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October 2005
Thrashers must learn how to win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
The fact that reality often doesn’t match expectations in sports really hasn’t been an issue with the Thrashers before, because they never were built for expectations. Unless you count losing as an expectation.
But when a coach who has won a Stanley Cup is given a roster that includes players who have won Stanley Cups, you expect more.
You don’t expect two wins in the first three games, then only one in the next eight. You don’t expect to see a team with veterans blow a 4-0 lead to an opponent (Pittsburgh) that hadn’t won a game in nine tries. Or losses of 9-1, 5-1 and 6-0 in succession. Reality was not supposed to be 3-8. Not this team. Not in this season. Not again.
Bob Hartley knows that. When he is asked if he takes it personally, he responds quickly.
“Of course I do. I’m the leader of this group.”
Well then. This should make it easy to point a finger. This time it’s not about a thin payroll or a surplus of fourth-line players. This time it’s about talented players who have yet to be brought together and pointed in the right direction by their leader.
Right now, Hartley’s team is tied for the worst record in the NHL. There have been some signs of improvement of late. But dreaded expressions like “heart-breaking loss” are creeping into the equation.
Good teams either win or lose. They don’t make excuses. There have been issues with injuries and keeping goaltenders upright, but the fact is, goaltending usually hasn’t been the biggest problem. There was a four-game span in which the team scored twice, moving Hartley to comment: “We could have taped Jacques Plante and Patrick Roy together — even with the old pads — and we wouldn’t have won more.”
The real difference has been intelligence, discipline and resolve. Or lack thereof. Good teams play through adversity. They don’t float in the neutral zone or the ozone and take stupid penalties. They don’t sigh and wallow in self-pity about having a deciding goal bounce in off a defenseman.
“We still have a long way to go in terms of learning how to win — let’s not kid ourselves,” center Bobby Holik said Monday. He then referenced a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay when the deciding goal was inadvertently knocked in by defenseman Niclas Havelid.
“We’re too good to say, ‘We should’ve won.’ That goal doesn’t matter if we play better. It shouldn’t be a game-breaker. If we’re playing better, maybe we’re still ahead or tied. But to say, ‘Oh, bad luck.’ Bad luck? If you work harder and smarter, those things won’t matter as much.”
Hartley knows it’s on him. Publicly, he has remained positive and kept his temper reasonably in check. “I’m not the kind of guy who throws garbage cans,” he said.
Thrown anything?
“Never.”
Kicked anything?
“I kicked a fan once. I got my foot stuck.”
He’s been through this before. In his first season in Colorado (1998-99), the Avalanche started 0-4 and didn’t climb above the .500 mark and stay there until game 43 (20-19-4). That season, the Avalanche reached the seventh game of the Western Conference finals.
But the core of that Colorado team had already won a Cup (under a previous coach). The Thrashers have never made the playoffs. So it’s only natural to wonder if the big problems — coverage, chemistry, penalties, penalty killing — will improve.
They have allowed a league-high 23 power play goals. The most recent came against Tampa after a 2-0 lead had evaporated and Serge Aubin boarded the Lightning’s Rob DiMaio with the game tied in the third period.
“There’s a huge difference in knowing how to play and knowing how to win,” Hartley said. “Serge tries to go for the big hit on DiMaio rather than just finish him off, and we open the door to the power play. That’s a part of knowing how to win. But winning comes in waves.”
Tonight is game 12 of 82. Time isn’t an issue yet, and waves may yet develop. But 3-8 wasn’t the expectation. And the reality of 3-8 has long since been old.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Gordon not in it to win Chase
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
The hottest and most celebrated driver on the circuit ran hard and well Sunday, and only occasionally did Jeff Gordon ponder the disconnect in his position. He was driving for next year, and 10 of his peers were still working on 2005. He could win this Bass Pro Shops MNBA, same as he’d won the Subway 500 last week in Martinsville, and it would, in the grand scheme, change nothing.
Jeff Gordon isn’t in the Chase. And if you’re not in the Chase, you’re not really racin’.
The Chase for the Nextel Cup is its second year, and in the main it has been terrific for NASCAR. The Chase has whetted interest - an interest that, given the sport’s exponential growth, hardly needed whetting - for all things carburetor-related and has all but assured the NASCAR season of having a big finish every November. The Chase is that rarity in sports - a radical notion that actually enhances. But the Chase has, in its two-tiered way, created a caste system among drivers. And what sort of system leaves the best racer of his era with his handsome nose pressed against the glass?
This isn’t a formal protest, mind you. Jeff Gordon knew the rules going in. He finished 12th in the overall standings after the season’s first 26 races, and only the top 10 drivers are deemed Chase-worthy. Still, it seemed strange Sunday to see Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. - the other famous Chase absentee - running near the lead at Atlanta Motor Speedway, running more for show than for dough.
“It’s tough being on the outside,” Gordon said. “These other guys are having a lot of fun.”
Gordon finished second, Earnhardt fourth. Tony Stewart finished ninth but had a profitable day, boosting his Chase lead. Carl Edwards aced both the race and the Chase, winning the former with dispatch and moving from fifth to fourth, 107 points behind Stewart, in the latter. The world of NASCAR has always contained, no pun intended, wheels within wheels, and the Chase has simply added another set of tires.
“I’m a big fan of [the Chase], even though I’m on the outside looking in,” Gordon said. “It’s added a lot of excitement to our sport. It makes winning the championship that much harder. But today I was racing Mark [Martin, who finished third] hard, and in the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘These guys are racing for the Chase.’”
And Gordon isn’t. He won the Daytona 500 in February and has won three races since, but his performance over the summer was too spotty to crack the top 10. (Rusty Wallace, by way of contrast, qualified for the Chase without winning at all.) But there are two ways to react to failure: You can duck your head or stiffen your spine for the next challenge. Jeff Gordon, as they say in football, has bowed up.
“Our 2006 season started when this Chase started [without him],” Gordon said. “And it’s not just personnel changes [he switched crew chiefs, from Robbie Loomis to Steve Letarte, the week after missing the Chase]. It’s changes to the race car itself. When the season’s going on and you’re battling for points, you’re afraid to change. But once you miss the Chase, you try all kinds of things.”
He won at Martinsville and finished second here, auguring well for those alterations, and Gordon proclaimed next week’s race at Texas Motor Speedway the true test of his perceived progress. He has won four points championships, and already he’s pointing toward a fifth come the new year. As for what happens between now and then …
Someone asked Gordon if he would take any solace in finishing 11th in the overall standings. Wrinkling his nose, he said: “I haven’t been paying attention - 11th? If you’re not in the Chase, it doesn’t matter where you finish.”
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Mark Bradley
Dogs’ dreams go ‘poof’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Jacksonville –- In dreamland, this is where we tell you that the little kid who grew up longing to be a Bulldog while staring at artwork of a Georgia-Florida game on his bedroom wall pulled off a miracle.
This is where Belue-to-Scott is knocked off the shelf by Tereshinski-to-Brown. This is where Georgia goes on to win the SEC, and Virginia Tech and USC and maybe even Texas somehow stumble, and the Dogs leap in the rankings and win their first national championship in 25 years.
That is dreamland. That worked 25 years ago.
Saturday, it vaporized.
“I was thinking the same thing –- what a great story it would’ve been, especially if they had gone on to win the rest of their games,” Buck Belue said Saturday. “They would’ve talked about this game for a long time.”
Poof.
Georgia lost to Florida, 14-10, Saturday.
Sounds pretty dry, given what this could have morphed into.
“Ooooh … this would’ve been Joe’s dream come true,” running back Danny Ware said.
Actually, it pretty much would have qualified as a dream for everybody in Athens. This would have been: “Classes cancelled bye week. We’re all just going to gather around Joe T. as he tells us the story of ‘Spartan 47.’ Tell us Joe, how you pitched the ball back to Thomas Brown, slipped, fell, got up, stumbled to the end zone, then leaped, fought off defenders and made that touchdown catch. Tell us Joe: What’s it like to be you?”
Poof.
Time to snap out of it.
The rally fell short, which basically means the Bulldogs are left with a bag of “almosts.” They almost pulled the upset. They almost clinched a spot in the SEC title game. They almost kept alive hopes for an unbeaten season, which would have kept alive the chance to claim the BCS has it in for the SEC.
Now, what do they have?
“There’s still a lot to play for,” coach Mark Richt said.
“Most of our goals, we don’t have to redefine.”
Well, that’s not quite true. You take out the national title and the deck is significantly reshuffled. The goal now is do better than the Outback Bowl.
The Dogs do still control their own destiny in the SEC, but it means probably having to beat Auburn at home in two weeks, which certainly doesn’t look as easy as it did –- well, when Auburn lost to Georgia Tech.
“We haven’t lost in a while,” Richt said. “We have to remember what it feels like… . But I don’t think Auburn is going to feel sorry for us.”
Florida did this to Georgia in 2002. The Bulldogs were 8-0 coming to Jacksonville and left 8-1. But they rebounded to win their first SEC title in 20 years.
That still counts for a lot –- it just pales to the potential story line. Florida jumped ahead 14-0. As Richt said, “It looked like it could be 50-0.” That’s usually what 14-0 looks like when there’s a first-time starting quarterback on the “O” side.
But the Gators sputtered and Georgia came back. The 9-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Brown to Tereshinski made it 14-10 in the third quarter. But that was sandwiched between two drives that ended in missed field goals, and that’s as close as the Dogs got.
Did it even occur to Tereshinski that he was about to carve out a special place in an improbable history?
“Not really,” he said. “Ten years down the road, I might’ve looked back on those memories,” he said. “But luckily I do get one more shot at these guys. Next year hopefully we’ll come out victorious.”
Funny thing is, there’s no guarantee Tereshinski will even be starting next season. He was the afterthought last year behind David Greene and D.J. Shockley. He was the obscurity this season behind Shockley.
Next season, he’ll just be a senior fighting for a job. The backdrop won’t be the same. And those dream sequences don’t come around very often.
Permalink | Comments (175) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, UGA / SEC
Jackets not pretty, but win anyway
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Well, this was not one you’d press like a rose in your book of memories. It was sort of like a baseball game that starts out like a pitcher’s battle, then ends up a sluggers’ match. You get the idea when I point out that Georgia Tech and Clemson were tied 3-3 at one time, then in the end that Georgia Tech scratched and scrambled around and beat their guests from upper South Carolina, 10-9.
And that the Yellow Jackets were never safe until the final second had ticked off the clock at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and the 55,000 or so could traipse out of the place exhausted, but uninjured.
It was a sloppy piece of work, just to be bluntly honest. It took them over 40 minutes to play the first quarter, pockmarked as it was by one penalty after another. Then, later on, Clemson would appear to take the lead when Charlie Whitehurst connected with Thomas Hunter in the end zone on a 22-yard touchdown pass. But, alas, the Tigers were detected to have 12 men on the field. In case you’re new to American football, that’s one too many.
Georgia Tech also scored an apparent field goal, off the toe of Travis Bell’s boot, but alas and double alas, the poor blokes had allowed time to run out.
In fact, a guy dressed in a T-shirt and blue jeans, and a modest topper, was tied with both teams at halftime. The unidentified chap, slight of build, kicked a field goal from the 25-yard line, won a contest sponsored by Ford Motor Company, thereupon collecting a prize of $1,000. So all three of them were tied at 3-all. But the prize-winning booter retired to his seat in the stands. The Tigers and Jackets still had 30 minutes to play.
It turned out a bit better than the first 30 minutes. Clemson, for the most part, rolled up yard after yard and was winning the statistical battle breezily. But it was like playing the dime slot machine in a casino. The Tigers managed to come unglued one way or another. For instance, they had played seven games and not lost a fumble. Here they lost three.
What really turned it all around for the Yellow Jackets was when Chan Gailey finally turned the offense over to P.J. Daniels in the second half. Daniels is the Jackets’ surest offensive weapon, but for some reason or another, he had touched the ball only six times in the first half, and for only 25 yards.
He was trusted with the ball 15 times in the second half, picked up enough yards to top off his day with an even 100, and peaked out crashing into the end zone from two yards out with 8:35 left in the game. But the Tigers still weren’t done. They kicked another field goal, and as the clock wound down to nine seconds, Ben Arndt errantly punted out of bounds and the set up the Tigers with one final “Hail Mary” fling. They missed, but the Jackets weren’t safe until the ball came to rest in friendly hands.
Now, say this: Reggie Ball can sometimes soothe the most devoted Tech devotee, and he can sometimes drive said devotee to utter despair. It’s like playing Russian roulette. This was one of his Russian roulette days, pull the trigger and hope for the best. His game was erratic, and he was like a magician extricating himself from trouble. He was responsible for 169 offensive yards, but that wasn’t one of his better days.
He couldn’t wipe the smile off Gailey’s face, though. The coach gave credit where credit was due -– to the defense. There were times when Tech was in more trouble with the ball is in own its hands, but whenever they found themselves in a bind on this autumn day, the defense got them out of it, and Gailey gave his defensive side two thumbs up.
It wasn’t pretty, and the score was a rare one in football, “but that’s college football and that’s fun.” And that was the coach’s epitaph.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Tech / ACC
Weekend Predictions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Let me just start by saying that anybody who still goes by the name of “Scooter” at the age of 55 deserves to be hit with a 22-page indictment.
Fortunately, here at the NFL subsidiary at Weekend Predictions, you need not be worried about the potential for mid-season interruptions from pesky federal prosecutors. All of our financial analysts are free of legal entanglements, and as far as we know nothing can actually be proven. Besides, what’s really illegal in the big picture? Because when there are only 10 commandments, there’s a lot of wiggle room. So. Nice tie. Have you lost weight?
We go into Week 8 with a slight profit margin (57-29 straight up, 45-39-2 against the line). Granted, that doesn’t compare with quarterly earnings of $10 billion like Exxon. But then I have a soul and wouldn’t release a statement that claims my money-grubbing oil company “acted responsibly in pricing.”
Do you smell brimstone?
The big game this week finds Denver hosting Terrell Owens and the less significant Eagles. T.O. has put his $4.4 million New Jersey home up for sale, but his spokesperson, Kim Etheredge, actually said this doesn’t mean Owens isn’t planning on returning to Philly next season.
“Fifteen thousand square feet is a lot for one person,” she told the Daily News.
And it wasn’t a lot a year ago?
I’m sorry. But did everybody forget to pack their conscience this week?
Back to the game …
4 BAGS
Eagles at Broncos: Give Owens credit for this. While everybody and their Labrador knows Philly isn’t running the ball enough, only Owens can step up and say the Eagles need to throw more. Never mind that he leads the league in receptions. Dolt. Denver covers 3 1/2.
3 BAGS
Bills at Patriots: Tedy Bruschi is set to return just eight months after a stroke that led most to believe he should retire, proving yet again that even great athletes and wonderful people can be prone to serious lapses of judgment. New England covers 9.
Chiefs at Chargers: When you have a talented and competitive but 3-4 team like San Diego, there is a point at which you ask, “What is the coach doing wrong.” Then again, it’s a position Marty Schottenheimer should be familiar with by now. Chargers win but take K.C. and 6.
Redskins at Giants: Washington’s Santana Moss — not T.O. or Randy Moss — might now be the best deep threat in football. It follows that he’s not on my Fantasy League team. Or the Falcons. Selah. Giants win and cover 2 1/2.
2 BAGS
Jags at Shams: It was a new low for St. Louis last week when team prez John Shaw refused to let a Rams security guy put through a phone call from coach Mike Martz to an assistant while Martz was home recovering from a heart problems. Classy. Jacksonville covers 3.
Bears at Lions: Talk about no escape. Detroit QB Joey Harrington lost his starting job to Jeff Garcia but kept up his commitment to speak at a middle school, only to have a sixth-grade girl ask: “Will you be with the Lions next year?” Ouch. Lions cover 3.
Raiders at Titans: Tennessee running back Travis Henry returns from a four-game suspension for substance abuse. One look around the locker room and he may check himself back in. Take Oakland, punt the 1 1/2.
Bucs at Phoney Niners: Somebody once told me statistics are like bikinis — it’s not what they show but what they hide. Tampa’s (5-1) first seven opponents, including today, are a combined 14-30 and none have a winning record. Not that it helps San Francisco. Bucs win but take Niners and 11.
Dolphins at La. (Or L.A.): The Saints play their first game in Louisiana since Katrina. The first 10,000 fans receive blowtorches and maps to Tom Benson’s luxury suite. New Orleans wins, covers 2 1/2.
Packers at Bengals: Brett Favre has lost two running back and three receiver to injuries, which basically means he’s going to be rely heavily on Max McGee and mother’s little helpers to pass John Elway on the all-time passing list. Cincy wins and covers 9.
Ravens at Steelers: Quoth Jamal Lewis: “I’m not the type that’s going to lay down. At the same time … you want to be careful for your own health because this is the last year on my deal.” So he’s stealing money. But one good felony deserves another. Pitt covers 10.
Cardinals at Cowboys: Drew Bledsoe has 10 straight TDs with no interceptions against Arizona. Other players have similar stats ending with the same words, “against Arizona.” Dallas covers 9.
Vikings at Panthers: Carolina coach John Fox went to a Rolling Stones concert to forget his troubles last week, only to see Mick Jagger move better than Stephen Davis. But if you try sometimes, you just might get what you need: Carolina cover 7 1/2.
GO EGG GAS STATIONS
Browns at Texans: Cleveland should be motivated as 2-point underdogs to an 0-6 team. But a motivated corpse is still a corpse. Houston wins — and covers 2 1/2!
PROGRESS REPORT
Straight up: 10-3 last week, 57-29 overall.
Against the line: 6-6-1 last week, 45-39-2 overall.
Permalink | | Categories: Jeff Schultz
This Floptober truly haunting for Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Instead of lions and tigers and bears, oh my, we’re talking about Leo and Jermaine and the White Sox, oh, no. Such are the horrors for those among the choppers and the chanters. Just when they thought it couldn’t get any worse after the Braves’ 18-inning meltdown in Houston for another October flop, it did.
The White Sox?
Oh, yes.
While the Braves have embarrassed themselves for a decade in search of a second world championship despite an unprecedented 14 straight division titles, the White Sox kept finding ways to win their first World Series in 88 years with the greatest of ease. That was opposed to the Braves struggling this month to keep from getting swept out of the division series by an inferior bunch of Astros.
If you’re counting, that’s five first-round collapses for the Braves in the last six years, including four straight.
In contrast, up popped the historically nothing White Sox, with a wacky manager, a tiny fan base and a roster dominated by guys not heading to the Hall of Fame anytime soon, and the White Sox still did what the Braves couldn’t do. You know, a Braves team with the esteemed Bobby Cox as manager, all of those choppers and chanters and potential Cooperstown folks, ranging from John Smoltz to both of the Joneses (Chipper and Andruw).
Worse for those choppers and chanters, this White Sox thing comes after the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years, and the Red Sox did so as a wild card. Speaking of wild cards, the Florida Marlins were such a thing when they preceded the Red Sox as world champions. The Anaheim Angels had the same distinction along the way to taking it all for the 2002 season.
So much for the Braves’ consistent goodness. What they lack is instant greatness in the postseason. They never have a Geoff Blum come out of nowhere for them. They always have a Jim Leyritz come out of nowhere against them. Plus, in all of those years that the Braves had Cy Smoltz, Cy Maddux, Cy Glavine and others, they never resembled the White Sox in the postseason by having its starting pitchers complete three consecutive games, let alone four in a row. None of those White Sox starters were as gifted as the Braves’ Cy guys, by the way. And while the White Sox had nearly every bounce and call go their way, the Braves usually are so demoralized by other stuff (lack of key hits, shoddy fielding, base running woes, sliders that don’t slide) that a bounce here or a call there usually doesn’t matter.
This should matter to the choppers and the chanters: The White Sox’s Jermaine Dye just became David Justice.
Let’s start with Justice, the leader of those Braves teams from the start of their current run in 1991 through the only World Series that he helped them capture four years later with a clutch home run. Even so, he was traded after the 1996 season, and he promptly spent the rest of his career evolving into the new Mr. October. Not only was Justice shipped away back then, but so was Dye, along with his wonderful promise. This is the same Dye who just was named the most valuable player of the World Series.
Oh, brother. What else would you expect for the choppers and the chanters whose October already was ruined by Braves officials long before Halloween? No way they should lose Leo Mazzone, only the greatest pitching coach in history. Yes, he’s going to the Baltimore Orioles to join manager Sam Perlozzo, his best friend. Yes, he is more than doubling the salary he had with the Braves. And, yes, according to Braves general manager John Schuerholz, he didn’t try to negotiate a new deal with Mazzone, because Schuerholz said Mazzone didn’t ask for one.
The thing is, whenever Mazzone spoke about the influence of Braves manager Bobby Cox on his life, his eyes thickened with moisture. He loved Cox, and he loved the Braves. If you’re running the Braves, you make Mazzone the strongest offer you can, and then you make him refuse it. The Braves didn’t do that.
Now Leo is gone, the White Sox are sitting on baseball’s throne, and Jermaine is wearing the crown.
Oh, well.
Permalink | Comments (62) | Categories: Terence Moore
Sorry Dogs, but Gators gotcha covered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
WEEKEND PREDICTIONS, COLLEGE DIVISION
As we prepare for this week’s big SEC quarterback showdown between Florida’s Chris Leak and Georgia’s Really Really Good Kid, it’s worth noting that Tommy Tuberville managed to make news this week without dissing slow whitey or coming out of the closet.
(Coming soon: ESPNStupid. Reserved for just such moments.)
Tuberville, apparently not realizing that the statute of limitations for bitterness over Auburn’s BCS snubbing has expired, this week said a USC-Texas Rose Bowl has been pre-determined because that’s what the media wants. He went on to rip ESPN, its “GameDay” show for exerting too much influence on things and Lou Holtz, who as it turns out is still alive. Sort of.
Let me just start by saying that, as agendas go, mine involve only the BCS and plutonium.
But I certainly can take this better than ESPN, whose primary mouthpiece, Dan Patrick, heard of Tuberville’s rantings, straightened his hair and actually said: “You’re biting the hand that feeds you.”
Please sir. Don’t hurt me.
May I have more porridge?
In other news, ESPN has taken over China, South America and parts of Farmington and plan to set up a new government in Patrick’s own private Idaho. You can read all about it in, “ESPN: The Magazine,” two pages after the Sheryl Swoopes I-am-loud-and-proud, especially-since-I-just-got-this-really-cool-cruiseline-endorsement interview.
So back to Georgia-Florida. It’s big. It’s so big, even “GameDay” is here. (Tuberville needs to time his material better.)
It’s all about timing. Last year, Georgia played Florida right after Ron Zook’s firing. The Dogs won for only the second time in 15 years. This year, the teams play right about the time Gator fans are wondering why Urban Meyer didn’t take the Notre Dame job. But I digress.
Actually, the timing stinks like yesterday’s “Cold Pizza.” Dogs quarterback D.J. Shockley is out, meaning Joe Tereshinski XXXVIII will make his first start. Last season, Tereshinski was the shadow behind David Greene and Shockley.
If the Dogs were Beatles, he was Ringo. Except now Ringo is singing lead, and how many times can you hear, “A Little Help From My Friends”?
The Gators haven’t been great but I read that Chris Leak has 17 touchdown passes against top 25 teams. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but it sounds better than anything I hear about Tereshinski.
A third-generation Bulldog. Great guy. Works hard. Gee, great. I’m having Little League flashbacks to, “Good cut!”
Georgia thinks it can win a low-scoring game. Yeah. 3-2. Florida is giving 5.
Hear me roar. Gators cover.
FAMILY VALUES MENU
Clemson at Tech: The Miami game last week was postponed, so the Jackets are still on a one-game winning streak. OK. Calm down. Now the Miami and Georgia games are stacked up at the end of the season, meaning Tech can’t afford to be Tech-like in three winnable games (Clemson, WakeUp, Virginia). So welcome to Chan Gailey vs. Tommy Bowden in Résumé Bowl I: Jackets win but take Clemson and 3.
South Carolina at Tennessee: Steve Spurrier’s minor tweak of Phil Fulmer stated the obvious: “Sometimes you think teams are loaded at all positions but they just don’t quite jell.” And just piling on here: the Peach Bowl will scout the game. Oh, Rockhead Top. Vowels win but take Poultry and 14.
Air Force at BYU: So after this game, does Fisher DeBerry complain, “We need more Mormons”? Flyboys go down again.
Club Rouge: In the next two weeks, LSU plays North Texas and Appalachian State. Add some sand and you have a resort. LSU has won two previous games against the “Mean Green,” 101-7. Hope they have an HMO. Tigers cover 44.
Utah State at Alabama: What is this, Dump the Chumps week? Utah State has given up 98 points in the last two games — and the opponents were Fresno State and Boise State. Still, 34 points? No. Bammy wins but take the flotsam and 34.
Wake Forest at Duke: Kidding.
Old Ms. at Auburn: And another thing. When you lose your opener to Tech, you lose all rights to complain. But Tigers cover 20.
Maryland at Florida State: Terps coach Ralph Friedgen said of the ACC race, “If you do the math, we’re not out of this thing.” Further evidence why one should never try to transition from HoHos to mushrooms. FSU covers 17.
SCORECARD
Straight up: 4-2 last week, 41-10 overall.
Against the line: 4-2 last week, 31-20 overall.
Picks left in scoring position: 6.
Permalink | Comments (105) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
Another reason to blame Selig
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
I’ve been doing this for a while now, but what happened Tuesday night (Wednesday morning, actually) was a first. An event ran so long that I didn’t have a paper to write for.
Game 3 of the World Series ended at 2:20 a.m. EDT. Our last print deadline was 1 a.m. Usually, no matter how late something goes, there’s always another edition coming up. (For the uninitiated, we have something called the 4-star, which goes around 10:30 p.m.; the 5-star, which goes around midnight, and finally the replate, which goes around 1 a.m.) Game 3 sailed past — well past — all of the above.
So there I sat, helpless and forlorn. I pride myself on being pretty deft on deadline — I might not be any good, but I’m fairly quick — but this time there was nothing to do. There’s no point writing a column that doesn’t reflect the outcome, and I’d already written what we in the trade call an “early” column. (Sometimes we call it a “plug,” because that’s what it does — it fills space until the real thing gets done.) The plug was about the roof at Minute Maid Park and how it should have been opened during Game 3 of the Braves’ Division Series but wasn’t, and that one stood up in all print editions.
Luckily, though, we now have the Web. Dave O’Brien and I wound up filing strictly for AJC.com that night/morning, which beat sitting around doing nothing. But, speaking only for myself, I’m still conditioned to print. I’m trained to Get Something In The Paper, and this time I couldn’t. And I felt really bad.
And then I did what I do when I’m feeling really bad about something: I blamed it all on Bud Selig.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
Dye casts winning fate for Sox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Houston — On the South Side of Chicago, there’s jubilation. On the North Side, there’s even more angst than usual. If they could bring themselves to watch Wednesday night’s Game 4, forlorn Cubs fans know now more than ever that the fates are arrayed against them.
Two years ago, the North Side Cubs lost an NLCS in large measure because a spectator — a lifelong Cubs rooter, of all people! — took a foul ball from Moises Alou’s grasp. On Wednesday night, the South Side White Sox won a World Series, their first since 1917, in large measure because shortstop Juan Uribe snatched a foul ball from the paws of an opposing crowd.
The Cubs fan’s anguished lament: “Where’s their Steve Bartman?”
And the Braves fan’s similar plaint: “Why’d we ever trade Jermaine Dye?”
The Braves keep losing in October because they can’t hit in October. A former Brave, wouldn’t you know, was the MVP of this World Series because he got the hit that got the Sox started — a homer off Roger Clemens in the first inning of Game 1 — and also the one that finished it. Dye’s simple single through the box drove home the only run of Game 4, the only run needed to subdue the beaten Astros, who’d given up the ghost in the elongated Game 3.
After three games won by Pale Hose homers, the clincher was a case study in Small Ball. It was scoreless after seven innings, Brandon Backe and Freddy Garcia having matched one another and overmatched both sets of hitters. Then Phil Garner, who had described his team’s Game 3 performance as “embarrassing,” pinch-hit for Backe with two out in the seventh. Jeff Bagwell, the Astro hero who is a shadow of his robust self, grounded out to end the inning, and now Garner turned to Brad Lidge.
It has been a frightful 10 days for the fearsome closer, who’s known as “Lights Out Lidge” in these parts. He surrendered game-losing homers to Albert Pujols and Scott Podsednik — hitters great and small — and now he couldn’t manage a clean inning with the season on the line.
Lidge was touched for a leadoff single by pinch-hitter Willie Harris, who’d had one postseason hit. Podsednik bunted Harris to second and, one out later, Dye sent a roller up the middle, the MVP-to-be clapping his hands as he ran to first base. “I wasn’t trying to do too much,” said Dye, who played for the Braves in the 1996 World Series but was traded to Kansas City in the Michael Tucker-Keith Lockhart deal the next spring. “I had a game plan.”
