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
reality
January 8th, 2012
5:58 pm
Right now. This minute. Do you think you could get Tebow for Matt Ryan even up?
Geno
January 8th, 2012
5:58 pm
Arthur….please help make us a better sports city….get us some coaches and cut some dead weight….can we trade Mularky? How many times up the middle does it take on 4th down to realize it doesnt work?
Ace Ventura
January 8th, 2012
5:58 pm
Okay. I think we can agree that the defense overall played well. Holding the Giants to 7 in the 1st half was great defense. Obviously the offense was the reason Falcons lost today.
So I ask you who was the main reason the Falcons lost ?
A)Matt Ryan
B)Michael Turner
C)Offensive Line
D)Roddy White
E)Mike Mularkey/Mike Smith.
Maybe Mark can do a poll ?
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
5:58 pm
Katherine….come over to my mom’s basement and we can watch the refs throw the game to the Steelers together
TimAtl
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
My wife says Ryan has to go. Me, it would be our luck that he would be a superstar somewhere else. I guess that means we need better coaches. See y’all next year! Go Braves!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
chipper has been hurt a lot lately but he is still one of the most reliable and best players on the team
Falcaints
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
Falcons are like the Dawgs, good against bad teams and not good against the real ones. I do think the Dawgs at least have some talent, Falcons not so much.
Roterhals
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
Uh slydog I think you missed my point…..have another drink and go back inside your trailer
WHODAT
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
THATS WHAT YALL GET FOR MAKING ALL THOSE STUPID PREDICTIONS…FOR EXAMPLE “FALCONS WILL WIN A PLAYOFF GAME THIS SEASON” STUPID CLOWNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOR GONZOLES,,,YALL HAVE PROBABLY THE BEST TIGHT END IN THE LEAGUE AND HE WILL NEVER GET A RING WITH THESE CLOWNS…#SMH
Red-N-Black
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
I love my team but today they stunk up the place…….
slydog
January 8th, 2012
6:00 pm
Matty Cold as Ice
January 8th, 2012
5:47 pm
slydog
Why would you lump Vick in with Aaron Rogers and Drew Brees? The latter are 2 Superbowl MVPs. I understand the self loathing of most Falcons fans, but really? Vick?
If you’re saying Matt Ryan just simply does not have the talent. I’d agree. Falling over your own feet, makes you look like a damn foo
You are within your right to disagree, but disrespectful comments and side dissing just shows your lack of maturity. Be a MAN about it and stop internet dissing!!! Anyway, my comment was about TALENT and WINNING. And last I checked Vick was a winner. Sure he messed up his life but he has had more winning and championship moments in his entire football career than most players who have ever played. Say it aint so!!!!
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:00 pm
yes they did stink today…..no doubt about it
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
6:01 pm
Maybe if we view this coaching staff and this QB as a solid “transition team” from the wreckage of Vick/Petrino to a new era of Falcons glory?
The slight problem with that is this: there are those in management who have enough invested in Ryan to make that acknowledgement, shall we say, difficult. And we limited our draft options in the near future by the Julie acquisition.
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:01 pm
Matt needs to be a leader. Matt sits there by himself on the sideline..or stand cold. Tebow is surrounded by his guys and charging ‘em up. Go back to Pop Warner Ice..
Trade for Peyton???
January 8th, 2012
6:01 pm
Let me be the first to throw this out there…Dimitroff needs to work a three-team deal for Peyton Manning. Cut your losses on Howdy Doody in a helmet and send him to a team that sees value in him.
All of you delusional Matt Ryan supporters just don’t get it. He is a game manager, not a play maker. That is why a team with Roddy, Julio, TG and Turner got skunked by a less than average Giants defense. He has proven, time and time again, in the clutch, he wets the bed.
I’ll take 3 years of Peyton Manning even on the backside of his career. If we can’t get him, go after Philip Rivers. It’s a QB league and gutless, weany-armed check down QBs (who are paid $70 million)
just ain’t gonna cut it.
phil
January 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
katherine
January 8th, 2012
5:51 pm
oh well, im a huge braves fan….even before I moved here I used to watch them on tbs when I was little
*******
Can’t wait!
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
slydog
January 8th, 2012
6:00 pm
Matty Cold as Ice
January 8th, 2012
5:47 pm
slydog
Why would you lump Vick in with Aaron Rogers and Drew Brees? The latter are 2 Superbowl MVPs. I understand the self loathing of most Falcons fans, but really? Vick?
If you’re saying Matt Ryan just simply does not have the talent. I’d agree. Falling over your own feet, makes you look like a damn foo
You are within your right to disagree, but disrespectful comments and side dissing just shows your lack of maturity. Be a MAN about it and stop internet dissing!!! Anyway, my comment was about TALENT and WINNING. And last I checked Vick was a winner. Sure he messed up his life but he has had more winning and championship moments in his entire football career than most players who have ever played. Say it aint so!!!!
