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Why do they call him the General ?

N

nunusguy

Hall of Fame
I dunno....but that's quite a handle the 610 guys have bestowed upon
"Hollywood" McClain. I'm think maybe staff sargent, would be reluctant to
go so far as to call him major, might compromise and call him captain. But General ?
Anyway, after these guys BSed too long about baseball and dope, they fianlly talking a little Texans football.
McClain says Ryans may start very soon, even at MLB. Says Babin is playing real well in this mini camp. Both things very good to hear.
 
nunusguy said:
Yea, but 790 doesn't have "The General" !
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They do have Charlie Palillo though. I swear, he's like the Einstein of sports. He's a huge know-it-all. There isn't any inside the locker room stuff though if that's what you like.
 
nunusguy said:
I dunno....but that's quite a handle the 610 guys have bestowed upon
"Hollywood" McClain. I'm think maybe staff sargent, would be reluctant to
go so far as to call him major, might compromise and call him captain. But General ?
Anyway, after these guys BSed too long about baseball and dope, they fianlly talking a little Texans football.
McClain says Ryans may start very soon, even at MLB. Says Babin is playing real well in this mini camp. Both things very good to hear.
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How hard is it not to play well in a mini camp?
 
WWJD said:
How hard is it not to play well in a mini camp?
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Apparently TJ was a roaring success at doing just that, because according to
most reports he came into camp fat and lazy. Then he got injured.
I dunno....but doesn't bode very well for last years #1 pick.
As for my remark about Babin, just passing along McClain's remarks. I suspect
its his short hand for saying Jason has impressed so far. And that's good news
to me !
 
nunusguy said:
Apparently TJ was a roaring success at doing just that, because according to
most reports he came into camp fat and lazy. Then he got injured.
I dunno....but doesn't bode very well for last years #1 pick.
As for my remark about Babin, just passing along McClain's remarks. I suspect
its his short hand for saying Jason has impressed so far. And that's good news
to me !
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I was being sarcastic. I'm not a Babin fan. I think he's a wasted draft pick if there ever was one. Hoping he's successful but fearing he's not. Put me down for that.
 
WWJD said:
I'm not a Babin fan. I think he's a wasted draft pick if there ever was one.
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IMO, it's really premature to write the book on Babin's NFL carrer at this point.
Consider he went to a nowhere, backwater college (in football terms), and then was thrust into the NFL his first year as a starter at a position he didn't play in college.
Then last year was spent mostly as a player who was injured for the biggest part of the year, even though he played with this condition for most of his time on the field, except for the end of the season when he excelled at times.
So I'm pleasntly surprised and certainly pleased to hear some good news about his apparent progress this year, his third in the NFL and his first in the league at his old college position.
 
Can't help the way I feel. I think he's a waste. They paid too much for him. I hope he does well because the team needs him but I think when it's all played out he'll just pretty much be average.

Hope I have to eat those words. Won't be the first time I've had supper on something I said.
 
I don't know why. If I were guessing, it would probably be a Patton reference given his voice.

I like him though I oft disagree with him. He is really nice with fans and I find him entertaining on the radio. Wish I dint have to hear so much Cowboys/Titans talk but those fans are part of our market so he has to give them something.
 
I've read McClain since he was an Oilers beat writer...and have no clue why he calls himself 'the general'. One day I saw the Chronicle start referring to him as 'the general'. I thought that this is a really strange way to self promote oneself.
 
Texans_Chick said:
I don't know why. If I were guessing, it would probably be a Patton reference given his voice.
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I was thinking Napoleon Bonaparte given his height.
 
Say what you want to say about him here Fanblog Link: "John McClain: Texans Charlatan?"

The comments would be read by the Chronicle Powers That Be. So if you have constructive criticism, please please please comment. I only ask that they be fair comments and nothing that you would have a problem with a kid reading. Takes a few seconds to do, and shows that you care about your Texans football coverage in the local paper.

I'm trying to hightlight variety of the stuff we talk about on the MB. Seems to me that media coverage comes up a lot.
 
I thought y'all were talking about me when I read the title of this thread...:whew

I've been tempted to call in and ask him a few times, but I didn't figure it'd make good radio fodder, plus I absolutely hate sitting on hold. I had the same nic for a long time before I ever heard McClain called it. One thing that I'm doing this year, though, is changing mine...I'm getting tired of being asked if I'm related to him, if I'm really him, or any of the other variations...

