News and Views: Problems with Blank’s wallet, Selig’s brain
When I hear, "News!" I feel nostalgic.
Welcome back for another edition of News and Views. This week, we ask the question: What do the World Series chances of potential National League pennant winners Philadelphia, Los Angeles and St. Louis have to do with San Diego pitcher Heath Bell? Ask Bud Selig.
But first: What’s up in Flowery Branch?
♦ News: Arthur Blank sells shares in the Falcons to four minority owners.
♦ Why should you care: Because it reaffirms that even your favorite self-made billionaire owner is having some issues.
♦ Views: There’s no reason to disbelieve Blank when he says he remains committed to the Falcons and has no interest in selling the team or even a controlling interest in the franchise. But the economic problems in pro sports are real, even if they exist on a different level in the NFL. Owners’ fortunes have been dented by the stock market and revenue streams have dried up because of decline in the retail industry, gas prices and Joe and Fred losing jobs. Blank also has dug into his own pocket for years, improving the area around the Georgia Dome and upgrading the Dome
This is a smart man.
itself. I’m not asking you to hold a canned food drive for the man, but he needs money. He needs liquid. Somebody else’s liquid. There have been layoffs and budget cutbacks within the Falcons’ organization just like everywhere else. The Arena League (where he owned/owns the Georgia Force) is all but officially belly up. He withdrew his bid for a Major League Soccer franchise. What Blank feels he really needs — and certainly wants — is a new stadium with built-in revenue that he can’t get at the Dome (which he doesn’t own). As our Darryl Ledbetter reported, Forbes magazine valued the Falcons’ franchise at $872 million, which ranks 29th out of 32 teams. If Home Depot ranked 29th out of 32 hardware stores, Blank wouldn’t be here.
♦ News: American League 4, National League 3.
This is not a smart man
♦ Why should you care: You shouldn’t. The problem is …
♦ Views: Because of arguably the dumbest rule in professional sports — no, not arguably; it IS the dumbest rule in professional sports — the result of an exhibition game again determines home-field advantage in the World Series. Here’s something for the Dodgers to think about if they go on to finish with the best record in baseball. Should L.A. face Boston in the World Series, the Red Sox would have home-field advantage because a Baltimore outfielder (Adam Jones) hit a sacrifice fly to score a Detroit outfielder (Curtis Granderson) off of a San Diego reliever (Heath Bell). Once again, with feeling: All-Star Games are not meant to be taken seriously. They are exhibitions. They are not staged or framed or managed or played like real games because if they were you wouldn’t have the starting pitcher go two innings and the two teams using 36 different batters for a nine-inning game. To try to artificially create some drama by saying the winning league will have home-field in the Series doesn’t add anything — other than mocking. And so, I mock.
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89 comments Add your comment
Bad News
July 15th, 2009
6:09 pm
Blanks didn’t have money woes during 2002 – 2006 seasons. I wonder why……….hmmmmmm
Did it have anything to do with a glorified running back
Art Blank
July 15th, 2009
6:20 pm
Dammit Roger, how was I to know that Matt Ryan would choke in the playoffs. I knew I should have drafted Joe Flacco – I had to listen to that stupid coach Smith and wannabe Bill Parcells, T.D.
I thought if Vick could lead a sorry untalented team to the championship game, surely Matty Ice could at least win one playoff game with all the talent and coaching staff I put around him, and he screwed that up!
How many players do you see from Boston College? Hell, I should have known if it took him 5 years of playing college and not winning the weak A.C.C. championship, how could he win in the big leagues.
Sorry Roger, but did you have to give me such a tough schedule this season? How am I going to sell tickets now?
Stat Checker
July 15th, 2009
6:21 pm
NFL Network listed the “TOP” 10 number 1 overall qb drafts of A L L T I M E and guess who was on the list?
You guessed it……
The Legendary……….
M I K E V I C K
I know yall hate to hear that
It’s funny – didn’t see Matty Ice on that list
Scary Scenarios
July 15th, 2009
6:21 pm
I don’t like the brewing big picture taking place.
First we paid Ryan, an unproven rookie all that money.
Then the lack of ticket sales.
Then there is the proposed NFL lockout for 2011.
Pro bowl wr not getting a new deal (potential holdout).
John Abraham not getting a new deal (potential holdout).