===
Uh, please name ONE Vick championship moment.
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
The Broncos are playing lights out. Home field advantage is always huge in the playoffs.
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
Wow, seriously, Tebow is on fire.
WHODAT
January 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
WHODAT WHODAT WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ANOTHER FALCON FAILURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENJOY THE REST OF THE PLAYOFFS BIG MOUTH CLOWNS!!!!! I WONDER IF RODDY”GOTTALOTTAMOUTH” WHITE IS STILL SPEECHLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE TRIED TO WARN YALL
RIGHT ON DUDES @SEENTHISB4, CGD, MATTYMELTICE, #1SAINTSFAN, HIRAMSAINT!!!!!!!!!!!
GSU panther
January 8th, 2012
6:02 pm
We root our support for the GSU Panthers!!!
slydog
January 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
Roterhals
January 8th, 2012
5:59 pm
Uh slydog I think you missed my point…..have another drink and go back inside your trailer
I didn’t miss the point!!! Whether drunk or sober, I can tell you it was a stupid comparison!!! It wasn’t as if Montana’s 49ers had the most gifted offensive line either. But then again, Montana was so good, how could you tell? Did Roger Craig EVER lead the NFC in rushing? Nope
Michael
January 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
Denver is on fire
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
Tebow is on fire….he is making Matty look very very bad
Geno
January 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
All of the above, Ace? How many passes did Roddy White drop? How many blocks were missed by the oline? How many times does Turner up the middle take? Ryan up the middle….really??? I think the brunt should fall on Mularky…no adjustments ever at the half….
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
Tebow makes a super accurate, hitting the receiver in stride, 35-40 yard strike, while rolling out.
Ryan. Can’t. Make. That. Play.
Kelsey
January 8th, 2012
6:03 pm
Tebow just connected again downfield….hope Matt is somewhere taking notes, since we are stuck with him for a while……even mid range qb’s can step up in the playoffs….and should…..
intravenus de milo
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
ANOTHER pass downfield by Tebow. This is more than Ryan threw all year, it seems.
Not a huge Tebow fan…just sayin’
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
Joe Montana is a greek god
slydog
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
FACT: Denver’s offensive coordinator is smarter than Mike Mularkey, who has never won anything anywhere
WHODAT
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
ESPN WAS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
as is Jerry Rice
cybo
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
Tebow threw the ball down Field.
I want to personally apologize to Tim Tebow
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
whodat in all seriousness is either 12 or very simple minded
phil
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
Tebow looks 10 times better than Ryan today….
Sad.
I’m afraid Matt really can’t play when it matters most.
TCCB
January 8th, 2012
6:04 pm
@
JoeBrave
January 8th, 2012
5:38 pm
speak for yourself, any reasonable educated person wants no part of Mike (CON) Vick!
Reasonable and Educated People, what you have is MATTY” hide you face under the helment” Patty Melt THE LOOSER!!!!!!!!!!!! and if you like it, I love it!!!!!
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
Home field advantage is always huge in the playoffs.
————————————
Not if Matt Ryan is your QB.
GT Man
January 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
The Falcons are comical, after New Orleans destroyed them, the ” idiot ” falcons stated they wanted to replay the Saints. Wake up IDIOTs— you got destoyed today by the Giants—do you want a rematch with them?????? How many other teams that destroy you do you want a rematch with ??? Ryan couldnt learn from Rodgers, Brees and now wont learn a thing from Manning. I remember last week watching the sidelines when they were romping a losing Bucs team and all the high fiving– why when they play a superior team, they dont jump around high fiving on the sidelines ???
ship jumper
January 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
I wonder if we could even beat Denver with their “below average QB”. That team is really playing with heart. The birds would probably win in the regular season, but a big playoff game…I doubt it.
katherine
January 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
all the analysts who have been talking crap about tebow all year..bashing him mercilessly are crapping their pants right now..they will have to eat crow big time. The only happy one at espn right now is skip bayless
Geno
January 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
Aints fans still on here?…lol….not much of a life, huh?
slydog
January 8th, 2012
6:05 pm
@ijonathan
2 National title games and 1 NFC Championship appearance. Anymore questions? And that was done without knowing the playbook and smoking weed all in the off-season.
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
March can’t get here quick enough. Can’t wait. Go Bravos!
billya
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
…But watch the Ferrari’s cruise into Suwanee in the Spring..
phil
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Whodat is a pure doof…
ijonathan
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Can we get to 5,000 posts and 100 pages? YES WE CAN!
Caesar
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
How is it that Tebow can throw downfield and Matt Ryan can only check-down for a 3-yard out?
Falcon Fan 24-7
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Grimes, get well soon.
bvgneedsahaircut
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Tim Tebow vs the Saints in the Super Bowl…how appropriate……Saint Timmy vs Saint Drew
cedrick
January 8th, 2012
6:06 pm
Even if Murlakey does not get a head coaching job, He needs to be FIRED anyway!!!!!!!!!!