Sports Bits: Last Charge For Toros, Opening Day For Express, and Sports Guy Props

Basketball: Thursday is your very last chance to catch the Austin Toros this year. The team celebrates Marcus Fizer's MVP win and the conclusion of a successful opening season, finishing against Fort Worth at the Convention Center that evening at 7:30pm. Tickets available here.

Baseball: Opening day is approaching for the Round Rock Express. The team kicks off their 2006 season by playing nightly from April 14th-21st at the Dell Diamond. There's even swag like caps and calendars on selected evenings, and a fireworks show following the opening night's game. Tickets are cheap ($12 and under) and are available now.

Sportswriting: ESPN's Sports Guy Bill Simmons visited Austin recently for a book signing, and now he can't stop mentioning us. Simmons made a glowing reference to Austin while mocking Houston during NBA All-Star weekend:

But let's look at a place like Austin versus a place like Houston. I LOVED Austin. Loved the downtown. Loved the pockets of bars. Loved the music. Loved how it was easy to walk around. It even reminded me a little of New Orleans. I was glad I went there. In just a single day, I feel like I have a better grasp of Austin than Houston, a place where I have spent 24 days over the past four years. There won't be a 25th.

He now offers this advice to a reader:

Q: My wife and I agree to abide by your choice. We want to move someplace else. Here are the requirements: 1) East of the Rockies; 2) Smaller than 1 million people but bigger than 100,000; 3) Minor league and Division I sports; and 4) Good weather. You pick the town, we'll move there. Swear to God. -- Kit Moss, Bend, Ore.

SG: Since you just described Austin, Texas, that's my pick. Hell, they even have a bar on 6th Street that has shuffleboard tables. You can't go wrong.

Thanks, Bill. Keep the Miami Vice and White Shadow jokes coming.

Photo via Matt Wright, Quotes via ESPN.com