Robert Kleeman
Featured Columnist I

Robert Kleeman

  •  
     
    Generating profile stats...

About

I graduated from UT-Austin in 2008 and live to teach and inspire. I speak Spanish.

I also boast substantive newspaper reporting experience and consider this an important distinction when differentiating the parts that comprise "the media." I believe in what newspapers do--even when the content needs improvement--because a lesser-informed public spells the apocalypse.

Pick up your local newspaper and read the front page instead of first flipping to the sports or comics sections.

The Rockets' Clutch City years, the Bagwell/Biggio era and Nolan Ryan's retirement were childhood highlights.

Why do I fervently support the Rockets and Spurs, two teams in the same state and division?

Tim Duncan and David Robinson, that's why. Add Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, a host of unassuming role players, sans-pareil class and a winning commitment to the list.

Isn't it illegal to cheer for two division rivals? No, and please get lost if you think otherwise.

I find it humorous that pro basketball is the one sport where I cannot root for multiple franchises. If friends can follow the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans or the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, what makes my dual Spurs-Rockets fandom so outrageous?

So many sports loudmouths can switch from a heated discussion about Danica Patrick to one about LeBron James. Skimming major news in every sport is not my forte. I would rather be Charley Rosen than Skip Bayless, though I do appreciate Bayless' Spur fandom.

When posing a question, follow this rule: Don't ask me about the PGA Tour, the NFL, NASCAR, the Stanley Cup Finals, that great high school football game last night, the U.S. women's curling team or the guy who just set a new pole vaulting record.

Want my opinion on a player or team from the MLB or NBA, or a pro cyclist? Shoot.

I am the Rockets community leader and a featured columnist for the Spurs, Rockets and Astros.

Do not hesitate to e-mail me at rkleeman7@gmail.com.

Short List

  • Favorite Athletes

    Manu Ginobili. Beyond that there are too many to name. Ask me if you must know.

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Houston Astros

  • Favorite Coaches

    Matt Foley, Major Payne, Edwina Franklin...wait those are TV or movie characters. Oops.

  • All Time Sports Moment

    It's hard to top John Starks missing a three at the end of game six in the 1994 NBA Finals. If you're a Rockets fan.

  • Most Memorable Game Attended

    Three-way tie: Houston Rockets vs. Chicago Bulls in 1997 (a chance to see my childhood idols Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan square off), Spurs-Pistons game 7 in 2005 and Spurs-Mavericks game 7 in 2006.

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    No team will top the Red Auerbach-Bill Russell Celtics. What they did for more than a decade - eight in a row and 11 in all (two with Russell as coach) - is what every team in every sport dreams of doing. Those other teams, though, do have to deal with free agency and leagues with more than nine franchises.

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Tough choice. I wish I could travel back in time to watch "the Great Bambino" in action.

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Since we're not comparing the military deployment exercise with the U.S. state, I'll leave this one blank.

  • Jordan or Russell?

    Russell was the ultimate winner and a bruising defensive player, but since I saw Jordan own the 1990s, I give him a slight edge

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Gretzky by a mile.

  • Pele or Maradona?

    The would-be Argentine in me must go with Maradona...before he devolved into a drunk embarrassment to his country.

  • Federer or Sampras?

    Paper or plastic?

  • Tiger or Nicklaus?

    Tiger, but it's close. I am aware that he still needs five more majors to pass Nicklaus.

  • Petty or Earnhardt?

    I love Tom Petty. Oh wait, this is about NASCAR...

  • Schumacher or Senna?

    You smell.

  • ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC?

    The Big 10 has 12 teams and the Big 12 has 10 teams. I love that.

Bulletin Board

Crop_45x45
or to post this comment

  • Dan The Man posted 526 days ago

    Dan The Man

    I am in a fantasy basketball keeper league and I already grabbed Splitter, Rubio and Childress at the end of last year. I was also looking at Pekovic, Asik, Kleiza, and a few of the Europeans drafted in the first round for this year. Do you have any recommendations on players coming over from Europe this year? It is an extremely deep league.

  • Frank Gray posted 538 days ago

    Frank Gray

    Thanks for your work on the interview. I didn't see a link or anything around, but I still appreciate it.

  • Alex Sullivan posted 554 days ago

    Alex Sullivan

    Breaking news, trade involving NO, IND, HOU and NJ

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/433683-nba-trade-rumors-four-team-deal-close-to-completion?just_published=1

  • Rallo Tubbs posted 559 days ago

    Rallo Tubbs

    If Any1 Wants To Join My 12 Team 14 Roster Slot 1 IR No $ Keeper League IWill Need Your Facebook, If U have Aim and Email I will need 2 grade/scout your mock draft team aleast a B+ Roster Setup 1 QB 2 RB 2 WR1 TE D/ST 1 K 6 Bench Players NO FLEX PLAYER NO $ Dynasty ESPN League SCORING RULES QB: TD 6 25 YRD: 1 INT -2 RB: TD 6 10 YRD 1 WR SAME TE SAME D/St and Kicker learn when join da league+++ MUST USE ROTOWORLD.COM

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/431081-br-fantasy-football-league

  • Steven Resnick posted 564 days ago

    Steven Resnick

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/428172-the-sacramento-kings-must-suspend-tyreke-evans-for-his-careless-actions

  • al asifyouknow posted 587 days ago

    al asifyouknow

    well..since no one wated to give play to my LeBron article on the NBA page...here it is...lol...lol
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/417789-dan-gilbert-are-the-cleveland-caveliers-wagging-the-dog

  • Steven Resnick posted 588 days ago

    Steven Resnick

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/417538-james-sacrificed-his-own-legacy-for-a-shot-at-multiple-championships

  • Hotnuke posted 597 days ago

    Hotnuke

    Robert,

    I thought you might like to check out my latest piece about the possibility of Pat Riley and the Miami Heat creating a "Superteam" of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh:

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/413198-miami-heat-to-create-superteam-of-d-wade-lebron-james-chris-bosh

    Let me know what you think.

    Thanks,

    Hotnuke aka Daniel Barber

  • Roger Valentine posted 603 days ago

    Roger Valentine

    Hi Robert. I've been hearing a rumor that San Antonio and Minnesota might be making a draft day trade; the Wolves get Richard Jefferson and the 20th pick, while the Spurs get Al Jefferson. I think San Antonio might be able to pull it off because Minnesota is so desperate for a wing. I like the deal; I know you're a Spurs fan, what do you think?

  • Alison Myers posted 604 days ago

    Alison Myers

    Hi Robert...here are a couple helpful tips for you in regards to the issues you're having:

    When you are submitting an article, uncheck the box at the top that says "enable auto-formatting". This should fix the problem of B/R capitalizing every word of your headline.

    As for spell check, you may want to try submitting your articles in Firefox if you have that browser. I write myself and trust me...the spellcheck doesn't work in IE. You'll be able to use it easier on Firefox.

    Let me know if you have anymore questions and I'll see if I can help.

More