1 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: It's the Son of a Butcher podcast. You guys know 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: the drill. We come to you every Wednesday. This week's 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: guests the principal owner of the Houston Astros, Jim Crane. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: They just won the World Series and I thought it 5 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: would be a good opportunity to talk to a guy 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 1: like Jim about, you know, all the stuff that they've done, 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: you know, as a as a major league franchise organization, 8 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: kind of a building a culture of winning, a series 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: of excellence and and all the things that they do. 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: UM at the Astros organization. UM, I've known Jim Crane 11 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: for a long time. He's effectively my boss here at 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: Floridian because he owns the Floridian. But UM, I've gotten 13 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: to watch his right, I mean, I think my dad 14 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: and I've known Jim for around twenty five years and 15 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: gotten to watch his rise not only in business but 16 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: also in sports. And UM, he's got some pretty cool 17 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: things say. And let me tell you, obviously he owns 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: a golf course, so he UM, he loves golf and 19 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: is a huge, huge offer. Um. He took over the 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: running of the Houston Open on the PGA Tour, so 21 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: UM lots to talk about But before we jump in, 22 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: let's take a moment to thank for Wellness for supporting 23 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 1: the show. You guys hear me talk about them every week, 24 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: and that the reason I do that is because I 25 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: drink their coffee every week. I know lots of people 26 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 1: are focusing on health and wellness as we start the 27 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: new year. But what I love most about their coffee 28 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: is that there isn't anything artificial and no artificial ingredients sweeteners, 29 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: creamers and all the junk that isn't good for you. 30 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: It's only the good stuff giving you more energy without 31 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: typical crashes you get when a lot of your coffee 32 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: and if you have a lot of sugar in your coffee, 33 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: give it a try and use the special code c 34 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 1: H three. That code will get you off your order 35 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: plus free shipping and a free starter kit worth thirty 36 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: dollars when you visit for Wellness dot com slash podcast. Again, 37 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: that's the code c H three at for Wellness dot 38 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: Com slash Podcast. So now let's get to the interview 39 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: with Jim Crane Jim. In two thousand fourteen, Ben rid 40 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: er Um from Sports I wrote an article um cover 41 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: of Sports Illustrated said the astroids gonna win the World 42 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: Series two thousand seventeen, which you guys did. But when 43 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: that article came out, Uh, did you think he was 44 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:26,119 Speaker 1: crazy for writing it? Did you envision that happening? And then, 45 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: I mean, if you think about it, five years later, 46 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: you guys have just one another World Series? Crazy? Yeah? No, 47 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 1: I think you know, I think they liked the method 48 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: we were going at. The team wasn't very good at 49 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: the time, and um, you know, the people we had 50 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: under contract weren't producing. So you know, Balloon out stripped 51 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: the thing down and got a lot of young players 52 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: and started to develop them, and you knew you'd start 53 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: to win at some point. You just didn't know win. 54 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: And you know we got good and added a few players, 55 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: but a little good fortune. But you know the plan works, 56 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 1: so you have to give him credit. I mean, when 57 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: he wrote that article, you you have had three seasons 58 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: in a row. You buy the team in two thousand ten, 59 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: two thou eleven, yea, and then you guys lose a 60 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: hundred and six games in eleven twelve, you win, you 61 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: lose a hundred seven hundred eleven and that turnaround from 62 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: where the team was then versus where it is now 63 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: at the as the best team in baseball. Um. I 64 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: guess the obvious question Jim is and how do you 65 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: do that in such a short period of time. You 66 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: mentioned obviously good fortune and you've got to get some 67 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: breaks and stuff. But I think people are starting to 68 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: see what you guys have built, you know with the 69 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: Houston Astros. Um, there's a culture of winning that you 70 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: have created. Um, how did you go about doing that? 71 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: Because I think a lot of people listening, um are 72 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: you know, obviously they're big into golf, they're big into sports, 73 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: but creating, Jim a winning culture? How do you go 74 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: about doing that as the person at the top. Well, 75 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: you know, going back, you know when we started that, 76 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: the team was financially uh and you know, losing money, 77 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: so you know, the the first part of it was 78 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: to stop to bleed him. But once we started to 79 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: turn the team, and we made the playoffs in fifteen 80 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: and beat beat the Yankees, so it was a pretty 81 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: quick turnaround. The team got competitive. As a team got 82 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: more competitive, it got a better following. You win the 83 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: World Series. The economics are a lot better and so 84 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: we had a lot more resources, you know, to bring 85 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: in good trainers to bring in good coaches and and 86 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: really work with the players. And then once you start winning, um, 87 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: everybody's very focused on getting better and better. And so 88 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: they all challenged each other and I think, you know, 89 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: some of the core guys like Altuvee and Bregman and 90 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: Korea at the time were very hard workers, and so 91 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: when people walk into the locker room, there was an 92 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: expectation that, you know, this is how we're going to 93 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: do it, and this is how hard you need to 94 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: work if you want to be on this team. And 95 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 1: so they all led by example, and so once you 96 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: got that, it kind of cut contagious, and so everybody 97 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: walks in the locker room, there's an you know, the 98 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: new guy walks in. You know, as as you've had 99 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: new players from seventeen and brought new new kids up 100 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: from the system, the expectation is there that you know, 101 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: this is how we this is how we work, and 102 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: this is how we play, and everybody gives their best efforts. 