AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 10
Monday, December 10, 2007
DANGER: Hate-free zone!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ORLANDO - If you’ve come here to spread evil, you’ve come to the wrong place.
This is a hate-free zone today.
Why, you ask? I’ll tell you why. All is right in the sports world.
Most of that has to do with two things: Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the New England Patriots remaining unbeaten, unblemished and untainted by the mess that has become professional sports these days.
When Floyd whipped the Golden Boy last year you all panned me for celebrating what you thought was a lackluster victory. But can anyone debate his virtuoso performance against Hatton? It was a smashing performance, mostly Floyd’s gloves smashing into Hatton’s dome and rib cage.
The Patriots were just as clinical in their destruction of the Steelers, another smashing success that this Anthony Smith character (absolutely no relation) should take to heart. Nearly every touchdown I saw included No. 27 in the white jersey getting scorched.
But it’s not just about those two juggernauts in their respective sports. I’ll even toss a bone to you Hawks fans and remind you that in spite of all the turmoil that’s gone on this season, your team has actually shown a little moxie the past few weeks, overcoming themselves mostly, to post a 6-4 record in their past 10 games.
Sure, we could nit-pick the Hawks like crazy and point out some of their many shortcomings (uh, let’s see, where do we begin? Anthony “Kimbo Slice Jr.” Johnson isn’t the guy you expected to be your No. 1 option at point guard this late in the season. Joe Johnson still isn’t shooting or playing like the All-Star he was this time a year ago. Zaza Pachulia’s mug is on milk cartons all over metro Atlanta. The Mike Woodson witch-hunt train continues to steam along at light speed. That dreaded injury bug has crept back up on the Hawks a little over a month into this season. And there’s already been a team meeting and we haven’t even made it to Christmas break yet.) but remember, this is a hate-free zone until further notice.
Besides, for all the venom directed at this team, and there has been a ton of poison floating around for a group that’s actually performing decently in relation to the rest of the Eastern Conference teams if you consider what the expectations were at the start of this season, the Hawks have shown some serious signs of life in the past few games. For example:
Josh Smith is recovering well from his early season bout with I-luv-my-perimeter-game-itis.
Marvin Williams is asserting himself in ways few people imagined when they were panning him for what they thought was his feeble offseason preparation.
Al Horford showcasing the type of consistency and low-post proficiency the Hawks haven’t seen from an inside player in well, what seems like forever.
And finally, and perhaps most telling, your team is playing competitive basketball while not playing anything close to its very best. (As one regular pointed out to me, that near loss to lowly Minnesota the other night looks a little different now that the T’Wolves have popped the Suns). That means there’s a chance to play much, much better down the road.
Now all of the good vibes could be wiped away with a lackluster showing here against the mighty Magic (who have mastered the art of the fast start this season and last) tonight. We’ll have to wait and see how that turns out.
But again, this is a designated hate-free zone until further notice (I won’t even throw darts at the laughable coaching search going on with my team right now, no mater how much I want to crush Lloyd Carr for not exiting stage left without continuing to make a mockery of our once proud program), so I’ll be curious to see who falls off the positivity wagon first.
