Falcons can lead way to an Atlanta sports grand slam
Green Bay fans invaded the Georgia Dome last month expecting a Packers win but they learned what we had already found out: Atlanta now has winners. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
If this isn’t Shoeless Joe Jackson looking out at some ball field cut into a cornfield and asking, “Is this heaven?” then what is it? Because it’s certainly not Atlanta.
Is it?
The Braves returned to the playoffs in October after four years of personnel miscalculations and an extended viewing of Mike Hampton’s exploding limbs (later to become a Ripley’s exhibit, adjacent to the two-headed goat).
The Hawks appear to be stabilizing under new coach Larry Drew. The presumed-to-be undermanned Thrashers resemble a Swiss Army knife, taking apart the Axis powers with just the corkscrew and the bottle opener.
The Falcons are 12-2, which ties them for the NFL’s best record and makes them two wins better than the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, who visit here Monday night.
Bobby Cox and the Braves celebrated after clincing a playoff berth.
Put away the paper bags. You won’t need those here in our sudden sports Utopia.
For the first time in Atlanta history, all four pro franchises from the four major sports are on track to make the playoffs in the same season (the Falcons, Hawks and Thrashers following the Braves, or vice-versa).
The only thing that could possibly top this would be if, by some miracle alignment of the stars, Atlanta Spirit owners actually
Dustin Byfuglien (center) has ignited Thrashers' celebrations.
stopped suing each other. Oh wait, that just happened. The courtroom pie fight is over.
What next? Free beer?
“This is something, isn’t it?” said Evander Holyfield, who ranks among the city’s most famous and longest-suffering sports fans. “Of course, I’ve been watching the Braves back since I was in the Boys Club. They weren’t very good, so they’d just give the tickets to us. The place was empty and we got beat all the time, but, shoot, I
The biggest reason to cheer for the Hawks: Al Horford.
didn’t care. It was the only way I could see a game because I didn’t have any money.”
Holyfield actually represents an interesting timeline in this evolution. He worked concessions at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium at Braves and Falcons games, selling Cokes and popcorn. Later, after he turned boxer and won a few fights, he attended Hawks and Atlanta Flames games.
Of course, there seldom has been a sports season without some form of disaster. The city too busy to implode, we’re not.
The Braves went through a stretch where they reached the postseason only once in 21 years and finished last or next to last 14 times. The Falcons mostly were a cartoon under the Smith family. They had a few good seasons but one of the best ended in heartbreak (a 1980 playoff loss to Dallas). This was loserville central and it became the city’s moniker.
The Flames, the NHL’s first incarnation in Atlanta, won the Stanley Cup — but not until after moving to Calgary. Probably in some small, remote Canadian neighborhood north of 285, they celebrated.
The Hawks were a postseason staple for most of two decades (18 out of 22 years, 1977-99) but they always hit a wall. Quoth Holyfield: “I always thought if we could beat Boston, we could beat everybody else. But we couldn’t beat them. They played that slow defense. They were aggravating.”
Aggravating. That word sums up a lot since the 1960s.
Technically, the city’s first pro champion was the 1968 Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League. That title had such a pronounced effect on the sports world that 10 of the league’s franchises folded after the season.
In 1990, Holyfield dropped James “Buster” Douglas for the world heavyweight title. He now laughs about it. “People would come up to me and said, ‘You’re the first champion that Atlanta has.’ It’s almost like I gave people hope. Then the Braves went worst-to-first [in 1991] and even though they didn’t win the World Series, there was something to cheer for.”
Finally, in 1995, the Braves won a World Series. The following year, they blew a 2-0 Series lead over the New York Yankees and lost four straight games.
Atlanta fans have been crawling through the desert ever since. The city has had three teams make the playoffs in the same year, but not since 1998. That year the Falcons made it to the Super Bowl, losing to Denver. The Braves and Hawks also made the playoffs.
The Falcons are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, seemingly the closest of the four teams to winning a title. Holyfield has been to a few games this year but isn’t sure when he’ll go to the next one.
“I know I can catch them on the tube,” he said. “I figure I might just wait for Dallas until I see them again. They’re going to the Super Bowl so I’ll see them there.”
Suddenly, success is assumed.
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322 comments Add your comment
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:15 pm
S
Be Content!!!! Stevey
December 24th, 2010
12:15 pm
Urma WHO DAT GONNA BREAK THE ATL HEARTS??? THE SAINTS DATS WHO!!!