Art Blank selling ownership to scrap for cash.
The big picture does not look good for Falcon football!
hounddog
July 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
The all-star game determining home field advantage has to be the dumbest rule in sports. Why don’t they make the total records between the leagues in spring training the desider. That is no less dumb.
If they have to have something deside the issue the total league records during interleague play makes more sense.
Honey Moon Over
July 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
The Falcon franchise was in such disarray in 2007 & 2008 so Blank called on Roger Goodell to bail him out. Afterall, it’s in Goodell’s best interest to keep the owners happy, since that’s where his bread and butter is.
So Blank hired a new GM & coach and after the commissioner laid the blue prints for the lowly Falcons to look good in the NFL community, buy giving them a very weak (9th easiest) schedule.
They finished the season at 11-5 and America loves a good story. The 2008 Falcons were receiving a whole country of sympathy and praise. So much praise that they really think the Falcons are bigger than reality.
So they billed the GM & coach as genuises for the remarkable turnaround. Sure on paper 2008 looked like a dynasty in the making. Now comes the tangibles.
Honey Moon Over
July 15th, 2009
6:23 pm
2008 was nearly flawless:
No major injuries
No contract disputes
No holdouts
Now it’s time for the great GM & coach to see what coaches like Belichek, Tony Dungee and GM Bill Parcell dealt with, keeping a winning tradition. They had to deal with stars and egos. None of that was existent with the 2007 & 2008 Falcons because there was no talent on the team, which makes one think how the previous qb was able to take the team to the championship game, just 4 seasons earlier.
Now the GM & coach has to deal with the intangibles – lets see how genius they really are.
Falcons Outlook 2009
July 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Coming off a surprising Wild Card berth, the Falcons will come back to earth a little bit. Matt Ryan and Michael Turner will continue to impress but the defense takes a big step back. The Falcons average 23.0 points per game (#8) and allow 23.3 points (#23) against a schedule featuring five games against 2008 playoff teams.
Absolute Record: 8-8
Most Significant Newcomer: Tony Gonzalez, TE – Gonzalez gives second-year starting quarterback Matt Ryan a big, sure-handed safety valve and redzone target along with play-making wide receiver Roddy White. Ryan shouldn’t have to worry about a sophomore slump with such a veteran presence. Gonzalez is coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. The Falcons’ focus on the run may not allow for that kind of production in 2009, but that’s not why they got him. Just being on the field should help everyone around Gonzalez and he’ll be most important near the endzone.
Biggest Strength: Rushing Offense – Michael Turner burst onto the NFL scene in his first opportunity to be feature back last year after playing behind LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego for four years. Turner rushed for 1,600 yards on a very respectable 4.5 yards-per-carry. Backup Jerious Norwood may be even more explosive with the ball. In three seasons, he has averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry on 6.6 carries-per-game. Atlanta will still rely on the run in 2009. The Falcons may need to diversify the workload a little bit more than in 2008 to protect Turner. If most of those carries go to Norwood, that may actually help the team. In the projections, Atlanta runs for 2,501 yards on 561 carries.
Most Exploitable Weakness: Defense – Atlanta overachieved to go 11-5 in 2008. Despite ranking among the bottom half of the league in almost every relevant defensive statistical category, the team finished 11th in fewest points allowed per game. The team played smart and had good special teams, but the Falcons were also “lucky” to do as well as they did. The defense is still an issue and lost two of its starting linebackers, Michael Boley and Keith Brooking, in free agency without bringing in much to replace them.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper: Jerious Norwood, RB – After Michael Turner’s 376 carries in 2008, the Falcons will likely be a little more protective of him in 2009. Norwood is a great runner and a significantly better receiver – Turner’s lack of pass-catching abilities keeps him from being a fantasy top five running back – so Norwood’s touches should go up. The projections give Norwood 917 total yards and eight touchdowns on just over ten touches a game.
Closest Game: @Dallas Cowboys (Week 7) – This is the beginning of a brutal stretch where Atlanta will play four of five games away from the Georgia Dome against five teams who are all greater than .500 in our projections. The Falcons will want to start this run on the right foot and what a better way to do it than to win in Dallas’ new billion dollar stadium?
