How they really stand — from Braves (1) to Jacket hoops (10)
Expect Braves to do some postseason celebrating, and maybe win division. (Hyosub Shin)
I was going to wait until after the NBA playoffs to reveal this year’s edition of the, “How They Really Stand” rankings, just on the chance that Hawks guard Jeff Teague (based on his Monday playoff debut) suddenly morphs into Oscar Robertson and Atlanta’s NBA franchise becomes the standard for area sports teams. But I’ll take a chance. Following are my completely unscientific rankings of the local pro and major college teams. (No Georgia State football yet; longer resume is needed). It’s impossible to do this without somebody reacting, “Schultz, you’re an idiot.” But I get that at breakfast every morning, so I’m OK with it. Rankings are based on current strength of team, franchise/program stability and direction. Last year’s rankings are in parenthesis.
♦ 1. Braves (2): They’ve tripped out of the starting gate. But this is too good of a roster to stay down for long. They have the pitching and hitting to win the National League East over Philadelphia, assuming Dan Uggla remembers that he’s supposed to be good. Success also hinges on limiting those TMZ-like moments.
♦ 2. Falcons (1): The league’s second-best record (13-3) last season isn’t meaningless, but the playoff loss to Green Bay exposed sinkholes. If wide receiver Julio Jones turns into the playmaker the Falcons expect, the draft day trade was a bold and great move. But defensive help is needed in free agency.
Your bipolar Hawks have put it together in playoffs. (AP photo)
♦ 3. Hawks (3): Many aspects of the franchise are up in the air, ownership included. But the elimination of Orlando was bigger than previous first-round series wins over Miami and Milwaukee. Winning the opener against Chicago, minus Kirk Hinrich, certainly wasn’t on the radar. Larry Drew deserves some credit, folks.
♦ 4. Georgia basketball (8): Mark Fox went from 14-17 in his first season to 21-12 with an NCAA tournament bid in his second. Has he proven everything? No. With
Mark Richt is trying to be Mr. Fix-it at Georgia. (Brant Sanderlin)
Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie leaving for the pros, Fox is going to be more dependent on his recruits now. But there’s no reason to doubt a man who has coached his players up from forgetting to pack their shoes on a road trip to making the tournament. He has changed the culture of Georgia hoops.
♦ 5. This space for lease (6): TSFL moves up one spot. Needed some space before we dropped to the next tier.
♦ 6. Georgia football (5): Mark
Brian Gregory has to do some convincing. (Johnny Crawford)
Richt’s win totals in the last four seasons: 11, 10, 8, 6. Athletic director Greg McGarity is giving him another year to fix the problems, dividing the fan base. But to his credit, Richt has been making staff changes and just put together potentially one of the top recruiting classes in the country. He says he feels “rejuvenated.” We anxiously await to see how he feels after the Boise State and South Carolina games.
♦ 7. Georgia Tech football (4): After going 20-7 with an ACC championship in Paul Johnson’s first two seasons, the Jackets descended to 6-7 last season (Johnson’s worst record since going 2-10 in year one at Navy). Tech had lost its best players to the NFL, but there were too many games when players seemed to be mentally drift. So expect Johnson to be meaner and snarkier in practices. Wait. Is that possible?
♦ 8. Atlanta Dream (9): They’ve come a long way since having a playoff game bumped for Sesame Street Live, reaching the WNBA finals last year. Look at me, talking women’s basketball. Electroshock therapy appointment scheduled for later this week.
♦ 9. Thrashers (10): The Thrashers gave us a couple of good months. That’s something. But in the end, they missed the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons. Not sure what the mathematical probability of that even is. The new general manager (Rick Dudley) and coach (Craig Ramsay) have been solid, but this franchise will go only as far as a thrift store budget will take it. The hope is the Thrashers don’t turn into something only after being unloaded from a moving van.
♦ 10. Georgia Tech basketball (7): Welcome to the bottom. Get comfortable. Paul Hewitt was paid $7 million to go away. He already has landed a job at George Mason. Tech is in a budget crunch and hired Hewitt’s replacement on the cheap. Now administrators are hoping new coach Brian Gregory can hold things together so recruiting doesn’t take a significant hit. Also, Iman Shumpert just went pro. For a rosier picture, see fund-raising pamphlets.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
– Earlier Tuesday: Countdown: Smoltz’s splat, Gators’ buzz, Newton to UFL!
