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DEL.ICIO.USDefining offseason awaits Atlanta Spirit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the four years since taking ownership of the Hawks and Thrashers, the Atlanta Spirit too often has stumbled into implausible scenarios, like executive slapstick, only to work hard at convincing everybody that its days as a punch line were ending.
Unfortunately, as these owners have found, it’s difficult to make a convincing argument after you introduce yourself to the public as “an all-star team of owners,” but then you can’t stop suing each other.
But there is good news.
Or bad news.
Well, either way, significant news.
If ever an offseason was going to define an ownership group, this is it. Hunker down, Spirit boys, because this is when you either step up and convey some sense of stability within your franchises, or once again pull a Curly and confuse the blast powder with the pancake mix. (Boom.)
The Atlanta Spirit employs two general managers, Billy Knight and Don Waddell, with cracked track records.
It employs one basketball coach, Mike Woodson, whose regular seasons have been fairly decisive but whose recent postseason has left everybody confused (three huge upsets at home; four revolting losses on the road by 101 points).
The Spirit fired its hockey coach, Bob Hartley, six games into the NHL season, a swift and decisive, even if short-sighted, move that really accomplished nothing, unless you count forcing Waddell to form lines with his own mistakes.
OK, Spirit boys, are you tired of getting beaten up? What’s next?
It has been stated before, but it’s worth repeating. Sports franchises can be successful in a number of ways. Great players can overcome average coaching. Great coaches can succeed with average players. General managers can build winners by accruing solid, even if unspectacular, players. Or they can pick up just enough All-Stars to compensate for the duds.
Trades can make up for bad drafts, and vice-versa.
But there is one thing a sports franchise can’t overcome: bad ownership.
Fans don’t need their team to win every season. They just need to know that owners are trying to do things correctly, smartly. They need to know that they care. They don’t want to hear excuses. They don’t want to sense arrogance from the basketball GM or witness infantile outbursts by the hockey owner.
Fans want accountability.
You want to fix things, guys? Fix it now.
Waddell presumably has convinced owners he has things under control and that this season was an aberration (not to be confused with the other years of aberrations). I say “presumably” because only Bruce Levenson has publicly expressed confidence in Waddell. Michael Gearon, the other most active, non-ex-communicated owner in the group, has stayed in the background on hockey matters.
Waddell’s latest bit of amusing scrambling came in Craig Custance’s examination of the dysfunctional relationship between the Thrashers and their affiliate, the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. At one point, Waddell suggested the Thrashers were in an advantageous position over the Detroit Red Wings because Atlanta’s prospects were in the AHL playoffs and the Wings’ prospects weren’t. The problem: The Thrashers’ prospects are in the playoffs every year and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the Thrashers’ season. The Red Wings? They win Stanley Cups.
Waddell has yet to hire a coach. The bigger concern is that owners have yet to state their plan for the franchise. They have yet to hire an outside hockey adviser, as had been suggested. The Thrashers played their last game a month ago. If owners were waiting for the basketball season to end before deliberating on hockey matters, doesn’t that make you feel a little uncomfortable?
The Hawks also have significant issues. They actually have time on the player decisions. But Gearon’s comments Monday after wanting to “take a step back for several days” are unsettling. The Knight and Woodson issues have been on the table all season. Good owners always have a Plan B. If there were thoughts of firing Knight, there must have been thoughts about qualified replacements.
If the owners decide to fire Knight but keep Woodson, what would that say about Knight’s replacement, who wouldn’t be allowed to hire his own coach? What GM would take this job under those circumstances, and would you trust his ability to grab what the Hawks accomplished in the last playoffs and take it the next level?
The easy answer is to fire everybody. But the bigger issue is whether these owners can reach clear and logical decisions that put two franchises on solid ground. We’re still waiting.
Permalink | Comments (51) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA, Thrashers/NHL
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By Singindablues
May 6, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
One of the most incompetent ownerships in all sports. How can any of these owners show their face in Atlanta without embarrassment.
Please put us out of our misery and get something settled. How many years does the infighting have to continue. And what is the hold up in the court system. The snails pace of the legal issues has gone beyond being freaking ridiculous.
Please do us all a favor and sell to a competent owner ASAP. Please, please, please!
By Mike
May 6, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
Let’s start with each franchise having an owner and not ownerS. There is no place for democracy in sports or capitalism.
By Bob Sacamano
May 6, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Jeff,
Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answer?
