How they really stand, from Braves (1) to Weasels (12)
Hey look, the Braves have new uniforms. So how about a new finish? (AP photo)
Welcome to this year’s edition of “How They Really Stand,” my ranking of all area sports teams, taking into account wins, losses, direction, potential, coaches, general managers, owners, recruiting coordinators and whether anybody provides us with more civic pride than, say, The Big Chicken (the bar is low).
I’m unveiling this a month earlier than usual because it seemed like a natural break in the sports schedule with the Braves getting ready to start spring training and the Hawks taking an off day between personalities. Two tweaks this year: I’m adding Georgia State football and basketball and replacing the Thrashers with a new entry. (Last year’s ranking in parenthesis.)
1. Braves (1): The best team in town lost 20 of its last 30 games. How about a nice embalming smoothie to go with those chicken fingers? But the Braves looked like a potential World Series team on paper last season until the paper caught fire, and they still seem closer to a title run than anybody else. Then again, that assumes everything that went wrong last season goes right this year.
If you're wondering what the faces of a franchise that is 0-3 in the playoffs look like, well, here you go. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
2. Falcons (2): We know the good (three playoff appearances). We know the bad (three playoff losses). Here’s what I don’t want to hear: “But they’re so much better than they used to be!” The Falcons’ measuring stick should be the rest of the NFL, not franchise history. The heat has been turned up on Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith.
3. Dream (8): I still have not been to an Atlanta Dream game. I’ve either had something else to do that day or I didn’t want mess up my perfect nothing-to-do-today day by watching women’s basketball, or stabbing myself with a fork. But I can’t ignore a franchise that has been to the WNBA finals two straight seasons, which I again must note is a long way from getting displaced from Philips Arena because Sesame Street Live was already booked.
4. Hawks (3): Al Horford’s injury should’ve doubled them over, but coach Larry Drew has done a nice job holding things together (save the occasional bizarre out-of-body experience like the Miami game). The biggest problem: duh. Joe Johnson’s contract means little roster flexibility. On a related note: Johnson, the All-Star, scored six points at Phoenix. Josh Smith, the non-All-Star, went for 30 points and 17 rebounds. What’s wrong with this picture?
Mark Richt has been a popular guy on national signing day. Now it's about carrying that through the season. (AP photo)
5. Georgia football (6): Mark Richt will go two straight years without having to face Alabama, LSU or Arkansas in the regular season. Nice lottery hit. Last year’s 10-4 season was a nice bounce-back from 6-7. But losing to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl after getting slammed 42-10 in the SEC title game wasn’t easily digested by BowWow Nation. Celebrations need to extend from signing day to January.
6. Georgia Tech football (7): The Jackets started 7-2 and upset No. 5 Clemson. Then they dropped three of their last four, including blowing a two-touchdown lead to Utah in the last seven minutes of the Sun Bowl. Next season will be an interesting tipping point for Paul Johnson, who went 20-7 in his first two seasons, 14-12 in the next two. And then there’s the matter of trying to win with his recruits.
7. This Space For Lease (5): Our annual dividing line between the general population and ICU.
8. Georgia basketball (4): The Dogs drop four spots from last year. But that’s less about coach Mark Fox as a coach than it is how this season has exposed just how weak the talent base was after the departures of Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie. Fox needs a gravity-defying, 360-slam in recruiting.
9. Georgia Tech basketball (10): The Jackets won in Athens early this season. They probably should’ve stopped the season then. Brian Gregory is ahead of Paul Hewitt in that people like him, but he’s behind Hewitt in that he needs to prove he can recruit in the ACC. It’s not easy selling kids on “potential,” especially when your arena site is a construction zone.
It all seemed so promising back then for the Thrashers-- and then Don Waddell started picking players. (AJC photo)
10. Georgia State basketball (new): The early euphoria of an 11-game winning streak has faded (the Panthers are 7-6 since), but State could make things interesting in the CAA tournament. Worth noting: Rod Barnes did a nice job cleaning up a mess before getting fired, prior to Ron Hunter’s hiring.
11. Georgia State football (new): It’s impossible not to like Bill Curry. But he took on a difficult job, and going from 6-5 to 3-8 in Year 2 with a slight step up in competition speaks volumes. Next season the Panthers start playing conference games. Buckle up.
12. Team Weasel (surrogate): This entry replaces the Thrashers, now of Winnipeg, or some place on the dark side of the moon, and the three people primarily responsible for the franchise’s floundering and eventual move: Gary Bettman, Bruce Levenson and Don Waddell. If you golf and all of your associates consider you spineless, devious and a general tool, the three will be looking to round out their foursome at the Eternal Damnation Country Club.
