Hawks

By Tyger

January 24, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this

Staying true is easy, especially when its all you’ve ever known.

With the Hawks, there were sunny days: good runs with Drew, Roundfield… Nique, Spud, Doc…Lenny and the Big Three…Smitty, Deke and Mookie… but since, nothing but despair.

Falcons are virtually the same story in reverse - countless years of futility - then enter Dan Reeves, Jamaal and a SuperBowl…SuperVick and perennial hope.

in re. Braves, generally speaking, can beat your brains until October…

So, in a nutshell, as painful as it is - us faithful, quite frankly are used to it.

By Harry Hawk

January 24, 2007 02:58 PM | Link to this

I guess it helps to have other teams to cheer for. Fortunately (tongue in cheek here), I’m blessed to be a fan of the other Atlanta pro sports teams. That means I can spread my disgust around a little bit. I’m also a UGA fan who DOES pay attention to the basketball team, so I’m cheering for them (and hoping for good things) at the moment. I pity those who are just NBA fans and cheer only for the Hawks. I don’t know how someone could go to Philips, honestly believe that the Hawks are on the brink of “turning things around” and constantly take a loss-filled boot to the crotch.

I don’t think I’m really answering the question, but I’m realistic about the teams I cheer for. Because of that, I only get whipped into a frenzy of anger if my team isn’t living up to whatever expectations that I have. With the Hawks, I came into this year looking for 30 wins. They’re 13-26 right now, so they certainly have a shot to win 30. I think most Hawks fans honestly hope that Billy Knight will luck into something that turns the team around, but the odds are that the ownership situation and the questionable personnel decisions will keep most fans’ expectations very low. In this way, most Hawks fans are protected against each defeat being more soul-crushing than the last.

In other words, ya gotta have a defense mechanism, baby.

By Patrick

January 24, 2007 02:59 PM | Link to this

There’s only one thing you can do… hope and pray we end up in the Oden/Durant lottery! The sad thing is that our pick may end up going to Phoenix. If not and we’re lucky enough to be in the top 3 i can see the headline now “Billy Knight surprises all and selects Aaron Gray at #1” What a joke Billy Knight is!!

By Tyger

January 24, 2007 03:04 PM | Link to this

Hawks sign Jeremy Richardson regarded as the best wing in the D-league. Maybe he can hit some shots!

By Anakin Joe

January 24, 2007 03:05 PM | Link to this

You have to cheer for the home team. Plain and simple. Now if you’re a transient, then you could conceivably have a choice. But I go by the 5 year rule. When I lived in NJ, I had to root for the Nets after I was there for 5 years. When I returned to Atlanta, my allegiances were immediately back with the Hawks. Folk from Atlanta who disclaim the Hawks and cheer for national teams like the Lakers, Bulls, Knicks, etc. are traitors. And like Tyger said, a lot of us recall better days. Of the ‘Nique era and later of the Steve Smith/Mutombo days. I have every confidence that I will last longer than this current regime of incompetents (the suits, mostly).

By Patrick

January 24, 2007 03:07 PM | Link to this

Is it just me or does Shelden Williams not remind you of some old grizzly 12 year veteran nearing the end of his career? Great pick Billy! Last year it could have been Chris Paul and this year it could have been Brandon Roy! Instead we have a perennial 6 point 6 board guy

By Tyger

January 24, 2007 03:16 PM | Link to this

From D-league showcase blog:

“Jeremy Richardson of the Fort Worth Flyers is another guy I liked a lot. He’s skinny at 6-7, fantastic size for a swingman. He’s out of tiny Delta State and started to get his name out there through some fantastic play.

He’s among the league leaders in scoring in the D-League around 20 points per game here this week. He’s a silky smooth player, he can rise, has a good jump shot and does not take bad shots. Keep your eye on him.”

I guess Dijon is a goner.

By tONYg

January 24, 2007 03:18 PM | Link to this

your team is your team. Fairweather fans suck. you’ve gotta stick with them. For example, I hate the falcons right now…but not really. I still read everything about them and look forward to next season. same for all our teams. The Hawks just dont have the final pieces in place to be a contending team, they just dont. We can only win when our shots are falling, and when EVERYONE is contributing. We’re on the way up, and I still plan on watching every game. I don’t know about you, but I put down a pretty penny on bodog for the over/under 28 1/2 for the hawks. so come on baby, only 16 more to go!! Go HAWKS!! it gives me a reason to continue to root for them every quarter of every game.

By CLS

January 24, 2007 03:27 PM | Link to this

Sekou,

So you’re not a Hawks fan?? You seem to be distancing yourself from the bunch of us. You’re not a fan, you just report on ‘em huh??

By J. Shuttlesworth

January 24, 2007 03:34 PM | Link to this

I don’t know man. I guess you take pride in being invested win-or-lose. One day they’ll be decent again, and I’ll enjoy it that much more, and won’t feel like a punk for hopping on a bandwagon.

P.S. I was at the PhoneBooth to watch the Suns - Wizards last night, and the Suns can straight up play basketball. That is one fun group to watch.

