last one just last August), but now the most decorated high school sprinter in all of California just ran his personal best in the 400-meters (44.80 seconds) at the U.S. Trials in Eugene last month and is headed to London to chase his lifelong dream of not only making the Olympics, but coming home with a well-deserved medal around his neck.In a Los Angeles Times article, Nellum recalled his accident, “It’s crazy because I never did fall to the ground. I kept going, just to run to safety.”

Perhaps it was this need and persistence to keep moving that not only saved his life, but got him back on track, literally. The men who shot Nellum were tried for attempted murder and are now serving 15 years. When I asked Nellum via Twitter for a quote about his journey both past and present, he offered this: “When the odds are against you keep faith and never give up.”

You can follow Nellum’s inspirational journey on Twitter @bnellum1.

Missy Franklin, photos courtesy of Chris Schneider for The Wall Street Journal

Missy Franklin, photos courtesy of Chris Schneider for The Wall Street Journal

5. Missy Franklin

She’s 17. And she rocks a size 13 shoe. The young girl who just two months ago went to her junior prom is the same girl (woman) to become the first American woman to swim in seven events in a single Games (four individual events and three relays). Franklin set a new American 100-meter backstroke record in Omaha where she qualified for her spot on the U.S. Swim Team sending her to London.
Even with all that gold, silver and bronze hunkering him down, Michael Phelps calls Franklin “a stud” with her 76-inch wingspan, which is three inches longerthan she is tall (standing at 6-foot-1). She’s got a body built for swimming and an attitude built for anything she can possibly dream.Franklin has already won a total of seven medals in major international competition, three gold, three silver, and one bronze in the World Championships and the fresh-faced youngster is now setting her sites on Olympic gold. Having dual citizenship (in both Canada and the U.S.), Franklin was urged to represent Canada during the Games due to the depth and experience already on Team USA. But showing her true patriotism, she went for it and is now a proud representative for Team USA.

It’s hard not to root for a gal like this both in and out of the water. Franklin has come a long way having competed in the 2008 Team Trials at the age of 13 and not making the trip to Beijing to now being a world record holder. Her toughest competition, 11-times medal winner Natalie Coughlin also happens to be her lifelong role model where both have shown immense support for one other.

Both Coughlin and Franklin will be ones to watch in London, but if I had to keep my eyes on just one, it’d be Franklin all-the-way.

You can follow this amazing athlete and inspriation to us all on Twitter @franklinmissy.

Those are just my Top 5 reasons to tune into London, but it seems almost every Olympian has a story worth telling and certainly one worth watching. What’s your favorite story heading into the Games this year? Perhaps we’ll compile a Top 10 list before the end of it all.

This article ran in the London Dream’s Summer Olympics 2012 section in Culture Map.

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Jeremy Lin back in a Rockets uniform

Lin Star State

Jeremy Lin back in a Rockets uniform

Jeremy Lin back in a Rockets uniform

HOUSTON — Linsanity officially ended at 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

At that moment, point guard Jeremy Lin became a member of the Rockets, perhaps transforming Texas into the Lin Star State. Or maybe the 6-foot-3 Asian American phenomenon will inspire the era of Linergy, in homage to the self-styled Energy Capital of the World.

To read the full article on Linsanity in Houston (otherwise soon known as Lin Star State), visit ESPN Playbook.

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Shane Battier's Frivolous Dom Celebration via his Twitter

Battier’s ‘Frivolous’ Celebration

Shane Battier's Frivolous Dom Celebration via his Twitter

Battier's Frivolous Dom Celebration via his Twitter page

Shane Battier played 29,001 minutes in the NBA before reaching his first NBA Finals. He responded by being a serious perimeter threat for the Miami Heat, making 16 3-point shots over the five games, scoring in double digits in three of them.

Battier has completed the trophy trifecta, winning a high school state championship, an NCAA title at Duke and an NBA title. And he has been enjoying his victory lap, banging on pans in the Heat’s victory parade and throwing out the first pitch at a Marlins game.

To read my entire interview with Shane and the full article, visit ESPN Playbook.

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Sweat By Candlelight – DEFINErev

Co-owner Erin Stewart on a DEFINErev Bike

I’m a firm believer in dinner by candlelight. I’m also that girl who prefers the lights off during those special-between-the-sheets moments with my man. So working out with the lights off, yeah why not? I don’t want to be judged by the mass amount of boob sweat turning my pastel pink sports bra into a deep shade of magenta or my ugly “push it harder” beast mode face I’ve somehow perfected over the years. I want to work out, I want to sweat, I want to be pushed, I want the time to fly, and most of all I want to feel DEFINED.

DEFINErev is a full-body, rhythm-based indoor cycling class which incorporates isometrics, an exercise ball and hand weights (sadly, even my strong pushup arms can only handle 2lb weights) for 45minutes.

