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
Dirty Bird
January 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
How long until the Braves don’t make the playoffs?
Chuck
January 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
SHUT UP ABOUT Vick..
He HAD to be REPLACED, as he was in FEDERAL PRISON
Dan Henning
January 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
By George! Coach Smith coaches just like I use to coach! 3 & out! … run the ball up the middle
…even my 10 year old daughter asked why they kept running it up the middle? I told her, being the good father I am, “Honey, it’s because the Falcons coach stinks.” She said … he sure does!
stendek
January 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
I concede. Talenwise Michael Sick is a far superior talent to Matthew “Rag Arm” Ryan. I am man enough to admit it. Thanks for being such a gutless quitter MR. Sorry sack of shet! No better than Chris Miller.
Pmc
January 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
Tyler Yates just won a playoff game. Matt Ryan is still working on puberty
Billya
January 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
But we put together a decent season… What ‘r u all crying about..
JSS
January 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
@ Yo Vince…
“Yo Vince
January 8th, 2012
10:33 am
“By the way, you should really work on your grammer. You sound kinda stupid. Kiss JSS for all of us. Ha Ha Ha… smiley face imocon”
Did you mean “grammar?” Besos!!!
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
Fire Smith van Goober, and Mularkey!
FALCONS LOSS. I'M SPEECHLESS.
January 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. SPEECHLESS!
Leeman
January 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
Mike Vick won playoff games.
Brandon
January 8th, 2012
4:53 pm
Comparing the ATL to NYC re the better sports city is like comparing Katy Perry to Mozart re who is the more accomplished musician. The good news is that this putrid loss will quickly blow over for ATL sports fans–they just don’t care that much. With no #1 pick in this year’s draft, an aging RB and TE, and with holes on D (though it wasn’t the D today that cost the bird brains), plus with the arrow pointing upwards for the Panthers, Bears (w/a healthy Cutler) and others, the Falcons should take their comfy and acceptable place at anywhere from 7-9 to 9-7 next year. Ryan had a lousy and uninspired game, and is now 0-3 in the playoffs. While Flacco has won at NE and Stafford looked very good against N.O., ryan seems to have regressed, and can you really take him over those 2 guys based on performance in critical games? Poor Tony Gonzalez, the Ernie Banks of pro football.
Vick's Dog
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Vick, Sick, Dick …. the fippin’ eagles didn’t even make the playoffs. vick stinks.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Dirtbags are bullies, and we all know when bullies get punched in the face……………..
HA HA HA
BoneKollector
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Vick>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Matty Duckface
John
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Chuck….tell your children to shut up….this is a sports blog, if you don’t like the topics of converstation, LEAVE!!!
Just Senseless
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Well, I guess the NY Giants will be the NFC Champs and go the the Super Bowl because it seems like for the past 3 of 4 years who ever the Falcons have played has made it to the Super Bowl.
2008 Arizona beat the Falcons 30-24 (Super Bowl -Arizona vs. Pittsburgh)
2009 No playoff appearance for Falcons
2010 Green Bay beat the Falcons 48-21 (Super Bowl – Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh)
2011 NY Giants beat the Falcons 24-2
Casey Anthony
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
SMH @ the Hawks being the best team in town led by Joe Johnson. SMH this town is doomed
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
I literally hope the next hit Vick takes on a football foeld cripples the dirtbag for life! Tired of hearing about such a gutless embarrassing scumbag!
BoneKollector
January 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
Vick>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Matty Duckface
The Black Falcon
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
The Falcons are what we thought they were. They have not beat a quality team all year. Why did you think this time would be any different? The offense did not score a single point. So much for the off season up-grades.
Bigdawg
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
When it comes to pro sports, we ARE Loserville! I’ve lived here for 42 years, supported all the home teams, and for what…mediocre teams, year in and year out! Owners and management making poor decisions (or no decision at all). Bringing in has-been, or never-was, players! Paying underachieving players so much that it hamstrings your organization for years! Not being able to attract superstars, even ones who live here in the off-season.
What is supposed to make me want to spend my entertainment dollar on a product that continually fails to deliver!?! To me, that is the definition of insanity!
The Braves had it right for about nine years (’91-’99). But, Ted sold the team and the beancounters took over!
We’re the best college sports town in a Top-10 market in America. bar none. However, the current group of “professional” teams has let us fans down time and time again!
As The Who said, “We’re not gonna take it!”
Goodbye, Atlanta pro sports!
MYRA
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
Sorry. Its either Matt (casper the ghost) Ryan or its Mularkey.
Thats the problem.
Weve got playmakers on offense. The D is coming along( vs. a couple years ago)
I dont think its Mike Smith (even though ……… I KNOW WE CANT GET 1 FRIKIN YARD…….SO QUIT F***kin goin for it!!!!!!)
This QB is just to scared for the NFL.
We just cant get it right. From thug to dud.
Cant we trade our QB for someone else. Doesn’t Miami need a QB?
Nobody outta BC ever one anything
Ghosts of loserville
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
Mike Vick won playoff games.
There you go.