By Jeff Schultz
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250 comments Add your comment
Brad Komminsk
February 17th, 2012
8:57 am
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King. being the best in Atlanta isn’t exactly tall cotton
BulldogBen
February 17th, 2012
9:08 am
The fact that the most epic bed wetting in the history of Atlanta sports was by the Braves a scant 4 1/2 months ago and they’re the #1 team on this list tells you all you need to know about the state of sports here. Sadly, it only gets worse going down the list. Something, ANYTHING, needs to happen to re-energize this city sports-wise.
Walker, Texas Ranger
February 17th, 2012
9:35 am
Gary Bettman is the demise of the NHL. I’m sure all the folks in Winnipeg were instrumental in the awesome TV rating that the NHL All Star game received. I hope he is OB on his first drive at Eternal Damnation Country Club
freddie
February 17th, 2012
9:42 am
There’s five minutes of my life I will never get back.
Nothing But The Truth
February 17th, 2012
9:43 am
Alright let’s cut the crap. Here’s the bottom line:
1. Dream – WNBA Finals appearance
2. Hawks – 2nd round and out annually
3. UGA – Bowl games
4. Falcons – Playoffs, but can’t even compete
5. Braves – SMH
The rest don’t matter…
Going forward… next 5 years:
1. Braves – Young, deep in pitching, decent FO
2. UGA FB – Second wave of recruits looks solid, Bobo still around though.
3. Falcons – Depends on cuts, decent FO, questions about GM and QB
4. GT BB – Gregory looks like a young Izzo, already recruiting well
5. Hawks – Ownership, GM, coaching, and personnel future questions after this season
I Am Gearon's Crocodile Tears
February 17th, 2012
9:44 am
Being the best sports team in Atlanta lately is like being the valedictorian of summer school, or being the skinniest kid at fat camp, or saying that Moe is the braniest Stooge… you get the picture.
Max Bacon
February 17th, 2012
9:45 am
Can’t be dissing the Big Chicken!!!
L.T.B.D.E.
February 17th, 2012
9:55 am
… Mark Richt will go two straight years without having to face Alabama, LSU or Arkansas in the regular season. Nice lottery hit…
You got that right! Add McGarity’s OOC scheduling, the pathetic level (outside of USC) that UGA’s SEC opponents played, and you get 10 Ws! 10+ Ws should happen again in 2012 too unless one or more of UGA’s SEC opponents (outside of USC) vastly improves.
Just so all of the “TALLEST MIDGET” UGA fans are clear on this…. The Dawgs didn’t win the SEC east in 2011, USC LOST it.
Total wipeout
February 17th, 2012
10:08 am
Lets see ASG sold out hockey with Don(teflon)Waddell n crew was 12 year plan get team so bad we can sale in 2011-12 season….and we will never get another NHL team again unless arthur Blank was place a 21,000 seat arena near the stadium he plans….then maybe will but we know one thing we never see winter classic at The Ted anytime in atlanta..thanks to three stooges friends!..And remember moron said Miami n Nats not be better wrong Ozzie guillien is at marlins now and he be battlein Fightin Phils for East..While Braves under Freddi Gonz. and Frank wren tip caps at each other n be in 4th place Mets will win last anyway!
Jimmy Crack
February 17th, 2012
10:31 am
You gotta win it all to be counted!
The Atlanta Sports Mausoleum and Hall of F(sh)ame selects….
1. Atlanta Braves (1995 World Series Champions)
2. Georgia Baseball Dogs (1990 National Champions)
2. Georgia Football Dogs (1980 National Champions)
4. Georgia Tech Football (1990 Shared National Champions)
5. Valdosta State (2004, 2007 FCS National Champions)
Georgiavol
February 17th, 2012
10:57 am
Good article. Keep it up. You are owning Bradley.
Panama
February 17th, 2012
10:59 am
Wow Schulzie
TWO GSU slams in a week. You can take Friday off.
mike
February 17th, 2012
11:53 am
JEFF, LIKE YOUR COLUMNS USUALLY THEY MAKE SENSE, BUT COME ON THE DREAM #3
Bluestreak
February 17th, 2012
12:10 pm
Najeh, I’m neither communist or gay and love hockey. I also love football, baseball and basketball. Not sure why someone can’t be a fan of all sports.
Honestly ASG has blinded a lot of people to their operating standards. If they were going to win us a championship, this would be the year. They had clear needs after Al went down and signed Erick Dampier who was not the best option on the market. They won’t go over the tax threshold to win a championship, no matter what drivvel they spew.
I’ll go ahead and be the first to start this…ASG will choose not to sell again to a local owner (or someone that wants to keep the team here) and the Seattle Hawks will be a reality in the next 10 years. These guys are clueless on how to run a sports franchise.
funny...
February 17th, 2012
12:47 pm
And thought Mark Bradley’s article was stupid and asinine.