I know you don’t expect these morons to do anything which will improve their teams. They didn’t do it last year after the Thrashers made the playoffs. They refuse to fire the idiot Don Waddell. They refuse to fire the outrageously arrogant Bill Knight (outrageous because he has absolutely no reason to be arrogant… he’s a fool who’s made decisions only slightly better than Isiah Thomas).
Why even waste your talent writing a column with this subject?
These morons will never, ever do anything that is good.
I remember back in the day when this paper as well as the vast majority of us fans believed that the worst thing that could happen to these franchises would be to get sold to an out of town used car salesman from Dallas.
The only thing I can think of now is, why oh why didn’t AOL sell to David McDavid?
Would the Hawks have Chris Paul right now if they did?
Would Don Waddell have been fired like he should have been years ago if he did, and would the Thrashers still have Heatly and Brayden Coburn on the blue line?
Jeff, I’d rather think about what could have been with these two teams then become depressed by questions to which you and I already know the answers to.
Come on man, only masochists ask these questions. To give yourself any kind of hope that these morons will do anything right is just insane.
Why, Jeff… why?
By MannyT
May 6, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
It’s a ball of confusion!
Does the guy that runs Philips have a top lieutenant? If not, the ASG has a trifecta of problems.
It makes so much sense that Philips Arena banners feature a group called Widespread Panic.
As a Hawks fan, I’ve got a summer Campaign for Responsible Athletic Professionals, yup CRAP.
The 2 basic blocks of CRAP work for the Thrashers as well.
a. What are we going to do to raise the overall level of the team, i.e. better players at key positions.
b. What are we going to do to maximize the usage of the players we have, i.e. play to their strengths.
Waddell can use this basic concept while looking for a coach. The ASG can use it to look back and evaluate their GMs.
If these guys were successful enough to get the cash to buy the organization, how come they seem to struggle in coming up with a reasonable plan to move forward that they can share with the fans?
Imagine the executives at large companies going to work and saying, I sure hope we can figure out where to lead this business over the next few years.
These guys need CRAP!
By JSS
May 6, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Hey Coward!!!
Stop closing comments on your failed attempts at being a columnist… You NO TALENT HACK!!!
You can not get one figure of substance in Atlanta, the State of Georgia, or the Southern region to speak to you on the record. But still, so you call yourself a columnist? Jeff, clean out the desk, you are just penning conjecture…
By keithboyd
May 6, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
There are lies, D—- lies, and statistics Mark Twain Josh Childress drafted ahead of Al Jefferson and Loul Deng; Marvin Williams ahead of Chris Paul; Sheldon Williams ahead of Brandon Roy; need we say moore. Quantitatively and qulitatively Atlanta Hawks basketball organization would be better served with the super talent that has been passed over time and time again. We must benchmark and find someone with a vision for selecting talented young basketball players.
By Bob Sacamano
May 6, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
JSS, who’s the coward?
Dude, seriously… get a life.
By ATLplayer
May 6, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
Fire everybody??? ok fire Jeff Schultz also! Mike Woodson earned an extension but I know haters don’t won’t to hear that. Look Woodson makes me mad too with this team. To his credit he didn’t build this team Knight did. This team is still flawed. A true center and backup PF is needed. Then Horford can play his RIGHT position PF and J Smith can play his RIGHT position SF. Knight missed on TOO many great players at PG. We all know Schultz has an AXE to grind…so anything he say about Woodson I just throw it out.
By JSS
May 6, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
Hey Bobby, Tell it to yourself!!! When was the last this sham actually interview to actually quote them directly? The answer is never! He has no clothes, if you want to stick to being an Jeff Schultz apologist down to hades with you…
By Bob Sacamano
May 6, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
Terence Moore, is that you?
Just because you can’t hold Schultz’s jock, you reverse-racist SOB, don’t come on here and playa hate.
By Brendan
May 6, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
Okay, admittedly, I’m no basketball fan. But I do keep track of the stupidest sports quotes of all-time, and Woodson still sits at #2, with this gem: “I’m not concerned about our record. Records are records. We can’t control our record.” Please, “Spirit Group,” don’t take this “Fountain of Information” known as “Woody” away from us! Keep him! Give him a contract extension! (Uhh, I mentioned that I’m not a basketball fan.)
On the hockey front, I’m sad to report that Hawks have surpassed the Thrashers. At least the Hawks are young, fast, and filled with some promising talent. While the Thrashers prefer to keep their young, promising talent playing in the AHL (Chicago Wolves). Either by choice or out of an inability to make the leap to the NHL level.
