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
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
Wow! Jeff is on a roll. Think we’ll buy him a Deer Dog.
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
Wow! Jeff is on a roll. Think we’ll buy him a Deer Dog.
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
Two deer dogs, we guess.
DePort
February 16th, 2012
1:27 pm
Honestly at this point I would put the Dream and number 1 for making the finals and the Hawks as number 2… simply because the Hawks have made it farther in the playoffs than any of the other teams in Atlanta in basically the last ten years! The braves one a championship but it was all the way back in 95. We cant live off that anymore!
DePort
February 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
(Braves “WON” a Championship)
Joey
February 16th, 2012
1:32 pm
The Hawks are the best team in the ATL.
At least they can win a series . . .
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
1:35 pm
The Braves will tell you they won 14 consecutive championships. If you believe that, then you may have put the EPIC Collapse behind you like Fredi and the players say they have. We sincerely believe that the Braves organization needs to come clean with the fans and acknowledge that 14 little signs in the outfield don’t mean squat. While some might say they “won” the division others might say they demonstrated incompetence in the playoffs. That little sign for a 2010 wild card is silliest of all. “Wild Card Champions” – give us a break. And then, there was the EPIC Collapse. Let’s hope Fredi got things figured out in the off season and we will see some good baseball right out of the chute. We was thinking Pastornicky might want to buy some insurance having to play between uh Chipper and Uggla. We heard a rumor Uggla might be wearing high-heels in the field this season in keeping with his new pornindustry image. Shouldn’t hurt him any.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
1:37 pm
Until this incarnation of the Braves or Falcons do anything in the playoffs, they don’t have anything on the Hawks.
Hawks = best men’s pro team in Atlanta.
1. Dream
2. Hawks
3. Falcons
4. Braves
GTBob
February 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
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.
Huh? He has the #17 recruiting class in the country coming in next year and that doesn’t include a solid player transferring from Kentucky. I would say he is selling it fine right now.
Snake
February 16th, 2012
1:43 pm
Just so you know Jeff, GT has the number 15 recruiting class coming in next season according to Rivals. The class is highlighted by Robert Carter, the number 28 player in the nation. Also, Stacey Poole from Kentucky is transferring in. He was the number 33 player in the nation last year. Calipari on Poole: “Stacey has the skill set and the work ethic to play well in our system. He’s a slasher who can play multiple positions and a defender that is capable of shutting down people. He should earn more playing time as the season progresses.”
Rothschild
February 16th, 2012
1:44 pm
Love the last sentence.
Sonny’s changed. Used to be clever and funny, but now tedious and annoyingly so.
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
1:47 pm
GTBob and Snake — I look forward to seeing those recruits and the players’ impact will be factored in next season and beyond. But it’s premature to base anything on a team recruiting “ranking.”
stizz
February 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Najeh has been beating this thing home for a while now, but he’s right. Come on Jeff. The Braves haven’t advanced past the first round in a decade.
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
1:48 pm
Sonny Clusters — Can’t say that I’ve ever had a deer dog. And I’m afraid I’d have visions of Bambi while puttin’ on the mustard.
Finchdawg
February 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me, Jeff. SEC East Champs below the Hawks?!? Plus the Braves didn’t even make the playoffs? No way, no how.
Formul8or
February 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
1. Braves
2. Georgia Southern football
3. Falcons
4. Heat
5. Georgia football
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
Najeh — Well, if you go strictly by playoff wins you would be correct (although the Braves beat the Giants one game in their playoff series so maybe they should be ahead of the Falcons, based on that).
Ima Hogge
February 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
What mess did Rod Barnes clean up at Georgia State?
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
1:51 pm
Agreed with Davenpoop. The Braves organization can talk about tradition all they want but they need to recognize their tradition right now is EPIC Collapse. That’s the most recent result and that’s the one we remember clearly. Those little division signs just remind us of early exits in the playoffs. The Hawks may be in disarray but they know how to advance past the first round. Somebody started calling him “Mr. Schuerholz” and he started telling us how good we’ve got it. Smoltz called him something else . . .Homeboy Upstairs. Well, Homeboy is president now and it has been a long time since the Braves won a pennant. We say back up a bus and load up the entire front office. Hire some folks who will deliver a championship. We was once state championship so we know what we are talking about.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
The Braves will be fine this season and probably even better in the years to come. They will have a ton to spend this off season, especially of Chipper retires. Once this young pitching gets more experience, the Braves could easily go on another run. The Phillies are old.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
2:01 pm
“Well, if you go strictly by playoff wins you would be correct (although the Braves beat the Giants one game in their playoff series so maybe they should be ahead of the Falcons, based on that).”
A playoff series win in MLB or NBA is equivalent to a playoff game win in the NFL. I’m talking about knocking a team out of the playoffs and advancing. The Hawks have done that. The Braves and Falcons have not.
rollo lawson
February 16th, 2012
2:02 pm
This Atlanta Braves lust is sickening. I know the AJC hates to admit it, but the Atlanta Hawks are the best team in Atlanta and with a healthy Al Horford can compete with the top teams in the NBA. It’s already been proven. Keep hanging your hats on Chipper the Gimp i you want too. I’d rather ride with J-Smoove and the boys at Phillips Arena. At least they know how to win in the playoffs. Take notes Matty Ice Cream.
UGA 11
February 16th, 2012
2:03 pm
1. Dream (weird, but can’t argue w/ success)
2. Hawks
3. Braves
4. UGA Football
4. Falcons
Matt from MN
February 16th, 2012
2:03 pm
I miss NHL hockey and the Thrashers who, rarely, if ever played at an NHL level due to management and ownership incompetence.
Hoopster
February 16th, 2012
2:05 pm
“………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.” I would say hauling in the #15 class not counting the #33 recruit in the nationcoming in (Poole) equates to proving he can recruit. And you last sentence makes it more telling. They don’t have a home floor to boot! Coaching AND recruiting. That’s one more thing than Fox does and merits a higher standing than that guy for certain. And where is a picture of a “countess?” If you have a numbered list, we want a picture!!
Steve
February 16th, 2012
2:07 pm
Rollo, the Braves have won plenty in the playoffs. It’s like you expect the Braves to go to the playoffs EVERY year and constantly win it all. Yes, they struggled for a few years before 2011 and 2010 but that happens with any team. Look at the Yankees. They have MLB’s highest payroll and they have one championship over the last 11 years.
rollo lawson
February 16th, 2012
2:07 pm
Najeh, the Braves and Falcons just get knocked out. But seriously, I have more faith in the Falcons than the Braves simply because of Arthur Blank. The Braves have no sizzle at all (straight vanilla). They’re ready, as we speak, to run Jason Heyward out of town, lol!!!!
