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
Felix
January 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
The Braves choked before the playoffs and then the Falcons choked once they got in the playoffs.
No real surprise here though as the Falcons scheduled looked great on paper but was inflated by wins against a bunch of lousy teams.
marc
January 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
lol…just a test to see who would defend the their city…..2 outta 50….makes my point for me….lame lame lame….btw..Atlanta is a great city…duh.
Manny
January 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
Last thing from me and I’m done with these Falcons for today. This has to do with all of those people who are talking about how it wasn’t Matt Ryan’s fault in this loss as some defense against those still talking about Mike Vick.
You know what? You are absolutely right! It isn’t all Ryan’s fault. The same way that it wasn’t all Vick’s fault when they lost. But it didn’t stop some of you from dogging him and talking about him like he’s not a good quarterback.
Mike Vick is an elite quarterback. He can make the throws. He can read defenses well. He can hurt you badly with his arm and his legs. He will pull the trigger and looks for the big play. And he was YOUR quarterback the last time the Falcons won a playoff game.
To talk about Matt Ryan in the same sentence as Vick isn’t even fair to Ryan. Ryan is nowhere CLOSE to Vick in terms of talent, skill and experience. Think about it: Do YOU think that if Vick was under center for the Falcons that we would have only scored 2 points? Really think about it!
In short, until Matt Ryan win ONE playoff game, there really is no comparison. When people sulk and think back to when Vick was here, what they REALLY want is a playoff victory. That’s all! One playoff victory and people would stop talking about Vick longingly because there would have been progress made.
But this whole season feels like Astro-turf. The regular season wins seems meaningless. Matt Ryan’s stats looks hollow. The rantings and ravings of Mike Smith is nothing. Why? Because the Falcons were in the playoffs and were embarrassed again. And when your offense doesn’t score, that puts a very bad taste in your mouth for the entire offensive crew.
pogo
January 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
Atlanta’s sports teams just reflect what a loser city Atlanta really is. Professionally, there is no sports tradition here(except losing year after year after year). Hell, Atlanta can’t even run its government without terrible corruption and everyone that flies on any airline in this country dreads to see that Atlanta is on their flight scheudule. Atlanta is a loser city run by crooks and losers. But nothing can be done about it because, well, you know.
And no Michael Vick, nobody misses you. Philadelphia is right now wishing they hadn’t been so stupid as to sign you.
Trade 4 Tim Teebow
January 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
We need Tim Teebow!
hugh g rectioin
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
hey katherine, IRON MY SHIRT
haha mmmmwah
)======D
gpr1961
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
how about that high powered offense! pretty impressive
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
Dimitroff deserves some heat as well, signing that invisible no cover cornerback Dunta can’t cover a wet turd with a shovel to that contract! Priceless!
Ricky Ricardo
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
I hate to say it,, I like Mike Smith, but he is soft as baby doo,, Time for a change of sound…
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
Ant
January 8th, 2012
5:19 pm
The ATLANTA RETARDS will never win with Coach Smith or QB Ryan. One is too stupid (Smith) and the other is too chicken. Ryan has peaked as a QB. He is not composed enough to see the field when being pressured, nor does he have the arm or accuracy to hit anything. PLEASE, PLEASE hire Gruden and sign Matt Flynn from Greenbay! Whatever you do PLEASE DO NOT return this atrocity of a team next year.
you must be a little kid or else you would know what calling someone a retard is unacceptable and ignorant
Matt Ryan overrated
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
Rick S
January 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Why do sports journalist believe it is necessary to bash Atlanta about being a lousy sports city
BECAUSE WE ARE!!! mATT RYAN IS A PURE BUST. 42MILLION WORTH OF PUNK!!
Big Dog Dick
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
I am told that this year the Falcons will be passing out free housing applications with each game ticket! Should be interesting viewing for the country. I don’t make this up. I just report the news.
ricker
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
Oh, Katherine, THAT was witty…and I’m all for girls liking sports–I just wish you were one that knew how to express an opinion–you know, like the guys do–without trying to tell everyone what they’re saying and doing wrong…but I know it’s just the way you’re wired, and you can’t help it. And by the way, there aint enough Viagra in the world where you’re concerned…darlin’. Rise UP!!!
GoCowboys
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
Vick is one of the best running backs ever.
