Home Care In Houston, TX

HOUSTON, Texas -- J.J. Watt is keeping the door slightly ajar on a possible NFL return if the Houston Texans need him, but this is the final year he'll say that.

Watt, who retired after the 2022 season, made his comments Saturday as he hosted his annual charity softball game in Houston.

"I'm a very fortunate, lucky man, I have a beautiful wife, and I have a beautiful son. I've had 12 great years in this league and I'm very thankful to have walked away healthy and playing great," he told reporters. "I told DeMeco Ryans last year: 'Don't call unless you absolutely need it, but if you ever do call, I'll be there.' And he knows not to call unless he absolutely needs it. This is the last year I'll tell him that, because I'm not going to keep training the way I've been training."

Watt, 35, and Ryans played together for the Texans in 2011, which was Watt's first NFL season and Ryans' last with the Texans. Ryans was hired as the Texans' coach last year and led Houston (10-7) to the AFC South division title and a wild-card victory over the Cleveland Browns.

"He knows if he truly does need it, I'll be there for him," Watt said. "But I don't anticipate that happening because they have a very good crew. I hope that everybody stays extremely healthy, and they dominate, and they don't need any bodies, and I just get to watch and enjoy it from the couch."

Ryans was asked about Watt's comments on Monday from the Texans' charity golf classic.

"I love to hear J.J. saying he's ready. I've got his number ready to go just in case we need him," Ryans told reporters.

Asked in what circumstances he would make that call to Watt, Ryans said with a laugh, "I need him now. I need to make that call right now. Anytime J.J. Watt's ready to go, I'm ready to go."

The Texans reinforced their pass-rushing group this offseason by signing Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry. They also have Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in last year's draft, who had seven sacks in his rookie season.

Watt won a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and three Defensive Player of the Year awards in 10 seasons with the Texans. He finished his career with 114.5 sacks.

Watt is an NFL analyst for CBS Sports. He and his wife, Kealia, also became minority owners of English soccer club Burnley FC last year.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- "Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?"

Laurence Fishburne's character, Morpheus, in the 1999 blockbuster, "The Matrix," asks Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, some important questions, ones that we might even be asking ourselves as artificial intelligence, or AI, seeps further into our everyday lives.

And while the concerns with AI are very real and being explored, we're not living in a science fiction movie - yet.

In fact, true AI is still decades away, but what many are working with now is a type of AI called machine learning.

"It's very difficult to take humans out of the picture," said Dr. Birol Dindoruk, distinguished professor of petroleum and chemical engineering at the University of Houston.

That picture Dindoruk is referring to is oil and gas, one of the many industries where AI is assisting people, as they make critical decisions, and in some cases, to avoid catastrophes.

"We're building the applications that are, you know, monitoring every device on every offshore oil rig in real time so that they can see with 18 hours in advance before something fails and just shut it down," said Tom Siebel, CEO of C3.ai.

Siebel told ABC13 oil and gas was actually one of the industries that adopted AI early, with Shell's exploration of its use dating back to 2016.

Siebel's C3.ai is a cooperative effort that allows oil and gas companies to share AI technology and applications with each other. So rather than withhold the information from competitors, the goal is to collaborate.

As Dindoruk and Siebel explain, AI is at work in oil and gas, diagnosing issues and assisting with maintenance.

One way Shell uses AI - to track their half a million valves all over the world.

"They can see what's going on. They can predict when a valve is going to be stuck open or closed before it happens, and if one of these valves gets stuck open or closed, things go real bad, real fast, right? And so, they've decided to make these applications available to Aramco, Eni, Chevron, Phillips," Siebel said.

Chevron's chief information officer Bill Braun told ABC13's Tom Abrahams on his show "This Week in Texas" last summer that they're using robots to do tank inspections.

"It's one of the more hazardous parts of our business to put a human into a confined space that might hold hydrocarbons or other dangerous substances," Braun said.

But what happens to that human's job?

