AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > December > 31 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYear’s sports wishes, tempered by realities
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
There are so many things that I wish to see during 2006. World peace becoming more than just a cliche. Those new set of Pings helping my golf game. The end to this growing epidemic of every cookie baked having nuts.
As for reality, global conflict is eternal, it’s not the clubs but my swing and the folks at Emerald of California (you know, the sponsors of the San Francisco bowl game that featured Georgia Tech’s latest meltdown in football and the prolific makers of nuts) must have strong lobbyists in Washington.
Here are some of my wishes involving sports this year followed by reality.
• Wish: Bobby Cox is not only the best manager of his time, but of all time. Critics say otherwise, mostly pointing to the Braves’ flips, flops and chokes during their unprecedented 14 straight trips to the postseason. Anyway, to silence critics, I’d like for the affable Cox to conquer the loss of Rafael Furcal, the current lack of a stud closer and the ghosts of those past collapses in the playoffs with his second world championship.
• Reality: Cox will maneuver the Braves past the rejuvenated Mets to grab the National League East. Then the Braves’ October will end with another Ed Sprague, Jim Leyritz, Eric Gregg, Sterling Hitchcock or Chris Burke moment.
• Wish: Speaking of San Francisco, I can’t keep up with the changing names of the ballpark for the Giants. One moment, it’s Pac Bell, the next SBC or whatever. This madness involving corporate names in sports is the worst in golf (Where is the Mercedes Championship, and does it come before or after the Nissan Open?) and in bowls. That said, I’m hoping for the Peach people to change their minds and tell the Chick-fil-A people to go stuff their mouths with waffle fries.
• Reality: Money, money, money. If Coca-Cola offers the new owners of the Braves enough pennies, they’ll switch the name of Turner Field to something like Sprite Stadium by next Tuesday.
• Wish: There isn’t a more bluntly honest coach in the NBA than Mike Woodson, and such a thing often causes his young Hawks to whine along the way to forgetting (or make that ignoring) his teachings on the court. When they listen to Woodson, they’re pretty good. So, from now through spring, I’m hoping that the young Hawks listen to Woodson more often than not, and that he continues with the team through his second season and beyond.
• Reality: He’s gone. Woodson won’t last, because this generation of athletes is into pampering instead of prodding. Even Larry Brown, among Woodson’s mentors, is having problems with his plain-speaking ways (see Stephon Marbury). And unlike Woodson, Brown has been around a while as a head coach.
• Wish: The Falcons don’t raise ticket prices again before next season. I mean, didn’t much of the fanfare surrounding Arthur Blank as their new owner four years ago involve his lowering a bunch of ticket prices in the upper deck? Yep. Now the price of an average Falcons ticket is at an all-time high, and after a disappointing finish this season, that average should drop. That is, if the Falcons’ ownership really is as fan-friendly as advertised.
• Reality: I’m still laughing. Not only won’t Falcons ticket prices drop, but they will continue to rise. As long as the Falcons have the Michael Vick Show, the demand for Falcons tickets will stay insatiable at nearly any price. And the Falcons know it, and the Falcons will flaunt it.
• Wish: Nothing would be more of a reward for D.J. Shockley’s patience at the University of Georgia than going as high as the third round in the NFL draft. Despite sitting three seasons behind David Greene, Shockley spent his only year as a starter for the Bulldogs leading the SEC in passing efficiency and other things. He also won a conference title. He’s athletic, he’s a leader, and he’s good. In a league filled with the likes of J.P. Losman and Todd Bouman, Shockley is beyond their equal.
• Reality: The days of Al Davis thinking out of the box are over. As a result, that box will have a bunch of NFL scouts crammed inside and shaking their heads over Shockley’s lack of height (6 feet 1) for an NFL quarterback and his delayed move into Georgia’s starting lineup. He’ll go closer to the sixth round than the third, but here’s the good news: He’ll develop as a wonderful surprise for somebody.
• Wish: I’m pulling for everybody’s favorite team, athlete, horse or car to prosper throughout the whole year.
• Reality: Somebody or something (with hooves or tires) will lose.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: Other, Terence Moore
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By larry w.
December 31, 2005 09:08 PM | Link to this
Wish: Terence Moore will disappear from our lives forever.
Reality: We will be stuck with him for a while longer.
By brewerfaninATL
December 31, 2005 10:07 PM | Link to this
Wish: People will stop saying Terence is a racist after everything he writes. Don’t you people know that alot of the things he writes he tries to get a rise out of the reader? Every time you call him a racist or bring race into the discussion, he sits back and laughs at you mindless nitwitts who are, in fact, probably racists yourselves! Granted, I don’t agree with every thing he says, but I think, overall, he does a pretty good job.
Reality: People will STILL read every thing he says and STILL call him a racist after EVERY article he writes. Oh well, keep on writing Terence!