Too often the Braves lose because they simply hack away. Dye, who hit .438 in the Series, had a huge single off Roy Oswalt in the five-run rally that turned the interminable Game 3. Dye is a professional hitter, and professional hitters are at a premium come October.
The poor Astros, by way of contrast, came across as amateurish. They hit .203 in the Series, scoring one run and managing six hits in the last 19 innings. The Sox simply pitched around Lance Berkman, the one true Houston threat, and let the flailing Morgan Ensberg (.111) get himself out. It was a clinical performance by a clever team managed expertly by Ozzie Guillen, himself an erstwhile Brave.
“Fans in Chicago have showed so much patience,” Guillen said, “for what — 80 years?”
Eighty-eight, to be precise. A year after the Red Sox, who hadn’t won a title since 1918, broke through by sweeping the Cardinals, the White Sox, who hadn’t won it all since 1917, ended their drought by sweeping the Astros. From this we can only deduce: It’s a great time to be an American League team named after hosiery.
And it’s the worst possible time to be a Cubs fan.
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Vick can’t outrun expectations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Two things rush through your mind whenever Michael Vick sprints toward glory after he drops into the pocket and then slips, ducks and twists away from a couple of big guys trying to knock his head off. The first thing is, those big guys really might knock his head off. The second thing is, haven’t we seen this before from a magician disguised as a quarterback?
These Vick moments are becoming wonderfully monotonous for the Falcons, but they are leading to an unfair question from the upper deck of our microwave society: What’s next?
Come on, Michael, do something even wilder. We’ve already seen you outrun the entire defense of the Minnesota Vikings in overtime for 30, 40, nearly 50 yards. We’ve already seen you tumble head over heels in pursuit of a pylon. We’ve already seen you blow through a bunch of Carolina Panthers to score in the clutch. We’ve already seen you destroy the New York Jets with your legs last Monday night with a couple of impressive touchdown runs.
So, Michael, can you truly make our hearts leap from our chests by doing a triple flip while touching the roof of the Georgia Dome with your Nike Zoom III’s along the way to avoiding a sack?
In other words, Vick is resembling Dominique Wilkins by becoming too spectacular for his own good. We’re spoiled, folks, and it began with Wilkins, when he was somewhere near the zenith of his role as the Human Highlight Film. He’d do the unthinkable, but polite applause would replace hearty roars.
Been there, seen that.
Such was the thought of those who had spent forever watching Wilkins function as the Hawks’ prolific leaper of the 1980s and early 1990s. Not only that, the thought was something like, OK, when is ‘Nique really going to thrill us again by jumping high enough to do a quadruple flip while smacking the roof of the arena with his sneakers and descending into a slam?
Actually, we had Herschel moments before those of Dominique. It’s just that Walker didn’t stay at the University of Georgia long enough to reach Wilkins territory. If Walker had, he would have made folks get so antsy for the unrealistic that they would have expected their miracle runner to go from blasting Bill Bates to reaching somebody’s end zone by dragging 11 defenders on his back on a dash from midfield.
Let’s face it. We’re definitely spoiled. We get it regarding our ridiculously high expectations, but we really don’t get it. That’s because we’ve spent the last quarter of a century around Atlanta witnessing a rare sampling of mortals performing a slew of immortal feats, and we’ve done so on a consistent basis. Which is the problem. Which also brings us back to our current version of Herschel and Dominique: No. 7. You can blame this on the inability of those watching Vick’s dramatics to understand the magnitude of it all. In fact, we are becoming immune to it all, but only in the short run.
As for the long run, we’ll look back at Vick’s collective zips and zaps when he encounters a defender, and we’ll release a mighty, “Wow.” You know, just as we did for Dominique and Herschel, and just as we’ll do for Andruw.
That’s Andruw, as in Andruw Jones, the Braves center fielder with the magic glove. He is another who has turned the incredible into the routine. Over and over again, the scenario has gone something like this during Braves games for the past nine years: You see a shot drilled toward the gap in either left-center or right-center field. You see Jones reacting faster than a millisecond. You try to stifle a yawn as he dives to make the catch just above the tip of the grass.
Jones will vary his dance with the magnificent on occasion. One moment, he’ll climb a wall for an out. The next, he’ll make an impossible throw. It doesn’t much matter to those who always want more. Until Jones proves he can rise high enough to, oh, say, do a quintuple flip by smacking the sky with his cleats before making a sliding catch, we won’t be overwhelmed by much of anything else that he does.
Then again, such a thought is overwhelming enough.
Permalink | Comments (105) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Braves stocked with pitching coaches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: No reflection on the departing (sob) Leo Mazzone, but there must be some pretty good pitching coaching going on in the farm system before these fuzzy-cheeked pitchers move right in with the Braves, and perform like veterans. Mike Alvarez at Richmond, Kent Willis at Mississippi, Bruce Dal Canton, seven seasons at Myrtle Beach, and Jim Czajkowski at Rome are the parties in mind… . Did you realize that George Bush ran the Texas Rangers when Sammy Sosa and Jose Canseco, two sluggers under steroid suspicion, passed through?… . And whatever became of “Bye-Bye” Balboni?
— Michael Young has found the way to become the unknown soldier of baseball. Who’s Michael Young? He’s the Texas Rangers shortstop who led the American League in hitting. Not Rodriguez, nor Jeter, nor Ramirez, but Michael Young, who comes to work daily toting his lunchpail.
— It must be said, that I have never seen worse umpiring in the major leagues than in this postseason, in both leagues. Aren’t these guys supposed to be the cream of the crop? If so, the cream has soured. (And as a puzzled reminder, after Don Denkinger blew the call that eventually cost the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series against Kansas City, he still spent 13 more seasons in the major leagues.) Let’s hear it for mediocrity.
— Come Nov. 11, the Montreal Canadiens will retire Boom Boom Geoffrion’s sweater and No. ll with a big blowout in The Forum. And though this is somewhat belated, the tireless scout Marty Blake was awarded the 2005 Bunn Lifetime Achievement in a Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony.
— Hey, wonder how the “Ragin’ Cajuns” of Lousiana-Lafayette failed to come under the fire of the holier-than-thou NCAA and its campaign to clean up all its members’ nicknames. First place, it wouldn’t dare stir up those Cajuns, and in the second place, they rage on and are happy for everybody to know it.
— Don’t know if you remember a Falcons linebacker named Lyman White — I didn’t. The former LSU Tiger has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for theft of $1.3 million from a Medicaid fund in Louisiana. Played here in 1981-82.
— While there was nothing official about Tiger Woods’ cut-less “streak,” those who dote on such records have conveniently sloughed off his defeats in the World Match Play Championships, by Peter O’Malley, Kevin Sutherland, and this year by Nick O’Hern. Both the Aussies O’Malley and O’Hern took him out in the first round.
— Cincinnati writer Bucky Albers, on the Torrance and Devlin golf courses at St. Andrews Bay: “Both should mature into modern classic Scottish links,” which should please developer Don Panoz.
— Russell Baze rarely takes his tack east of the Mississippi, but the California jockey this year became only the second in history to ride 9,000-plus winners, most of them on the West Coast. Lafitte Pincay Jr. is the other.
— There are more Cabreras and Matsuis in major league baseball than Smiths.
— Broadcaster David Feherty, on why he switched from playing golf to talking about it: “If you’re a lunatic, golf can be a good thing to do.”
— Arnold Palmer on Jack Nicklaus and retirement: “Jack did leave the door open. He’s allowing himself a little room, if he decides to play again. It’s just a matter of priorities.”
— Name of the Week: Hope Edge, how fitting for a coach, which she is, of the women’s golf team at Wake Forest.
— Now they’re getting somewhere. The National Football Foundation has created an academic Heisman, to be named the Draddy Trophy, and will make the first award this season.
—You wonder what befell the Yankees this season? Well, one day I noticed a pitching line that includes the names Wang, Quantrill and Groom. Where’d Brian Cashman come up with these guys, out of the Yellow Pages?
— Now if the Georgia Dome is recognized in some quarters as the prize among indoor facilities in the NFL, just where does Arthur Blank aim to direct his $150-million in “enhancements?”
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Other
Alas, nobody cares about the White Sox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
If a tree falls in the woods, and if nobody is there to hear it …
You know the rest. That saying is about the 2005 Chicago White Sox. Well, not really, but stay with me a moment.
As a native Midwesterner who once lived in Chicago, I can tell you something else that you already know: The Cubs are that city’s baseball team of choice. The White Sox are just a necessary nuisance for those who aren’t from the South Side.
Nobody cared about the White Sox when they embarrassed themselves with that exploding scoreboard. Nobody cared about the White Sox when they had that infamous Disco Night. Nobody cared about the White Sox when, among their slew of ridiculous uniform changes, they switched to short pants. Nobody cared about the White Sox when Harry Caray was their silly announcer (you know, before he became the Cubs’ sainted announcer). Nobody cared about the White Sox when they did the bizarre by going with an artificial surface in the infield and natural grass in the outfield.
So here’s the question: Since the White Sox are about to snatch a World Series title for the first time since World War I, and since nobody even in Chicago (well, outside of that South Side) is going to care beyond a yawn, does that mean the 2004 Boston Red Sox are still world champions?
Just wondering.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
Roof fell in on Atlanta, not Chicago
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Houston - This just in: The Braves were cheated.
Cheated by a roof that wasn’t retracted when it should have been.
The World Series reconvened here Tuesday and, this being baseball, it conjured up a tempest. The Astros wanted the roof closed at Minute Maid Park because they believe a closed roof amplifies the noise and discombobulates the visiting team. Major League Baseball stepped in and ordered it opened. The Astros weren’t pleased, and the Braves surely won’t be, either.
The question arose: Why should the roof have been open for this Game 3 when it was closed for the first five playoff games staged at Minute Maid this month? Said Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB’s vice president of operations: “Because the temperature was over 80 degrees in the Division Series and Championship Series. The only time it wasn’t was the first game of the Division Series, when it was in the high 70’s, and the team had [the roof] closed and we reacted too late.”
That would have been Game 3 against the Braves, which the Astros won routinely. Too bad it wasn’t the epic 18-inning Game 4, which was decided by three dinky Houston home runs that, at least theoretically, might have traveled further in a hothouse than in the open air. Then the Braves could have filed a protest and, given the arbitrary way decisions have gone this October, they might still be playing.
But leave it to Major League Baseball to have created an unequal playing field, if only for a game, in its postseason tournament. And then, with the World Series about to be played in Texas for the first time ever, to have created a tangential talking point. “From now until you actually play the game, this is the story,” said Tal Smith, this Astros’ president.
Flouting the open roof and their two-game deficit, the Astros stormed to a 4-0 lead Tuesday. (The fourth run came on another of those goofy above-the-yellow-line homers, this by Jason Lane.) Then the White Sox stung Roy Oswalt, who had yielded only five runs in his first 25 1/3 postseason innings, with five in the fifth, and suddenly Houstonians were praying for a closed roof or a passing downpour or something equally providential.
Chicago’s rally began with a home run by Joe Crede, who has turned into Brooks Robinson this October, and was finished by A.J. Pierzynski, who has become the Zelig of baseball. Wherever there’s a key moment, Pierzynski is standing there grinning. This time he doubled over the head of center fielder Willy Taveras to score two runs, and now the Astros were not only miffed at MLB but also at the Pale Hose, who seem never to stay dead.
There the game lingered, the Sox ahead by a skinny run that looked fatter with every Astro out. Houston had managed seven hits in the first four innings; it didn’t muster another until Lane doubled down the left-field line to tie the game with two out in the eighth. By then both managers were changing pitchers with almost every batter, Ozzie Guillen needing three to get through the eighth, Phil Garner deploying three in the ninth.
The Astros should have ended it in the ninth. Chris Burke, whose home run into the Crawford Boxes sent the Braves packing, drew a walk from Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez. Burke took second on a wild pickoff and then had the unmitigated gall to steal third. A fly ball would have done for Houston what Scott Podsednik’s walkoff homer for the White Sox in Game 2, but Taveras struck out. With Houston needing a hit now, Hernandez walked Lance Berkman to load the bases and then whiffed Morgan Ensberg to send the game to extras.
And there it crept along, serving up yet another blow to Major League Baseball. The longest game in World Series history ended at 1:20 a.m. Central Daylight Time; ended after five hours and 41 minutes of not-very-stimulating baseball; ended after Chicago’s Geoff Blum, inserted to play second base on a double switch in the bottom of the 13th, hit a homer off Ezequiel Astacio with two out in the 14th; ended when Mark Buehrle, who started Game 2 for the Sox, retired Adam Everett to put this one mercifully to bed.
The Astros began the night fretting about the roof. Much later, they ended it down 3-nil in a World Series that could end before midnight Wednesday. They ended it having managed one hit in the last 10 innings, having been undone by Blum, once an Astro himself. In the entire history of sports, a team might have had a worse night. Then again, it might not.
Permalink | Comments (61) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Dogs still grasping to make their case
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Athens — The fact that one injury has swung Georgia from a certain favorite to five-point underdogs against Florida this week screams at least two perceptions of the Bulldogs:
1) They’re not overpowering on offense or defense, or even terribly resilient.
2) Vito the Bookie is not moved by Joe Tereshinski’s lineage or the fact he has been really, really good as punter protector.
But in a strange way, the knee injury that will keep D.J. Shockley out of Saturday’s game against the Gators could be the best thing that ever happened to the Dogs.
Assuming they win.
“Quite frankly, we’ve gotten more attention this week nationally than we have all year, just because D.J. is hurt,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Tuesday, moments after his weekly news conference. “It’s gonna be big, just because [ESPN’s] GameDay is there.
“I’m sure if we win without D.J., people will be [more impressed]. But I don’t want it to seem like I’m really thinking about all that stuff. I hate to even be quoted on the national picture because I don’t care much about it right now.”
Actually, it goes without saying that the coach of a 7-0 college football team can’t help but think about rankings because, like, duh.
Georgia is unbeaten but ranked only fourth, and the reality is that the team is in no position to complain. In general, the Dogs have won without wowing. Their best win came at Tennessee. That may have been impressive at the time, but it’s now late October and the aforementioned best win came over a team that currently sits at 3-3 (2-3 in conference).
In short, Georgia lacks something that Auburn had a year ago: an argument. Auburn was better last season than any SEC team is this year. The conference is down. Last year the Tigers went 13-0 with a tougher schedule. They smacked Georgia after Georgia smacked LSU, dumped Tennessee twice (at Knoxville and in the SEC title game) and beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.
When Auburn was held out of the BCS’ national championship game, it had an argument.
Shockley’s injury presumably dents Georgia’s chances for a win in Jacksonville. But it also presents an opportunity for an argument that otherwise wouldn’t be there. The Bulldogs would have been favored over Florida with Shockley, and a win, therefore, would not have had the same impact. But defeating the Gators with Joe I, Joe II or Joe III at quarterback is one in the plus column.
Standing alone, beating Florida with a backup quarterback making his first start would not be enough to launch Georgia over Southern Cal, Texas or Virginia Tech in the rankings. But if any of those three lose — and the bet is, one will — or even stumble in a win, the debate suddenly grows hair.
“I think it would shock the country if we win this week,” defensive tackle Ray Gant said. “Maybe then, people would finally realize that there’s more to our team than a great quarterback.”
Funny how quickly perceptions change. Last year, some wondered if Shockley could ably fill in for David Greene. This year, he has yet to lose a start and the belief suddenly is that the Dogs can’t win without him.
“It’s people who don’t know anything about football,” Gant said when asked about the swing in the pointspread. “When one star player goes down, people just start talking. I actually think that’s real funny. We lost David Pollack, too, and now we’re 7-0 — I’m sure a lot of people didn’t think that could happen. It’s fun to prove people wrong when they doubt you.”
Richt was completely honest this week about his starting quarterback being too injured to play. That could get him thrown out of the coaching fraternity. At the least, it disqualifies him from ever coaching in the NFL.
But he made up for it by building up the Gators as Godzilla, gushing about Florida’s defensive rankings, turnover ratio and, my personal favorite: “Chris Leak has never thrown an interception against Georgia.” It almost made you forget Georgia won last year’s meeting for only the second time in 15 years.
Lose this week and few outside of Athens would be surprised.
Win and everybody outside of Athens will take notice.
Sometimes, negative perceptions aren’t a bad thing.
Permalink | Comments (82) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, UGA / SEC
Tuesday Countdown: Selig hits the roof
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: Four hours before the first pitch, Major League baseball ordered the Houston Astros to open the roof for Game 3 of the World Series. No word on whether commissioner Bud Selig also will approve or veto roster moves in spring training next season.
9: And if you were the commissioner of baseball, wouldn’t opening the roof be the highest priority for you — especially in the wake of this likely going down as the lowest-rated World Series in history?
8: The man is one clear-thinking, rational thought short of being a sock pocket.
7: For the record, Dick Cheney first leaked the news about the Astros’ stadium roof. But he blamed it on the New York Times.
6: News: Rocky Balboa makes a comeback at 59. Comment: Great. Now we’ll never get rid of Evander Holyfield (only 43).
5: Bud Selig just announced that Rocky VI is on hold.
4: One sportsbook lists the Hawks’ over-under at 21.5 wins. Well, so much for that feel-good roster makeover.
3: Flaws notwithstanding, the fact that the Falcons are 5-2 after a difficult part of the schedule is impressive. But we’ll know more about the NFC’s pecking order after the bye, when they have four games against Tampa Bay and Carolina.
2: I’m not saying this just because the national bashing of Michael Vick was ratcheted up after Monday night. But quarterback efficiency rating might be the most worthless NFL stat since time of possession.
1: Bud Selig has scheduled a 2 p.m. press conference for Thursday, during which Michael Vick’s efficiency rating and mandates on what Americans should eat for breakfast will be addressed.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
Flaws and all, Falcons keep winning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Whether or not the Falcons finally have solved all of their ugly flaws despite a pretty start when it comes to wins and losses still isn’t known. I mean, they just spent their Monday night inside the Georgia Dome hammering the New York Jets.
Whatever that means.
No way the Falcons should lose to the New York Jets. No way anybody should lose to this crippled and wretched bunch. No way any game involving the Jets should end without their opponent thinking about how to celebrate an inevitable victory soon after the ancient Vinny Testaverde does something to show that he should return to his couch and chips on Long Island.
So it was in this one, with the Falcons threatening early and often to do exactly what they needed to before their typically wired home gathering and a national television audience. They needed to smack away what little youth was left in Testaverde’s 41-year-old bones, and they did so enough for a 20-0 lead. They had enough momentum to eventually move their record to 5-2 with a 27-14 blowout.
The thing is, given the ineptness of Vinny and his teammates, that initial lead and that final score should have been more lopsided. Did I mention something about flaws for the Falcons? Yep. Among the biggest is that the Falcons haven’t a clue in the passing game. And, in case you didn’t know before, Dez White never was the problem. He was just a symptom, especially since he wasn’t in uniform after his demotion this week. The Falcons’ other wide receivers proved they could drop passes as easily as White. When Michael Vick found Michael Jenkins with a pass midway through the third quarter, it was only the second catch by a Falcons wide receiver.
Not good. Not if the Falcons expect to beat a real NFL team someday. Vick destroyed the Jets with his always magnificent legs, but his arm did little.
It was this bad: The bumbling, stumbling Testaverde finished with an absolutely brutal passer rating of 62.3. Even so, that was 46 points higher than his Falcons’ counterpart who only was in the first grade when Testaverde made his NFL debut. Vick threw three interceptions. Is it the receivers? The play-calling? The offensive line? Is it Vick? Likely, it’s a combination of everything. Whatever it is, the Falcons must find the answer.
“I don’t know if we can win too many more games throwing the ball for how many yards we threw it for,� said Falcons wide receiver Brian Finneran, referring to his team’s 105 passing yards. He started for White and caught zero passes. “I really don’t know what it is. Every game, something happens. We’ve got open guys. Sometimes there is pressure. Missed throws. Dropped balls. We’ve got to rectify it shortly.�
As for those flaws on defense, well, we’ll have to wait. How can you tell whether your defense finally can stop the run when the other guys’ quarterback can’t even handle a snap from center? Testaverde also was pounded into two fumbles that led to Falcons scores, and he threw the silliest of interceptions.
This also was a Jets team that had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown called back after a penalty. Then there was horrible time management by Jets coach Herman Edwards near the end of the first half that cost his team momentum.
The bottom line for the Falcons is the bottom line, though. They won, and they did so on a Monday night after entering the season having lost 11 of 12 such outings previously.
But they started this season with a Monday night victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Now you have this one. Falcons general manager Rich McKay said he could see these prime-time victories for the Falcons coming during the preseason, when they survived the Indianapolis Colts and a trip to Tokyo. “I thought our players and coaches did a great job of handling all of the difficult things associated with that,� McKay said, referring to everything from the long plane ride to the disruption of their training camp in Flowery Branch. “Now, after that [Tokyo trip], when you start adding Monday night games and the Thanksgiving Day game, where you might have only one practice, there is more of that to overcome. In our case, all of this is really new.�
It also can get really old, but only if you’re in prime time, and you lose. The Falcons haven’t had that problem.
Despite those flaws.
Permalink | Comments (104) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Towering homers keep Sox believin’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
They’re supposed to be the purveyors of Little Ball, but they won Game 2 with two Big Bangs. They were being lampooned as the biggest chokers in baseball history, and now they stand two games from being champions. They’re the Chicago White Sox and, in case you haven’t been paying attention, they’re a remarkably resilient bunch. Their theme song is Journey’s hoary “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and the Sox haven’t and don’t.
They won the ALCS on the momentum built from a strikeout with nobody aboard and two out in the bottom of the ninth. We’ve all seen the A.J. Pierzynski-Josh Paul-Doug Ed- dings third strike a thousand times now, and Game 2 of the World Series offered another installment of Stump The Ump. Jermaine Dye, once a Brave, faced a full count with two out and two on in the seventh, his team two runs in arrears. Dye started to swing at Dan Wheeler’s inside pitch and then tried to hold up. And then plate umpire Jeff Nelson pointed toward first.
Dye hadn’t swung and missed, Nelson ruled. Wheeler’s pitch had brushed Dye’s forearm, or some such body part. Replays indicated the ball had actually struck Dye’s bat. This being baseball, replay is used only for dramatic television effect, not to overturn erring arbiters. Pierzynski was allowed to take first in the ALCS, and that play changed the series. On this nasty night Dye took his base, and a World Series might have turned on the next pitch.
Chad Qualls relieved Wheeler. His first delivery came in high and was driven out low and fast. Paul Konerko, the biggest slugger among Chisox, sent a liner screaming through the rain and chill over the left-field fence. Never let it be said that the White Sox don’t know how to seize a gift. Or a moment.
Even a moment they nearly let slip away. Bobby Jenks, the hefty reliever who had overwhelmed the Astros one night earlier, came on to work the ninth and wound up being himself overwhelmed by Jeff Bagwell, who had struck out against Jenks in Game 1, and by Jose Vizcaino, the professional hitter who had, in the 2000 Subway Series, won Game 1 for the Yankees in extra innings.
With two out and two runners in scoring position, Vizcaino drove Jenks’ first pitch into left field. Braves-killer Chris Burke scored the tying run by sliding around Pierzynski’s tag, Scott Posednik having made a terrific throw from left field. We would hear more from Mr. Posednik, more very soon.
Brad Lidge, who was foiled by Albert Pujols six days before, was summoned to protect the tie in the bottom of the ninth. He retired Jose Uribe on a deep fly ball. Then Posednik, 0-for-4 on the night and homer-less in the regular season, launched an even deeper drive to right-center, the missile clearing the fence and ending the game and sending the Series to Houston on a rousing note. It could well end there.
“That’s when you know stuff is going your way,” said Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox manager, speaking of Posednik’s homer.
Phil Garner had expressed the same sentiment 10 minutes earlier, saying, “Even when they break a bat, they move the runner over.”
And yes, the Astros have Roy Oswalt going for them in Game 3, but that’s about all they have working right now.
And to think: Not quite a month ago, the White Sox were being ripped for having squandered 13 1/2 of a 15-game lead against onrushing Cleveland. They’ve since won 14 of 15 games, and they’re halfway to their first World Series title since 1917. This is the Windy City, and the wind is definitely at the back of the Sox.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Loyalty is admirable, but Astros can’t afford it
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Chicago — Phil Garner listened to his heart. Maybe next time he’ll take heed of his head.
Phil Garner manages the Astros. Jeff Bagwell is among the noblest of Astros, a pillar of both team and community. Jeff Bagwell had shoulder surgery earlier this season and isn’t close to being himself. The Astros admit as much. They don’t even consider letting him play the field. But this being the World Series and Game 1 being in an American League park, the National League champs found themselves in the unaccustomed position of having a designated hitter.
And Phil Garner found himself in a pickle.
Sentiment held — nay, screamed — that Bagwell had to be the DH. He’d given too much to the franchise, and finally the Astros, after 43 years of flailing, had reached a Fall Classic. Baggie, as he’s known, deserved this moment. Garner, it was written in The Houston Chronicle, had to give it to him.
Garner gave it to him.
And the Astros lost.
And their last good chance died when Bagwell struck out with the tying run at third.
“I shouldn’t say [it was] purely a baseball decision because there’s no question there’s some sentimentality in here,” Garner said before Game 1. “You guys have heard me say all along that this organization is what it is because of what Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio have been. They’ve been there a decade and a half. The reason our fan base is so big is because of what they brought to the organization… . So there’s a lot of other reasons to have him be a DH, but the overriding reason is that he’s a good player. And if the game is on the line, I’d just as soon have Jeff Bagwell up there tonight as anybody.”
Top of the eighth, two out, Astros on the corners. Morgan Ensberg and Mike Lamb had just struck out against the lefthander Neal Cotts. (And why, with Braves-killer Chris Burke at his disposal, did Garner not deploy him for the lefty-swinging Lamb?) And now Ozzie Guillen summoned Bobby Jenks, the mammoth reliever with the mighty fastball, to face Bagwell. And the confrontation ended not as sentimentality would have preferred, sentiment being no match for a 100 mph heater.
Jenks threw six pitches to Bagwell. The slowest was clocked at 98 mph. Three topped triple digits on the ol’ radar gun. Bagwell gave it a go, fouling off two pitches, but in the end the flesh was simply too slow. Jenks struck out the eminent Astro, and the White Sox took the lead in a World Series that figures to be a hairbreadth thing.
“That’d be a good challenge for all of us,” said Garner, speaking of Bagwell vs. Jenks. “Nobody hit Jenks. I thought [Bagwell] swung the bat pretty well tonight.”
Garner hasn’t said what he’ll do for a DH against the lefthander Mark Buehrle in Game 2 Sunday night: “We’ll wait to do that.” But sentiment can’t override common sense. Bagwell did drive in a run as a pinch hitter against the Braves in Game 1 of the division series, but he hasn’t had a postseason hit since. He had only one at-bat in the NLCS, and nothing he did Saturday lobbied for an increased workload. He was 0-for-2, twice being plunked by Jose Contreras. He didn’t look like the Bagwell of old. He looked like an old Bagwell.
“He doesn’t have the power he had,” Garner had said before the game. “But he can still put the bat on the ball. He can still give you good at-bats, and that’s what I saw the month of September and during the playoffs. He probably won’t hit any home runs, but he’s not going to have to. He’s going to be in situations where he can put the ball in play and help us win a ballgame.”
Jeff Bagwell had his chance in Game 1. He couldn’t put the ball in play. Maybe his team would have lost no matter who its DH was. And maybe his team will have a different DH come Game 2.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Thrashers wake up from nightmare
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Several words came to mind when this Thrashers’ roster was put together this summer, and none of them were the following: Uninspired, underachieving, lazy, lousy, defenseless, powerless, dirty and cheap.
Several words came to mind after a 2-5 start. See above.
They lost at home to Toronto, 9-1. They were shutout three times in five losses. Over four straight defeats that followed the signing of Ilya Kovalchuk, they had as many players suspended for various acts of thuggery (two) as they had goals. (The opponents had 22. Goals, not suspensions.) The power play, expected to be the league’s best, went 0-for-25.
On Thursday, the Thrashers lost at home to Tampa Bay, 6-0. This was what Don Waddell said early Saturday: “That loss was the hardest loss I’ve suffered as a general manager. I wasn’t happy how we lost that game. You can talk about goaltending all you want, but we also have to help him. We have to score some goals. Once we got down a goal or two, we packed it in.”
Quitters.
Sorry. Forget that word.