By Billy Knight

January 24, 2007 03:39 PM | Link to this

Guess what guys? I actually pulled my head out of my posterior and am making amends for my earlier moves. I am going to do whatever it takes to bring Pau Gasol to Atlanta to team with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith…will it take packaging Marvin Williams, Josh Childress, and Speedy Claxton (if they will take him)? Maybe…would it be worth it? Yup. I have no ability to actually find a star player in the draft, so i better trade for one.

By Jay

January 24, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this

Guess being an Atlanta sports fan has trained me well in the art of supporting crappy teams. All those awful Braves teams of the 80s. Up and down Hawks teams from the 80s and 90s that peaked a couple times but kept running into someone better (Bird, Jordan), being a Falcons season ticket holder for the 80s and 90s. We’ve always been a target for insults on the national scene…is there a more well-known reputation for atlanta fans then empty seats? Whether its Philips arena, Turner Field in the PLAYOFFS, or the Dome once the team falls out of the playoff chase (and even worse pre-Vick where there were 15-20k empty seats). SI calling us Losersville. Heck, even the best run in atlanta sports-the braves- can be viewed as the most prolonged streak of postseason failures in history.

As a Atlanta sports fan, we’re used to losing…heck, we almost expect to lose. But as a southern sports fan we have undying loyalty. Check out college football…south carolina sold out their games during a 1-win season!

In particular to the hawks, we do have some exciting young players, those of us that are nba fans have been craving a competitive team and thought we might be close this year. Now, though, its back to normal. Teams adjusted to the “pass to JJ and watch” offense and we got NOTHING else. Its no surprise that our team is so low in scoring when we are so low in assists. I saw Unc pass the ball around better against ga tech then the hawks ever do.

And on and on it goes. I think losing teams making the winning that much sweeter. Everyone remembers how amazing the ‘91 braves were. When the hawks finally get good (aka when the Billy Knightmare is over) we’ll all look back and laugh. Well, if we are sitting next to an empty seat, of course.

By Clyde

January 24, 2007 03:59 PM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By roan st

January 24, 2007 04:17 PM | Link to this

Sekou, please give us a blog detailing what you think is wrong with this team and why things are not working out. Tell us who has made the critical mistakes that have led us to this current misery. Please don’t walk on egg shells either. Give us your true gut feeling on why this team hasn’t began to turn the corner. You always seem to think the players are working hard and giving great effort so who is to blame? I know what my feelings are toward who is to blame. Let us loyal followers of your blog and hawks basketball here your expert opinion on who is to blame and what changes need to be made. I’ll be waiting for your reply sekou. Lay down the gauntlet.

By honest_abe

January 24, 2007 04:41 PM | Link to this

i think sometimes i enjoy being miserable. lol. there is something exciting about being the underdog everytime your team steps out on the court… but yes a bad team that improves is something to to look forward to. years of imcompetentcy by an organization is frustrating… but i’ll still be cheering this horrific franchise as long as they are in atlanta.

By Paul Hamilton

January 24, 2007 04:49 PM | Link to this

Sekou, you say that you see the players and coaching staff working relentlessly in practice every day? So I guess the only conclusion is that the guys we have on our team, minus JJ aren’t very talented as compared to the rest of the NBA. Would you say that is a pretty sound assesment?? I mean lets be honest, not much talent, screwed up owners situation, terrible gm, no depth, few fans and really one outstanding player.

By MARCO

January 24, 2007 04:51 PM | Link to this

Shoot…that is not too hard to remember the days of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons and thier struggles for many years. I always made it throught those times by looking at the future of the organization, that is the young guys. I would closely watch thier progess and progressions and imagine what it may be like a few years down the road when those players begin to hit thier prime, which is younger and younger these days. So for me the joy in watching the Hawks at this point is the development of the young players, Smith, both Williams, Childress, Stoudamire, Solomon Jones combined with looking at Joe Johnson and seeing if there is more growth to be had by that player in the next few years and how good will he be. Thus when it comes all together and the young guys start hitting thier stride around the same time that the organization brings in some good veteran leadership and things come together it becomes really sweet. Like everybody else i though this was the year that some real turnaround would occur; I guess we wont make the playoffs but I think a good run is within this team when all the young guys play well together. I have lost all faith in Zaza and now I am starting to side with the crazy people that think a run at Odum from Ohio State is the way to go. We need some serious help inside and I do think we can make something out of the tweener lineup by having Childress play the point helped by the other tweeners that can initiate the offense. I dont think any of those young guys should be dealt unless your talking of Staudamire, trading any of the other young talent would be stupid!

By ATLSportsTalk.com

January 24, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this

You just have to figure that eventually things will get better. I mean, you can’t be a real fan of a team if you’re going to give up on them. I figure that if and when the Hawks stand up there and win a championship, it will be a sweeter feeling for us than it is for the fans of the Lakers or Spurs when their teams win yet another championship.

By Booger

January 24, 2007 04:58 PM | Link to this

I liked the Lions as a kid, too. I also rooted for the pre-Parcells Giants. I don’t know why. I guess I thought their uniforms looked cool. I became a Hawks fan in the Steve Hawes, Charlie Criss, John Drew, Tom McMillen era. But I must say the last three seasons, present one included, have turned me off. I want a real owner, a real GM and a real coach, before I’ll consider myself a fan again.

By Fred B.