103 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: So I think that the players kind of developed that 104 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: themselves with some good leaders in there, and then the 105 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: economics got better, and you know them when we needed 106 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: to sign another guy or bringing over Land or our 107 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: Grinky or whoever, you know, made the team better down 108 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: the stretch. It just got us more consistent as an 109 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: owner of a Major League Baseball team. The fans see 110 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: it as a sport, but as you mentioned, sports in 111 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: two is one of business. There is the sports side 112 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: of it and then there is the business side of it. 113 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 1: How do you, as as the guy at the top, 114 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: manage those two were looking You're looking at the business 115 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: side of things and then there's the sporting element of this. 116 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: I mean, because I think that's a fine line between 117 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: you know, the sports and the business. Well, I think 118 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: you know, we've we've looked at you know, we've gotten 119 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: the revenue up and of course, um, you know, we 120 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: we try to make a profit if we can. You know, 121 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: some years in those early years, certainly we didn't with COVID, 122 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: we we didn't. Um, I think you balanced it. I 123 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 1: think most of the teams are pretty disciplined. They'll spend 124 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: the money they have on players, um, you know, without 125 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: you know, going into into losses. No, although it's changing now, 126 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: we've seen some teams do some very extravagant and spending 127 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: and definitely losing some money. So um, we don't really 128 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: look at it like that. You know, I've got investors 129 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: into business, and you know you try to return and 130 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 1: get a return for them, um, but you try to 131 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: balance it. You know, we're in a position now the 132 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: Astros were, you know, our revenues are up with with 133 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: the four or five biggest teams, and we can compete 134 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: against them, and we can sign some free agents and 135 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: we can develop our players well, and we can you know, 136 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: you know, sign our guys and arbitration. So we kind 137 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: of use a blend model where we keep the rookies 138 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: coming in, keep keep ahold of our our our guys, 139 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: and then bring in some talent when we need it. 140 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: And that farming has worked well. It's kept us very competitive, 141 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: and we should be very competitive in two thousand and 142 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: three and compete for another championship. You said to me 143 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: once that from a from an owner standpoint, you are, 144 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: I think one of the only owners of a mazing 145 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: league baseball team that actually ever played competitive baseball. Central 146 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: Missouri from seventy three to seventy six still hold the 147 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: single game strikeout record for the Fighting Mules eighteen. But Jim, 148 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: do you think it helps you coming from a baseball 149 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: background that you played the sport that you played the game, 150 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: that you understand not only you've been unbelievably successful from 151 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: a business standpoint um, but you played competitive baseball, so 152 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: you understand how the game works. Do you think that 153 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: helps you and do you think it can hurt other 154 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: owners because they weren't in baseball. Well, you know, I 155 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: think it gives me a different perspective. I didn't play professionally, 156 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: but played play. I was an All American in college 157 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: and pitched a lot, you know, from the time I 158 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: was a freshman all the way through senior and you know, 159 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: I know what it is to throw nine innings. I mean, 160 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: you know, your your back plags back, you're a little stiff, 161 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,679 Speaker 1: your little sore, um. You know the wear and tear, 162 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: and you know I can walk into the locker room 163 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: because I was in the locker room probably from the 164 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: time I was, you know, in high school all the 165 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: way through college, so you know how that vibe works, 166 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: and you can see it and you can see how 167 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: the guys are getting along. So I'm comfortable talking to 168 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: the players. I I probably talked to him, you know, 169 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: more than some of the other owners, but I'm just 170 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: comfortable doing it. I invite him to dinner. I try 171 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: to get to know him. I kind of tell them 172 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: if you've got a problem, I got a problem. We 173 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: were able to get uh Jordan Alvarez his family in 174 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 1: from Cuba, which was no easy feat, Um, but you 175 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: know that was something that was really bothering him, so 176 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: we put some effort and hired some people to help. 177 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: And you know that that gains loyalty with your players. 178 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: And you know, some times it's not down to the 179 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: last dollar. It's where they're most comfortable. And that's the 180 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: atmosphere we try to create at the Astros and I 181 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: think it's worked pretty well. We care about our people, 182 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: we care about our players, and we care about our fans. 183 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: Two things, Um, that you have pushed heavily into UM 184 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: the farm system, developing talent from the ground up that 185 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: are part of the Astros organization. And then UM the 186 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: second part that I want to get to, the analytics thing. 187 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 1: When you came in and and and and bought the Astros, 188 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: UM their farm system. They're developing of talent that were 189 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: part of the organization wasn't nearly what it is now. 190 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: And I think you all have had so much success, Jim, 191 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: because you've taken young players, put them into the organization 192 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: in an early stage. Because it's easy in two to 193 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: do what the Mets and the Yankees and the Dodgers 194 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: to just go buy superstars. Why was it important for 195 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: you to build from within and and have these players 196 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: um part of the Astros organization from a very early age. Well, 197 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: you know, you start with the coaches and the scouts. 