Live from Falcons-Giants: We’re a lousy sports city, are we?
"If I give you two dimes and a nickel, will you give me a quarter back?" (AP photo)
East Rutherford, N.J. – Here’s a fun little nugget that was posted on the New York Post’s web site yesterday: As of Friday night, the Giants-Falcons playoff game was not sold out.
If said game were being staged at the Georgia Dome, we Atlantans would be hearing yet again how lousy a sports town we are. But this is New York, where millions live and where sports are, we’re constantly reminded, a point of strutting metropolitan pride.
Let the record reflect that an attempt to find available tickets this morning via Ticketmaster was unavailing, so we can assume that the game finally has sold out. Still, the thought of a Giants’ home postseason game with available seats not 30 hours before kickoff would surely come as a revelation to those New Yorkers who love to poke fun at us dumb ol’ Southerners for our indifference/inattention.
But I digress. The Falcons arrive with a point to prove, and the belief here is that they’ll prove it. The belief here is that they’ll win because they are, top to bottom, the better team. The tabloids have been full of Matt Ryan stuff this week, the thrust being that he still hasn’t proven anything in the postseason. (He hasn’t, but I’d suggest two games in his first three NFL seasons isn’t quite a true sample.)
I remember another day in Ryan’s pro career, a Sunday here in November 2009 when he overrode a second-half deficit to force overtime. The Giants won the toss and scored in the bonus canto, but that remains, at least to this dumb Southern observer, one of the shining performances of a very good career.
If you can do it here once, you should be able to do it again. And if you can make it here, the song has it, you can make it anywhere. I think Matty Ice will author his playoff breakthrough today, but maybe you disagree.
Which is why we have these little live chats — for you to interact with a dumb Southern writer like yours truly. I invite your comments. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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4,613 comments Add your comment
Mike Smith BLOWS
January 8th, 2012
4:40 pm
YOU’RE FIRED!!! Don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out!
IN case you didn't realize
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
We are sending troops to Israel in order to mobilize against IRAN. I saw a report…on FRANCE24 of course [never this joke of a bird cage liner] that we are also amassing along the border of PAKISTAN…don’t forget the 30,000 additional troops sent to Afghanistan since Obama took office…oh and no one is talking about FAST AND FURIOUS – the US GOVERNMENT SELLING ARMS TO MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS!!! or how aabout how OUR GOV’T CAN JAIL US WITHOUT DUE PROCESS NOW…oh and when Obama took office, the average priice of gas was 1.89!!! INFLATION IS HITTING US FROM ALL CORNERS AND NONE OF THE REPUBLICAN HACK CANDIDATES WILL DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO
RON PAUL 2012
IF YOU VOTE FOR OBAMA AGAIN YOU ARE A BLITHERING IDIOT
Knute
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Asta la vista Ryan! Put in our taxi squad QB. Give all our coaches their walking papers – on toilet paper, preferably. Ryan – QB sneak -Giants defensive line – are you kidding me?!!!!! Keep them all and we will be 3rd in our division next behind the Saints and 4th behind Tampa Bay the next year! Ryan is a good guy, but no feel or instinct to become a winner!
NATIVE SON
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
This is a bad day for this column Mark.
The media lambasts us as fans in Atlanta, but look at the product we get. How much of our money do they want us to throw away. We have teams with coaches who just don’t get what to attack means. After that first 3 and out it was time to push the pedal. We come back with the same lily whte BS offense as always. Atlanta has teams that try not to upset the local establishment. Barkely had it right, we draft to many nice bible belt safe players. No Moss, no Iverson, no anybody that has an attitude that translates on the field or court, and the one’s that do; well we can’t come up with money to pay them. We deserve better, and the media needs to start lauding us for not being dumb enough to keep buying tickets. This offense was EXPLOSIVE alright! It blew itself up!! A full arena or not, these teams suckkkkkk. Changing gears on my emotion and hope now. Let’s go Hawks!!!!!!!
