Live from Game 1: In the court of the wine-and-gold king
Cleveland — We come to you from Quicken Loans Arena, known locally as the Q. To enter the media door of the Q, you walk within 75 yards of the left-field foul pole at the Indians’ ballpark, which used to be known as the Jake (short for Jacobs Field) but is now, I’m guessing, the Prog (short for Progressive Field, which is the new official name).
If you’re looking for positive signs, that’s a pretty solid one. The only time an Atlanta-based professional team has won a title in one of the major North American sports, half the games were played at the Jake. The Braves lost two of the three, but without Pedro Borbon Jr. — remember him? — saving Game 4 of the 1995 World Series, our Atlanta-based professional teams might be 0-for-ever.
(About Borbon: The lefty reliever hadn’t worked in 19 days but was summoned by Bobby Cox when Mark Wohlers yielded a leadoff homer to Manny Ramirez and a subsequent double to Paul Sorrento leading off the ninth. Borbon struck out Jim Thome, struck out Sandy Alomar Jr. and retired Kenny Lofton on a game-ending liner. The Braves would win the Series three nights later.)
I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in the Q who’s thinking about Pedro Borbon Jr. The name on everyone’s mind is … well, take a guess. His full-page likeness graced both the front of today’s Cleveland Plain Dealer — not the sports page, but A-1 — and the PD’s eight-page playoff section. His name is Leron Lee.
Just kidding. He’s LeBron James. He’s the best player in the world. He was named league MVP for the first time on Monday, and if you checked a poll on ESPN.com that posed the question, “How many MVP trophies will LeBron win?”, the majority response was, “More than four.”
More from ESPN.com: Of its 10 basketball mavens, not one picked the Hawks to win this series. Not one picked it to last seven games. Only J.A. Adande and Tim Legler see it going six. (Full disclosure: In my own little poll on AJC.com the other day, I cast the first vote. I picked the Cavs in five.) In his exhaustive breakdown, David Thorpe of Scouts Inc. also sees Cavs-Hawks going to Game 6.
This city, as you’d expect, is pumped. We Atlantans moan over the state of our franchises, but Clevelanders have it way worse. For one thing, they have to live in Cleveland. For another, they haven’t seen a pro title since the Browns beat the Colts 27-0 to win the NFL title in 1964. (Gary Collins caught three touchdown passes.) This, everyone here seems to think (including the cab driver who carted esteemed colleague Sekou Smith and myself to our hotel) this is the year.
But first, Game 1. Maybe the nine days’ off will slow the Cavs. Maybe the MVP celebration will dull LeBron. Maybe the Hawks can steal this one. That’s why we’re here — to see if they can.
A gracious GM: Just saw Rick Sund in the hallway. He thanked me for coming and thanked the AJC for sending me. Gee, I remember the days when the Hawks hated the thought of me writing a word about them. I need to rip somebody soon just to prove I haven’t completely lost it.
The voice of the Hawks: Jon Steinberg, a Hawks’ publicist, reports that Steve Holman will be calling his 1,700th consecutive game. Given that he incited civic furor in Miami, I’d say Holman is just coming into his, er, prime.
Some basketball stuff: Mike Woodson said Al Horford will start, which is no great revelation since he started and played 32 minutes on a sprained left ankle in Game 7 on Sunday. (I spoke to Horfy, and he’s in fine spirits. Josh Smith, by way of contrast, seemed quieter than usual. Know what that means? Nothing.)
Woodson also said he plays to start Maurice Evans but is planning to play Marvin Williams around 20 minutes tonight. That’s a fairly big deal, given that the Hawks beat Miami without Marvin playing one second in Game 7.
The commish, again: David Stern, who was in Atlanta for Game 5 of the Hawks-Heat series, is here tonight. He’ll present the MVP trophy to LBJ.
We pause here for a word from our sponsors: Because I hate sitting around ritzy hotel rooms doing nothing, I’ll be doing a live chat Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. The idea is to discuss this series, but if you want to ask me something about the UEFA Champions League I’d be happy to respond.
Non-self-promotion: Esteemed colleague Sekou Smith is about to go live on NBA TV. Given that he’s the best beat writer in the league, you all should run and watch.
China syndrome: David Stern just said NBA China gets more hits than NBA.com does in the States. Which is pretty amazing, if true. (Stern never tires of talking about his league’s global reach.)