What a worthless article.
The list doesn’t even make sense.
Cal Bowdler's 7th foul
February 17th, 2012
1:41 pm
Underachievers list:
1) Braves – Wasted a generation of HOF talent
Dream – Been to the finals.
1b) Georgia Football – Wasted multiple generations of NFL talent
3) Georgia Tech Basketball (Blewitt era) – Wasted multiple lottery pics and one and done’s
4) Falcons – A lifetime of ineptitude. The sheen is off TD and MS.
5) Tech football – Not much to work with in the first place but the fall from the National Championship is remarkable. AD’s have been horrendous.
6) Georgia State athletics – They are what they are.
7) Hawks – add success in lottery picks to the measurement and they challenge for #1. Moderate success over time.
DawgDad
February 17th, 2012
1:59 pm
“1. Braves — still not that far removed from 14 straight division titles.”
Questionable relevance. Showing my age here, but didn’t the Yankees win like 14 pennants in 16 years and then two years removed (in 1966) finish LAST in the AL? And with largely the same cast as 1964?
The good news for the Braves is September 2011 is OVER, not that we fans are over it yet. The bad news is the roster hasn’t turned over.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
CHOKE is the highest paid qb never to win a playoff game.
That sucks
Najeh Davenpoop
February 17th, 2012
2:34 pm
“Najeh, I’m neither communist or gay and love hockey. I also love football, baseball and basketball. Not sure why someone can’t be a fan of all sports.”
I didn’t say you were. Someone jacked my screen name at 10:59 PM.
JDawg
February 17th, 2012
3:37 pm
1. UGA football. Nothing else matters.
starting to mail those columns in
February 17th, 2012
4:22 pm
The Dream? Seriously?
Go Dawgs
February 17th, 2012
4:23 pm
JDawg….Got that one right!
cowdogit
February 17th, 2012
4:30 pm
With the American League team’s looking for DH hitter’s, this would be a good time fer the braves to trade Chipper.Chipper would be in the lineup every day and maybe extend his playing career.Prado playing everyday at third would return his batting aveage to above 300.I don,t understand FREDI , he has not made one tough decision since he became the braves manager.
Emma
February 17th, 2012
5:41 pm
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you’d regard professional women’s basketball as something only slightly less bad than the idea of causing yourself physical harm, but still, it’s not a great message to send. This is why no one takes the WNBA seriously even though the Dream quite nearly won it all last year. Maybe keep your forks out of reach and actually try watching a game sometime. You might just be proven wrong.
And while I love all forms of general slagging-off of the terrible ownership group that killed the Thrashers, I think it’s strange that the Gladiators were completely omitted from this list. Considering they’ve been atop the South Division for a while now, and are in fact ranked first in the Eastern Conference, I really think they could make the playoffs. (Even with their starting goalie being out for the rest of the season with an injury!) Sure, they’re ECHL, but if the two-year-old GSU football team merits a mention, a nine-year-old professional-level team could be thrown a bone here and there, especially considering they’re Atlanta’s One and Only now.
freddy
February 17th, 2012
6:16 pm
Braves may finish 3rd..no higher with present team..bet on it.
Bronx Mike
February 17th, 2012
9:46 pm
atlanta-a city of losers. Come to NY for championships! I miss the bronx–best pizza in the country.
Hello Jerry
February 17th, 2012
11:22 pm
The NBA is nothing but thugs. That’s all they will ever be. The Hawks could leave and nobody would care… the crime rate would surely drop as a result. Have you seen the clientele at NBA games? Yikes.
UGADawg83
February 18th, 2012
7:57 am
1.Falcons
2. UGA Football
3.Braves
4. Hawks.
atl!!!
February 18th, 2012
8:06 am
ATL!!! 1 fluke title in 1995 (strike year)!!! The rest–chokes!!!! ATL!!! Rise up!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
8:40 am
Shut up, “atl!!!” The Hawks will win it all this year and the next 10 years. They’re already the best team in Atlanta. Buy season tickets and see for yourself.
David
February 18th, 2012
9:45 am
im sexy and i know it
Ink Splatter
February 18th, 2012
10:45 am
Some days you just have to fill dead space, don’t ya Jeff?
GATA
February 18th, 2012
10:58 am
Georgia Southern should be #2 on this list. 2 trips to the national semifinals, a conference championship, scaring bama, and spending most of the season at #1 in the nation.
bsg3003
February 18th, 2012
11:56 am
why do people think that the hawks are better? In the playoffs they always take people who suck( Miami, Milwaukee) to game 7. then get swept in the next round. The falcons have lost to the eventual world champs 2 out of 3 times, and the other time was to the runner-up.