Peace: from the most NATIVE SON
STI
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Atlanta needs a new coaching staff….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
3 playoff games and still has ZERO games with 200 yards passing and of course ZERO playoff wins…………..
HA HA HA
Kyle
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
I am so glad I stopped buying season tickets years ago. When you see this every year it just makes you feel good to at least know you didn’t invest hard earned money into this failure. If we had to loose I’m glad it was this bad because I’m sure Blank didn’t even see this coming so maybe with all the good coaches out there like Fisher, Cower, and Gruden he will think hard about making a major move and really show the city he wants to win like he always says he does.
BoneKollector
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
MATT RYAN IS GARBAGE!!!
Leeman Bennett
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Mularkey — leave now, take a job (if putting 2 pts up in a playoff game isn’t a resume killer).
Dimitroff’s personnel moves are meh. Jerry? Ray Edwards? Dunta? Julio is a plus but letting Dahl go was a bigger step backwards.
JeanE
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Dimitiroff doesn’t escape blame either, not by a long shot. I would rather have Jenk, Finn and Harvey Dahl back than Ray Edwards and a completely unecessary and uneeded Julio Jones. Bad decision after bad decision. If Blank doesn’t make MAJOR changes after this complete debacle, than he is not the owner I thought he was.
Tvshooter
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
John
January 8th, 2012
4:34 pm
Tvshooter….Roddy White & Jenkins already broke the record for most dropped passes in a NFL season during Vick’s tenure. Look it up, it’s true…..so no excuses for Matt Ryan.
Absolutely….if I see Matt out at the Starbucks, I’d be first one to ask if he needs help accurately getting the cream into the cup. His accuracy has really declined this last season, and as the game slowly gets away from the team, it gets worse. he can heave the ball a good way, but not with the acuracy of a Brees, Rodgers or Matt Flynn.
But Roddy has been dropping passes that are right on the numbers, and in his hands. Not top flight talent anymore.
Jason
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Among the Falcons 13 wins last season was one that the 49ers gave us when Roddie Stripped the ball. Another was when the Saints kicker missed a chip shot, a third when Weems ran back the kickoff against TB Bucs and a fourth against TB in the Dome that we were very lucky to win.
This team should have been 9 and 7 last year and out of the playoffs, so for TD nad Smitty and Blank to believe we were so close is foolish. We are way behind the Saints and they are moving away.
TCCB
January 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Do you still “HATE VICK”? CHOKE, I think that you have made your point . It took you three years but they all understand. Football is about winners and loosers. Matt Ryan won only in the court of public opinion and he has no REAL HEART when it comes to this game he is truley a 78 MILLIOM DOLLAR BUST!!!!!!!!!!!
Leeman
January 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
Jrich
It’s more like June Jones, Dave Archer,, Billy Joe Tolliver, Joey Harrington….a more appropriate lineup.
Coach Smith
January 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
We gonna fix it I tell’ya. I know it does not show…but I am really upset for you fans…
stendek
January 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
How can the Falcons not win with all those five star athletes? Wait. Had Dawg flashback. Sorry.
ninobrown
January 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
Its time to stop using the word elite when refering to Matt Ryan. Two years in a row held to under 200 yds in a blowout. He has too many weapons not to throw for at least 200 yds. The Julio trade will haunt the team for a long time.
chris
January 8th, 2012
4:42 pm
Mike Murlakey can go and take Brian Van Gorder with you, changes gotta be made on the staff the adjustments and game planning are horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We always get out coached and Coach Smith your now on the HOT SEAT!!!!!!!!!!! One more year and you’re gone with this trash of a system.
JSS
January 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
4:36 pm
“JSS, didn’t you bid adieu to the bloglodytes about 30 minutes ago? Can’t get enough I see.”
No, my table for dinner isn’t ready yet!!! I’m enjoy the “savor” of my having been called someone’s equivalent of female dog and “pseudo-intellectual!” You’re too funny… By the way, did you enjoy that quote of yours from last year?