Steve
February 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
Rollo don’t bring that race crap up please. Uggla got plenty of grief for last year as well.
Michael Collins
February 16th, 2012
2:09 pm
I’m just amazed that anyone is actually arguing the positions here.
LawDawg
February 16th, 2012
2:11 pm
UGA below the Hawks and Dream? Really? This is not going to help with those readers (like me) who think you have an irrational hatred of everything Athens.
stizz
February 16th, 2012
2:11 pm
Steve, these guys were a shoe in to get to the playoffs and dropped the ball. Here’s something for you to think about: No team has ever recovered the next season from an epic collapse, especially when the manager is retained. Francona got Boston two titles in four years, yet was fired for a similar collapse. That should tell you everything about how the Braves are run.
rollo lawson
February 16th, 2012
2:11 pm
Do these AJC sportswriters think we are fools? Kinda like politicians. Keep saying stuff over and over in hopes that we will believe it and co-sign/buy into the hype!!
Larry
February 16th, 2012
2:11 pm
“Hawks = best men’s pro team in Atlanta.”
Thanks for the belly laugh!
Does anyone with more than a double-digit IQ attend Hawks Games? Does anyone even want to?
LawDawg
February 16th, 2012
2:12 pm
rollo: I missed the interview with Frank Wren where he said he was planning to trade Heyward. Do you have a link or are you just making stuff up?
Steve
February 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
Well Stizz, try to be positive and hope that is not the case. Regardless of what you think, when healthy, the Braves have a very strong team. Only real weakness when it comes to starters is SS.
Larry
February 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
Now, seriously, which team today gives us the most hope for a championship?
Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, that’s who!
pat
February 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
I beleive the power rankings when I see people getting runners over and getting runners in. If this team relies on the long ball again, forget it, we’re done. I actually don’t want to see a homerun this year, I want to lead the league in average runs per game, playing small ball. Then I’ll beleive it. They may be over last year, but I am not.
Herschel Talker
February 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Schultzie:
No team with Fredi Gonzalez running the show can be number one. He is public enemy number one.
FIRE FREDI GONZALEZ!!! HE IS A MORON!!!
HT
Eaassyy
February 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
It is my goal this year to not watch a single Braves game on TV.
rollo lawson
February 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
@Steve, What are you talking about? “Vanilla” means ordinary, lack of flare, or nothing to get excited about. Who said anything about race? If you recall the whole injury flap surrounding Chipper and Heyward, the fans and media were pretty hard on the guy for not being able to go. The first sign of adversity (injury or slump) this year, and the faithful fans will be blogging about potential trade partners. Just watch.
no go
February 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
drop the fantasy–the braves aren’t winning any titles—more chokes to come. ATL = loserville.
Larry
February 16th, 2012
2:20 pm
The Hawks are the same as ever…above average, feasting on the weaker teams, and routinely beaten by the better teams.
The Braves have Fruiti Gonzalez–’nuff said!
The Dream? Whw cares about a bunch of goofy looking masculine females (not ladies)?
Becasue of their new coordinators, an anxious owner, and one Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons will accomplish more than all the others (that matters).
Eaassyy
February 16th, 2012
2:21 pm
Sonny, maybe they should have a 2011 Epic Collapse sign right next to their wild card champs sign from 2010
SEC Observer
February 16th, 2012
2:22 pm
Georgia should go 12-0 with that joke of a schedule.
JP
February 16th, 2012
2:28 pm
Josh should be playing at an all-star level. Let’s not forget that he makes $12 million per year.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
SEC Observer, UGA has no control of the SEC part of their schedule.
rollo lawson
February 16th, 2012
2:30 pm
Larry, in describing the Hawks, you simultaneously defined what the Falcons truly are, lol!!! Take off the rose colored glasses!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
2:33 pm
“Now, seriously, which team today gives us the most hope for a championship?
Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, that’s who!”
If Hawks fans have double digit IQs, this statement puts your IQ firmly within single digits — kind of like the number of points Matt Ryan is capable of scoring in a playoff game.
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
2:35 pm
Eaassyy, that is a great idea! A little EPIC Collpase sign for the outfield. That will help them remember and not do it again. It can go next to their other “Championship” signs and especially the 2010 Wild Card Champion sign. Yes, that is a very good idea. We read where we are tedious so we’re going to clean up our act and do better. One thing we are going to do right away and that is buy Jeff a Deer Dog so he can get used to them. They say if you marinate them they are not so gamey. Chipper’s Deer Dogs could give McCann’s Burgers a run for the money. We are going to stick with going to the Dairy Queen before the game because even with a 33% discount on the Deer Dogs the prices are too high for us. If we was Homeboy Upstairs we would cut prices some more and apologize to the fans for charging so much for so long. We’d also sign a major league shortstop and a corner outfielder and add a screwdriver to the Tool Race.
DawgDad
February 16th, 2012
2:36 pm
It’s common for a team to progress to a point where the players, management, and the fans believe they are one or two minor tweaks or pieces from the promised land, or just “we expect to be better”. Quite often these teams have reached a plateau of achievement and are closer to regressing than progressing. The shame is, a lot of good organizations self-destruct when this unfolds.
The Braves and Falcons and Hawks are at this point. They are consistently winning teams who HONESTLY figure to do no better with the current cast and quite easily might backstep. Prudent management will grasp the situation, properly evaluate the potential for a rebound/rebuilding/re-arming, and NOT throw out good players and managers in the process.
For every GM-coach combination that MIGHT take the Falcons further there are infinite combinations that LIKELY will take you BACKWARDS. I’d say the same about the Braves if we didn’t get all the Wren pronouncements and Schultzie/Bradley company-line articles proving everyone is in denial. Couldn’t care less about the Hawks, really.
Sid
February 16th, 2012
2:37 pm
thart is a sad bunch of teams.
bill mann
February 16th, 2012
2:37 pm
only reason braves won all those “titles” was because of ted turners deep pockets,won’t be seeing that anymore
Eh
February 16th, 2012
2:45 pm
Bulldogs (football) have won bowl games, even a BCS game a few years ago. Equivalent to reaching the semifinals in any other sport. So they are the closest to a championship.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
2:47 pm
“the Braves have won plenty in the playoffs. It’s like you expect the Braves to go to the playoffs EVERY year and constantly win it all. Yes, they struggled for a few years before 2011 and 2010 but that happens with any team. Look at the Yankees. They have MLB’s highest payroll and they have one championship over the last 11 years.”