198 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: The scouts do a good job of selecting the guys 199 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: and not often in the first round, it's the second round, 200 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: a third round and identifying that talent. And then once 201 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,479 Speaker 1: we have the talent, we make sure we've got the expertise, 202 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: you know to improve that change up are you know, 203 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: get more rotation on the spin on the ball when 204 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: the guys thrown a slider or you know, developed their 205 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: swing better so they make it more contacts. So it 206 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: really is that you know that, you know, first the scouts, 207 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: we get the guys in the system, and then we 208 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: really try to fine tune them and find something um 209 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: that they weren't doing effectively where they were at I think, 210 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: you know, we brought in some pictures Derek uh Derek Cole, 211 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: and you know we were able to improve his slider 212 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: and his his rotation on his fastball and make his 213 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: you know, his pitches a little more lively. And um, 214 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: you know that that he had, he had a very 215 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: good couple of seasons with us. So I think you 216 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: give a lot of credit to the coaches and the 217 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: scouts and then you know, then just you know, working 218 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: those guys as a team in the locker room, and 219 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: you know, you get a good manager. Dusty Baker is 220 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: very good with the players. He's he's comfortable in the 221 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: locker room. He can talk to the guys, he encourages guys. 222 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: He he's a he's a player's coach, and so that 223 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: that type of thing worked very well. Same thing with A. J. 224 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: Hinch Um. So just just really fine tuning the players 225 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: and making them better and improving them. They're all good 226 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: athletes when you get them. Um, you know, there's just 227 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: that edge where some of the you know, in golf, 228 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: some of the guys can go to another gear under pressure. 229 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: You know. I think the other thing that helps our 230 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: guys is they've been in the big games. Um, they 231 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: know that kind of pressure and and they perform well 232 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: in those big games, as you've seen over the last 233 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: five years, I mean last six years, we've been in 234 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,319 Speaker 1: the a L Championship, uh six times in a row. 235 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: Hopefully we can do it again this year. But when 236 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: you find these players, I mean, do you think that 237 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 1: again is poor of the culture. That players know that 238 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: there's an opportunity for them if they get into the 239 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: Astro's system early on, they see the pathways of great 240 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: players that have gone from start to finish. Guys like 241 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: Jose's Alto has been part of the farm system. You 242 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: guys brought him up, you didn't trade him. He wanted 243 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: to stay. Do you think that also helps in creating 244 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: that culture around the Astros, Oh, no doubt about it. 245 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: I mean, even the guys that have left, um, you know, 246 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 1: still stay in contact with with our players. They enjoyed 247 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: the camaraderie. They were comfortable in the locker room, and 248 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: you know, they develop a culture of winning and they 249 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 1: they expectation was always there if you walk into the 250 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: locker room, we expect to win. So um, you know, 251 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: the guys, you know, I think it's helped a lot 252 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: of our young players go to another another gear and 253 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: really produced Penia this year was remarkable to taking koreas 254 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: spot um m VP of the World Series unbelievable analytics 255 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: gym in two. I mean, business is everything is is 256 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: kind of being driven by analytics. Um. Why did you 257 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: feel it was important early on in in you know, 258 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: the new ownership of the astros to push so heavily 259 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: into analytics. Well, we we were. You know that there's 260 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: two thousand eleven just there was a lot of teams 261 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: that were ahead of us, but there was also a 262 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: lot of teams not doing anything, and we felt if 263 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: we had good information, you know, from that that analytics, 264 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: whether it's bad speed, you know, rotation on the pitches, 265 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: you know foot speed, um, you know, closing distance on 266 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: a flight ball, all of those things matter. Those little 267 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: things matter. You know, if it's a tick better, if 268 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: it's a tick better here, um. So that gives you, 269 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 1: you know, good information to make a decision. Um. Then 270 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: once you have that information, you've got to know the 271 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 1: players and you know the makeup of the players and 272 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: how they fit in. But you know, I think everybody's 273 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: kind of caught up with each other on the analytics. 274 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: There's some new stuff coming, you know, there's always new 275 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 1: new data coming. But you know, we've got good information 276 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: to help make good decisions on the players. Not only 277 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 1: you know, drafting the players, but also once we get 278 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,839 Speaker 1: the guys, improving the players. So it works how much 279 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: UM or the players looking at the same information that 280 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: you all in the organization are looking at from a 281 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: data standpoint. Yeah, we have a team of guys that 282 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: work with the players on you know whatever you know 283 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: they're pitching or you know, their release points, all the 284 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: various things that that a picture needs to be aware of, 285 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: the spin rate, you know, the location of pitches, um 286 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: you know how a certain batter handles a certain pitch, 287 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: and I mean they do all their homework on that. 288 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: So the players are very engaged on it. Same same 289 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: thing on the hitting side, you know, they work you know, 290 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: hours and looking at data and looking at you know, 291 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: not not only the data of their swing, but also 292 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: you know what the