Presenting 5 top storylines for Atlanta sports in 2010
Santa Claus will be comin' to town soon enough. Will the Eastern Conference finals follow? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
1. Will the Hawks reach the Eastern Conference finals? Step by inexorable step, this team keeps moving. It made the playoffs in 2008 and won a series in 2009. Can it do what the Hawks haven’t done since 1970 — when they were based in the West, not the East, and you needed only one series victory fo reach the conference finals — and play for the right to go to the NBA finals? Bradley’s prediction: Yes, they can. Yes, they will.
2. Will Ilya Kovalchuk re-up with the Thrashers? This isn’t so much about a player as it is a franchise. The Thrashers have made a bright start to the season, but all that goes poof if Kovalchuk won’t agree to stay. It has been a decade-long struggle to sell hockey in this Southern city, but if the franchise player leaves, will the franchise itself be long for the A-T-L? Bradley’s prediction: Kovalchuk stays, simply because Don Waddell has to pay him whatever it takes.
3. Will Georgia Tech qualify for a bowl ever better than the Orange? Here’s another story of progress: The Jackets were 9-4 in Year 1 under Paul Johnson and went 11-2 and won the ACC championship in Year 2. The Ramblin’ Wreck, alas, figures to hit a speed bump. At least two juniors — defensive end Derrick Morgan and B-back Jonathan Dwyer — are apt to leave in the NFL draft, and receiver Demaryius Thomas could join the exodus. And Tech’s defense is at least a year away from anything bigger than a league title. Bradley’s prediction: Tech goes 9-3 and doesn’t win the ACC.
4. Will Georgia ever hire a defensive coordinator, and will he improve on what we’ve just seen? The search now figures to last into the new year, and that’s not necessarily bad news. (No matter how halting the early returns have been.) There’s still a chance Georgia can make a big run at former Bulldog Kirby Smart, who’s coordinating Alabama’s D at the moment, and that would be a significant upgrade. Then again, just about anybody would be. Bradley’s prediction: Georgia hires a big name and sees results immediately.
5. Can Paul Hewitt take Tech on another long NCAA run? It hasn’t happened since 2004, when Hewitt took the Jackets to the NCAA title game, and another big season is long overdue. The deflating loss to Florida State in the ACC opener aside, there’s enough time and resources for something good to happen. And Hewitt, to be frank, needs something good to happen. Bradley’s prediction: The Jackets qualify for the Big Dance as a No. 5 seed and play into the second week, losing in a regional final.
Now what, you’re asking about the Falcons? Well, the biggest story regarding them figures to be decided by Jan. 3, 2010, when we’ll know for sure if the forever-sought consecutive winning seasons have been attained. And the Braves? Well, after the events of today — Javier Vazquez for Melky Cabrera — we might be doomed to another summer of flailing.
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216 comments Add your comment
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 22nd, 2009
8:52 pm
YF was right about
Oklahoma State
tennessee
LSU
Florida
Kentucky
YF was wrong about
Tech (georgia Tech that is)
South Carolina
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 22nd, 2009
8:53 pm
YFOTDN!
--I-,
December 22nd, 2009
9:12 pm
I was there…..looked all around the baseball field near the third base line for some loser dude with a t-shirt saying “yellow fuzz was right”. Couldn’t find you and your hehe haha “posse” before the game, and OF COURSE you hid and ducked afterwards. I guess you felt a little embarassed wearing the t-shirt. All type = no action. I know the type. Boo hoooooo!
Incase you forgot...$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowlaheem Morris
December 22nd, 2009
9:35 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-zZ_qIJ3aQ
Just like your sex life… I bet you can’t last 15 seconds. Watch the video! Be sure you stick around to the 3:25 mark.
How can you still talk smack? So, we’re going to Shreveport this year but it is still better than going to the blue field in Boise which I’m sure you have a winter home there since Tech was so use to being there.