January 24, 2007 05:41 PM | Link to this

You have to stick with your team through all the bad times. Working nights doesn’t afford me the opportunity to watch a lot of games so i guess i’m lucky in that respect but on the occasion i’m able to catch them online or on the radio most nights it really frustrates me to put up with all the bad basketball in general. As one blogger posted earlier i also hate fair weather fans-if they’re your team you stick with them

By Jason

January 24, 2007 05:53 PM | Link to this

I too was a crazy Braves fan in the 80s. I always thought it had a lot to do with the affection you start to build for teams as a child. At five or six years old it never occurred to me that the Braves were hopeless. I thought they had a chance to win every game and that a great year could follow a bad year. You are able to relate so strongly as a kid that you can honestly feel like it was “we” that lost, not “them”.

You grow up and start to learn about pay-check players and dumb GMs, but by then I think it’s to late. It’s the equivalent of being disappointed in your parents. You can’t trade them in—-you have a shared history, acquired them right from birth, and there would be something inauthentic even if you could adopt another team as an adult.

Or the short version: it’s YOUR team. It’s ride or die.

By Tony

January 24, 2007 05:57 PM | Link to this

I stick with them because I am actually enjoying watching the young guys develop. I think that this has a lot of talent at every position except one that being the center position. Yeah Zaza works hard but he is not very good at anything but banging. Wright was a good buy but his skills have obvious diminished. I they had a guy that could just do one thing well like defend the paint, the record would be reversed. All of the Hawk position won last night except the center position against non-scoring centers. But that can be fixed in on off season.

By Bigmuddy

January 24, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this

Sekou: WEnt to my first Hawks game when they were the St Louis Hawks (lived in Missouri) and followed them every sence. Lived in Atlanta 74-84 and sent to countless games. I follow them now simply for laughs and lessons in mis-management which I use in my lectures at the College level. I read, and use, many mangement case studies but none can compare with Blaylock and Knight. From a fiancial point of view I find it shocking that owners and/or Board of Directors tolerate such performance year in and year out. Bottom line - follow the Cardinals and Braves for fan enjoyment and follow the Hawks for laughs.

By Hope

January 24, 2007 06:08 PM | Link to this

You just gota love it . Hope, pray, hope and pray some more, maybe one day your prayer will be answered.

By wolverinegrad

January 24, 2007 06:09 PM | Link to this

Yea us Michigan fans are spoiled, but losing those last two games this year had me down. I’m tired of getting the top talent every year and not producing titles. Anyway i wont go down that path.

As for my Hawks, I know we have pg issues it seems we cant get lue or Speedy to stay healthy, we have no viable low post threat to take pressure off of JJ. Marvin is coming along slowly. We should just make a play for Paul Gasol to get the city excited again. We can still save this season…we just need to make a few moves.

By Tony

January 24, 2007 06:11 PM | Link to this

I stick with them because I am actually enjoying watching the young guys develop. I think that this team has a lot of talent at every position except one that being the center position. Yeah Zaza works hard but he is not very good at anything but banging. Wright was a good buy but his skills have obvious diminished. If they had a guy that could just do one thing well like defend the paint, their record would be reversed. All of the Hawk position won last night except the center position against non-scoring centers. But that can be fixed in one off season.

Reposed my message because the typos in the previous post made it unreadable

By Darth Andro

January 24, 2007 06:26 PM | Link to this

Geez, Roan, what do you think we’ve spent the last two years dissecting. I don’t think there’s much Sekou can tell us that we haven’t written ourselves, collectively. Bad ownership, bad personnel decisions, bad coaching, and, finally, a now lame duck administration that neither can, or will, make significant changes, while the courts finalize their ouster.

Samuel, did you really pull the race card at the tail end of the last post? Did you really suggest that I differentiate the championship potential of individual players, based on race? That I can conclude, in my opinion, that Vick and AI’s individual brilliance won’t translate into championship, has nothing to do with race. I picked the Bears and the Colts this past weekend. Their coaches are black. If what you suggested was accurate, then I would have taken the Pats and the Saints.

What a stupid, Terrance Moore-like thing to say. You should know better. We get the occasional real racists here, and it’s never cool or pretty. Save your vitriol for those who deserve it.

By Edo River

January 24, 2007 06:51 PM | Link to this

Mr. Smith, I am a teacher. I enjoy seeing kids develop. Actually I get as much fun out of watching our daugters’ volleyball teams come in 2nd and 3rd place here in Saitama, as I would watching any game at any level back in the States.

If the Hawks were perennial winners like Michigan I would probably root for the opposition. I guess I enjoy watching potential in young people develop, particularly if they are on a struggling team. I think the character shines through more clearly then.

I enjoy seeing a group of young kids develop their potential and not their egos. So I realize winning teams have development. but I think you can’t see the test of character and the satisfying differences from the beginning and the end of the seasonal process on them.

By roan st

January 24, 2007 08:52 PM | Link to this

ANDO, I know what we have been dissecting and I know what the problems are but I just don’t feel like the local sports media has put billy and the spirits feet to the fire. I want these clowns to feel the heat just like mike vick has felt the pressure from the local media recently. I want billy knight to know that were sick and tired of his bumbling moves and I want to see it in print from someone on the ajc sports staff. I wasn’t asking for someone to spell it out for me because I already know what ails this sorry franchise. It’s like their getting away with a crime and know one in the local media wants to call them on it. I want somebody to bust their chops. Catch my drift?