night of that game, you know, 293 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: the picture is gonna pitch, They'll go in the video 294 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: room and they'll look at what, look, who's gonna pitch 295 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: and what kind of movement on that ball and where 296 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: they where they think they're going to try to pitch them. 297 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: So they're always doing their homework. They have prep meetings 298 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: before the games UM to give them that information and 299 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: now they have you know, the iPads and the the 300 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: dugout they can use and so it's a data driven 301 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: business and the information helps. But I remember you telling 302 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: me once in seventeen when you guys made your run 303 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: for the World Series. You were talking about the manager 304 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: at the time, A J. Hince. You were saying that 305 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: you were told AJ listen, I played baseball. Um, I'll 306 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: never beat you up if you make a baseball decision 307 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: that goes against what the analytics are saying. Because A 308 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: J played, you played. So how do you have that 309 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: balance of the athlete having too much information and being 310 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: able to filter roll of that in you can overload them? 311 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: I mean I think you know, it depends on the player. Um, 312 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: they try to break it down when they presented to 313 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: them and make things simple and you know, start one step, 314 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: two steps at a time. If they can take more 315 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: information they need more information, they're gonna get it. So 316 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: I I do think there's there's still the element, uh, 317 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: you know, analyzing the situation and a particular uler time 318 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: and who's done what over not just looking at the 319 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: at the numbers. The managers has you know, the wherewithal 320 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: and has the discretion to make you know, something that 321 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: may not go right by the book, and you know 322 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: that's that's what makes a great manager. So, um, you know, 323 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: I think sometimes some of the teams are you know, 324 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: got their lineup set and they've got everything set, and 325 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: you know, here this guy comes in if this batters up, 326 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: and we're gonna change this guy. And you know it's 327 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: pretty pretty orchestrated from the start to finish. But um, 328 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: we don't. We don't really do it like that. We 329 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: lead to the manager that's on the field and kind 330 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: of you know, looking in the guy's eye like as 331 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: he ready to go, and you know, is this the 332 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: best move? You know, using that feel along with the numbers. 333 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: But they all have the numbers. You won the World 334 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: Series in seventeen. Obviously the controversy that followed. Do you 335 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: feel like winning another World Series in two is validation 336 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: of the organization and the work that you all have 337 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: put in. Well, you know, it brought a lot of 338 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: a bad press and and a lot of pressure on 339 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: the team. I mean, certainly what we did wasn't right. Um, 340 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: you know, every we've been through that and apologize for 341 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: that a hundred times, but um, you know, certainly that 342 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 1: has been going on in baseball, and in fact, you know, 343 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: for a long time there was teams, two teams find 344 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: ahead of us. UM. You know, we took the punishment. UM, 345 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 1: we weren't right and we moved on from it. I 346 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,959 Speaker 1: think it was nice to see the team. You know, 347 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: we've been in the World Series the year before and 348 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: they're hard to win, you know, if one team gets 349 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: hot or the other one doesn't. But you know, we've 350 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: been in UM four in the last six years and 351 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 1: you know we've won two of them. So are batting 352 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: averages five hundred in the World Series. So that's good. 353 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: I mean, just to knock on the door and get there. 354 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: It was great for the city. UM, it proved I 355 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: think that this has always been a very good ball team. 356 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: And to win another one UM and and put that 357 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: banner up UM come this spring was gonna be a 358 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 1: lot of fun for the fans and and for the players. 359 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: I mean, we get great support in Houston. Without all 360 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 1: the great fans and the attendance and the corporate sponsorships, UM, 361 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: we wouldn't have the resources to do the things we do. 362 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: So I really appreciate the support of Houston. One of 363 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: the cliches and sports gym is. They always say that 364 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: you learn more from defeat and losing than you learned 365 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: from winning. You were all the Astros were in the 366 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: World Series last year, you didn't win. What did you 367 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: as an organization learned from not winning last year that 368 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: you think helped you in two this year? Well, I 369 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: think the guys knew, you know, we had a really 370 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: good team this year. I can't put one, you know, 371 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: certain thing that was there. I think just their consistency 372 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: of being in the World Series, are being in a 373 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: lot of big games, Um that they're not fearful of 374 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: those games. A team like the Phillies hadn't been in 375 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: the ear and years. There's a little more pressure and 376 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: a little more ankst once you don't have that rhythm 377 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: and you haven't been in those types of situations many 378 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: many times. I think we just had a big edge. Um. 379 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes you win, somebody gets hot, somebody pitches better. 380 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 1: You know, baseball, you lose sixty games in the season, 381 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 1: You've had a really good season, so you're gonna get beat, 382 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: you know, and it's a sharp series, so it's fairly random. 383 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: You know. The best team in baseball this year the 384 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: Dodgers or eleven and they got knocked out, you know, 385 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: in an early round. So it can happen to anybody. 