It’s ALWAYS great to be a UGA DAWG!!! Quit hating…
Atlanta Jacket
December 22nd, 2009
10:41 pm
You gaggers should get acquainted with Shreveport because you will be back there next year unless you luck up and make it to Nashville. Yes you beat GT this year – one cheap lick to the qb and our bad defense gave you a win. Trust me and count on it GT beats the gaggers by 14 or more next November. New DC or not you have a qb to break in and you know that “SEC Speed” will probably be a bit much for him. Go Aggies and Hook’em Horns!
I am glad this is free. HOCKEY. Big story?
December 22nd, 2009
10:53 pm
Hawks big story? Yeah, I saw more blue seats than people on highlights at Phillips. Hawks, Braves, Tech, and Falcons take a back seat to UGA and HS football in this state. AJC should have figured that out a long time ago and they wouldn’t be nearing OUT OF PRINT!
To Atlanta Jacket....
December 22nd, 2009
10:58 pm
Shreveport hosted both Oklahoma and Alabama before they made triumphant returns to BCS bowl games. Every team must have a reloading year. I don’t know what game you watched Thanksgiving weekend but please keep in mind that Georgia did not play with AJ GREEN! As for our QB, just wait and see what Aaron Murray has, he was true frosh and is going to be a stud. Just ask Urban Meyer who is wishing he was in his backfield. By the way, 30 – 24, no Green, no Rambo, no QB, no problem. WE RUN THIS STATE.
Top Story of 2010, what if UGA and TECH switched schedules in 09?
December 22nd, 2009
11:13 pm
If UGA had played TECH’s schedule… hmm. Let’s just see.
Jacksonville State- laugher
Clemson- well we beat the team that beat Clemson. Dawgs win.
@ Miami- I will give this to the Canes, but not a blowout.
North Carolina- this ain’t basketball boys.
@Mississippi State- I will take our Dawgs, we own Miss St.
@ Florida State- laugher. States defense was worse than ours. Dawgs win.
Virginia Tech- I will give this to Tech, although we might have beaten them.
@Virginia- laugher
@Vandy- we whipped them at Vandy.
Wake Forest- laugher.
@Duke- laugher.
vs. Georgia- well lets just say it is a toss up, which Dawg team shows up.
Now, I will give you the two losses but doubt that would have happened. Now, lets see Tech playing UGA’s schedule.
@Ok State- Dez Bryant vs that secondary, in that environment. I will take OK State
South Carolina- toss up, but So. Car. destroyed Clemson who you struggled with.
@Arkansas- hmmmmmm. Toss up.
LSU- SEE THE CHIC FIL A BOWL. laugher. Tigers Roll.
@ Tennessee- Vols roll.
@Vandy- Tech destroyed them.
@Florida- Gators in a laugher.
Tenn Tech- Tech in a laugher. The Georgia version I mean.
Auburn- toss up, I will give Tech a victory.
Kentucky- we can wait to see what the bowl vs Clemson shows. Give Tech a victory.
Analyzing Tech vs. UGA’s schedule I would say Tech might have won 4 games. Tech is the most overrated, one dimensional team, playing in the weakest conference in the country. Wait till the bowl games, every team in the ACC will lose. Miami might squeak out a win.
UGA most profitable football program over last 5 years.
December 22nd, 2009
11:22 pm
According to Forbes magazine’s most valuable football programs: the lowest we have dropped since 2005 is 3rd behind Notre Dame and Texas. I think we can afford not to play in Orange Bowl. The SEC shares bowl revenues, last I checked we had 2 teams in BCS and we have the largest Media deal in history. DAWG nation will rise. Kirby will get his million, Defense will get freaking nasty. Offense will roll. No Tebow, No Spikes, No just about entire team. We drop LSU and get Miss St. Boy 2010 is the year of the DAWG. Colorado is going to be a laugher.
14 million? Maybe you can give the homeless on North Ave. tix to your games.
December 22nd, 2009
11:25 pm
Maybe then we can get a decent camera angle when TECH is on TV. ESPN’s camera crew works so hard to not show the top half of the empty stadium.