Fantasy Notables: Matt Ryan (10) 2978 yards, 21 TDs, 11 INTs; Michael Turner (7) 1599 total yards, 12 TDs; Jerious Norwood (30) 917 total yards, 8 TDs; Roddy White (9) 75 receptions, 1,127 yards, 8 TDs; Michael Jenkins (53) 34 receptions, 541 yards, 4 TDs; Tony Gonzalez (2) 70 receptions, 772 yards, 6 TDs; Jason Elam (21) 40/41 XPs, 23/26 FGs
Saints Outlook 2009
July 15th, 2009
6:24 pm
New Orleans Saints (9-7)
Two years removed from the NFC title game, the Saints win the competitive NFC South. Drew Brees continues his dominance over the league’s secondaries, leading the top offense in the NFL. The Saints average 25.9 points per game (#1 in the NFL) and allow 23.5 points (#25) against a schedule featuring seven games against 2008 playoff teams.
Absolute Record: 11-5
Most Significant Newcomer: Darren Sharper, S – New Orleans had issues in the secondary in 2008 and set out to address those issues in the off-season. The Saints signed Sharper, fellow safety Pierson Prioleau and cornerback Jabari Greer and used their first round draft choice on Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State. Sharper should have the most impact of any of those players. One of the most prolific ballhawks in NFL history, Sharper’s game has fallen off some in the last few seasons in Minnesota. He may no longer have the physical tools of some of the other new Saints, but Sharper is still a quality starting safety whole also brings 12 years of experience – and 54 career interceptions – to the young secondary.
Biggest Strength: Offense – Head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees are perfectly in sync coordinating the most explosive offense in the league. This isn’t just a great passing team. With Pierre Thomas assuming the feature back role, New Orleans is brimming with weapons through the air and on the ground. The more balanced offensive attack again leads the league in scoring.
Most Exploitable Weakness: Defense – The improvement of the defense leads the Saints to playoffs, but it’s still their most glaring weakness. Losing starting defensive ends Will Smith to Charles Grant to suspension to start the season won’t help. Luckily for the Saints, they don’t play a divisional opponent until Week Eight. By then, they should have had time to find the right mix of contributors and get the new players up to speed.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper: Pierre Thomas, RB – With Deuce McAllister’s release, Thomas moves into the spotlight as the Saints’ feature back. Reggie Bush will still have a role on this team – and is still productive enough to rank in our top 20 fantasy running backs – but Thomas is the better pick. He’ll get the bulk of the carries and also has the ability to be an effective receiver out of the backfield. The projections rank Thomas as the 12th best fantasy running back with 1,328 total yards and 13 touchdowns on 253 touches.
Closest Game: New York Jets (Week 4) – This is the final game of the defensive suspensions and the opening game of a stretch of five games that includes four against 2008 playoff teams and four games at home. The matchup with the Jets likely features a rookie starting QB who will be in his first month. This could be a great opportunity for the weak secondary to come together.
Fantasy Notables (fantasy rank at position in parentheses): Drew Brees (1) 4,183 yards, 30 TDs, 14 INTs; Pierre Thomas (12) 1,328 total yards, 13 TDs; Reggie Bush (19) 1339 total yards, 10 TDs; Marques Colston (20) 66 receptions, 969 yards, 6 TDs; Lance Moore (25) 76 receptions, 866 yards, 6 TDS; Devery Henderson (50) 22 receptions, 483 yards, 5 TDs; Jeremy Shockey (25) 35 receptions, 359 yards, 2 TDs; Billy Miller (27) 21 receptions, 285 yards, 2 TDs; Garrett Hartley (3) 46/46 XPS, 26/30 FGs
Dedicated40Years
July 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
Please leave MIKE VICK OUT of these senseless comments. It has been proven through research that when the economy is bad, all kinds of HATE cOmes into play. To suggest that MIKE VICK be compared to the senseless death of Mc Nair, we have a sick two legged animal running lose in our society and needs some professional help with his anger. Mick is not the monster you want to constantly protray. LEAVE HIM ALONE AND STICK TO THE TOPIC OF CONCERN.
Saints Ticket Operator
July 15th, 2009
7:45 pm
“Scottbravesfan” – New Orleans has one of the highest unemployment in the country and guess what – they have once again sold out their dome again for the 2009 season.
Any more excuses?