386 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: They say confidence comes from demonstrated performance, right, you look 387 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: at in the past, because everybody says, you know, how 388 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,919 Speaker 1: do you gain confidence? Right, You've You've mentioned it a 389 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: couple of times already. Because the team keeps getting into 390 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: pressure situations, keeps getting to the big games, whether you 391 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: win or you lose, keep getting there has got to 392 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: be huge for the athletes. Yeah, no, I think they 393 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: thrive on that kind of environment. And you know, you 394 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: watch some of the guys that are good at they're 395 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: not always kind of be able to play the expectations. 396 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: But you know, it seems like this year, you know, 397 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 1: big hit a certain time, big play. I mean it 398 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: was just our year. We were smooth with it. Um. 399 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 1: You know. I play a lot of golf. I kind 400 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: of relate to you know, if you're in a you know, 401 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: not playing professionally, but if you're in a club championship 402 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: or you're in a member guest and you've got a 403 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: bunch of people watching, you know what guy can hit 404 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: that shot under pressure that you've been there before, it 405 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: helps you know, well, if you've hit a bunch of 406 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: those shots, um, in that situation, you don't get as nervous. 407 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 1: So you know, I I kind of relate to that. 408 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: I mean, you you wonder about these these progralfers, you 409 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: know when they're on up, when they're on on they 410 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: come in and they finished that round, and they they 411 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: finished that, you know that that last putter, that last shot, 412 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: and you know XC all the way in And I 413 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,879 Speaker 1: think you know, as you've seen with great golfers, the 414 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: more they've done that, the more comfortable they are doing. 415 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: It's the same thing in baseball. Let's take a quick 416 00:20:53,600 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: break and we are back. I once you said early 417 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: on one of your dreams, two of your dreams was 418 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: still own a professional baseball team and to own a 419 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: golf course. You own a a burgeoning dynasty. You own 420 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: the golf course. We're at here, the Fluoridian. You guys 421 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: run the Houston Open on the PGA tour. Um, how 422 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 1: did golf, Jim become such a huge, huge part of 423 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: your life. Well, I was started as a kid caddy 424 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: and UM in St. Louis aid, of course, right next 425 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: to my high school. I think I didn't get didn't 426 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: make the junior varsity when I was a freshman, so 427 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: I was mad. So I just went went over and 428 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 1: dark Caddy and after school. And then the next year 429 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: my dad said, Jim, you're not gonna be able to, 430 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: you know, show them how good you are if you 431 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: don't play, so you know, might want to go back. 432 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: So you've probably got similar speeches from your dad. But um, 433 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: you know, the the you know, the the baseball has 434 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: always been in the back of my mind. I never 435 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: really realized I could ever have enough money to buy 436 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: one in a big company. I started from scratching be 437 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: four got big and had taken over. In the hostile takeover, 438 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: I wasn't trying to sell it, and it's sold, and 439 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: so I had sitting on a big stunk of cat 440 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: a big stack of cash, and um, you know, I've 441 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 1: been coming down to the Floridian and you know, Wayne Haysinger, 442 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: you know, was trying to sell it and I was 443 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: in the wrong place at the wrong time. I thought 444 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: I made a low ball offer and he took it. 445 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: So then I was in the golf business. And but 446 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: it's been fun. I mean, this place is great and 447 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,439 Speaker 1: it's fun to see all the people come in here 448 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: and enjoy it. It's a great facility. Um, and and 449 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: it's done well. And then you know, the baseball I've 450 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: been on a few teams, been on a few teams, 451 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: are very difficult to buy. I finally got it done, 452 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: and then you know, we working hard there. We try 453 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: to try to do everything right. Um. Just like I 454 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: pick up teas on the golf course, I pick up 455 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: trash and building at the ballpark. So we try to 456 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: We try to get really good people to run their 457 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: individual departments and and be the best of what we'd 458 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: be and and work at it very hard every day. 459 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: But I'm very grateful. I've I've got a golf course, 460 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 1: and I got a baseball team, and and I still 461 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: have a job. So I'm good dad. And I've known 462 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: you for over almost five years now. Um, you're business wise. 463 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: I've never pegged you as a micro manager. But I 464 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: have never met anybody, Jim that is at the level 465 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: you're at that is as focused on the small little details, 466 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: you know as as someone who's you know, business, the 467 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: things that you've done, sports, the things that you've done. 468 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: Do you think that one of the keys to your 469 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: success is the attention to the small stuff that a 470 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: lot of people overlook. Well you want you know, yeah, 471 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: I think the little things matter. And whatever business you're in, 472 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: you know it's a cargo business, you know, away a 473 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: palette loaded, whether to get to the other end or not. 474 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: Stuff like that. Um, but I do watch everything and 475 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: watch people working, and you know it really it really 476 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,959 Speaker 1: relies on good people. You have great people on your staff, 477 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: and you set the standards. You know, nine out of 478 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: ten times they're going to meet those standards and and 479 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,360 Speaker 1: things get better and better. Good people hire good people, um. 480 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: And you know you want things to run first class 481 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,119 Speaker 1: and they enjoy that. Like our staff and he used them, 482 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: will all get a ring all the way down to 483 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: the usher. That's the way of showing appreciation. And those 484 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: people are doing the little things that really matter to 485 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 1: make a stadium look great and clean and nice. And 486 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: you know, I have a rule there at the ballpark. 