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:16 pm
Steve are you mad because the Saints are better!!!! It is about time Atlanta, the toilet city for sports, finally wins some games loser
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:16 pm
Geek? Wow. I have not heard that word in years. Good one!
Upset? Yea I am upset by that 12-2 record and winning AT New Orleans (AKA Thugville) This game means nothing. That’s whats so funny. We will beat Carolina which gives us home field throughout! Ha ha.
urm...
December 24th, 2010
12:16 pm
NO has one good year and suddenly you are sports mecca… haha you guys have 1.5 pro teams and before last year it was barely 1 and that was being generous. True the season is not over yet, but please look at your own dump of a city before you knock ours.
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:17 pm
urm…
December 24th, 2010
12:10 pm
who dat? da falcons dat who. looking back at u from our rear view mirror.
WHO DAT? Them Saints will destroy them falcons monday night thats who moron
Bama Falcon
December 24th, 2010
12:17 pm
During this great season of the Falcons, remember Falcon greats, Tom Nobis & Jess Tuggle….
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:18 pm
Let’s see, the Saints are better yet Atlanta won AT New Orleans and the Falcons have a better record. Yea that makes sense.
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:19 pm
Steve when didd the falcons win the Superbowl We are the defending champs idiot
larry jones
December 24th, 2010
12:21 pm
Jeff,
check your facts on the Braves, or have your proof-readers do a better job…they have NEVER gone 21 years between post season appearnaces…unless you consider their time in Boston from 1914 to 1948…
The ATLANTA BRAVES were the National Leagues 1st Western Division Champion in 1969…winning that division again in 1982, then when on that unbelivable streak in 1991…
Math counts in sports….
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:23 pm
does anyone else think its he left out the dream
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 24th, 2010
12:25 pm
Atlanta’s First CHAMPION was Robert “Bobby” Jones. Not many Pro Golfers back in his time.
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:25 pm
“Who Dat Nation” the Falcons have never won the Super Bowl. What’s your point? You morons saying the Saints are better have no proof. Again, the Falcons have won 2 more games this year and won at New Orleans. How does that make the Saints better? I love you thugs living in the past talking about LAST year.
urm...
December 24th, 2010
12:25 pm
You know where ‘who dat’ came from? It started “what dat smell?” Oh that’s NO, then became “who dat smell?” oh dat my cuzin; then it was just shortened to “who dat” .. they all smell.
Source : Wikipedia- New Orleans
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:28 pm
and new orleans is just a toilet. you ever smell that city. just like pee and vomit. all katrina did was give that city a well needed bath and you must have drank too much of that oil geek if you think the aints are coming in here and winning in our house.
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:30 pm
golf is not a sport its a hobby
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:30 pm
Steve where is the proof the falcons are better because of TWO more wins
urm… that statement came from you staying in your moms basement for 20 years
urm...
December 24th, 2010
12:31 pm
we beat you in your house. Good proof right there.
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:33 pm
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:28 pm
and new orleans is just a toilet. you ever smell that city. just like pee and vomit. all katrina did was give that city a well needed bath and you must have drank too much of that oil geek if you think the aints are coming in here and winning in our house.
Did that atlanta tornado blow away the box you live in under a bridge ha ha
Stevey and Urma
December 24th, 2010
12:33 pm
I know that the people from New Orleans can get a little carried away about their SUPER BOWL winning SAINTS!!!!
I am sure you know how they feel. Oh!! I’m sorry you don’t know how they feel. Let me help you a little bit.
Take that feeling you guys had last year when you had your second winning season(LOL) in a row in 45 years of trying and multiply it by about a million.
Then you can almost imagine what it is like winning a SUPER BOWL!!!
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:34 pm
Katrina = Best thing that ever happened to New Orleans. Nasty city full of thugs and crime.
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:35 pm
yeah it blew away my box good come back geek from pee city
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:36 pm
It’s funny how if New Orleans is such a great city they all moved out and have not gone back. Ha. What a dump.
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:37 pm
Steve you talk about NO so bad but what about all the thugs in Atlanta you idiot, you are probably one also
Who Dat Nation, Steve is a GEEK
December 24th, 2010
12:38 pm
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:35 pm
yeah it blew away my box good come back geek from pee city
Santa will bring you another box
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:38 pm
woops thats racist
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
12:39 pm
so how does that shrimp taste basted in oil
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:40 pm
Nope. I am white, have a masters degree, and live in a $400,000 house. Far from a thug. Atlanta is bad but is Pleasantville compared to New Orleans.