Two nights after the Tampa Bay game and the day after coach Bob Hartley tried something completely different — an 8 a.m. practice the morning after a night game — the Thrashers did something as improbable as looking so comatose with such a skilled roster.
They beat New Jersey, 4-3. They did it by falling behind, 3-1, then scoring three straight goals off of the Devils’ perennial All-Star goalie, Martin Brodeur — who was outplayed by a kid making his second NHL start, Adam Berkhoel.
This was Waddell after the game: “It’s like we just won the Stanley Cup.”
The Thrashers have had losing streaks before. But they have never had losing streaks in a season with such a talented roster that is accompanied by such high expectations. There is losing, and then there is getting smacked.
Before Kovalchuk played his first game, the Thrashers were 2-1 and coming off consecutive wins over Washington by a combined score of 15-2. The fact they couldn’t keep a goalie together with duct tape almost seemed a relative afterthought.
“We lose our two goalies and Kovie comes in, you think that might be a fair trade,” coach Bob Hartley said. “We just lost our game. You lose a game or two, then you start pressing. You start asking tons of questions instead of just playing the game.”
Said Marc Savard, who scored the tying goal Saturday, “These last four games have been the worst time in my life. It seemed like we had nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing.”
You don’t learn about a team during routs of the Capitals. You learn about it during losing streaks. Good teams work through problems, and Thrashers weren’t doing that. They were, in another word, pathetic. Even Bobby Holik, the veteran center signed largely to lead the team through times like this, looked invisible.
Worse, a veteran-laden team had shown no composure, no discipline. The final minutes of blowout losses had deteriorated into a string of brawls, elbows and high sticks. Two players, Andy Sutton and Eric Boulton, were suspended. Two opposing coaches had basically referred to the Thrashers as cheapshot artists and/or cowards. Toronto’s GM even crashed Hartley’s post-game interview.
The breakfast with Bob practice seemed to get everybody’s attention. “Bob made us realize our hockey life is pretty simple,” said Ronald Petrovicky, who scored twice in the third. “We have to win. He tried to make us think about what we’re doing and how fortunate we are to play this game.”
Still, there was Saturday’s goaltending matchup. The Thrashers had Berkhoel, whose primary qualification was that he had a healthy groin. It’s not a good sign when the head coach gets all of his goalies together two weeks into the season, asks who’s healthy and only one guy can raise his hand. Or leg.
The Devils had a three-time Stanley Cup-winner, two-time Vezina Trophy winner and eight-time All-Star. The Thrashers had somebody who won in their professional debut last season — against Augusta in the East Coast league.
“Yeah, this was just a little bit bigger,” he said later, laughing.
They’re still only 3-5. But at least a few adjectives are on hold.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Reserves do the job for Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Athens — Georgia played Arkansas Saturday afternoon in Sanford Stadium, and you never saw a more beautiful day for a football game. I mean, a day that sparkled under the sun, the kind of day meant for football in the South. Georgia was supposed to win the game, and Georgia won, but not the way most of these 92,746 woofers expected the Bulldogs to win.
When your rank in the nation is No. 4, and you’re playing a team below the radar, your constituents expect you to win in a style that brings them comfort and joy. This one didn’t. Not one Bulldog in the house breathed a relaxed breath until Joe Tereshinski III took a knee and the final second ticked off the clock.
Joe Tereshinski III, did you say? Are you confused, you ask? Where was D.J. Shockley and why wasn’t he taking the knee? This Tereshinski III, this is not golf. Football players don’t have sticks after their name, those are for Love and Armour and Howell, the country clubbing golf class. Or maybe some quarterback at Princeton or Harvard.
Well, it’s this way, and if you’re a Bulldog, brace yourself:
Shockley came down injured in the second quarter. He was trying to break away from a Razorback rush and came down in a heap. Didn’t look too bad at first, was able to walk off the field, but then was escorted to the locker room, then later reappeared on the bench wearing a gray T-shirt with “Finish The Drill” on the back. He was, indeed, finished.
That brought on Tereshinski, a junior with a mystical name in Georgia football. His daddy played here and his granddaddy, and both were stars. Joe didn’t expect to play much this year, backing up Shockley, who was finally making himself at home at quarterback, and looking better each week.
Nobody can be sure how long Shockley will be out, or if he will be back at all. But truth to tell, without D.J. Shockley, Georgia is not a No. 4 team in this nation. It was a struggle winning this game by the skin of its teeth, 23-20, when those mysterious people who set odds had projected Arkansas to lose by anywhere from 19 to 21 points.
This old codger isn’t so sure Georgia would have won much more convincingly even with Shockley in the saddle. This Arkansas team has a future, and if you haven’t heard the name Darren McFadden before, file it away. This kid is just a freshman from across the river in North Little Rock, and he can cover 40 yards in 4.3 seconds. He almost took charge of this game by himself. He scored on one run of 70 yards, and in the shadow of the evening, it was shown that he gained more yards (190) than all the Georgia running backs combined, and just 27 yards less than the whole Georgia team. The Razorbacks are young, just out of the cradle, and down the road, give Houston Nutt a passing threat and they’ll make many an afternoon uncomfortable for their SEC brethren.
Chances are, we’ll be seeing more of Tereshinski in the coming weeks. This was his first test in such a crucible situation, and the junior was not without his golden moments. On his third play, he lobbed a perfect pass that Mohamed Massaquoi reeled in at the 1-yard line, and that set up Georgia’s second touchdown. And later, he connected with Sean Bailey for 43 yards.
He had his lapses, but remember, this was a guy pitching his first big-time game. It was, in the long run, the vigilant defense and the special teams that saw this Georgia bunch through the gathering crises, lesser lights pitching in, as in the case of senior Mike Gilliam, rarely heard from, who recovered a fumbled punt that set up the field goal that would make the final difference.
“Oh, we could lose this game,” the old gamester Larry Munson had groaned before kickoff. “We could get beat today, I’m telling you. Our defense is full of holes, three of our best in the middle of the line are out. I don’t like the looks of this at all.”
Turns out, his old broadcast growl wasn’t crying wolf. But in the end, it was those who stood in for the wounded who filled the gap and saved the game.
Permalink | Comments (42) | Categories: Furman Bisher, UGA / SEC
‘Sub Rosa Series’ could be compelling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
CHICAGO — Remember the Subway Series? This is the Sub Rosa Series.
For those without a Funk and Wagnall’s handy, “sub rosa” is a Latin phrase that means “in secret,” a definition that surely fits this Fall Classic. The White Sox are the No. 2 team by some distance in what used to be known as the Second City. The Houston Astros are the baseball pride of a state famous for its football.
Some World Series pairings — Dodgers-Yankees, for example, or even Red Sox-Cardinals — occupy whole shelves of baseball lore. The 2005 installment is the ultimate blank slate. The Astros haven’t been here before. The White Sox haven’t been since 1959, haven’t won since 1917. The Red Sox and Cubs became nationwide darlings because of their long histories of futility and curses and whatnot, but the White Sox can’t even lay claim to being cuddly. The White Sox, also known as the Pale Hose, are essentially beige.
Said the cab driver carrying a visiting correspondent to U.S. Cellular Field, the impersonal home of the South Side Sox: “I’m a Cubs’ fan… . Being here just isn’t like being on the North Side.”
The White Sox feel the same way about the Cubs that the school on Atlanta’s North Avenue feels about Georgia’s state university. The White Sox believe the Cubs are the favorites not just of the populace but also of the local press. (The Cubs and the Chicago Tribune, as it happens, are owned by the same conglomerate.) As Paul Konerko, the best everyday player among the White Sox, told the assembled media Friday: “I always look at it as a positive because we get to play in a big-time sports city, but there’s a lot of stuff those Cubs’ players have to deal with that we don’t… . We kind of fly under the radar.”
Statistical evidence: The Cubs won 20 fewer games than the White Sox this season but averaged roughly 10,000 more paying customers a game. Konerko again: “As long as Wrigley [Field] is up and running, it’s going to be a Cubs’ town. They’re going to draw the sell-out crowds whether they’re in last place or whatever.”
When Paul Konerko is the biggest name on the favored team, you have the makings of a faceless World Series. The biggest name here is Roger Clemens, who’ll start Game 1 against Jose Contreras Saturday, but Clemens has pitched in so many of these that he’s beginning to seem not just old but old hat. Indeed, the guy who figures to be the breakout star of this Series won’t swing a bat or throw a pitch. Ozzie Guillen, who served as a utility Brave in 1997 and 1998, manages the White Sox and is beloved by the media both in this country and in his native Venezuela. His briefings this postseason have been rather more entertaining than a Harriet Miers Q&A.
This from Friday’s session: “I’m different between being on the field and being in the house. On the field you see me talking to everybody. When I get home I don’t want to say anything — I’m just tired.”
Then, asked if he’ll make good on his preseason promise to retire as manager and run for mayor if the White Sox win the Series: “The main thing to me is winning here, and [then] I will make up my mind. But I don’t know if I can handle my family for the rest of my life without baseball. I’m already tired seeing them, and we had three days off [after the ALCS]. It’s not fun.”
Against the odds, this Series could wind up being tons of fun. Yes, it will draw terrible TV ratings — no Yankees, no Red Sox, no viewers — but the baseball figures to be compelling. Both teams can really pitch. Ozzie Guillen can really talk. Both teams play the game the right way. This might be the Sub Rosa Series, but it shouldn’t be substandard in any way.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Weekend Predictions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
We here at Weekend Predictions Inc., NFL Sunday and Lingerie Division, understand how your spirits might be down ever since learning recently that Atlanta failed again to win a Super Bowl bid.
But take comfort, because we still hold strong influence in the league in at least one area: Strippers!
Yes, it’s true. The investigation into the Minnesota Vikings’ Lust Boat cruise has revealed that strippers were flown in from three cities, including Atlanta, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
It’s not known how this information will be taken by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who seems to prefer all extra-curricular activities somehow be channeled through businesses in warm-weather climates, specifically Miami and Tampa. But it would explain Friday’s announcement by the Atlanta Sports Council that all future Super Bowl bids will be handled by the newly formed committee of Trixi, Bambi, Candi, Cyndi, Serenity, Passion and Joy. (I didn’t phone Gary Stokan of the Sports Council to confirm this, but they don’t make anything public anyway. So I’m going with it.)
None of this necessarily leads me to the Falcons game, but as we like to say, transitions are for wimps.
On Monday night, in the national spotlight, with nary a buck-naked cruise director in sight, the Falcons play host to the New York Jets. The Falcons can run — they just can’t stop it.
Sometimes they can pass, but they can’t stop that either.
But somehow, they win. Against the Jets, they’ll do it again. But 7? Don’t think so. Falcons win but sail with the Jets and the points.
4 BAGS
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: The Bengals think they’re pretty good and the pecking order in the AFC Central is about to change. They’re half right. Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger may be a push but there’s one thing the Steelers can do that the Bengals can’t: stop the run. Make that 10 straight on the road for the ‘burgh. Take Steelers and the point.
3 BAGS
San Diego at Philadelphia: Actual factual: The Eagles’ pass-to-run ratio is nearly 4-to-1, which explains running back Brian Westbrook venting this week. And if you’re into conspiracy theories: Westbrook is looking for a long-term deal but doesn’t have any stats to bring to the table, which must mean … nah. Take the Chargers and four — and in a straight upset.
Denver at N.Y. Giants: The Broncos have won five straight. They won 13 straight in 1998, then lost in Jersey. If they can’t beat Danny Kannell, how will they beat Eli Manning? Giants cover 2.
2 BAGS
Green Bay at Minnesota: Vikes ex-owner Red McCombs on criticism from current owner Zygi Wilf: “I don’t know what Mr. Wilf has been smoking. I know that I turned over to him one of the better sports organizations in the country.” Which country? Bolivia? Packers cover 2.
Tennessee at Arizona: Denny Green won’t divulge Arizona’s starting QB. So: Kurt Warner is 0-3 with zero TDs in those starts. Josh McCown is 1-1 with four TDs and 689 yards in those starts. OK, Denny. Don’t tell us. Cards cover 3 1/2.
Dallas at Seattle: Peerless Price steps in for the injured Patrick Crayton, assuming he can get someone to take his shift at Sonic. Seahawks cover a field goal.
Buffalo at Oakland: Is it just me or was Randy Moss a lot better when he was running over meter maids? Now he’s injured. Imagine if the Raiders do better without him. Oakland covers 3.
6-0 at 0-5: Indy is allowing 9.5 points per game. The Texans allow that on weekdays. So now that I’ve swung you to one side, try this: Colts win but take Houston and 16.
LET’S PLANT PANSIES
Money Grubbers Bowl: If New Orleans owner Tom Benson needs advice on how to hijack a team from a city, he can ask Rams owner Georgia Frontiere today. She’ll be on the speaker phone. From her yacht. Rams cover 3.
Baltimore at Chicago: It’s Ray Lewis vs. Brian Urlacher. Sort of. This game has viewing issues. Ravens win, 4-3. (Take the point.)
Detroit at Cleveland: The Lions have lost seven straight road games and now they have to decide between Joey Harrington and Jeff Garcia. Arsenic, take six. Browns win, but take Lions and 3.
San Francisco at Washington: The Phoney Niners traded quarterback Tim Rattay, thereby throwing Alex Smith to the T-Rexes. Is comic relief a draft-order tiebreaker? Skins win but take Niners and 12 1/2.
GET YOUR SCORECARDS
Sign up now and receive a copy of Michael Jordan’s new book of rationalizations, including this whopper: “I don’t have a gambling problem. I’m just really competitive.” (Just so you know, most drug addicts actually hate drugs. They just really like the buzz.)
Straight up: 12-2 last week, 47-26 overall.
Against the line: 10-4 last week, 39-33-1 overall.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Mazzone’s role overstated
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Notwithstanding the hysteria that seems to be surrounding the imminent departure of the Braves’ pitching coach, I’m going to tell you at least two things Leo Mazzone has never done in Atlanta:
Thrown a pitch.
Called a pitch.
This isn’t meant as a slap at Mazzone. Clearly, when a team has had only one pitching coach during a run of 14 division titles, it means something. There becomes an escalating belief that Mazzone has become one of the better pitching coaches in baseball.
But this feeling that the Braves are suddenly going to crumble like Pompeii or that Mazzone even remotely approaches the importance of Bobby Cox or John Schuerholz to the organization represents the height of absurdity.
He doesn’t pitch.
He doesn’t call the pitches.
He’s basically a shrink and an adviser. That’s what pitching coaches do. Yes, the Braves have had some wonderful reclamation projects through the years. But if you’re going to give Mazzone credit for Jaret Wright, you had better put him on the hook for Dan Kolb. Here’s a guy who went from a pretty decent closer to a complete basket case. So the teachings of Leo didn’t apply to the Braves’ bullpen this season?
John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine — they were going to be great, with or without Mazzone. Even Mazzone would tell you that. He also would tell you that when it comes to handling a pitching staff, Bobby Cox may go down as the greatest manager in baseball history. A lot of pitchers have come through here. When they leave, they all say the same thing: “I loved pitching for Bobby.”
That doesn’t mean Mazzone hasn’t done well. But judging the impact of a pitching coach is not an easy thing to do. This isn’t football. In the NFL, assistant coaches can stand out. Alex Gibbs, Joe Bugel and the late Bobb McKittrick made their mark as outstanding offensive line coaches. Buddy Ryan, and later Bill Belichick and Jim Johnson became noted for their defenses.
When Mike Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in San Francisco, former 49ers coach Bill Walsh said, “He’s done things with this offense and taken it to a new level.” That was basically Walsh saying, “He’s better than me.” He just doesn’t say that.
But pitching coach? Did Houston’s Jim Hickey suddenly become great this season, or is it only because he had Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge?
This isn’t about money, at least not in the way you think. If Cox and general manager John Schuerholz really believed that Mazzone was worth a salary bump from $250,000 to $400,000, do you not think they would go to the wall with corporate on his behalf?
This is Time Warner. I think they can count to a billion. Say what you want about budget cuts, but the Braves still have an $80 million payroll. Paying an extra $150,000 to the pitching coach isn’t going to affect the stock price.
Nobody wants Mazzone to leave. But that doesn’t mean anybody in power feels the need to punch through the salary ceiling for the pitching coach. And why should they?
Is Mazzone really better than Mel Stottlemyre, the guy who just resigned as New York Yankees pitching coach (and was a part of four World Series teams)? Is Mazzone better than Dave Duncan in St. Louis? Or Orel Hershiser in Texas?
Is he better than the guy he’ll likely be replacing in Baltimore, Ray Miller, who has coached three Cy Young winners and seven 20-game winners with two teams (Baltimore, Pittsburgh)?
Or Bud Black (Los Angeles Angels), or Rick Peterson (New York Mets, recently of Oakland), or Carl Willis (Cleveland) or Randy St. Claire (Washington). Don’t laugh: The Nationals finished ninth in the majors in ERA. That was two spots ahead of your Braves.
The Chicago White Sox just did the unthinkable in the AL Championship Series. Starters threw four straight complete games. I’ll give you a buck if you can name their pitching coach.
Time’s up: Don Cooper.
Mazzone is as good as gone. Only his signature and a decision on compensation is holding this up. But Mazzone’s not going to win any ERA titles in Baltimore, and the Braves aren’t going to send out distress signals without him.
The last time I checked, he wasn’t going to start. Or close.
Permalink | Comments (123) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
Weekend picks, minus the transparency
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before launching into this week’s big meeting between the kind, upstanding, clear-minded, stable and often hygienic people of Alabama (shoot me now) and their plump but worldly counterpart in Knoxville (twice), we here at Weekend Predictions would like to offer a tip of the skullcap to NBA commissioner David Stern.
Yes. It takes a real visionary to embrace the hip-hop culture, milk it for every last dollar, endorsement, synergy, bling and courtside celeb sighting that it’s worth, then drop kick it to Des Moines when your marketing people yell, “No white people! Fire!�
For the past decade, Stern did everything but open press conferences with, “’Sup, y’all? Any questions, ’cuz I gotta go make time with my peeps. Yo, Dre! Is that you back there? Got your back, man! Oh wait, I was Bar Mitzvah’d and went to Columbia. I forgot, where was I?”
There’s nothing wrong with a dress code. I mean, it’s their business. But can we be any more transparent? All of a sudden, it’s an issue to wear a sportscoat? But six months ago it wasn’t an issue? A year ago? Forty raps ago?
Did Stern just all of a sudden wake up and decide, “Hmmm. I really miss tweed. Whatever happened to Kevin McHale?”
I bring this up for two reasons: 1) It’s only October. It’s too early to waste all of my BCS jokes; 2) Phil Fulmer, while weasely, otherwise has little in common with Stern. He’s not a visionary. He actually thought he could give “secret� testimony to the NCAA and a grand jury about Alabama and thought it wouldn’t get out.
This week, Fulmer makes his first trip to Tuscaloosa since the tobacco spit hit the fan. He’ll be the guy surrounded by a SWAT team. But Alabama has other problems. Last week the Tide barely beat Mississippi. The team is losing bodies and didn’t have a lot of depth to begin with. There’s also a concern that Mike Shula is turning back into Mike Shula. Yikes.
The line says Bama by 3 1/2. Psst. I say, take the gift. But Tennessee wins this straight up.
Saturday value menu
(Buy any three games and win a viewing guide to the Astros-White Sox World Series. Chapter 1: Blow up the TV.)
Hogs and Dogs: D.J. Shockley is 6-0 as a starter and leads the SEC in passing efficiency, which basically means that so far the only thing separating him from David Greene … was opportunity. (That should kick up my e-mail.) Shockley won’t catch Greene in career passing yardage. But Arkansas’ secondary makes you wonder. It’s the week before the Florida game, which falls before the Auburn game. Win now, there’s time to complain about the BCS later. Doggies cover 19.
Auburn at LSU: Since losing to Georgia Tech, the Tigers have beaten Mississippi State, Ball State, Western Kentucky, South Carolina and Arkansas. This week’s game with KinderCare fell through. Fortunately, LSU drops balls like pre-schoolers drop blocks. Five turnovers vs. Florida? Missed in my Florida upset pick (though not with the line), but LSU otherwise did little to comfort Les Miles. Take Auburn and 6 1/2. And I like the upset (again).
Vanderbilt at South Carolina: Steve Spurrier says he’s worried about Vanderbilt. I’m going to assume that wasn’t expected on the, “Things Steve will say this season� list in Columbia. Humility, table six? Gamecocks win but take Vandy and 7 1/2.
FSU at Duke: Quoth Duke coach Ted Roof: “Each week it seems like there is a Top 25 team that we are teeing it up against.� Dude, you’re not teeing it up. You’re the ball. The Devils have been outscored in four ACC games 170-24. More importantly, the Blue-White Scrimmage is Saturday at Cameron Indoor. Seminoles cover 30.
Mildcats at Old Missy: Rich Brooks says he is “planning on being here� after the season, which suggests his Kentucky contract calls for a seamless transition from Coach to Cafeteria Fishstick Engineer. Brooks has gone 1-7, 1-7 and 0-2 in the SEC. I know, it’s Kentucky. But show a pulse. Mississippi covers 10 1/2.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
Falcons not as flawed as NFC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
The Falcons haven’t dazzled anybody. They’re fortunate — lucky, if you prefer — to be 4-2. But now we need to ask the next question: In the NFC, who looks really good?
The answer: Nobody.
Only one NFC team has a better record than the Falcons, and that one, Tampa Bay, just lost its quarterback for the duration. The Carolina Panthers, Sports Illustrated’s choice to win the Super Bowl, are 4-2 by an even skinnier margin than the Falcons. Dallas is 4-2 but scares nobody. The Eagles are 3-2 and in apparent decline. Of the eight teams in the NFC North and West, only Seattle is above .500.
We around here fret that the Falcons aren’t playing defense and can’t throw the ball, and these are legitimate concerns. But the NFC is the place to be if you’re a flawed team looking to break upwards. The AFC is stacked: Indianapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh, New England. The NFC is wide open. Philly has ruled the conference the last four seasons but isn’t apt to do it this time. But somebody has to win the NFC, and the Falcons, as shaky as they look, seem as good a choice as any.
Yes, this is subject to change. Teams can and do get better over the course of a season. That’s another reason to like the Falcons’ chances. A year ago, they scraped by early but got stronger the more they played (and the more Greg Knapp adjusted to Michael Vick). This is a clever coaching staff, and they have resourceful players at their disposal. If you’ve made Super Bowl plans for sunny Detroit, don’t go canceling them just yet.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
NBA dress code restores sanity to ludicrous image
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
What am I missing here regarding this silly whining over the NBA’s welcomed new dress code? Nothing, because isn’t there a line in one of those tight (I got that word from my 14-year-old godson Julian) songs by Jay-Z that says, “Give me a crisp pair of jeans and a button-up?”
Yep. This is the same Jay-Z who is a part owner of the New Jersey Nets. This also is the same Jay-Z who attends games wearing tailored suits. You have Nelly, too, the equally sharp dresser as a part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Which all blows away a couple of myths this week quicker than a fast break. No, commissioner David Stern didn’t become the league’s Bull Connor with his latest edict involving that dress code. And, no, NBA officials aren’t hypocrites after years of merging basketball with hip-hop. All you have to do is review what I just said about Jay-Z and Nelly, and then put your hands in the air and wave them like you just don’t care.
I’m still giddy. After all, Stern did the right thing. I’m sick of walking into locker rooms and press conferences these days and cringing. It may be your right as a big-time athlete to dress as a street hustler or even as Homey The Clown, but you’re hurting others. As somebody who works often with youth, I know the truth here: Whether we like it or not, athletes always have been and always will be role models to kids.
The question is: What kind of role models are we talking about?
According to research by Richard E. Lapchick of Central Florida, only one out of 10,000 high school basketball players will spend a millisecond in the NBA. Even so, Lapchick determined that 59 percent of those youngsters believe they will dribble as a pro someday. Thus is the reason why a slew of them wish to play and dress like their favorite pro athlete. Thus also is the reason why a slew of them don’t find real jobs after they fill out applications while wearing their versions of a jumbo cap turned sideways over a do-rag, a throwback jersey and enough bling bling to make the sun look for shades.
So here’s some advice to NBA players who can’t stand the thought of shedding the thug look when they are on duty for their teams: Just dress up and shut up. Either that, or find another job that will pay you millions with your desire to do your best Flavor Flav routine.
It’s called being professional on and off the court. That’s all the NBA is asking players to do. In fact, while performing team or league business, the NBA is asking players to do what most of them were required to do in college. Nice slacks or “a crisp pair of jeans” instead of workout sweats or sagging pants. Dress shoes instead of flip-flops, sneakers or sandals. Collared shirts or sweaters instead of T-shirts or jerseys. No headphones or headgear. Definitely no bling bling over clothing, not even to cover up endless tattoos.
In a rare case of omniscience by the historically clueless Hawks, general manager Billy Knight already was demanding those things of his players, and he did so months before Stern had everybody else in the league follow suit (pun intended). Knight has gone further than his peers. He requires players to wear sports coats on plane trips and while entering and leaving arenas.
You can blame the insufferable Allen Iverson for the start of this sloppy epidemic that has become the rage of pro athletes in general. Prior to Iverson’s arrival to the NBA during the late 1990s, players weren’t into Keeping It Real, as in Keeping It Real Stupid. They were into Keeping It Classy, as in following Michael Jordan’s lead. Not only did he rank as His Airness, but as His Armani. He took dressing beyond presentable all the way to legendary commercials and to an unprecedented Nike deal at the time. Along with Jordan, you had Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Reggie Miller and others serving as examples as to how to dress for success.
Stern wants those examples back. So do I, and so do Jay-Z and Nelly. And so should everybody who isn’t Ludacris.
Permalink | Comments (239) | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Terence Moore
Let Leo leave? Surely you jest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Surely those who run the Braves aren’t going to do the unthinkable and allow the New York Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles or anybody else without a tomahawk across their chests to snatch away Leo Mazzone.
Surely those who run the Braves can find a way to pay the greatest pitching coach in history exactly what he deserves, and that is whatever he wants. I mean, surely those who run the Braves know that this is mostly about money. Given Mazzone’s overwhelming credentials, he is getting jobbed (maybe $200,000 compared to the $400,000 that the retired Mel Stottlemyre was making with the Yankees).
Surely between now and mid-November, when Mazzone’s contract expires, those who run the Braves will announce that they’ve changed their silly policy about giving coaches only one-year contracts and have opted to sign Mazzone to a multiyear deal worth a bunch.
Surely Mazzone wouldn’t leave the Braves anyway, especially since he always has said that he views Braves manager Bobby Cox as a surrogate father.
Surely Mazzone will be rocking next to Cox in the dugout next season and beyond. If not, surely the Braves’ streak of consecutive playoff appearances just ended at 14.
Permalink | Comments (87) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
Chan just isn’t the man for Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
It brings no pleasure to announce, after considerable thought and much hedging, this conclusion:
Chan Gailey isn’t going to make it.
It brings no pleasure because Gailey is a nice man and, in the main, a good coach. He hasn’t had a losing season at Georgia Tech and won’t this year. But college football is different now, the money and the expectations far greater than they were 20 years ago. Not losing isn’t enough anymore, and Gailey hasn’t won big enough to win over an increasingly skeptical constituency. Part of this is simply bad luck. Part, but not all.
The N.C. State loss was, for this observer, the tipping point. Coming off a bad performance against a superb Virginia Tech team, the Jackets had 10 days to prepare for an opponent that had lost its past six conference games. Somehow they contrived to look as addled as the notoriously skittish Wolfpack. Tech fell behind by 10 points and didn’t score until the 39th minute. Then it appeared to right itself. Then it got unlucky. Travis Bell missed a point-blank field goal, and Calvin Johnson turned the game-winning touchdown into the game-losing interception.
But sometimes luck really is the residue of design. Tech didn’t look primed to play, a chronic ailment under Gailey, and even after it steadied and took to gaining ground by the chunk — the Jackets had 157 more yards and 15 more first downs than State — there was little sense of physical domination. Reggie Ball threw 53 passes, which was twice as many as a team with P.J. Daniels and Tashard Choice in its backfield needs to throw. This observer has been critical of Mark Richt for his penchant to err on the side of finesse, but Gailey, who is wrongly characterized as stodgy, sometimes out-Richts Richt.
The State loss was the kind that can downgrade a season. Just by winning a game it should have won, Tech could have positioned itself to finish 7-4 — which would have met athletics director Dave Braine’s request for improvement over the 6-5 of last season — without beating Miami or Virginia on the road and without beating Georgia. Now Tech has to upset somebody else to do better than 6-5, and even if it does there’s never a guarantee that these Jackets won’t turn around and lose the next week.
It isn’t that Gailey hasn’t beaten anybody. His Jackets have felled a ranked opponent in each of his four seasons, this one included. In a way, that’s the most telling indictment of his stewardship. If you’re good enough to win at Auburn, you have to be good enough to handle N.C. State at home. Tech wasn’t.