By Volman

January 24, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this

What keeps me going is all of the “critics” of the Hawks who NEVER watch them and just look at stats…

Also, to hear fans cheer for other teams at Philps makes me want to cheer even more..

It’s easy getting to games as I live in downtown Atlanta (Georgia Tech).

When games get bad (and I’m at home) you can always hit the “previous channel” button to watch the Spurs/Suns/Mavericks/Heat/Rockets/lakers on ESPN for a little bit, then change back….these games ARE ALWAYS ON. EVERY TIME THERE IS AN NBA GAME ON ESPN IT’S THEM. Something’s got to change.

By Don!

January 24, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this

I love this team because it’s our team. Win or lose, they have “Atlanta” on the uniform.

It’s times like these that determine who the true fans of the team and of the game are. I thought at the beginning of the season this team would win 35-40 games, and they may still get there.

However, I knew (and still know) this team is still at least a year away from being truly good. The talent is there … in part.

Joe is great. Josh (the younger) is good. Marvin, Josh (the older … who still isn’t old), ZaZa and the rest have potential.

The coaching could be better. However, it could be worse. The point guard situation hasn’t been addressed since Jason Terry left.

I personally believe the real key to the whole Hawks mess is the ownership. Until that’s straightened out, the entire team will flounder to some extent. I think that’s because the whole mess leads to a lack of accountability.

There’s no one place where “the buck stops here” for the franchise. Until there is, people will struggle with their roles, their decisions and their futures.

But regardless of hat happens, my future is that of remaining an Atlanta Hawks fan. I’ll always hope for more success than we’ve had — but any frustration I feel over our record is better vented at the owners than over Billy Knight or the coaching staff … and even the players on the court.

Later,

Don!

By Dan

January 24, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this

I’ve been a fan of the Hawks since I moved down here in ‘99. In that time, I have seen them think it was OK to trade Steve Smith for JR Rider. I have seen them think it was a good move to trade for Sheerif, instead of hanging onto their draft pick (Gasol). I have seen them draft DaMarr Johnson over Morris Peterson, WTF?!?!?

More recently, I have seen them sign the most worthless player in the NBA, Speedy Claxton (my least favorite player of all time, next to any member of Michigan’s Fab Five). One bad move after another….

I stay true because I like the game and I must be a little bit stupid. I do not sit there and hope and hope and hope, though. Although, I was really high on this team going into the season. I thought they finished strong last season and would make a strong run at the playoffs this season. Didn’t quite pan out….

At some point, things will change. It won’t be with Woodson, Knight, or these p_y owners around, though. I am looking forward to change.

By LAHawk

January 24, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this

Born and raised in Atlanta and an avid Braves, Hawks, Falcons, UGA fan I live in LA now and have for many years. But I still am a Braves, Falcons and UGA fan…and was a Hawks fan telling everyone who’d listen that this was the year they could probably make a playoff and run and, whoa boy, look out next year. Then I went to the Hawks/Lakers game out here. Holy crap, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Zero defense, I mean, none. No hustle, lazy. The Lakers killed the Hawks, slow footed Luke Walton went for over 20 and Kobe didn’t even play! After the ownership issues, Billy Knight’s attitude I still could muster faith in the team…until that night. I told everyone I went with that that was it. I’m done. What do you cheer for? I liked Ted as the owner. If he lost I could still support him but not these guys. Management? Screw Billy Knight. The coach? I’d put my daughter out there if I had to after watching lay-up after lay-up. At least she’d put a body on someone. He barely subbed at all. The organization completely fails from top to bottom. I mourned my Hawks that night.

By Ryder

January 24, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this

No question I love all Atlanta teams. One thing that makes it easier to accept losing in the tough times is knowing there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Take last year’s Thrashers for example. Even though their playoff chase fell two points short, I was excited because you know that their core of players would get to that playoff level if they were just healthy. Fast forward to this year, and they are in the all star break leading their division. You actually see there was a plan in place. With the Falcons, there was a plan in place. Draft Vick and build around him. Though they haven’t given him helpful talent and poor coaching shortailed him, there’s no question you still knew that he would be the one to lead this franchise to greatness. Despite what people think about him, at least there was a plan in place.

With the Hawks, WHAT IS THE PLAN? There isn’t any. If there was, BK would actually build this team with some sort of plan in place. I used to defend him, I was dead wrong. I can’t blame Woodson for all of this, he coaches with what he is given, and I still think he’s not head coaching material. Anyway, BK has no plan whatsoever to build this team. He was lucky to get JJ by overpaying but he did not draft with intelligence.

Ok, say if you do plan on drafting and building around 4 swingmen, then WHY ON EARTH DO YOU HIRE A DEFENSIVE COACH? WTF?!!! Even my blind great grandmother can see that this team is build to run, and Woodson has zero idea on how to incorporate that concept.

That being said, one of two things will have to happen. Either bring in a coach who can preach a run and gun style, not to mention take advantage of matchups, or bring in players built to play a halfcourt game. That means trading players like the Joshes and Salim to get some interior help. There is no plan in place, and as a result the Hawks will continue to suffer, and poor Sekou will be repeating this blog 365 days from now.