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277 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
May 5th, 2009
10:39 pm
Back downstairs in the press room now. Still finishing up the print thing. But I’ll be back, I promise.
D.Carter
May 5th, 2009
10:39 pm
MARIO WEST SHOULD GET PAID BY THE HOUR
Dizzle
May 5th, 2009
10:40 pm
How can you not finish a 4 on 1 fast break?!!
FrenchyFries
May 5th, 2009
10:42 pm
they just completely lost it in the 4th, they got nothing going.
Scoring less than 20 in two quarters won’t ever get it done against cleveland.
Tyler
May 5th, 2009
10:43 pm
The Hawks had me fooled for one whole half!!!!
nunna yo bizznezz
May 5th, 2009
10:45 pm
DID U GUYS SEE HOW ONE OF THE ALIENS JUST THRU SOLO ONTO THE FLOOR,LOL…
SOLO,I LOVE HIM,BUT,HE IS TOO SOFT ON THE BOARDS..AND MB..DO U OR MR.SMITH EVER GET INTO ANY OF THE HAWKS PRACTICES??
IF SO,TELL ME IF IM WRONG ON HUNTER AND GARDNER..
DOMINIQUE SAID IN ONE HAWKS BROADCAST THAT PLAYERS WERE FIGHTING OVER GETTING HUNTER ON INNER SCRIMMAGES IN PRACTICE..AND I SEEN WHAT GARDNER CAN DO IN THE SUMMER LEAGUE GAMES THIS YEAR AND READ ON HIS PLAY IN THE SHORT STINT IN THE D-LEAGUE AS WELL..
AM I HYPING THEM UP TOO MUCH MR.BRADLEY?????
KG
May 5th, 2009
10:49 pm
I’m sorry but we got to let Marvin go. He’s just way to slow even when his wrist is healthy. We got nothing out of the 3 position tonight. Get rid of Marvin and bring Childress back.
Mark Bradley
May 5th, 2009
10:52 pm
Mike Brown in the interview room, lauding Wally Szczerbiak for “moving his feet.” Also lauding Sasha Pavlovic.
Eman
May 5th, 2009
10:53 pm
I am sorry but we have to Fire Mike Woodson. When a team gets blow out on the road in the playoffs by more than 15 each road game then the players are not following him!! We have to get a coach with a whip to get these players into the game mentally on the road. Thanks Mike for helping this team this far but we need a change!! I AM A TRUE DIE HARD HAWKS, FALCONS, AND BRAVE FAN and this make me feel bad to watch this SH### each time on the road. If we need to change or trade some players to get some heart, then that is what we have to do!! Joe Johnson, is what he is, an all star but we need a leader and player with so FIRE and he is not that!! I don’t want to trade him but we need a LEADER so bad it’s not even funny!! I am tier of this SHOWING ON National TV and I demand a change in the off season!!!
Mark Bradley
May 5th, 2009
10:54 pm
Maybe just a little, Nunna. Maybe more than a little.
Just too funny
May 5th, 2009
10:55 pm
Please don’t tell me any of you expected this night to go any different than it did?!
nunna yo bizznezz
May 5th, 2009
10:57 pm
woody plays a player who can’t run and is not the force of a rebounder he is when he is healthy,and he plays someone who’s wrist is sore and he re-injures it and shoots an airball free throw..he does not use a big body to help his team at all with other bigger players to get some rebounds and move them off the boards..im not gonna use the D-WORD,on my brother,but as far as his coaching knowledge,he is not smart..
DrewCat
May 5th, 2009
10:59 pm
I’ve said it countless times while blogging, Joe Johnson is given more excuses than any other player I can remember. All coaches and analysts do is praise hm for “stretching the double team” and “making the right pass.” But what they fail to see is that Joe is supposedly our star. And stars have to do more than just play average ball.
Too many times Joe disappears at critical junctures of the game. JJ can have a good night when it doesn’t matter (like in a blowout game), but he never seems to keep the Hawks in any competitive playoff games. He has had two good playoff games in a Hawks uniform–unacceptable. ANd you mean to tell me the Hawks are building a team around this guy??? BIG MISTAKE. Trade him and get some players with a heart. We don’t need a guy who mopes and fails to assume leadership where its obviously needed. In my opinion Joe is dispensable.
lexluther
May 5th, 2009
11:00 pm
I must admit, I’m so proud that the Hawks have made it to the second round of the playoffs, but the coaching stagetic of Mike Woodson is bad. Get the ball out of Lebron’s hands. Double, triple team the guy. And would someone please tell Joe Johnson that the reason they gave him all that money is NOW!!!! Rick Sund, you see the effects of a quality bench?? Lets Go Hawks, and Joe you can come along too….
nunna yo bizznezz
May 5th, 2009
11:11 pm
ok,then mr.bradley..
i’ll take your word over niques..
