Convenience Big Store: Listen to the new, unapologetic, guns-blazing Steve Sarkisian

MEMORIAL DAY SALE: ONE WEEK ONLY!

Unlock digital access to local news.

ONLY 25¢

Sale Ends May 25

Today's starting lineup

It was a different Steve Sarkisian on display at the Houston Touchdown Club on Thursday. It was an unapologetic, guns-blazing Steve Sarkisian, who no longer watches his Ps and Qs and doesn’t mind firing from the hip. Kirk Bohls has the report. One of Sark's targets was Tech and its schedule. And the Red Raiders fired back.

Please scroll down for the rest of this morning’s headlines.

Reid Laymance, Sports Editor

reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com

College Football

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian ytalks to the team after practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.

Photo by: Aaron E. Martinez, Austin American-Statesman

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian doesn't hold back

From academic standards to schedules to the CFP, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian isn't shy on stating his opinions during trip to Houston.

Tech's response: Texas' Steve Sarkisian appeared to take a shot at Texas Tech's schedule when he was in Houston, so Red Raiders' billionaire Cody Campbell offered him a solution. Read More

Astros / MLB

Chicago Cubs' Alex Bregman (3) celebrates hitting a solo homerun against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Atlanta.

Photo by: Mike Stewart, AP

Friday's Astros-Cubs game won't be on regular TV carrier. How to watch it

Houston's series opener against Alex Bregman and his new team will require a streaming subscription for fans to watch.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) makes a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Texans OTAs: Can C.J. Stroud find his groove again? Where does Tank Dell fit?

C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell are among two of the more notable individuals to watch when the Texans begin on-field offseason workouts next week.

UH's Alexa Saldana of Mexico tees off on the 1st hole during a practice round ahead of the R&A Women's Amateur Championship at Nairn Golf Club on June 9, 2025 in Nairn, Scotland.

UH women's golf team takes an international flair to NCAA Championships

Seven of the eight players on the University of Houston women's golf team are from outside the U.S. but will bring a little bit of Texas to NCAAs.

Players Era: After opening with Rutgers, Florida and Notre Dame are in Houston's side of the bracket in the new format for the Players Era tournament Read More

College Baseball

David Pierce. an assistant to Wayne Graham during Rice baseball's heyday, takes over the Owls and looks to reverse the program's decline in recent years.

Rice rallies to beat Wichita State in American Conference tournament

The Owls scored twice in the bottom of the ninth and will next face East Carolina in the American Conference baseball tournament.

SEC baseball: Texas faces Arkansas and Texas A&M plays Auburn in the SEC quarterfinals. If the Longhorns and Aggies win, they would meet in the semifinals on Saturday. Read More

NBA Playoffs

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) reaches for the ball during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The San Antonio Spurs fell 122-113 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Why Stephon Castle shouldered the blame for Spurs' turnover woes

With injuries to De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, Castle will need to improve after accruing more turnovers (20) than assists (19) through the first two games of the Western Conference finals.

Knicks 109, Cavs 93: The New York Knicks moved halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers. Read More