Jeff, I actually applaud the ASG and Waddell for WAITING on hiring a coach until the playoffs are over, assuming they’re still looking at an active team’s Head Coach or Assistant Coach. At least, that makes some sense to me. Moreover, Waddell has said that he wishes to consult with his new coach before making selections on draft day. If by waiting, he gets someone the caliber of a “Mike Babcock,” I’d say the organization did well. Uhh, it’s “safe” to exhale, as holding your breath for that might result in a visit from the EMTs.
There are TWO (2) monolithic problems facing this Thrashers franchise. (1) The ASG’s “business model,” which emphasizes profits over victories, seems to be the driving force. Yes, yes. Sports is a business. But it’s a different “kind” of business. That is, pursuing profits over victories can result in many, many empty seats. Which will, eventually, hurt “business.” The “business model” is what keeps Don Waddell entrenched as CZAR of hockey operations in Atlanta. (2) The hockey players talk to each other around this league. (No, it’s true. Cellphones, direct-connect, text messaging, blackberries, landline phones, face-to-face “get togethers,” and candygrams. Okay, I made that last part up.) These players know GOOD-N-WELL what the “situation” is here in Atlanta. And who is going to jump onboard the “Titanic,” other than a suicidal musician, looking for more “deck time” as 1st chair violinist?
Oh God. Did I really just write that? Cheerfully withdrawn. But the point is, it’ll be an “uphill battle” to land a Tier I free agent this Summer. Who wants to spend the prime of their careers ‘languishing’ in Atlanta? I suspect the players have lost their internal “vote of confidence” in Waddell’s abilities. They are probably all quite stunned that he hasn’t yet been relieved of his duties, as they contemplate “tanking it” again for another whole season, in hopes of effecting some sort of change.
Good luck with that, fellas. Why not just ask to be traded? Waddell seems to be a rather accommodating guy. Heatley wanted out of town, and Waddell obliged him. Hossa had to force a trade by refusing to sign a contract extension. Eventually, Hossa got what he wanted. He may even get a Stanley Cup Championship out of it, along with Pascal Dupuis.
Perhaps there’s a third (3) monolithic problem facing this franchise: Cashflow. The Thrashers rumored “break even” point is $38 million. That’s not a fact; that’s supposition based on “hearsay.” (Hey now, that’s at least a kiiiind of evidence.) The FLOOR of the current salary cap is $34.3 million. Yikes. And if the cap rises $4 million next season, then “floor” will rise to $38.3 million. Said another way, the “SS Thrashers” can barely keep “afloat,” much less navigate the icebergs. And how do they suppose they’ll be able to keep up with the larger market, big spenders, unless revenue-sharing becomes something rather spectacular for the Atlanta market? But, uhh, revenue-sharing is a National Security Secret known only to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the 30 owners, and the Heads of the NSA, CIA, DIA, and State Department, as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And perhaps Hugo Chavez. But, that’s it.
Really, I didn’t intend to write a “column.” Mea culpa.
