Astros Advance to the World Series: Your Texas Roundup

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s cold, man. Is it always like this at this time of year?”

—Usain Bolt after arriving in Austin on Sunday, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The recently retired Jamaican track star and fastest person of all-time was in town for the Formula One race at Circuit of the Americas, where he was the official starter. The temperature dropped to the mid-60s when Bolt arrived in Austin on Sunday morning.

BIG NEWS

Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates with Alex Bregman #2, Marwin Gonzalez #9 and Carlos Correa #1 after defeating the New York Yankees by a score of 4-0 to win Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas.Elsa/Getty

Houston Strong
The Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 4-0 in game seven of the American League Championship Series on Saturday to advance to the World Series. This will be the team’s second World Series appearance ever, after they won the National League pennant in 2005. After suffering through years of mediocrity and worse, the Astros are right on schedule—in case you forgot, Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the franchise’s rebuilding project back in 2014, declaring Houston the future 2017 World Series champs. Now they must beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to fulfill the prophecy, which won’t be easy. The Dodgers haven’t been to the World Series since 1988, but the storied franchise has reached the championship stage nineteen times and won six World Series. They had the best record in baseball this season, finishing with 104 wins, and the Dodgers have played like the best team in the playoffs so far, losing just one game on their way to the World Series. Their dominant bullpen and strong starting rotation, led by all-time great Clayton Kershaw, will be a tough test for Jose Altuve and the rest of the Astros’ prolific lineup. Game one will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS

Presidential Palace
All five living former presidents gathered at Texas A&M University on Saturday for a Hurricane Harvey relief benefit, according to the Dallas Morning News. Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter all spoke at the “Deep From the Heart” benefit concert organized by One America Appeal, which had raised more than $31 million from over 80,000 donors by Saturday. “When they see their neighbors, their friends, when they see strangers in need, Americans step up,” Obama said, according to the Morning News. “And as heartbreaking as the tragedies that took place here in Texas, Florida, in Puerto Rico, in the U.S. Virgin Islands have been, what we’ve also seen is the spirit of America at its best.” Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, and former Vice President Dick Cheney were also at the benefit concert—plus, Lady Gaga. President Donald Trump did not attend.

No Sanctuary
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was in downtown Austin on Friday, where he delivered a speech with some tough talk against immigration, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Sessions slammed so-called immigrant sanctuary cities while Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, one of the toughest critics of Texas’s anti-sanctuary law, SB 4, was in the audience. “These jurisdictions that knowingly, willfully, and purposefully release criminal aliens back into their communities are risking the lives and safety of American citizens in the pursuit of what really is an extreme open borders policy,” Sessions said, according to the Statesman. He also praised Trump for trying to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities and for restoring “law and order,” claiming Trump’s long-awaited border wall would make clear the administration’s tough stance on immigration. “But more importantly, the wall will send a message to the world that we enforce our laws,” Sessions said. “It sends a message: finally we mean it.”

Pop Star
Selena will finally get a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, Variety first reported. The Queen of Tejano music will be honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce during a ceremony on November 3. Her star will be in front of the Capitol Records building. “Since day one of Selena’s selection into the Walk of Fame, not a day went by that we were not asked by fans when Selena would get her star,” Ana Martinez, producer of Walk of Fame ceremonies, told NBC News in a statement. “This day has come and fans from around the world will rejoice in her well-deserved honor.” Selena will be the 2,622nd star on the Walk of Fame. Fans who can’t make it to Los Angeles for the ceremony will be able to watch it live on www.walkoffame.com. “This day is finally becoming a reality and we cannot be happier,” Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, said on behalf of Selena’s family in a statement on Facebook. “We are grateful Selena’s life has been an inspiration to so many and we hope it will continue to encourage people to follow their dreams.”