487 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: If something, don't let anyone leave mad. We're coming here 488 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: to have fun. If somebody drops her ice cream, give 489 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: him another one. If somebody builds a popcorn and another one, 490 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: give him a beer. Don't don't don't make anyone. This 491 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: is a place we want to have fun and enjoy it, 492 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,919 Speaker 1: so make things right, and that attitude just kind of 493 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: breeds on itself. It works here at a golf course, 494 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: it works at the ballpark, it works in your business. 495 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 1: So I just used those same principles since I started 496 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: started companies many many years ago. You're involved with the 497 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: PGA Tour. Now you guys took over the running of 498 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: the Houston Open. What was the reason that you just listen, 499 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not like you need to take on 500 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: a PGA Tour event. You're running, you know, the Houston Astros. 501 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 1: You're running all of your businesses globally. Um, what was 502 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: the reason why you wanted to get involved with the 503 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 1: PGA Tour and and and basically take over the running 504 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: of the Houston Open. Yeah, Well, Houston is a big town, 505 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 1: a lot of golf. It's a golf town. Um. You know, 506 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,159 Speaker 1: the tournament had failed and so they had lost the 507 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: slot um before the Masters, and they didn't have a sponsor. So, um, 508 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: I felt the location wasn't always the best and that 509 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: was kind of part of the downfield. You know, the 510 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: sponsor for years pulled out and I felt that with 511 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: our baseball you know, connections and all the sponsors we 512 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: have there that we could move it downtown, um, in 513 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 1: a city park, but that took a lot of money. 514 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 1: We raised a lot of money to do that and 515 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: put about thirty two million in the city park. But 516 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: that's where it was originally played. It's a place where 517 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: it had plenty of room to do it, and it 518 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: was a central spot. So I knew that the draw 519 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: would be good because they had a hard time getting 520 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: fans out of the other locations. So just all that 521 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: came together. And the main reason we did it is, 522 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: you know, I went to the Phoenix Open one year 523 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: and I was with the CEO of Waste Management, Jim Fish, 524 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 1: and I said, man, this thing is unbelievable. I mean, 525 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,719 Speaker 1: how much revenue you generate. He said, well, um, you know, 526 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: they generate about twenty million for charity. And I'm going, 527 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: holy smokes. You know, that's something that interests me. And 528 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: I felt if I could get it downtown, I could 529 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: get the course renovated and pull all of those strings. 530 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: And we got a lot of support from foundations and 531 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: you know, donations throughout the city and a lot of sponsors, 532 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 1: and so we were able to pull together and this 533 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: last year we made about five and a half million 534 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: for charity. And so it's worked. It's up and running 535 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 1: and it should be a great tournament. For many years. 536 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: You mentioned charity, uh, the Astros Foundation. When when you 537 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 1: took over the running of the Houston Astros, how much 538 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 1: money was in the Astros Foundation? And how much is 539 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: in the Astros Foundation now, well, we've there wasn't much. 540 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: There was like thirty thousand. We couldn't find it. But um, 541 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, we do a 542 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: lot of events to raise money. Great sponsors again, you know, 543 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: they're the key. Um. We've probably raised over sixty million, 544 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 1: and you know, we spent thirty two million on the 545 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 1: golf course and you know, we probably give away five 546 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: or six million a year and you know, have a 547 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 1: pretty good balance in there. Um, and all that goes 548 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: back into the community. And I think, um, you know 549 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: that's why we get a lot of support of the ballpark. 550 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:24,239 Speaker 1: We started the baseball program. What we renovated, um, you know, 551 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: twenty three city fields and have eleven thousand kids that 552 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: have run through that program. We've had two kids drafted 553 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: and forty baseball and softball scholarships just from the kids 554 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: that have gone through that system, so you know, it's 555 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: it's easy to get behind that from a sponsor standpoint 556 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: when you can get those kind of results. And so 557 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: it's just given back to the city. We have a 558 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: great city and they're very generous and you couldn't do 559 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,160 Speaker 1: it without them. So let's take a short break and 560 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: we will be back right after this. All right, let's 561 00:27:54,960 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: get back to the interview. Through golf you've gotten to know. Mean, 562 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: we've got a bunch of tour players that are members here, 563 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: Brooks d j Um, Gary Woodland, Ricky Fowler. Um, you've 564 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: got a close friendship with Jimmy Walker. You get to 565 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: play a lot of golf with a lot of really 566 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: good golfers. When you play with these guys, Jim, what 567 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: stands out? I mean, obviously you're around baseball all the time, 568 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: so you're around the best baseball players in the world, 569 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 1: but you you get a ringside seat. Um, you're playing 570 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: the Dunhill every year, playing the Pebble Beach Pro Am. 571 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: You play a lot of problems when you play with 572 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: the best players in the world. What what what impresses 573 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:34,160 Speaker 1: you about their games? Well, they're just they're very, really, 574 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 1: really good. I mean you know, they they you know, 575 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: and they can focus. I mean, these are guys that 576 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: have all one big tournaments and um, you know play well. 577 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: It's it's hard to win every week in that business too, 578 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: but um, just just the way they strike the ball. 579 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: If you you know, I can kind of look at 580 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, guys swing and and you know you try 581 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: to emulate those swings. Not that you've got the speed 582 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 1: or the power they have, but but when you watch 583 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 1: good players play, um, I think it makes you better. 