Mike Smith BLOWS
January 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
I thought I was watching Dan Henning. Even my 10 year old daughter asked, “Daddy, why do they keep running the ball up the middle.” Being the good dad and wanting to set a good example I told her, “Honey, because the Falcons coach stinks!” She said, “Daddy, you’re right!”. I love having a smart daughter.
chris
January 8th, 2012
4:43 pm
Mr. Blank make changes its time we have seen this movie before.
Wurider05
January 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
I am not sure why you all are so upset. If you are a real Falcon’s fan you know that this team lost just like we all knew they were going to. here are some facts
1. Matt Ryan is an average QB with a weak arm. You can win with him but you will not win alot if you need him to pass. Our record when turner runs for 100+ is like 25-2. That tells you everything you need to know about Ryan. Average
2. We gave up to much for Julio Jones. Its not that he isn’t talented but rather the fact that we have no one to get him the ball deep.
3. if we are going to keep Ryan we need to spare no offense on our defense.
4. We had better options at coach than Mike Smith. It seemed that they grabbed the first guy they saw (same can be said about Ryan)
jrich
January 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
Go ahead and give up on our team… yeah it sucks but if you are a real fan stand up for your team
Chaos
January 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
Mr Blank and TD, I know you can see it, this is as good as we can be with our present staff, its time to move on, we have a great organization and Mike Smith was what we needed at the time, he has done great things for us but its time to take that next step. Do you guys have any magic left in your hat?
Wurider05
January 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
3. if we are going to keep Ryan we need to spare no expense on our defense.
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
4:44 pm
Fire the entire coaching staff! defense, on run plays with no safety to be seen for 20 yards??? bullshit cover 2, pass plays with no nickel in the middle of the field… stupid ass zone! weak minded coaching and piss poor preparation did this team in. Let Turner walk, cut Roddy can’t catch a damn cold White, replace the O-line, and corners except Grimes and than you’ll have something!
BoneKollector
January 8th, 2012
4:45 pm
Vick>>>>>>>>>>>> Matt Duckface
Broken Wing
January 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
Can someone tell me if Matty Ice has gained anything on a QB sneak all season? Do the Falcons not have another 4th and short play? 3 critical calls this season and Smitty and Mularkey come up with the same play each time? Are you kidding me?
This team has a LOT of needs. Unfortunately, they have very few relevant draft choices coming their way. They traded them all so they could be EXPLOSIVE!!!
FlaFalcon
January 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
Falcon fan since 66. This is getting old and so am I.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
@TCCB
Some of the LOSERS will still make excuses…………………
HA HA HA
Fire Tom Dimitroff!!!
January 8th, 2012
4:46 pm
TD is getting a pass. He is the one that hired Smith and put together this flawed roster. We get fat against the weak teams and wet the bed against the top tier. Our stats are “just” good enough so that we dont look bad on paper. We are held together by smoke and mirrors. Good teams play the zone against us and tighten up in the red zone.
Ghosts of loserville
January 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
And now I turn the channel to CBS to see what a real franchise does in the post-season.
what_mojo
January 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
A big playoff game, and the main story about it is cribbed from the associated press????? yeesh, the ajc didn’t want to send any writers to the game? stay class, ajc.
Herschel Talker
January 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
Najeh Davenpoop:
Your point on Mularkey is reasonable, but I hardly think Ryan bears the brunt of the blame today. There were many problems on offense and problems with the playcalling that Ryan shouldn’t be held responsible for.
HT
omar
January 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
ZERO offensive points for this “explosive” team. Damn!
Matty Ice
January 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
Hey I can explain my poor play today…it was NOT my fault. It was cold and my widdle hands would not stay warm. It was hard to grip the ball. Wahhh Wahhhh Wahhhhh
reality gator
January 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
All you people who thought Matt R, is better then Vick if this is true when will the Falcons have their 1st victory in the play offs? The last victory in the play off for the Falcons, Michalel Vick.
Matt will never lead this team to a super bowl; any body missing Vick Now????