I am pretty sure this article is referring to the state of these teams right now. No question that historically speaking the Braves are by far Atlanta’s most successful franchise. But Greg Maddux ain’t walking through that door. Tom Glavine ain’t walking through that door. John Smoltz ain’t walking through that door. Chipper Jones ain’t walking through that door (he’s limping). This incarnation of the Braves — the Freeman/Heyward/Uggla/Hanson/Prado/Jurrjens/Venters/Kimbrel Braves — have accomplished nothing yet.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
2:51 pm
Again, if the Braves did so well last year (minus September) and have the same team coming back (plus Bourne all year) why do you think they have no chance? The Braves did fine last year even with Uggla having a terrible first half, Heyward having a terrible year, Freeman struggling for the first few months, Jurrjens and Hanson hurting, etc. They just need to stay healthy.
Joey
February 16th, 2012
2:53 pm
“Let’s hope Fredi got things figured out in the off season …”
**********************************************
I know Clusters don’t believe that. Fredi had the best season of his life as manager. I bet he celebrated all winter about his winning record, and near-miss of the “Wild Card Champ” sign in the outfield at The Ted . . .
GTBob
February 16th, 2012
2:53 pm
Equivalent to reaching the semifinals in any other sport. So they are the closest to a championship.
Did you even read the section about the Atlanta Dream?
Kevin From columbus
February 16th, 2012
3:14 pm
The Braves number 1????? LMAO …We are in terrible shape if the Braves are the closet to a championship. Technically the Dream should be number one on the list. Then the dawgs should be number 2 with the team they have coming back. Then the Hawks at full strength in the playoffs should be 3.
Rob
February 16th, 2012
3:16 pm
So, which of these teams do you guys believe will win a championship in the next ten years?
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
3:19 pm
“How they really stand, from Braves (1) to Weasels (12)”
The Braves are the only team in the history of all Atlanta sports, to win a championship.
Sad.
UGA hasn’t won anything since Jimmy Carter left office.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
3:20 pm
Najeh Davenpoop is the only realist on this blog. Atlanta is a terrible sports town. Period.
mark
February 16th, 2012
3:24 pm
Jeff are you taking that new drug Molly? The Braves will be lucky to finish 3rd in their own division. Gonzalez is the worst manager ever, ran down the pen quicker than Bobby which in itself is a miracle. Kept Heyward in the lineup hitting under 230. Talent level in the division deepest it has ever been. Plus we can not beat the Nationals so 4th place is real easy to imagine. Order goes like this 1-Falcons everyone else no chance in hell! We need new management and ownership for any of the pro teams to have a chance and the two college teams have the wrong head coach.
cowdogit
February 16th, 2012
3:24 pm
Fredi feel’s obligated to Cox and Aaron so he’s putting his career on the line by supporting Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones,and pitching coach Roger McDowell. John Smoltz has the ball’s,and his brilliant baseball intellect make’s him the perfect choice to be the next brave’s manager.
Joey
February 16th, 2012
3:25 pm
2012 Preseason.., and who’s your team? Tech? Auburn? Both one shot wonders since “Carter left office.”
Both perennial NCAA cheaters . . .
Kirk
February 16th, 2012
3:26 pm
Go Panthers!
Steve
February 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
Mark, thanks for the laugh! “The Braves will be lucky to finish third in their own division.” Is that so? Are you really going to be dumb enough to think the moves Miami and Washington made are going to do a lot? Both will win 75-80 games and that’s it. Braves should be close to 90.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
3:31 pm
“Tech? Auburn? Both one shot wonders since “Carter left office.”
Along with Bama, LSU, UF, Ohio State, Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State, Oklahoma, USC, Texas….
Take your pick, sport.
“Both perennial NCAA cheaters”
Diverting attention won’t change the fact that GA sports are terrible.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
3:32 pm
Joey
BTW, Tech and Auburn fans will take that “one shot” over anything UGA has done which is absolutely nothing. Tech has 4 national titles. UGA has 2.
Can you do simple math?
Sonny Clusters
February 16th, 2012
3:33 pm
Let’s say you have a deer and a third baseman and they are on a quiz show together and the deer spots the third baseman two answers and still the deer wins. That means the third baseman has no business with his own diary in the newspaper. We remember when uh, Chipper had a diary in the ajc and we remember how Coach would read it to us before practice to motivate us about a mind being a terrible thing to waste. We believe baseball players are baseball players for a reason. Nobody expects them to be engineers or lawyers or movie stars (wait, Uggla may have been in a movie in the off season, not sure). Our point is this . . . we forgot what our point was but eating more venison should harden our arteries some more and affect our minds so we talk in cliches and spit seeds during interviews. Go Braves!
Joey
February 16th, 2012
3:36 pm
Look dumbass, you’re the one that mentioned “since 80.”
heartofdarkness
February 16th, 2012
3:37 pm
It would be interesting to see an analysis of taxpayer support at the federal, state and local level for each team to see whether expenditures match the general enthusiasm fans have for these enterprises. The fan, as that creature was traditionally understood in American culture, has become nothing more than an object to gouge at the gate and concession stand, and a source of leverageable cash flow to be converted into tax advantaged profits and excessive consumerism.
Joey
February 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Clusters, would the third baseman have a rifle, when on the game show? If so, the deer should not show off his (her) mental advantage over the third baseman . . .
BigTimeTECHFan
February 16th, 2012
3:42 pm
Georgia Tech Football is no 1.
Best School
Best Coach
Best players
Best uniforms
Best fans
Win/loss records are way overrated
PMC
February 16th, 2012
3:43 pm
If the Braves are truely 1, there is NOTHING to look forward to this year.
We’re hoping for a wild card. Geez.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
3:44 pm
“Look dumbass, you’re the one that mentioned “since 80.”
Way to represent UGA, troll.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
3:48 pm
Joey
Are you just angry because your teams suck or because you’re a little girl?
Joey
February 16th, 2012
3:57 pm
Troll? You mean someone who uses endless, idiotic posting names, and consistantly is full of hate because of a decade+ domination of his/her favorite college team from Atlanta?
No, I’m on the other end of that equation.
Grown man, and not even a little angry. Won the East, albeit a weak one, and, as usual, beat our little sisters of the poor, instate rival, once again.
Atl Flames Fan
February 16th, 2012
3:57 pm
Your weasel list of Gary Bettman, Bruce Levenson and Don Waddell should have included Michael Gearon. And don’t forget Rutherford Seydal.
Scumbags; all of them.
Based on What They Didn't Do.........
February 16th, 2012
4:00 pm
Based on what they didn’t do ~ which is get us some power bats…..the Braves still and will suck!!!! With Disabled Veteran Gimper Jones and Hero to ZERO Sissy Heyward, this time will be sitting in last place at the end of the season – Won’t waste my money to go see a team filled with losers and slackers!!!!
