Maybe Ed Wade is a genius, general manager and motivational guru wrapped in one, columnist Steve Campbell writes. But the big picture is that the Astros are 40-43 and closer to last place than first.

Maybe Ed Wade is a genius, general manager and motivational guru wrapped in one, columnist Steve Campbell writes. But the big picture is that the Astros are 40-43 and closer to last place than first.

Maybe Ed Wade is a genius, general manager and motivational guru wrapped in one, columnist Steve Campbell writes. But the big picture is that the Astros are 40-43 and closer to last place than first.

Astros outfielder Hunter Pence steps into the batting cage hundreds of times a year. He is 25, and if he's really lucky, he'll never let life or losing or anything else change him in any fundamental way, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

Astros outfielder Hunter Pence steps into the batting cage hundreds of times a year. He is 25, and if he's really lucky, he'll never let life or losing or anything else change him in any fundamental way, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

If June is approaching, then the Rice Owls must be settling into the high-stakes, no-limit, fold-at-your-own-peril portion of the season, columnist Steve Campbell writes. And Ryan Berry is there to lean on.

If June is approaching, then the Rice Owls must be settling into the high-stakes, no-limit, fold-at-your-own-peril portion of the season, columnist Steve Campbell writes. And Ryan Berry is there to lean on.

The 2008 story of Roy Oswalt has been a tale of woe ? one the Astros need to end more happily than it has begun, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The Cougars are just one more set of obstacles away from the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The Cougars are just one more set of obstacles away from the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The Cougars are just one more set of obstacles away from the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

Big Brown didn't merely win the 133rd Preakness Stakes. He commanded the 13/16-mile race and the 11 who dared to challenge him Saturday, leaving the horse-racing industry aglow, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The only thing really stopping women's sports from being as overblown and out of perspective as men's sports is ... women, columnist Steve Campbell writes. And it just got tougher with two big retirements this week.

The Astros had to work 12 innings to give a crowd of 38,301 a happy ending on Sunday. This is the kind of day that can help convince a team it can beat anybody any time, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The Astros had to work 12 innings to give a crowd of 38,301 a happy ending on Sunday. This is the kind of day that can help convince a team it can beat anybody any time, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

If the Rockets can play their defensive rotations right and knock down enough shots, they could end up with a playoff series worthy of washing down with champagne, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

If the Rockets can play their defensive rotations right and knock down enough shots, they could end up with a playoff series worthy of washing down with champagne, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

Duane Brown was such an incredible hulk of a 6-year-old, Little League parents welcomed him with folded arms and frowns, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The hiring of Mike Sherman as head football coach just might push the Aggies down the path they have so long sought: the one that leads to repeated success, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

The hiring of Mike Sherman as head football coach just might push the Aggies down the path they have so long sought: the one that leads to repeated success, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

Chronicle columnist Steve Campbell visits with Elmo Wright, the former UH star whose one-game receiving record for yardage was just broken by Donnie Avery.

Columnist Steve Campbell finds out how coach Henry Frazier has transformed Prairie View from a football laughingstock to a winning team.

His hands are as reliable as the time on an atomic clock. He runs pass routes with a draftsman's sense of angles and precision. If Jarett Dillard were faster than a speeding cornerback, he'd be Superman, columnist Steve Campbell writes.

His hands are as reliable as the time on an atomic clock. He runs pass routes with a draftsman's sense of angles and precision. If Jarett Dillard were faster than a speeding cornerback, he'd be Superman, columnist Steve Campbell writes.