Jeff has been doing this dance since the day coach arrived. Coach said in his initial press conference that it will take time but we will get better and we will play the right way and represent this terrific city of Atlanta the right way. To be honest with you, they have!!!. To continue, Woodson said we will have to learn to crawl, then to take baby steps, then to walk, then do a slight jog and finally to jog and finally to run and fly. I believe they are lightly jogging now and have improved year after year. It truly amazes me how they have over come adversity ALL THE TIME!!!! They never complain at least publicly.

That Portland team literally quit yesterday and that is amazing to see how they have defended their home this year. Again, part of the “Maturation Process”. I have enjoyed the ride…I really have.

Thanks Truth-Serum and I have really enjoyed reading your stuff. I nominate you to replace Jeff Shultz. Jeff, maybe we should boycott your articles until you become more balanced in your writing. I notice even Mark Bradley has come around and more fair and balanced. Just be fair Jeff…just be fair. GO HAWKS!!!!…Keep up the good work coach Woodson and I loved your latest blog entry Truth-Serum!!!

March 15th, 2009
9:10 am
“But it’s obvious in the past week to 10 days that this team is rolling now and Woodson is doing a great job. The way he and this team ultimately will be judged though is over the body of work of this season, which includes the playoffs. If the Hawks win 1-2 rounds, Woodson will have done his job.”

I guess this is a concession… (Hopefully a light bulb has come on in that mind of yours). This is definitely a change in your demeanor. Maybe Snowman has been getting to you.
I do agree with you on a couple of points. We are all judged by a body of work and not excerpts, and I agree that Woodson, Smith and the Hawks have moved past whatever growth issues Josh brought to the table.
Reality check. Writing is considered a sword or instrument of battle, hence the adage,” The pen is mightier that the sword. My criticism of the body of your work is that you come across as recklessly opinionated, divisive, and even racist. The story by SEKOU SMITH Friday, March 13, 2009, clearly demonstrates uplifting and inspiring writing. Where does your loyalty lie? Most cities with sports franchises have writers who feel and write as if they are a part of the team and a weapon against the other team. If you want to divide something divide the other team. Over the years you have wielded your pen divisively rather than inspirationally (i.e. your handling of the Michael Vick persecution) Remember he who lives by the sword will die by the sword
The Hawks are a class act! Period. From the coach to the players the Hawks are a turn on, and a drama of hope, ambition, dreams and youth…build from that- UPWARDS!
I disagree with you that the Hawks success will be measure by how far they go in the playoffs. In my opinion the success will be measure by the product. Do the put on a good show? Yes, are the fans supporting them? (This means the product is marketable) Yes. Do they have a salability future? Yes. Have they reached their peak? No!
I think you do not consider how young the Hawks are…Josh Smith is a few years out of high school and never played college, Marvin William just one year of college. Woodson has a tough job and has done it well!
I also challenge you on the issue that time in the NBA automatically equates to victories. Why didn’t Koncak get better with time? Isaiah Rider? The experience of touring the NBA as a player is worth a 1 or 2 game improvement a year, at best. The reason the Hawks get better is because of talent, determination, coaching, leadership and timely trades/pickups; (Bibby, Flip Murray), that is clear. Don’t try to diminish that fact.
Now how about an athletic center that can intimidate and finish in the low post, if you want to go deep into the playoffs. It always comes down to a half court game.I appreciate you taking the time to write me. I’m honored.

I agree with you that if the Hawks stay healthy they should win the first round of the playoffs. I can’t agree with you that they would be expected to beat Cleveland and Lebron James. Not without a center. That’s who they would draw in the second round if everything plays out. I do believe they could beat Boston in the second round.
By the way I’ve notice that Zaza “watch this turnover” no longer starts. Good
In response to your “what do these picture have in common?”…..What do these last five games have in common?

He sid in his article these phrases…”Spontaneously combusts”…”benches one of his best players for two quarters” (as if that is unheard of and in appropriate if a player is not playing the right way)…”Coming apart”…these quotes are from his original article a week ago. Look AI (whi I love shamelessly…smile) and Larry Brown did not always see eye to eye and all they did together was go the NBA league championship. Wilt Chamberlain and Alex Hannum (now, I know this is going back awhile) spats were legandary however they won a title together and when he went into the Hall of Fame he asked Wilt to introduce him….hhhmmm…

“Stubborn”…that is what Jeff said about Woody in his article, no he is committed to doing things the right way…the winning way…Woody gets as much out of this group given the ownership, GM issues, bad draft picks, poor free agent signings (Speedy), injures, than any coach in this league.

I’ll surely will write more later. I wonder why Jeff not just simply say…”man, I guess coach Woodson knows what he is doing” (smile)…oh, am I was so, so completely wrong to question the teacher/coach and the adult against the student/Child and player…(smile)…I wonder if Jeff ges along with everyone at his job?…

Final point, I remember another ctiticism of coach Woodson that people thought Salim should have played more when he was here (like they say about Acie Law)…the last I checked, Mr. Stoudamire is no longer in this league….

Truth-Serum thanks for keeping it real…please keep the “HATERS” in check and allow the Hawks and coach Woodson to continue representing the city of Atlanta with class and dignity like they have been doing so successfully!!!…

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Friday, March 13, 2009
“Even so, Friday’s victory puts the Hawks in unique territory. They join Dallas as the only teams this decade to surpass their previous season’s win total for the fourth consecutive year.

The Hawks have gone from 13 wins in Mike Woodson’s first season to 26, 30, 37 and now 38 and counting. The Mavericks won 19, 40, 53, 57 and 60 from the 1999-2000 season through the 2002-03 season.

With three games left on their homestand and 16 left in the regular season, the Hawks have a chance to push their victory total well over those 37 from last season.

“That means a lot, that means our team is improving year by year,” Woodson said. “And we’ll continue to grow and get better. You know, the media has been so tough on this team and me over the years. But I’m a realist, and I’ve always said it’s hard for a young team to win in this league at a high level.”

“When we started out it was like taking baby steps. It wasn’t easy. But every year we’ve gotten better, and we’ll continue to grow.”

Its nice to know that there is some encouraging, supportive news coming out of the ajc…I hope you guys enjoyed the article. Shout out to Snowman!

March 12th, 2009
12:46 am

Hey Snowman you are right it is mighty quiet from team Bubba!! Clearly they have a hidden motive in the slander attack on Woodson. Looks to me like Woodson’s right on point and was able to take Josh’s frustration and point it in the right direction….Thats called coaching.