C
February 16th, 2012
4:00 pm
Falcons. They will play with a chip on their shoulder the size of Stone Mtn. this coming fall.
King Peter
February 16th, 2012
4:01 pm
There is no #1,everybodys trying not to finish last.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
4:03 pm
“Troll? You mean someone who uses endless, idiotic posting names”
Joey, you are obviously the saddest individual on this blog. Get help.
Joey
February 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
What was your posting name, say, one month ago, troll?
See, you are the sad one . . .
mark
February 16th, 2012
4:10 pm
Steve are you forgetting that we wasted an 8 1/2 game lead and got run down by St. Louis? Chipper will be lucky to play in 100 games this year if that. Our right fielder is coming off a year in which he hit 230, and our left fielder hit 260. We are starting a rookie at short and in terms of our pitching well remind me again who is managing this club? Plus we have ownership who look at this team as another entry on their balance sheet. Overall we are no closer to sniffing a championship than the Marlins or Nationals. Plus when we were on top of the division we won one world championship in 14 years. I love the Braves and want them to do well but facts are facts. Laugh away buddy!
PureEvil
February 16th, 2012
4:18 pm
Jeff I think Brian is proving he can recruit. He’s never going to get Duke and UNC type players, but 5 star C Robert Carter, 4 star SF Marcus Hunt and 3 star SG Chris Bolden is a nice first year of recruiting.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
4:19 pm
See my post at 2:51 Mark.
PureEvil
February 16th, 2012
4:20 pm
Jeff you should consider changing the whole list to include High School Football #1. Thats the best sport in Georgia!!!
PMC
February 16th, 2012
4:22 pm
We seriously may need to go to Tennis or Golf.
Isner just beat Federer. We also have a British Open champ here locally.
It’s really not looking good for team sports in this state
PureEvil
February 16th, 2012
4:23 pm
Also, I’d rather go to a Gwinnett Braves game any day over any pro team in ATL, but I live 5 min from the park so I know I’m in the minority since they can’t sell tickets to the games.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
4:27 pm
I think all of the complainers should move to Cleveland. Great sports teams there! Or maybe New Jersey? Miami? Charlotte?
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
4:30 pm
“What was your posting name, say, one month ago, troll?”
See above, simpleton.
ASHCAN!!!!!!
February 16th, 2012
4:32 pm
@Najeh poop,No team in Ga with the acception of the dream is capable of winning a championship.Certainly not matt ryan and the falcons.They will have to get by the packers,saints,giants,49ers,eagles,ect…too long of a list.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
4:36 pm
“Or maybe New Jersey? Miami? Charlotte?”
Miami has multiple championships with baseball and basketball.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
4:38 pm
Miami – Overrated basketball team who can’t win it all with the dream team. A baseball team who get 3,000 a game and when they do win (it has been a while) they blow up the team. A football team who has done nothing in forever.
Smoove Criminal
February 16th, 2012
4:40 pm
@ASCHAN
I think UGA football has a very good chanc to win a championship this year. They have by far the weakest conference schedule of any SEC team and their non conference schedule (minus GT at the end of the year) is an absolute joke with 3 creampuffs in Buffalo, FL Atlantic, and GA Southern. I think with that schedule they’ll go 11-1 pre SEC Championship game so they have a shot.
Unless you intended to just include only pro franchises…..in that case I think you are correct with the Dream, Hawks a long shot but still possible. Falcons and Braves have way too many question marks to be in “Championship” talks for the next year or 2.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
4:43 pm
Smoove Criminal, true post but Tech is also an absolute joke. Easy win almost every year.
Smoove Criminal
February 16th, 2012
4:48 pm
Steve, while its still a win, GT is their best non conference competetion they usually play every year by far. Even though it usually is a win, however, most UGA people have admitted since they started running the option there its not a cake walk like it was in the past. Most fans I know say they don’t look past Tech anymore like they used to and that game actually scares some of them now.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
4:57 pm
GT scares UGA fans? Really? Until Tech actually beats UGA a few years in a row, I doubt that is the case. I personally look at Tech like I look at Kentucky. Plus the game is in Athens this year. UGA has actually done a good job of scheduling harder teams, minus 2012. Boise St. twice, at Arizona State, Oklahoma State twice, etc.
Hillbilly D
February 16th, 2012
4:57 pm
Can’t say that I’ve ever had a deer dog. And I’m afraid I’d have visions of Bambi while puttin’ on the mustard.
I’ve never had a deer dog, either, but hamburgers and sausage from venison are excellent. Better tasting than beef and less fat, so they don’t shrink so much when you cook them.
As for Bambi, that’s the way it goes when you’re not at the top of the food chain.
Sage of Bluesland
February 16th, 2012
4:58 pm
Thanks Jeff for working in Don Waddell as a painful reminder of his legacy as an incompetent buffoon. Blustered and “promised” and never delivered…or resigned in shame.
He was the face of the Atlanta Thrashers.
I hope the boycott of all things ASG will continue. I know I refuse to step inside their arena. I’ll never buy a Hawks ticket while they are stewards of the team, I can assure you.
oldfart
February 16th, 2012
5:12 pm
I only wish I could afford to take a week or two off and go hit Florida for some Spring training games. Nothing in the world it seems breeds the optimism of Grapefruit League baseball.
Therut
February 16th, 2012
5:17 pm
Scroll back up and read Herschel talker. That says it all. If I live 20 more years (not likely) I’ll still have nighmares of FG sending D. Lowe out to the mound in such a critical situation.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
5:20 pm
“UGA has actually done a good job of scheduling harder teams”
HAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAAHAH!!!!!!!!!
SSIgator
February 16th, 2012
5:25 pm
Jeff -
“But it’s premature to base anything on a team recruiting “ranking.”
Obviously you have not kept up with the chest-thumping in Athens that begins in February and lasts until September when the DWAGS actually have to play the game.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
5:28 pm
What was I thinking? I have no clue what I am talking about!
2011 – Boise St, top 10 team.
2010 – at Colorado
2009 – at Oklahoma St AND Arizona State.
2008 – at Arizona State
2007 – Oklahoma State.
2006 – Colorado
2005 – Boise St.
Please feel free to list Tech’s non-conference tough teams. Kansas? HA HA
Smoove Criminal
February 16th, 2012
5:30 pm
Steve, I’m just telling you what 99% of ACTUAL UGA FANS have told me from the own mouth. You’re just like alot of other UGA fans but more like ND and Ohio State fans in the you read, hear, and believe what you want to and your opinion is the only one that matters.