As far as othello goes..
but if they are as not ready for the nba,as it may seem,and i know u didn’t say it per say,but,why are they on the team..and i know u didn’t say this either,but,mr.sund,must have lied when he said that woody would not have to say he didn’t have a bench this year..
now im really pissed..rick sund lied to me,lol..
oh well..
i guess its not woodys fault like i thought,so,i have to apologize and speak up for A coach who,it doesn’t matter who his gm is,the guy will not bring in enough talent for him to work with..
rick sund needs to go!!!
he did bring in flip and mo,but thats the easy part,everyone knew they could play..but,as far as the remaining talent on the bench,he wasted space with gardner and hunter..And even morris..
i hope he can get rid of those 3,along with a.c.,solo,And himself,And let a qualified gm come in here to put the pieces to this team..
no wonder woody is playing these banged up players..thats all he got..
thats sad,because now i know we are gonna get swepted…
dino
May 5th, 2009
11:16 pm
Hawks fans are so trifling. I’m trying to figure out why every one is blaming Joe. I will admit he could have been more agressive, but I wouldn’t say the rest of the team has played all that great either. Bibby made alot of bad decisions, Flip held the ball too much when he should have passed, and Josh took way too many ill-advised jumpers. I hope the Hawks do trade Joe. He deserves better than this bullsh@t. And you people wonder why nobody wants to play for this city. You act like star players are rushing to come here because of your championship pedigree. Last time I checked, Dominique never got past the 2nd round of the playoffs. What a joke.
Darrin "The Vent King"
May 5th, 2009
11:37 pm
Alright one game in the books…let’s see Jeff Schultz write an article now claiming how great Mike Woodson is now at coaching (rolls eyes) LOL
Mark Bradley
May 5th, 2009
11:46 pm
Here’s the column, mostly on Joe.
Ha Ha
May 6th, 2009
9:50 am
Mark Bradley is a terrible reporter and takes stupid shots at the city of Cleveland because he has nothing better to say. It was nice to see CLEVELAND slap Atlanta all over the court last night. Hey Mark… 9 days off did not slow the Cavs and James was not “dulled” by winning MVP. You are a lame reporter. Go forbid you lose your job and have to live in a city that’s suffering the most from a terrible economy. Keep your unnecessary comments to yourself. The Cavs bring hope to the city of Cleveland. Better luck next year.. Cavs have this series!
jennifer
May 6th, 2009
11:53 am
trash cleveland? is that what you have to do to actually write.?????? horrible journalist. you have to put others down for no other reason than to make your self look good- it did’t work – u look stupid. stay in atlanta. Cleveland is too good for you.
czervik
May 6th, 2009
12:14 pm
I loved reading this whole blog. It was great to see “hope” fade to “despair” in 4 hours of keyboarding. Cute little slap at Cleveland, sir. It might be the only shot Atlanta can take at us. It made me chuckle. Then again, is Atlanta that great a place to live? The pride of Atlantans’ must be a bit tarnished since they do not even support their sports teams. They couldn’t sellout World Series games. Nobody cared when they had Jamal Anderson and were playing good football. It will be interesting to see if they can sellout Phillips for Game 4.
Kareem
May 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
Wow.. I cant believe there were actually Pigeon Fans out there who thought they were gonna win..
Wow..
Cavs Fan
May 6th, 2009
12:35 pm
The Hawks, like Mark Bradley and his opinion suck! Atlanta will be lucky if they don’t lose every game by double digits. Everyone has to eat it this year…the Cavaliers are going all the way!
Jen
May 6th, 2009
8:14 pm
GO CAVS!!!!!!!!! CLEVELAND ROCKS!!!!!
big D
May 6th, 2009
8:54 pm
stupid idea, you posting what is happening-if the reader has internet, wouldn’t they also have tv to watch the game? Cavs will win this series, and ATL will again be 0 and forever waiting….
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