Atlanta Jacket
December 22nd, 2009
11:56 pm
Glad that CPJ finally gets this is rival game with the delusional. I can say with confidence thhis is the last year we will have to listen to this gagger crap for sometime. And NO you are not going to a BCS with a Freshman QB – you are dumber than you look if you believe that. Just checkout how well that worked out for USC this year. Enjoy the trip to Shreveport – take notes for friends because you will most likely be back next year. SEC East losses – UF a given, UT they whipped you with a first year coach. Toss ups – KY & USC , Wins – Vandy. Not sure who you play in the west – Arkansas a win and Auburn a toss up. Sisters of the poor a win and GT a loss.
Uga will have at least 3-5 losses next year. 2011 you will be better, but you are high if you expect anything better than than 7-5 to 9-3 next year.
Crashing the Glass
December 23rd, 2009
3:45 am
Presenting Jamal Crawford-
http://crashingtheglass.com/2009/551/jamal-crawford-lights-baby-wolves
GTBnadwagonmaster
December 23rd, 2009
5:01 am
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 22nd, 2009
8:49 pm
Rod
45-42 The begining!
30-24….the end. Of GT’s 15 minutes of fame that is.
GTBnadwagonmaster
December 23rd, 2009
5:07 am
Good luck with your life after Dwyer, Thomas, Morgan, and Burnett. What your one trick pony coach redshirted from his #49 and #52 recruiting classes can’t be called talent.
GTBandwagonmaster
December 23rd, 2009
5:13 am
These bandwagon nats will have a http://www.firepauljohnson.com up after next season. With the hire of a top DC at UGA, fat Paul’s doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of beating UGA with that offense and defense. TO my azz. Dwyer 33 yds…Nesbitt 41 yds. And that was against Willie Martinez. LMAO!
exNFLplayer
December 23rd, 2009
7:02 am
MB, who will Tech’s 3 losses be to?
T-MAN
December 23rd, 2009
7:33 am
The Hawks look good..hope they hold it together.Give Wren a chance he’s not thru…would have liked to seen lowe traded but too big a contract…Tech will be strong next year…still worried about that defense.Don’t think Smart’s coming to Ga..makes you wonder what the 4th selection for DC will look like…Good luck to the dawgs in Shreveport….Go Jackets
Techman
December 23rd, 2009
7:40 am
Look at the weed eaters falling from the sky
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
December 23rd, 2009
8:32 am
The most likely storyline for Atlanta in 2010 is: the AJC finally bites the dust and the last of the journalists are sent packing to make a living actually doing something that matters.
WW
December 23rd, 2009
8:37 am
“Dawg44″
Best compliment ever…thanks:)
UGA being scared of Tech is a sure sign of the tide turning.
Top Dawg
December 23rd, 2009
9:19 am
I wonder if Iowa will stomp Tech like UGA did?
juvenal
December 23rd, 2009
10:23 am
will Schumpert help?-if we can get the ball inside, we’ve got a chance…don’t recall seeing you commenting on UK/uga, admirable restraint…
Uga Fan
December 23rd, 2009
12:07 pm
$1.4 million vs. our $14 million bowl
Really! We’ve played in 3 this decade not 1 in 20years. Idiot.
--I-,
December 23rd, 2009
1:06 pm
“$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl” where are you? running and hiding again, you little pudding pop. Talk the big boy talk, until you are called to the mat, then you run like a little girl. Typical. You are such a ——.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 23rd, 2009
1:12 pm
Here is a clip of the Shreveport Boy himself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyVd4dqfT-8
$65 Million in Bowl Winnings for Georgia
December 23rd, 2009
1:12 pm
Congrats to Mark Richt for earning more Bowl winnings than any SEC team. Another Georgia #1. $65 million in BowL winnings–great job Coach Richt. Love the new stadium upgrades, and having the money to get 3 new top defensive coaches. Tremendous job earning that $65 million. Georgia has no SEC peers in Bowl Earnings. $65 Million strong—#1 in the SEC.
Shreveport or Bust!
December 23rd, 2009
1:14 pm
Bama and Oklahoma BOTH followed up their visit to the Indep Bowl in Shreveport with a Natl Champion visit 1-2 years later, in 2000, and 2009. Wow, 2010 is looking GREAT for Georgia. Shreveport or bust!
