Rootes (l) mostly focuses on how the Texans maintain a high level of business performance in his bookGETTY IMAGES
Texans President JAMEY ROOTES has written a book about his three decades in sports business titled “THE WINNING GAME PLAN: A PROVEN LEADERSHIP PLAYBOOK FOR CONSISTENT BUSINESS SUCCESS.” Rootes did all the writing while also navigating the pandemic’s historic disruption to sports. Shortly after in-person gatherings were banned in March, Rootes realized he would get back many hours a week that used to be dedicated to traveling to meetings or appearances. “Personally, I just made a commitment,” he said. “This was something I always wanted to do, and I’ll sacrifice time in other areas, things I’d like to be doing, and spend that time doing something that will have lasting value.” The book, dedicated to late Texans Owner BOB MCNAIR, mostly focuses on how the Texans maintain a high level of business performance regardless of the team’s win-loss record. He first got the idea when GREG BEADLES, COO of Falcons parent company AMB Sports & Entertainment, asked him about that track record at a league meeting. Rootes aimed to write a book substantial enough for business students to use as a resource while also serving as an entertaining behind-the-scenes look for regular Texans fans. “They say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down -- you’re learning, but you don’t feel like you’re learning,” Rootes said. He also spends time in the book speaking of his relationship with McNair. “The whole challenge is live a Christ-like life,” Rootes said. “Nobody can get there, but the goal to try to live like Christ did. Nobody believed that more intently in his heart, and nobody delivered on it more effectively than Bob McNair, that’s just my opinion.” Rootes finished writing on Oct. 10, and the book will be available Nov. 10 at Amazon. He is giving the net proceeds to the Houston Texans Foundation.