“UGA has actually done a good job of scheduling harder teams”………….I wouldn’t exactly say that were true because the only halfway tough teams that have scheduled in recent years were Okie State and Boise State, both of those last 2 game they got spanked like an unruly child on National TV respectively by each. And even if that statement were, “has” should be replaced with “had.” For all the flack former AD Evans rightfully took in his tenure the one thing he did that some people can respect was that he wanted to broaden the OOC schedule by scheduling teams from other big conferences (although some were the bottom feeders in those conferences). You can’t say the same for McGarity because he almost immediately yanked Oregon off the upcoming schedules when he was hired, most likely for fear of being humiliated by top notch competition they normally don’t play out of conference.
Felix
February 16th, 2012
5:35 pm
The Dream? I didn’t even know Atlanta had a women’s pro basketball team. It is a pretty sad day in Atlanta when the all time champion chokers are #1.
Steve
February 16th, 2012
5:38 pm
Sorry but you simply cannot put the Hawks number 1.
Quite frankly, I don’t care how many playoff series they have won .. does anyone here really believe they have the team to win it all? Not even close. Just because the NBA let’s almost half of it’s teams into the playoffs when only 4 per conference should get in doesn’t mean teh Hawks are close to winning. It just means they get to play and occasionally beat other teams that also have next to no shot of winning.
If the NBA playoffs were structured like baseball the Hawks would only make it about half of the last 10 times they got in, and then they would lose the first series EVERY time.
Braves > Hawks.
Actually, I would put UGA football ahead of the Hawks as well. While they have been in purgatory the last couple of years, I still think they could put together a string like their #2 and #3 finishes in the polls a half decade ago. All it takes in either of those years is not losing to Florida or SC and they are in the NC game most likely. That’s much closer than the Hawks.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
5:38 pm
“Please feel free to list Tech’s non-conference tough teams.”
It’s not just Tech fans that laugh at UGA’s schedule. EVERYONE does.
BIG-D
February 16th, 2012
5:39 pm
There is no true #1 Jeff, but the Braves are the closest.
DogStyle
February 16th, 2012
5:46 pm
It is NOT impossible to dislike the phony, self-righteous Bill Curry.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
5:52 pm
“iami – Overrated basketball team who can’t win it all with the dream team. A baseball team who get 3,000 a game and when they do win (it has been a while) they blow up the team. A football team who has done nothing in forever.
You can nit pick them all you want but it will NOT change the fact that Miami, as a city, has MORE championships in every sport than Atlanta.
Marlins – 2 WS
Dolphins- 2
Heat – 1
So, if you can do simple math you know that 5 is greater than 1.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
5:53 pm
“Actually, I would put UGA football ahead of the Hawks as well.”
Which doesn’t add up to much at all. UGA’s last championship was in 1980.
2012 Preseason Fulmer Cup Champs
February 16th, 2012
5:55 pm
I like little boys.
Paul in NH
February 16th, 2012
6:06 pm
Pretty depressing looking at the Atlanta pro sports scene right now. Every single local professional men’s team up here is better than their counterparts in the ATL and I am getting tired of the comparisons.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
6:07 pm
You women haters kill me… The Dream are No. 1!
“Gimper Jones,” if I hadn’t gone to see Fishbone last night (show didn’t end till 1:30AM) and not had to read the daily trash spew from BugKiller this morning; I’d be laughing so hard I would have pulled oblique!
What’s the over and under on Old Gimper hitting the D.L.? Has anybody put the walker with the tennis balls out in Orlando along the 3rd base yet?
TD has no clue!
February 16th, 2012
6:14 pm
Is the Dream a real sports team?
Big Crimson 75
February 16th, 2012
6:21 pm
1. Braves — still not that far removed from 14 straight division titles.
2. Hawks — only team winning anything related to a playoff series/game.
3. Dream — back to back trips to finals is impressive — I guess?!?!?!
4. Falcons — Petrino, Vick, & Moron Jr are definitely behind them.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
6:21 pm
The Dream is more “real” than that recurring nightmare that pulls the opportunity for victory and possible post-season glory from our collective hopes on the calendar like clock work in the last week each September or in the Division round each October! Has “Gimper” gotten out of the batter’s box yet?
DamYankee
February 16th, 2012
6:27 pm
Where’s the REAL Sonny Clusters? This one’s weak.
Let's talk about UGA!
February 16th, 2012
6:34 pm
Jeff,
The most important events in the Atlanta area are as follows:
1) Dawg Football!
2) Romance with immediate family members (or livestock).
3) Tractor pulls.
Please review your priorities.
Go Dawgs!
Sic ‘em!
Woof! Woof! Woof!
jerry
February 16th, 2012
6:48 pm
Jeff, thanks for knocking down the Dimitroff/Smith apologists before they ever get into the ring.
dan
February 16th, 2012
7:55 pm
In regards to the Falcons: Smitty and Dimitroff are on the clock. They got one year to figure it out. Arty Blank is losing his patience!
In regards to the Dawgs: What’s the benefit of not playing LSU, Bama, or Arkansas in the regular season, winning 10 or 11 games, and then get hammered by one of them in the title game? It just reinforces the fact that the SEC East and consequently UGA are second tier. Until UGA beats one of those teams, second tier is their reality.
DetroitBraves
February 16th, 2012
8:36 pm
I had a comment but can’t get past the image of a deer beating Chipper on a quiz show.
Mike
February 16th, 2012
8:37 pm
Jeff, not sure how you rate the Hawks above UGA or even Ga Tech for that matter. At least UGA and Ga Tech can refresh their rosters and possibly have a more exciting season next year, especially UGA who seems to be on the mend. The Hawks as you pointed out are in a roster deadlock due to the Johnson contract. There’s little hope in seeing them do anything more. In fact, the East is looking stronger this year. They might not even get to the second round.
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
8:42 pm
Ima Hogge — Academics.
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
8:47 pm
SSIGator — Oh, I’ve kept up. As anybody would tell you, I don’t drink the recruiting koolaid. I’m into more basic stuff, like wins and losses. THEN I’ll judge how good the recruits were. Any coach will tell you the same thing.
Gimper Jones - Disabled Vet
February 16th, 2012
8:49 pm
Gimper Jones – the has been Disabled Vet – Wish he would retire and just go away!
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
8:50 pm
Mike — I hear you on the Hawks, but they have the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference and are playing without their starting (Al Horford) and backup (Jason Collins) centers. I like their bench, I like Josh, I like Teague. But yes, Joe’s a big problem.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 16th, 2012
8:53 pm
Hey Jeff,
On the NFL Network a few hall of famers were saying what I have been saying for 4 years…..
Flacco is more valuable than CHOKE…………………..