Mike "Red Face" Smith
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
We will start to focus on 2012 on tomorrow. Great season for or team. We will learn from this.
WitStream
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
3. Michael Turner – free agent….let him go. Tip toes to the line every time, no speed left – he’s done. Snelling runs harder and quicker – I’m thinking they intentionally underused him this year to save his body for 2012, knowing Turner would be elsewhere.
Very good points, although I think Snelling got so few touches merely because Mularky is a moron.
BoneKollector
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
Hey JoeBrave
Vick>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Matty Duckface
How u feel about that punk
PeeWee Herman
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
King Arthur does not have the NADS to do what needs to be done to fix the Falcons. He is more worried about getting his mugg on TV each week with his perma-tan and $5K suit. Plus he is busy looking for Ms. Blank #3 since his latest wife kicked him to the curb.
Mr. Negative
January 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
I have pulled out my vintage prime Omaha fillets from the freezer to grill. This is a special moment
in the history of the Legacy.
whodat70816
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Keep your heads high FailClown fans…that was the most impressive 2 points I’ve ever seen scored in a playoff game.
Rise Up and stand proud!
tr
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
So long Mularkey, take Van Gorder with ya please!
Will the AJC sports crew have the BALLS to call out the coaching staff??
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
I doubt it … they are all wooses.
Mike
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Hey Go Trojans – Tom Coughlin is a nice guy, and he has a title.
As a Giants fan I found this article hilarious. Of course the Giants will sell out. They always sell out. They will always be better than the falcons.
GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-MEN BABY.
Gregory Moundine
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Mr. Blank. I know u are upset, but make your decisions after you cool off in a week.
Ghosts of loserville
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Well, I guess the NY Giants will be the NFC Champs and go the the Super Bowl because it seems like for the past 3 of 4 years who ever the Falcons have played has made it to the Super Bowl.
The purpose of Atlanta sports team appearances in post-season is as a springboard for other teams and stars.
AndyD
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Enter your comments here
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
Vick is like you BoneKollector….Braindead and trash! B@stard!
Coach Smith
January 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
All the guys in the locker room feeling optimistic about next year. Now take a little time off…cash some checks….live large for a while…sheesh its just a game. We make a lot of money…we can afford to take it easy. Just come on back next year with your money….we got this.
WHODAT
January 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
FAILURE FALCONS GETS EMBARASSED YET AGAIN ON NATIONAL TELEVISION!!! I ONLY WISH THE SAINTS COULDVE SHOWED U CLOWNS AGAIN…LUCKY BREAK……
ROLL CALL:
MONDAYMORNING
MICHAELM
FALCO1
ALL YOU CLOWNS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED TO BE A FALCON FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Call it like it is
January 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
Its not the Atlanta fans that sux, its the teams that sux. Falcons, one trip to the big bowl and they get their arses handed to them. Hawks, nothing, not close. Braves, One ring thats it. Thrashers nothing now gone, Flames nothing and gone. STOP GOING TO THE GAMES!
Mike "Red Face" Smith
January 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
2 Points??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
san diego steve
January 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
this loss is 100% on the offensive line. I cannot ever remember seeing a line get beat so bad. you guys bashing ryan for this are crazy. Drew Brees would have lost this game behind this pitiful offensive line play. the defense played a decent game except for a few big plays. losing moore at safety today really hurt the team and duntae gave up a few big plays as usual. I don’t know if the falcons have room under the cap to address the o-line. If duntae is past the guaranteed portion of his contract they should just outright release him and use that money to fix the o-line.
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
4:57 pm
Hell no! don’t wait Blank FIRE the coaching staff!
As a Saints fan, I have 3 points to contribute
January 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
That would be one more than your team scored…lmao….
Here We Go
January 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
24-2…How embarrassing….
Billya
January 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
Matty Ice you ARE NO T.J. Yates. You showed that today. No more chances.
Titleist101
January 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
Atlanta sports teams are built to make the playoffs. Championship teams have goals to win their respective titles (World Series, Superbowl, Stanley Cup) and therefore we will always be a city filled with mediocre teams. They will never see dime-one of my money !
Antnblue
January 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
2 points? This team should NOT return to Atlanta. If they do, they should be called the ATLANTA RETARDS and should be demoted to the peewee league. Arthur Blank, you need to hurry up and sign Matt Flynn, the backup quarterback at Greenbay before he goes to Jacksonville. Next, you need to FIRE the ENTIRE coaching staff and demand your money back. Then you need to buy a page of the AJC and offer an apology to this city for this atrocious team you put together.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
Joe Brave = Mrs. Charlie = Larry = LOSERS
To all the Failcant fans who smack-talked the Saints last year
January 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
How does it feel now, loosahs? We may have lost to Seattle, but at least we have a SB ring and about to win another this year….Basically, you were shut out today….how embarrassing….who dat? you ain’t dat…
John
January 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
The last Falcon QB to win a playoff game…..Vick, and I don’t see the reason that will change in the next few years. Cam is better than Ryan, Bree’s is better than Ryan, even TB QB is better than Ryan…I don’t see the reason for optimism for Falcons fans the next 4 years.