Will
December 23rd, 2009
1:19 pm
Mark, you are about as cool as cancer.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
When do the Clampets pack up and leave for Shreveport?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
--I-,
December 23rd, 2009
2:04 pm
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl- That WAS actually kind of funny!
Tired of Tech
December 23rd, 2009
2:44 pm
As a Georgia grad even I’d like to punch that youtube guy. But I’ll tell you who won’t, a techie. Well they might slap him but even then they’ll break a few fingers. I loved it when PJ said to punch any Georgia fan talking smack about the game, that was hiliarious, too comical. I liken GT’s very recent success to people with new money. Hey everything’s great because, well, we’ve never had this before, and we’re gonna go out and buy everything and run our mouths like we’ve been here all along. Problem is you haven’t. You don’t know how to recognize a gimmikie offense that works because people have seen it since 1927 (with a brief resurrection in the late 80’s). PJ stays at each school about as long as it takes for other teams to dust off the old playbooks they find behind the leather helmets. For people who know what football in the 21st century looks like, PJ’s got about 1 or 2 more decent years and then he’ll move on to the WAC or the SunBelt where they just got football about 5 years ago. So go ahead techies and enjoy your new money cause lord knows you’ll be bankrupt soon enough. 30-24 nuff said. Where is St. Simons when you need him?
Dawgs Rule GEORGIA!! GT does NOT!
December 23rd, 2009
3:04 pm
It isn’t it funny but even with Tech’s 14 million share from the Orange Bowl added in and their athletic program still can’t come close to matching the wealth of the University of Georgia’s.
Even in a 7-5 season UGA still sold out every home game in a stadium that holds 92,600.
Even in a (inflated) 11-2 season Tech can only sell out its home games against UGA and Clemson. And all Tech has to do is fill up that little 55,000 seat stadium.
Might I add 30-24! Read it and weep!
The Dawgs proved that the ACC is weak!
December 23rd, 2009
3:07 pm
The Georgia Bulldogs whipped the ACC champions and South Carolina whipped Clemson proving that the ACC is a second rate conference. I’d say the ACC is about equal to Conference USA or maybe the Mountain West and the ACC is somewhat below the WAC.
UGA 30
Tech 24
Go Cats!!!
December 23rd, 2009
3:08 pm
The Kentucky Wildcats would’ve gone 13-0 with Georgia Tech’s pansy ass weakling schedule!
The Jackettes are overrated & overranked!
December 23rd, 2009
3:13 pm
Georgia Tech is not that good! They are overrated and overranked. They are really lucky to be playing the next most overranked team in a bowl game! If Tech played in the SEC they would’ve only beaten the same two SEC teams they did beat. Mississippi State and Vanderbilt which both placed 11th and 12th in the SEC. Plus Tech gave up over 30 points to both of the SEC’s worst teams! Tech would have had a losing season in not only the SEC but the Big 12 and the Pact Ten as well and been only around .500 in the Big Ten or the Big East!
Tron Carter
December 23rd, 2009
3:25 pm
Too bad 14 million still isn’t enough to fix up your piece stadium, but it will help fund your free hotdogs and cokes program for next year.
You better set aside most of it to repair the field at the Joke by Coke since we cleated it up pretty good. It’s really not fun trashing your stadium, since it looks like someone already beat us to it.
Susan Boyle Johnson better use some of that money to buy recruits, because you are not going to like what you get when you are playing with all the douches he’s going to bring in.
30-24 – it never gets old.
You may be #1 in your conference …ACCBBBBWWWAAAAHHHAAAA, but you will always be #2 in Georgia, even in ATL.
Scoreboard Sucka
James
December 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
“The Kentucky Wildcats would’ve gone 13-0 with Georgia Tech’s pansy ass weakling schedule!”
-Well, they def could count on a win at the end of the year against UGA. UGA has the worst offensive coaches in the Eastern US.