By JSS
May 6, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
Last message to you jackahole (aka Bobby Little Sacamo), I have no time for the silliness that you seem to want to entertain… I’m not a battle that you want to join… I don’t care what color that a columnist is. There are 3 rules: be fair, be accurate, and be **original! Moore is scum, Schultz’s is a fraud, and Bradley has not had an original thought since Hummer stopped writing columns in the 90’s. Play your Atlanta race baiting somewhere else, I am not the one for it…
By the way, leave the street lingo to 1999 you imbecile…
By WILL
May 7, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
WHO GIVES A CRAP I DONT UNTIL THESE TEAMS,FALCONS,TRASHERS,HAWKS,BRAVES ,GT,START WINNING ON A CONSISTANCE BASIS IWILL NEVER BUY A TICKET TO A GAME AGAIN PERIOD IHAVENT IN 15YEARS OR SO THE LAST TIME I PAYED FOR A TICKET WAS WHEN THE BRAVES PLAYED HOUSTON IN HOUSTON IN THE PLAYOFFS ICANT REMEMBER WHAT YEAR BUT I REMEMBER IT WASA GREAT GAME ATLANTA WON 1-0 ON A JEFF BLAUSER HOMER IN THE FIRST THE ONLY REASON I WENT TO THAT GAME IWAS WORKING IN HOUSTON AT THE TIME BUT THE BRAVES AND THE REST OF THESE ATLANTA FRANCHIES DO NOT PLAY AT THAT LEVEL ANYMORE ,IS IT THE TALENT FOR HAWKS,AND THRASHERS,FALCONS YES THE ONLY MISTAKE BLANK MADE WAS GET RID OF DAN REEVES ATLANTA OWNERS GET THIS THE FANS WANT TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS IWILL NOT PUT MY HARD EARNED MPNEY UP TO SEE A BUNCH OF RICH IDIOTS NOT PLAY UP TO SPEED THE BRAVES ARE A JOKE THEY HAVE TALENT GALORE BUT GET BEAT BUY THE NATIONALS 6GAMES PLEASE IHAVE FREE TICKETS TO SEE THE BRAVES I WONT GO GAS IS TO HIGH,AND I KNOW ARIZONA IS GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES SO I WILL SAVE MY MONEY FOR MY CHILDREN IWILL NOT MAKE A NON CARING OWNER ANY RICHER THE WORLD IS TO HARD MY KIDS COME FIRST IAM A VIETNAM VET AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE
By WILL
May 7, 2008 12:27 AM | Link to this
OK AJC WHERE IS MY COMMENT
By WILL
May 7, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this
GET REAL IHOPE THE SPIRIT READS FIRE BILLY KNIGHT AND WOODSON IDONT FOLLOW BASKETBALL LIKE I DID IN THE 80,S BUT TO SCREW UP ALL THE DRAFTS EXCEPT HOFORD IS NOT CUTTING IT,CHRIS PAUL WHERE WOULD THE HAWKS BE WITH HIM,WHO KNOWES?THE THRASHERS NEED GOOD PLAYERS NOT SCAB PLAYERS,THE BRAVES NEED HEART AGAIN IF THEY DONT SIGN TEX IN THE OFFSEASON IWILL NEVER WATCH THAT SORRY TEAM AGAIN THE FALCONS ARE ON THE RIGHT ROAD MCCAY NEEDS TO GO SEEMS HE DID HIS GOOD DEED FOR TB BUT NOT THE FALCONS HIRING A COLLEGE COACH SET THE FALCONS BACK 3YEARS ,PETRINO WAS A JOKE WITH OR WITHOUT VICK COLLEGE AND PROS ARE LIKE APPLES AND ORANGES NOTHING ALIKE JIMMY JOHNSON THE COACH IS THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE COACH AND HE TRADED HERSHEL FOR 15 PLAYERS TO GET ON THAT ROAD IF I WAS ATLANTA I WOULD WAIT TILL VICK GETS OUT SEE WHAT KIND OF SHAPE HE IS IN AND THEN TRADE HIM FOR DRAFT PICKS IKNOW OAKLAND WANTS HIM VICK FOR J,RUSSELLOR MCFADDEN AND 2DEFENSIVE TACKLES,IWOULD TRY AND GET SAPP OUT OF RETIREMENT FOR 1 YEAR,OR MIKE SARAGUCHI THE BIG BOY FROM BALY=TIMORE PIONT BLANK OWNERS WE WANT A WINNER NOTHING ELSE IS ACCEPTABLE.
By JF
May 7, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
My prediction - someone will leave and someone will be offered a short term contract. Will that someone think he has any more power than he had before? Let’s face it - there are too many owners here and none of them wants to spend any money. This ownership is CHEAP - they won’t put up the money to hire someone for a long term contract. The real question is would be willing to stay with a one or two year contract?
By Michael Guillemette
May 7, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this
Whoever thought that the 9th offseason would be a defining time when it came to the Thrashers. Then again, who thought that the Thrashers would still employ a GM who has yet to record a playoff win in 8 seasons. The fact is, I’ve been a Thrashers fan since 99 and I have finally lost all confidence in this franchise. We have two major problems. The first, is that until Waddell stops pulling the trigger, this franchise will continue to bleed. Schultz, feel free to use that line in a future column. The second, is that The Atlanta Spirit group seems unwilling to spend money in the offseason to bring in talented players. And please stop with the “well we’ll see if were’re competitive at the trade deadline BS.” Newsflash! At the trade deadline you have to give up players (usually young) to get players. So it seems logical (I guess to me but not the Spirit owners) to spend the money on the front-end and actually try to win, as opposed to the quick-fix alternative. If you want solutions, hire a qualified GM and spend some money. I’m not sure the Spirit owners understand that a large source of revenue can come from making it past the first round of the playoffs. But since I have lost all confidence in the franchise, I assume Waddell will keep shooting, and the Atlanta Spirt will hold on to their money. At least until the trade deadline of 09….