By doc

January 24, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this

basaically you end up pulling for the players as individuals and enjoy their small accomplishments. been a fan of atl teams all my life and rememeber the atl before they had major sports. had my favs on the crackers, grew up essentially on the sidelines of ga tech when dodd was there but after his glory years but sitting amongst the players from the tech heisman years of the late teens. grandfather played in the game that tech ran up 222 pts on tiny cumberland ccollege, turns out the cumberland team didnt want the ball back after each tech td and would elect to kick off whenevr tech scored thereby giving the ball back to tech to score again.

funny my favorite teams were the hawks and the braves before they ended up in the atl so i looked to bellamy and hudson to give me my kicks after they got here and followed individual players since. as i grew up the players stayed and it was easy to be loyal to the team since it was before free agency. so after the braves got here with aaron and still within shouting disatance of a series win it took them 30 years to duplicate and the hawks have never been to the finals placing behind only sacramento as the longest a team has been has been without going to the finals.

as a long suffering atl fan of all sports now with no significant loyalties what i do is pick up another team to follow and gravitated to the suns as my second team for now and the past several years to keep my interest into the playoffs as i really enjoy sports of all kinds. through the years my allegiances have gravitated to different teams but have always followed my atl teams to every win or loss feeling it each time they do either. sad to say i have endured the falcons even during this vick stuff that wont go away … whooo boy.

By doc

January 24, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this

samuel just read the comments from yesterday or earlier in the day. i never said curry couldnt play but did say he was out of shape last year and because of serious fiscal retraints couldnt accept the risks on curry or morrison.

maybe as ando says, only if you smoke weed could you ever expect this management to come up with he beans to go after any guys like ai or curry or for that matter any post player that makes easily 8 to 10 mil a year to sit for 20 minutes a game, curry excluded butthat is the going rate on mediocrity in the post. seriously the way curry is playing compared to big centers he is being underpaid from the looks of it. sometimes you read between the lines to put your twist on it big fella. got to admit you do have an eye for talent as well but sometimes dont take aim at the problem …. it’s the owners …

By reese

January 25, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this

First I watched the game. Then, I played the game. Badly at first and then I practiced, practiced, practiced and practiced.

As I became better, I taught nuances of the game to friends and family.

Now, with the blog, I get to express my view of the game and get instant feed back from others.

I’m like most of the home town fans, I’m gonna root for the hawks no matter who is on the team, no matter who is the coach, no matter who is the GM or no matter who are the owners.

Whats that catch phrase. I love this Game.

By the way, great win hawks. Great game Josh Smith. Does anyone else notice that Josh is the only player that plays just as hard on defense as he does offense. He is the only player who consistently fills every offensive/defensive column in the stats breakdown (pts,stls,rbds,blks,ast).

He’ll probably be our first triple double player this year. He’ll probably be our first all star player, next year.

By ray

January 25, 2007 12:42 AM | Link to this

I root for these guys because I’ve lived here in Georgia most of my life. Nearly always liked the Hawks. My out of town team is the Bulls. Always liked them too. I stick it out because I’m not a fair weather kind of guy. It’s just that simple.

Why do I come to this blog? I like shootin’ the bull with most of the people here. It’s kind of like going to the sports bar after work. Only, you’re in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Well, at least I am. Some guys gotta log on at work.

Doc, I meant to give you cred for pointing out that Marvin had been wearing a glove, which affected his shooting and what not. My bad. All I did was reiterate a point many didn’t even notice that you made earlier.

Samuel, I’m feelin’ you on getting guys of Iverson’s caliber. And Curry, well, I thought we could have had him. But nobody really knew if he would be ok to play. Good for him AND the Knicks that he can. As for guys proving the medical “experts” wrong, that’s called miracles in most cases. Even the experts don’t know it all. But who do you turn to on a qualified opinion? Someone with loads of working medical knowledge and training or a guy teaching gym class? And for the life of me I can’t understand why you keep saying “y’all” any time you want to make a point about a player that you think we should have gotten. It’s not everybody who’s disagreeing with you, even less who’s being racist, and since when did any opinion here affect what the organization does?

By Mark

January 25, 2007 01:17 AM | Link to this

I just picture Kevin Durant in a hawks uniform.

By Wedgie Evans

January 25, 2007 02:56 AM | Link to this

When you are a fan of a team as bad as the Hawks, every single thing they do right is a reason to celebrate. Josh Smith drove the ball to the basket without turning it over? Great! Zaza wasn’t completely clueless on defense? Amazing! Josh Childress somehow made his hideous-looking shot go into the basket? Bravo! Marvin Williams showed some aspect of his game other than the ability to knock down open mid-range jumpers? Excellent! Salim Stoudamire actually managed to pass the ball to an open teammate? I don’t believe it!

Maybe a fan of the Suns or Mavericks takes basic, fundamental basketball for granted. When you are a fan of a bad team like the Hawks, every single good play is reason to cheer.

And I gotta say, if I have to be a fan of a bad team the Hawks are a pretty good choice. At least when you have young, talented players, there is the hope that the team will get better. Can’t say that if you are a Knicks fan or a Sixers fan, with mediocre veterans clogging up the payroll.