I met him a couple of years ago at a Blue Crew tailgate...very nice guy. I agree he probably talks more about the Titans than he needs to, but usually he's entertaining to listen to. At least when he's on the radio you know you'll get SOME football talk somewhere in the mix, and even a little football talk is better than the endless debate about steroids, or the mind-numbingly boring NBA talk, or worse yet - when Pallillo starts talking about tennis. Sheesh...
 
"The General" (aka as "Hollywood" McClain), is on 610 right now and he says
Babin is starting - OK, have heard that. But the real suprise to me was that
the guy starting at tackle along with Weaver was Seth Payne, who has apparently beat out Robaire Smith. Very interesting.
 
nunusguy said:
"The General" (aka as "Hollywood" McClain), is on 610 right now and he says
Babin is starting - OK, have heard that. But the real suprise to me was that
the guy starting at tackle along with Weaver was Seth Payne, who has apparently beat out Robaire Smith. Very interesting.
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Well, let's see what happens in training camp. I don't think anything is ever settled based on spring practice, but they have to slot these guys somehow.
 
Porky said:
Well, let's see what happens in training camp. I don't think anything is ever settled based on spring practice, but they have to slot these guys somehow.
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I hear ya, but just being listed on the DC ahead of the other guy gives you an
advantage because he's got to do something better than you to replace you.
And Seth Payne is an ole school 3-4 nose tackle guy, while Smith got his deal
here in FA on the basis of how well he played as a 4-3 DT in Nashville.
But I'm also glad that their initial impressions of Babin are obviously positive.
Nothing guaranteed, especially in June. But you like to see your first round picks do good with the new head coach.
 
nunusguy said:
I hear ya, but just being listed on the DC ahead of the other guy gives you an
advantage because he's got to do something better than you to replace you.
And Seth Payne is an ole school 3-4 nose tackle guy, while Smith got his deal
here in FA on the basis of how well he played as a 4-3 DT in Nashville.
But I'm also glad that their initial impressions of Babin are obviously positive.
Nothing guaranteed, especially in June. But you like to see your first round picks do good with the new head coach.
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Sometime these kind of things are used to light fires under butts also. That could easly be the case with Robair and TJ ,by tring to hit their egos a bit. In Babins case, I suspect he is just better all around than Peek, but I expect Peek to be in on the passing downs along with Babin.
 
"The General" is now passing along comments he said Mike Sherman made
about Kubiak. He says Sherman said Kubiak is supremely confidant, unlike how he (Sherman) was when he was a first year HC of the Packers.
That sounds good to me !
Now McClain says Kubiak was definitely not happy with TJ "before" his injury, and Kubiak will definitely will cut him if they
continue to be unhappy with him. Wow, last years top pick TJ on the bubble ?
 
I've never been big on RoSmith and have always thought he was overrated. It doesn't shock me to see him having a hard time capturing a starting spot. He will bat a pass down here and there but o-linemen seem to get their blocks down on him more than they should.
 
And Vinny I know you've also got a less than positive opinion about TJ, so
what's your thoughts on the chances for success by a starting frontline of
Babin-Payne-Weaver-Mario ?
 
The General is from McClain and its called the General's report in the Chronicle. I think he choose that too boost his ego. Some of us have been saying TJ didn't look that good and we were hearing things from Kubiak. When Kubiak speaks I think you can take it as what he feels. He hasn't been too secrative. Likewise, when he praises someone I believe he truely means it.
 
Messages are being sent. Robaire has a bright light shining on him because of his contract. Anything less than Pro Bowl and he's not earning his money. It's not his fault the Texans were so stupid to pay him that much, but it is his responsibility to show that he has the fire and the desire to be a star DT in the NFL. He's shown glimpses - especially against his former team - but he's been far too inconsistent.

As far as TJ..who knows. I thought he would be one to thrive with this change of system.