And how, you ask, did the Jackets respond to their galling defeat? By going to Durham and falling behind Duke, something no other ACC team has managed this season. (Until Saturday, the Devils hadn’t scored in the first half of a conference game.) That the Jackets squashed Duke with a big third quarter only underscored the point that scarcely needs underscoring: Tech doesn’t always — doesn’t often — play to its capacity. No matter how spiffy the Jackets might look in a given game or a given quarter, they never seem to sustain anything. That’s not a failure of talent but a failure of coaching. And that’s what ultimately will undo this regime.
The guess is that Tech won’t win seven regular-season games and will thereby render Gailey a lame duck. His contract runs through the 2006 season, and it’s possible that Braine, who hired him and who remains his biggest fan, will retire by next summer and leave the distasteful deed to his successor.
This observer has been wrong about many things and wouldn’t mind being wrong about this, but from here it’s hard to envision Chan Gailey coaching Georgia Tech come 2007.
Permalink | Comments (152) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
Yates’ golfing legacy went far beyond the ropes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Charlie Yates was a man of many splendors. More than a mere golfer, but it was golf that gave him his launching. He grew up in a home just behind the fourth green on the No. 2 course at East Lake. (And there was a second course at East Lake, and it was a very good one.) The story is that Bobby Jones was sitting on a terrace having a beverage one day when he saw this kid deliver his drive over the lake, then pitch to three feet of the pin and sink the putt.
Whereupon, it is said, that Jones said, “That young fella has a beautiful swing.”
Part of the garbled lore that golf seems to concoct? Could be, but who’s to contradict such a story? The Presley D. Yates family tree was laden with golfers. The mercantile business supplied the family needs, but golf was their diversion, and it trickled down to the grandchildren, the most resplendent of whom is Danny Jr., Walker Cup player and captain, Mid-Amateur champion and a staggering number of achievements of one sort or another.
Naturally, in a family such as this there is inevitably one “who was the best of us all,” in the words of the Charlie’s brother Dan. “Better at 15 than I was at 18,” Dan said. But Allen played for the joy of it, especially after he and Dan formed own their insurance business. But topmost of them all was Charles, and it is to him that we bow in grief today. Charlie Yates had been awaiting his appointment with death for quite awhile. Now, trying to compress all of his accomplishments into one capsule of a column is a test, so noting his arts and civic career, this will stick to the golfing side.
Charlie was one of the last two survivors who played in the first Masters Tournament in 1934. The other, Errie Ball, was a pro, and now, somewhere in his mid-90s, was living in Florida at last notice. Charlie’s ticket to the first tournament at Augusta National, which was an invitational, was that he was Georgia State amateur champion. His monumental achievement was yet to come. In 1938 he would win the British Amateur, played at Troon. Now, the British didn’t take too kindly to these colonists who came over and made off with one of their cherished trophies. Jones had done it. Jess Sweetser had done it. Now comes this towhead with the fetching smile and a sorghum accent, and they warmed to him because he warmed to them.
He stood before them at the trophy presentation, hoisted a dollop of their national beverage and sang to them their drinking song in their native tongue. What Scot could but take him to his bosom? A bit later, in Walker Cup competition, Charlie came to grips with a resident favorite named James Bruen. Now, having won the Amateur, to lose to Bruen in international play would have tarnished that title. “They were high on Jimmy,” Charlie said later. “He was to be their savior.”
But Charlie prevailed and scored one of the Americans’ rare points. Most of us who have occupied a chair in the press facilities at Augusta National have come to know Charlie Yates in an official status, not as a player. Though he did play in 11 Masters and was low amateur three times. Soon after he retired from play in 1948, he was made a member of the Press (later Media) Committee, and from 1971 to 1999 served as chairman. That meant appearances before our hungering throng as he mediated the press conferences of the players and champions. He had served as financial officer for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad before retiring early to join Mayor Ivan Allen in civic projects, then later heading a fund-raising campaign at Georgia Tech, but nothing detracted him from his commitment to Augusta National. Unfortunately, he had not been able to continue his duties at the Masters, and was succeeded by Billy Payne, with whom he had served on the 1996 Olympics Committee.
“I didn’t consider myself an exceptional golfer,” Charlie once said. “The thing I’ve learned is that golf is very much like life: You have good things happen to you and some things that are bad.” And thus the curtain is drawn on the life of this man who meant so much to so many people in so many different ways, beyond a mere game.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Golf
Tuesday Countdown: Leo, BCS, etc.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: Nothing against Leo Mazzone, but he ain’t Bobby Cox.
9: A lot of players have left the Braves. A lot of pitchers have left the Braves. I hear them talk endearingly about a Cox far more often than I hear them talk about Mazzone. Don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t mean Mazzone hasn’t done a great job as pitching coach. But it starts and ends with the manager, and few managers in baseball history have handled pitchers as well as Bobby Cox.
8: If the Braves lose Mazzone to the New York Yankees, it’s a loss. Probably. But it’s not going to be the difference in terms of what they do in the regular season or the playoffs.
7: Just a hunch: He’s not going anywhere.
6: The BCS got what it wanted — a one-day buzz. But somebody’s going to lose. Maybe it’s USC to UCLA, or Texas to Texas Tech (or somebody in the Big 12 title game), or Virginia Tech to Miami (or in the ACC title game). Georgia, you’re not out of it. Just don’t lose.
5: So who’s up for an Astros-White Sox viewing party! Hello? Anybody?
4: Jim Haslett: Just shut up.
3: There were bad calls both ways in the Falcons-Saints game. Guess the NFL didn’t want to send the “A” crew to San Antonio. That said, New Orleans lost because its defense allowed the Falcons to drive down the field in the final minute for a field goal, not because of a penalty.
2: I’m sure any minute now, the Thrashers will realize they’re not supposed to stink.
1: An injury to Dallas receiver Patrick Crayton likely means Peerless Price WON’T be inactive next game. So. Does this open a spot on deck in Dallas for Dez White?
Permalink | Comments (62) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
4-2 start can’t hide weakness in foundation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Flowery Branch — If you looked at the Falcons’ schedule before the season and saw early games against the three-time Super Bowl champions, the most dominant team in the NFC during the last four years and four defending playoff opponents in five weeks …
“I know, you wouldn’t have thought we’d be 4-2,” coach Jim Mora said.
But if you thought 4-2, you probably also thought “pretty good.”
Six weeks in, these are the Falcons: 4-2 and not “pretty good.”
There are 4-2s that turn into Super Bowl contenders. There are 4-2s that morph into 8-8. The Falcons might be the former but they look closer to the latter.
Now. This is usually the time when a media-savvy coach reminds everybody not to jump off a cliff, even if behind the scenes he might be ready to push one or two guys off. He might even drop in a line, like Monday’s: “Hey, we’ve won four games, and I’m not giving them back.”
And, yes, there are 10 games left. And, yes, sometimes problems do fade and teams do get better and last season the Falcons’ defense was drilled in consecutive weeks by Kansas City and Denver (in a win), then rebounded.
But there are problems with some of the Falcons’ problems. They’re not going to go away. Pass coverage can improve. But at the end of the day, Jason Webster is still going to be Jason Webster, and Brian Scott may still be just a really good piano player.
Run defense can improve. But when you rank 28th in the NFL (133.5 yards per game) and have allowed three opposing backs more than 100 yards, and the New Orleans Saints (with their Nos. 2 and 3 running backs) rush for 211 yards, it screams that one or two tweaks isn’t going to fix things.
Only four teams — Cleveland, Buffalo, Houston, Minnesota — are worse against the run. None is 4-2. Combined, they’re 6-15.
Young receivers can improve. But Michael Jenkins and Roddy White aren’t turning into Clayton and Duper by Week 10, and the only thing Dez White has given the Falcons is a statistical improbability: He has half as many catches (2) as a backup tight end (Dwayne Blakley has 4).
White has approached Peerless Price status. That is, cutting White may not make the Falcons better. But at least it would prevent the mistake of ever throwing in his direction again.
There’s also the Michael Vick issue. Health is always a concern with a running quarterback, particularly a running quarterback who plays behind a line which too often shows holes in protection. But Vick already has had hamstring and knee injuries, and those are the type of ailments that generally linger. He aggravated the knee Sunday against New Orleans.
Last year, we didn’t know what to expect. We got 11-5 and an NFC title game.
This doesn’t look like 11-5. It certainly doesn’t look like an NFC finalist. Playoff contenders stop the runs and minimize big plays. Playoff contenders can’t afford to rely on late-game heroics by banged-up quarterbacks.
The question isn’t whether the Falcons’ problems will disappear. The question is whether they can overcome the problems that aren’t going away.
At least Mora isn’t deluding himself. Addressing the team in general and the run defense in particular Monday, he said, “No one is trying to brush it under the carpet and say, ‘We got a win. We’re 4-2. The world is great.’ If you aspire to be a team that goes far in the playoffs and bring the trophy back to Atlanta, then you don’t sweep that stuff under the rug.”
Tampa Bay is better than expected. Carolina is good, as expected. New Orleans is still a pain in the butt for this team. So suddenly, splitting division games looks like an accomplishment. Suddenly, road games at Miami, Chicago, and Detroit on Thanksgiving look like a struggle. The New York Jets next Monday? Curtis Martin ran for 148 Sunday.
Mora said of the defense, “We’re off a hair. When you’re off a hair in this league it can look very bad.”
Six weeks in, the hair looks like a woolly mammoth.
Permalink | Comments (82) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Falcons leading charmed season so far
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
San Antonio — Courtesy of the goofy ending Sunday inside the Alamodome, the Falcons are more the stuff of pixie dust than of blocking and tackling. In other words, they’re lucky (Is that Herman Edwards still yelling, “You play to win the game�?), and such a trait is fine until about Halloween. As for the rest of their schedule through Christmas, when they hope to reach another NFC championship game or better, something has to change.
Like on defense. Suddenly, the Falcons haven’t one. They can’t stop the pass, and they definitely can’t stop the run. The New Orleans Saints spent the afternoon at their adopted home without the formidable Deuce McAllister, but his two usually ordinary replacements helped torch the Falcons for 211 yards rushing. That’s when the Falcons weren’t turning Aaron Brooks into Archie Manning, along with Peyton and Eli rolled into one.
Wide receivers? I mean, do the Falcons have any? Dez White had nearly as many drops (two) as all of the Falcons wide receivers had catches (three).
Not good. Neither were the Falcons in general, with the Saints outgaining their guests 456-266 in total yardage. It’s just that the Falcons had a 34-31 victory at the end after the combination of a fumble return for a touchdown, the return of a blocked field goal for a touchdown, a brutal interception by Aaron, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning and two bizarre penalties on the Saints that allowed the Falcons to go from missing the game-winning field goal with no time left to making it.
There also was the Philadelphia victory for the Falcons to start the season. In a rare move, middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter was tossed by the refs before the opening kickoff to ruin the Eagles physically and emotionally for the night.
Then there was the Buffalo victory, when somebody named J.P. Losman was the Bills’ quarterback. Just so you know, he is so awful that he has been replaced by somebody named Kelly Holcomb.
Then there was the Minnesota victory against a guy doing a poor imitation of Daunte Culpepper. Not only that, no NFL team is more of a mess on and off the field than the Vikings.
So, given those circumstances and that pixie dust, the Falcons’ many problems haven’t affected the bottom line. During this league of growing parity, it’s always about the bottom line, but only to a point. Falcons coach Jim Mora also knows as much, which is why he stressed as much to his team during his postgame speech.
Here’s the bottom line from Mora’s perspective: “We’re 2-0 on the road. We’re 1-0 on the road against the division. We’re 4-2 overall, and the team that we lost to was division champion Seattle when we were down 21-0 and came back to make it 21-18. And the Super Bowl champs, we were down 14-0 and down 28-13. So, in this league, if you look around at the scores week in and week out, it’s crazy. It’s just crazy. I mean, one week a team is blowing a team out, and the next week they’re getting blown out.�
Here’s the rest of the Falcons’ story from Mora’s perspective: “The key is to find a way to win, and they’re not always going to be pretty. But, at the same time, you can never fool yourself. You’ve gotta find the reasons as to why the games are close, and you’ve got to find the reasons as to why teams are running the football.�
Thus, encouraging news for the Falcons, because the players get it. At least they say they do. You can start with defensive end Patrick Kerney, who said of a unit that has reeked all season against the run, “That’s what we’re going to work on hard this week, and that starts with the veterans on this defense. We have to make sure that everybody is doing the right thing all the time, because even when you win, when you get the ball run on you [like the Saints did], there’s a moral loss there.�
Added running back Warrick Dunn, the consummate professional, “We have to play at a championship level consistently, but we still have to win these types of games while we’re making the corrections.�
Yeah, the Falcons do. Without making those corrections, they’ll start losing these types of games.
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
With these Dogs, expect the unexpected
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Nashville — They are unbeaten in the SEC, unbeaten in six games and nobody else on their side of the conference has less than two losses.
How does this happen?
Florida loses to LSU and suddenly is on a respirator. Alabama nearly loses to Mississippi and suddenly looks, well, like the team we thought Alabama would look like. Southern Cal needs a last-second touchdown to beat Notre Dame.
Georgia? Another win. It wasn’t four quarters of perfection against Vanderbilt on Saturday night, but it was good enough. The Bulldogs dumped the Commodores to improve to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the SEC.
Suddenly, things are set up for a run.
Remember. This is 2005, the year after the exodus.
How does this happen?
Maybe the pins weren’t necessarily set up for the Bulldogs last season. But they looked to be a team of bowling balls set to knock down everything in their path. They had a guy at quarterback, David Greene, who, like, never lost. They had a guy on defense, David Pollack, who, like, never failed to make the play of the game. They had Thomas Davis and Odell Thurman and Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson. They also had defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.
Now, they have none of the above. They have only a 6-0 record.
Last season, Georgia stumbled at home against Tennessee the week after playing flawlessly against LSU (the Nick Saban version).
This year, they almost stumbled against South Carolina. They looked disinterested and not completely coordinated for two and a half quarters against Louisiana Monroe. But three weeks later, Georgia went into Knoxville and physically dominated a pretty good football team in pretty intimidating surroundings.
They didn’t have to be dominating against Vanderbilt. They just had to make enough plays to beat a team that sort of lost its mojo with a loss to Middle Tennessee State. (The “home” crowd Saturday was announced as 38,822. Either it was “Wear Red” night, or half the fans were Georgia’s.)
Last year, the season started and we wondered, “Will anything go wrong?”
Now they’re 6-0 and we wonder, “Can anything possibly go wrong?”
They have three home conference games left — against mediocre Arkansas, beatable Auburn and thank-you-sir-may-I-have-another Kentucky. The other games: Florida in Jacksonville and at Georgia Tech.
Suddenly, it would take a relative collapse — basically, losses to both Auburn and Florida — to not make it to the Georgia Dome for the SEC title game.
If you’re looking for a possible parallel to Georgia’s season, consider Tennessee. The Volunteers went 11-2 in 1997. They came back the following season without Peyton Manning. But with Tee Martin at quarterback, they went 13-0, including a win over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl, to win the national championship.
The Dogs lost Greene. They came back with D.J. Shockley. He was a fifth-year senior with talent, but had never started a game. But any questions about Shockley have gone poof. In Knoxville, he looked in command of the offense and was unfazed by the 108,000 crazies in the stands.
At Vanderbilt, Shockley threw three touchdown passes on third down — and all while on the move to avoid the rush.
Things started slowly against Commodores. Georgia went scoreless on its first two possessions and Shockley didn’t complete a pass until just 27 seconds remained in the first quarter (his fourth attempt). But he completed a 31-yard pass to Kenneth Harris on third-and-10 to set up the Dogs’ first touchdown, a 9-yard run by Kregg Lumpkin.
In the second quarter, the score tied at 7-7, Georgia faced a third-and-goal from the 10. But Shockley changed plays at the line, then scrambled away from pressure and drilled a TD pass to fullback Brannan Southerland.
It was 17-7 early in the third when Shockley did it again. This time, on third-and-4 from Vanderbilt 6, he rolled left to boy time and connected with Mohamed Massaquoi in the end zone.
And, less than a minute into the fourth, with the Commodores still hanging close at 27-17, Shockley again gave the Dogs some breathing room. On third-and-8 from the 18, he rolled and found Bryan McClendon in the middle of the end zone.
Shockley completed seven passes in the first half — all to different receivers. That could not have been expected. But then, neither could 6-0, with an open field in front of them.
Permalink | Comments (55) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, UGA / SEC
Bedeviled at first, Tech takes cure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Durham, N.C. — Some people go to Lourdes for the cures. Georgia Tech had a better idea: Go to Duke University. It’s closer than France. It is rather highly regarded in the medical field itself. And right now, the Yellow Jackets were aching and in need of a charge for their morale.
But wait. Wasn’t this place they visited two years ago and came away beaten, battered and in shock? Victims of the most devastating upset since Chan Gailey has been in the coaching chair. One of Georgia Tech’s old linebacking all-stars had just taken over as head coach in the middle of the season, when Duke, too, was groping.
Ted Roof was a quick fix. It was pure irony that the first game he won as a head coach should have been against his old school, and it wasn’t just a win. The Blue Devils left the Yellow Jackets in ruins, 41-17. But, frankly, that had been the highlight of Roof’s career at Duke until something that developed in the first half Saturday afternoon in Wallace Wade Stadium.
That’s when the Blue Devils began to show their belligerent side again. The first quarter hadn’t gone smoothly for Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets did get on the board with a touchdown. Then the Roof began to fall in again. His quarterback, freshman Zack Asack, executed a fake double reverse that sprung loose another freshman, Ronnie Drummer, on a 50-yard sprint that set up Asack’s short touchdown pass to Andy Roland. They were tied.
Then Joe Surgan, still another freshman, kicked a field goal. Duke led 10-7. Surely this couldn’t be happening to Gailey again. Tech had been wiped out in Blacksburg by Virginia Tech, then cruelly taken out by N.C. State in the dimness of the final seconds on its own field in Atlanta. Surely there must be some goodness and mercy somewhere in his future.
The future was the second half in this old concrete horseshoe that has probably seen more history than any football facility in these parts. Tech returned to the field, quickly whipped off two offensive touchdowns, another one by interception, then one more touchdown, three of them on short plunges.
Curiously, the first was scored by Reggie Ball, who would later leave the game injured. Two were scored by Tashard Choice, a sophomore running back filling in for P.J. Daniels, who spent the second half in street clothes. And the other was scored by Darrell Robertson, filling in for Eric Henderson, the preseason All-ACC defensive end who has already missed four games. It was the first touchdown in Robertson’s career, and all told, he had quite a day spreading himself around the field.
So, as you can see, this was just the kind of day and the kind of place for a team looking to heal its wounds. It was not, however, the kind of game that will find its way into the hall of classics. It could have been a statistical feast for Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets kept tripping over their own feet. This is not an accomplished Duke team by any stretch, and the skilled performers that have gone before them, those who brought fame and glory to Duke in the days of Wade, would have been appalled.
As was, the usual kind of crowd came out to watch, 17,451, while on the hill above the closed end of the stadium, casual strollers took their afternoon walk, giving no heed to what was taking place on the field below. And what were all those people were yelping about? What a shame that the game here has settled into such a state of disrepute.
Basketball now rules. Where Wallace Wade was once king, another ruler has built his own kingdom, and its name is Krzyzewskiville.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Tech / ACC
Hard to make sense of a tragic loss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Mike Woodson had seen him at practice Friday, not 20 hours before. Jason Collier had been shooting free throws, looking like a professional basketball player is supposed to look. “I thought he was in the best shape since I’d been around him,” the coach said.
Michael Gearon Jr. had seen Collier at the same practice, and what struck the Hawks’ owner was how the center had let his hair grow. “He looked more like a California kid than one from Ohio,” Gearon said.
Around 7 a.m. Saturday, both men got the same incongruous phone call. Jason Collier, age 28, was dead.
Having gotten a similar call, Billy Knight decided he really hadn’t. “I thought I was still sleeping,” the general manager said. Then, having awakened enough to realize what he’d heard, Knight got out of bed and tried to make sense of it. He failed. At such a moment, all human reckoning fails.
“Nothing can explain it,” Knight said. “You just sit around in disbelief for a while. And then you think of his family.”
This was Jason Collier: A big man who shot the ball better than big men customarily do. This also was Jason Collier: A husband and a father of a little girl who likes to ride horses.
Gearon: “He was a really fine person.” Knight: “He was the best.”
Today we Atlantans are thinking we didn’t really get to know Jason Collier the way we should have. He played two seasons at Georgia Tech and had been a Hawk since March 8, 2003, but it was his luck to have been part of aggregations that didn’t hold our attention. He was the best player on Bobby Cremins’ last two Tech teams, neither of which managed a winning record, and the Hawks have lately been a source of civic disinterest.
Today we’re thinking that we didn’t get to know Jason Collier and now we never will. We knew things about him, sure. We knew he was the son of a Tech basketballer - his dad Jeffrey played under Dwane Morrison in the ’70s. We knew he’d grown up in Springfield, Ohio, which is outside Dayton, and part of him wanted to come to Tech all along. But he enrolled at Indiana and became one of the last straws in the dissolution of Bobby Knight’s raging empire.
Collier left Indiana in December 1997, a month into his sophomore season. “I was losing sleep,” he said. “I wasn’t eating. That wasn’t the way I wanted to live my life… . If I’d known exactly what I was going to confront, I’d never have gone there. The biggest mistake I’ve made was going to Indiana.”
Funny how things work out. Collier fled IU because he couldn’t take Knight’s screaming, and he wound up playing for a former Hoosier who regards Knight as the greatest coach the game has ever known. “I never wanted to talk to Jason about leaving IU,” Woodson said Saturday. “I’ve never talked to Knight about it.”
As far as Woodson was concerned, Collier had done what he’d had to do. He’d found a program that better suited him and made himself a first-round NBA draft pick. (Acting for Houston, Milwaukee took him 15th overall in 2000.) He’d made himself a pro. “He’s part of our league,” Woodson said.
Then, shaking his head, Woodson corrected himself. “He was part of our league.”
Pro athletes aren’t supposed to die at 28. Pro athletes are supposed to be invulnerable. Pro athletes aren’t supposed to go home from practice on a Friday and be gone by the time Saturday dawns. “Life’s full of surprises,” Gearon said. “That’s the sad thing.”
Jason Collier’s teammates gathered Saturday morning at Philips Arena and then dispersed, an afternoon scrimmage having been canceled. In a further stroke of incongruity, Philips was being readied for a concert by the Rolling Stones. Not 30 yards from the Hawks’ training room was a suite set aside for Keith Richards, the scarecrow guitarist who has led a life of infamous excess.
Jason Collier died at 28. Keith Richards, against all odds, is 61. Try to make sense of that. Let me know if you ever do.
Permalink | Comments (256) | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Mark Bradley
NFL Predix: Falcons cover (That is, if these are the Falcons)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before we get into this week’s possible game between the Falcons and New Orleans, which is on the schedule but will not be confirmed by the team or Jim Paramoira, who may or may not be a coach and says he has no special plans for Sunday and might just walk the dog or plant daisies, though he’s not confirming the existence of the dog species or plant life on Earth, which is not to say he’s an Earthling, if indeed Earth exists, and then there’s that whole Big Bang theory … AAAAGGGH!
Anyway, about this “competitive advantage” thing that Paramoira harps on. I had a conversation with Bill Walsh once during a strike season. I had walked through the locker room and saw a Tom Cousineau jersey hanging in a stall. The conversation went something like this:
Me: “So. I see you’ve signed Cousineau for your strike team.”
Walsh: “Who told you that?”
Me: “Nobody. His jersey’s hanging up.”
Walsh: “Oh, um, no, you’re mistaken. I mean, we thought about signing him but we changed our mind.”
Me: “Excuse me?”
Walsh: “Sorry. I’m late for Mensa. But you wouldn’t know about that.”
Walsh, who also had this thing about competitive advantage, didn’t even want teams to know he signed Cousineau. Of course, this thrilled Cousineau, who was not considered a competitive advantage before.
But there’s no reason to be secretive this week. It’s the Saints. They lost 52-3 last week. Jim Haslett has done less with more than any coach in NFL history during his reign of error. Just give him your playbook. He’ll still tie his shoes together.
Michael Vick was listed as “questionable” early in the week. But as Paramoira said: “What’s questionable tell you? … We’re all questionable. I might die in 30 seconds.”
Ah hah! He’s not on the injury report! LIAR!
With or without Vick. Or Mora. Or life forms. Falcons cover 5 1/2.
4 BAGS
Giants at Cowboys: New York has scored the most points in the NFC (136) and is plus-10 in turnovers the last three weeks. I hate stats. Cowboys win and cover 3 1/2.
Dude, That Was My Skull: It’s not Jeff Spicoli having a pizza delivered to Mr. Hand’s class, but you have to admire Nick Saban for starting a blazed certified yoga instructor (Ricky Williams) in his backfield. Or not. Tampa wins but take Fins and 5.
3 BAGS Patriots at Broncos: Tom Brady has been near perfect. With that defense in New England, he’ll have to be. Take the gift 3 as Pats outgun Denver.
Chargers at Raiders: Oakland is struggling in the Red Zone despite having Randy Moss, which ticks off Al Davis, and he’s not even in a Fantasy League, unless we’re counting every day delusions. San Diego covers 2.
2 BAGS
Men of (Rhymes of Thors): So the Vikings reportedly rode The Lust Boat during a bye week. Police are investigating possible prostitution, drug use and illegal sex acts on a chartered cruise involving at least 20 players. The good news is, the Vikings finally tackled somebody. Bears cover 3.
Panthers at Lions: Roy Williams told Sports Illustrated that the Detroit receivers “don’t have any trust” in QB Joey Harrington. It’s a team-building thing. You wouldn’t understand. Take Carolina and 1.
Redskins at Chiefs: The friendship between Joe Gibbs and Dick Vermeil dates back to when they worked together on the first transcontinental railroad. Chiefs cover 6.
Bengals at Titans: Imagine how good Cincinnati would be if it didn’t lead the NFL in penalties (57). The team ranks second in wins and first in felonies. The 3 is covered.
Jaguars at Steelers: Pittsburgh may be without Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward, which would be a problem if Jacksonville didn’t rank 29th against the run. Steelers win, but take Jags and 3.
Jets at Bills: Vinny Testaverde and Kelly Holcomb have steadied their teams. There’s something very disturbing about that. Bills cover 3.
Rams at Colts: St. Louis coach Mike Martz has taken a leave of absence. He joins Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. (I know. No respect.) Indy covers a whopper (13 1/2).
HOW ‘BOUT THAT WILL AND GRACE MARATHON?
Texans at Seahawks: Four games and Houston hasn’t forced a turnover yet. It seems so much easier in practice when they’re going against David Carr. Seattle covers 9 1/2.
Browns at Ravens: Jamal Lewis has averaged 147.6 yards per game against the Browns, a credit to his conditioning and monthly games against the Guards. Baltimore covers 5 1/2.
PROFIT MARGINS
(This has become the No Figuring League. But, hey, it’s not about profits! It’s the thrill of the ride! That’s what we like to say. Come on! Who’s with me!?! Hello? Why are you looking at me like that?)
Straight up: 7-7 last week, 35-24 overall
Against the line: 6-7-1; 29-29-1 overall
Lock of the week: Sunrise, 7:43 a.m.
Permalink | | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
NFL Predix: Falcons cover (That is, if these are the Falcons)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before we get into this week’s possible game between the Falcons and New Orleans, which is on the schedule but will not be confirmed by the team or Jim Paramoira, who may or may not be a coach and says he has no special plans for Sunday and might just walk the dog or plant daisies, though he’s not confirming the existence of the dog species or plant life on Earth, which is not to say he’s an Earthling, if indeed Earth exists, and then there’s that whole Big Bang theory … AAAAGGGH!
Anyway, about this “competitive advantage” thing that Paramoira harps on. I had a conversation with Bill Walsh once during a strike season. I had walked through the locker room and saw a Tom Cousineau jersey hanging in a stall. The conversation went something like this:
Me: “So. I see you’ve signed Cousineau for your strike team.”
Walsh: “Who told you that?”
Me: “Nobody. His jersey’s hanging up.”
Walsh: “Oh, um, no, you’re mistaken. I mean, we thought about signing him but we changed our mind.”
Me: “Excuse me?”
Walsh: “Sorry. I’m late for Mensa. But you wouldn’t know about that.”
Walsh, who also had this thing about competitive advantage, didn’t even want teams to know he signed Cousineau. Of course, this thrilled Cousineau, who was not considered a competitive advantage before.
