Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
Bud Light
BASEBALL'S RODEO REBEL

Astro Carlos Lee either really loves the rodeo, or really hates baseball

March 6th, 2010 at 11:24 PM

Chances are that if you took two days off from your job during an important planning conference to attend the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo — after having just returned from a four-month vacation — you wouldn't be employed much longer.

Carlos Lee — the Houston Astros' $100 million man — does it ... and it's shrugged off as Carlos being Carlos the cattleman.

Lee returned to Astros spring training in Kissimmee, Fla. today after having given the Astros the kiss off for two days in order to herd cattle at Houston's rodeo. This isn't a joke to Lee. He's a true, dedicated cattleman. He owns working ranches in both Texas and his native Panama. He loves the Houston rodeo enough that he negotiated getting an excused rodeo absence every spring into his contract.

Which makes one wonder just how easy it is to bargain with Astros owner Drayton McLane? Lee's six-year $100-million deal was already dubbed one of the 45 worst contracts in baseball - before anyone knew about the rodeo provision. Did new pitcher Brett Myers work two excused domestic violence free passes into his deal?

Sure, it's sort of Houston cute that Lee loves the rodeo this much. Now, that's showing some inner cowboy.

But can you imagine what the reaction would be Alex Rodriguez took two days off from Yankees spring training to attend a poker tournament? It'd be the talk of a baseball and instantly become a referendum on A-Rod's true commitment to the team. With the Astros no one really cares one way or the other ... because the Astros are quickly becoming a team that no one cares about (or at least one that no one takes seriously).

What's next? Hunter Pence gets Tuesdays off to teach a spin class?

Carlos Lee is a funny rodeo story.

Unless, you're hoping to see another Houston sports franchise ever win a championship.

Related News
Jul 29, 2010

The Houston Texans are the hottest (it's certified!)

Jul 29, 2010

(Updated) I'll miss you, Roy Oswalt: With the good guy ace gone to Philly, the Astros will never be the same

Jul 29, 2010

A forgivable wave, seized vuvuzelas & Man U power: It's an MLS All-Star Game to remember

Jul 28, 2010

Landon Donovan will be a near no show in the MLS All-Star Game — despite his protests

Jul 28, 2010

MLS All-Star Game is set for a historic Reliant Stadium sell out, but the parties are an even tougher ticket

Related Events
Jul 31st - 6:05 PM

The Houston Astros present "Faith and Family Night" featuring Jars of Clay

Aug 6th - 6:00 PM

Astros Wives Gala "Black Ties and Baseball Caps"

Related Guide Listings

Reliant Stadium

Minute Maid Park

Comments
News_placeholder_rodeo_cowboy_spur enlarge overlay enlarge overlay
 
Who wants to be a baseball player? Carlos Lee would rather be a cowboy.
 
Reliant Stadium - Get Directions
Minute Maid Park - Get Directions
Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
How to Talk Like a Cowboy
"Never follow good whiskey with water, unless you're out of good whiskey."
"Be always sure you are right—then go ahead." -Davy Crockett
"Dance with the one who brung ya."
"Never kick a cow chip on a hot day."
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
“You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?” –Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry
"If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging."
"Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance. "
"Never ask a barber if you need a haircut."
"Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyways." –John Wayne
"If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there." -Will Rogers
"Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco."
"Never drink unless you're alone or with somebody."
"It’s immoral to let a sucker keep his money.” -Canada Bill Jones
"Nature gave us all something to fall back on, and sooner or later we all land flat on it."
“Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much” –John Wayne
"I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks." -Daniel Boone
"Don't squat with your spurs on."
"We all got pieces of crazy in us, some bigger pieces than others."
"Always drink upstream from the herd."
"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction."
"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife." -Daniel Boone
"This thing of being a hero, about the main thing to it is to know when to die. Prolonged life has ruined more men than it ever made." -Will Rogers
"Leave me alone and let me go to hell by my own route." –Calamity Jane
"You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"People thought me bad before, but if ever I should get free, I'll let them know what bad means.'' -Billy the Kid
"Only a fool argues with skunk, a mule, or a cook."
"A pair of six-shooters beats a pair of sixes." -Belle Starr
"It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep."
"Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got."
"What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds." -Will Rogers
"They say I killed six or seven men for snoring. It ain't true. I only killed one man for snoring." -John Wesley Hardin
"Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back."
"I take no sass but sasparilla." -John Wesley Hardin
"Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything." -Wyatt Earp
"If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging."
Prev | Next
March 31
Buckling down: Houston's most over-the-top belt buckles
March 30
No (mechanical) bull: Travolta, Winger & Gilley's forever changed Houston
March 29
The five best honky tonks in Houston

Home · About Us · Contact Us · Suggestions · Advertise · Terms and Conditions · Privacy Policy
Copyright 2009-2010 CultureMap, LLC · Powered by Mouth Watering Media, LLC