Any comments?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 16th, 2012
8:54 pm
“Matty Ice aint too Icee in the playoffs” – Warren Sapp
Quote of the day…………….
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 16th, 2012
8:57 pm
@Larry
Double digit would never be words that would be associated with your I.Q.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 16th, 2012
8:59 pm
C
February 16th, 2012
4:00 pm
Falcons. They will play with a chip on their shoulder the size of Stone Mtn. this coming fall
_________________________________________________
Unfortunately those chips are bird droppings………………….
HA HA HA
Jeff Schultz
February 16th, 2012
9:52 pm
Choke — My position has never changed: Ryan has to win playoff games — we agree on that. I think where our opinions diverge is I think he can and you think he can’t. But I can’t predict the future.
Lee
February 16th, 2012
10:05 pm
Does anyone besides me notice that Schultz writes more about the Thrashers AFTER they left Atlanta than he did when they were actually in town? Remember that when you get your 3rd NHL franchise, oh wait a minute, that’ll never happen!!
SH
February 16th, 2012
10:31 pm
Schultz idiolizes this cretin
http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-movies/sean-penn-meets-with-1351954.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
10:59 pm
Sage of Blueland, you make me sick. Don’t boycott the Hawks, ASG is going to bring us a championship. The Hawks are already the best sports team in town, but they need you to buy tickets so we can afford to lock up Joe Johnson for life. The Thrashers were overrated, and people that like hockey are either communist or gay.
James Adams
February 16th, 2012
11:11 pm
The Braves should be no higher than 4th on that list. That is a joke.
I don't much like hockey, but....
February 17th, 2012
12:14 am
What about the Gwinnett Gladiators???
Waffle House or Bust
February 17th, 2012
12:25 am
And this…. is why we are known as Loserville.
BooBoo
February 17th, 2012
12:52 am
Which way to the crossword puzzle?
bsaff
February 17th, 2012
1:15 am
The Braves are the best on the list, you got it right and they are the closest team to a championship. If they stay healthy this year the will win the east and make a deep playoff run. As for the falcons, well wake me when they actually compete in a playoff game because they were a joke against the packers and giants. Also for all of you that are going to say well the packers and giants won the superbowl, uhh yea but all the other teams they played were close and well the Falcons yea not too close.
MattMD
February 17th, 2012
4:14 am
Braves #1? You have got to be smoking rock.
The Braves haven’t been relevant since Clinton was in office. I’d put the Falcons #1, then UGA FB, then Tech FB. Both programs would pimp slap Georgia Southern, for whoever brought up those clowns.
No one cares about women’s/rec league sports.
Stinger2
February 17th, 2012
4:58 am
I am a GT fan but have to rank UGA football No. 1 on this list. I cannot see any other team coming close to a championship at this time. The Braves have done nothing but get rid of Lowe to improve the team. The Falcons are stuck somewhere but cannot get into high gear. The Hawks are stuck with Johnson`s contract
Paddy
February 17th, 2012
6:44 am
ND……more than half the folks in this town never heard of the Dream. Once they find out,they don’t .care. You have a point with the Hawks but NBA basketball has lost its place in the buying publics heart and they are not coming back any time soon. Too bad it used to be a great game!
Really?
February 17th, 2012
6:48 am
Nice call out to GSU Jeff… thanks… long way to go though…
need for speed
February 17th, 2012
7:02 am
The Falcons have lost the past three playoff games to the team that went on to win the superbowl. Saints, Greenbay, and Giants. Now, fix the d-line and fix the O-line, squirt some glue on whites gloves so he will quit droping passes (when the pass hits his hands…some hit him on his head and chest) but point made. QB time and protection, and catched balls go a long way toward winning games.
Birddroppings
February 17th, 2012
8:08 am
I think you can add the word SUCKS to all the above mentioned teams. Way to many excuses for Sucky teams
Big Un
February 17th, 2012
8:24 am
Time to shut down the good old Altanta Urinal & Constipation….the writers are becoming like the talking sports fools on TV…time was writers didn’t act and write like they knew it all, that they actually enjoyed sports….sad
don
February 17th, 2012
8:48 am
At best, with all the moves made by division opponents, the Braves are a 3rd place team. More likely 4th.
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.
GFJacket
February 19th, 2012
10:23 am
Based on sellouts and fan interest, UGA football has to ranked 1st. With the 2012 schedule, UGA also has the highest probability of winning a title.
Braves have too many questions.
Falcons have yet to win a playoff game with Ryan.
Hawks have limited fan interest.
Tech is Tech.
All the rest are irrelevant.
Col Reb is Cryin'
February 19th, 2012
10:23 am
Are you on CrAcK??? The Dream is #3 in Atlanta? I am an avid sports fan and I barley know they are a womens basketball team. I have no idea where they play and thought they were disbanded like The Thrashers. The Hawks at #4??? you just write this stuff to get 1,000 comments. The Hawks are terrible. I can’t name one player or name the coach who changes every year. You write garbage all the time to get people fired but this is over the top. Ask any true sports fan in Atlanta. Better yet count bumper stickers. UGA football is # 1, Braves are a fairly close second. Tech is probably # 3. Falcons a distant 4th and nothing else is even on the radar.
clean out
February 19th, 2012
10:24 am
i only buy tickets to these miserable atl teams secondhand for $5-10 max–I will not give any money to these incompetent billionaires owning these teams who keep putting mediocre products on the field and will not buy any of this food or beer at obscene prices.
Gladsfan
February 19th, 2012
10:25 am
No Gladiators on that list? Come on Jeff, they may not play in Atlanta but they do play in the metro Atlanta area are first in their division and conference. Time the AJC showed the Glads a little more hockey love.
Duke of Flatbush
February 19th, 2012
10:27 am
Glads should be on the list-best value for the $$$ in town
j
February 19th, 2012
10:31 am
actually agree with some posts … as an Atlanta Native and fan, jeff got this one wrong:
1. Dream
2. Ga Southern Football
3. Hawks
4. Braves
5. Falcons
6. UGA
7. Ga Tech
j
February 19th, 2012
10:32 am
it doesn’t matter if you care about the Hawks or Dream (i wouldn’t go see a Dream game if you paid me) BUT if you’re ranking the best teams pro/college in GA, that is how it should go based off playoffs/record/etc
Brookhaven Commodore
February 19th, 2012
10:34 am
Great article, Jeff! Where can I pick up some Team Weasel merchandise?? I think Bobby Petrino’s birthday is coming up, and he would look great in a TW hoodie!
j
February 19th, 2012
10:37 am
if you go by what southerners think, regardless of if their team wins or not, this how it would rank:
1. UGA football
2. Nascar
3. Braves
4. Falcons
6. uhhh, whats basketball?
yeah, most southerners are idiots and shouldn’t even be sampled to ask what are the best teams in atlanta b/c all you’ll get is their biased garbage … see above
j
February 19th, 2012
10:41 am
well, that was fun … let the idiots have at this blog now
G
February 19th, 2012
10:48 am
Davenpoop is on to something:
Hawks = best men’s pro team in Atlanta.