But there’s no reason to be secretive this week. It’s the Saints. They lost 52-3 last week. Jim Haslett has done less with more than any coach in NFL history during his reign of error. Just give him your playbook. He’ll still tie his shoes together.
Michael Vick was listed as “questionable” early in the week. But as Paramoira said: “What’s questionable tell you? … We’re all questionable. I might die in 30 seconds.”
Ah hah! He’s not on the injury report! LIAR!
With or without Vick. Or Mora. Or life forms. Falcons cover 5 1/2.
4 BAGS
Giants at Cowboys: New York has scored the most points in the NFC (136) and is plus-10 in turnovers the last three weeks. I hate stats. Cowboys win and cover 3 1/2.
Dude, That Was My Skull: It’s not Jeff Spicoli having a pizza delivered to Mr. Hand’s class, but you have to admire Nick Saban for starting a blazed certified yoga instructor (Ricky Williams) in his backfield. Or not. Tampa wins but take Fins and 5.
3 BAGS Patriots at Broncos: Tom Brady has been near perfect. With that defense in New England, he’ll have to be. Take the gift 3 as Pats outgun Denver.
Chargers at Raiders: Oakland is struggling in the Red Zone despite having Randy Moss, which ticks off Al Davis, and he’s not even in a Fantasy League, unless we’re counting every day delusions. San Diego covers 2.
2 BAGS
Men of (Rhymes of Thors): So the Vikings reportedly rode The Lust Boat during a bye week. Police are investigating possible prostitution, drug use and illegal sex acts on a chartered cruise involving at least 20 players. The good news is, the Vikings finally tackled somebody. Bears cover 3.
Panthers at Lions: Roy Williams told Sports Illustrated that the Detroit receivers “don’t have any trust” in QB Joey Harrington. It’s a team-building thing. You wouldn’t understand. Take Carolina and 1.
Redskins at Chiefs: The friendship between Joe Gibbs and Dick Vermeil dates back to when they worked together on the first transcontinental railroad. Chiefs cover 6.
Bengals at Titans: Imagine how good Cincinnati would be if it didn’t lead the NFL in penalties (57). The team ranks second in wins and first in felonies. The 3 is covered.
Jaguars at Steelers: Pittsburgh may be without Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward, which would be a problem if Jacksonville didn’t rank 29th against the run. Steelers win, but take Jags and 3.
Jets at Bills: Vinny Testaverde and Kelly Holcomb have steadied their teams. There’s something very disturbing about that. Bills cover 3.
Rams at Colts: St. Louis coach Mike Martz has taken a leave of absence. He joins Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. (I know. No respect.) Indy covers a whopper (13 1/2).
HOW ‘BOUT THAT WILL AND GRACE MARATHON?
Texans at Seahawks: Four games and Houston hasn’t forced a turnover yet. It seems so much easier in practice when they’re going against David Carr. Seattle covers 9 1/2.
Browns at Ravens: Jamal Lewis has averaged 147.6 yards per game against the Browns, a credit to his conditioning and monthly games against the Guards. Baltimore covers 5 1/2.
PROFIT MARGINS
(This has become the No Figuring League. But, hey, it’s not about profits! It’s the thrill of the ride! That’s what we like to say. Come on! Who’s with me!?! Hello? Why are you looking at me like that?)
Straight up: 7-7 last week, 35-24 overall
Against the line: 6-7-1; 29-29-1 overall
Lock of the week: Sunrise, 7:43 a.m.
Permalink | | Categories: Falcons / NFL
College football playoffs bring more issues than answers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
So what’s wrong with Georgia finishing the college football season ranked No. 1 in, say, the Master Coaches Survey, Virginia Tech taking honors with The Associated Press and Southern Cal smacking Texas in the Rose Bowl to become king of the Bowl Championship Series?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
“I mean, why would college football want to start something [a playoff system] that they don’t need?” said Dick Bestwick, 75, among the all-time wisemen of sports. He’s done everything from coaching high school football in his native Grove City, Pa., to working under Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys. He’s now retired in Athens after serving as Georgia’s assistant athletics director, and he added, “College football never has been more popular. They keep increasing their attendance every year. The thing that they [critics of the BCS] don’t understand is that, no matter what we do, there still will be controversy.”
For instance: You’ll have those who will yell themselves hoarse Monday after the first BCS standings are released. Well, imagine the fuming you’d have every week over the choices of whatever entities would be used to select teams for a playoff system. This season, for instance, Southern Cal is a universal No. 1, with Texas, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Georgia rounding out the top five of most polls and computers. And the problem?
“Let’s say you go with four teams in the playoffs. How about the fifth and the sixth team on the list? They both could say they’re better than three and four, and in most cases, they could make a pretty good argument,” Bestwick said. “Who would have been the fourth team for a playoffs last year? Would it have been Texas, California, Utah? No matter how many teams you have in a playoffs — whether we’re talking eight, 16, whatever — you would have more controversy than now.”
You’d also have the NCAA battering the student-athlete even more. Right now, players spend a week or so in bowl cities for a wonderful combination of relaxing and practicing. The intensity needed for a playoff system would take away those tours of beaches and amusement parks, along with compensation from players.
Says who? Says Bestwick, once the executive director of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after playing and coaching in other bowls through the decades. “If you had a playoff, you’d go in the day before the game and play, and you’d come back out the next day,” Bestwick said. “There would be no coming to the site and having a good time and making about $1,000 in expenses and travel money. Besides their Pell Grant, that’s the one time that kids have to make some legitimate money. You know, this whole thing is just goofy.”
It’s this goofy: Some bowls would lose money with playoffs. “The majority of the help at bowls are volunteers,” Bestwick said. “At the Peach Bowl, they’ve got 400 to 600 volunteers. You can’t function without those volunteers. You have Al Tarica, who has been with the Peach Bowl for about 30 years, and he’s in charge of the events. He’s a very outstanding CPA. You’d have to pay a huge salary to a guy to do the things that he does as a volunteer.”
Worse, with a playoff system, you’d have Division I-A football trying to resemble the NFL postseason, but only with players who aren’t equipped physically or mentally to handle such a thing. And, yes, they do have playoffs at the lower levels of college football. It’s just that the collisions aren’t as fierce or damaging.
“If you look at anything from Division I-A down, all the fast guys are little, and all the big guys are fat,” Bestwick said. “The speed and the strength of the big guys at those levels don’t even begin to compare. The mounting injuries of the Falcons this season is just another reminder of why the playoffs would really be bad for colleges. After a season of big games, the playoffs would be high intensity games where injuries would be even greater. The carnage on the kids would mean a final game would be more a contest of who has survived best than the two best teams.”
In other words, stop whining about the current system. Better yet, just sit back and embrace it.
Permalink | Comments (43) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore, UGA / SEC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before we get into this week’s possible game between the Falcons and New Orleans, which is on the schedule but will not be confirmed by the team or Jim Paramoira, who may or may not be a coach and says he has no special plans for Sunday and might just walk the dog or plant daisies, though he’s not confirming the existence of the dog species or plant life on Earth, which is not to say he’s an Earthling, if indeed Earth exists, and then there’s that whole Big Bang theory … AAAAGGGH!
Anyway, about this “competitive advantage” thing that Paramoira harps on. I had a conversation with Bill Walsh once during a strike season. I had walked through the locker room and saw a Tom Cousineau jersey hanging in a stall. The conversation went something like this:
Me: “So. I see you’ve signed Cousineau for your strike team.”
Walsh: “Who told you that?”
Me: “Nobody. His jersey’s hanging up.”
Walsh: “Oh, um, no, you’re mistaken. I mean, we thought about signing him but we changed our mind.”
Me: “Excuse me?”
Walsh: “Sorry. I’m late for Mensa. But you wouldn’t know about that.”
Walsh, who also had this thing about competitive advantage, didn’t even want teams to know he signed Cousineau. Of course, this thrilled Cousineau, who was not considered a competitive advantage before.
But there’s no reason to be secretive this week. It’s the Saints. They lost 52-3 last week. Jim Haslett has done less with more than any coach in NFL history during his reign of error. Just give him your playbook. He’ll still tie his shoes together.
Michael Vick was listed as “questionable” early in the week. But as Paramoira said: “What’s questionable tell you? … We’re all questionable. I might die in 30 seconds.”
Ah hah! He’s not on the injury report! LIAR!
With or without Vick. Or Mora. Or life forms. Falcons cover 5 1/2.
4 BAGS
Giants at Cowboys: New York has scored the most points in the NFC (136) and is plus-10 in turnovers the last three weeks. I hate stats. Cowboys win and cover 3 1/2.
Dude, That Was My Skull: It’s not Jeff Spicoli having a pizza delivered to Mr. Hand’s class, but you have to admire Nick Saban for starting a blazed certified yoga instructor (Ricky Williams) in his backfield. Or not. Tampa wins but take Fins and 5.
3 BAGS
Patriots at Broncos: Tom Brady has been near perfect. With that defense in New England, he’ll have to be. Take the gift 3 as Pats outgun Denver.
Chargers at Raiders: Oakland is struggling in the Red Zone despite having Randy Moss, which ticks off Al Davis, and he’s not even in a Fantasy League, unless we’re counting every day delusions. San Diego covers 2.
2 BAGS
Men of (Rhymes of Thors): So the Vikings reportedly rode The Lust Boat during a bye week. Police are investigating possible prostitution, drug use and illegal sex acts on a chartered cruise involving at least 20 players. The good news is, the Vikings finally tackled somebody. Bears cover 3.
Panthers at Lions: Roy Williams told Sports Illustrated that the Detroit receivers “don’t have any trust” in QB Joey Harrington. It’s a team-building thing. You wouldn’t understand. Take Carolina and 1.
Redskins at Chiefs: The friendship between Joe Gibbs and Dick Vermeil dates back to when they worked together on the first transcontinental railroad. Chiefs cover 6.
Bengals at Titans: Imagine how good Cincinnati would be if it didn’t lead the NFL in penalties (57). The team ranks second in wins and first in felonies. The 3 is covered.
Jaguars at Steelers: Pittsburgh may be without Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward, which would be a problem if Jacksonville didn’t rank 29th against the run. Steelers win, but take Jags and 3.
Jets at Bills: Vinny Testaverde and Kelly Holcomb have steadied their teams. There’s something very disturbing about that. Bills cover 3.
Rams at Colts: St. Louis coach Mike Martz has taken a leave of absence. He joins Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce. (I know. No respect.) Indy covers a whopper (13 1/2).
HOW ‘BOUT THAT WILL AND GRACE MARATHON?
Texans at Seahawks: Four games and Houston hasn’t forced a turnover yet. It seems so much easier in practice when they’re going against David Carr. Seattle covers 9 1/2.
Browns at Ravens: Jamal Lewis has averaged 147.6 yards per game against the Browns, a credit to his conditioning and monthly games against the Guards. Baltimore covers 5 1/2.
PROFIT MARGINS
(This has become the No Figuring League. But, hey, it’s not about profits! It’s the thrill of the ride! That’s what we like to say. Come on! Who’s with me!?! Hello? Why are you looking at me like that?)
Straight up: 7-7 last week, 35-24 overall
Against the line: 6-7-1; 29-29-1 overall
Lock of the week: Sunrise, 7:43 a.m.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Weekend picks: Take reality over AJC.com poll
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Hoping to do for college football what eBay did for flea markets and MTV did for cheap alternatives to a frontal lobotomy, the folks at AJC.com News, Catfish and Such have come up with a poll.
Not just any poll. YOUR poll.
Yes, because we just don’t have enough polls in college football, now even you can vote for your favorite top 25 teams every week. (Voting runs from Sunday through 10 a.m. Tuesday, giving you ample time to do research. Or drink.)
As far as I can tell, you can vote for anybody. No matter the conference. No matter the record. No matter the relevance. I mean, just punch in “Georgia, 1980” — we’ll take it. (Reminds me of the Steven Wright joke: Said he saw a restaurant sign that read, “Breakfast Any Time.” So he ordered French toast during the Renaissance.)
Logic doesn’t apply at the AJC Readers poll. We just wanted to fit in with the rest.
Now here’s a shocker: This week, Georgia is No. 1!
Our voters and assorted meat-by products this week dropped USC to No. 2 because, I think, the Trojans have won only 27 straight games, toppled six countries and are now recognized on the New York Stock Exchange.
Understand, the previous week was also a good one for the Bulldogs. They had a bye. Naturally, they moved up to No. 2.
They made out a lot better than Alabama, which fell from fifth to sixth during its bye week.
Virginia Tech is thoroughly confused. It jumped from seventh to second, then dropped two spots in the last two weeks … after winning two games by 44 points. But the Hokies aren’t complaining because they have enough to deal with, just living in Blacksburg.
The good news is, we still cost only 50 cents more than Creative Loafing and they don’t even have a poll. But they do have those cool ads near the back, like, “Divorcee with monkey seeking …”
Where was I? Oh yeah, the real No. 1 team, USC visits Notre Dame. The Irish are 4-1. Fans haven’t been this excited since Lou Holtz arrived. And then left. They see upset. I see numbskulls.
The line is 12. The Trojans cover. Then drop to No. 3.
A MEAT AND SIX
Dogs at Just A Smart School Again: I’m so glad things are back to normal at Vanderbilt because fans were starting to get obnoxious. Both of them sent me e-mails. The Commodores started 4-0, then forget to look both ways before crossing Middle Tennessee State. Then came the LSU carnage. Georgia will be happy to learn this is Vandy’s homecoming game. Like, aren’t you supposed to beat up on homecoming opponents? Doggies cover 16.
Tech at Duke: Lose this game and this is what Chan Gailey will hear at the airport before the flight home: “I’m sorry sir, but there must be some mistake. Your ticket says ‘coach.’” How do you lose to N.C. State? And get shut out for 2 1/2 quarters. At home. Boise or Bust! Jackets cover the 20 1/2.
Bammy at Old. Ms.: Even Mike DuBose is praising Alabama’s recovery, but then he brought a lot to Tuscaloosa himself: NCAA police, sexual harassment and a three-win season. But fear not. DuBose has landed on his hooves. He’s the defensive coordinator at Millsaps. Actually, he works in the cafeteria. He just uses the defensive coordinator thing as a pickup line. Tide covers 12 1/2.
Miami at Holy Temple: It’s the day after Yom Kippur. I’m feeling a pull from the Chosen Peeps. Canes win but take Temple Beth Owls and 41.
Cry Wolfs at LSU: Just to bring you up to date on the altered state of things in the SEC: Florida couldn’t carry Prairie View’s moo strap and Alabama won’t lose a game for the next 137 years. I love SEC fans. They’re like an acid trip, only less predictable. Well, here’s something you wouldn’t guess. Take Florida and six. In fact, here’s this week’s out-on-a-limb pick: Gators in straight upset.
Auburn at Arkansas: After beating Louisiana Monroe, one Arkansas player gushed, “Confidence is high right now.” Teams seldom get so euphoric when they end three-game losing streaks by beating Louisiana Monroe. Enough about the state of things in Little Rock. Auburn covers 7 1/2.
KEEPING TRACK, SORT OF
(Coming off a hot week. You may bow now.)
Straight up: 6-0 last week, 31-7 overall.
Contra el numero: 5-1 last week, 22-16 for the fiscal year.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
Hawks appear to be big only on duplication
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
This is the first and last time the imperial Yankees will be likened to the no-profile Hawks, but there’s a point — trust me! — herein. The Yankees paid $200 million to assemble a lineup of cleanup hitters, and when it came time for somebody to produce a mere single there was nobody capable. The Hawks spent $150 million less to fashion a roster of swingmen, and barely two weeks into training camp they’re trying to work out who swings where.
And maybe they will. Maybe Mike Woodson will fulfill Billy Knight’s apparent vision of having five 6-foot-8 guys on the floor and Knight will, as owner Michael Gearon Jr. has suggested, be credited with revolutionizing the game. It’s more likely that, the longer and harder the Hawks look, the sooner they’ll realize that basketball positions were created for a reason. Not all players need to be doing the same thing at the same time.
The Hawks spent $70 million for a point guard who hasn’t really been a point guard. Through two exhibitions, Joe Johnson has 10 turnovers against 11 assists. The Hawks used their highest draft pick in three decades on a player who didn’t start for his collegiate team. In 47 preseason minutes, Marvin Williams has made three baskets. These newcomers augment a squad that already included Al Harrington, Josh Childress and Josh Smith, each of similar size.
Question: Did the Hawks simply buy more of what they already had? Woodson, the coach, believes not. He sees differences in each man. The Hawks regard Harrington as a low-post scorer, Smith as a rebounder, Williams as a shooter, Childress as a slasher and Johnson as a distributor. At the same time, Woodson also said, “We’ve got to get better bigs.�
In hoops argot, “bigsâ€? are centers. As much as the Hawks would like to pretend such creatures are extinct — Woodson: “There are few dominant centers in the Eastâ€? — a rather famous one plays in their division. Who among Hawks can guard Shaquille O’Neal?
If defense didn’t matter, a team could get away with putting its five best talents on the floor and letting them slash and shoot away. Woodson, as we know, is a defensive coach. He ended practice Thursday by telling his men their average yield in those two exhibitions was 104 points, a figure that needs to lessen by 11 if they’re to amount to anything. “We’re not going to be Phoenix and outscore people,� he said. “Somewhere along the line we’ve got to make a stand about defense.�
Yes, it’s early, and no, nobody’s expecting the Hawks, who lost 69 games last season, to make the playoffs anytime soon. (Nobody except Woodson, who sets that as this season’s goal.) Still, building a team isn’t the same as collecting able bodies. The Hawks are exponentially more gifted than they’ve been this millennium, but it’s hard to envision a big-time team emerging from this talent base. For the Hawks to break upward, a couple of these callow swingmen will need to be traded for another serviceable ballhandler and a stronger center than Zaza Pachulia.
“That can happen,� Woodson said. “You never know. When you’re building a team, you keep adding pieces. And then you’ve got to start weighing your options: Can a young guy get you [in trade] a bigger, better player?�
Down the line, maybe so. The Hawks haven’t gone far enough down that line to determine which of the many swingers are bona fide keepers. But there is such a thing in sports as having too much of something — the exception is pitching — and the moment will come when they choose diversification over the current flurry of duplication.
Permalink | Comments (41) | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Mark Bradley
Baseball boots it again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Nothing in sports is more entertaining than watching Major League Baseball try to explain itself. The latest example was when Doug Eddings, the plate umpire who turned a simple strikeout into a major incident, met the media Wednesday night. Accompanied by his crew chief and his supervisor — and you thought only high-profile defendants came with a team of representatives — Eddings sought to deflect the blame and naturally only made himself and his silly sport look sillier.
Eddings’ bizarre contention: He looked to Josh Paul, the Angels’ catcher, to see how he, the plate umpire, should react. “I’m watching Josh Paul, seeing what he’s going to do,” Eddings told reporters, and this made no sense whatsoever. A player’s response should influence an umpire’s call? (If so, then the Astros’ Luke Scott should have continued around the bases after his near-miss liner sliced foul against the Braves in the epic Game 4. Maybe some ump would have seen that “response” as cause to signal a game-winning home run.)
And if that was indeed the case — that Eddings took his lead from Paul — then he blew it on both fronts. Paul reacted as if he’d caught the ball before it hit the dirt, which replays show he indisputably did. (The umps, naturally, quibbled and said you could see the ball change directions on the tape. Sure it did. It was going toward the plate and then it hit Paul’s mitt, whereupon it stopped. There’s your change of direction.)
Paul rolled the ball to the mound and made for the dugout. So did the rest of the Angels. So, for a moment, did A.J. Pierzynski, the whiffer in question. Then Pierzynski, figuring what the heck, ran toward first base. And Eddings, to the utter amazement of everyone (Pierzynski surely included), called him safe. After already calling him out.
Baseball being baseball, it sought to defend the indefensible. Rather than saying what it should have said — “Folks, we blew it” — it tried to cloud the issue and argue that Eddings’ clenched-fist signal of “out” wasn’t really what it seemed. And once again baseball came off looking like baseball, which is to say it has no idea how to handle anything.
Permalink | Comments (64) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
Only Vick knows for sure if he’s ready to play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Flowery Branch — OK, let’s go through all of this again. When it comes to Michael Vick and to the aches that he’ll suffer for the rest of his football life, just leave the guy alone. If he says he can’t play, nod and move on with the rest of your life. If he says he can play, step aside, let this miracle of a quarterback tighten the shoestrings on his Zoom IIIs from Nike and prepare for another dose of the unbelievable.
It’s really simple: Pending medical clearance, a healing Vick should determine when it’s time for a healing Vick to return to the Falcons’ lineup.
Nobody else.
I’m repeating my stance here, because the way folks reacted to Vick’s injuries in the past is connected to the present and to the future. Two years ago, he got ripped unfairly for staying away too long after he broke his leg before the season. If you add that to his highly competitive nature, you had his contradictory messages during the past few days after he damaged his right knee. Yes, he was upset that he didn’t play Sunday during the Falcons’ tight loss to the New England Patriots. And, yes, he knew he had no business suiting up.
It was up to Vick to solve the contradiction in his mind. That’s why, before the opening kickoff at the Georgia Dome, a collective decision was made to keep Vick watching instead of playing. The bulk of that decision came from Vick. “Getting a little bit of work last week, and just moving around, I couldn’t do it, and that told me that I wasn’t going to be able to go out there and do what I am capable of doing,” Vick said on Wednesday, recalling his message to Falcons coach Jim Mora. As for Wednesday, Vick spent his relatively light practice wearing a sleeve. While he said he “just had to bite the bullet” against the Patriots and not play, he said he expects to be ready on Sunday when the Falcons meet the New Orleans Saints in San Antonio.
That’s fine. Whatever Vick says about his health. His playing status after injuries shouldn’t be up to somebody else’s concept of toughness or prudence. It should be up to Vick as to whether Vick has the ability to become Vick for a particular game. “(Thursday) is our long day,” he said. “We do red zone and a lot of other things, and I just have to be able to go out and carry out my fakes, take a hard five-step drop, seven-step drop, step into my throws and make sure I am feeling good about it. I have to be confident in my knee.”
Just like Vick had to be confident with the left hamstring that he injured earlier this season. The same also was true of that broken right fibula that he suffered in August 2003 to start this mess. Within weeks after he went down in that exhibition game to Baltimore, the murmuring over the growing length of his absence became an ugly epidemic. Among Falcons fans. Among the media. Even among some of his teammates and coaches.
Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler still fumes over the memory. “That was absolutely the worst year I ever had of fielding questions every single week about, ‘When is Michael Vick coming back? When is Michael Vick coming back?’” said Crumpler, in his fifth NFL season. “They said it was supposed to be a four-to six-week injury, and eight weeks down the line, I looked over in the middle of practice, and Mike is limping and trying to cut and do all of this stuff with the trainer.” Crumpler paused, before releasing his clenched teeth and adding, “Hey, it’s his body.”
Yes, it is, and Vick only is 25. As a result, barring something unforeseen (a blindside smack by a linebacker, a slip on a banana peel, an abduction by aliens), Vick has more than a few years left to zig and zag through defenders when he isn’t using his arm to zip a football over them. He’ll last even longer if he continues to listen to his body, studies the internal messages and then tells others what he hears. With those “others” listening, of course.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Not buying Chipper’s theory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Here’s one of the biggest things that makes the Braves’ yearly October collapses so ridiculous: Except for a second consecutive loss to the Houston Astros in the NLDS and to the New York Yankees (twice) in the World Series, the Braves have flipped, flopped and choked in the playoffs since 1991 to a slew of different teams.
The Twins. The Blue Jays. The Phillies. The Marlins. The Padres. The Cardinals. The Diamondbacks. The Giants. The Cubs.
I mean, it’s one thing to lose to a team that traditionally has your number, but given the above, this Braves’ thing obviously goes way beyond that.
Braves third baseman Chipper Jones told me that, except for their choke against the Yankees in the 1996 World Series (Jim Leyritz), the Braves have had the misfortune to lose to the hottest team during that particular series.
Well, I could support such a theory from Jones if we’re talking about maybe a couple of times out of 14 straight trips to the postseason, but not 13 times. That’s excluding the apparent fluke that was the Braves’ 1995 world championship over the Cleveland Indians.
Take away David Justice’s home run back then and the shutout pitching of Tom Glavine and Mark Wohlers, and the Braves look even more like annual turkeys before Thanksgiving.
Permalink | Comments (68) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
Kovalchuk completes NHL’s power lineup
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Summer acquisitions notÂwithstanding, any question about Ilya Kovalchuk’s importance to the Thrashers evaporated quickly Tuesday when he joined the team for power play practice. Measuring the importance was difficult only because nobody used a stopwatch.
“I kept him on the ice for probably 10 minutes,” coach Bob Hartley said. “He was the only guy who didn’t come off the ice.”
“He played me 15 minutes — back and forth, 15 minutes in a row,” Kovalchuk said. “That’s OK. He told me it was just to get me ready.”
When the INS granted Kovalchuk his work visa Tuesday, it might have ended the rest of the NHL’s best chance for slowing the Thrashers’ power play in general and Kovalchuk in particular.
In past seasons, a successful power play unit could be viewed as a nice bonus or one of several keys to success. This year, its importance might be closer to that of a Gatorade bucket in the middle of the Sahara. Only those who can drink with an extra skater will survive.
More penalties are being called now, which means power play time, which means a greater emphasis on a team’s skilled forwards. If you play on the third or fourth line, you might want to bring a book with you to the bench — because you’re barely getting more ice time than the Zamboni driver.
Which brings us to the Thrashers. Even without Kovalchuk, the NHL’s best triggerman, the team totaled eight power play goals in two games against Washington. With Kovalchuk, this team has the potential to be the league’s best this year and among the best ever.
Maybe Hartley puts Kovalchuk down low on the left side, with Slava Kozlov and Bobby Holik on the right. Maybe he puts him on the point with Peter Bondra, Marian Hossa and Mark Savard down low.
Maybe he goes with five forwards, with Bondra and Kovalchuk as point men.
Chew on that while spinning memories of Martin Prochazka and Johan Garpenlov.
If you’re trying to kill a penalty against this team, what goes through your mind?
“I’m hoping that my goalie is having a really good night,” Scott Mellanby said.
“It’s intimidating. There might be plays on a penalty kill where they take a chance to try to break up a play. But they also might freeze a little bit because of the intimidation factor.”
The Atlanta Thrashers: Intimidating.
Still chewing?
“I think it’ll be even more intimidating for the guy who’s sitting in the box,” Hartley said. “He doesn’t want to have to go back to the bench [after a goal].
“Our power play could be one of our best tools against [physical] intimidation. If a team wants to try to run us out of their building — like in Washington, we scored on the first four power plays. That sends a message: If you want to be stupid, it could be a long night.”
OK, hockey school is open. In general, the power play accounts for about one-quarter of a team’s offense. (In 2003-04, 27 percent of the goals came on the power play.) Through the first six days of this season, 37 percent of the goals (114 of 308) were power plays. Eight of the Thrashers’ 15 (53 percent) have come with an extra attacker.
Great teams have been led by great players on the power play: Edmonton (Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey). The New York Islanders (Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Dennis Potvin). Colorado (Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Ray Bourque). Pittsburgh (Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, whoever).
Kovalchuk stepped on the ice Tuesday, looked around and was struck: “Unbelievable. Just the names. Names everywhere.”
He was prepared to miss this. Had negotiations with the Thrashers broken off, Kovalchuk would have signed with a team in Russia and made a nice living. But his mind would be elsewhere.
“I would be reading the [Russian newspaper] Sports-Express every day, looking at the [NHL] results,” he said.
Now he looks on a power play and sees Bondra (who has scored 50-plus), Hossa (40-plus) and Kozlov (30-plus). But he didn’t seem to have any trouble keeping up Tuesday.
“He reminds me of Guy Lafleur when he was young,” Hartley said, referring to the former Montreal great. “He’d come to training camp with a pack of cigarettes and he’d finish first in the [fitness] testing.”
Kovalchuk didn’t have any cigarettes Tuesday, just a stick. And if Hartley wanted to cram an entire training camp into one practice, so be it.
Permalink | Comments (46) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
The Tuesday Countdown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: I fully realize you come to me for answers. (Pause for effect.) But I’m going to be completely honest here. I don’t know how to fix the Braves. Well, yeah, duh, they need a better bullpen and they’ll need a shortstop and a leadoff guy if they lose Rafael Furcal. I’m talking big picture …
9: You know, BIG PICTURE. The owners. The general manager. The manager. There’s a tendency in times like this to say: Get rid of them, dump him, fire him. But, really, can anybody make a case that any of those three parties are at fault here?
8: OK, Time Warner told John Schuerholz to trim the budget. But there’s no guaranteeing that another $10 million or $20 million or $50 million would have made a difference. Evidence: Yankees, Red Sox.