That person could now be the one controlling the robot, but there's still concern jobs would go away entirely, though Braun said he sees that being the extreme.

"We think of it as all jobs will be affected by AI in some way, and the vast majority are going to be just improvements in terms of the productivity, and hopefully, reducing some of the things that are least enjoyable in their work," Braun said. "Some jobs will inevitably go away and some will be created, but I think the small set will be on those extremes."

"I'm hopeful someone gets 20% of their productivity back," he added.

And in oil and gas, Dindoruk sees AI increasing efficiencies - if it's used correctly and with checks and balances.

"In fact, the expectations are, in terms of returns, quite high, worldwide could be trillions of dollars, the savings and what we get out of it," Dindoruk said.

Trillion indicates a lot of zeros, but apparently not too far off when it comes to what Houston, already designated the energy capital of the world, could contribute.

A recent report predicts the value of AI in the oil and gas sector will rise to nearly $6 billion by 2028, with Houston being a hub for innovation in the development of AI in the industry.

"There's over 80 startups dealing with energy, energy transition, clean technology that are right here in Houston, and so, how Houston will continue to apply things like AI into the energy transition we think is a really important part of how it's going to show up as well," Braun said last summer.

"People don't realize how much innovation happens here," he added.

The February 2024 report identified some of the trends driving the explosion of AI in oil and gas: stepped-up use of data, higher demand for energy efficiency and sustainability, automation of repetitive tasks, optimization of exploration and drilling and enhancement of safety.

If anything, Dindoruk says, AI is another tool to have in your toolbox.

"AI can help us to extract that information sometimes we don't see as humans because we have certain bandwidth. We have to sleep at the end of the day, but (a) machine doesn't have to sleep," he said. "While we are sleeping, it can sift things extremely fast, faster than us. Those are all advantages. AI will learn."

And so must we, at least when it comes to asking the right questions.

"Learning how to ask the question properly, which is what's called prompt engineering, I think that is the skill that people really need," Siebel said. "You don't need to be a data scientist. You don't need to understand deep learning. You don't need reinforcement learning."

Siebel says it also helps to understand generative AI. Google describes generative AI as the "use of AI to create new content, like text, images, music, audio, and videos."

"And what that enables us to do is make these applications accessible to tens of thousands of people in these oil and gas companies without them having to know what machine learning models do, how deep learning works or what AI does, but it gives them the right answers so they can deliver the right job," Siebel told ABC13. "It tells them when there's going to be a device failure on an offshore rig, so they could pull the plug on the oil rig and avoid environmental hazard. So I think that it's difficult to overestimate the importance of generative AI."

According to Dindoruk, AI in the oil and gas industry is unavoidable. And for those looking to better understand it, he says awareness is a start.

"Not everybody is going to be an expert on it, but being aware of it will lead to being able to ask the right question," Dindoruk said. "So if you can ask the right question, at least we can get an answer."

The Rockets go into Sunday's draft lottery with the Brooklyn Nets first-round pick and a chance to keep their own pick. A look at the potential Rockets draft positions.

Have two first-round picks

It’s not likely, but they have the Brooklyn Nets pick, the ninth selection going into the lottery, and would keep their own pick if it moves up from 12th to the top four. There is a 20.3% chance of moving up to the top four in the lottery. If the Rockets keep their own pick, the pick they owe the Thunder for this season would convert to a future second-rounder.

Have just one first-round pick

If the Rockets’ pick does not move up, and it can only move to the top four if it moves up at all, the pick would go to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the trade to acquire Russell Westbrook.

Move up with the Nets’ pick

The Rockets go into the lottery with long odds to move up. There is a 4.5 % chance of the Nets pick becoming the first pick of the draft, a 4.8 % chance of it being second, a 5.2 % chance of it being third and a 5.7 % chance of it being fourth.

Move back with the Nets pick

There is a 50.7% chance of the Nets pick remaining at No. 9. There is a 20.9% chance of it falling to 10th, a 3% chance of falling to 11th and a .1 % chance of being 12th.