Trade 4 Tim Teebow
January 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
U need 2 be quite Manny.
This team needs Tim Teebow.
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
Brian VanGorder (born April 17, 1959) is the current defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. He previously was the head coach of Wayne State University, Georgia Southern University and has been as assistant coach under many other universities, most notably the University of Georgia
Michael
January 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
Man Matty Ice looked scared.
Gary armes
January 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
I’ve been a Falcon fan for 20 or more years, and I’m tired of our team being the “whipping boy” for other NFL teams. After Katrina, with the Saints, it was the Falcons that were thrown under the bus. There have been others since, and now when the NY Giants want to get healthy, it’s again at the Falcon’s expense! Will it ever be our turn?
Ricky Ricardo
January 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
Should have hired Singletary
Wendell Thomas
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
Yes I used my name because I’M NOT AFRAID OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK! You must have read my mind MarK! I’m sure I am not the only very frustrated fan! Born and raised in Georgia, “I love the state!” Atlanta is a beautiful city. That said, can someone please tell me why we can not win at anything. Why are our teams such pick me up slam you to the ground, garanteed to let you down teams.The Brave win in the World Series proved that it’s not some kind of jinx on the city. However I am just dumb founded as to why we can not attract great coaches and players for any of our sports teams. I thought the New Orleans game was the biggest debacle in Atlanta history. Well I was wrong…Mike Smith topped that today. We hire reject retread managers, no name wanta be NBA coaches, and Idiot NFL coaches. Our DL and OL coaches have been suspect all year. Now you can throw in the Head Coach also! Will we ever have a winning program in Atlanta/Georgia on any level!? Why do we have a black cloud just dangling and or hanging over Atlanta. The loss today is fully on the coach! I am so damned frustrated with the frigging Falcons!! It’s even harder having to live in Mississippi and work with all the New Oleans fan!
Skydawg
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
Lousy sports ownership town. PERIOD! When the owners in this town start putting wise money into their teams and producing productive and legitimate teams on the playing field, this town will support them in droves. Until then, the city of ATL is not a fault. We’re tired of being burned and asked to spend our hard earned money are useless crap year in and year out. I’m done.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
hugh g rectioin
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
hey katherine, IRON MY SHIRT
haha mmmmwah
)======D
wow…..you are so threatened by a woman who likes sports that you resort to making a picture of a umm male part? If you were being accurate you could have a least made a picture of a baby carrot .
ricker
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
Ant
January 8th, 2012
5:19 pm
The ATLANTA RETARDS will never win with Coach Smith or QB Ryan. One is too stupid (Smith) and the other is too chicken. Ryan has peaked as a QB. He is not composed enough to see the field when being pressured, nor does he have the arm or accuracy to hit anything. PLEASE, PLEASE hire Gruden and sign Matt Flynn from Greenbay! Whatever you do PLEASE DO NOT return this atrocity of a team next year.
you must be a little kid or else you would know what calling someone a retard is unacceptable and ignorant
Thank you, katherine, for your continued hall mkonitoring…see what I mean…YET???
Mr. TEE
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
Could we go after Peyton Manning after the Colts release him? I would love to see what we could do with a REAL QB for just one year!
GoCowboys
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
What’s Vick’s lifetime passing completion percentage? 42%? Elite qb, not hardly.
Jonesy
January 8th, 2012
5:24 pm
Bill Bellicheck couldn’t win with ryan. Im not surprized we lost. Im surprized the offense couldn’t get 1 score.
The NFC SOUTH aint gonna get easier folks. Cam is already bustin out, Brees is still tops,and Freeman just needs a coach.
We really need a GM right now.
DJ
January 8th, 2012
5:25 pm
Katherine……I like seeing the blogs. My post of a blog doesn’t approve of your teams. CHOKE CITY.
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
5:25 pm
Tebow just threw a 45-50 yard perfect bomb down the sidelines to his receiver.
Wish we had that.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:25 pm
ricker…calling someone a retard is offensive..and if you dont like it sorry
whodat70816
January 8th, 2012
5:26 pm
Wonder if Matty Melt is watching Tebow throw 51 yard bombs….
LOL
Ricky Ricardo
January 8th, 2012
5:26 pm
what a catch
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
im the first to admit the falcons stunk it up today..dont get me wrong…im just not going to say “im not going to be a fan anymore” or, ” Im going to burn my jersey”
JSS
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
“Najeh, c’mon dude. Don’t try to rewrite history. There must have been a million blog entries from fans complaining about Knapp and Donatell. So the answer to your question is…”yes”.”