I've watched Karmelowicz and the DLs very closely- standing within spitting distance of them when they are in breakout drills - and it's a very odd thing to watch. Coach Bob is a small older fella - maybe all of 5 foot 8 and 160 lbs - with a gravelly voice, cap on backwards, and if he ever played a down of D-I football I would be surprised. He's teaching - but it seems to be one directional. The players should be smart enough to know that if they don't work - they won't last, but I look at the DLs as they go through their paces and the message they are sending to me is "who the hell is this guy?" It's a monologue for the most part and quite different from Sherman's sessions with the OLs and Hoke's sessions with the DBs and Holland's sessions with the LBs. I've talked to several people who have said Coach Bob is very well liked so what I'm interpreting from this may be way off base - but what I see is a group of guys who aren't overly thrilled with their position coach.
 
TexanSam said:
They do have Charlie Palillo though. I swear, he's like the Einstein of sports. He's a huge know-it-all. There isn't any inside the locker room stuff though if that's what you like.
Click to expand...

I'll be the first to admit I do on occasion listen to CP on 790 but he's too much of the 'gloom n doom' for my taste when it comes to the home teams here. Being the homer that I am, not what I wanna hear. BTW, anyone can be a sports einstien with an internet connection sitting in front of him.
 
aj. said:
I've watched Karmelowicz and the DLs very closely- standing within spitting distance of them when they are in breakout drills - and it's a very odd thing to watch. Coach Bob is a small older fella - maybe all of 5 foot 8 and 160 lbs - with a gravelly voice, cap on backwards, and if he ever played a down of D-I football I would be surprised. He's teaching - but it seems to be one directional. The players should be smart enough to know that if they don't work - they won't last
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Here's some info on our new DL coach from last year when he was with the Chiefs. He's a cancer survivor, which tells me an awful lot about him right there, and instantly elevates my respect and appreciation for him. Also, it says he can tolerate ignorance but not stupidity. I'm thinking that's not a
good thing for somebody like, oh Antwaan Peek, and might have something to do with him backing up Babin at this point and not vice versa ?
http://www.uwrf.edu/chiefs/features?page=2&Files=8-06a05.htm
"Working hard is not a choice with him-it is an obligation. Playing for Karmelowicz requires a certain "edge" and a desire to "bang." Says Karmelowicz, "In playing for me, you'll pass out before you die, so go as hard as you want and we'll find some way to revive you."
The coach's most notorious pet peeve is second mistakes. He frequently reiterates this concern to his players: "I don't have a problem with ignorance, but I have a problem with stupidity."
His courageous attitude is not just applied on the football field, but is employed throughout every aspect of his life. As a cancer survivor, Karmelowicz knows that is the ultimate fight. Luckily, he was diagnosed early, but he also had an extremely rare form. It is the most common kind of cancer in
 
Here is more info on Coach Bob:

Official site link bio

From 1997, when Karmelowicz joined the Kansas City staff, through 2005, the Chiefs averaged better than 39 sacks per season and recorded two of the top three single-season sack totals in club history. In 2000, the Chiefs defense recorded 51 sacks, 40 of which came courtesy of the defensive line. In 1997, Karmelowicz’ first year in Kansas City, the team registered 54 sacks led by defensive end Dan Williams, who turned in a career-best 10.5 sacks in his first year with the team.

Karmelowicz has been consistently effective at developing young talent. In Washington, he coached defensive end Ritchie Owens, who led the Redskins with 11 sacks in 1996, just his second pro season. While at the University of Miami (Fla.), he helped produce a pair of top-three overall draft picks in defensive tackles Russell Maryland, who was the first pick in the 1991 draft, and Cortez Kennedy, who went third overall the year before. His defensive line was the anchor of a dominant Hurricanes defense which led the nation in total defense in 1989 and topped the country in scoring defense in 1991.
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Played nose tackle in college (Bridgeport):

Bob Karmelowicz - defensive line; born July 22, 1949, New Britain, Conn. Nose tackle Bridgeport 1968-1971. No pro playing experience. College coach: Arizona State 1975-79, Massachusetts 1980, Texas-El Paso 1981, Nevada-Las Vegas 1982, Illinois 1983-86, Washington State 1987-88, Miami 1989-1991. Pro coach: Cincinnati Bengals 1992-93, Washington Redskins 1994-96, joined Chiefs in 1997.
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He has a video even: Defensive Line Drills and Technique

Link--Article talks about how he is good with developing young players.

