Hours after the Astros announced Monday that team president and CEO George Postolos had resigned, focusing attention on problems on the franchise's business side, KHOU reported the team no longer will support the annual Black Tie and Baseball Caps Gala organized by the Astros Wives Organization. Proceeds from the event, first held at the Astrodome in 1990, benefited the Houston Area Women's Center, which lends support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin, speaking to the Touchdown Club of Houston last week, said his staff doesn't spend much time coaching offensive tackle Jake Matthews or his brother, center Mike Matthews. Former Texas wide receiver George Sauer Jr., who died last week of Alzheimer's disease, was one of four Longhorns who played for the New York Jets when they won Super Bowl III in 1969. 1 Helmets off to the Texas House for passing a bill for a pilot program enabling parents to purchase supplemental concussion insurance for boys who play football and girls who play soccer. Agent Leigh Steinberg, who has done as much as anyone to publicize the long-term effects of concussions, said in an interview he applauded efforts also to minimize knee injuries. [...] they stink.

Despite having been in the spotlight barely a year and a half as owners of the Astros, the Jim Crane regime was in desperate need of a face-lift. Hiring Reid Ryan as the team president doesn't erase all the wrinkles, blemishes and scars, but at least for now, Crane and Co. can put on a happy face. Ryan, the eldest son of Astros pitching great and current Rangers executive Nolan Ryan, is the CEO of Ryan-Sanders, the owner of the Round Rock Express and Corpus Christi Hooks, a pair of successful minor league franchises. [...] starting with today's announcement, perhaps "dynamic" soon will be most often associated with the team's president instead of its unpopular new ticket policy. While it will be a while before the Astros' on-the-field product benefits from Ryan's presence, you can be sure he will bring ideas that will be noticed. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow describes baseball as a people business. Remember when Crane blew the standard new owner honeymoon while announcing so-called "fan-friendly initiatives" that included cheaper tickets?

During the Texans' three-day rookie minicamp that begins Friday, quarterbacks Case Keenum and Collin Klein will be throwing a lot of passes to a plethora of receivers, including first-round pick DeAndre Hopkins. Keenum can participate in the rookie camp because he spent his first season on the practice squad. Klein, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist with Kansas State last season, signed after he wasn't drafted. The rookie minicamp, which will consist of two practices Friday and Saturday and one Sunday, gives the coaches a chance to watch a lot of young players who have been drafted or signed as free agents and also those who are trying to impress enough to be taken to training camp.