7: Fire Schuerholz? Who could have done more with less? Fire Cox? Dude. Take a pill. The guy should be considered a deity for leading this bunch to a division title. Disagree? Go ahead. But I ain’t buying.
6: Meantime, now THIS is funny: A Final Four of Cardinals, Astros, White Sox and Angels. Those of us who can’t stand how professional sports has completely sold out to television — thereby giving us the midnight seventh-inning stretch — rejoice in having things blow up in the face of Fox and Major League Baseball.
5: By the way, my daughter is very upset about “The O.C.” being off the air for a few weeks for the playoffs. Can’t say I blame her.
4: It’s not about local team ratings. It’s about national appeal and ratings numbers. The Cardinals are the only team that even comes close in that regard. Houston is — ugh. Chicago and Los Angeles are major markets, but the White Sox and Angels are the stepkids of those cities. We’re not talking Cubs and Dodgers. If the teams were cities, baseball got Springfield, not Boston; and Macon, not Atlanta.
3: No Yankees. No Red Sox. Free lithium in the ESPN employee cafeteria!
2: For the record, I can’t believe people are accusing Michael Vick of dogging it Sunday and not playing. (He said the decision was Jim Mora’s, who concurred.) Does anybody really think he wouldn’t want to play against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots if he could?
1: And how quickly do we forget about a performance in Buffalo three Sundays ago when Vick went out with a sore hamstring and led the Falcons to a win with two touchdown passes?
Permalink | Comments (20) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
Legacy of collapses grows into a curse
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
They are our Red Sox, our passion and our curse, our annual helping of heartbreak. They are doing to us what the star-crossed Sox did to generations of New Englanders. They are making us believe not in the happy power of miracles but in the darker side of fate.
It goes like this: The Braves get really good over the summer and we tell ourselves, not for the first time and sadly not for the last, that this October will be different because this time they’ve got (choose one, or two, or all) cool rookies/fighting spirit/better starters/better relievers. Then the bitter month arrives and we’re reminded that nothing ever changes. They’re the Braves, and they wilt in October. There’s no explaining it. It’s simply what they do.
Yeah, they win all the other months, and that only makes it worse. The stuff they do that brings them to October never works once they’re there. The closer who carried them through September spits out a five-run lead with six outs to go. The leadoff sparkplug becomes the All-American out. The rookies look like rookies. Every year the failings are different, but every year the result’s the same. The Braves lose. They lose so horribly that they make us never want to watch another baseball game, but then spring comes around and the Braves get hot again and we begin to wonder if this is the team that will make us forget all the other teams.
Instead we wind up remembering. For Kyle Farnsworth, we see Mark Wohlers. (Just as Andruw Jones, then stationed in left field, leaped in vain after Jim Leyritz’s infamous home run in 1996, the same great fielder tried to pull down the Brad Ausmus line-clearer.) For Brian McCann and Pete Orr failing in the clutch against Dan Wheeler, we see Gary Sheffield and Chipper Jones against Robb Nen in 2002. We see everything for the second and third and 10th time, and it hurts worse with every repetition. That’s October if you follow the Braves: Much pain, no gain.
Dour New Englanders had their grim litany: Johnny Pesky holding the ball; Jim Lonborg on two days’ rest; Bill Lee throwing the eephus; Bucky Dent and Bill Buckner and Grady Little. We purportedly sunny Southerners have our own. The last 10 postseasons have yielded no championships, only two pennants and five jolting Round 1 exits.
The tale of woe began 10 Octobers ago, the night Leyritz, nicknamed the King for his playoff theatrics, hoisted the slider from Wohlers, nicknamed (rather appropriately) Woe-Daddy, over the left-field fence. The Braves had led that game 6-0 and were closing in on a second World Series title in succession and were about to stamp themselves as a team for the ages. Instead they became Bosox South.
A six-run lead wasted in 1996. A five-run lead squandered in 2005. Three Game 5 losses at Turner Field. First that rat Leyritz, then Eric Gregg, then Sterling Hitchcock, then Chad Curtis, then Will Clark, then Craig Counsell, then Barry Bonds, then Kerry Wood, then Carlos Beltran, now Chris Burke. Ten October fizzles in a row, 10 and counting.
We know already what will happen over the offseason. The Braves will make moves — the guess is that Rafael Furcal, who should have rendered himself indispensable but hasn’t quite, will be allowed to leave — that will generate yet another division title. (As bad as the Braves are in October, they’re that good in the six months preceding.) We’ll convince ourselves that this team is better suited for the fall than any of its immediate predecessors, and then it will fall, too.
But we shouldn’t lose hope. The Red Sox went from 1918 until 2004 without winning it all, and they finally and famously broke through. If we can just hang in there another 75 years, we’ll really have something to celebrate.
Permalink | Comments (204) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Williams ready to assert himself at highest level
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
J.C. Clemons
1. Has life in the NBA humbled your boy Louis Williams yet?
Quite the contrary, we hear. In fact, now that Lou has that guaranteed contract deal (the one nobody except he thought would happen), the Sixers’ rookie guard sounds as effervescent, or brash, as ever.
According to the Associated Press, Lou is still being Lou.
He arrived at training camp in Durham, N.C., in full self-assertive mode, complete with this declaration: “I’m even going after Allen’s spot… . The awe factor ended this summer, three months ago once I first got into Philly.”
Uh, that’s Allen Iverson whom the pride of South Gwinnett High was speaking about. High words indeed for someone once considered by many to be a “project.”
But, Lou has not totally lost touch with reality,
“Really, it is impossible,” Lou said of supplanting A.I., “but that’s just the confidence you’ve got to have.”
Coach Maurice Cheeks endorses Lou’s strident mind-set.
“Why should he be a guy that just comes out there and says, ‘I’m not going to be one of the guys and I won’t be able to play,’ ” Cheeks said. “Certainly, he’s not as good as A.I. now, but as time moves on, maybe he will. Who knows that?”
All Lou knows for sure is that he is in a place of his dreams.
“How many 18-year-old guys can even have this opportunity?” Williams said. “There’s millions and millions of high school basketball players out there in the world and I get to practice every day with Allen Iverson.”
For those who just can’t wait until the Sixers visit the Hawks on Dec. 23 to find out, Lou and A.I. play a preseason game in Columbia on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
2. Now that it’s over, will your other boy, Jeff Francoeur, be Rookie of the Year?
Will he? Probably.
Should he? Nope.
As much as we all love Jeff around here, in an ideal world he would finish third in the voting. I say Jeff falls behind the Phillies’ Ryan Howard (.288, 22 HRs, 63 RBIs in 88 games) or the Astros’ Willy Taveras (.291, 34 steals, 82 runs in 152 games). To me, either would be a more worthy winner.
But being a former card-carrying member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, I will let you in on a little secret. Most award voters are biased. It’s hard to deny human nature.
Voters tend to favor candidates who are nice to them (“How are the wife and kids doing?”), accommodating (do not hide in the training room after a tough game) and/or are quick with a witty quote. Like, for instance: “We should be back in Atlanta right now.”
Still, Jeff’s splendid campaign (.300, 14 HRs, 45 RBIs in 70 games) gives Braves diehards hope for next season.
Once again.
3. Since Brookwood has all but clinched its region, which football team do Bronco fans want to finish runner-up?
Grab a seat, this may shock you. Parkview gets the nod.
Players, of course, couldn’t care less. If you are a true-blue Brookwood backer, though, you would much rather see the hated Panthers win out and take second place in Region 8-AAAAA. That way, Parkview would land in the opposite side of the playoff brackets from Brookwood. Meaning they could not meet again until the state final.
Ironically, Bronco fans would rather Parkview finish third than land the fourth and final playoff berth, even though that would mean Parkview would have to play at opponents’ fields throughout the playoffs.
Until, that is, a possible rematch with the Broncos in the semifinals at the Georgia Dome.
While we can be assured Parkview will be heard from again this season, Central, Berkmar and Grayson will all have a huge say in how the region ultimately shakes out.
Permalink | | Categories: High School, J.C. Clemons
Another fine summer ends in painful fall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Bobby Cox is my Manager of the Year, except for one month — October. Not that I’m in sackcloth and ashes after the hassle in Houston, for this is not a World Series team. But six times in a row? Out with the garbage in the first round? With your healthiest pitcher in charge and leading the Astros 6-1? Yep, you’ve heard the same old song so many times you want to bring charges. Tim Hudson was pitching on three days’ rest. So?
This was October, not July. This was what the season was for — to make the playoffs. Hudson’s a strong, wiry guy, built like a coiled spring. Would he rather be pitching to the Cardinals this week, or have all winter to rest, as he now has?
On the other hand, look at that phoolish Phil Garner, who had the audacity to go against the book. Bring the antique Roger Clemens in from the bullpen? Pinch-hit? Go the last three innings?
Let’s see, Clemens pitched last Thursday, so by the baseball calendar he had only two days’ rest. At the age of 43. And who have the Braves got going against him? Joey Devine, 22 years old. Four months ago the league he was pitching in was the Atlantic Coast Conference. Then who did Cox have left to go to? Horacio Ramirez had to be reserved for the fifth-game start that never came. John Smoltz’s shoulder, they said, was aching again. That left John Foster, whose job description is pitching to left-handers. (Though the funny thing is, Cox brought him in the other night to pitch to Lance Berkman, who’s a switch hitter. One pitch and he lost him.) And there was tough little Macay McBride, who was ready but uncalled on.
Here were the Braves in this predicament, score tied, 18th inning, a college kid pitching against the Hall of Famer Clemens, but an Astros rookie coming to bat. (Would I rather have Kyle Davies or Joey Devine in this situation? Easy choice, but for some reason Cox chose to go with the green-as-grass kid for his playoff roster.) The unknown Chris Burke had spent three seasons trying to get out of Round Rock — which, by the way, is Ryan Langerhans’ hometown — had hit five major-league home runs. Looked like even money. Wrong. Devine gave up his third killer home run of the season. At least the bases weren’t loaded this time, but that made no difference.
The “home run” that I question was the one by Brad Ausmus that hit above the yellow line and rebounded onto the field. That “yellow line” stuff has no place in the major leagues. No ball that stays in play should be a home run because of some dadgummed yellow line. It either leaves the park or strikes the fair-foul pole, or it’s not a home run. But Bobby Cox didn’t make that rule.
His minions played their own part in the Braves’ demise. Marcus Giles misses the bag. Chipper Jones throws a wayward ball to Julio Franco, then makes a slow-motion effort after a foul ball. Adam LaRoche had struck a four-run homer, but had been lifted, I suspect, after lallygagging around the bases on Jeff Francoeur’s double in the seventh inning and getting cut down at the plate with a very valuable run. Actually, he probably had no idea Fredi Gomzales, the third base coach, would wave him, and he had trouble shifting back into high gear, which is no burning speed, to say the least.
The bullpen has been vulnerable from the start, when the Braves made the sinking discovery that $3.4 million had been wasted on Dan Kolb. It was another kind of Albie Lopez blooper. They took a $4 million plunge on Lopez a few years back, after one shining performance, and Albie was more to be pitied than scorned. After Kolb, the bullpen was in rotating disarray in search of a closer. Chris Reitsma, Jim Brower and others had a fling at it until Kyle Farnsworth arrived. The season was saved. They had their man. Until the eighth inning in Minute Maid Park Sunday night. For Bobby Cox, the first 162 regular-season games had gone well. Once again, it was those silly little playoff games that got him, sixth time in a row, and you know these fans of ours. Your grizzled correspondent, for one, is not offended. Give me the pleasure of a good 162-game season and October can take care of itself. Besides, by the time they get to the World Series, baseball is but a distant blur on the horizon. I once walked out on one to go to the Breeders’ Cup, so there.
Permalink | Comments (55) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
None of this makes any sense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Houston — On and on it went, with exhaustive moments inside of the equivalent of two baseball games on Sunday at Minute Maid Park. Then somebody named Chris Burke committed a double murder on the visitors. The dagger that he used to stick in their hearts and twist was a liner over the left-field wall. Just like that, in the bottom of the 18th (yes, the 18th), game over, National League Division Series over and postseason over for the Braves.
Again. If you’re keeping track, that’s 14 straight trips to the playoffs, a world championship a decade ago and five first-round exits during the past six years, including four in a row and two straight to the Houston Astros.
None of this makes sense for a lot of reasons. For instance: The Braves have collapsed by Halloween with a bunch of veteran teams, and now they’ve done so with a roster of eight rookies. They’ve had Cy Glavine, Cy Maddux and Cy Smoltz, but the results remained ugly. They’ve even tried to work with Cy Smoltz from the bullpen. No luck. In fact, Cy Smoltz, otherwise known as John Smoltz, was brought back to start this season with October in mind. Even so, the Braves just lost three of four playoff games to another inferior bunch.
I’m virtually out of solutions. Does Smoltz have any? “This, by far, with all that has happened to us this year, is probably the worst way that you can lose a baseball game,” Smoltz said, referring to Braves leads of 5-0 and 6-1 that evaporated courtesy of more non-relief from their bullpen. “A lot of people had the microscope on them, and they could have really been a redeeming factor here. And to gut it out the way we did for the whole game, we certainly had an incredible plane ride ahead of us. And now it will be a very quiet plane.”
There also was Chipper Jones, the Braves veteran third baseman, who talked of being so shocked by the Astros’ game-tying home run with two outs in the ninth that he wanted somebody to pinch him. He has some solutions. “I’d like to see us do some things to our rotation and to our bullpen, because you never can have enough pitching,” Jones said. “Obviously, during the course of the season, our Achilles’ Heel was long relief in the seventh and eighth innings. Things like that.”
Things that give you the feeling that Braves players finally are tired of these flips, flops and chokes. More than a few of them clenched teeth after the Astros won this thriller of a Game 4 to reach the second round while the Braves will spend another winter pondering and fuming.
“This is so frustrating that if I knew we were going to lose in the first round again, I wouldn’t want to be in the postseason at all,” said Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche, who already was sick enough. He suffered from a stomach flu before the game, but he pushed his team to a 4-0 lead with an early grand slam. It didn’t matter. Neither did the Braves sitting ahead by five runs as late as the eighth inning.
You know the rest. From Kirby Puckett to Jim Leyritz to Carlos Beltran, The Collapse always happens for the Braves of October. This time, there was that Astros’ grand slam in the eighth, and then there was that solo homer in the ninth to send this thing into extra innings forever. Later, after the Braves’ relievers actually showed a pulse, the Braves’ hitters died. They did the impossible by stranding 18 runners on the base, and as LaRoche added with a heavy sigh, “It was like Russian Roulette giving them that many chances.”
Across the way, Andruw Jones sat for the longest in solitude by his locker. I’ve known the great Braves’ center fielder since his rookie year, and I’ve never witnessed such anguish on his face. “This loss is really tough, because what this team looks forward to every year after we break spring training is being in the playoffs, and winning the World Series,” Andruw Jones said. “To get to this point, and to lose again in the first round, it’s just, man, it’s …”
He didn’t have to finish.
Permalink | Comments (178) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
Miffed Vick kept in dark about his status
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
For as much progress as Michael Vick has made reading defenses, there are still some things he can’t see coming. Like being told, “Don’t suit up.�
Vick didn’t learn until he arrived at the Georgia Dome Sunday morning that he wouldn’t be allowed to play against New England because of a sprained knee.
Now, it’s common for NFL coaches to treat the injury report as a weekly disinformation campaign. It’s another to keep the team’s own starting quarterback in the dark.
“Very frustrating,� is how Vick termed things when told by Falcons coach Jim Mora he wouldn’t start. “I thought I’d play.�
So he didn’t take it well?
“No, I didn’t,� he said as he walked off the field, wearing shorts and a sweatshirt. “But I guess it’s the decisions that you gotta make. Nothing I can do about it.�
Vick isn’t merely the Falcons’ best player. He’s the kind of guy whose flare for the spectacular can often mask a team’s weaknesses. The Falcons hung with the New England Patriots Sunday, albeit a banged up version, before losing, 31-28.
But moral victories don’t figure into even wild-card tiebreakers. And minus Vick, this team’s holes were on full display.
Defensive backs seemed to float in and out of consciousness. Wide receivers dropped passes. An opposing running back rushed for over 100 yards for the third time in five weeks.
In Vick’s place, Matt Schaub was pretty solid. He threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns, rallying the Falcons from a 14-0 deficit to tie the score with under four minutes left. Not bad for a guy who also didn’t find out until Sunday who the starting quarterback was.
“I never one time said anything to our football team this week about our starting quarterback,� Mora said later. “That’s because to the guys in this room, I don’t think that’s what it’s about for them.�
Well, it kind of is to the quarterback.
Strange week. On Monday, Mora said the MRI on Vick’s right knee was negative and he’d likely play. On Wednesday, Vick officially was listed as probable, which means there is a 75 percent chance of playing. After practice, Mora said of Vick: “I thought he looked fine.�
But as the week went on, things became less certain. Mora now says he inaccurately projected Vick’s progress. He watched Vick recover from a hamstring strain two weeks ago at Buffalo and expected the same progression this week.
On Saturday, he downgraded Vick to “questionableâ€? — after a walk-through. Who gets downgraded after a walk-through?
But Mora denied intentionally misleading anybody, even though he was going against Bill Belichick, the king of covert ops. (Belichick has been fined several times for injury-list fraud. Last year he didn’t list Richard Seymour on an injury report, and the player didn’t even make the trip to the game.)
That just doesn’t mean he’s going to be completely forthcoming. Mora obviously was strongly leaning against playing Vick Saturday, but he admitted: “I’ll certainly tell you that we were not going to divulge that.�
“Asking [Vick] to go out with a brace on at less than even 90 percent — it wasn’t smart, it wasn’t prudent. I held out hope until [Sunday] morning. … I thought [early in the week] he’d be fine. I even walked up and down the stairs with him. It’s not like he was grabbing the rail or anything.â€?
Told Vick seemed upset, Mora said. “I hope he wasn’t happy. I don’t want him to be happy. I don’t want any one to be happy when they’re not playing. He’s a competitor and it’s game day. On game day the adrenaline gets going. But part of a coach’s responsibility is recognizing that sometimes as a competitor you’re willing to make some sacrifices that you shouldn’t make.�
Vick was thinking about going against Tom Brady. Mora was thinking about the season. Vick doesn’t know if he’ll play next week against New Orleans. If he doesn’t know, Mora certainly doesn’t know.
Only one thing seems certain. Mora will hold a news conference today. Transcripts will not be etched in stone.
Permalink | Comments (153) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Relief from hapless bullpen urgently needed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Houston — We’ve been here before with the Braves. Actually, we’ve been here way too many times with this franchise, suddenly needing (stop me if you’ve heard this before) a victory in Game 4 of the National League Division Series to keep from another quick and ugly implosion during the postseason.
That said, if the Braves do the improbable today with a victory against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, they’ll have a chance for redemption Monday at Turner Field in a decisive Game 5. Just don’t count on it, not unless baseball changes its rules during the next few hours and allows the Braves to trade all of their relievers not named Kyle Farnsworth for guys who actually have a clue. The Braves’ bullpen has been thoroughly brutal all season, and nothing has changed with the heightened pressure of the playoffs.
This is ridiculous. How did an organization that prides itself on pitching get into such a mess? Courtesy of four guys in the seventh inning not named Farnsworth, the Braves watched a 3-2 deficit Saturday night against the Astros evolve into a 7-3 loss at the end and a 2-1 deficit in this best-of-five affair that feels as if it’s already over.
The series still lives, though, but if it officially dies for the Braves in Game 4, they’ll become even more of an October pumpkin than they usually are when Halloween is near. After all, the Braves did find ways to survive Game 4 last year in Houston, and they did the same the year before that against the Cubs in Chicago. It’s just that the Braves eventually turned big and orange during both of those subsequent Game 5s, even though they were playing at home. And get this: Unlike this year, both of those Braves teams that couldn’t win Game 5s actually had a bullpen that were keys to those Game 4 victories.
“Yeah, well. This obviously isn’t the ideal situation to be in,” said Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche, easing into a chuckle to break the gloomy silence in the visitors’ clubhouse. His three-run homer in Game 4 last year propelled the Braves toward that Game 5 against the Astros. “The only positive thing about this is that we know what we have to do. We have to win two games in a row. Don’t look ahead. Look at today. Concentrate on one game.”
LaRoche forget something else: Hope Braves starter Tim Hudson goes nine, 15 or whatever amount innings it will take today to keep his teammates in the bullpen watching instead of throwing.
Anyway, despite a gorgeous night around southeast Texas, they closed the roof before the start of this one. It was the first clue that the Astros expected to treat this as an elimination game or one in which they could clinch something.
Neither was true, of course, but this was: The Braves had to approach the evening with as much urgency as their ruthless host. Whenever they close the roof over Minute Maid Park (even when a brilliant moon is dancing above warm breezes), the Astros wish to turn their already noisy home into the loudest place on earth. They even passed out a bunch of white Rally Towels for fans to wave along with their tongues.
Then they got that insect thing going in the first inning. Whenever one of the Astros’ so-called Killer B’s does anything worth noting, those in the stuffed house do their imitation of bumblebees. In other words, there was much buzzing after Craig Biggio led off with a double off the large wall in left field. He eventually scored. So did another one of those Killer B’s, Lance Berkman, on a sacrifice fly.
No problem for the Braves, who threatened earlier in the series to remain a resilient bunch. After they were ripped at Turner Field in the opener, they responded the next night by pounding the Astros. And here were the Braves, tying the game at 2-2 in the second despite all of that buzzing, all of that towel waving, all of that lack of ambience due to a closed roof.
The Astros’ Mike Lamb countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the third, but we already told you that the Astros meant business in this one. So did the Braves, but only those not named Farnsworth who claimed to be relievers.
Permalink | Comments (41) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
A sign of committed owners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Everybody says they want to win. The reason everybody doesn’t win is the “want” usually is backed by ownership with the depth of a cardboard cutout.
You learn about “want” during the phone calls. When a general manager phones his boss about paying a star player and the line suddenly goes dead, that’s when “want” becomes ownership Latin for, “Well, I don’t want it that bad. But you better win, anyway, or you’re fired.”
Something important happened Saturday, and it goes beyond the fact the Thrashers became whole again (or at least will when Ilya Kovalchuk has a work visa). The same ownership group that survived a cartoonish hostile takeover attempt by one member and spent $70 million on Joe Johnson ponied up again.
Spending $32 million on Kovalchuk, an actual franchise player, might not seem as great a risk as committing more than twice that to an NBA player who has never been a centerpiece. But it illustrates there is something behind the “want” with the Atlanta Spirit — and in a sport still looking to grow roots here.
“Honestly this is an important experiment for us,” said Bruce Levenson, the Thrashers’ lead owner. “We’re going to find out here in these next exciting years whether this can be a hockey town. Frankly, I was very heartened by what’s transpired in Tampa, the way that city has embraced hockey.”
NHL history is written in red ink. The lack of significant TV revenue screams: If you really want to own a hockey team, you’re doing it for the thrills, the financial upside. Otherwise, buy a ticket.
The Thrashers could have continued to play hardball with Kovalchuk. They could have stayed at $28 million, lose him to some obscure team in Russia and still had a decent team — just not a potentially great one. Certainly, that would’ve been cheaper. It’s not as if signing Kovalchuk comes with a guarantee that reads: “Anybody signing this player will win the Stanley Cup and sell another 10,000 season tickets.”
But signing Kovalchuk shows a commitment more often spoken than actually seen in sports.
“You go through a lot of ways of rationalizing something like this,” Levenson said. “You go through all of the mathematical calculations. We did buy this team in hopes of having a rationalized business. We’re not just going to throw money away, but this was an investment in the future of this team.”
The two sides basically met at the middle — Kovalchuk’s agent originally was stuck on $35 million. But Waddell never really wanted to go this high, nor did he know if it would make a difference. He was in Washington on Thursday night and phoned agent Jay Grossman. “The conversation was professional, but it went nowhere,” Waddell said.
He couldn’t sleep. At 3 a.m., he got up and booked a flight to New York. By noon Friday, he was in Grossman’s office. The two found common ground a couple of hours later and then sought league approval for the contract’s structure and language. At 4 p.m., Kovalchuk was in his agent’s office with Waddell to go over details. (The NHL didn’t actually approve the deal until 4:57 p.m. Saturday.)
Waddell wore a smile all night Saturday. He sat in his suite with another happy GM, the Hawks’ Billy Knight. He referred to Kovalchuk as “a franchise player,” adding with a laugh, “I guess I can say that now.” (Such pre-deal admissions erode leverage.)
Of the investment, he said: “We need to have a good year this year to get hockey fans back in the building. People are waiting for us to take that next step, and we will.”
For the second consecutive night, the Thrashers flattened the Washington Capitals, 8-1. It was during the first period when Waddell announced Kovalchuk’s signing to the sellout crowd at Philips Arena. Captain Scott Mellanby already knew of the deal but said, “I didn’t tell the guys because I thought we should be focused on the game.”
Said Peter Bondra, “Honestly, I didn’t find out until [the announcement]. The guys got pumped up. We were almost jumping around.”
“They’ve made a lot of moves here,” Mellanby said. “It shows a commitment to win the Stanley Cup.”
It’s something to back up the “want.”
Permalink | Comments (39) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Victory settles where this team belongs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Knoxville — The question was specific: Could scarcely tested Georgia play with toughened Tennessee? The answer was as broad and as sweeping as these far-flung United States: Georgia can play with anybody anywhere. That means the team in Los Angeles. That means the team in Texas. That means the team in Blacksburg.
Anybody anywhere.
“People questioned us,” said safety Greg Blue. “They said we’d had no challenge the first four games. They said, ‘Can you beat Tennessee?’ Well, we beat them.”
Of the many splendid road victories achieved under Mark Richt, this was the most comprehensive. Even the rout of the Volunteers in Knoxville in 2003 turned on Sean Jones’ fumble return at the end of the first half. This one turned on nothing. This one was all Georgia from the opening kick. Tennessee was lucky to be close after three quarters, and then it was close no more.
D.J. Shockley threw a bad interception and lost an unfortunate fumble and still he never seemed close to losing his grip. “D.J. didn’t flinch,” said Richt, speaking of his quarterback’s response to the turnover that gave the Vols their only glimmer of hope, but the coach might well have been referring to every man on his traveling squad. Georgia had the better offense, the better defense, the better special teams. The better coach, too.
And to think: This was billed as the Bulldogs’ bridge year, the transitional period from the era of Greene and Pollack and VanGorder to … what? A lessened team and lesser achievements? Yeah, that was the expectation in January, in August, even last week. But look now. Look at Shockley, playing as well in a big game as the sainted Greene ever did. Look at the defense, coming within an eyeblink of laying a goose egg on the Big Orange. Look at an untested team capable of entering the massive stadium on the river and acting as if it owned the joint.
“It’s all about regrouping,” said Shockley, referring to his immediate response to the interception — he found Kenneth Harris deep on Georgia’s next snap — but “regrouping” can stand as the theme for 2005. (Really, “Finish The Drill” is so yesterday.) They got really good for three years, and now they’re really good again with different guys doing the business.
“We played a great team and played great,” said Richt, and there was no other way to view this one. Tennessee proved itself in its epic comeback at LSU, and now Georgia has proved it’s even better than Tennessee. The Bulldogs made an estimable opponent look slow and limited and undisciplined. (The Vols were called for 12 penalties. Yikes.) Georgia ran harder and tackled better and didn’t yield to self-doubt when Tennessee cut it to 13-7 and the massive stadium was literally rocking.
“I didn’t feel like we were coming unglued,” said rover Tra Battle. “We just knew we had to regain the momentum. We say something on the sideline — ‘GTBB.’ It means, ‘Get the ball back.’?”
Sure enough, Georgia did. Battle stripped the ball from Josh Briscoe near midfield and recovered the fumble himself. That bought the field position that led to Mikey Henderson’s downing of Gordon Ely-Kelso’s punt at the 1, which in turn spawned the clinching punt return by Thomas Flowers. With more than half the fourth quarter remaining, the mighty Vols were done.
And now we — and the football world, from Corso and Herbstreit on down — must view Georgia differently than we did when the weekend began. This isn’t a team lucky to ranked No. 5 in the nation. This, once again, is a team of elite quality.
“We proved we can win in a hostile environment against a great team,” Harris said. “We proved a lot to the nation. We belong where we are.”
Permalink | Comments (74) | Categories: Mark Bradley, UGA / SEC
Weekend Predictions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Even the mightiest fall eventually. I mean, once the Roman Empire went kaput, all bets were off. Sure, they thought they were invincible, but then the personnel guy insisted on drafting some hotshot named Caligula, and, well, that didn’t turn out too good. Makes the Ryan Leaf pick look like nothing.