By mykhalc

January 25, 2007 03:33 AM | Link to this

i can watch this team despite the losin’ because of 1 thing…YOUTH! that’s it…plain and simple!!! if this team had the roster of 3 to 5 years ago or so with WALKER, AL, JT, RATCLIFF, JACKSON, etc then NOOOOO way i’d be watchin’!!! or in my case watchin’ thru the boxscores!!LOL a veteran team losin’ like they are COULD NOT hold my interest!!! i’ll ALWAYS be a HAWKS fan no matter what but the BABCOCK HAWKS of the mid to late 90’s until his firin’ did NOT hold my interest in the least!! i always hoped they did well but nothin’ more than that. and i used to be a season tix holder when i lived in ATL. so for me it’s all about the youth and seein’ how long it will take for them to put it together!!

By i hate the hawks for trading nique

January 25, 2007 03:54 AM | Link to this

I grew up a hawks fan…listened to them on the radio everynight as a kid in my bed when i was supposed to be asleep back in the 80’s. But when they traded nique that lack of loyalty to the diehard fans ruined forever my loyalty to the hawks. The Hawks only chance is to tank this season and get Oden or Durant. We dont really need another jumpshooting big man so Oden would be the better choice!! Shelden williams would be a good roleplayer, keep joe johnson and josh smith and get rid of everyone else.
Im a bigtime diehard falcons and braves fan and always will be even when ownership sucks!!! As for basketball….diehard Ga Tech fan, and since the rockets got mutombo and mcgrady..Go Rockets!! How about the rockets huh….it feels like forever since Mutombo played here and hes still doing his thing in houston!

By TokyoTom

January 25, 2007 04:21 AM | Link to this

Edo River- I though I was the only person in Japan following the Hawks! Sekou- Lived all my life in Atlanta until last Fall and followed the Hawks from when they played at Alexader Memorial before the Omni was built so, for better or worse, I follow them because they are MY HOME TEAM. The only hope for the Hawks is a change in Management (maybe that is wishful thinking) because Billy Knight is trying to create a winning team built of tweeners and, with the exception of a brief run by the Pistons, that strategy has never worked in the NBA. I don’t know enough about talent to say if Woodson is doing a good job or not with what he has been given. Love Joe Johnson and what he brings to the team every night. No matter- I’ll take the ridicule of my wife and friends back in the states as a small price to pay fr my support of the Hawks (just like when I followed the Braves in the 70’s & 80’s and the Falcons forever).

By Samuel

January 25, 2007 06:52 AM | Link to this

First of all. Where in my post did I mention race. I just said that DAandro made a statement that he has no idea will be a reality. Who knows what Mike Vick and AI will accomplish before their career is over. There’s been a lot less talented QB’s and Guards than AI or Vick who have rings.

Yall mentioned race

By Samuel

January 25, 2007 07:55 AM | Link to this

Case in Point: You say you picked the Bears. I guess it’s because of that stud under center they got huh.

By doc

January 25, 2007 08:09 AM | Link to this

ray, not really raggin but saying that less for cred as to say sooo few (zero) seemed to pick up on it. big time basketball is hard enough without putting a pad on your hand and then have the same mechanics and feel. it would be like tiger trying to thread a drive out there with an egg mcmufffin on his left hand, well maybe he could do it but not many could. peace bro.

By Willie Coyote

January 25, 2007 08:12 AM | Link to this

I guess I can keep following the hawks because there is something there that could lead to winning. We have some good guys and some guys we can move to get more pieces. My biggest frustration is that we play 5 on 4 most nights because our centers suck. I’d rather lose with Solomon and Shelden playing at the 5 than Lorenzen and Zaza. At least the two young guys will challenge/block shots and take a charge. It would be nice to see someone like KG, Marcus Camby, or Gasol in a Hawks uniform.

By Hatertots

January 25, 2007 09:34 AM | Link to this

You just have to have the right expectations when you follow a bad team. Good teams are like dramas, bad teams are like comedies. So when you buy your ticket, just remember that you’re not paying to see ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance,’ you’re paying to see ‘Happy Gilmore.’ I personally love going to Hawks games, especially when they’re playing some other bottom-feeder. Not because they’re more likely to win but because it’s twice the bad basketball, twice the entertainment, and twice the number of players to laugh at. That may sound ‘unfan-like’ to some, but I’m still following the Hawks, unlike everyone else I know; I’ve literally been laughed at by my friends and family for following the Hawks. And honestly, you’ve got to laugh at a team that’s averaged 25 wins a season for the last 4 years. Otherwise, you’re just gonna cry.

By newkid

January 25, 2007 09:56 AM | Link to this

Keeping the ‘game’ in perspective helps. It’s a diversion that’s sometimes enjoyable to watch whilst we try to manage our way through complex lives influenced by so many things which are well beyond our control. I suspect I’m like many in that I generally watch and cheer for the professional teams in the city of my residence; for now it’s metro Atlanta.

Watching and cheering is one thing; passion is quite another. And in that regard there’s precious litte about cheering for the local professional team that quite compares with the PASSION some of us have for the addiction we call Carolina basketball.

By Jay

January 25, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

“I just picture Kevin Durant in a hawks uniform.”

Where would we play him? He’s another 6’9 forward.