So Karmelowicz, who weaned a couple of headline-grabbers at the University of Miami in Russell Maryland and Cortez Kennedy, is into nurturing.

``You can't say, `You low-rent, fiddledy-jeez, blah, blah, blah,' '' Karmelowicz said. ``You've got to say, `You got knocked off the ball, you got run over, you got cleat marks all over you, but, boy, your stance is looking much better.'

``You've got to give them a carrot to keep because it's the hardest place to play. There's a violent, full-blown collision every snap. You don't want to kick the other guy's ass, you want to kick his ass so hard his children limp.''
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LOL. Maybe he is the guy our young guys need.
 
nunusguy said:
Here's some info on our new DL coach from last year when he was with the Chiefs. He's a cancer survivor, which tells me an awful lot about him right there, and instantly elevates my respect and appreciation for him.
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Agreed.
 
TexanSam said:
They do have Charlie Palillo though. I swear, he's like the Einstein of sports. He's a huge know-it-all. There isn't any inside the locker room stuff though if that's what you like.
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I used to like Charlie more when he was paired with Rich. Charlie by himself gets too know it all and sour and he does better when he is riffing with someone.

The thing I can't get over with 790 is that Sports Animal business. GROWL. It is so cheesy and so are their oh-so-repeated promos, I feel embarrassed to listen.
 
I prefer Charlie as part of a team as well .... however, I like him alone much better than ANY pair that includes Rich Lord ....
 
nunusguy said:
And Vinny I know you've also got a less than positive opinion about TJ, so
what's your thoughts on the chances for success by a starting frontline of
Babin-Payne-Weaver-Mario ?
Click to expand...
I don't have a good feel for much until I see them in pads and hitting each other live. I'm sure I will have tons of opinions once camp starts and we see how the adjust to the 4-3. I think Babin can hold the edge responsibilities better than Peek, stop the run better and not get fooled as much on misdirection as reasons he may start over him. I've thought Peek will be a situational pass rusher in a 4-3, but I have to see these guys on the field in their new roles before I have a hard opinion. On paper it looks like we have good depth, but how it all shakes out will be answered once the play turns physical and these guys are allowed to hit more. I think RoSmith is inconsistent, TJ doesn't seem to be able to physically dominate, and Weaver is going to be an undersized Tackle....not sure how this ends up.
 
You don't want to kick the other guy's ass, you want to kick his ass so hard his children limp.'' .....Now that's a football comment!

As far as how his players respect him, I think it's too early to make that decision. If he's as good as advertised, the players will respond after they take the field and see his lessons in action. He sounds like the kind that earns respect.....and once he's got it, he never looks back.
 
I'm aware of Coach Bob's health history and I wasn't trying to confuse his personal battles with the job he's required to do.

Someone very close to me is a cancer survivor, and she lost her Dad to an extremely aggressive form of that dreaded disease a short time ago - so I get all that.

I'm talking about football and what I saw in May and June 2006 on the practice field between Coach and his players. I see someone teaching but I'm wondering how it's being received. Right or wrong, the players seem to respond more and more these days to guys who have played at a high level (at least D-I NCAA).

As far as Palillo, if anyone needs a foil, it's him. He would make the Sahara feel like Xel Ha.
 
Bob must be a Casserly hire.

I wonder if he was fired by the Edwards move first or picked out by Casserly after Capers got the boot

a Bob quote from 1995

``You can't say, `You low-rent, fiddledy-jeez, blah, blah, blah,' '' Karmelowicz said. ``You've got to say, `You got knocked off the ball, you got run over, you got cleat marks all over you, but, boy, your stance is looking much better.'

``You've got to give them a carrot to keep because it's the hardest place to play. There's a violent, full-blown collision every snap. You don't want to kick the other guy's ass, you want to kick his ass so hard his children limp.''
Click to expand...
 