Henry “Hank” Richardson just opened his 4th location in West U (2518 Bissonnet) with blonde bombshell co-founder Erin Stewart. For the past month this place became my second home. The two, along with their lululemon-clad instructors and strategically digitized playlists have motivated me and made me sweat from places I didn’t know contained sweat glands like each and every blonde hair follicle. If at one time Hank was responsible for the all the curves and beauty of Julia Robert’s body, then surely I’d let him take mine over for a month and see what he could do.

Hank brought his raging workout idea back from a class he attended in NYC and after adding his own flair, decided to open up the exercise studios providing one of the first true “body and mind” workouts around Houston.

Founder and Co-Owner, Henry "Hank" Richardson

As someone who considers herself a truly hardcore college athlete, for the first time, I can admit that mind does play a huge role in meeting goals and pushing harder – whether in a fitness class or in the middle of a State Championship Final’s Game. When the spin instructors scream, “dig deeper” through their headsets with Ellie Goulding’s Lights blaring in the darkest moment of class (both literally and figuratively), the ability to dig deeper comes from the mind; not the legs and core I originally thought. Those muscles were exhausted and had long given out, but my head? Nope, that was ready to keep pushing through.

I asked Brian Vanas, one of the lone males in our nightly 5:15 REV class how this class compares to his typical workout. “It’s kind of funny but when I am there I feel like I am in a ‘cage’ and I can’t leave so I have to finish right to the end as opposed to when I am tired to just stop. I definitely burn more calories and sweat more in this class,” he said. His workout partner Jennifer Ban shares the same sweaty sentiments. “I think DEFINE classes push you more. The rooms are crowded and even though the instructors reiterate that your only competition is yourself, I can’t help but push myself a little harder when I see my neighbor doing more than me!” And it’s true – even though the room is virtually pitch black and the bikes are stationary, you still feel that sense of pride and competition and want to beat your neighbor both climbing up that hill and then again minutes later sprinting back down it.

The studio also offers a DEFINEbody class, which Hank refers to as their main class (REV is the cardio version and should supplement the body class). While cardio is usually my thing, I gave the body class a go – basically 45minutes making your legs do things they’ve never done (which for me, says a lot…) and hold onto a ballet bar while on your tippy-toes for virtually the entire class. I’m pretty sure my legs were shaking just like Anastasia’s did throughout the entire first Fifty Shades of Grey. Well, it worked for her and it seems to have worked for me, so we’re both happy girls.

Even Julia Roberts is a fan of DEFINE

I’m starting a fitness column where I partake in classes (both private and group settings) just like this one for at least 2+ weeks at a time. While these classes are putting my muscles to the test, I’m going to be putting them to the same test – was it worth it? Below is the scale I’ll be using to evaluate. This scale not only allows me to determine if this workout was worth it and beneficial for me, but it also gives you an inside look before heading in and checking it out yourself.

The Blonde Side’s Fitness Scale

Convenient (scale 1-10): 9 – with 4 locations and classes every few hours, it’s pretty convenient for the 9-5’er, the stay at home mom, or the freelance sports writer taking over Houston.

Price (scale $ – $$$$$): $$$$ (classes are pretty pricey, but there are deals for monthly memberships both based on number of times used or unlimited anywhere from $120 – $250/month)

Did boys notice a difference in my body (scale Y or N): YES

Did I notice a difference in my body (scale Y or N): YES

Would I consider a membership here? Unfortunately the classes/memberships are a little too rich for my freelance blood, but if I was in town more and had a bigger budget, I most definitely would.

You can follow them on Twitter @DEFINEbody & @DEFINErev and of course you can follow The Blonde Side on Twitter @jaymelamm

DefineBody.com | define@DEFINEbody.com | 713.526.1800 (West University Location)

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NBA Finals 2012 Preview

2012 NBA Finals: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

For the NBA season that-almost-wasn’t coming to a close, David Stern could not have scripted a better matchup than the two best players in the league meeting for only the third time this season; putting it all on the line for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy.

None of the writers from any of the multiple Real Housewives series could have strategically set up a better finale: three-time MVP LeBron Raymone James taking on three-time scoring champ Kevin Wayne Durant.

The Heat are the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions back for revenge and bloody eyebrows after having to start this NBA season on Christmas Day watching the Dallas Mavericks banner raising ceremony in that other American Airlines branded facility. If that does not hurt worse than a Chris Bosh ab injury, I don’t know what does.

But which team has the edge here?

Click to read the full article on Bleacher Report.

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Sky Combat Ace Interview

The Blonde Side Takes on Sky Combat Ace Check out Jayme Lamm from The Blonde Side as she interviews Stroke (Pilot and Director of Operations) at Sky Combat Ace last month during her photoshoot in Las Vegas. Questions you won’t hear many people ask: Was I lame? Do you have to change your underwear?