Tron Carter
December 23rd, 2009
3:34 pm
#6
Paul Johnson embraces the fact that he had DDs and looks like Susan Boyle and completes his transgender transformation with a new mangina.
FartsALotDawg
December 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Chili is good.
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
4:53 pm
Dag nab it Im never gonna be as good as those dang Tech legends John Heisman and Bobby Dodd, why don’t I get an award named after me?
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
4:54 pm
UGA still has a football program???????????
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
How the heck did those dead blam Techies win a National Championship while I was coaching?
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
4:57 pm
I woulda never won a National Title without Herschel Walker that year in 1980, even I couldn’t of screwed that up, but wait I guess I did the next couple of years…….dag nab it !
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
5:00 pm
Why the heck to those Techies have 4 National championships and we only have 1 (thanks to my buddy Herschel)?
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Yeah we have a good record against those Techies but hell I’d take those shinny 4 National Championship trophies over that one-on-one record anyday. Man can you imagine the prestige that comes along with being known as the greatest 4 different times……..dag nab it……we’re never gonna be as good as our big brother Tech
The Bandit
December 23rd, 2009
7:05 pm
Oh and to the guy that compared the schedules. There is no way that you beat clemson when they have a healthy Spiller like Tech did twice. Let us try and remember that Spiller had the flu against USC. No way UGA goes into FSU and beats them. Ponder throws all over you. There is no way that UGA offense could have kept up. If UGA had come down to Miami we would have destroyed you. No way UGA beats VT. That’s just not gona happen with TT back there. And if you use your logic you said Miami would beat UGA and VT destroyed us so… UGA loses. Then with UNC’s D I don’t see how UGA would score unless UNC threw a pick six. UNC wins. Oh and about Missy State. I wouldn’t be so sure with their new coach. I think UGA goes into MSU’s sold out stadium(it was sold out when tech was there) and is able to compete with the cowbells. So I’ll be nice and say UGA goes 1-1 against Clemson and only loses 5 games. Oh and to show how solid all the UGA fan’s logic is: Last year Ole Miss beat Florida. So I guess Ole Miss was the true National Champion last year. It couldn’t have been that Florida just had a bad game could it? Na Ole Miss must be the true defending National Champions
Cody
December 23rd, 2009
7:18 pm
14 million vs 1.4 million!! georgia will still end up with more money.10 bowl teams two BCS teams! Tech will only see a 10th of that money.
Starring Small Johnson and Tiger Woods in One Crazy Night
December 23rd, 2009
7:58 pm
Hey Vince Dooley
Big brother Tech blah ha haha ha ha ha ha
Your national titles ok
Look up those national titles on Wikipedia DORKS yes you have 4 that you shared but you shared them with other schools
So since your counting that crap then get your facts straight.
UGA has 5 national championships in 1980, 1968, 1946, 1942, 1927
Thats 5 DORKS oh and by the way 60-39 boys go home and read all about it
2 heisman trophy winners you have none
no wonder why John Heisman left your players suck
Blah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Dorks
Look up
Starring Small Johnson and The Joke from GT
December 23rd, 2009
8:06 pm
Hey Vince Dooley
Big brother Tech blah ha haha ha ha ha ha
Your national titles ok
Look up those national titles on Wikipedia DORKS yes you have 4 that you shared but you shared them with other schools
So since your counting that crap then get your facts straight.
UGA has 5 national championships in 1980, 1968, 1946, 1942, 1927
Thats 5 DORKS oh and by the way 60-39 boys go home and read all about it
2 heisman trophy winners you have none
no wonder why John Heisman left your players suck
Blah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Dorks
Vince Dooley
December 23rd, 2009
8:27 pm
He bud, I’m just an ol Georgia coach giving credit where credit is due. There is no disputing Tech has 4 National Titles (All of which are from undefeated seasons) and there is no disputing the fact that UGA only has only 2 National Titles. I’m a humbled ol’ ball coach, I was not as good as that Heisman or Bobby Dodd, that’s why I don’t have any awards named after me.
I have to give it to tech I’d rather have 4 shinny trophies than 2…..they win