I would guess he's a Richard Smith acquaintance or maybe there's some Kubiak tie somewhere. I haven't bothered to figure out the lineage.
 
aj. said:
I'm aware of Coach Bob's health history and I wasn't trying to confuse his personal battles with the job he's required to do.
Someone very close to me is a cancer survivor, and she lost her Dad to an extremely aggressive form of that dreaded disease a short time ago - so I get all that.
I'm talking about football and what I saw in May and June 2006 on the practice field between Coach and his players. I see someone teaching but I'm wondering how it's being received. Right or wrong, the players seem to respond more and more these days to guys who have played at a high level (at least D-I NCAA).
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I posted the link which included info about Karmelowicz's cancer history, a subject that always gets my attention since I to have a family member who is a cancer survivor. As a matter of fact she's the person who is closest of all
to me and her battle was year before last with that hellish stuff when
she went thru the whole 9 yards at M.D. with chemo, surgery, & radiation treatment.
And I saw nothing in your comments of the coachs professional performance and relationship with his players that was in any way related to or insensitive about anything in the DL coachs personal history, health or otherwise.
But I was curious about your mixed review about him, as you seem to be saying that while his players were fond of him, they were unresponsive to his coaching ? And that was so because his experience as a player himself was
too limited in the eyes of the players to gain their respect ?
Along those same lines, I'm wondering how pro bowlers A.Johnson & Eric Moulds are taking to the coaching of WR coach Kyle Shanahan ?
 
This pretty much sums up my entire set of comments on that matter:
I see someone teaching but I'm wondering how it's being received..
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(because the two times I watched, it didn't look like it was being received at all) - which surprised me, especially so early in the game... I don't think I ever said or even suggested the players were "fond" of him. I was kinda suggesting the opposite. It's just the impression I received but I'm sure I'm reading way too much into things again.... ... as if it matters anyway.
 
aj. said:
I would guess he's a Richard Smith acquaintance or maybe there's some Kubiak tie somewhere. I haven't bothered to figure out the lineage.
Click to expand...

I was looking at that 1994-96 Washington Redskins tenure. That's where I figure he got the Casserly tie. Smith might have known Karmelowicz while he was with the Bengals, but not sure. Norv Turner and Vermeil both talked about him in a good way ( but nothing glowing ). Nobody seemed to blame him for all the defensive woes that the Chiefs have had during Bob's stay there.

Usually the coach is given a lot of lead way to pick up his own staff, but I am not so sure Kubiak would have spearheaded Karmelowicz. It's just one of those weird things about how Houston has been run in the Casserly era. Palmer and Dan Riley looked like they were both hired at the same time Capers was, looking like Capers didn't pick them out purely on his own.

Riley is a guy that survived the Capers fire... and was a long time Redskins coach 1982-2000.

Palmer is a Childress Oiler coach.

If I had to guess, I think Ray Childress is the guy with Bob's ear on the constant beat for 90's Oilers crews. Not sure though how that worked out after the Enron scandal broke though. Obviously some kinda of power shift had to happen with Lay going to prison ( or about to go to prison ).


TEXAS SPORTS
Saturday, July 7, 2001

Ray Childress among Houston Texans minority owners

HOUSTON (AP) — Former Houston Oilers star Ray Childress and the chairmen of two major energy firms are among 10 minority owners of the NFL expansion Houston Texans, the team announced Friday.

Childress, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, is part of a group of local leaders who bought a combined 30 percent of the team. Texans founder Bob McNair and his family own the rest.

“I am very honored that each of these individuals has decided to invest in the Houston Texans,” McNair said. “They represent a wide range of business and community interests but they all share one common bond — they are winners in their fields.”

Childress, a Dallas-area native who starred at Texas A&M before playing 11 seasons with the Oilers, currently is chairman of Ray Childress Auto Group, for which he remains visible as a television pitchman.

Chuck Watson, chairman and chief executive officer of Dynegy Inc. and owner of the minor-league Houston Aeros hockey team, will serve as a Texans vice chairman, McNair said.
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Those people weren't players and that's what I heard standing on the sideline from those who may or may not know any more about the relationship between coach and player than me or you. That was the setup for the entire conundrum between what I was hearing and what I was seeing...as the rest of that quote explained: "...but what I see is a group of guys who aren't overly thrilled with their position coach."

Whatever. It's not worth discussing and I'm sorry I even brought it up. It's pretty much meaningless off-season drivel at this point.

-----
Riley was a CC hire. So was Palmer. Although I'm sure Capers signed off on Palmer during his intervirew.

Not so sure on Coach Bob and Ray.
 
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