Drew Brees
July 15th, 2009
7:47 pm
Hey Matty Ice – my fans appreciate me. Another sold out season.
Joe Flacco
July 15th, 2009
7:50 pm
Matt want to borrow some of my ticket holders? We are already sold out.
Dedicated40Years
July 15th, 2009
7:57 pm
SCOTTBRAVESFAN
I do not know your age or where you are getting your facts. Blacks have always supported the FALCONS We are the only team dome that has been a sellout with black fans. Where was the great white hope fans? In 1992, we purchased season tickets with only 12,000 fans in the dome. It was an investment because we lived MA and traveled here to visit our family. When MIKE was selected, he made more money for the white city of ALANTA. HE FILLED THE DOME, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND AIRPLANES more than any sports team in the city. ATLANTA was considered a black city during the civil rights movement. Once others saw that Atlanta was the promise land for greed, the blacks were forced out of the city. Look at the city now with all of its forclosures. Are they black or white investors? I do not feel SORRY for Blank because Blank let his pride get the way of helping to help VICK bring the Falcons FANS from all the country back to fill up the dome. I had 5 tickets and now I own 3. If this economy keeps going down, it maybe 0. Young man please do your homework before making senseless comments.
Jeff Schultz
July 15th, 2009
8:04 pm
Herschel Talker: Thanks on the radio plug.
Don’t Feel Sorry: Thanks. If you’ve got any extra 1-liners I can use them.
Sun: Sometimes I have more fun with captions than blogs/columns.
JeffD: see above.
Jeff Schultz
July 15th, 2009
8:09 pm
Jake – Thanks.
Chris M — You don’t pay my salary. And I’ve shut down blogs before when it devolved into race-bating vents, so that’s no out of the ordinary. That’s not what open commenting is supposed to be about. Sorry if you can’t deal with that.
JSS_62
July 15th, 2009
8:59 pm
Ha ha ha ha!!! I told you that the truth would come out on Blank and the state of the finances of the ABF!!! ROTFLMAO!!! This is too rich… By the way Michael, the settlement agreement between the Flacons and Michael Vick is in the unsecured debts section of the Bankruptcy proposal… You clowns should be praying that he gets back on a field in NFL or the UFL and is a success… This is delicious!!! Life’s rich ironies!!!
bigjohnbirdsfan
July 15th, 2009
10:19 pm
Saints win the NFC South?! Fat chance!!
GO BIRDS GO!!!!
Large in the Pants
July 15th, 2009
10:22 pm
Wow, the Saints sold out some games? Congratulations!
Call back when New Orleans has NHL and MLB franchises, you know, like a REAL CITY!!!
Large in the Pants
July 15th, 2009
10:27 pm
Wow, the Saints had some sellouts? Congratulations!!
Call back when you have NHL and MLB franchises to compete for the sports dollar, you know, like in REAL CITIES!!!
And does Baltimore have NHL and NBA franchises? No?
Congratulations on selling out one of your TWO professional sports franchises!! How’s the Orioles’ attendance these days?
Suckers.
it's me again
July 15th, 2009
10:48 pm
Who farted?
Vick Supporter
July 15th, 2009
11:35 pm
You people just can’t get over Vick can you, lmao. You people know what’s about to happen when he gets on that field……….not lookin so good for ole’ “ICE”….lol. That schedule is lookin pretty tough…
Vick 09
JSS
July 16th, 2009
12:01 am
Can’t resist…
Remember “Freddie’s Dead?”
1-2-3-4
Arthur’s Broke!!! It ain’t no joke!!!
Home Depot’ stock has gone in the tank now… Who’s that Dick Dastardly looking man, panhandling for brisket and some pan (that’s bread in Spanish)
Cause…
Arthurs Broke!!! It ain’t joke!!!
Art Blank
July 16th, 2009
12:02 am
Mike please come back! I’m sorry, I didn’t know Matty Ice would stink up the place. I can’t make a profit without you. I don’t want to file a chapter 11. I am so sorry – pleaseeeeee come back
Roger Goodell
July 16th, 2009
12:06 am
I have to sadly announce the Falcons are formly the property Fort Lauderdale. Arthur Blank has sold all rights to the banking partners of South Beach.
This is based mostly in part due to lack of fan support during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The “new face” marketing campagne was a major failure.