– Earlier Tuesday: Twitter meltdown: Mendenhall seems to defend Bin Laden
♦
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190 comments Add your comment
heartofdarkness
May 4th, 2011
10:36 am
This column the answer to the question: “What do the life forms look like at the bottom of the Mariana Trench?”
groundfog
May 4th, 2011
10:37 am
1eyedJack,
Well said. There are probably more Georgia Southern alumni in Atlanta than Tech fans. I meet alot of Tech grads in places like Seattle, Washington DC or wherever the great engineering firms are. If you graduate from Tech, you are most likely to take a job in another state.
Dennis
May 4th, 2011
10:40 am
Well all know what they say about opinions, but here’s mine anyway:
The same team that was ripped in the playoffs beat the team that ripped them in the regular season. I thought the difference was the way the games were coached. The playoff game seemed to be in “prevent” mode from the start.
Dr. Warren
May 4th, 2011
10:41 am
Falcons are the most respected in their league of all the teams. They have the best owner who is willing and able to spend the most money. They just came off a 13-3 season. This is a no-brainer, Jeff.
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
10:42 am
1) Atlanta Dream
Georgia Baseball
2) Atlanta Hawks
3) Atlanta Braves
4) Georgia Bulldogs (easy schedule)
5) Tech Football (both local college teams will bounce back)
6) Tech Baseball (could be a lot higher if they weren’t like Falcons in playoffs)
7) Atlanta Falcons (need to see the free agents before I buy in, tougher schedule)
9) Georgia Basketball (Can Fox stop saving Bama from defeat and stealing heroism from his own player?)
10) Tech Basketball (prove us wrong)
11) Thrashers (long time Atlantan who has never seen a game)
John Rocker tells magazine he's close to publishing memoir | Jeff Schultz
May 4th, 2011
10:43 am
[...] Last post: How they really stand — from Braves (1) to Jacket hoops (10) [...]
1eyedJack
May 4th, 2011
10:46 am
Hey Schultz, you the only guy working there today?
groundfog
May 4th, 2011
10:50 am
Dr. Warren..disagree
I would say the Braves are one of the most respected organizations in Baseball, more so than the Falcons. The Braves have simply done it longer and have a world championship.
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
10:51 am
Sure my Dream ranking will get laughed at.
But they actually made the finals.
And I think all our male teams need a good kick in the rear, especially the pro teams.
Respected doesn’t bring home the trophy.
Falcons have upgraded their GM from laughingstock to mediocre.
Big deal.
groundfog
May 4th, 2011
10:51 am
If you asked most baseball writers the organizations they respect the most, The Braves would be in the top 3 or 4 imo. The Falcons make the top 10 ..jmo
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
10:53 am
Dream deserve a higher ranking based on actual results and not dreaming about imagined male competence.
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
10:56 am
@groundfog.
Agree with 10:51 post.
Blogs have made Jeff and Mark lazy.
His list looks rushed to get out on the golf course.
Buckeye
May 4th, 2011
10:59 am
There are more Buckeye fans in Atlanta than Tech Fans.
shankit
May 4th, 2011
11:00 am
“Local pro sports and MAJOR COLLEGE TEAMS”
I believe the Dawgs would qualify as a major college team
even though they are not in Atlanta.
Milton’s golf team should be mentioned as they finished
a distant second in the state to our South Georgia Lowndes team.
groundfog
May 4th, 2011
11:04 am
Buckey..
Georgia Tech…13k+ undergads
Ohio State…64k+ undergrad
your probably right
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
11:04 am
@Buckeye.
Who cares?
I’d stick to defending your football coach if I were you.
He will need all the help he can get.
JSS
May 4th, 2011
11:05 am
@ GSJ…
I think your list is fine… Not crazy about that UGA football ranking, they have as much to prove as the Thrashers…
General comment:
I always laugh when people talk about the greatness of Arthur Blank. You sound like people on their first date after a bad marriage!
goldmine22
May 4th, 2011
11:07 am
Georgia Tech Baseball???
UGA Rules
May 4th, 2011
11:10 am
Should be based on available talent Jeff!!! Then UGA football would be #10 (the pit) but UGA basketball would be higher. I know what my nightly dreams are but what is the “Atlanta Dream”???
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
11:11 am
@JSS.
Unfortunately billionaires get fawned over regardless of any flaws in their thinking in other areas.
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
11:13 am
@UGA Rules.
Atlanta female pro basketball team that made the finals.
I think they deserve a higher ranking for actually doing something and to give the male teams a deserved kick in the rear.
1eyedJack
May 4th, 2011
11:16 am
There are more sushi chefs in Atlanta than Tech fans.