Wurider05
January 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
We need a big name coach in here. Gruden, Cower, Billick, etc. hell we should give Fisher or Mike MArtz a call. Dan Reeves?
Mark Bradley has Left the building
January 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
Even Mark can spin this one …. Here’s what his heading should read in his next article:
“Falcons Blownout, Again — Smith To Be FIRED”
chris
January 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
The Atlanta fans get a bad rap for not supporting our teams but look at what we support b.s. . The teams don’t put forth a effort and understand to take advantage of the moment. Hell we just glad to make it to the postseason and that is bull****. Mr Blank Make changes to the staff or it will be ,more of the same and we need playmakers to Dunta can go shutdown corner my ***
Jerry
January 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
Tons of people said that the Falcons would lose this game today. I wonder if anyone other than myself said that the Falcons would embarrass themselves the way they did? Of course, that prediction didn’t require any great insight on my part. The Falcons are the most predictable team in the NFL. They do the same thing week after week because they are too stupid to adapt. Every sports team in this ridiculous city sucks. They have built histories of failure. And so many of you idiots say we aren’t a good sports city. We have nothing to look forward to.
Chaos
January 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
just want to send a shout out to the players, I know they are all hurting maybe more than we true fans are. next year will be better you can trust this organization to do what it needs to do to improve our playoff record. signed…FALCONS FOR LIFE.
Go Trojans!
January 8th, 2012
4:49 pm
Mark – you most likely will have stopped reading posts by now but is it difficult to be a sports writer in this city? I have only been here for 11 years and it is much different than other places I have lived. The Falcon’s clearly are not as exciting even though we appear to have as many top tier offensive weapons as anyone in the league. Does anyone think the Giants receivers are better than White and Jones? Our offensive play calling makes a lumbering no name tight end more productive than a future hall of famer. Detroit is fired up because they have HOPE. They have a young, explosive core of players on both sides of the ball. What do we have? We are better than the Colts, I guess. How many times do we hear “Mike Smith is a nice guy”? Name a Super Bowl winning coach who is “nice”. None of them. We are a poor sports town because our sports teams are poor. The press does nothing to hold them to a higher standard. We are the Cardinals of the NFC South: We all follow other teams and the local team isn’t compelling enough to move our interest. I say let’s give the ball to Michael Turner up the middle again and again and again and call it a season! Done!
chris
January 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
and stop talking about mike Vick he at home to and he aint did S***
jrich
January 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
Wow what a bunch of quiter fans
Whatever
January 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
And most shrewd football writers saw this coming… Which means it blindsided the AJC staff. Jk I think the AJC writers knew it as well… They just have to say the falcons are great bc their job isn’t to objectively report on the team… But to be falcon apologists.
Anyway even if the falcons won we know they have no chance against greenbay.
Honestly this is pretty good… We don’t have the talent ( coaching and athletes) to contend for a Super Bowl. But we can win at home, have a general winning season and make the playoffs. Not bad. We should just accept that as an acceptable ceiling for the team and focus on making game day as fun as possible.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
Vick could have scored more than ZERO in his livingroom……………..
HA HA HA
Sidslid
January 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
Change the channel, folks. Watch Ben R on one leg throw 40 yds on the money. Matty Ice just doesn’t have the arm strength to spread out the field
Billya
January 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
Coach and Matty will say: “We played terrible. No excuses. Give us another chance and we’ll make it right. You haven’t seen what this team can do yet.” Me and Art Blank: This team had its moment. Flush!
..And folks, that would be what would happen to Everyman in the world if we fell on our sword in front of a national audience, given the investment paid. So now we await justice.
ab initio
January 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
@jrich: “Go ahead and give up on our team… yeah it sucks but if you are a real fan stand up for your team”
More of this idiocy, eh?
Look, child, remember Steve Bartkowski? That’s how long I’ve been standing. I’m gonna sit for awhile. I’m not stupid; I’m not from Cleveland; nor Detroit.
You stand and support mediocrity for as long as I have, and then we’ll see how your feet feel.