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MLB Female Fan Series on Yardbarker

Jayme Lamm of The Blonde Side, Texas Rangers fan (photo courtesy of Vanderford Photography)

Jayme Lamm of The Blonde Side, Texas Rangers fan (Vanderford Photography)

The lovely and talented Blythe Brumleve of GuysGirl interviewed The Blonde Side as part of her MLB Female Fan Series talking about Jayme’s love and foundation for the Texas Rangers.

How long have you been a baseball fan?

Um, does forever count?

Where did your initial love for baseball come from?

When I was little, every time I got in trouble (which was a lot) my dad forced me to sit on the couch and watch sports – Nascar and golf were the worst, but thanks to my grandpa explaining the game of baseball to me, I came to know and love the sport early on.

What is single most thing you look forward to while at a baseball game?

The end of the game when the Rangers win

To read the full interview on Yardbarker, click here.

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Another Failed Fitness Challenge. April: Pushups

The Blonde Side April Pushup Challenge (photo: Sunshine Winters)

Last month, in honor of Lent and trying to get back into better bikini body shape, I started a ridiculous monthly challenge. As you may or may not remember, I failed last month’s challenge by just one measly day. So it should come as no surprise whatsoever, that I once again failed.

Enter the month of April. Last month I ran at least 2 miles/day for 40 days (well 39 to be exact) and my legs were tired. I suffered a number of stress fractures, pains in my knees, legs, and feet that I’ve never before felt, but I did have an amazing ass. So it worked. And it gave me motivation to work out even on those days I didn’t feel so motivated.

For April I was going to devote myself to pushups. I already have pretty strong arms, but having had multiple shoulder surgeries and two complete replacements, my left arm wasn’t in the best shape. As a matter of fact, my left arm weaker than Lindsay Lohan’s vocal cords.

I vowed to do 50 pushups (or more) everyday in May. (There’s also this one hundred pushups program you can try.)

Get ready to judge me, once you see how far I didn’t get (I tally all these in my iPhone notes):

April 1: 55

April 2: 60

April 3: 50

April 4: 50

April 5: 55 (Literally by this day, multiple people, both girls and guys, made comments on my fit arms. It was working!)

April 6: 50

April 7: 60

April 8: 55 (On this day I had 2 different guys tell me to stop with the pushups as my arms were “too big” for a girl.)

April 9: 52 (Random, I know)

April 10: 50

April 11: 60

April 12: 50

April 13: 55

April 15: 100 (notice I missed the 14th, so this was my way of making it up)

April 16: 32 (What’s that? not even to 50!? I. Am. A. Slackass.)

April 18: 55

April 19: 30

April 20: 50

April 21: 60

April 22: 55

And that marks the end of April. I know what you’re thinking: April has 30 days, why did you stop? I wish I had the answer to your question, but all I got is this: I’m lazy. And I need motivation. And I noticed that I barely ran this month because I burnt myself out so much last month.

I need a better plan of attack for these monthly fitness and workout goals. Any suggestions? Keep in mind with all my travel, I need something fairly low-maintenance (as gyms aren’t always an option at my hotels).

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Astros’ Music Man Cranks Out Hits

Astros' Music Man (Nunee Oakes) Cranks Out Hits

Let’s be clear: Minute Maid Park is not a good place to catch a first-class baseball game and hasn’t been for some time, dating back to ‘05 when the Astros won the National League championship. Coming off one of the worst seasons in Major League Baseball in which the Astros posted a franchise-worst 56-106 record, they aren’t providing much enjoyment.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t find a different form of entertainment under that retractable roof, thanks to a guy whose job it is to provide entertainment, even when the Stros are striking out left and right.

For the past 14 seasons, that job has belonged to Nunee Oakes, audio engineer (fancy words for a DJ, he says) for the Houston Astros. After logging 14 championship-less seasons, the music man has lasted almost a decade longer than any of the 18 managers in the team’s history. But Oakes does a lot more than play variations of Jay-Z between innings. He’s the guy who controls every bit of sound you hear inside the 1,263,240-square foot ballpark — from the video board (the first 1080i HD scoreboard in MLB) to the PA system to longtime broadcaster Milo Hamilton’s radio show. He does it all.

While the team sporting the uniforms hasn’t been above .500 since 2008, the team “behind the glass” above left field (which is comprised of three other full-time employees and 50 game-day employees) has been honored numerous times, including winning the Best Overall Display Award (known as the “Best Show in Baseball”) for five straight years.

The team tries to instill a balance of Latino, country, hip-hop, top 40 and classic rock music for its fans.

Oakes works in tandem with Kirby Kander, senior director of creative services, doing everything from scripting music, picking player intro music (not all the guys pick their songs anymore), planning features/inning breaks and troubleshooting potential problems.

To read the full article, visit ESPN Playbook.

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FREELANCE + SPORTS + TRAVEL + FITNESS
COPYRIGHT 2019, THE BLONDE SIDE
CREATED BY JAYME LAMM