Move up with their own pick

The Rockets have a 1.5% chance of their pick moving up to the top spot, a 1.7% chance of being second, a 1.9% chance of being third and a 2.1% chance of being fourth.

Rockets' odds

Who else is in the lottery?

1. Detroit (14% chance for top pick) 2. Washington (14%) 3. Charlotte (13.3%) 4. Portland (13.2%) 5. San Antonio (10.5%) 6. Toronto-a (9.0%) 7. Memphis (7.5%)| 8. Utah-b (6.0%) 9. Brooklyn (to Houston) (4.5%) 10. Atlanta (3.0%) 11. Chicago (2.0%) 12. Houston-c (1.5%) 13. Sacramento (0.8%) 14. Golden State-d (0.7%) a-pick may be conveyed to San Antonio b-pick may be conveyed to Oklahoma City c-pick may be conveyed to Oklahoma City if not in top four d-pick may be conveyed to Portland

May 6, 2024

Houston Rockets Beat Reporter

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He can be reached at [email protected].

Feigen became a sports writer because the reporter who was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was sports editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.

“These came out fast!” exclaimed our waiter at Via 313, the Austin-based Detroit-style pizzeria that opened recently on Interstate 10 in Memorial, next to Goode Company Seafood.

He had just deposited two rectangular pies on our table, their craggy browned cheese perimeters standing tall.

I had come to probe the mysteries of Detroit pizza after my confounding experiences at Gold Tooth Tony’s, where the brilliant toppings had been weighed down by sodden-in-the-middle crusts.

Did I just not like Detroit style? I wondered that, although I remembered enjoying a Detroit pie way back when Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana introduced their version of the style in 2016. Theirs was the first Detroit pie in what was then Houston’s rapidly changing pizza landscape.

Now Via 313 is one of at least a good half-dozen Houston pizzerias offering the style. My initial visit demonstrated that maybe Detroit pizza was for me, after all. I had always enjoyed the thick-crusted Roman and Sicilian styles, with their focaccia-like supports. And my first Via313 pie — the base-level Classic Cheese Pizza — was delightful stuff on the midafternoon when I tried it.

GUIDE: Houston's best pizza spots

The cheese edges crackled. The spongy interior was cooked through and springy enough to be relatively light on its feet. The tomato sauce was nicely tart and bright. The mozz stretched high and higher as I pulled apart the first of four slices.

I ate them all, all by myself. Then I returned a couple weeks later, with friends, to check my work.

Uh-oh. One bite into the Detroiter pizza and the waiter’s “these came out fast” started to seem more curse than compliment. The middle of the pie was so logged with moisture it had started to turn translucent, like a dough slick.

Pulled too early from the deck ovens, my companions and I agreed, even as we noted the interesting double-pepperoni action, in which thin slices of smoked pepperoni lurked under the cheese layer, and thicker, spicier cups of natural-casing pepperoni skittered across the top. The tomato sauce still shone. The cheese still stretched — two-and-a-half feet and counting when I pulled the first square.

But the experience was grievously undercut by the layer of underbaked crust. Our second pie — the Cadillac, a pleasant if dessert-like combo of prosciutto, Gorgonzola, Parmesan, fig preserves and squiggles of balsamic glaze — fared better in the crust department, being baked all the way through. In fact, even though I’m not a fan of the whole hot-honey-sweet-pizza trend, I couldn’t stop eating this pie.

My current theory, which I plan to test further, is that it’s baking time rather than the dough’s moisture content that makes the difference in Detroit-style crust.

We also tried Via313’s round, thin-crusted “bar-style” pizza, but I didn’t get it. The thinnish crust read more like regulation pie crust, despite its low rim of crisped cheese, and it split the difference between soft and crunchy in a way that was unpersuasive. The sausage was hot and fennel-shot; the bacon involved had snap; and I remembered all over again why I don’t like green pepper on my pizza.

