AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWhat gas crisis?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HAWKSVILLE - When he scripted the Hawks’ training camp regimen and included the entire team staying at a downtown hotel for the first week, general manager Rick Sund wasn’t thinking about long lines at gas stations.
His was a purely business move designed to tighten the operation at the start of a new season.
One of the unintended benefits of having the players, as well as head coach Mike Woodson and other members of the training staff, stay in a hotel walking distance from Philips Arena has been their ability to sit out the current gas crisis that has folks all over the metro area scrambling to fill up their tanks.
“That’s definitely one of the benefits of being at the hotel,” Hawks captain Joe Johnson said. “You keep seeing the stuff on the news and all you can do is hope it all gets worked out as soon as possible, because things are crazy for everybody.”
Not for the Hawks, who are practicing during the day and then meeting for a team dinner in the early evening and then moving on to “skull sessions” after that before retiring to their rooms for a little rest and relaxation.
Woodson said the change in structure has turned out to be a perfect move for a team trying to incorporate a few new players to the mix while also getting everyone adjusted to the policies and procedures of a new front office staff.
“It’s certainly not about babysitting these guys or anything like that because they’re grown men,” Woodson said. “But in a lot of ways this is like what we went through during the playoffs in terms of us being in close quarters and everybody being focused on the task at hand every day. From a coaching standpoint this is excellent, because we get to watch film with these guys and really hammer home what we’re trying to do as a team.”
Sund put a target on training camp shortly after being hired to replace Billy Knight. With a team full of what he likes to call “young veterans,” he’s been focused on making sure that the players comprehend just how important their role is in moving the franchise forward from its sketchy recent past.
“I think this training camp is so important and that’s why we’re at the hotel and why we’re having team dinners every night and skull sessions every night,” Sund said. “We need to be focused. We’re a little bit old school here, just for the week.”
And if it helps the Hawks ride out the gas crisis as well, so be it.
Stay tuned for more camp updates later.
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Comments
By ken price
October 1, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
I have been a Hawks fan since 1973. I finaly have hope,again. The Hawks seem to be trying to do things the RIGHT way.
By Lacsho
October 1, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
I think this was an excellent move.
By Hawksville Resident
October 1, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Great move! Teams like the Lakers and Hornets go away for Training Camp every year to allow their players to bond and gel and their teams seem closer than regular teams. Even last year w/ Boston going overseas they said that it brought the team together. This is a small step in the right direction!
By Astro Joe
October 1, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Sekou, can you please remind us of the camp schedule? How long is the actual camp? When do pre-season games start? And will they be doing the hotel thing throughout camp?
Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Randolph Morris came knocking on Mark Price’s door for some 3-point shooting lessons? Let’s hope that Woody’s statement wasn’t received as a true open invitation for any and all to learn from a legit shooting guru.
Doc, thanks for providing Ando with an accurate interpretation of my post. Ando, that was a spin worthy of the political season. Take a grain of salt and spin it into a salt brick that backs one of your positions. I’m sure Saxby would love to add you to his staff.
By Sekou K. Smith
October 1, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Camp really lasts the entire month, though the grind of long practices (and in some places two-a-days) ends this weekend. The preseason slate starts Monday in Orlando for the Hawks, who also travel to Phoenix and Kansas City (to play Portland) next week.
The way I understand it, they are staying in the hotel through the week. And they’ll be in hotels all next week on the road. When they get back things will be back to normal.
By Floze
October 1, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
I see where ESPN has us ranked 15th in the East. A year wiser, better shooting off the bench, and an experienced point guard for a full year didn’t seam to mean much to ESPN. It does to me.
By Astro Joe
October 1, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Sekou, ‘ppreciate you!
By Melvin
October 1, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t go betting my money based on preseason predictions. Alot of those same folks said the Hawks wouldn’t make the playoffs last season. There’s too many factors that are contribute to how a team performs during the season such injuries and trades. I say let it play out on the court. We’ll see if our HAWKS can soar back to the playoffs.