Roddy White
July 16th, 2009
12:16 am
Art where is my money man – you don’t want me to get butter fingers this year do you?
If it wasn’t for me, that 5th year college player would have sucked!
John Abraham
July 16th, 2009
12:19 am
Vick is gone, Art is broke. I am getting the hell out of here.
Mike Vick
July 16th, 2009
12:42 am
I told you fools I would be back. Prison can’t keep a real man down. Yall was talking trash about how I was just a glorified running back, but look who needs who now.
The dome hasn’t been sold out since I left. Art is broke. Roddy and Abraham are getting shafted, but they want to pay that college wannabe pro quarterback all that money and he can’t even win a playoff game.
I built this town – the dome is my house! I sold out every game that I started. I was the highest paid player in the history of the NFL! Now old Artie turned his back on me, but now he wish he had Mike back, but he betrayed me and took advange of my revenue to the team and city.
Now if he wants me back, it’s gonna cost him big time!
Bad News
July 16th, 2009
1:27 am
Apparently this topic of Art Blanks selling part of the team, goes even deeper. It was reported by “The NFL Network” that Art Blank has paid a visit ot Mike Vick’s Virginia home.
http://isupport7.l.makeforum.org/2009/06/15/arthur-blank/page1/
If I was Matty Ice, I would be very nervous. Looks like Art is getting cold feet about his decision to release Vick.
tru fan
July 16th, 2009
1:30 am
Some of you people are idiots(you know who you are).
GO BIRDS
JSS
July 16th, 2009
5:08 am
Whoa!!! Completely off the race baiting subject; but did the alarms and the sirens not go off in the AJC or in fans minds when D. Ledbetter included the names of the new investors involved in the minority owners that Blank brought in? Low and behold one Derek Smith of ChoicePoint!!! The same company that put hundreds of thousands credit and personal information at risk in 2005 with a giant security breach… Wow!!!
Joebrave
July 16th, 2009
8:17 am
This is why I can’t do your Blogs Schultz, Instead of even mentioning Vick’s name why don’t you find a fresh new approach to things….All you are doing is laying a race baiting trap sir….
As for the Negroid sector her I wish you would all just go to hell!!!
bigjohnbirdsfan
July 16th, 2009
9:38 am
Can we have a football discussion IN ATLANTA without mentioning FORMER PLAYERS?!
Trust me, sometimes ALL CAPS is necessary!!
VICK SUPPORTER 2
July 16th, 2009
10:49 am
MATTY ICE WON AN ESPY FOR BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE!!
UMM……….I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
OTHER THAN HE BEAT OUT #1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK DEREK ROSE.
MATTY ICE IS A #1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK KILLA!!
GOTech610
July 16th, 2009
10:56 am
Art Blank will be fine. This is purely an economic strategy to help achieve economies of scale in the long term by doing what is necessary in the short term, in this case liquidity. From an accounting stand point over the next five or so years the Falcon’s franchise will look better as a going concern. It’s happening to most small businesses in the country as we speak. Blank is just fortunate enough to have majority interest in a partnership, which is something that small businesses don’t have right now. This is a great economic environment for ownership of property or interests therein. Instead of having liability for all losses, as in a sole proprietorship, Blank has a means of getting some liquidity without even giving up more than 10%. That’s a great stance considering the state of the economy.
Good move Arthur. I do admire your business model, and you continue to make sound business decisions! It just goes to show you, when this economy turns around everyone needs to have a majority interest in some property. Even if you own extra property and the housing market falls and you don’t want to sell, you can easily rent the property for the extra money.
I can see that a lot of you aren’t taking Mr. Blank’s decision to be merely a financially sound adaptation to the economy. It could be that or that most of you lack any ability to make any business decisions. Art does not need any one player to make him money, Arthur Blank has been made from nothing to something and he was something way before he ever met any one person. Read his biography and I think you’ll agree.
JSS
July 16th, 2009
5:39 pm
Yeah, like that great choice in CEO’s that he made as he exited Home Depot… Blank reputation took the hit it deserved… Now you need to go and look at the stock and earning performance for the 2 years proceeding his being forced from the active Board of Directors to the great Home Depot purge of 2007… He set up that company to go into the tank… Blank was a corporate hustler, Marcus was the rudder that kept it out of rough seas…
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