But the New England Patriots aren’t taking this decay thing real well. Couple of weeks ago, Bill Belichick stepped beyond even his usual cloak-and-dagger persona when he shooed away another team’s medical personnel away from a Patriot linemen. And all the guy wanted to do was make sure Matt Light wasn’t, like, dead.
Then last Sunday, the Pats got pounded by San Diego. That noted smack-talker, Marty Schottenheimer, who holds a doctorate in vanilla, made a seemingly harmless comment about injuries and player turnover sometimes catching up with a team. But Tom Brady reacted as if he said, “Marcia Brady throws a better spiral.”
Some people think there’s no way the Patriots could lose to the Falcons today because they lost last week and, therefore, they’re really, really mad.
Dude. These are football players. They don’t need a reason to hit somebody. They’re either good or they’re not good. The Patriots are still good. But they’re also 2-2 for a reason. Standard half-truths on the injury report notwithstanding, they are beat up and they have lost players. (They list 14 on the injury report.)
Michael Vick looks like a go. So does the Falcons’ running game. That should be enough here.
Out on a limb, Romulus: Falcons cover three.
FOUR BAGS • Steelers at Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson already has eight touchdowns, which I think is more than my entire Fantasy League team, which of course is why I hate him. Go with Pitt (coming off a bye week) and 3.
THREE BAGS • Eagles at Cowboys: Donovan McNabb on Philly winning four of the last five meetings in Dallas: “Although I don’t have a star on the side of my helmet, it feels good to be in that place.” Puts him ahead of Bill Parcells. Eagles cover 3.
• Bucs at Spruce Goose: Vinny Testaverde, 41, is expected to start for the Jets, although it could depend on how his backup, Earl Morrall, looks in warm-ups. Tampa covers 3 on the road.
• Redskins at Broncos: Sorry, I’m just not feeling that Clinton Portis-Champ Bailey grudge match. Has any higher profile trade done less for either team? Denver wins, but take Wash and 7.
TWO BAGS • Dolphins at Bills: So if you’re J.P. Losman’s backup, where does that put you on the food chain? Just above plankton? Kelly Holcomb to the rescue! Bills cover 2 1/2.
• Colts at Phoney Niners: There’s this rule of thumb in the world of hypothetical sports wagering that you never lay two touchdowns in an NFL game with your hypothetical bookie, unless you want to lose your hypothetical hiney. But that thumb never saw the Niners’ secondary. Indy covers 141/2.
• Saints at Packers: Green Bay is 0-4 and Brett Favre (left) is on pace to throw 32 interceptions. I say we all let him get back on Vicodin. Ease the pain. Pack wins and covers the 3.
• Seahawks at Rams: Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck said of the team’s offensive struggles: “I just do what I’m told.” So he’s passing the buck to a coach (Mike Holmgren) whose won Super Bowls? When did Hasselbeck start channeling Jeff George? Take the Rams to cover 3.
• Bengals at Jaguars: Some 4-0 teams are shams. Cincinnati isn’t one of them. Take the gift 3 but Cincy wins in straight upset.
• Panthers at Cardinals: Arizona is 0-3 in the U.S. and 1-0 in Mexico. It follow the Cards have petitioned the league to reverse the Mexican-American War, which of course is within the NFL’s authority. Carolina covers 2 1/2.
DON’T LOOK, YOU’LL GO BLIND • Ravens at Lions: Detroit’s Charles Rogers was suspended for four games after testing positive for drugs. Given his numbers, I’m assuming they weren’t performance enhancing. Take Baltimore and the 1 1/2.
• Titans at Texans: The first touchdown you see will clinch the game. The second touchdown you see is a message you’ve had too much beer. Take Houston to cover 3.
• Bears at Browns: Cleveland’s next five opponents are a combined 4-12. Chicago’s next six opponents are a combined 7-14. The problem with both stats: They stink themselves. Take the Bears and 3.
PROFIT MARGINS Last week (ugh): 8-6 straight up, 8-6 against the line.
Overall (feh): 35-24 straight up, 29-29-1 against the line.
Peerless Price Cowboys Up: 4 weeks, 2 DNPs, 1 catch, minus-1 yard.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Going nuts good gameplan for Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Houston — For Game 3 of tonight’s National League Division Series at Minute Maid Park, those inside the visitors’ dugout will turn the place into a yelling, dancing and jumping mess.
Good. Consider this from Eddie Perez, among the Braves’ old heads, who shook his head on Friday before a workout and pointed across the way to Blaine Boyer, among the Braves’ young heads. “That guy never stops screaming and saying, ‘Yeah, yeah,’ on every pitch of the game,” said Perez, referring to one of eight rookies on the Braves’ playoff roster. “You’ve got Pete Orr and Kelly Johnson, all of them screaming, and it makes you want to do what they’re doing. It makes you want to get into the game. You go crazy. It’s way different from what I’ve seen here.”
That’s good, all right. Maybe the Braves finally get it. Then again, since another early and brutal collapse in the playoffs by this tease of a franchise isn’t acceptable, they haven’t a choice.
Contrary to whatever silliness the Braves thought before, emotion is needed in baseball, especially after September. So here they are flashing signs against the Houston Astros, understanding what others have known: Forget that stoic approach in the postseason. Go nuts. Follow the lead of Brian McCann, another one of the Braves’ young heads, who was ripping a three-run homer off the great Roger Clemens one moment on Thursday night and chest-bumping Andruw Jones, another one of those old heads, the next.
Such enthusiasm was wonderfully contagious for the Braves. Exhibit A: Those pumped fists combined with wild eyes from old heads Chipper Jones and John Smoltz down the stretch of the Braves smacking the Astros into a 1-1 tie during this series. “For sure, all of those guys are more enthusiastic than they’ve been in the past, with a lot more energy,” said Jeff Bagwell, among the old heads for the Astros. “You could have a 21-year-old kid on your team, but he might be quiet. They have a bunch of kids that age who are really enthusiastic. I’m sure it makes things fun for those guys who have been around a long time, and it makes them feel a little younger.”
Whatever works. Remember that among the slew of reasons why the Braves keep evolving into the Great Pumpkin before Halloween is that they usually have the enthusiasm of Charlie Brown during the playoffs. It used to send Gary Sheffield into a quiet rage. “You don’t even get the feeling around here that it’s the postseason,” groaned the accomplished slugger who nevertheless vanished in October during his two years with the Braves.
Now Sheffield is back to prospering this time of year with a Yankees team that is dominated by those who get it. Not coincidentally, despite the Braves’ ongoing record streak of 14 trips to the playoffs, the Yankees have four world championships during that period to the Braves’ one. None of the Braves’ young heads have any world championships, and they wish to change that. Which brings us to something from either the Bible or Yogi Berra that goes, “A little child shall lead.” In the Braves’ case, we’re talking about several big children, who can hit, field, pitch and work themselves into such a frenzy that it is making their elders do the same.
Maybe it was only a coincidence that the Braves suffered a blowout loss in Game 1 against Houston with only one rookie in their starting lineup but rolled to a blowout victory in Game 3 with three playing, including McCann along the way to his blast against Clemens.
“It’s fun to be out there, and it’s fun to bring a new attitude to this team, but at the same time, I think (the old heads) are helping me and Brian and helping all of us to be calm and not be too excited,” said Jeff Francoeur, another one of the Braves’ young heads. “We still are a very business-like team, and I like that. We carry ourselves professionally, but to see Smoltzie and Chipper pumping their fists, that really is huge.”
Yes, it is, and now all the Braves have to do is the following: Keep turning emotion into victories.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
Cold wind blows Blank’s way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
So Atlanta’s generous offer to host another Super Bowl has been given another cold (hidden meaning there?) shoulder by the grand old owners club of the National Football League. Is this the second or third time? I lose count.
Now, far as I’m concerned, they can take their dad-ratted Super Bowl anywhere they choose, preferably out of town. It messes up traffic. Can’t make a dinner reservation. A legal resident can’t get a ticket, if he could afford the $375, or whatever the next price may be. And, besides, I’d prefer a World Series anyway.
But that’s not the point here. What is the point: Are they taking it out on Arthur Blank? Johnny Come-Lately owner, new guy on the block and everything going for him. Just snapped his fingers, and the Falcons were right up there in the playoffs. And who’s the talk of the league? His quarterback, Michael Vick.
Of course, he inherited Vick. He inherited a Georgia Dome with its usual stack of vacant seats, too, but turned on his marketing charm, and Atlantans came running. He just cut a wide swath a little too quick for a guy who’d made his fortune selling pots, pans and plywood.
He looks like walking success. He dresses for success, smooth as a single malt Scotch, it has been written. But is he too smooth, too slick for the fraternity he has pledged?
You see, the owners of NFL teams are sort like a brotherhood, and sisterhood, including Ms. Frontiere of the St. Louis Rams. There is a hard core of old-liners still holding steady in the league, seeing that the boat doesn’t get rocked around. The Rooneys, the Maras, the Browns, the Spanoses, Ralph Wilson, Bill Ford and all those resident owners of Green Bay.
Rankin Smith was one of them, moved in, knew his place, when to salute and how to follow the leader, which for most of his time, was Pete Rozelle. So when Atlanta built a dome for him, the members of the club gave him the Super Bowl game they’d promised. He was responsible for the return game in 2000, indirectly.
His son and successor, Taylor, appeared before the owners meeting and made an impassioned appeal in the name of his father. Rankin was dying, as one final tribute to him, bring the game back to Atlanta.
The faithful brethren responded. The Super Bowl of 2000 was awarded to Atlanta. Rankin had been dead about three years by the time it was played, but he lived long enough to know how the decision was made. He had manned his oar, pulled his weight, and his fellow owners rewarded him for his loyalty.
You wonder if Arthur Blank might come across more genuinely if he came in drinking beer from a long-neck bottle, wearing boots and jeans and a denim shirt open at the neck. Or, if he stayed off the field and out of camera range. Jerry Jones has sort of worn that sideline act raw in Dallas, but you know Jerry’s an old football player and he responds to the sight of blood and the smell of sweat.
I don’t know, maybe it’s not the old owners fraternity giving Blank his comeuppance. But the weather? You’re not selling me that bill of goods. The wintry blast that struck town the week of the 2000 Super Bowl was the only real winter we had that year in Atlanta. Nothing even close to the blizzard that blanketed Pontiac the year the game was first played in Michigan. Now, by gum, here they go back again, south by 25 miles, to the icy shores of Lake St. Clair.
Arthur Blank is a man of vigorous ambition. He’s a great promoter, a benevolent host and exceedingly conscious of media values. Maybe he moved too swiftly for his fellow club members. Maybe this is their way of hauling him up short. Wait your turn, big boy.
Whatever it is, you’ll never convince me the Super Bowl is being steered out of town on account of the weather. Better be nice, guys, you may not be invited back.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Furman Bisher
Batterymates give Braves a charge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
If there was a going to be a moment when the course of a playoff series would change, it had to go like this.
It had to have bizarre story lines. It had to have a 38-year-old pitcher throwing to a 21-year-old catcher. It had to have rookies looking out to the mound and thinking, “Hey, that’s Roger Clemens. Cool! OK, now I’ll get a hit.”
It had to have a manager — slammed for a lineup decision the day before — treat Game 2 like do-or-die-yet-again by asking his No. 5 hitter to lay down a sacrifice bunt in the second inning.
Most of all, it had to have John Smoltz. Six years after his last postseason start — six years that saw injuries, reconstructive elbow surgery, a spectacular career rebirth as a closer and a re-rebirth as a starter — Smoltz was back in his comfort zone Thursday: On the mound as a playoff starter.
One day after the Braves looked comatose in another playoff game, Smoltz and Brian McCann acted like two electric paddles in an operating room. Smoltz didn’t look anything like a guy who had been having shoulder problems of late. He yielded a run in the first inning, then shut down Houston in the next six. McCann, his rookie batterymate, clubbed a three-run homer off a future Hall of Famer in his first postseason at-bat.
The Braves dumped the Astros 7-1 to even their divisional playoff series at a game apiece. So much for how this team would react in yet another postseason survival test.
At this point, maybe the atypical recipe for success shouldn’t be considered so atypical anymore.
“I’ve got a thousand emotions going through my head right now,” Smoltz said. “Just the teeter-totter of all the things that were being said about this team. But now we go on for another day.”
It was Smoltz’s 40th postseason appearance, but his first start since the 1999 World Series (he lost to Clemens and the Yankees). McCann was making his postseason debut. He was 7 in 1991 when Smoltz started his first playoff game.
So how’s this for a story for McCann to tell his grandkids: “Yeah, back in 2005, when gas was only $3.05 a gallon, I caught John Smoltz, and on my first swing in my first at-bat in my first playoff game against Roger Clemens, I hit a three-run homer.”
The Braves trailed 1-0 in the second. Bobby Cox (criticized for starting Brian Jordan in left field in Game 1) clearly was thinking: any run, any way possible, against the dominating Clemens.
After Andruw Jones singled, Adam LaRoche sacrificed him to second. A walk and a strikeout later, McCann stepped up with two on and two out.
The first two pitches from Clemens were balls. The third was a dream: a fastball over the plate that McCann clocked 409 feet into the right-center field stands.
The reaction from Houston manager Phil Garner to Clemens giving up a playoff homer to a rookie: “It’s a surprise.” (So where’s he been?)
Suddenly, the Braves had a 3-1 lead. Suddenly, they had life.
Suddenly, it was up to Smoltz.
He had waited a long time for this. His last October start was six Octobers ago. The spring of 2000 brought elbow problems and elbow surgery. He missed a year, came back briefly as a starter, the elbow rebelled and eventually he was moved to the bullpen.
Smoltz might have remained a closer, but this time it was the Braves’ run of postseason futility that interceded. The team needed a power pitcher back in the rotation.
The staff’s restructuring was built around his return to starter. It all pointed to these playoffs.
Recent shoulder problems threatened to wreck this moment. Cox slid him back to Game 2 and moved up Tim Hudson to the opener. More waiting.
But it was worth it. He threw 25 pitches in the first, then settled down. Houston managed just four hits in the next six innings.
“The first inning was going to be my biggest inning,” he said. “I waited a long time to start a playoff game of this magnitude.”
The shoulder wasn’t a problem for Smoltz. The stage wasn’t a problem for McCann.
Given this season, what else would you expect?
Permalink | Comments (39) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
Loss will cast shadow on Gailey’s future
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
On a damp and foggy night, everything was suitably hazy from the get-go. Georgia Tech worked itself into trouble. Then it clambered out. Then, in the span of 13 seconds, it backslid. Then, on the cusp of victory, it authored an agony-of-defeat moment you had to see to believe. And even then you asked yourself, “Did that really happen?�
Reggie Ball had one of those halves in which he did almost nothing right, followed by a second half in which he looked like Joe Montana. (With Calvin Johnson playing the part of Jerry Rice right up until the excruciating end.) Just when Tech looked to have stopped everything North Carolina State could do, the Wolfpack threw a simple slant that went for 80 yards, retaking a lead that seemed lost forever.
Just as no Tech game is complete without an anxiety attack, no Tech season can pass without a loss that shouldn’t have been. This was one of those games it was supposed to win, and that alone should have told us the Jackets were swimming upstream. Tech seems better suited to being a fearless underdog, and on this night the Jackets only managed to abdicate their favored status by falling 10 points behind. Then they righted themselves, as they often do.
Tech played a powerful third quarter and nosed ahead two snaps into the fourth, and midway through the period it was driving for the touchdown that would put the Wolfpack away. But the drive died, and Travis Bell missed from 24 yards — earlier he’d missed from 27 — and on the next snap quarterback Jay Davis hit Brian Clark in stride. Clark flashed between Jackets to score the 80-yard touchdown that gave an already weird game an astonishing twist.
Behind again, the Jackets saw one drive fizzle. Then Gerris Wilkinson dropped Toney Baker on third-and-1 when a first down could have won the game for State. Then Ball, who infamously forgot what down it was in Athens last season, found Johnson for 12 yards on fourth-and-5 with 1:28 remaining, and from there it seemed ordained. Ball would throw it high and Johnson would rip it from the darkened sky and Tech would win at the end.
But, no. Ball ran the Jackets into position, dashing to the State 2 with 32 seconds left, and here Tech messed up in a way nobody could have imagined. Ball faked a handoff to P.J. Daniels, then raised up and threw to Johnson, who not only didn’t catch the ball but also managed to deflect it to defensive back Garland Heath, whose bizarre interception finally decided it. How’s that for an ending? You get the ball to your best player, and he spits it out.
This nutso game could have ended no other way. Ball had gone from being booed in the midst of a 6-for-25 first half to hearing his name chanted as he led the Jackets goalward in the final minute. He did everything he could do, and still it wasn’t enough. Tech contrived — and that’s the proper word — to lose to a team it should have beaten by two touchdowns, and that, sad to say, remains the signature of this program under Chan Gailey.
Tech wins a game it probably shouldn’t, then loses one it absolutely couldn’t. This loss will remove the Jackets from the Top 25, a perch they’d labored long to reach, and will again cast all manner of doubt on Gailey and his stewardship. This was a game that was nearly lost twice and nearly won twice more, and finally it was lost in the strangest way possible. The great Calvin Johnson had the ball on his fingertips in the end zone, and he shoveled it to the other team.
Permalink | Comments (106) | Categories: Mark Bradley
Loss will cast shadow on Gailey’s future
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
On a damp and foggy night, everything was suitably hazy from the get-go. Georgia Tech worked itself into trouble. Then it clambered out. Then, in the span of 13 seconds, it backslid. Then, on the cusp of victory, it authored an agony-of-defeat moment you had to see to believe. And even then you asked yourself, “Did that really happen?�
Reggie Ball had one of those halves in which he did almost nothing right, followed by a second half in which he looked like Joe Montana. (With Calvin Johnson playing the part of Jerry Rice right up until the excruciating end.) Just when Tech looked to have stopped everything North Carolina State could do, the Wolfpack threw a simple slant that went for 80 yards, retaking a lead that seemed lost forever.
Just as no Tech game is complete without an anxiety attack, no Tech season can pass without a loss that shouldn’t have been. This was one of those games it was supposed to win, and that alone should have told us the Jackets were swimming upstream. Tech seems better suited to being a fearless underdog, and on this night the Jackets only managed to abdicate their favored status by falling 10 points behind. Then they righted themselves, as they often do.
Tech played a powerful third quarter and nosed ahead two snaps into the fourth, and midway through the period it was driving for the touchdown that would put the Wolfpack away. But the drive died, and Travis Bell missed from 24 yards — earlier he’d missed from 27 — and on the next snap quarterback Jay Davis hit Brian Clark in stride. Clark flashed between Jackets to score the 80-yard touchdown that gave an already weird game an astonishing twist.
Behind again, the Jackets saw one drive fizzle. Then Gerris Wilkinson dropped Toney Baker on third-and-1 when a first down could have won the game for State. Then Ball, who infamously forgot what down it was in Athens last season, found Johnson for 12 yards on fourth-and-5 with 1:28 remaining, and from there it seemed ordained. Ball would throw it high and Johnson would rip it from the darkened sky and Tech would win at the end.
But, no. Ball ran the Jackets into position, dashing to the State 2 with 32 seconds left, and here Tech messed up in a way nobody could have imagined. Ball faked a handoff to P.J. Daniels, then raised up and threw to Johnson, who not only didn’t catch the ball but also managed to deflect it to defensive back Garland Heath, whose bizarre interception finally decided it. How’s that for an ending? You get the ball to your best player, and he spits it out.
This nutso game could have ended no other way. Ball had gone from being booed in the midst of a 6-for-25 first half to hearing his name chanted as he led the Jackets goalward in the final minute. He did everything he could do, and still it wasn’t enough. Tech contrived — and that’s the proper word — to lose to a team it should have beaten by two touchdowns, and that, sad to say, remains the signature of this program under Chan Gailey.
Tech wins a game it probably shouldn’t, then loses one it absolutely couldn’t. This loss will remove the Jackets from the Top 25, a perch they’d labored long to reach, and will again cast all manner of doubt on Gailey and his stewardship. This was a game that was nearly lost twice and nearly won twice more, and finally it was lost in the strangest way possible. The great Calvin Johnson had the ball on his fingertips in the end zone, and he shoveled it to the other team.
Permalink | Comments (118) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC
Friday Predictions: Take Doggies in Flawed Bowl
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before unveiling this week’s stone cold lox investment, we have HUGE news in the entertainment world — yes, even bigger than the shocker that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are going to have a baby (human!), which hopefully will happen on a school holiday so Katie won’t have to make up algebra homework.
Hollywood Records announced this week that the Lennon-McCartney from Hades, Donald Trump and Regis Philbin, recorded their rendition of “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” on the new “Regis Philbin Christmas Album.” You’ll find at the $1 store, right next to the Hawks’ centers.
The album must be really good, because Trump said this week, “It’s really good. So you have to go out and get it.”
I bring this up for two reasons: 1) I’m so tired of breaking down coverages and blocking techniques. (Pause for effect.) 2) It’s Tennessee week, and I didn’t want you to be too surprised if Big Pumpkin Entertainment this week releases, “Phil Fulmer and Jabba The Hut Perform Couples Yoga.”
Georgia-Tennessee might be about that pretty Saturday.
Your little Doggies are 4-0, give or take a lottery ticket. The schedule so far: Boise State-South Carolina-Louisiana Monroe-Mississippi State. Add SPF 45 and a pina colada and you’ve got a Club Med.
Georgia’s offense generally has functioned as well as Fulmer attempting a toe touch (sorry for that visual before breakfast). They made the Gamecocks look almost Division I-like. The Vowels (3-1) lost to Florida, didn’t look particularly impressive against UAB or Mississippi and made the incredible escape in Baton Rouge.
But a few things may tip the Flawed Bowl. Tennessee is beat up and playing its third game in 13 days. Quarterback Rick Clausen has worn a walking boot all week to protect his strained Achilles, and has dislocated fingers, a sore elbow and a bruised shoulder.
That’s enough.
Take the three, but Doggies win a straight upset.
Value Menu
(Add fries, a drink and a playoff relief appearance for the Braves for 99 cents)
• Missy State at Florida: Drank the Kool-Aid in Gainesville, I guess right before Urban Meyer chugged a Zook smoothie. The Gators failed to score a touchdown last game for the first time since 1992. Now Meyer is starting to wonder if opponents are stealing their signals. Dude. What’s to steal? Florida wins but covering 28 is asking too much.
• Kentucky at Carolin: Since playing the role of headlights to Georgia’s deer eyes, Steve Spurrier has lost two SEC games by a combined 85-21. But you’ve gotta like a guy who can be both humbled and biting at the same time. We quote: “[Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville] used to say, ‘We don’t have the players that Florida’s got.’ … I’m not going to say that.” Fortunately, no excuses are necessary when you play Kenyucky. Roosters cover 13.
• LSU at Vanderbilt: Commies start 4-0, make everybody’s they’re-so-cute list, then blow a game to a 16-point underdog (Middle Tennessee). It was like watching Wile E. Coyote taking that first step off the cliff. (Poof.) LSU covers 15.
• Oklahoma at Texas: In Mack Brown’s last five meetings with Oklahoma, he went 0-5, got shut out once, allowed over 60 points twice and was outscored 189-54. Cyanide would’ve been a lot quicker. Texas wins but take the Okie and the 13 1/2.
• Duke at Miami: Duke is missing a bunch of guys because of injuries. I’m going to let you decide whether that’s bad news. The line is 35. That’s points, not lost organs. It’s covered.
ALMOST PERFECT
•Straight up: 4-2 last week, 25-7 overall.
• Spreadables: 3-3 last week, 17-15 overall.
• Rock-paper-scissors: 12-2.
• Special commendation: To fans from the Tuscaloosa Correctional Institute, who sent one e-mail before the Florida game but several forms of correspondence after it, some even not in crayon.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
The Cox Bloop Index
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Readers of this space — both the print and cyber side of it — know that I yield to no one in my admiration for Bobby Cox. He’s a great manager. (And no, it wasn’t his fault the Braves lost Game 1 and looked lousy doing it — a manager can’t throw the ball for his starting pitcher.) But there’s one thing Cox does consistently that rankles me without fail, and he did it again Wednesday.
He invoked the Cox Bloop Index.
Those who’ve been paying attention know that, according to the Braves, there are two classes of opponents’ hits — there are the well-struck screamers (example: Andy Pettitte’s double over Brian Jordan’s head) and then there are the ones that the opposition, were it any kind of sport, would simply refuse to accept. These are the bloopers, the bleeders, the seeing-eye grounders. When the other side strings two of these together, Cox wrinkles up his nose and acts as if he has been personally offended.
Yes, this is one way of protecting his pitcher — witness Cox’s bizarre claim that Chris Reitsma, who retired one batter (and that on a sacrifice bunt) and was charged with four earned runs, had actually thrown with the mastery of Mariano Rivera — but it’s a tactic guaranteed to diminish the opponent’s achievement.
In 1992, Cox waved off a first-inning grand slam by Cincinnati’s Glenn Braggs off Steve Avery by pronouncing the rally, “Three bloops and a blast.”
Pitchers surely appreciate this, but to me it always sounds disingenuous at best and condescending at worst. Isn’t there something to be said for simply putting the ball in play, hitting ‘em where they ain’t? And are we to believe that the Braves, in their entire history, have never once benefited from such well-placed knocks?
Someone remind me: Was Francisco Cabrera’s winning hit in Game 7 in 1992 a ringing smash over the distant wall, or was it a simple single between Jeff King and Jay Bell?
Permalink | Comments (55) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
Team keeps using worn Game 1 plot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Move along, folks. There’s nothing new to see here. Nothing except another Braves’ playoff opener, another putrid performance therein.
We keep hearing this is a new and vibrant team, but nothing about Game 1 was new or vibrant. On the contrary, it was the same old same old writ lousy and large. The Braves’ starting pitcher got outpitched. The Braves’ lineup got outhit. The Braves’ bullpen reeked. The Braves’ stadium was conspicuously unfilled. The seasons change, but somehow Game 1 of the Division Series never does.
This marked the fourth consecutive Braves postseason — and sixth of the past seven — that has commenced with a loss. Some of those openers were utterly wretched, but this one reached a new low in the top of the eighth inning. Houston scored five runs, one coming on a bases-loaded walk, another on a wild pitch. That ran the Astros’ lead to 10-3, a score that was actually kind to the Braves.
Given that eight of Houston’s first 22 outs were made on either sacrifice bunts or double plays — and a ninth came when Brian Jordan reached above the left-field fence to snatch Adam Everett’s screamer — it could easily have been 13-3 or 15-3. And to think: This was supposed to be a series in which the Braves have the better lineup and the better offense.
Alas, October offenses are at the mercy of October pitching, and the Astros had way more of that Wednesday. Andy Pettitte was mostly superb, as you’d expect, and Tim Hudson, imported over the winter to be the No. 1 starter the Braves lacked last fall, looked instead like a No. 3 starter in over his head. The starting pitcher’s job description: Give your team a chance to win. Hudson gave the Braves no chance. Craig Biggio singled on Hudson’s second pitch. Ten of the first 17 Astros batters reached base. It was 1-0 after a half-inning, 4-1 after 3 1/2.
“He was way off his game,” said Bobby Cox, speaking of Hudson. “He was maybe too fired up.” So, to all those who insist the Braves lose in October because they’re too blasé, there’s the rebuttal: See what happens when they get excited?
Once Hudson exited and the alleged relievers entered, a bad day got exponentially worse. Poor Chris Reitsma, who yielded four runs in less than an inning in a Game 5 loss to a better Houston team last October, was charged with four more runs Wednesday. This led Cox to say, as only Cox can: “Reitsma couldn’t have made better pitches. ? He’s not going to throw the ball any better than he did tonight.” To which we can only say: Yikes.
Afterward, the Braves made their usual can-do noises about how this was only one game, and no team in the world is more practiced at pronouncing Game 1 “just one game” than this bunch. But now John Smoltz, who’s really good, has to beat Roger Clemens, who’s really good himself, tonight or this series will essentially be aborted on the launch pad.
The odds, oddly enough, are with Smoltz: After those five previous losses in Division Series openers, the Braves roused themselves to win Game 2 four times. The Braves, lest we forget, are not totally overmatched when it comes to this postseason thing. It’s just in Game 1 where they’re hopeless.
Toward that end, here’s a suggestion: When the Braves win their 15th consecutive division title, they should begin the 2006 playoffs by trying something new. (Clearly, whatever they’re doing isn’t working.) Next time they should forfeit the opener and start the Division Series down 1-nil. Bud Selig might frown on such a maneuver, but think of the aggravation it would save the Braves. And us.
Permalink | Comments (92) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Mark Bradley
Seems like old times: no offense, an injured goalie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Sunrise, Fla. — Eighteen months later, the starting goalie left early with a groin strain and the power play appeared to lack a pure goal scorer.
I’m sorry. But who said, “Let’s go to the videotape”?
