The Astrodome was futuristic for its time and befitted a city and team that represented the "Space Age" and the "can do" attitude of Texans. Can't play in 98-degree weather? We'll build a roof and pump air conditioning inside. Can't grow grass indoors? We'll invent a carpet that plays like grass. For all its flaws, it is what represented Houston to the rest of the world. It was admired and despised for just that sort of attitude.

It's decline was more due to mismanagement as much as age. Bud Adams had the giant scoreboard removed. The great amenities of 1965 couldn't compare to what stadiums offered by 1995. Instead of listening to the tunes of Herb Alpert or watching a clever cartoon on the scoreboard during breaks in the action, economics replaced them with ear-splitting ads and dot races.

MMPUS represents to me the thought of every new ballpark looking just like every other new ballpark. Camden Yard was nice but do half the stadiums in the majors have to steal the same general look right down to the forest green chairs?

Of course, MMPUS is different. It has a retractable roof that has never kept me as cool as I felt in the Dome - sort of like the difference between a car air conditioner made in the USA and one made in Japan. Japanese auto makers don't understand Texas summers the way U.S. auto makers do.

Then there is the harsh sun fields and the greenhouse look caused by the sun coming in from over the train tracks when the roof is closed during day games.

I will admit that the look of real grass is nice and the breeze when the roof is open in April or September can be pleasant and, admittedly, unavailable inside the Dome.

Still, I wish the team were inside the Dome and resembled futuristic Astronauts again instead of outdoors dressed like Texaco gas station attendants at a train depot. I think they should have retired the name "Astros" during the move and renamed them the "Engineers" or the "Super Chiefs" or something that better fit the motiff.