1. Dream
2. Hawks
3. Falcons
4. Braves
This should be an annual report, not what ’s been going on the past three years. The Dream is the only team that knows what it takes and has what it takes to be a championship contender. Angel McCoughtry is the only proven leader on an Atlanta sports team.
What does Chipper, Matt Ryan, and Joe Johnson have in common? They all disappear when the team needs them to make big plays for a win. They’re also overpaid for what they bring to the table.
G
February 19th, 2012
11:01 am
Better yet, here’s the production report for a few teams around here:
Dream = championship appearance; only realistic team to win a championship
Hawks = 2nd round playoff appearance; means they actually won a playoff series. Lost in game 6, and maybe a game away from a conference appearance.
Bulldogs football = SEC championship game appearance
Falcons = playoff appearance; all of those pro-bowlers and no points in a playoff game; Matt needs to make the stats count for something
Braves = a winning season; no pennant, not playoff; no young talent at 3rd base.
Nativebird
February 19th, 2012
11:06 am
“the matter of trying to win with his recruites”? Is that some sort of excuse? Are we really still trying to cling to the sad consolations of “okay yes he cant recruite…but boy is he a GENIUS football coach”!
Are you kidding me? Recruiting IS THE job of head coach in major college football. this guy is done. Hope they’re already planning the succession down on the plains. the time is now for 2013.
Jim
February 19th, 2012
11:07 am
Jeff…
Good stuff. Careful what you say about recruiting rankings. Your colleague Mr Bradley feels UGA should be favored to win the BCS title in 2012 because they scored the 19th rated recruiting class in America.
P Rose
February 19th, 2012
11:26 am
G @ 11:01 AM: “What does Chipper, Matt Ryan, and Joe Johnson have in common? They all disappear when the team needs them to make big plays for a win. They’re also overpaid for what they bring to the table.”
Agreed. Especially in the playoffs.
ab initio
February 19th, 2012
11:56 am
The Braves, and their lousy organization and tepid farm system, were exposed last year.
DB
February 19th, 2012
12:12 pm
The Flames
boots
February 19th, 2012
12:29 pm
1. Falcons (made playoffs), 2. Hawks (made playoffs), 3. GA Football (made SEC Championship game), 4. Braves (good but choked), 5. Dream (uh… it is women’s basketball, and I cannot name a single person I know that has ever seen a game or who could even name a player…), 6. GA Tech Football (they need to actually win some, and they play in the ACC, so it should not be hard), 7. GA Basketball (on the upswing, maybe should be higher), 8. GA State Basketball (they are winning, I think), 9. GA Tech Basketball (they are mostly losing, I think), 10. GA State Football (seriously?), 11. Thrashers (why are we even talking about them. Go Flames!)
Tomahawkin
February 19th, 2012
12:47 pm
Bronx Mike
“atlanta-a city of losers. Come to NY for championships! I miss the bronx–best pizza in the country.”
STFU and Sit Down! Or Better Yet? Take Your A$$ Back to The Rotten Apple!
marcus
February 19th, 2012
12:49 pm
this is, of course is your ranking. everyone knows that the “pecking order” for georgia is: braves, uga football, falcons, hawks, uga gymnastics, uga baseball, tech baseball, uga women’s b-ball, tech women’s b-ball, tech b-ball, uga golf, ga state baseball, anything else is a non factor. of course track and field has a following, but it does not get as much play.
dawgfan
February 19th, 2012
12:50 pm
hawks
braves
uga football
falcons
marcus
February 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
i’d never buy season tickets for the hawks as long as they have the most over-rated, priced, belligerent player in the nba (joe johnson). i buy only individual tickets to see a particular team and watch the effort that smith, horford put forth. atlanta will always be a joke when it comes to basketball, they are duped by weak franchises like new york in paying too much for players who lack the character needed for leading this franchise out of the duldrums. i guarantee you that if the hawks were somehow able to find a sucker for j johnson’s contract, you’d see a significant rise in fan support.
Tomahawkin
February 19th, 2012
1:00 pm
J-Hey Rocking a Mini-Afro at Camp this Year?
Love It! I haven’t seen one of those Since Brian Jordan had a Mini-Afro in Early 2001
dude
February 19th, 2012
1:17 pm
Atlanta is lame without hockey. It sure fits the demographics of this city without it though!!!!!
Peter
February 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
1. Braves
2. No other sport really matters.
What a Joke
February 19th, 2012
1:24 pm
Jarvis… In point of fact, I am an Auburn fan. I am just pointing out that putting a run of the mill basketball program (UGA) in front of a storied program like Georfia Tech is foolish. Look at all the great pros the Yellow Jackets have had. Keepin’ it real, the ACC is just a better basketball conference and until recently Tech has been in the better half of the conference consistently. UGA is another story. They are at the bottom of the pack of a solid, but not great, conference.
Drive on down 85 south of you want to see a National Championship trophy in football that still has the shine on it.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
Nobody cares about the Glads or whatever. Or hockey at all. Tech should be number 1 on this list. Let the dawg fans chew on that and then shut the hell up forever.
Falcon 228
February 19th, 2012
1:36 pm
The Falcons seem to be getting it. Watching them the past four seasons has been a pleasure. But watching the melt downs in the playoffs is not only frustrating it’s insanity (repeating the same mistake over and over and over again expecting different results). Defensive talent is out there. Take a look around the league and you see the late round picks that wind up all pro. Can you say “Better Scouting”? Coaching changes are only the begining. It’s not the fix.The old cliche’ “Offense will sell tickets but Defense wins championships” still applies. The next 3 months will be quite interesting to see what comes out of Flowery Branch.
“Mark Fox has got a ton of talent here in this state.” I’m sick of hearing that tired old statement. So what. I don’t care if a point guard comes from North Dakota. If he can average 15 points and 18 assists per game and get UGA into March Madness then as Dr. Hunter S. Thompson said, “Buy the ticket, take the ride” and recruit him. (I wonder if he was related to David Thompson.)
Supersize that order, mutt
February 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
The Falcons have only figured out how to embarrass us more often in the playoffs. At least Tech gives this city something to be proud of.
Trump Card
February 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
Georgia Tech Golf is the most consistent winner in town. 3 players in the Top 15 on the PGA.