By Volman

January 25, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

Yeah, if we could get Oden above Durant that’d be great.

We will probably get a 4-10 pick.. so, just hand it on over to Phx!

By ajw

January 25, 2007 01:23 PM | Link to this

I actually love this team we have right now. We have players that can do unpredictable things at any moment. As in books, a flawed character is much more interesting than a perfect one. Sometimes they do great things and sometimes bad. I was personally very bored with the Lenny Wilkens teams even though they had winning records, they just weren’t very fun to watch win or lose. It may be frustrating to watch this team lose, but at the end of the game, I can reflect on some truly amazing plays that were made. I can also see the NBA as a soap opera about sports. I hate tv soaps, but I can see my daily interest in the NBA like following a soap opera. WE do need to let this team grow. They are gaining maturity and seem to enjoy each other as teamates. I think we need to just play zone defense almost all the time. That is how this team is built. And its clear how effective it can be after watching last night. We just totally shut them down with it. I believe this should be the Hawks identity. NBA teams hate playing against it.

By Darth Andro

January 25, 2007 01:44 PM | Link to this

Durant is the kind of player you take even if your guys at that position are solid. Durant has the kind of potential that Marvin was supposed to have to justify drafting him over a top point guard, when we already had Al, Josh and Josh on the roster. Durant is the once ever ten years kind of talent that Marvin was purported to be. Now that’s not a knock on Marvin, that’s a knock on the Hawks’ front office, and the hype machine that has developed for talent coming into the NBA. Remember that Marvin was a very talented sixth man at NC his freshman year. Durant is arguably the best big conference scorer in the country. If you exclude smaller conferences and mid-majors, has a legitimate prospect scored so much, as a true freshman, since Chris Jackson, at LSU? You take Kevin Durant, and put him at forward, next to Josh Smith. You trade Marvin, Shelden, Salim and Indy’s pick (not necessarily all of them, but whatever combination is necessary) and go get a legitimate big man. With Durant, Johnson and Smith, he doesn’t even have to be a big time scorer. Just a defensive anchor on the blocks.

Samuel, I’d say you’re now being disengenuous. You use two white players, in Dirk and Nash, in suggesting that I wouldn’t make similar comments. Why not TMac or Pierce, or Ray Allen? Truth is that you were suggesting my criticisms of AI and Vick were grounded in race. They weren’t. They are simply two tremendous talents, whose skills don’t equate to championships. Obviously, Philly agreed, because after 11 years, they gave up their meal ticket, to re-tool and seek a championship through other means. You are right, that I don’t know what will happen. But that’s never stopped me from predicting outcomes before. This is no different. Just a matter of opinion that time will define. You want to say your comments weren’t grounded in race, so be it. I’m comfortable with my read. And I’m not trying to stir anything up, or make it anything bigger. I’m just sayin’.

By Double Z Enthusiast

January 25, 2007 02:29 PM | Link to this

I love the Hawks. Dad took me to a game for Christmas. I was 13, Hawks hosted the bulls the day after Christmas in 96. Bulls won 72 the year prior and were on pace to win just as many in 96 (they ended up with 69). But the Hawks were playing lights out at home and on that magical night, Laettner outscored Jordan (with like 37 to Jordan’s 32), Mookie played like “great Mookie” (I always thought there were two Mookie’s: Great Mookie—an allstar and Mediocre Mookie who played kind of Like Speedy Claxson on a career night) an the Hawks Won! Greatest Christmas gift ever. I was a fan before—I used to rattle off players’ names statistics and numbers for old people when I was a tot, amazing them), but ever since that game I’ve followed them like Jesus. And its been painful. I get the feeling that most Hawks left live in or around the ATL. I grew up there, but I’ve been gone for 6 years now—4 years of college in Annapolis, Maryland (where I only saw the Hawks in person over Christmas and when they visited the Wizards) and now 2 years in Hawaii. People litterally laugh at my obsession. The other day some guy I didn’t even know came up to me (i was wearing my prized JJ jersey) and said: “The Hawks!? The Hawks?!” and laughed until I was out hearing range. The dude was a local. THey don’t even have a team out here. The closest thing to a Hawaiian pro-sports team is the Oakland Raiders (lots of locals llike them) and this likely Raiders fan laughed at me. SO its tough. But I tivo every game from league pass and watch them all.
And I have other teams I follow rabidly: Navy Football—which employs the best coach on the planet (Paul Johnson, or as I like to call him: “The Anti-Wooody”) and is in the midst of an incredible run (but the bowl game still hurts). I also follow the Braves and Falcons, but less rabidly. But, yeah, being a die-hard hawks fan sucks most of the time. But everyone who knows me knows about my Hawks obsession, so I will never be accused of being a band-wagon fan when we finally do start making the playoffs at some point during my lifetime. There’s always that to look foward to. And my “19 straight Home Wins” promotional poster from the 96-97 season hangs above the t.v. where I watch the Hawks, so I can look up and remember the good times. And I like this current group of players way better than the previous few incarnations of my favorite team. Antoine Walker was one of the worst Hawks leading men ever. I liked Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington (especially Jackson), but the JJ show with the Joshes, double z and marv is a nice look. And how can you not like T Lue? Billy Knight should be banned from earth. God, I hate speedy claxson. Ok I’m rambling….