By Reggie
December 31, 2005 10:57 PM | Link to this
Wish: Everyone would quit calling him a racist and address him for what he is: a bigot. Reality: Racist is an overused word by people of all stripes and will continue to be reduced to a useless term, but we will be stuck with Bigot Terrence Moore forever because no other big city paper wants his mediocre musings. Reality: More (Moore?) useless columns about Al, race, Irish, race, Pete, race, I told you so, race, let me brag about who I know, race etc, etc…
By smitty
January 1, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this
Wish: That since it appears GT is stuck with chan for the forseeable future, that chan will remember or the higher ups will remind him of his statement back in July of 2002, when he said he “wasn’t very good at being a Head Coach and OC at the same time” and an OC is hired who can bring life to the GT offense, at the same time removing chan’s blinders and showing him all the different offensive schemes that have been developed in the past 25 years Reality: Oh man, I can’t even face it…see you in 2007
By WD
January 1, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this
Wish; That the Braves would get a top relief pitcher(Baez), lead off hitter, and free agent Eduardo Perez to replace Franco. That GT would get new coach and AD. That people like Larry and Reggie would get the Hate out of their heart. REALITY; The Braves will remain the same, nothing to get excited about. GT will continue to be happy going 500 every year. People will always think their better than everyone else. Keep up the good work Mr. MOORE and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
By Ryan
January 1, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Wish: That more people understand that the term “racism” is ignorant and uneducated (e.g. “racism: a belief that a race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race” MWCD). That differences in skin color will be understood as a geological adaptaion to the sun(melanin: a dark brown or black animal or plant pigment MWCD). That more people will use those dictionaries they’ve hidden in their homes to find the meanings in words. That more people will read books.
Reality: More people will continue to use words without understanding the true meaning of those words(ignorant:a destitute of knowledge or education, also: lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified MWCD). More people will continue to be lead by the media and television instead of their hearts. More people will no longer question HOW the term “racism” came about or who came up with this term? To never question the many times the term “racism” is used in the media. To never wonder why the term “humankind”(humankind: the human race MWCD) or other terms concerning “humanity” are seldom used by the media.
Remeber, we all breath the same air and our bodies all function the same regardless of skin color. There are less fortunate PEOPLE in the world that deserve better for the simple fact that they are people and they are alive. Peace and love are not something to joke about, but rather something to strive for. Happy New Year to ALL!
By Justin Howard
January 1, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this
Go swim with the beluga’s
By War Eagle
January 1, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this
Wish- Auburn and UGA are unbeaten when they play each other next season and the winner goes to the BCS NC game and wins. Reality- If Notre Dame is unbeaten, darling of the media, FORGET IT.
By D-Man
January 1, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this
WISH: That I hadnt watched the car wreck that was the FALCONS loss to CAROLINA.
REALITY: I watched every minute of it. What an idiot. What a waste! Did the Falcons EVEN practice this week? What a sucky game! I keep hearing about their troubles on defense due to injuries…what about the OFFENSE? What makes the offense so bad? There is NO excuse. The offense should be helping out the defense in this game..but no..they played like they hadnt practiced all week. Hey VICK and Company: YOU SUCK!
By D-Man
January 1, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this
WISH: That Jim Mora would EAT his words when he made light of the Falcon’s Mike Kenn and Jeff Van Note and their history of being spokesmen for the Falcons team while they were playing (he said they werent qualified cause the Falcons had never had back to back winning seasons).
REALITY: I got my wish. Jim Mora needs to shut up. Welcome to history Jim!
By D-Man
January 1, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this
WISH: That Chris Draft, who was dumped by the FALCONS last off season would come back and haunt his old team.
REALITY: I got my wish. Draft, who now plays for the Panthers, has kicked the Falcons A$$ in both meetings this year. Way to go Chris! Way to go Falcons!!
By D-Man
January 1, 2006 05:14 PM | Link to this
WISH: That Mike Vick would get paid what he is worth.
REALITY: Whatever. How much do you think Vick would get paid with stats like today’s game? 15 comp, 24 att for 115 yrds and 1 int. Heck, did he even RUN today??? Screw this in the pocket crap. MMMM..isnt he getting paid 130 million overall? NOT WORTH IT.
By D-Man
January 1, 2006 05:16 PM | Link to this
ANSWER to my own question: Vick had 0 rushing yards today..what good is he??
By D-Man
January 1, 2006 05:20 PM | Link to this
Just a thought here…if Vick is going to push to be a pocket passer…why dont we dump him and his 130 million salary and keep Schabb and Detmer and go find some support players with all that extra money??? Vick was hired for his RUNNING and passing skills. His PASSING is not enough. He is just ordinary if he is just a passer. Get rid of him.
By bobby
January 1, 2006 08:11 PM | Link to this
WISH: That the Falcons would let “I’m The Greatest” go be the greatest at whatever he thinks he is and get a REAL QUARTERBACK. REALITY: They will keep groveling at his feet and having losing teams.
By Larry Torrence
January 1, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this
I have followed your comments for several years in the AJC until about three years ago when your incessant inflamatory referrals to race coupled with the negative side of local sports soured me permanently to your “journalisim” and ceased my reading your articles (the only AJC sports writer that I don’t read on a regular basis). Tonight I was watching the Bowl Preview on WSB and was subjected to your thoughts. For you to support Notre Dame’s position on Coach Weiss “uncle charlie” as compared to Coach Willingham - without EVEN MENTIONING the discrepency in fairness - caused my opinion of you to reach the level of compelling me to grace you with this email. Mr. Morre, YOU SUCK.