Laghing!!! We blogs vets know better…
Everyone else was blamed… Well really three people were blamed… A certain QB, DeAngelo Hall, and Alge Crumpler…
Matt Ryan overrated
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
5:22 pm
Dimitroff YOU ARE RIGHT JOE BRAVE, DIMITROFF SIR JACKOFF IS CLUELESS MATT RYAN 42 MILLION BUST GAVE AWAY THE HOUST FOR JONE WHAT DID WE GET A BIG 2 POINTS FROM THE DEFENSE!! KEEP THE HOPE ALIVE!!!
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
Mike Smith, known colloquially as Smitty, (born June 13, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois) is the current head coach for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars since the 2003 season. In his first season as Falcons head coach, Smith was recipient of the NFL Coach of the Year Award by the Associated Press.
Billya
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
Slide Matty slide…
Average Ice
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
Tebow > Ryan as Tebow gets a TD, something Average Ice was unable to accomplish
DawgDad
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
Tim Tebow has now officially out-performed Matt Ryan in this year’s playoffs. Chew on that this off-season.
Trade 4 Tim Teebow
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
@ ijonathon
I agreed. We need Teeboew on this team.
Mr Blanks if UR reeding this, PLEEZ trade for Teebow now!
JSS
January 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
They got beat by a team running the single wing!!!
koo koo for cocoa puffs
January 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
The pain the pain the pain. At least the Tim Tebow and the Broncos just scored a touchdown on the top defense in the NFL. It hurts so bad. Broncos 7 Falcons 2
Who Me?
January 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
Who-wee what a stinker. Couldn’t watch more than bits and pieces but I heard it all through Archer and the voice of the Bees…
This is one of those times when the owner comes out tonight or tomorrow and apologizes to the fans, right before he starts handing out over-due pink slips. WOW! What a major league meltdown, right up there with the collapse of the Braves..
One can only hope that AB doesn’t put up with this and finds some football people to run his team. Getting Julio Jones was probably the only bright spot in this season. Net results are;
> No Defensive line presence
> No Offensive Line presence (just remember 4th and inches TWICE and you come up with nothing in a playoff game).
> A quarterback that wears a skirt.
> A secondary that couldn’t catch a cold much less defend against the pass.
> Oh – and probably the most important problem outside of the QB – you have NO draft picks to improve the team this year because your idiot front office traded away 2 years worth of picks that probably set us back 5 years in program development.
IMHO, Dimitroff and Mularkey at a minimum are gone. BVG is on the bubble and probably should be gone. Whither Mike Smith? HMMM. remains to be seen but he certainly needs an air-clearing if nothing else.
Playoffs? You're talking to me about PLAYOFFS?!!!
January 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
Offense did absolutely NOTHING all day. And who the hell is it that keeps making the call to try to jam it up the middle on 4th down? I’ve seen that fail too many times to even consider attempting it, and I’m not a coach! Sure enough every attempt failed. Roll out, pass to Jenkins or TG, you only need ONE FRICKING YARD! But no, let’s see if Ryan can JAM IT THROUGH!!!
And I have to say, I don’t ever want to see Ryan run with the ball again, he runs like a scared kitten and lays down like a little girl before a defensive player gets within 15 feet of him. When he pulled that stunt today I just laughed out loud. What a pansy. Go ahead and take the loss of yardage, it’s better than the fans having to watch your spindly leg weakling run and lay maneuver.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
Im happy for tebow….this is an entertaining game
cedrick
January 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
Tebow has scored MORE points than the Falcons in his 1st playoff football game!!! Geezzz
Billya
January 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
Arthur: WE DO NOT WANT THIS TEAM. Take ‘em to Calgary or someplace…not here.
MatthewRoighan
January 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
Fire Mularkey. Seriously. You can’t score 0 points offensively in a PLAYOFF GAME and not fire the OC. HORRIBLE.
Who Me?
January 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
and STOP with the Teebow nonsense already. Anyone floating that crap needs to back to their mommy’s apron, you have no business on this blog.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
and if you all think im telling you what to do ill try to stop
TCCB
January 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
I miss Vick