Still, when the Detroit pies spend sufficient time in the oven here, they can be compelling. I wish I could say the same for the dismal wine-by-the-glass list, or the way-too-sweet arugula salad, for which I had hopes.

The service by a troupe of eager young people is notably jolly, though. That, and the prospect of a good Detroit-style pie when the stars align, are enough to merit a visit. At the end, a Hub Cap dessert of a soft-baked cookie with a scoop of ice cream on top may speak to your inner 4-year-old.

It did to mine.

Via 313, 10201 Katy Freeway, Suite 350, 346-501-4313. Lunch and dinner daily.

May 6, 2024

When/where: Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:05 p.m., Thursday at 4;05 p.m.; Yankee Stadium.

TV: SCHN all three games, TBS on Tuesday.

Radio: 790 AM, 93.3 FM (Spanish), 1010 AM (Spanish).

Pitchers: Tuesday, RHP Justin Verlander (1-0, 2.08) vs. RHP Luis Gil (2-1, 3.19); Wednesday, RHP Spencer Arrighetti (0-3, 8.27) vs. LHP Carlos Rodon (2-2, 3.68); Thursday, RHP Ronel Blanco (3-0, 2.09) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (2-1, 3.41).

Astros (12-22) update: Houston, which was swept by the Yankees in a four-game season-opening series at Minute Maid Park, escaped the American League West basement when the Angels (12-23) lost Monday night. The Astros stand seven games behind Texas. … Today marks the first of 29 games in a 30-day span for the Astros. … After failing to drive in a run over his first 16 games, Jonathan Singleton has three homers and eight RBIs in his last six. … Joey Loperfido hit .267 (4-for-15) with two RBIs in his first week in the big leagues. He's still looking for his first extra-base hit after earning his promotion with a minor league-best 13 home runs in 25 games for Class AAA Sugar Land. … Included in Alex Bregman's unsightly .202/.284/.269 slash line is a slugging percentage lower than his on-base percentage. … In his last four 150-game seasons, Bregman has averaged 99 walks, drawing a minimum of 87. He's on pace for 67 this year. … With 3,355 career strikeouts, Verlander is 12 shy of active leader Max Scherzer, whose latest rehab start for the Rangers was postponed because of thumb soreness. Verlander needs 16 strikeouts to catch Greg Maddux, whose 3,371 are 10th all-time.

Yankees (23-13) update: New York barely misses being the third consecutive first-place opponent for the Astros (after the Guardians and Mariners). The Yanks, who lost three of four at Baltimore last week before sweeping a three-game home set vs. Detroit, stand a game behind the Orioles in the AL East. … New York, which leads MLB in pitches per plate appearance, tops the AL in on-base percentage (.331) and walks (148). … On the pitching side, the Yankees' 2.99 ERA is No. 3 in the the majors. … Juan Soto's first season in pinstripes is going well. He's reached base in 32 of 36 games and sports a slash line of .316/.421/.559 with eight home runs. His 28 RBIs rank second in the AL. … Aaron Judge is hitting only .220 but has seven home runs and is tied with Soto for second in the majors with 26 walks. … In 21 career at-bats against Verlander, Judge is hitting .190 (4-for-21) with two solo home runs. … Clay Holmes has been the epitome of a lockdown closer. He shares the MLB lead with 11 saves, and his 16? innings are the most among major league pitchers who have yet to allow an earned run.

When I moved to Houston nearly two years ago, I learned there are two people you don’t talk bad about here.

Beyoncé, because she’s the Queen.

And J.J. Watt, who, as arguably the best player in Texans history, will more than likely be the franchise's second member inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Watt, who spent 10 seasons in Houston, was a five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was once named Walter Payton Man of the Year for his efforts in the Houston community in the wake Hurricane Harvey, made headlines Saturday when he revealed to reporters at his annual softball game in Sugar Land that he hasn’t quite closed the door on a return to the football field.

The 35-year-old CBS analyst, husband and dad has indicated he’s content no longer playing. But he also said he told Texans coach and former teammate DeMeco Ryans last year that if Ryans absolutely needed him to suit up, he’d be there for him.

