Houston Sports Awards honors Astros, new Hall of Fame members – Houston Chronicle

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Houston Astros Jose Altuve makes his way down the red carpet for the Houston Sports Awards on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 in Houston.
Former NBA player and teammate Don Chaney helps Houston Sports Awards Hall of Fame inductee Elvin Hayes with his jacket during the Houston Sports Awards at the Wortham Center on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 in Houston.
After receiving white crested jackets as the newest members of the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, Calvin Murphy, Elvin Hayes and Bruce Matthews took a moment Wednesday night to remember the early times when things didn’t always go their way.
For Matthews, the Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman for the Oilers and Titans, it came in his first season, 1983, when despite a 41-38 overtime loss to the Packers, Archie Manning took the Oilers offensive line to dinner at a local steakhouse because they didn’t allow a sack.
“That was the only time it happened,” Matthews said, laughing as he recalled the difficult days of that 4-12 season, which was followed by a 3-13 finish in 1984.
For Murphy, the longtime Rockets player and broadcaster, it was an exhibition game in 1970, his rookie year with the San Diego Rockets, taking the court against the Los Angeles Lakers of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.
“It was too big for me,” he said. “The game started, and I was in awe of where I am and who I’m playing against. Star-struck.”
Hayes’ moment of reality came in his rookie year in San Diego, 1968, when the Rockets met up with Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, a year after leading the Houston Cougars to a landmark win in the Astrodome in college basketball’s “Game of the Century.”
“I went into the corner, and Bill Russell blocked my shot,” Hayes said, “After the game, he told me, ‘Little fella, one night is going to be my night, and one night is going to be your night.”
From that night forward, Hayes said, “I tried to make more of those nights mine than his.”
By midseason in 1968, Hayes was an All-Star. Murphy got over being star-struck soon enough to average 15.8 points as a rookie. Within a few seasons of those difficult start, Matthews began a string of 13 consecutive Pro Bowl seasons.
They may have battled at times with ego — Murphy was kicked off his high school team after two games, one of them a 44-point performance, because he refused to pass the ball to teammates — or insecurity — Matthews, asked about the best player he ever played against, answered, “Every guy on the other team. It was fear the whole time” — or other factors.
Each, however, persevered because, as Murphy said, “The one thing the three of us have in common is pride.”
While basketball and football players were honored as Hall of Famers, the bulk of Wednesday night’s awards show at the Wortham Center belonged to the Astros.
In previously announced awards, Astros owner Jim Crane was honored as executive of the year, second baseman Jose Altuve received a sportsmanship award, and former pitcher, manager and broadcaster Larry Dierker received a lifetime achievement award.
In awards announced Wednesday night, the Astros’ World Series win over the Phillies was recognized as top sports moment of the year, manager Dusty Baker was coach of the year and Yordan Alvarez athlete of the year in a category that included teammates Alex Bregman, Jeremy Pena and Justin Verlander.
Other honorees were University of Houston basketball player Marcus Sasser as college player of the year and inspiration award recipient Kari Miller-Ortiz, an Army veteran and two-time Paralympics silver medalist in women’s seated volleyball.
For all its emphasis on performance, the evening closed with a recognition of the increased role that mental health plays in sports and everyday life.
Entertainer Bun B and former Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus spoke during a segment that noted the death of former Texans president Jamey Rootes, who died last August after what his wife said was a battle with mental health issues.
The show ended with a rendition of the Bill Withers anthem “Lean on Me” sung by the NFL Players Choir, a group of former players who recently performed on the NBC show “America’s Got Talent.”
David Barron reported on sports media, college football and Olympic sports for the Houston Chronicle until his retirement in January 2021. He joined the Houston Chronicle in 1990 after stints at the Dallas bureau of United Press International (1984-90), the Waco Tribune-Herald (1978-84) and the Tyler Morning Telegraph (1975-78). He has been a contributor to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football since 1980, serving as high school editor from 1984 through 2000 and as Managing Editor from 1990 through 2004. A native of Tyler, he is a graduate of John Tyler High School, Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Austin.

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