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Houston and beyond.

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"I have only two addictions," says Wayne Graham, the head coach of the Rice University baseball team. "Competition and Houston." Both, it turns out, have paid huge dividends for his beloved hometown. Last June the Owls grabbed national headlines when they won the College World Series by beating Stanford University.

It was the first national title Rice had won in any sport, and as the players piled on one another in wild celebration, the announcer on ESPN couldn't help but gush that the university was a shining example of a school that had won the right way. No wonder the Houston Chronicle's headline declared, "Rice Guys Finish First."

To an outsider, it might seem odd that a city as big and cosmopolitan as Houston would get so excited about the success of a college sports team, but, Graham says, "Houston wanted to see Rice as an example of doing things right." Indeed, throughout the city's 150-year history of building a metropolis out of a swampy bayou, through the booms and busts, the fair weather and the natural disasters, the enormous wins and heartfelt losses, one thing has remained constant--the feeling that Houstonians can accomplish anything, regardless of the odds.

Today the settlement on the bayou is flourishing. It's the largest city in the state and the fourth-largest city in the country. More than 4.8 million people live in Houston and the surrounding metropolitan area, and that number continues to grow. Between 2000 and 2002, the population increased almost 6 percent, proof enough that Houston attracts those individuals looking for a better life.

Few places offer such outstanding opportunities for employment and education while at the same time providing such diversity in the arts, from world-class museums to an internationally renowned symphony orchestra. Shopping is also in the bag. From the gold standard of the Galleria to the eclectic shops along Montrose, Houstonians can choose from trendy to vintage to everything in between. When it comes to dining, just hope your eyes aren't bigger than your stomach. Houston can satisfy every palate, from refined Asian cuisine to down-home barbecue. Did someone say sports? It wouldn't be Texas without a chance to root for the home team; with a full schedule of professional and college sports, from football to tennis, Houston has reestablished itself as one of the greatest sports cities in the nation. "Today sports are probably better than they have ever been in Houston," Graham says. The city prides itself on looking ahead to the next big deal, the next big play, and the next chance to make its mark on Texas.

AN ALL-STAR

This season marked the opening of the $202 million Toyota Center, which will also be the home of the WNBA's Houston Comets and the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros. When the Rockets tipped off the current season on October 30, they did so in front of 18,300 fans ready to usher in a new era of Rockets basketball. Part of it was the arena, with its 2900 club seats and 8300 seats with cup holders, plus the video screens above the court that provide nearly twice the resolution of any other arena screens in the world.

For the Houston Aeros, the 2002-2003 season was one for the record books. The Aeros won the American Hockey League's championship, taking the Calder Cup home to Houston.

As for the Comets, the team that set the standard for success in the WNBA is looking to return to championship form in 2004. The team will be gunning for its fifth title when it tips off in May 2004 in the Toyota Center.

In July 2004 Astros fans will watch as the eyes of baseball shift to Houston when Minute Maid Park hosts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It will be the third time that Houston has hosted the event.

Houstonians celebrated the return of professional football in 2002 with the opening game of their new team, the Houston Texans. Not only did the Houston Texans open against the Dallas Cowboys, they won. By beating America's Team 19-10 before 69,604 football-crazed fans, Houston became Texas' team. Just as amazing as the win was the stadium the team now calls home. Though the nostalgic may have missed the Astrodome, Reliant quickly established itself as one of the best stadiums in the NFL. Reliant Stadium will host the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four April 2-4, 2011. It will also host an NCAA Division I regional tournament in 2010.

In November the Westside Tennis Club hosted the Tennis Masters Cup, the annual season-ending event for professional men's tennis. To accommodate the tremendous fan interest, the Westside Tennis Club built a facility that seats 8500 and will be lit for night play. The club will also host...

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