CLOSATL
May 4th, 2011
11:20 am
ACTUALLY IF YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT ABOUT THIS THE HAWKS #1 BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY CONSISTANT PLAY-OFF TEAM WE HAVE AND ACTUALLY WON PLAY-OFF GAMES & SERIES THE PAST FEW YEARS FALCONS #2 BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL AND BRAVES #3 BECAUSE OF THE FIRE POWER THEY HAVE … ANYTHING ELSE IS A TOSS UP
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
11:25 am
@1eyedJacks.
Man I’m just brokenhearted to learn that.
I do want to thank you for saving me money on sales tax.
I read you guys and spend less.
That Uga teaching degree that is becoming worthless from lack of state revenues makes my day.
1eyedJack
May 4th, 2011
11:50 am
Gen Sherman, what the hell are you babbling about?
J.J.M.
May 4th, 2011
11:57 am
Braves are not number 1
Buckeye
May 4th, 2011
12:01 pm
Gen Sherm,
Prior posts prove I have not defended Tressel’s actions.
But I can say, I am happy for the the sanctity of all things SEC! SEC!
To be so good on the field and so righteous off the field. How on earth do you do it?
SR
May 4th, 2011
12:06 pm
“They’ve tripped out of the starting gate. But this is too good of a roster to stay down for long. They have the pitching and hitting to win the National League East over Philadelphia, assuming Dan Uggla remembers that he’s supposed to be good. Success also hinges on limiting those TMZ-like moments”.
This team? Are we talking about the 2011 Braves? Winning the NL East over the Phillies? Really??
Please send me some of what you are smoking man- I’ll take some and will would also like to get a bet down on this one. Wow.
Gen Sherman Jacket
May 4th, 2011
12:39 pm
Shocker: Tech lacks fans.
Dumb ADs have assured a falling fanbase.
Can we overcome Dave Brainless who had no idea who was a good fit with the Institute and punished us by not just extending contracts but locking us in to terrible ones.
Dave Braine got credit for Beamer Ball that he had nothing to do with.
That is why I question Tech’s ADs hires.
We should have keep O’Leary’s pay low so we could hire the brains behind his success, Ralph Freigen.
The Terps AD must be a moron too.
Kane337
May 4th, 2011
1:44 pm
I disagree with this list. Please create a poll.
Kane337
May 4th, 2011
1:44 pm
Falcons are #1 by far.
CMR in TWO years has .....
May 4th, 2011
1:51 pm
Haters …………. do not imply thatr UGA has been awful for THREE years. We HAVE BEEn awful for two. Three bowls back we stomped a very well respected Mich State team in the Cap One Bowl. THAT BOWL GT for example, would do anything for.
UGA fans will take a Cap One Bowl as a consolation but GT would do anything to be there. For them, it is the Orange Bowl or Boise Blue Carpet Bowl, or that funky Emerald City Bowl in SF or Micron Bowl in Seattle. Both played EST at 2AM in the morning. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
goooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
Atl teams = Playoff chokers
May 4th, 2011
5:30 pm
Georgia force?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
May 5th, 2011
9:14 pm
2004 & Counting…………….
CHOKE can only dream of a playoff win
DawgInVa
May 6th, 2011
3:12 pm
I actually agree with this ranking. I have no clue about the Dream so I will just take your word for it, but other than that I agree mostly with everything you have here. Fox has work to do to prove he really has resurrected the basketball program, but he deserves the respect you give him here. Go Dawgs.
Joseph
May 6th, 2011
10:20 pm
All this Braves and UGA hoops hating is making my skin crawl. Just because the hoops team has a bad history does not mean Fox will not have them on the rise in future years. Oh yeah and the Braves that all you guys seem to think are terrible have just wont their 6th game in a row against the Phillies with Cliff Lee pitching. Pay attention idiots!
Joseph
May 6th, 2011
10:22 pm
They also swept last year’s world series champs btw.
GT VET
May 8th, 2011
2:49 pm
AMERICAN’s GAME!!!!!!..#1.Atlanta Braves…#2 GT baseball…# 3 UGA baseball….#4 Calhoun High baseball…#5 Ga.Southern baseball…#6Ga.St.baseball…#7
Kennesaw St.baseball..after that WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mister T
May 9th, 2011
11:08 am
I think you could fit a pretty strong Georgia Tech Baseball team in this list in the top four…at least until the Regionsal. That is when they typically falter. If they don’t, not bad for a team that lost 7 starters in the ML draft last year.
THWg!
B Saff
May 9th, 2011
5:28 pm
I have to agree with your list, I like the order the Braves are number one and the future only looks brighter. I guess the non baseball fans aren’t aware of the Braves minor league system and current team easy number one. Also love what Dimitroff and Mike Smith have done the Falcons are here to say. Nice list I like it.