Falcon 228
February 19th, 2012
2:01 pm
Since when, 24 years ago? Get a ticket to Philly. Now that’s embrassing.
Uncle Willie
February 19th, 2012
2:34 pm
Why not rate the teams on the food offered at the venues.
hbcuclassics
February 19th, 2012
2:41 pm
1. Falcons
2. Hawks
3. Dream
4. Braves
5. Georgia Southern
6. UGA
7. Ga Tech
8. Albany State
9. Valdosta State
10. Fort Valley State
11. Morehouse
http://www.hbcuclassics.com
Jason in Gainesville
February 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
1, UGA Football
2, UGA Football
3, UGA Football
.
.
.
24, Girls Scouts Badminton
25 Georgia Tech Football.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
The question should read:
Who is the highest paid player in Atlanta & still has not won a playoff game
Duke of Flatbush
February 19th, 2012
6:57 pm
Supersize, I am afraid that $17,000+ that came to Thrashers’ games when they were good don’t quite agree with you. And alotta hockey fans are Southerners like me, not just transplants. Besides, it’s their choice not yours.
The team is gone because of ownership, not the fans. And there’s plenty of us left that will support another hockey team with the right owners in the future.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 19th, 2012
7:29 pm
That $17,000 wasn’t enough to keep that boring sport in town. Losers. If you want hockey, at least watch Tech’s team. Tech is the only sports program in the city with class. And to the dawg-jerk that thinks Jawja football is #1, 1980 was a long time ago, Bubba.
G
February 19th, 2012
9:12 pm
I’m a Georgia/Atlanta sports fan as much as anybody, but I’m not in the business of fooling myself. The biggest downfall of Georgia sports teams is that our highest paid players are holding us back. At the end of the day, Georgia/Atlanta sports is stuck!
Chipper’s been one of my favorite all-time Atlanta sports athletes. We’ve held on to Chipper too long to get anything worthwhile for him. His time for leading the Braves back to a World Series is over. We probably won’t get better until he’s gone. Braves are stuck!
Joe Johnson is a good complementary player for a squad with other superstars. Rick Sund is a fool for paying JJ like he’s going to lead the Hawks to a championship. Throwing money at a tier 2 player will not make him a tier 1 talent. We can’t afford to improve the team. Hawks are stuck!
Matt Ryan has been a great stat stuffer in his first four seasons. If it wins post season games and ultimately a Super Bowl, then I’m happy. However, Matt the Stat is not winning when it counts and he’s getting paid a lot of money to get the job done. May not be popular, but we need to think about creating a safety net at the QB position. What if Matt doesn’t improve? I don’t want to be 6 yeare in, and 0-5 in the post. Until Matt the Stat’s contract is up, Birds are stuck!
As far as Mark Richt…..if Saban had our talent, we would have at least one championship by now.
suckville
February 19th, 2012
10:39 pm
all the atl teams suck almost every year, including tech. Chokes, bad management, bad ownership, bad trades, overpaid contracts–it just never changes in this loser city. I can’t wait to move back up north when the economy improves.
Douglas
February 20th, 2012
12:09 am
For those saying the Falcons are in the best position remember they have 1/2 a draft and 17 players up for free agency, new offensive and defensive coordinators and an aging running back. I’m not saying they are going to take a step back but the cards are stacked against them doing anything more than what they have the past 4 seasons.
As for Greggory not proving he can recruit in the ACC, did Paul Hewitt ever prove he could? I mean he pulled in some great classes but his greatest teams were products of his first 2 seasons on the Flats (03-04, 04-05 seasons), after then he pulled in a lot of talent but spent way too much time building around 1-and-doners who not surprisingly to everyone but him it seemed, were gone after one year (every year he seemed convinced that they were coming back).
Greggory has proved he can recruit already, the thing he has to prove next is whether or not he can build around them, will he develop his players like Hewitt did at the start or will he rely on the strength of his class like Hewitt did unsuccessfully during the 2nd half of his tenure.
Larry
February 20th, 2012
7:47 am
Now we know how really dumb are Najeh Poop for Brains and all the cool goobers who use a single initial as their name.
The Hawks are back to being the Hawks as evident by their great showing to a tired, reeling Portland team after tow nights of rest. When, since the Michael Vick / Jim Mora era, have the Falcons been dominated by inferior teams?
Don’t let the dumb make you dumb!
BLK09GT
February 20th, 2012
9:40 am
Wow Sonny. I use to frequent the comment sections just to find your posts because they were funny. Now you are just an angry troll. Your persona is becoming tiresome now. Time to come up with something new. Chipper has more talent in his pinky toe. Time to call up the ole coach and hit the field. Once you complete your hall of fame career let me know.
Matt Riddle
February 20th, 2012
9:40 am
Georgia State has a team for what 2 years and make this list? Schultz you have no measure of Georgia sports if you really think that there are more Georgia State football fans than Georgia Southern. They’ve won multiple championships and have a storied tradition with a national fanbase. Southern football should be in the middle of your list.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
February 20th, 2012
10:02 am
72 Million for ZERO playoff wins vs 30 Million for 5 playoff wins……..
HA HA HA
ItAintMe
February 20th, 2012
10:40 pm
mark this down—the falcons will not make the playoffs in 2012. Carolina will beat ATL 2 times and dallas and detroit will be the 2 wild card teams. NY, GB, NO and SF are the division winners.
Keith
February 21st, 2012
1:19 pm
All you people complain about players getting to old to play and then 2 years later wishing he was bad playing again. Yep you guys are real fans. Also nutcases!
D-Todd
February 22nd, 2012
12:07 am
If anybody in there right mind thinks that GA State football ranks ahead of GA Southern football you are one of the biggest idiot sports fans to ever have an opinion. Don’t be bias be real. If they played today Southern would beat them by 30. And how many championships does Southern have?? 6 that’s right, and the past two years they have gone to the semi’s!
Jonas Grumby
February 23rd, 2012
7:25 am
It’s not logical to compare Hawks and Braves playoff records. There are 30 teams each in the NBA and MLB. The Hawks have made it no further than the final 8, same as the Braves. If the NBA used the same standard as MLB — division winners and the top 2nd place team — the Hawks would have made the playoffs twice, 08-09 and 09-10. And the Hawks have absolutely no chance of getting better.
Duke of Flatbush
February 23rd, 2012
8:56 am
Supersize-
Tech is the only sports program with class?
You sound like a real bright guy-NOT!
Duke of Flatbush
February 23rd, 2012
9:29 am
Hey Supersize-your first class GT football program has ONE GUY – Stephen Hill that has a hope of getting drafted in the 2012 NFL draft. at least that’s what the experts say…..