Don’t get the misguided playoff thing. Bulldogs are a top 10 team next year. They definitely should be ahead of the hawks. Maybe ahead of the falcons as well.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
5:02 pm
Georgia Southern can’t hold a candle to the Hawks. No team in Atlanta can. Wait, Georgia Southern isn’t even in Atlanta, get outta here!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 18th, 2012
10:17 pm
I hope you CHOKE lovers have given him a good bye kiss because if you have been following what is going on with Peyton Manning, CHOKE’s days are numbered.
Manning is a hall of famer. Sorry guys but you guys will have to look for another great hope to replace the legendary Mike Vick……………
HA HA HA
hawker
February 18th, 2012
10:25 pm
the hawks will win the first playoff round! YeS!! that’s better than the falcons or braves!
DawgDad
February 19th, 2012
2:26 am
“With the American League team’s looking for DH hitter’s, this would be a good time fer the braves to trade Chipper”
Teams might want Chipper’s bat, but no GM in his right mind would trade for Chipper’s salary at this point, which means the Braves couldn’t afford to pay the quality of player they need in return if they have to keep paying Chipper. They’re already paying $10 million for Lowe to NOT pitch here. And, although Chipper hardly terrifies lefties, taking his switch-hitting bat out of the lineup could be devastating. Unless they adjust the roster in Spring Training the Braves figure to struggle mightily against left-handed pitching this year. Remember, last year’s answers were Joe Mather and Dan Uggla, and neither one hit a lick against lefties.
darb
February 19th, 2012
9:22 am
Bottom line, aal sports in GA in particular Atlanta really suck. Even the only good owner, Blank, cant pull the Falcons up to the elite ranking yet, and the Hawks “ownership” is an absolute joke.
UGA = Yawn
February 19th, 2012
9:24 am
Jeff, you need some geography lessons. Athens is not in Atlanta or not reaaly near. If you put UGA pn the list, why not Auburn? There are almost the same distance. Keep your list to Atlanta teams!
CTOWN
February 19th, 2012
9:28 am
Georgia Football has and always will be #1. To rank them anything but #1 is stupid. Donation$ and attendance says it all.
What a Joke
February 19th, 2012
9:34 am
Schultz… Your beloved bulldawgs win the national championship in football recruiting every year, only to fold up like a cheap suit when it comes time to actually play. They would have been 8-6 if they played a real schedule last year.
Tech basketball owns UGA basketball. The problem is that you can’t say that because so many behind-the-times Bulldawgs are still reading print newspapers.
GOP Cannon
February 19th, 2012
9:39 am
Jeff, good article bud, that was a great read! The ONLY difference that I would make is the UGA Football team should be ranked higher than the Falcons.
Here is my rationale: If both teams (the Falcons and the Dogs) agreed to play an exhibition game against one another, and both teams performed at the same level they played at in the last game of the season (Falcons in the playoff and UGA in the Bowl) then Georgia would easily come out on top. As a matter of fact, I think that the final score would be something like 24-3, Georgia.
jarvis
February 19th, 2012
9:40 am
This year’s edition was a giant bucket of suck.
The Duke of Flatbush
February 19th, 2012
9:43 am
ASG will never get one dollar of my money again.
No Hawks, concerts, Dream or anything else in Philips.
Never again
Thanks for #12 Jeff.
Go Falcons BRaves and UGA when they get a real coach. Richt is the worst coach in the SEC.
Albert
February 19th, 2012
9:44 am
Look at the number of people attending each game.UGA leads all the teams.
jarvis
February 19th, 2012
9:44 am
@What a joke, Tech sucks at everything but educating, and that’s really not an interesting read.
So either face that facts that you are horrible at atheletics, and begin reading these types of articles on an economy of scale, or continue to make yourself look foolish by making claims like Jeff Shultz is a Georgia fan.
Duke of Flatbush
February 19th, 2012
9:55 am
Albert, I think the UGA football ticket is the best value as a sports ticket. I am a Dog fan too, but we seem to come up short every year despite having access to great talent. The players’ decisions on where to play tell you where the better football is being played, backed up by the opposing teams’ records.
Richt is the problem in Athens-no SEC Championships until the problem is dealt with. Dogs have one major advantage over all other local sports-the undying loving of their fanbase.
christophorm
February 19th, 2012
10:15 am
We use to say in 1979 “Go Falcons and take the Hawks with you! “…ain’t much changed.
Poppy
February 19th, 2012
10:19 am
The UGA Lady Dawgs basketball team has been one of the most successful teams for over 30 years. Avg 24 wins a year, have only missed one NCAA tournament, and have been to several Final Fours. No championships, but still a very successful team. Women’s basketball doesn’t get much coverage, but its a very good sport. A lot closer to the way basketball was intended to be than then men’s game.