By joeblo
May 7, 2008 1:38 AM | Link to this
The irony or JSS’ comments is that he seems hellbent on degrading and berating the columnists of the AJC, yet he obviously decides to not only read the articles of said columnists but to take time out of his day to write a senseless response. I don’t know about most people, but if I don’t enjoy someone’s articles, I don’t bother to read them…much less to take time out of my day to write a response to them to let them know how much I dislike them. A sad existence, that must be. Oh well…to each his own, I guess.
By TheAntiMe
May 7, 2008 1:53 AM | Link to this
SOS to Mr. Ted Turner. Ted, we are in deep doo-doo and are really hoping that you and Stan Kasten can come help us out. Please come back and exorcize these vile and evil Spirits that currently have possessed our Hawks as well as our Thrashers. There may be a sainthood in this for both of you gentlemen.
By tyger
May 7, 2008 3:43 AM | Link to this
Billy Knight is the best GM in Atlanta Hawks history, to fire him would be a mistake of monumental proportions that may set off another series of mishaps that may keep us out of the playoffs for another 10 years.
Dont listen to Jeff Schultz for he is a fool.
By whammer
May 7, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
The spirit has owned these teams for a little over four years. They took a hockey team to their first playoff in only 3 years, much better than the prior owner. ALL YOU HATERS ARE JEALOUS AND SUCK. I WAS AT ALL THE HAWKS HOME PLAYOFF GAMES. GAME 6 WAS THE MOST EXCITING GAME I HAVE BEEN TO AT PHILLIPS OR ANYPLACE ELSE IN A LONG TIME. YOU HAD TO BE THERE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT TO THE FANS AND CITY. I run a very large successful business as is these teams and Phillips. It is not easy to build winners in any business overnight and in the short time these teams have been under the Spirit they have done a good job, not a great job but a good job. What these owners brought to ATL in the 3 home games we have not had in a long time. In life those who want results now never get it and those who are willing to work for it and do it right will. I respect these self made (JS you have no clue), dedicated partners for bringing excitement back to Phillips beating the best team in all the NBA three times and for understanding that you can’t buy a good team like many foolish owners have tried.
The Hawks are a fun, dedicated, hard working team with tons of talent who can only improve. The Thrashers have the basis for a good team and hopefully will get the missing pieces this off season. BUT I AM A FAN PERIOD. THEY ARE MY TEAMS WIN OR LOOSE AND MY SUPPORT DOES NOT HINGE ON THAT LIKE MOST OF YOU. The Hawks are in the playoffs and the place is packed, where are you all season, do we just go then. I suggest that is a bad fan not a bad owner.
I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT SEASON!
By Paddy
May 7, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this
Is David McDavid still alive? Does he still have money? Does he still like hockey and basketball?? The only drawback w/ D McD is that the Atl Spirit out-foxed him. And that is the AS only victory since.
By posrg
May 7, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
give vp nique a chance to either be gm or coach. he talks a good game. let’s see if he can organize one. the asg could save some money on payroll and nique could earn his check
By Bob
May 7, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
The Spirit is running this as a bottom line profit driven business. It’s the only explanation of why they didn’t replace Hartley as coach last year (they still are paying Hartley, can’t pay two coaches). It’s the only explanation of why we’re still stuck with the most incompetent GM in hockey (rumor is they gave him a two year extension, can’t be paying two GMs now!).
I’ve been a season ticket holder since day 1 for the Thrashers, but we’re done and did not renew and will not renew until they get a real GM who can finally build a team here.
Schultz is right, the GMs are obviously incompetent, but it’s all moot until these owners get their act together.
By travis
May 7, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
one thing that you all seem to miss is that professional sports team make serious money, even if they are a losing franchise, through the profit sharing revenue. the falcons were the same way under rankin smith! look at the value of the hawks when asg took over and look at the value now. they have made money
By 'OJTHR
May 7, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
NEWS ALERT - JEFF WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY - IS AT THE ASG OFFICES APPLYING FOR THE HAWKS GM JOB
By Bob
May 7, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
ok, so now Knight is gone, why is Waddell still here?