Mitchell
December 24th, 2010
12:41 pm
This just re-affirms what makes us a city of Losers.
We’re supposed to celebrate the teams making the playoffs? The goal is to actually win in the playoffs.
Until that starts happening we’re still Losers.
Notice Bobby Cox is the only manager in this town’s history to have actually won a title for their team and yet we still feel like we haven’t accomplished anything collectively?
What he acheived (which is very little) relative to the talent (which was for many years, was beyond excellence) and resources available (which were plentiful) makes him easily the biggest Loser of them all.
Here’s hoping Falcon fans celebrate only when their team wins the whole damn thing, and nothing less.
Really??
December 24th, 2010
12:41 pm
Steve get back to cooking my fries and fix my hamburger correctly
urm...
December 24th, 2010
12:42 pm
Just to recap….
Go Falcons!
Go Thrashers!
Go Braves!
Go Hawks!
juice sourcer
December 24th, 2010
12:43 pm
If this is success then it clearly shows what a pathetic history Atlanta pro sports have been.
urm...
December 24th, 2010
12:43 pm
No the subject of the article is how awesome would it be to have all teams be playoff caliber teams. Which I agree is very cool.
Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:45 pm
Wow “Really,” that was a good one! Keep em coming!
D Man
December 24th, 2010
12:53 pm
Falcons are the best team in the NFL. Choke on that all ney sayers. Record says so… Monday night will be a fun night beating the saints.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 24th, 2010
12:53 pm
robertussen
Football is not a SPORT either. It is an Eating Disorder for 85% of the players.
To all New Orleans Fans
December 24th, 2010
12:54 pm
You have to forgive these ATL idiots and their remarks about the Greatest,and most Unique City, in the country, New Orleans. They have to resort to name calling but we all know they would rather not be in ATL.
Its like the whole town has pen!$ envy.
Its just a punishment for being a TOOL. We know ALT stand for where” All Tools Live!”
This article and the remarks to it is just proof what happens to a city when they want something so bad and they know they’re never going to get it.
So show patience Saints fans and let them be happy about making the playoffs. Let’s congratulate them for making the playoffs because we all know that they aren’t going anywhere once they start.
D Man
December 24th, 2010
12:56 pm
After Monday 13 & 2.
To Steve
December 24th, 2010
12:59 pm
I see you have a master’s degree!! I also heard you work for a bait company and last week you were promoted to Master Baitor!!!
D Man
December 24th, 2010
12:59 pm
Steve, forgive all of these non falcon fans on our blog. They don’t want to go to their team blogs because all other teams are not as good as the falcons and they are crying so they come to our blog to hear good news about our team to feel better.
Steve
December 24th, 2010
1:00 pm
HA HA HA. These Saints fans are funny! They act like they go to and win in the playoffs all the time just because of 2009. Makes me laugh.
Steve
December 24th, 2010
1:00 pm
“To Steve,” Good one! Gosh that hurt. I am going to sign off now and go cry. My whole weekend is ruined now.
robertussen
December 24th, 2010
1:01 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. wow thats funny. footballs not a sport and golf is. golf is a sport just as much as hunting is. sorry man its a hobby. you can drink and drive from hole to hole….. not a sport.
To Steve
December 24th, 2010
1:09 pm
That’s okay your mommy has your usual crying towel waiting. You know the same one you’re going to use when the Fall Cons are one and done in the playoffs
D Man
December 24th, 2010
1:09 pm
It’s great to be an Atlanta fan.
Ole Smoky
December 24th, 2010
1:09 pm
Great article.. You nailed it !
D Man
December 24th, 2010
1:11 pm
Atlantas playoff record against the saints, Atlanta 1 saints 0.
Really??
December 24th, 2010
1:11 pm
Steve get out of your moms basement, we all know you have a Masters in mooching off of your parents
juice sourcer
December 24th, 2010
1:12 pm
I wonder how Atlanta compares to all other cities with at least 3 major sports teams as far as league titles are concerned. Here is the answer….http://www.donovanindex.com/
So The ATL is ranked 30 out of 32…only behind Buffalo..my god…and San Diego…so I would say taht the ATL has a long way to go to lose the Losersville name.
To Dumb Man
December 24th, 2010
1:13 pm
Saints’ Super Bowl record 1-0 The Fall Con’s 0-1. Who Dat has the ring Dumb Man?