One game into season No. 6, the Thrashers’ biggest problem is the thread still connecting them to years one through five. Scoring wasn’t supposed to be a problem, even with Atlanta’s best player still minus a contract and currently more concerned about stockpiling Pampers in his New York flat.
Health in goal shouldn’t be a problem, either, but Kari Lehtonen appears to be channeling Damian Rhodes. The 21-year-old rookie missed all but one preseason game with a groin strain and lasted only one period in the season opener.
Is this any way to start a playoff run?
Florida 2, Thrashers 0. Atlanta whiffed on six power plays, including a two-man advantage for two minutes that was wrapped into a five-minute advantage overall, which generally was wrapped into 60 minutes of frustration.
The Panthers’ goalie, Roberto Luongo, made 34 saves, but the Thrashers too often played footsy with him in the offensive zone. As Bobby Holik neatly summarized, “We just didn’t make it hard enough for Luongo to stop the puck. We got enough shots to score, but there’s two reasons [why we didn’t]. We didn’t do a good enough job screening or creating traffic. Traffic and screens. It’s not complicated. It’s not science.”
No, that’s the thing about hockey. It’s a pretty simple game. You score, they score. Simple.
It was supposed to be simple and more wide open this year with rule changes and stepped-up enforcement of the old ones. This was supposed to be the “new” NHL, the one with more flow, more scoring, more bells and whistles and twirling red lights behind the nets.
Maybe the new rules don’t go into effect until next week. Because Wednesday’s game often lacked flow and, certainly, goals. It was scoreless through two periods, and at that point the teams were scoreless in nine power plays (they finished a combined 1-for-14).
This was the kind of game in which the Thrashers could have really used a pure goal scorer. But, well, it’s that age-old problem of not being able to pry a Russian away from Khimik.
Unless there’s a break in negotiations soon, the next time the Thrashers see Ilya Kovalchuk might be on EA Sports’ “Russian SuperLeague ‘05-‘06.” He’s closer to the team now than ever before, but only geographically. He flew to New York on Wednesday night to visit his girlfriend and newborn daughter.
Atlanta’s next game is Friday in Washington, and general manager Don Waddell isn’t ruling out a side trip to Manhattan. If Waddell wants to show a flair for the dramatic, he can sign Kovalchuk the day of the home opener Saturday.
He made a point to say during the morning skate that Kovalchuk was put in the team’s new media guide because it is his intent to get the player signed. Problem is, media guide bios can’t skate.
“We’re hoping it all works out,” Marian Hossa said. “He’s a big piece of the organization. But right now he’s not here and we can’t worry about it.”
If they continue to blow 5-on-3 power plays, they’ll worry.
Lehtonen, meanwhile, did a nice job opening and closing the door to the players bench in periods two and three. He was bowled over by Florida’s Nathan Horton late in the first period and told coach Bob Hartley during the intermission he was toast. In came Mike Dunham, who did fine for a while. But he gave the game away in the third when his clearing pass was picked off by Horton, and he compounded the giveaway by letting in a soft shot low on the glove side.
Dunham: “If you give up that goal when it’s 5-1, it’s no big deal. But you can’t make that mistake when the game is scoreless.”
The Thrashers dressed 20 players for the game — 10 of whom had never played a game for the team. But roster churn didn’t produce a goal in the opener. Said Hartley, “We moved the puck well, but we couldn’t finish.”
The finisher wasn’t in town.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Keep the Super Bowl away
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Oh, no.
Not again.
Surely NFL owners realize that it still gets really cold, wet and dreary in Atlanta during your average February.
Translated: Ice storms. As in, why are these owners even consider bringing another Super Bowl to this place?
They got it right the last time. We’re talking about May, when the owners decided that the 2009 Super Bowl should go to Tampa (as in sunshine and as in a lovely vacation spot during the winter that jives well with the slew of visitors who come to a Super Bowl Week) instead of Atlanta (as in ice storms, period).
From an Olympics to an NBA All-Star Game to many events in between (hello, Freaknik), Atlanta has shown that its already clogged streets become even more so during mega events. Little stuff like the SEC championship game and the Peach Bowl aren’t a problem, because they are quick events, with only regional appeal.
We can’t handle the big stuff, when the entire world is involved.
So when the owners meet Thursday in Detroit, let’s hope they don’t lose their minds when choosing the location for the 2010 Super Bowl.
Give it to Houston or Miami, as in places not named Atlanta.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
No grace despite miracle season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
To solidify what already is true, which is that Bobby Cox is peerless in baseball history among managers, the Braves must ignore everything, ranging from overwhelming youth to Pettitte, Clemens and Oswalt, and win. Their division series. The NLCS. Everything. It’s just that to accomplish such an unlikely but possible feat, they must conquer the Houston Astros and all of those ghosts with tomahawks across their chests.
Lonnie Smith rumbling, stumbling, bumbling. Charlie Leibrandt (Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield). That meltdown against the Phillies after surviving that showdown against the Giants. Jim Leyritz. Eric Gregg’s strike zone. Sterling (or was that Alfred?) Hitchcock. Any given hitting, pitching or fielding gaffe along the way to losing in the first round during four of the past five years.
“If we can just somehow go inside a bubble and not concern ourselves with the past, we’d be better off,” said pitcher John Smoltz, telling the truth about a subject that he knows well. He’s the only Braves player to have witnessed all of those horrors during a postseason streak that will extend to 14 today when the Braves meet the Astros at Turner Field. Yes, fourteen. You’d think that anybody during such a streak would stumble into at least a couple of world championships.
Instead, the Braves’ only ring in their run for the ages came 10 years ago. Not good, not for the venerable Cox, not with his Braves flipping, flopping and choking away chances to become something other than what they’ve been, and that is successors to the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s as the greatest underachievers ever.
So why was Chipper Jones shaking his head? “You know, I’ve said this all along, and that is, with the exception of 1996 [when the Braves collapsed against Leyritz and his Yankees], I think that at the time we got beat in the postseason, we got beat by a slightly better team at that particular time,” said Jones, joining Smoltz as Braves’ elder statesmen. “I mean, if we ever go into a postseason on a 15-game winning streak, I’ll feel a little differently, but that hasn’t happened since I’ve been here.”
It certainly didn’t happen this season, with the Braves slumping into October while the Astros are streaking like they did last season, when they became the fifth consecutive team to shove the Braves out of the playoffs with an elimination game at Turner Field.
The bullpen is a mess. The same goes for Andruw Jones’ batting stroke since his 50th home run. Plus, Smoltz’s shoulder is so tender that he went from the Braves’ postseason ace to a Game 2 starter on Thursday night.
If that isn’t enough, Cox must do the improbable during the postseason after he accomplished the impossible during the regular season. He won a 15th consecutive division title (if you include his last season with the Toronto Blue Jays) despite injuries to 3/5th of his starting pitchers, despite operating much of the season without an injured Chipper Jones and despite using 18 different rookies on his roster.
Speaking of rookies, Cox will use eight of them against the Astros, and nobody in recent or distant memory has tried to travel from this point to a world championship with that much youth.
Whatever. Although these Braves had nothing to do with the October failures of those other Braves, history couldn’t care less. History will recall what the Braves franchise did or didn’t do after a fourteenth consecutive trip to the postseason, and history won’t be kind if the Braves franchise doesn’t prosper.
“It’s either hero or goat,” Smoltz said with a chuckle. “It’s gone from our flying start in 1996 against the Yankees, when it was ‘Why play the rest of the World Series?’ to ‘I can’t believe they let us down again.’ With the miracle team that we had this year, and with all of the youth, if we had not of won the division, we would have been given more grace than any team in the history of sports. But the fact that we did win this year, there will be no grace.”
Nope. And, given that this is the Braves’ fourteenth consecutive trip to the playoffs, there shouldn’t be.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
Franchise’s fate hinges on holdout
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
To think that after all the 3-on-1s coming back the other way, after all the sad power plays and blur of shell-shocked goalies with groin strains, there may be only one thing keeping the Thrashers from becoming a Stanley Cup contender:
Ilya Kovalchuk and Don Waddell, together on “Kiss Cam.”
The new Thrashers return to the new NHL tonight in Florida. Blink, and you might miss this franchise’s best opportunity to pound its inglorious history into the boards.
Kovalchuk will not be in uniform tonight. But this isn’t about one game. It’s about a season, and the possible irreparable harm being done.
As hockey returns, the Thrashers find themselves possibly ahead of the curve — after five years of being constantly plunked by curves. They have a potential young star in goalie Kari Lehtonen and a capable backup in Mike Dunham. So goaltending has gone from a punchline to a strength. The defense has been rebuilt with size and lacks a weak link.
But what potentially puts this team ahead of most is offensive depth. The Thrashers used to struggle to find even one first-line forward. Now, Waddell has added Marian Hossa, Bobby Holik and Peter Bondra to a roster that already included Marc Savard, Slava Kozlov — and Kovalchuk’s empty jersey.
This doesn’t mean the Thrashers will win every game. But it does mean they won’t be overmatched in any game. As coach Bob Hartley said, “This will be the year of goaltending and special teams.”
New rules and promised reinforcement of the old ones will mean more penalties and power plays. Who is better prepared than the Thrashers? Including Kovalchuk, the team’s top six forwards combined for 167 goals, including 64 on the power play, in the most recent NHL season (2003-04). An amusing comparison: In the Thrashers’ inaugural season, the entire team scored 170 goals, and only 44 with a man advantage.
OK. That’s the dream.
Here’s the reality: Kovalchuk remains unsigned. That means the Thrashers don’t stand out — they blend.
They’re another Holiday Inn in a neighborhood that is crying for a Ritz.
This is a unique time for the NHL in general and the Thrashers in particular. The league is trying to get back on radar. The team is trying to register a pulse among the Braves, Falcons, Bulldogs and Jackets.
The Thrashers will never have this opportunity again because the salary cap, particularly in the East, has weakened so many teams. Clubs have had to slash-and-burn rosters, altering the power structure.
There’s the opening. The Thrashers are set. They didn’t slash-and-burn — they got significantly better. Even Tampa Bay, the defending Stanley Cup champion, lost goalie Nikolai Khabibulin in free agency. But by next season, some clubs that took hits this year will have adjusted and might be on the upswing again. It’s not like the Thrashers can’t be good next season, but they won’t have the same advantage going in. So why squeeze nickels now?
The two sides are about $6.5 million apart over a five-year deal (offer: $28 million-plus; request: just under $35 million). Compromise should not be insurmountable.
This has been a typical Waddell negotiation. He starts at one figure and after an extended period of talks, threats and ultimatums, he agrees to raise his offer — by $1.37 and two T-shirts. He has kept the team’s payroll low.
Problem is, Waddell is dealing with Kovalchuk, not Steve Staios or Andrew Brunette. You don’t deal with an elite player that same way you dealt with expansion year pickups.
Kovalchuk is a franchise player. He tied for the league lead in goals in his third season, and he’ll probably score more than anybody else over the life of his next contract. He may not deserve to average $7 million a season, but he is worth more than Hossa’s $6 million average.
He already has missed training camp, affecting his conditioning. He has yet to practice with new teammates, affecting team chemistry. An opportunity is being wasted, and the season opens tonight.
Welcome to the new NHL. It’s Day 1 and the Thrashers blend.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
14 division titles don’t = dominance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
A week ago, they celebrated. A day from now, they start over again. Do the math. The time for basking in another division title is over.
I know. There is a tendency in this town to get caught up in, “But look at what they’ve accomplished.” Every spring has brought an increasing number of “huh’s?” (This year: corner outfielders Raul Mondesi and Brian Jordan.) If this October brings another fizzle, it would be easy to get lost in the implausibility of the previous division title all over again.
“Oh, Andruw. He’s all grown up and an MVP.”
“Oh, the rookies. They’re so fun to watch, and they’ll be even better next season!”
“When Chipper stays healthy next year ?”
“When Dan Kolb is working at Wendy’s next year ?”
But it’s not enough.
What the Braves have accomplished since 1991 defies all logic, probability, economics, luck and even physics (that whole what goes up must come down thing). Professional sports leagues are not set up to win 14 straight division titles. Even if they were, chances are that some scout or general manager eventually would botch enough decisions or a manager or coach would be tuned out by players, thereby leading to a sudden loss in cabin pressure and elevation. Before you know it, you’re the Mets.
That hasn’t happened here. The Braves keep winning, and for that, all of the appropriate parties should be enshrined, particularly Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz.
Did I mention it’s not enough?
Fourteen division titles and one World Series.
Question: If you could trade three of those division titles for a second World Series, would you do it?
How about seven division titles for two championships?
People have talked about this Braves’ run of “dominance.” Funny word, that dominance. When you were growing up and you claimed to be the fastest kid around, were you counting the whole country, the neighborhood, the block or just the two fat kids standing in front of you?
The Yankees. The Lakers. The Celtics. The Canadiens. The Patriots. The 49ers. The Steelers. These teams won’t be remembered for division titles. They will be remembered for championships and for doing something no other teams in their leagues did that season — ending with a win.
Only once have the Braves ended the season with a win. If the Yankees, Lakers, Celtics, Canadiens, Patriots, 49ers and Steelers won mostly divisions and only one league crown, nobody would recall them as dominant. What people would say is, “They didn’t do too well in the playoffs.”
The Braves won it all in 1995. The following season, they blew a 2-0 Series lead coming back home from New York. (The Yankees beat, in order, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux.) They had a 3-2 Series lead going back to Minnesota in 1991. They won over 100 games each season in 1997, 1998 and 1999 but lost NL pennants to Florida and San Diego, and another Series to the Yankees in 1999.
The past five postseasons have resulted in one divisional series win. In all five years, and seven of the past eight, they have watched opponents celebrate on their home field.
October hasn’t been a reward. It has been a stop sign.
Maybe this year will be different. The playoff rotation is a force again (although Smoltz’s sore shoulder is ominous). The top of the batting order is solid. The rookies show little sign of freezing.
At this point, you latch onto any potential positive. This week, it’s revenge. (I know: It’s so high school. But go with it.) Houston, this year’s divisional opponent, beat up the Braves in the NLDS last season, scoring a record 36 runs in five games.
“Anything that can help us get motivated is good enough for me,” second baseman Marcus Giles said the other day. “If it’s about revenge, then that’s what it might take.”
The Astros don’t have Carlos Beltran or Jeff Kent. But they do have a starting rotation with Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt, which apparently is enough for ESPN’s panel of “experts” (nine out of 10 picked Houston to win the series).
It’s fashionable to pick against the Braves in April.
It’s logical to pick against them in October.
They start over again Wednesday. Do the math — 14 division titles, one World Series. It’s time to be more than kings of the block.
Permalink | Comments (50) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
Demands of postseason not kid stuff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
In this patron’s search for a whiff of reality, it comes to mind that this Braves team requires a close inspection as they head into the first stage of the Tour de Pennant. Yes, they have won their 14th division championship. Huzzah! Yes, they have been the surprise of the season.
Yes, they have become the darlings of the province with their kids from the neighborhoods.
Yes, they’ve become a product of their scouting bloodhounds and the verdant farm system. When the veterans have fallen on their swords, the kids have stepped up and carried on the fight.
But this is another level, more than a scuffle or a skirmish, this is a kind of war these youngsters have only witnessed before with their dads in the stands, or on television. You realize that during the last days of September, Bobby Cox was merely audititoning for his October roster. But it was nice that his employees had sewed up their share of the loot early. You don’t look good losing, no matter what page of the calendar you’re on.
They come into this critical part of the year with the bullpen unraveling. Frankly, whatever order there was appears to be scrambled now. Are the young’uns really adjusted to the short-order life? What about the starters who will be working on short call? Dan Kolb was supposed to slip right in and answer all of John Smoltz’s old calls. What you’ve seen of Kolb mainly has been fastballs coming in, line drives going out. But the other night you saw him throw two breaking pitches and get two strikeouts. Where has his breaking stuff been? Relief pitchers don’t get by on one pitch.
Coming out of the bullpen, there has been no brighter prospect than Macay McBride, the Georgia farm boy. His road is paved with promise. Left-handed relievers are as precious as a diamond mine.
The starters don’t get off that easy. No one won more than 14 games and each had a sinking spell, except for Jorge Sosa, one of the best deals John Schuerholz will ever make, a steal from Tampa Bay. Tim Hudson didn’t measure up to his billing, and both he and Smoltz settled on No. 14. Mike Hampton became a surgical investment. Horacio Ramirez didn’t trust his own stuff and couldn’t break himself of trying to shave the corners. A lot of astute observers came to agree that the starters all owed the bullpen battalion more than five or six innings a game.
Apparently, the Braves are going into the playoffs against Houston with some pitching unrest. Smoltz, who expected to start the first game, won’t. Cox and staff fear for his shoulder. Hudson will. After Sosa, back to Hudson, I suppose. John Thomson and Ramirez will serve in long relief, duty unaccustomed to them. You don’t tell the kids, Francoeur, Langerhans, McCann and Orr, to sit down and behave, but this is when you turn to the old established firms to set the table. The Joneses, Chipper and Andruw, Rafael Furcal and Marcus Giles are obligated to fire up the offense. Simple as that.
Look at the matchups and you wonder why the Braves couldn’t have drawn the pitiful Padres instead of the pitching-filthy Astros. But wait. During the season the Braves won only one of six games from the Padres. They beat the Astros five of six and swept one four-game series. They beat Andy Pettite and Roy Oswalt once each. They never faced Roger Clemens. But they weren’t trying to get their ticket punched to the World Series then. And the “Our Gang” farm kids hadn’t even hit town yet. This will be their introduction to a kind of pressure they’ve never known. That carries a lot of weight here.
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Falcons no longer rely on one player
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
For the Falcons to grow up fully and finally, the time had to come when they saw Michael Vick as an asset, as opposed to the franchise itself. That time, brothers and sisters, is at hand. No longer does a Vick sniffle become a roster-wide pneumonia. A remarkable thing happened Sunday: Vick hurt his knee and his teammates didn’t dissolve in a puddle of tears.
The Falcons beat Minnesota 14-0 with Vick and 16-10 without him. After seeing the famous No. 7 go down 23 minutes in, Jim Mora didn’t lose his lunch or turn in his resignation. On the contrary, he said, “As a coach, I just kind of moved on.� And so did everyone around him. There was no panic. There was no fear. There was only continued domination.
“I like where our football team is right now,� Mora said, and he should. Good last season, the Falcons are demonstrably better now. They are no longer Michael Vick and a bunch of guys named Joe. This is a good-looking team that has started 3-1 against a difficult schedule, a team in the sense that, were you picking the Falcons’ MVP after four games, the famous No. 7 wouldn’t be even your second choice. (Rod Coleman would be No. 1, Warrick Dunn No. 2.)
“What happened in ’03, we’ve learned from that,� said Vick, speaking of the broken leg that scuttled a team’s season and forced a regime change. “It’s football. Things happen. Marquee players are going to get hurt.�
And the better teams, being the better teams, will win anyway. Philadelphia reached the Super Bowl while Terrell Owens was healing. New England became a dynasty after Drew Bledsoe got hurt and was supplanted by a young man named Brady. Nobody is yet suggesting that the Falcons can take a title without the outrageously gifted Vick, but they’ve progressed to the point that they’re ready to win a game or two if need be.
Let the rest of the nation persist in believing the highlight-driven hype that the Falcons are a one-man gang. We Atlantans are learning otherwise. The primary reason the Falcons are 3-1 is a quick and fierce defense — Daunte Culpepper was sacked nine times and intercepted twice Sunday — and Vick, when last we checked, doesn’t play D. And yes, Vick is unmatched in his capacity to improvise on the fly, but the Falcons’ offense has gotten expert at running the ball right at people. That’s not improvisation. That’s power and precision.
“We’re not the same team we were two years ago,� said Dunn, who gained 126 yards. “We’re not building our offense around one guy. If you’re able to run the football, it helps any quarterback.�
The Falcons rushed for 285 yards Sunday, the third time they’ve broken 200 rushing yards in four games. Matt Schaub, Vick’s understudy, gained 56 yards himself. As Rich McKay, the general manager, said: “If you’re a defensive coordinator, our run game is going to bother you. But Michael Vick is going to make you not sleep.�
Still, a team that can execute the two brute-force basics — run the ball and play defense — has a chance in every game no matter who its quarterback happens to be. Two years ago the Falcons lost Vick and lost all hope. On Sunday they saw him limp off and kept on hammering. They didn’t just nurse their lead. They added to it. They trust Schaub in a way they never trusted Doug Johnson, and they also trust themselves and their coaches in a way they didn’t back then.
“What do you expect?â€? Vick said. “If [his teammates didn’t think they could win without him], then nobody should be here — nobody should have a job.â€?
It’s easy to speak boldly when you’ve just won by 20 points to get to 3-1 and the famous No. 7 still expects to start against the regal Patriots next week, but the Falcons’ burgeoning assurance is no bluff. Once just a supporting cast, this is now a bona fide team.
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Looking back at Bobby Jones
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
If all the owners of word processors who have written a book on Bobby Jones this year would honk, the sound would create a resounding din. This is the 75th anniversary of the gentleman sportsman’s Grand Slam of golf, you see, and that coincidence has sent sports historians of many varieties beating a hot path to their machines. Their creations have broken out like a rash, and I don’t know that one surpasses the other, not that it took on the form of an authorial spelling bee.
What has taken place among us this week has been the Atlanta Athletic Club’s project to celebrate the 75th, and it has been done so with a flourish. Nothing spared. Beginning Thursday at 3 p.m. and reaching a crescendo Saturday evening at the club.
Now, we all know that Jones’ memory is associated with East Lake, where he learned the game. It’s a blessing, I’d suppose, that in the battle with the disease that took his life, he was too far removed to have been involved in the rupture of the membership. Hence, the Athletic Club went its own way and took the heritage of Jones with it.
To say that this commemorative event has been carried off splendidly is understatement. What the AAC did was invite delegations from each of the clubs where Jones won the four national championships in 1930, from St. Andrews and Royal Liverpool (commonly known as Hoylake) in England, and Interlachen and Merion in this country. When the curtain was drawn Saturday evening, there couldn’t have been a dry eye in the place.
One of the privileges of my life was being able to know Bob Jones. He gave generously of his time. I never got to see him swing a golf club. By the time I reached town, he was already too crippled to get about without the help of a cane or crutches. I learned a few things hurriedly: Never offer assistance with his cigarette, his Coca-Cola (always at hand), his chair or his train of thought.
The Saturday Evening Post once commissioned me to write a story with him under the byline “By Bobby Jones, as told to Furman Bisher.” I was elated. Gently, he let me down from my euphoria. “If I did that, it would make me sound like some dumbbell who couldn’t make a sentence,” he said.
Once you read his book, “Golf Is My Game,” you understood. As George Plimpton later would say of it, Jones wrote “with a skill comparable to his abilities with a golf stick.”
There was one occasion on which I did see him accept assistance graciously. A Nashville paper put on a huge blowout for its sports editor, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Fred Russell. The publisher, sparing no expense, had invited a cast of great sports figures from around the country. Jones had accepted, though travel was burdensome, and was assigned a seat at the head table. As he approached the steps on his crutches, he paused uncertainly, and as he did, two men stepped to his side and gave him a hoist. They were Jack Dempsey and Red Grange. Two immortals helping another.
After he retired from competition, Jones found it difficult to play without attracting a gallery, even at East Lake. So the project that became Peachtree Golf Club began. Augusta National was available, of course, but 160 miles away, and closed from May to October.
Peachtree was created with the support of about 200 friends, a place where he could go and play in private. The tragedy of it is that he never got to play the full 18 holes. The spinal surgery in Boston intervened and he was never able to swing a club again.
Among the stack of correspondence we had, one letter stands out in its significance. It was during the time when the Masters was under siege to include a black player in its field, qualified or not. The letter was dated Jan. 29, 1969, and read:
“I am grateful to you for sending me the letter from an unknown friend in California, even though it was just another long chapter in the endless feud being waged by Charlie Sifford and his newspaper friends against the Masters Tournament, with no opposition from our side.
“Just between us, I wish to God he would go on and make it so that we could have the matter settled on the basis of performance.” (signed “Bob Jones.”)
Right at this moment I’m suffering most of all for a critical loss of my own. Somehow, some way, my copy of “Golf Is My Game” is missing. That’s my most cherished golf book of all.
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NFL Predictions: Thunder heads knuckle under
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
It was 85 years ago Monday when the American Professional Football Association (APFA), the predecessor to the NFL, played its first full week of games.
Perhaps most noteworthy was the Canton Bulldogs’ 48-0 victory over the Pitcairn Quakers, for it reaffirmed two things: 1. The importance of having a player-coach named Jim Thorpe (Canton). 2. The danger of having a football team named the Quakers (stupid, stupid, stupid).
Minnesota didn’t make the same mistake. It named its football team the Vikings after the tough men of Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Unfortunately, as we know from Scandinavian history, the Norse empire eventually fell apart shortly after Thor was caught with a Whizzinator just following a plundering.
Which brings me to today’s game at the Georgia Dome: The Falcons against the Knuckleheads of Thor. I don’t have the space to run down every goofy thing this franchise has done. So let’s limit this to recent history: Everything stupid associated with Randy Moss, the only occasionally lucid Onterrio Smith packing a Whizzinator in the airport, replacing Moss’ spot on the roster with noted boozer Koren Robinson.
Only this week, two starting offensive linemen, Bryant McKinnie and Marcus Johnson, got into trouble at a gas station (don’t ask). Quoth their teammate and defense attorney Fred Smoot to a Minneapolis paper: “I hate when people try to make football players Superman. … You’re still human. You ain’t got a lot of church rats running around in here.”
Oy.
Norsemen rank 30th against the run. The Falcons are No. 1 on the run.
Cover your eyes, Thor. Falcons cover six.
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Vick still delivering as critics bear down
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
There are few absolutes in the NFL, but here’s one: Jimmy Johnson talks a lot. As a coach, people find that sort of thing entertaining. As a studio commentator, people find that sort of thing either entertaining, blasphemous or somewhere in between.
But one thing Jimmy never says is, “Gee, I really don’t have an opinion on that.”
So it follows that when the subject of Michael Vick came up during a Fox pregame show last season, the former Dallas and Miami coach did what he always does. He shot from the lip.
“He’s not a quarterback,” Johnson said. And he made some crack about how long it will take Vick to absorb the team’s new offense, adding, “The jury still is out on Michael Vick.”
“People were so upset,” Johnson said this week by phone. “A lot of people have taken my comments about Mike as criticism. It’s not like I ever said he was a bad player or something. All I meant was he’s not your traditional quarterback. But people got all bent out shape.”
Now, depending on your perspective, you are either going to view these next comments as entertaining, blasphemous or somewhere in between. Either astute observations or backtracking drivel.
One week after Vick seemed to elevate his quarterbacking to a new level, Johnson was asked to pick one quarterback if he had to start a franchise.
“I’d have to think long and hard about that, but it would either be [Tom] Brady or Vick,” he said by phone. “And there is not another player who would come close to either of those two.”
Why?
“Because they win games,” he said. “Because they win games with their talent. Other quarterbacks win games with the talent of their supporting cast.”
Told that last punch should really go over well with Peyton Manning fans in Indianapolis, Johnson laughed and said, “Yeah, well, I’m kind of used to that by now.”
The Falcons play Minnesota today, which means Vick will be opposed by Daunte Culpepper. Next week they play New England, which means he will be opposed by Brady. By any definition of what a quarterback is, neither is suddenly a mismatch.
One start against the Buffalo Bills — during which Vick read defenses, anticipated blitzes and threw two touchdown passes — hardly means he is free of flaws. He remains a work in progress. But that progress is now clear should mute criticism (real or misinterpreted) for a while.
“He’s the most exciting player there is in the league, and it’s scary to think what he might do when he gets really proficient in the passing game,” said Johnson, who built and coached two Super Bowl teams with the Cowboys.
“Some people are critical of him because they’re accustomed to seeing the drop-back passer. They’re not used to seeing quarterbacks running naked bootlegs all the time. It goes against the grain of what we’ve come to expect from that position. The first thought that comes to mind is, ‘He’ll get hurt.’ But because of his talents, you have to make that part of your system. The fact that I said he’s not a traditional quarterback doesn’t mean I thought he was a bad player.”
Johnson worked with traditional quarterbacks in Dallas (Troy Aikman) and Miami (Dan Marino), and in college, and believes the position should be graded differently than others.
“To me, it’s not so much how many great plays you make, but how few bad plays you make,” he said. “Michael Vick makes a lot of great plays. His improvement has to come in the area of negative plays. Don’t carried away with sacks because with all of the plays he’s going to make with his feet, he’ll get sacked some times. But he needs to keep his interceptions down, which is what he’s doing.”
So maybe this means the jury is in now.
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