584 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: So they're just fun to play with. And you know 585 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: you can't play at that level, but um, a lot 586 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: of times you played better when you're playing with him 587 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: because you want to try a little harder and you 588 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: kind of watch what they're doing. Um, and and it's 589 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: great fun. I mean, not a lot of people get 590 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: to do that. So that's one one great thing about 591 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 1: having of course, you know they'll trip in here and 592 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: go play nine holes and uh, it's a lot of fun. 593 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: One of my favorite stories that I'd love for you 594 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: to tell you, uh, you repaired with Jimmy Walker when 595 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: Jimmy Walker won the Pebble Beach Pro am and last 596 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: round there on was yeah no so so Jimmy's kind 597 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: of you had a six shot of lead going in, 598 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: so I'm I'm just trying to stay out of his way. 599 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: But um, he's on fourteen and we've played that course 600 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: on on earlier in the week on Thursday, and we 601 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: had to get a string out on he pulled out 602 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: of five when he blew it way down there, very 603 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 1: hard hole of hit and two for even a pro 604 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: at Pebble Beach and he hit a fan of uh 605 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: three three wood to the right and they had to 606 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 1: get a string out to see if it was, um, 607 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: see if it was still in bounds, and it was. 608 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 1: It was then barely in bounds, and he chipped it 609 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: up there and made Bertie, which is you know, that's 610 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: a two shot swing. But I'll get to the end 611 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: of it. So we get on Sunday and you know, 612 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: he's made a couple of bogies just ship. You know, 613 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,080 Speaker 1: it's leads down maybe two or three, and he pulls 614 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: out the three wood and so I'm standing behind him 615 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: and his caddie's over there and we're waiting and waiting 616 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: because people on the green and so well, he's not 617 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: gonna hit that through. He was like, you know, it's 618 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 1: up hill. It was like two eighty or something. Yeah, 619 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: he had I think he had a five wood. Yeah, 620 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: And so anyway, I waved his caddy over. I said, 621 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 1: is he gonna hit that? That hit that five wood? 622 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 1: He said yeah? And I said you think he should 623 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: hit it? And he said no. And he says, I said, well, 624 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 1: go tell him. He says, you tell him. So I 625 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: didn't want to mess him up. So I got over 626 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: and I put my arm around. I said, Jimmy, what 627 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: we're gonna do here? He's I'm hit this little fade 628 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: five would up there and gonna land on the green 629 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: soft of any thing to roll off the back and 630 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: I'll have a you know, kind of a back into 631 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 1: the grain chip. I said, okay, So I slapped him 632 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 1: on the back and I said hit it. Let's go, 633 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 1: you know, just because I didn't want to tell him 634 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 1: not they hit it. So he hit it right over flags. 635 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: Sure enough, he chipped it up a little, stubbed it 636 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 1: a little bit, and and miss the put. But he 637 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: still made par. But he's coming in and he's leaking all. 638 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: He's got one one shot lead coming into eighteen. You know, 639 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: I'm thinking everybody's gonna blame me if he blows the thing. 640 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: So he he hits a you know, pulled out an 641 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: iron on eighteen, hits it to the right, not a 642 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: very good shot, and then chunks it up there and 643 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: it's got to hit it over the tree. On the 644 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: third shot of pebble beach, hits on the back of green, 645 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: blows it by the hole. It's got about a five 646 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,160 Speaker 1: or six ft or he curled it in the corner. 647 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: So he did. He won by one stinking shot. But 648 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: you know, you go back, you know the difference. You know, 649 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 1: you can see these guys when they when you play 650 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: with him doing that it you know, turn it comes 651 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: down to one shot and it could have been that 652 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: shot where you hit it out of bounds on the 653 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: first day. That's the two shot swing. So um, it's 654 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: a tough business. But but it was fun to watch 655 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: him under pressure and you could see the pressure getting 656 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 1: to him a little bit. You know, he got kind 657 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: of out of his routine. So those guys, those guys 658 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: to feel the pressure, I'm sure, but it was it's 659 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 1: always been fun to play with them. What do you 660 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 1: think the similarities for everyone listening, Jim, what are the 661 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:19,479 Speaker 1: similar I mean you've been so successful in in your 662 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: business is what are the similarities between business and sports? 663 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: What do you feel like they are? Because we hear 664 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: a lot of that. You know, they're very similar, you know, competition, 665 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: all of that. But for you, as someone that has 666 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: been so successful both in sports and in business, what 667 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: do you feel like the similarities are. Well, I think 668 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 1: you know, in business, you're not You're not always gonna 669 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: have a great year. You're gonna have some bad years. 670 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: Things happen. Um, you know, you may not get this 671 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 1: account that you really wanted. I mean, it's it's very similar. 672 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 1: It's difficult. You have to be consistent, you gotta show up, 673 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: and you've got to do the work. And I think 674 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 1: being a great athlete, uh, you see all of that. 675 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 1: In the great athletes, you know they may work a 676 00:32:57,680 --> 00:32:59,600 Speaker 1: little harder, they may put in a couple of hours 677 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: extra practice that you know, they may put in more 678 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 1: time at the gym. Um. So I think that's the similarities. 