Apparently, that offer stands in 2024. And on Monday, Ryans fanned the flames.

“I need him now,” the second-year coach said when I asked under “what realistic circumstance” he would call Watt. “I need to make that call right now. Any time J.J. Watt is ready to go, I’m ready to go.”

Ryans said it jokingly, but the fact he didn’t rule out the idea tells me it’s not totally out of the question Ryans would make that call if he deemed it absolutely necessary.

It might not happen today, but it could if the Texans lose a player and have the postseason on the line.

Watt said Saturday this is the last season his offer will be on the table.

“Because I’m not going to keep training the way I’ve been training,” said Watt, who has retained his muscular frame. “But he knows if he ever does truly need it, I’ll be there for him. But I don’t think that’ll happen. They’ve got a very good crew.”

Watt has been out of the NFL for only one season, which probably gave him a chance to rest his body. The last time he played — in 2022 — he amassed 12½ sacks in 16 games for the Cardinals.

If there were ever a time to use that “phone a friend” lifeline, the time is now. And I don’t feel crazy writing that.

With the addition of pieces like Joe Mixon, Danielle Hunter, and Stefon Diggs, the Texans, who lost in the divisional round of the playoffs last year, have a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl. Why not take a chance on maximizing that potential with another team leader who happens to be an all-time great?

Last year, I wrote that the Texans ought to hire Ryans when they were looking for their third head coach in three years. And it wasn’t only because he was a former Texans player, though that certainly was a plus.

If you asked anyone who went against the defenses he coordinated with the 49ers, they’d tell you how tough those units were. Ryans was the best coach on the market, and it became evident based on how he was able to turn the Texans around in one season. They finished 11-8 after going 3-13-1 the previous year.

Watt likely wouldn’t have the same impact, but the Texans could certainly use him. They need some help on the defensive line, particularly the interior.

Their edge rushers — from Hunter to Will Anderson Jr. to Denico Autry to Derek Barnett — look great on paper and will likely be a strength this season. But their interior lacks the same oomph and won't inspire fear in opponents.

I thought the Texans took a couple steps back at defensive tackle when Sheldon Rankins walked in free agency and Maliek Collins was traded. The projected starters now are Tim Settle Jr. and Foley Fatukasi. Settle had one sack and one tackle for loss in 17 games last season. Fatukasi had no sacks and three tackles for loss in 16 games.

Houston hoped to leave the NFL draft with one of the premier defensive tackles but was unable to secure one in the early rounds. Executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio later said there will be opportunities between now and September to add a defensive tackle if the Texans feel it’s necessary.

Again, how about Watt? He'd give the Texans another experienced player who was elite at rushing the passer as recently as two years ago.

And who was his defensive line coach during his final year at Arizona? Current Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke.

One potential roadblock could be that Watt has played in a 3-4 scheme the majority of his career, and Ryans runs a 4-3. Watt might have a tough time transitioning on first and second downs. Third down, when an obvious passing down, would likely be his forte.

But who's to say he couldn’t make the adjustment?

Imagine this for a minute with me: It’s the fourth quarter of a tight game. The Texans are on defense. They’ve forced third-and-long, and Hunter, Watt, Autry and Anderson all are rushing the passer.

That defensive line would scare anyone.

The potential positives outweigh the negatives. At worst, Watt doesn’t play many games but helps fill seats and is a locker room leader. At best, he’s a locker room leader who contributes significantly to a fearsome pass rush.

“I got his number ready to go, just in case we need it,” Ryans said with a laugh. “J.J. looks good. He’s in shape. He’s ready to roll. I may need to make that call, so I’m happy that it’s open from him.

“J.J. is an outstanding player. He’s been an outstanding player for a long time in this league.”

Some people don’t like sequels. I’m generally not a big fan of them, either. They don’t always play out satisfactorily.

But this one makes too much sense.

The Texans should make the call to Watt, the most beloved player in franchise history.