Lake Affected

Houston Texans coach Dom Capers and his wife, Karen, were at one table in the dining room where he-man portions of Italian food regularly win fan loyalty. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa held forth at another table.

In a private room, Houston Astros Craig Biggio and wife Patty, Brad Ausmus and wife Liz, Wade Miller and Jeff Bagwell gathered along with former Astros Billy Doran, Terry Puhl and Casey Candaele and others. Most had come in after attending Ken Caminiti's memorial service that afternoon.

Houston, the fifth-largest market in the U.S. (behind, NY, LA, Chicago and Philly), has such a lush choice of restaurants that the best these guys can do is go to Maggiano's, an OK Italian food place, but hardly the pinnacle of restaurant dining?

Plus, we don't have the oppressive heat and humidity. I could go on, but screw Houston and St. Louis!