By Double Z Enthusiast

January 25, 2007 02:52 PM | Link to this

I like what Wedgie Evans said above.

And the sngle worst thing about being a Hawks fan is seeing former hawks play extremely well under competent coaching and decent personnel management: Examples: Jason Terry, Boris Diaw.

I’m guessing that the time is soon to come when J-CHill, J-smoove or Marv gets moved and breaks out in a new system.

My buddy is a cetics fan. The fact that we had that amazing comeback last night AND JJ is our key player made for approximately 2 consecutive hours of taunting. I loved that moment. Thanks Hawks.

Another thing that keeps me going is video games. I’m one of the more dominant NBA video game players amongst my circle of friends and I always play with the Hawks. I can’t tell you how fun it is to drop 50 with JJ on your buddy who’s playing with the Suns or the Mavs or the Pistons and cruise to an easy win. The trash talking is intense. Video games also allow you to make trades and create players. I’ve played seasons with a created Duraunt and with Gasol on the roster. this helps.

By Samuel

January 25, 2007 03:46 PM | Link to this

DAndro,

I’m just interested in why you chose Vick and AI and why their talents don’t equate to a championship. I chose Dirk and Nash because they are two of(if not the) best players in the league right now who have not won a ring. If they never do, I doesn’t mean their talents don’t equate does it.

You also didn’t address my comment on how it is that a Rex Grossman can be one game away from winning a ring but Vicks skills aren’t good enough. And if Manning never wins a ring, would you say that his talents dont equate.

Last year,White Chocolate, was the starting guard for the NBA champions. Do his skills equate more than AI’s.

Fact is, Basketball and Football is a team game. No one player can,by himself, win it all.

What AI could have done is what he’s doing right now. Elevate this franchise, make it respectable and maybe, just maybe other players may want to come here.

Give Vick a line, some receivers who can actually catch the ball, and a defense and he has just as good a chance as any other QB in the league.

By michael m.

January 25, 2007 03:56 PM | Link to this

funny how as bad as we have been for so long, with the entire organization failing from top to bottom, we could go to eastern conference contender with a little bit of luck in the lottery. we will probably have between the 4th to 6th most ping pong balls. we win that and get oden, then the josh smith/marvin williams forward tandem isn’t a problem on defense or offense. add a point guard like dom james (marquette), ronald steele (bama), chalmers (kansas) or crittenden (gt) in the middle of the first round, and ouila. not sure if bk deserves it, but i sure know we fans do!

if bk loses that pick to phx, he has to be extinguished from the hawks organization. i truly hope this ownership situation gets resolved by this summer, another year of dangling isn’t what we need. i can’t put myself in belkin’s corner all things considered, but maybe belkin (smarter, shrewder, more of a gambler than the other owners) will be better for our longterm growth. if the spriit are exaggerating belkin’s cheapness going forward in order to make him look bad, then you can’t fault his wanting to offer less to phx in the jj trade. this 2007 1st we might have to give them has worried me for 18 months now. even bk knows he should have, at the very least, put more than just 1-3 protection on this pick. most deals like this would go lotto protected in one year, then 1-10 the next, 1-6 the next, 1-3 the next, etc. he gave away the whole farm when he could have kept a few animals for us. colangelo took him behind the barn and had his way, making bk his you-know-what. i think the lotto pick holdup with the indy trade this summer further shows bk knows he screwed up in the past by smartly getting the protection to just be 1-10 this year on their pick. because for those who act like we traded harrington for nothing, that indy pick is nothing to sneeze at.

anyway, true hawk fans transcend current management. we will be around supporting the hawks long after bk is gone. fickle, fairweather fans don’t have spine or true integrity. they don’t have the makeup it takes to be true through good times and bad. i thought you had more heart than that, sekou. you don’t know if you would stay loyal even if your team went through what we are going through? what’s that about?

By NEIL

January 27, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

I’VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, SINCE JOSH SMITH HAS BEEN BACK THINGS ARE LOOKING MUCH BETTER AND BASICALLY WE HAVE THE WHOLE TEAM NOW EXCEPT SPEEDY. WE HAVE WON 4 OUT OF LIKE LAST SEVEN GAMES, NOW THATS NOT BAD. SO IF WE HAD EVERYONE HEALTHY ALL YEAR AND WON 4 OF 7 GAMES THAT WOULD PUT US OVER 500. I’LL JUST LET YA’LL THINK ABOUT THAT. HOWEVER I DO THINK WE NEED A LEGITIMATE CENTER.

ANYWAY THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THIS BUT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS. I THINK THAT ALL OF US SHOULD START SOME KIND OF BLOG OR SEKOU YOU COULD HELP TOO. ANYWAY THE NBA REALLY REALLY NEEDS TO USE INSTANT REPLAY WITH COACHES CHALLENGES LIKE THE NFL. THAT WOULD CLEAR UP SOOOOOOOO MANY DISCREPANCIES WHERE THESE DAMN OFFICIALS CALL THE WRONG CALL AND COMPLETELY CHANGES THE OUTCOME OF A GAME. THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED REALLY BAD. SEKOU, PLEASE HELP OR LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO START A PETITION OR SOMETHING TO GET INSTANT REPLAY INSTATED.