By Tawanda
May 7, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Here’s a simple plan for the Spirit re the Thrashers:
Pretend the past few years were just a dream. Bring back Hartley and all the cost-effective players (Coburn, Hnidy, Savard, Metropolit, many others) we booted that appear to be performing a heck of a lot better than the budget drains we have now who can’t climb out of their own underwear (Zhitnik, Klee, I’m sure I’m forgetting some). Figure out why some of the others (Holik, Kozlov) who have demonstrated success are not succeeding in the current environment. Then, jump back into the present and yank your heads out of your collective bums and:
I guess that would be a start at least…thanks Schultz for the honest portrayal of our very own Atlanta “Who’s On First?” production.
By MsDee
May 7, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Great!! Now if we can only get Woodson to resign, the Hawks will be looking towards a future!!
By NASCAR Dave
May 7, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
JEFF SCHULTZ is right on the money here!
KNIGHT is gone… New Hawks GM will have to decide if he wants to keep Mike Woodson around.
So, the Hawks look set… next they need to sign the 2 Josh’s… and try to get rid of the Speedy Claxton contract…
Moving on… the Trashers. Don FRAUDell MUST go!!! This is not a matter of debate. 95% of bloggers ont he Trashers blogs would agree…
So… We are ALMOST there!
The ASG needs to get the BALLS to FIRE Don FRAUDell and make him DONE Waddell, and everything will be fine.
Don FRAUDell has had a decade to construct this team, and he has failed MISERABLY!!!
Atlanta Spirit NEEDS to MAN UP and cut this CLOWN Don FRAUDell Loose!!! ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!! END the INCOMPETENCE!!!
Bring in the former Atlanta Flame PAT QUINN as Thrashers GM… then things will be “Moving In The Right Direction”!!!
So, in summary, the HAWKS have shown potential to “move in right direction” based on Knight’s departure, and the TRASHERS have shown that Don FRAUDell is completely INCAPABLE of handling his Job!!!
And WHY does Don FRAUDell still have his job??? WHY is he not DONE Waddell yet??? WHAT is the HOLDUP???
ASG needs to FIRE Don FRAUDell, TODAY!!!
NUFF SAID.
By Rawhide
May 7, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
So now it’s official…
Of the four major league teams in Atlanta, the only GM that was employed in that role now from this time last year is…Don Waddell.
Don Waddell…this year’s winner on “Survivor: Atlanta Sports Island”!
Amazing!
By Sam
May 7, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Woodson needs to GO! Plain and simple, we need to rid ourselves of this no Coach talented, limited rotation foll who makes poor decisions.
By _sturt_
May 7, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Leave it to a newspaper columnist to ascribe his own personal perspective as that of all fans.
Arrogance on the part of the GM is NOT even on the evaluation sheet. Couldn’t care less. Just put a winner on the floor.
And nothing could make BK’s critics wince more than to know, in the end, his plans succeeded for laying the foundation of a team that can flourish for several seasons.
By KightRyder
May 7, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Good Knight! Billy Knight has stepped down. I realize that when Knight initially stepped into the job with the Hawks he was actually stepping into a pile of $hit when he first took over as Hawks GM. In reality, Billy had to resign NOW taking into account how much the Hawks grossly underachieved this year. The Hawks have blown double-digit leads in games this season at least 10-17 times, which indicates to me that they should have won at least 10 more games than they did. Secondly, a lot of their young players, particularly Josh Smith, Marvin (the Enforcer) Williams and Josh Childress simply turn the ball over way too many times than they should. They dont protect the basketball enough and this is something which they MUST work on during the offseason if there will be a continued progression towards improvement from the Hawks. I dont think the Hawks were as good as Orlando in the central division this season but they should have won in my mind at least 47 games, 10 games more than they won. I am absolutely thrilled that Knight has gone since his arrogance was creating friction in the organization. At Hawks headquarters during draft day, Billy Night refused to shake hands with Gearon and some of the other owners. Billy Knight delivered on his promise to get the Hawks into the playoffs but if the Hawks were in the western conference Billy never would have gotten the Hawks into the playoffs. The Hawks played absolutely atrotious in game 7 against Boston and were the biggest embarrassment the NBA has ever seen in any single playoff game in NBA history. In all honesty, I think that Billy Knight did a decent job. I BELIEVE THAT BILLY KNIGHT MADE ONE MISTAKE DURING HIS TENURE WITH THE HAWKS AND THAT WAS DRAFTING MARVIN WILLIAMS AHEAD OF CHRIS PAUL. If Chris Paul had been drafted ahead of Marvin, I think the Hawks would have won the NBA title this year considering how well the Hawks did against Boston in the first round of the playoffs. If Atlanta had had Chris Paul in Game 7 against Boston, no way the Hawks get completely blasted by the Celtics. Chris Paul would have set a feroucious tempo against Boston, similarly to what he is doing against San Antonio which I do believe will eliminate the Spurs. Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets are headed to the western conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Hawks are certainly in much better shape now than they were four years ago when Knight first came on board. I believe in year one of Billy Knights reign the Hawks were 19-63. Now that Knight is gone, Woodsen is probably not that far behind, taking into account all the great coaches which are available at the current time. The Hawks should move swiftly in bringing in a marque coach such as Pat Riley or Avery Johnson before the Hawks stagnate or go backwards and start declining back to their confortable state of mediocrity. With knight safely out of the barn, the Hawks are clearly moving forward and should hire a GM immediately such as Jerry West or Donnie Walsh or someone with a proven track record. I agree with a previous blogger I couldnt care less that Knight is gone. Now that the evening has passed and the knight is over, its time for a new day for the Hawks to just go out and hire someone with a proven track record and get this derailed train wreck back on course again. Good Knight and good riddens.
By BC Grad
May 7, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Now is the time for a shake-up. Bring in Larry Brown to coach and whomever can handle Larry Brown and his ego as the GM.
Go Hawks !!!
By LAC
May 7, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Boy this will & jss need to head straight to Millegeville ASAP for a padded room, They really need professional 24 hour supervision… Amazing there are people out there like those two sicko’s Gee Whiz !
Jeff is correct, The Thrashers are on theverge of total collaspe due to waddell, yet He Loves the team and city… Well waddell take a hint buddy, there is NO love here for you. waddell is a complete failure in every respect, why at this time would these thumb sucking owners not stand up and fire the clown is beyond me.
Perhaps will and jss could offer a reason, but I doubt they attend NHL games.
Looking more and more like we will lose Ilya soon and NO player in their right mind would want to come here… Thanks waddell you have ruined NHL hockey here once and for all and the owners share the blame for continuning to allow you to be the IDIOT you are and sinking us into 30th place next season.
Tell me waddell… Will you raise the 28th place banner opening night this coming season ? I’d rather the team hang YOU !
By Saywhat?
May 7, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
Say, RSS?
You say what? Schultz can’t what? “You can not get one figure of substance in Atlanta, the State of Georgia, or the Southern region to speak to you on the record.”
Near as I can tell: He quoted David Adams on a BCS story on May 4. He quoted Mike Woodson on a Hawks story May 2. He quoted Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby in a Hawks story April 30. He quoted Arthur Blank on the future of the Falcons on April 29. He quoted Chipper Jones, Bobby Cox and Jair Jurrgens in a Braves story April 21. He quoted Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo on the Olympic basketball team April 20. He quoted Dan Reeves in a Georgia State football story April 18. He quoted Congressman John Lewis in a China Olympics story April 16. He quoted Tom Glavine and John Smoltz on a Braves story April 7. He quoted Matthew Stafford, Vince Dooley and Mark Richt on a Georgia football story April 6.
I’d go on but I ran out of fingers. If you’re going to say something that is just outright wrong, next time try to do it when the list of the guy’s writing record is on the damn blogsite.
By ranallo10
May 7, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Saywhat? — I’m not trying to discredit your statement, but do remember that re-quoting is different than obtaining the quote first hand. I’d be willing to bet re-quoting is in affect at times…
I’m not trying to knock Schultz’s journalism, I’m just clarifying the uses (and misuses) of quotes in the media.
By saywhat
May 7, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Oh?
Ranallo, have you seen these quotes appear somewhere else in print before those dates?
Plagarism is no idle charge. If you got the goods, call his boss.
If not …
By TheAntiMe
May 7, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
It’s an admirable move that Billy Knight made by resigning and hopefully he can be a role model for the Spirit Group and they will follow his lead and resign as well. Yes, the Hawks did give us 3 very exciting playoff wins but that’s an average of 0.75 playoff game wins per year under Spirit leadership. (There’s an oxymoron if there ever was one.) At that rate we will be drafting the can’t-miss point guard from Uranus before the Hawks can ever win enough playoff games to even make it past the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
By ranallo10
May 7, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
saywhat — It’s not plagiarism to use someone else’s direct quote. If all is kept in tact, it’s a person’s words, which is not the property of the individual who transcribed those words. So you can re-use any DIRECT quote from Schultz — so long as you refrain from using his paraphrasing or synopses.
It’d like saying “Martin Luther King once said ‘I have a dream’”. It’s not plagiarism, because it’s a person’s words and I’m accurately portraying that those words and ideas are theirs and not my own.
Besides, I clearly said “I’m not trying to knock Schultz’s journalism, I’m just clarifying the uses (and misuses) of quotes in the media.” Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not calling out Schultz. I’m just trying to give you a little insight towards my understanding of how quotes can be used in a written piece.
By D
May 7, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, Woody may have done just enough in the playoffs to be given a reprieve of a couple of years. Hey, maybe he would take the team to .500 next year! Wow! (That is intended to be sarcastic praise). Seriously, though, if someone else had sat on the bench this season with the talent the Hawks had and with the Hawks residing in the Eastern Conference, do you think that coach would have ended 8 games under? I just don’t think so.
After watching the Phoenix Suns for the last few years, it has become a fantasy of mine to see what D’Antoni would do with our young, fast, athletic Hawks. However, maybe the coaching issue isn’t the big story— the contracts for the two Joshes are probably more important. Since the ownership group is in disarray and there is no GM of the Hawks, I worry that they’ll let one or both of them go or make really dumb trades. I especially worry about this in the case of Childress, who continues to put up good stats in spite of not starting and the complete dearth of plays being run for him or opportunities for him to score or make plays unless he crashes the boards with his thin 6’8” body. If he’s traded away, look for him to be “most improved player” next year.
Jeff, keep up the good work Schultz’s column is the best one in the AJC sports section, guys. You might not agree with his conclusions, but they’re well-reasoned, well-written, and funny. Those are also likely the reasons why so many people get upset. The truth hurts! (Or a close approximation of the truth). Oh, and one final note in defense of Schultz— columnists are not reporters, so they don’t need to use “direct quotes” or any quotes at all, actually. Who cares if he writes about what someone says at a news conference in response to a question he didn’t ask? Isn’t that why people give news conferences, so they don’t have to answer the same questions 100 times?
By NASCAR Dave
May 8, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
HEY SCHULTZ - Has Don FRAUDell been FIRED yet???
Is he DONE Waddell yet???
NUFF SAID.
By NASCAR Dave
May 8, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Hey Jeff Schultz… You know what’s funny???
75% or respondents to the AJC poll are voting that they have NO CONFIDENCE in Don FRAUDell making the proper offseason moves.
After a decade of watching Don FRAUDell do the same old S++T, can you blame them???
By Brendan
May 8, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
NASCAR Dave, imagine if the AJC polled the players themselves?
By NASCAR Dave
May 8, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
BRENDAN - Perhaps players like Kovy ARE voting… after all, didn’t he already say that, publicly, in that Craig Custance article a few weeks back???
By Davod
May 10, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me?! Promote Wadell. Was he not at the helm during the Thrasher’s un believable meltdown? Get rid of him and do it fast. Get someone with some rational sense in at GM and give the coaching job to McCrimmon. Come on, enough it enough. How long can this incompatent group drag this out?
By Davod
May 10, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me?! Promote Wadell. Was he not at the helm during the Thrasher’s un believable meltdown? Get rid of him and do it fast. Get someone with some rational sense in at GM and give the coaching job to McCrimmon. Come on, enough it enough. How long can this incompatent group drag this out?
By Davod
May 10, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me?! Promote Wadell. Was he not at the helm during the Thrasher’s un believable meltdown? Get rid of him and do it fast. Get someone with some rational sense in at GM and give the coaching job to McCrimmon. Come on, enough is enough. How long can this incompatent group drag this out?
By David
May 10, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me?! Promote Wadell. Was he not at the helm during the Thrasher’s un believable meltdown? Get rid of him and do it fast. Get someone with some rational sense in at GM and give the coaching job to McCrimmon. Come on, enough is enough. How long can this incompatent group drag this out?
By David
May 10, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Are you kidding me?! Promote Wadell. Was he not at the helm during the Thrasher’s un believable meltdown? Get rid of him and do it fast. Get someone with some rational sense in at GM and give the coaching job to McCrimmon. Come on, enough is enough. How long can this incompatent group drag this out?