679 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: It's the same in business as the effort you put 680 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: out and you know how you distinguish yourself against your competitors, 681 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: and and it works in sports too. In business, if 682 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:19,800 Speaker 1: I see a kid's resume. UM. And and you know 683 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: they played volleyball in college. Um they were swimmer, UM 684 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 1: they whatever the sport was, if they played in college 685 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 1: or or even competitively at something. UM, I knew two 686 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 1: things right away. One they're gonna show up and they're 687 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: gonna work. And to UM, they don't like to lose. 688 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:41,960 Speaker 1: And so when you have those two attributes in business, 689 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 1: they're very valuable and just like they are in sports. Well, 690 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 1: I appreciate you Targets. Congrats. UM, you guys are doing 691 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: an amazing job. And uh, you know we're all just 692 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:56,600 Speaker 1: we're so happy for you because we're all Astros fans. Now, well, 693 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 1: well we'll try to do it again. It's never easy, 694 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: but you know, we'll have fun at the ballpark and 695 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 1: we've got a good team there and we've got good 696 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,840 Speaker 1: people supporting us. So thank you very much and good 697 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: luck to you guys. Thanks. So that was Jim Crane 698 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,279 Speaker 1: and UM, I mean he's he's a success. I mean 699 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 1: borrow ten thousand dollars from his sister to start his businesses. 700 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:25,720 Speaker 1: He's a multi billionaire. UM, he's a two time World 701 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: Series franchise owner in the Houston Astros. And UM, the 702 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 1: coolest thing about Jim is, like I said at the beginning, 703 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 1: my dad and I've known Jim. Um. I met him 704 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,279 Speaker 1: when he had just started his first company. He was 705 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:39,719 Speaker 1: a young member at Lock and Bar Golf Club, where 706 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:40,960 Speaker 1: my dad was the head pro and where I was 707 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: working as an assistant. And you know, in the subsequent years, 708 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:48,720 Speaker 1: the only difference between Jim in the early nineties versus 709 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: Jim and is he's just got a lot more money. 710 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 1: He's the same person, and uh, you know, I'm really 711 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 1: proud to work for him and and and be a 712 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:00,879 Speaker 1: part of everything that he's doing. So good to talk 713 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:05,239 Speaker 1: to him. So the PGA Tour Um is back. The 714 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: West Coast Swing is underway. Two tournaments in Hawaii. The 715 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 1: Tournament of champions Um not really the Tournament of champions 716 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:16,879 Speaker 1: anymore because the PGA Tour this year deciding to let 717 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:19,920 Speaker 1: in everybody that made it to the Tour Championship last year. 718 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,319 Speaker 1: So if you made it to Eastlake, you made it 719 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:25,759 Speaker 1: to the Tournament of champions And I'll let you guys 720 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 1: do the math on that one. Um Colin Moore Kalis 721 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: shut lead going in the final round and doesn't get 722 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: it done. And John ram I mean just shoots lights 723 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,879 Speaker 1: out and takes the first tournament of the year. And 724 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I just I saw this tweet the other day. Um. 725 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: In his last fifteen starts, John Ram has won two 726 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 1: national opens. Um, He's won the Tournament of Champions. He. 727 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 1: I mean, the guy basically just either wins finished his 728 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: top ten or top five in every tournament he enters. 729 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 1: And how he's the number five ranked player in the 730 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 1: world with that resume. He just won the end of 731 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:07,479 Speaker 1: the year on the DP World Tour. Uh so he's 732 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 1: pretty much one of his two out of his last 733 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:13,600 Speaker 1: three starts. And UM, I don't know how you can 734 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: do that against the field that was in Maui and 735 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: and not move up in the world rankings. I mean, 736 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,400 Speaker 1: it's just it's it's crazy. I think they've got to 737 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 1: try and figure something out. And and and it's not 738 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:23,839 Speaker 1: just me saying this. I mean when you hear John 739 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 1: Rams saying that he thinks it's crazy. Um. And he 740 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 1: was talking about that in Dubai before he won, so, um, 741 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 1: he he said he feels like he's the best player 742 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: in the world right now. And I'm telling you, I mean, 743 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: Rory's mcroy's playing some unbelievable golf. Right now, Cam Smith's 744 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:43,280 Speaker 1: played unbelievable golf. Uh DJ has played great golf, Scottie Scheffler. 745 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: But if you look at the way John ram has 746 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 1: been playing over the last you know, end of last 747 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:50,920 Speaker 1: year and again the beginning of this year. Um, I 748 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,400 Speaker 1: think there's an argument to be made that he is 749 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:54,880 Speaker 1: the number one ranked player in the world. But I 750 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 1: can guarantee you this, He's not the fifth rank player 751 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,840 Speaker 1: in the world. I know that. So, UM, it'll be 752 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:02,400 Speaker 1: interesting to see how some of the new rookies. I 753 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,279 Speaker 1: think everybody's excited to see how Tom kim plays um 754 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:08,160 Speaker 1: full year on the PGA Tour. Um, you'll see a 755 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:10,920 Speaker 1: lot of players starting in Hawaii, and then we shouldn't 756 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: have a pretty good field for Palm Springs. The American 757 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:17,280 Speaker 1: Express it was with Ricky Fowler. Had lunch with Ricky 758 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,960 Speaker 1: Fowler yesterday. He said he was starting there. And you 759 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 1: heard me say this on the podcast before. I'm betting 760 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: that Ricky wins on the PGA Tour before the Masters. 761 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: That is my hot, hot take. But hats off to 762 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:33,400 Speaker 1: John Rom. He is. If there's a better golfer on 763 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,319 Speaker 1: the planet, I don't know who it is. And you know, 764 00:37:35,560 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 1: when I watch him play golf, I wonder how he 765 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:40,279 Speaker 1: doesn't basically win every golf tournament because he rarely hits 766 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:43,880 Speaker 1: it offline, and he's an amazing putter, and when he 767 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: is firing on all cylinders. Um, he's one of those 768 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: two three guys in the world of professional golf where 769 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: I just don't know how you beat him. So I'm 770 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 1: excited golf's back, and it'll be good to see all 771 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 1: of the tours back up and running very very soon. Sonovo, 772 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:03,799 Speaker 1: which comes to you every Wednesday, we will see you 773 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:07,719 Speaker 1: next week. Thank you everyone for listening, rate review, subscribe 774 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast