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AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > June > 22 > Entry

Braves are apathethic city’s just desserts

By Terence Moore | Thursday, June 22, 2006, 08:51 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Terence Moore

In case you haven’t noticed, the Braves are an embarrassment, but this is only a momentary thing. They’ll rebound sooner than later after the disaster that is this season, and you know what?

That’s really too bad. Let the pitching continue its post-Leo Mazzone dive toward oblivion. Don’t fret over the hitters spending more time swinging at air than the ball. Cheer the wild throws and the botched grounders. The Braves need to stay brutal for a while to teach a lesson to the overwhelming majority of those who have spent recent years yawning between chopping and chanting.

Not only that, you’ve had the slew of those just yawning. You’ve also had those who haven’t bothered to show up, especially when the Braves were doing what they won’t do this year, and that is finding ways to reach the playoffs.

If there ever was a city that didn’t deserve a team doing the unprecedented and the unthinkable such as the Braves along the way to 14 consecutive division titles, that city is right here in the heart of Dixie. Or should I say that city is right here in the heart of apathy? Take it from Chuck Tanner, the Braves’ manager during their previous dark days of the 1980s. He sighed over the phone the other day after reflecting on those who have shrugged during the Braves’ nice run. “I mean, what do you want?” Tanner said, before easing into a chuckle. “I’ll tell you what they wanted. They wanted 14 consecutive world championships.”

Which brings me to this: Unless an Atlanta professional sports team is doing something or has somebody that appeals to the lowest common denominator of sports fans, you can forget it. They aren’t coming. To keep their focus away from what the Bulldogs are doing, they need a ‘Nique or a Vick or a worst-to-first miracle.

The Hawks have finished among the bottom two in NBA home attendance for each of the past five years, and even when they were at least good during the Mookie Blaylock, Steve Smith and Dikembe Mutombo years, they barely showed a pulse at the gate. The Falcons’ recent popularity is a No. 7 thing. Period. Before the 2003 season, the Falcons sold every ticket for every game, but after Michael Vick broke his leg during the preseason, the only place more empty than the parking lots around the Georgia Dome during home games were the many sections inside. The Thrashers still draw well because they remain a novelty to many, but their honeymoon is another trip away from the playoffs from becoming a nasty divorce.

Then you have the Braves, the epitome of it all with an asterisk. In contrast to the Hawks, for instance, the Braves have perfected victory. It mattered at the start of their run to the masses, when the chopping and the chanting was unique, but then winning became passé. Actually, that’s being kind when describing the Braves’ shocking lack of physical and vocal support during the past decade, especially when it counted the most in October.

Only six of the Braves’ past 19 home games in the division series were sellouts. Five involved the Cardinals and the Cubs, whose fan bases were louder and often larger than those of the Braves. That other sellout came two years ago, when the national media kept mentioning the contrast between the wired crowds in Houston and the bored ones at Turner Field. In essence, Braves fans were punked into at least showing up for a fifth and decisive Game 5.

As for Braves home games in the National League Championship Series, they’ve sold out just three of their previous 12, and their last one against the Diamondbacks in 2001 drew 14,000 folks shy of capacity.

The place was packed this past weekend for the Braves’ regular-season games against the Red Sox, and that was good for the Red Sox. While the Red Sox players contributed to the Braves’ slide in the standings, the Red Sox fans made so much racket compared with their counterparts that you’d have thought there was a Green Monster in left field.

I already can hear those tired and familiar excuses. Here’s the most nauseating: You can’t find an Atlanta native anymore, and you have so many people who are from someplace else. Well, I know a lot of Atlanta natives, and given today’s highly mobile society, most cities away from the East and the upper Midwest are transient these days. Phoenix. Miami. Dallas. San Francisco. Seattle. Los Angeles. Denver. (Fill in the blank.)

The bottom line is that Atlanta fans need a wake-up call regarding pro sports, and maybe they’ll get one now that the Braves’ dominance is going to sleep.

Permalink | Comments (346) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore

Comments

By Stev-O

June 22, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this

I agree completely! Great column

By RP

June 22, 2006 09:31 PM | Link to this

Terence, The real mystery is why you stay in Atlanta since you obviously hate the city, state, and region. I’m sure a writer of your caliber has his pick of papers to work for. Go for it.

By derek

June 22, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this

He’s right on…RP just can’t handle the truth.

By Pat

June 22, 2006 09:56 PM | Link to this

Terence Isn’t it time for you to dust off your yearly, “The Braves should trade for Ken Griffey, Jr.” column?

By DHD

June 22, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

Move the team to the north side and watch the attendance grow. 400,000 population inside the city limits and 4.5 million outside the city limits says it all. With the longest commute time in America, folks are not going to drive home and then turn around and make the trip back to Atlanta to see a game on a Monday or Tuesday night. It’s true that when the team won in the early 90s while it was still a novelty, more folks showed up. I just think if the Braves are going to draw a consitant crowd, it should go to where the people are like any other business.

By jb

June 22, 2006 09:59 PM | Link to this

“Why should we care?” Will it solve the overburdenend and “antiquated Georgia tax system” Does it do anything to solve”global warming?” Does it do anything to solve the terror threat we face from “Muslim extremist?” Does it raise the high school graduation rates of georgia teens? Or lower the pregnancy rate of those same drop outs? With so many pressing issues facing society today no wonder nobody goes…. “Why SHOULD anybody really care?” Its just a baseball team with guys who get paid millions of dollars a year to play a game and most of the time they still act like jerks. So again…why should anybody REALLY care? I dont and I still think Atlantqa is a great place.

By Chamwa

June 22, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this

Empty seats at Shea, Yankee stadium, Dodger stadium, etc… Look it up. It’s true. Atlanta is no different that most other major league towns. In fact, Braves fans are smarter. They knew that during all of those division titles the team still would not be good enough to go far during post season. Why spend $100 to see them lose? Move to Clevelad TM & put us out of our misery.

By Allen

June 22, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this

Terence is right. If it doesn’t involve people who can’t spell “dog” without a “w” or a big shiny number on a hunk of metal going around in circles, it’s just too sophisticated for Atlanta sports fans.

By RHB

June 22, 2006 10:18 PM | Link to this

Two points which restate others’ points:

1) The headaches associated with attending a game in its current location without public train access are not worth it for the suburban population. If I were a single or double A club, I would absolutely build a stadium in No. Fulton. Atlantans love baseball but hate the location of that stadium.

2) Chamwa’s right. Look at attendance around the majors—lots of empty seats outside of Fenway and Wrigley which are smaller parks and draw huge tourist crowds.

By GM R

June 22, 2006 10:22 PM | Link to this

Here’s one good reason for low turnout at the playoffs - dumbass downtown cops who close the parking areas that we use regularly and force us onto roads we don’t know while refusing to provide directions or advice. I know plenty of season ticket holders from the northern suburbs who won’t go to the playoff games because of the downtown ripoffs, attitude and incompetence they seem to generate. Another good reason is that northern TV networks force Braves games to be played in the afternoon so their beloved teams from NY and Boston get to play at night. Don’t blame the real fans who watch during the regular season - blame location and TV bias.

By Terence is a dork..

June 22, 2006 10:32 PM | Link to this

Atlanta is a COLLEGE sports town.

Every SEC school has 20,000 alums here. Every ACC school has 20,000 alums here.

It’s a short drive to Clemson, South Carolina, Tenn., Vandy, Bama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, and Tech

Even the NC mafia schools are a reasonable 2-day trip.

Throw in the media juggernaut created by the AJC that is the Bulldogs, and Voila..

College Sports Town.

If the Suburbs were the answer, then the Force wouldn’t have moved their games from Gwinnett and the Hawks would be moving out that way..

Pro Sports Don’t MATTER in ATL.

By EB

June 22, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this

Location, location, location - this is by far the biggest factor in the Braves’ attendance (or lack thereof). You can’t get to Turner Field from here. Where’s here you say? Oh, try Marietta, Kennesaw, Roswell, Alpharetta, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Snellville, Tucker, Chamblee…you get the picture. Heck, those are only the first 3 counties out. No secondary road access, you have to get on the conn-wreck-tor. No post-game exit strategy in the form of a logical traffic plan. No direct public transit access. Face it: the location of and access to/from Turner Field is AWFUL. I’ve been a season ticket holder (w/ a lovely parking pass) for 7 yrs, but if I have to work even a smidge late it’s not worth the hassle of a weekday game - I give my tix away. I know it’s not happening any time soon, but move the game site, move the attendance needle…

By Ken Stallings

June 22, 2006 10:38 PM | Link to this

Any sports columnist who shows overt hostility to the local area sports fans he relies on for his readership is a man who does not deserve to keep the job he has!

The last time I checked the Atlanta Braves require fans to pay money to view their product in person. As with any business deal, it is the obligation of the seller to convince the customer that the product being sold is worth the price.

Blaming the customer because he didn’t like the product is the first sign a company is failing. In your case, it’s a good sign the writer has lost his logical connection with the real world.

The Braves are about to lose their 10th game in a row and yet I still see a respectable crowd in attendance. I also see fans who still cheer when the team performs well.

To say that the Atlanta area fans earn failure is the statement of a fool. In your case, this is not the first time such a conclusion applies!

By hbmiv

June 22, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this

How silly, Tanner shows why he is still out of touch; we wanted 2 championships. One in 14 years of winning the division does not a dynasty make.

By Rico Petrocelli

June 22, 2006 10:43 PM | Link to this

Go Red Sox!

By Seen all types

June 22, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this

I knew you cheap a$$ belly achers would start which is why we have the worst fans. Try getting on the train out to the Bronx or up to Shea and pay those outrageous prices.

If there’s a bunch of empty seats at Fenway or Wrigley they’re sold seats not the unsold, cheaper than MLB average seats in Atlanta.

Boo hoo they don’t have the stadium exactly where you want it, the players don’t care..how the H* would you know??

It’s easier for you blood suckers to sit on the side waiting to eat while everyone else buys the groceries, cooks it up and serves it to you and then you complain about the meal.

Atlanta fans are typed for a reason and a lot of you guys show what that reason is…the Braves haven’t sucked, their fans, such as they are, are a different story.

By TerranceMooreSux

June 22, 2006 10:49 PM | Link to this

TerranceX:
Have you actually researched an article you’ve written? You let ESPN do your “research”. Riddle me this…if Turner field held 33,871 (the capacity of Fenway Park…in Boston, population) how many playoff games would have been sold out? I am so sick of the ESPN large market spin I am sick! And an inept journalist from my home city buys in…WEAK!. Your lack of ability as writer perplexes me.

By AtlSportsFan

June 22, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this

I would buy the arguement about the location if the playoff games were selling out. Fans should show up for the playoffs, however, we got spoiled and p** that we haven’t won every world series since 1991.

The bottom line is Atlanta has the most wishy-washy fan base for a professional sports town. It wants to get rid of the stars that have brought success (Mike Vick) in order to replace him with a second string quarterback; Hated Tom Glavine because of his ties with the union (doing his job); and don’t get me started on the Hawks. Atlanta has the priviledge of possessing a professional basketball team and the only ones to show up are the players, mascot, cheerleaders, other team, concession workers, coaches, media, and 15 loyal fans. (with all of that being said, the Hawks ownership would be well served pulling an Arthur Blank - - offering a ridiculous season ticket package that helped sell out the dome ($99 season tickets for the upper level)).

By John R

June 22, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this

Brave loss for the 10th game in a row.

This one hurt. Atlanta played good ball and still found a way to lose. Thanks bullpen.

I swear this team is better than this.

By Gerald

June 22, 2006 10:58 PM | Link to this

this is the first ever comment for me; but I have to know …….. am I the only person in Georgia that knows that Remlinger cannot get out lefthanders? …… more seriously …. is Marcus Giles the biggest punk a* to ever play baseball?

By Georgiafansstink

June 22, 2006 11:00 PM | Link to this

Even Joe Torre said during his Braves managing days that Atlanta was a “college football town” whose fans did not support pro teams.

By Matt

June 22, 2006 11:00 PM | Link to this

I’m a transplant living in Denver, and out here they ask why their town can’t support their college sports teams better. The reason? Denver is a great pro sports town and a crappy college sports town. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Atlanta is just the opposite. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just the truth. Of course, MARTA sucks too.

By D. Carroll

June 22, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

Terence, you are so off base. Don’t blame the fans. The Braves have one of the greatest fan bases in the nation. I have been a fan since the 60’s, but even during the recent winning years, my eagerness to attend a game has waned. Let me count the reasons: 1) The organization has taken the fans for granted, for far too long. For this front office, winning breeds greed. Outrageous prices on everything from parking, to souvenirs to food.

2) Too many arrogant, standoffish players. Attend a game in St. Louis, Chicago, or other big league towns, and compare your pre-game autograph opportunities with those provided by the Braves.

3) As other writers have mentioned, Atlanta’s almost comical methods of traffic flow, before and after games. Before games, it’s gridlock. After games, you spend 30 minutes getting out of a parking lot (on a light attendance night), and another 30 minutes inching your way through the various detours designed to keep you from getting on the correct interstate highway. There are signs directing you to get into the left lanes to enter I-75 north…. until you finally get there to find that it’s closed off. And you really need to be in, you guessed it, the right lane.

And through it all, you’re greeted by a nonstop parade of beggars, thugs and “vendors” attempting to communicate with you on city streets, while Atlanta’s finest looks the other way.

It’s been a great 15 year run, but the arrogance of Schuerholz, AOL TimeWarner and the rest has come home to roost. The quietest place in town from mid-August through late September will be Turner Field.
Don’t blame the fans. Don’t even blame the players and their embarassing antics (missed signs, booted grounders, and the 1990 replica relief corps). Blame the Braves bosses and city leaders.

By Reno

June 22, 2006 11:02 PM | Link to this

Amen! Ignorant fans who have every excuse in the world for not showing up. What’s next, “they can’t find my G spot”? This 14yr run..the Braves led in attendance ONCE!

That’s everybody else’s fault because nobody here will take responsibility for anything.

By John R

June 22, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

Gerald:

I feel your pain man. I can’t believe that Cox call Remlinger again. That hurt. This guy can’t pitch. When is Cox going to learn. We would have won if it wasn’t for Remlinger’s weak armed pitching.

By NATHAN

June 22, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

I live in Augusta. I still come up to see the games. Atlanta is just a bunch of yuppie punks with kids. They are more interested in getting their brats food and souveniers then watching the game. Atlanta is a giant suburb and it reflects in the resident’s attitude. Baseball is just an event to take the family to. It doesn’t matter if the team is good or not. It is a shame they didn’t deserve those 14 years.

By john

June 22, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

I have to agree about the traffic thing. We had a parking pass for the field right across the street. You see PLENTY of people directing traffic in before the game. What about AFTER? NOBODY. The parking lot is a frickin zoo. They should have SOMEBODY directing traffic after the game. If I go at all, it’s only on Sundays so I can ride Marta, cause I sure ain’t gonna ride it late at night! And who really wanted to walk all the way through the Underground to catch the bus?? Good in theory but crappy.

By Adam

June 22, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

10 it is!

My heart has cheered and cried for this team for 15 years. Today I live inside the perimeter, and a mile from MARTA. Neither train nor car can convince me to go down to a game unless I can concede 6 hours of my day. Getting in is a pain and getting out is worse. Now I’m equipped with a 56” HDTV and there’s no competition.

After the season ending 18-inning loss in Houston, I told my father that it was the kind of game that will break that team. Of all the failures, you can’t top that one. The first week of this season showed me I was right - it didn’t take until now.

Simply put: The run has become more about fear of failure that hope for success. Welcome back to reality. It hurts a lot less than I thought it would.

By Ronald

June 22, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

Actually it’s Bush’s fault that the Braves are loosing and the fans are staying home.

By NATHAN

June 22, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

I live in Augusta. I still come up to see the games. Atlanta is just a bunch of yuppie punks with kids. They are more interested in getting their brats food and souveniers then watching the game. Atlanta is a giant suburb and it reflects in the resident’s attitude. Baseball is just an event to take the family to. It doesn’t matter if the team is good or not. It is a shame they didn’t deserve those 14 years.

By Adam

June 22, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this

10 it is!

My heart has cheered and cried for this team for 15 years. Today I live inside the perimeter, and a mile from MARTA. Neither train nor car can convince me to go down to a game unless I can concede 6 hours of my day. Getting in is a pain and getting out is worse. Now I’m equipped with a 56” HDTV and there’s no competition.

After the season ending 18-inning loss in Houston, I told my father that it was the kind of game that will break that team. Of all the failures, you can’t top that one. The first week of this season showed me I was right - it didn’t take until now.

Simply put: The run has become more about fear of failure that hope for success. Welcome back to reality. It hurts a lot less than I thought it would.

By john

June 22, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

I have to agree about the traffic thing. We had a parking pass for the field right across the street. You see PLENTY of people directing traffic in before the game. What about AFTER? NOBODY. The parking lot is a frickin zoo. They should have SOMEBODY directing traffic after the game. If I go at all, it’s only on Sundays so I can ride Marta, cause I sure ain’t gonna ride it late at night! And who really wanted to walk all the way through the Underground to catch the bus?? Good in theory but crappy.

By Adam

June 22, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

10 it is!

My heart has cheered and cried for this team for 15 years. Today I live inside the perimeter, and a mile from MARTA. Neither train nor car can convince me to go down to a game unless I can concede 6 hours of my day. Getting in is a pain and getting out is worse. Now I’m equipped with a 56” HDTV and there’s no competition.

After the season ending 18-inning loss in Houston, I told my father that it was the kind of game that will break that team. Of all the failures, you can’t top that one. The first week of this season showed me I was right - it didn’t take until now.

Simply put: The run has become more about fear of failure that hope for success. Welcome back to reality. It hurts a lot less than I thought it would.

By NATHAN

June 22, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

I live in Augusta. I still come up to see the games. Atlanta is just a bunch of yuppie punks with kids. They are more interested in getting their brats food and souveniers then watching the game. Atlanta is a giant suburb and it reflects in the resident’s attitude. Baseball is just an event to take the family to. It doesn’t matter if the team is good or not. It is a shame they didn’t deserve those 14 years.

By Jeff

June 22, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this

The Braves do need to bottom out, endure some bad years, then rise with new faces, new manager, etc. Although this team didn’t become a dynasty, they did lay the foundation for one the one that will follow.

By RC

June 22, 2006 11:07 PM | Link to this

The baseball team here is on par quality-wise with the AJC sports writers…trade them please! I can’t take idiotic comments like the one about loser Chuck Tanner and winning 14 championships!! Well DUH!! Just what the hell do you play for if it isn’t to win championships Einstein?????

By ted turner

June 22, 2006 11:09 PM | Link to this

This writer acts like we owe some patriotic duty to watch the Braves.

Time Warner has let the team go — it was amazing that the team’s coaching was able to produce as much success as they did last year. Now, it is not enough to hold this team together. Time Warner let a great pitching staff go. There are hardly any familiar faces left. How do you expect to sustain a fan base like that.

Like it or not, baseball is a sport you grow up watching with Dad, and you continue to support the team you grew up with. There are more Yankees, Mets and Cubs fans in this town than Braves fans. Atlanta natives grew up going to Klan rallies with their Dads, instead of watching the Braves.

By John R

June 22, 2006 11:09 PM | Link to this

Slash the beer prices and bring on the ostrich races!

By Steve

June 22, 2006 11:10 PM | Link to this

Wow! Mr. Moore it sounds like you are just as upset about this losing streak as all of the Braves fans. I haven’t been to many games over the years but that doesn’t make me any less of a fan. First of all I have a family and it cost money to go to the games. Incase you haven’t checked lately, it cost alot of money. I don’t have a press pass. Now don’t get on my case if I need to save money instead of spending it going to the games but I do watch them on TV all the time and root for them just as hard. Don’t blame the fans and say we deserve this! I have yet to make money being a fan.

By greg

June 22, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

AtlSportsFan touches on a key issue you totally missed TM, likely because it doesn’t impact you personally. My wife and I have four kids, all of whom love baseball, all of whom jump at the chance to go to a game. By the time I pay for parking, get decent seats, a hot dog, and a drink, I’m looking at $200 for a 3 hour outing. How many times a season can I afford to go to a game?

By Robert Disenchanted

June 22, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

This is getting ridiculous. Francoeur has no BUSINESS swinging at the first pitch when there is a runner on 3rd and one out in the bottom of the 8th inning. When Franceour flied out to right field and headed back to the dugout you could SEE the DISGUST on Chipper’s face. He should have said something to Francoeur instead he just stared at Franceour and the ground. The veterans need to get on the first and secoond year players and chew their A* out becuase Bobby or TP are not doping it. Franceour has not warned the right to be a free swinger when the situation called for patience at the plate when Toronto changed pitchers. I guarantee if Franco or Perez were here somebodys BUTT would be getting chewed out. Wise up Frenchy you don’t play the game like that. Give it a DAMN chance and let the game come to you. Mike Remlinger father time is reaching out for you. You have nothing to offer this club. Please JS waive him and bring someone up from the minor leagues because he is wasting a roster spot and take fat A* Pronto with you. !!!!!! You can’t come in a close game and automatically thro 4 pitcher and yield a walk. Hey Paronto you walk was the winning run because your bullpen mates could not clean up your s**. There is CANCER spreading from the bullpen throught the rest of the club.

By Steve

June 22, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

Wow! Mr. Moore it sounds like you are just as upset about this losing streak as all of the Braves fans. I haven’t been to many games over the years but that doesn’t make me any less of a fan. First of all I have a family and it cost money to go to the games. Incase you haven’t checked lately, it cost alot of money. I don’t have a press pass. Now don’t get on my case if I need to save money instead of spending it going to the games but I do watch them on TV all the time and root for them just as hard. Don’t blame the fans and say we deserve this! I have yet to make money being a fan.

By Kip Wright

June 22, 2006 11:13 PM | Link to this

I’ve been living in Texas for over ten years — one thing I really miss is Terence Moore’s columns. Good insight — And he’s not scared to say what needs to be said! Here’s one ATL native who totally agrees with Mr. Moore!

By JJ

June 22, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this

Another game, another blown lead by the bullpen

By glennbo

June 22, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this

Terrence, Aren’t you the same guy who said the Braves are boring? Are the Braves boring? Or do the fans really suck? Or did you flip a coin to decide which side of the fence to be on today?

By Robert Disenchanted

June 22, 2006 11:24 PM | Link to this

i WAS HOPING WHEN gILES WAS NOT IN THE LINEUP THAT HE HAD BEEN TRADED. Look what he did in the 9th inning. HE needs to be traded if we can get any value because Betemit has nothing else to prove. Give him a change and he will hit for more power and average. Where is Marcus head if he was not ware of the sign he should have asked for time-out so he could confer with the third base coach. This was a critical situation in the bottom of the 9th. If Marcus had not missed the sign Renteria hit probably would have tied the game. I AM SO SICK OF MARCUS GILES; BOBBY PLAY WILSON AND GET RID OF MARCUS. During this streak he has now cost up 2 games. Anyone disagree with my 2 posts.

By Kip Wright

June 22, 2006 11:25 PM | Link to this

I’ve been living in Texas for over ten years — one thing I really miss is Terence Moore’s columns. Good insight — And he’s not scared to say what needs to be said! Here’s one ATL native who totally agrees with Mr. Moore!

By Cecil Upshaw

June 22, 2006 11:25 PM | Link to this

While I agree that Turner Field is not ideally located, the real access problem arises from politicians not locating a MARTA station near Atl Stadium when MARTA was first built in the 70s. Then, when a new stadium was planned in the early 90s, the politicos again dropped the ball, building Olympic Stad./Turner Field even further away from MARTA. What was up with that?? Turner is a great ball park but it should be in the Centennial Olympic Park area. Right now, it is too much a hassle to go to a week night game to see sorry, overpriced baseball. And its even worse when the Red Sox are in town.

By Ron

June 22, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

Ken Stallings, you hit the nail on the head! Enough said.

By Burdell

June 22, 2006 11:26 PM | Link to this

My Dad very wisely pointed out that he can go to a Tech baseball game and sit in a better seat and watch a more enjoyable game for less than a third of the cost of going to the Ted.

Don’t charge 50 bucks for good seats and then complain when fans don’t show up to see the home team lose.

By John R

June 22, 2006 11:35 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr. ted turner, Did I hear you right when you said “Atlanta natives grew up going to Klan rallies with their Dads, instead of watching the Braves.”

I’m sorry to bust your little bigotted dream but most Georgians don’t belong to the Klan. We have endured the highs and lows of our team for decades and I really resent your comment.

By BoringBall

June 22, 2006 11:35 PM | Link to this

I haven’t been to a game in about 7 years and the only reason I went to that one was to sit in a friend’s company sky box and drink free beer. I couldn’t care less if they win or lose. Baseball is boring period! I’m more interested in when I’ll be able to water my lawn again.

By Ron

June 22, 2006 11:35 PM | Link to this

Best TM column I’ve read in a while. He’s actually right this time. I go to at least ten Braves games a year. (I shy away from Cubs & Red Sox games because it’s embarrassing to be a minority fan in my own town.) I blame those who are OBSESSED with college football and college football ONLY for our Southern Baseball Apathy. This just in - we have major league baseball, right here in Atlanta! Championship baseball! I like football as much as the next guy (well, maybe not), but come on! It’s summer! Football has its season! Support the Braves.

By Mad Mike

June 22, 2006 11:39 PM | Link to this

See? I knew it was gonna be a good night when Skip and Pete appeared on the tube. Sure the Bravos lost (and yeah it really hurt to lose the way we did…again), but it didn’t hurt as bad as it has been hurting lately. Thanks to Skip and Pete. No Jeff Torborg or Bob Rathbun or…dare I say it…his majesty, Joe Morgan.

Why wasn’t I at Turner Field? Because I live 5 hours away. (A 30-45 minute commute sounds pretty good to me.) And so I rely on entertaining announcers and quality camera angles to bring me the game….

How about a little of this chanting from my fellow far-away Braves fans? More Skip and Pete!! More Skip and Pete!! I need my old pals to help get me through this tough time….

By burt

June 22, 2006 11:46 PM | Link to this

four pro-sports teams has made atlanta a world class city. terrence sports review sure has not hurt atlanta as a sport city. why? because it’s his opinion, which counts a big fat -0- to the final score.

By Louis Vales

June 22, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

No you IDIOTS they Didn’t Want 14 World Series Titles—They wanted as many as the Florida Marlins and 1 more than Arizona—You Idiot!!

By Flibberdigibbit

June 22, 2006 11:51 PM | Link to this

For years I’ve been grieving as William B. Hartsfield’s “City too Busy to Hate” becomes a City to Busy to Care.

Atlanta scarecely even takes out time to rally around its heros and leaders, much less its bullpen.

By Jose Jimenez

June 22, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this

Mr. More, you sir will say anything to sell a column.

Have a blessed day!

By jay

June 22, 2006 11:57 PM | Link to this

to quote the underarmour slogan: “we must protect this house.” it absolutely disgusts me when i see the horrendous play and attitude the braves have taken this season (especially at home). at the same time i also agree with terence about how atlanta fans take no pride in defending their home turf during the PLAYOFFS.

other than john smoltz i dont really see another braves player with a “refuse to lose” attitude. i mean the man threw 130 pitches at age 40 with a surgically repaired elbow because he knows the bullpen is shaky (and as expected, they blew the game). respect.

and all you chipper fans out there… the “i am a tough out” commercial??? that makes me so mad. senor, you just flied out to center with runners on to end the game. chipper hasnt been clutch in 3 or 4 years. i mean dont get me wrong i think he’s a good player and he definetely deserved his mvp award but no way is he CURRENT superstar material (though we will be paying him some 15 mill per year). during last year’s playoffs he would strikeout and then walk with his head down back to the dugout (what a metaphor for the braves).

there is nobody to step up and carry this team so simply put the braves are done for the season (take a look at the standings and we arent far from the pirates and the royals). however i am looking foward to young guys getting some play time and seeing players push each other for roster spots next year as i am sure john s. will be doing some house cleaning during the offseason (please dump giles, laroche, sosa, and thompson….. and the whole bullpen except for maybe kenny ray and macay mcbride, but only because he is young). and as for tim hudson, i just keep on waiting for him to step up to his oakland form. i mean isnt it easier for pitchers in the NL vs. the AL? when is he going to be the ace of the staff.

By Boomer

June 22, 2006 11:59 PM | Link to this

You made some good points, TM, but I sure don’t appreciate being lumped together with the fair-weather fans. I’ve been to many games over the years. Not just the winning years but even the horrible years. I sympathize with those who say that the whole game experience is too expensive because I know how much it costs for two of us to go. Parking is a great big headache. The person who said the police are no help is right on. I still love attending the games and watching them on television. My family and I are huge Braves fans and cheer for them win or lose. We don’t “deserve” a losing season. Neither does any other Braves fan or fans of any other team for that matter. And I don’t feel we deserve to be punished for being disappointed that the Braves won just one World Series title during the great run because in all honesty, we probably should have 3. As for disappointing post-season attendance, MLB has to share a lot of blame for that. When the Braves run of division titles began, the teams set ticket prices. A few years in, MLB set ticket prices and naturally, those prices were much higher. Second, how many division series games have the Braves had to play in the daytime? And worse, some years we didn’t know that until a day or two before the game. It looks like we won’t have to worry about any of that this year but I [and most other Braves fans] will continue to support the team. One more comment…it was another bullpen failure tonight, that’s true. But how can we win games with an offensive stat like 2 for 15 or 16 with RISP?

By Mad Mike

June 23, 2006 12:10 AM | Link to this

jay, Chipper hit that ball on the button. Sure he’s struggling right now, but he’s still got some left in the tank. Just kick my boys around while they’re down. Classy. Try relaxing. Accept your fate. Enjoy the colorful communication courtesy of commentators, Skip and Pete.

By Brad

June 23, 2006 12:11 AM | Link to this

The streak ends in Tampa on 06/23/06….it has to! Keep the faith!

By Marshall

June 23, 2006 12:14 AM | Link to this

You either know what it is to be Atlanta fan or you think Atlanta fans are the worst in the country. We watch the braves on TV, follow them in the paper, on radio, and watch them in person when you can. I’m a huge fan and go 10 to 20 times a year. Name the reason- cost, time, location, etc…it doesn’t mean we aren’t good fans, it just means ESPN hasn’t dug deep enough to find us yet. And as long as Bonds on Bonds gets the 7 pm time slot, and out-of-towners just want to b***, they never will…

By supa

June 23, 2006 12:15 AM | Link to this

Think of how many Braves fans fill up other ballparks. Outside of maybe the Cubs, I can’t imagine any other visiting team that has more fans in the National League. I’ve followed the Braves on the road to many cities and I’ve always heard opposing teams’ fans comment about how many Braves fans are at “their” stadium.

By Adam

June 23, 2006 12:26 AM | Link to this

Finally, I agree with an opinion of yours. I was at the game tonight and to hear our so-called Braves fan boo at the home team was terrible.

I also agree that there are many native Atlantans around as well. My wife and our three children make 5.

My gracious Father-in-Law did treat my son and I to a wonderful dinner at the 755 club!

We Atlantans like the Nation have had it too good for too long when it comes to the Braves.

By John R

June 23, 2006 12:27 AM | Link to this

I can not believe that there aren’t more Georgian than me that are upset with the comment the ted turner made earlier:

“Atlanta natives grew up going to Klan rallies with their Dads, instead of watching the Braves.”

I’m a 43 year old native from Middle Ga that has lived here my whole life. I have a college education, a good profession, and my Dad did take me to Braves games.

The one thing I’ve never done, or my friends, or my dad, is to go to a Klan meeting.

By Spike

June 23, 2006 12:29 AM | Link to this

Nice article except that it could be written in most major league towns. Each team has a fan base that may gripe, swear, pull their hair out with every loss, but as soon as they start winning again it becomes”we may still make the playoffs”! Those are your true fans. The other 30% follow their team when they achieve something special and leave them like they have a bad disease when they lose. The Atlanta Braves still have great fans or there wouldn’t be so many responses to articles like this. Sure they hate whats happening right now. Sure they were spoiled for 14 years. But I don’t see the players giving up and I don’t see the true Brave fan abondoning ship. Make the playoffs? I doubt it, but you can bet it won’t be long till there are games with thousands of people standing and doing the Tomahawk chop while the Braves play baseball ‘cause that is what Braves fans do. Atlanta is a great baseball town….winning or losing.

By Adam

June 23, 2006 12:33 AM | Link to this

One more comment that sounds like a complaint but isnt, Chipper looks like he has totaly given up. His two strikeouts looking tonight and his non-caring walk to get his glove was telling.

By RIP

June 23, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this

Mr. Moore don’t blame the fans. Put the Blame where it starts and stops on JS & BC.

By Adam

June 23, 2006 12:41 AM | Link to this

EB has it right. I left my house today at 445pm to meet my Father-in Law and we still had only an hour to play around!

Bring the Braves to Gwinnett.

Adam

By Grant Veillon

June 23, 2006 12:46 AM | Link to this

You hit the nail right on the head. Great column.

By tc

June 23, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this

I agree with the comments concerning parking, rude traffic cops, and the overall hassles of going to a game. I travel about 150 miles several times a year to attend Braves games and it has reached an all time low. The Ted is a beautiful park. Too bad it isn’t in a better location. As for the team… time to “rebuild” that too.

By UGA 72

June 23, 2006 12:55 AM | Link to this

Terrance I hear they have an opening at the Chicago Papers, or maybe it was Detroit. Being completely impartial here just like you are, I just don’t feel that the Atlanta Fans deserve your writing talents. Why you are the only thing appreciated less than the Braves. So put on your traveling shoes and don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out of Atlanta.

It is difficult to blame fans for not going to a game, like everyone else has said the traffic is horrible, the Parking non-existent, and being very honest, a team that has lost this many games in the 8th and 9th innings isn’t worth my hard earned money. In the real business world if you have a crappy product you reduce prices, not the Braves they raised prices before this season and yet didn’t aquire a closer despite having the money to do so.

I don’t particularily like Mr. Blank, but you have to admit he understands business, you fill stadiums by making the game and trip worth going to. It’s pitiful to watch Chipper stand there with two strikes watching the ball cross the plate, and Frenchie swing at balls in the dirt he couldn’t reach with a shovel.

Our New Pitching Coach isn’t great, our hitting coach is missing, and heck yeah we miss Leo. Leo wasn’t warm and fuzzy, but he believed in accountability, the Braves could use some about now.

By Jay

June 23, 2006 12:56 AM | Link to this

There have been plenty of columns where I dont agree with Moore. There have been plenty of columns where he tries to dictate policy for our teams (trade for Griffey, resign Jordan) and comes off like a flake on a soap box. This is not one of those columns.

He’s right. We really didnt deserve 14 years of success. Our fan support, for whatever excuse you give, has been absolutley pathetic. Period.

Unfortunately the good out of this awful season (and most likely several more) is that a Braves decent will reset the stage for another amazing run that will be appreciated. Even if we returned to first next season, your mediocre 20 k crowds would be there to welcome them.

This is Atlanta’s just dessert for apathy. The no-shows revealed that they didnt support a winner, so now they can revel in losing.

By DD

June 23, 2006 12:57 AM | Link to this

TM’s crappy journalism is Atlanta’s just desserts.

By Chris McAndrew

June 23, 2006 01:07 AM | Link to this

We have the worst pro sports team in the nation right here in Atlanta. One world championship between them all (Braves, Hawks, Thrashers, Falcons) over the past how many YEARS???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Why SHOULD we care about these sorry teams. Give us a team we can support that at least has a shot at a championship and we’ll support them…otherwise…quit complaining that Atlanta fans won’t come out and support the sorry teams this city has!!!!!

By Darren

June 23, 2006 01:08 AM | Link to this

Terrence is 100% correct, I’ve been ashamed for many years with our apathetic fans. We’ve been the class of MLB for the last 14 years and the only thing that would get our city fired up would be if #7 picked up a bat! Nonetheless, I’m looking forward watching the Braves return to glory next year!

By Holmes

June 23, 2006 01:09 AM | Link to this

It is a pain in the a* to get to Turner Field. Traffic starts @ 3pm during the week on 75/85 S into the city from the northside. If you take Marta, not only do you get to ride with the dregs of the city, but you are forced to walk through Underground which again is full of more losers just standing around peddling crap. Bring on the old days of Fulton Co. stadium when nobody cared and you could sit where ever you wanted.

By chopthis

June 23, 2006 01:10 AM | Link to this

If I’m actually at the game, I can’t hear the great Bob Rathbun and Jeff Torborg describe it to me. Plus I’m out 20 bucks for a ticket and $12 for parking and $15 or so more for hot dogs and beer. I’d rather make my own dinner and watch from my easy chair and have the great Bob and Jeff take me away…

By Chris McAndrew

June 23, 2006 01:13 AM | Link to this

One other thing…you can say people support the Cubs without a championship or use that tired arguement, but look how many championships the Bulls had not that many years ago. Or look at Boston…no baseball championships for a long time, but look at the Celtics of old. These places have teams at one point in time or another that win championships and give the people who live there reason to get excited about sports. How many championships have the Hawks won in the HISTORY, how many have the pro hockey teams won in their HISTORY, how many have the Falcons won in their HISTORY, and of course the Braves who have spoiled us because they’re just too darn good. Well they won one championship over the past 15 years, yep just too good for us. You’re right Terrance, we’re just spoiled. We badly need a team to do horribly so we can remember how spoiled we are in Atlanta because of our wonderful pro sports teams and their great success. Right on T.M. keep up the good work buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Mariotti

June 23, 2006 01:20 AM | Link to this

I used to think LaRoche was the village idiot on the team, but now that distinction goes to perennial bench warmer Langerhans. Way to make the first out at second by 10ft. The Braves at least tie it up in the bottom of the ninth if he doesn’t try to be a hero once he got on first. And the worst part about it is that Cox just had that same old confused look on his face. Old, fat, and stupid is no way to go through life.

By Braves Suck

June 23, 2006 01:24 AM | Link to this

Braves Suck—-you own a company with a $100 million annual operating budget—-but out of 15 years you only make a profit 1 year—-Braves Suck!

By Alex

June 23, 2006 01:27 AM | Link to this

Ok, so the Braves unprecedented run is most likely about to end. Well, I think it’s time we gave back a little of what the Braves have given us for 14 years. Still show up at the Ted. Still cheer for a win. Still chop. Thank Bobby Cox. Thank John Shuerholz. Thank every player who wore that tomahawk onto the field and represented our city.

No, they didn’t win it all every year, but they won a LOT more than they lost. And no,we didn’t sell out every playoff game, but a LOT more people showed up than didn’t. Let’s kiss and make up. Spend this year honoring the streak. And let’s get ready for the next 14 years.

For then, for now and forever… GO BRAVES!!!!!

By Todd A

June 23, 2006 01:29 AM | Link to this

The Braves have been a bunch of chokers and underachievers the last 8-9 years.No getting around it.This team has ceased to matter as serious power broker in baseball since Leyritz’ blast off Wohlers in 1996.That one swing of the bat stole our swagger,and our identity…the team of the 90’s.Since then,they have been a good team in a very weak division.Nothing more.I don’t think a team that gets beat in the 1st round of the playoffs every year should be rewarded with sellouts.We all know they are going to choke in the playoffs when they get there.So why should we be excited about it?

If fans sellout when the team is underachieving,then you get …….the Cubs.Wake me when this bunch has as many World Series’ rings as,say, the Florida Marlins.

By Move Em

June 23, 2006 01:29 AM | Link to this

The best thing for the Braves would be a new owner that moves the team to a new city!,,,

By Hank is the Greatest!

June 23, 2006 01:37 AM | Link to this

Terence,

I’ve rooted for the Braves longer than you’ve called Atlanta home. I saw Hank it 714 and 715 in the old Fulton County Stadium. I tried to sell beer during the 80s when announced crowds were 2800 fans. I had season tickets until the strike (yes, I’m still bitter!). Atlanta fans are the result of the product…the baseball has been great since 1991…the rest stinks. Let’s see…a converted track stadium with awful sight lines outside of first and third base; nickel and dime hawkers everywhere that remind a fan of the Olympic flea market; our “lifers” allowed to leave; and absentee, corporate ownership that lacks passion and interest. And you wonder about Atlanta’s fans?

Let me give you a different perspective…in the early 90s, we met Pittsburgh in the NLCS regularly. I could not get tickets in Atlanta, but flew my parents and wife to meet me there and bought tickets at the ticket window on gameday for each game! Who was around to blister Pittsburgh fans for their lack of support? They reached the same point in 4 years that Atlanta fans reached in 14 years.

While she fought cancer, my mother watched every Braves game on TV. By 1997 (when she died), she could not remember who had been traded and who was on the team. It’s only gotten worse. The quality of Braves baseball is great, but the ability to relate to players and follow them is gone. Once, we were the team of rally caps…now we are too professional for rally caps.

Terrence, go away. It’s easy to be a critic. Spend a day finding all the good things about Braves fans. I’ll start you off…when Atlanta LOST the World Series to Minnesota in 1991, the parade crows in Atlanta was more than double the one that welcomed the Twins…

By paddy atl

June 23, 2006 01:44 AM | Link to this

HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK!HACK! TERENCE MOORE IS A TOTAL HACK!

(before anyone tells me to turn off the caps lock, YES, I AM YELLING!)

Terence Moore is a total hack. Hey Terence, before you ‘write’ another blog, tell me - who one the NBA Championship? According to you, (in your last “article” the Heat lost).

Oh, aren’t you from Ohio or something? Go badmouth the Reds or Indians, why don’t you?

YOU ARE A DISGRACE!

P.S. the AJC is a total rag. Aside from DOB and Maria Saporta - this paper is a joke. Tell me, Terence, how are the ol’ subscription rates going for the AJC? You can’t even give this paper away in this town anymore. You know why, because of the half-a**ed “writing” from joke reporters like yourself who know nothing about what is going on. These blogs must seem to be a godsend for you (and Jim Wooten) who can just spout off here and there and get cheap responses from people who actually care. Is this what passes for journalmalism these days?

This paper is a disgrace, and yes, I am a NATIVE ATLANTAN.

By Ken

June 23, 2006 01:58 AM | Link to this

It’s not about ticket prices, yankee transplants, or lousy location (BTW, it’s the ATLANTA Braves, not the Alpharetta Braves).

The issue is about reaching a plateau and not getting any further. It’s extremely frustrating as a fan to see your beloved team play hard all year to make it to the playoffs only to be dismissed with barely a peep.

Besides, the Braves have been in decline ever since the ‘99 series sweep. They’ve been saved each year by hot hitting, starting pitching, relief pitching, or rookies, which have gotten them to the postseason, but they can never put it all together when it counts. Moreover, GM Scherholz’s overwhelming arrogance leads him to think the Braves can win regardless of the level of talent he provides Bobby Cox. It appears the rest of the league has wisened up, because he’s drawn blanks in his dealings this season.

Some would say it’s better to have a chance to win it all and fail than to sit home in October. But 14 division titles leaves a sour taste when you’ve only won one championship. 14 titles? Nope, we weren’t expecting that. But one title in 14 tries doesn’t exactly validate their claim to baseball excellence.

By Head Coach

June 23, 2006 02:32 AM | Link to this

And now you know why Atlanta has earned the following nickname : ” THE ARMPIT OF THE SPORTSWORLD”. Nice article , I agree totally.

By Ralph

June 23, 2006 02:43 AM | Link to this

I like to know if a team can send a player or players to the minors, or release them if they feel that the player or players are not doing their job. Like a business when you can’t do your job they show you the front door, or in baseball lingo or jargon the front gate, and why haven’t the Braves taken this action. The present Braves pitching staff should be send back to the minors, they are just plain ridicules, plus they are starting to act senile. The whole pitching staff stinks, what is it with them an epidemic? or is it monkey see, monkey do, what is the power the opposition have over the braves? are they a better teams, or just lucky? The Braves can bring up someone from class a, b, c, or d ball and with some luck a decent pitcher will develop. There’s got to be someone out there who can pitch and help them win one louse game. why did Cox have to insert Giles? when the other player was doing a alright job. Giles in his true fashion stroke out in the ninth inning. He is another one who thinks he’s mighty mouse, even if he’s about the right size, he still should cut down on his swing. The Brave are a prefect example of a free for all team with no strong leadership. As good of a leader that Bobby was in the past, he looks like he is managing in fear no matter what he does is wrong and so far that’s the way it appears. Chipper Jones looks burn out, he’s playing on fume and while the rest of the player are starting not to look at him as the leader, he still has a small affect on the team. We all know that Chipper will be on the disable list soon, so it doesn’t really matter what he does. The pitching coach should teach or explained to his pitchers that they are support to stop the other team from scoring anymore runs, they are not support to help them get more runs and if they forget because their hats are on too tight remained them which team they belong to and if by some celestial chance the Brave team win a game, explain to them that, what just happen, which is called a victory, although it won’t be Kansas, it will be close, you’ll be with the tin man, but not with the scare crow or the lion.. So all you have to do is to get a grip and stop the bad guys from beating your butt every night. The boy wonder (Francoeur) should keep his eyes on the ball and cut down on his swing when he got two strikes on him and men on base. Also like to know what is it that Terry Pendleton is support to do to help braves players? And in conclusion the old saying that baseball is 10% sweat, 30% talent and 60% luck, haven’t seem the present Braves team play this year they play like they don’t sweat it, have no talent, and luck when to Hawaii for the summer.

By Tony

June 23, 2006 03:44 AM | Link to this

It seems odd to get irritated at people in Atlanta for not caring much about the Braves. They clearly just have other interests. I don’t think it is bad for someone not to want to go see a baseball game.

By Braves rule

June 23, 2006 04:52 AM | Link to this

Listen T. Moore I don’t care what you think about Atlanta if you don’t like it get out no one wants to hear you whine about us. As for you fair weather braves fans if you don’t like the braves don’t watch them play find time to do something else and leave the Braves to the real fans and stop complaining about losing. Do you expect them to win every year? Well that is not gonna happen they have to have a bad year every now and then but we still need to show support and be there for them because that is what a true fan is. We are lucky our team even made the playoffs 14 straight years no other team has ever done that and many other teams would give a right leg for that opportunity. People saying the braves don’t deserve it because they can’t win a world championship and it is a waste of money to go because they will choke you still need to show support because for all you know they may make it but you are too busy whining about them losing you probably don’t have time to watch them actually play.

By Jeremy

June 23, 2006 04:58 AM | Link to this

I am a college student. I grew up watching the Braves and I try to go to as many games as I can. Trust me, I would get a LOT more people to go with me but it just costs WAY too much for decent seats. We usually sit upper deck behind home.

The other day, some old lady complained because we were “cheering too loudly.” That’s very sad.

I blame location, but most of a all.. Time Warner, who see the Braves as a profit making business and not a SPORTS TEAM !!

By Trey

June 23, 2006 05:08 AM | Link to this

Win or lose the Braves I choose.

By Jeff

June 23, 2006 05:47 AM | Link to this

Location, Location,Location! If the ball field had been built on the north side of town instead of the crime area we call Atlanta, families would have felt safer in going to the ball game. Add the traffic problem and the worst public transic system in America, and guess what, no full house at the stadium.

By CITYofdecatur

June 23, 2006 06:01 AM | Link to this

braves management marketed the team to the corporate client at the beginning of the on field success. they got what they asked for when play off time came. once it became a been there done that thing people like me get those UNUSED tickets free as a hand me down and it is still expensive to take in a game with family for the average folks. we watch on tv listen on the radio and screw u espn the national media etc. we do what we can for our team. ps TM your favorite angle was missing in your article and at the stadium too.

By CITYofdecatur

June 23, 2006 06:03 AM | Link to this

braves management marketed the team to the corporate client at the beginning of the on field success. they got what they asked for when play off time came. once it became a been there done that thing people like me get those UNUSED tickets free as a hand me down and it is still expensive to take in a game with family for the average folks. we watch on tv listen on the radio and screw u espn the national media etc. we do what we can for our team. ps TM your favorite angle was missing in your article and at the stadium too.

By Peter

June 23, 2006 06:09 AM | Link to this

I went to bed last night with the Braves up 2-1 and I thought just maybe they could hold it, but nope of course not. Ramirez pitched so well last night, but the hitters were not there Chipper was somewhere else and I am tired of him trade him please. Thorman is 2-14 or something like that, send him back down. I will never ever stop loving the Braves but some of the players need to be traded badly. I did like Betemit in the leadoff spot, he may not have gotten the hits but he looks comfortable and I think he will be fine there.

By Tye

June 23, 2006 06:10 AM | Link to this

I have to admit that I am very apethetic towards the Braves as well and baseball in general. The fact that they’re losing makes me stay away even more. I just don’t seem to care anymore.

After going to more Thrashers and Hawks games in the past couple of years baseball to me is way to slow and boring and its hard to even watch a full game on TV without nodding off. I want some action and fast movement for my dollar.

I’m hoping the Hawks and Thrashers can become playoff teams and I feel the Thrashers are closer than the Hawks. These two teams could bring alot of excitement to the city.

Its time for another Atlanta Pro team to step up because the Braves are out of gas and they deserve a rest anyway.

Good column Terence. I think you hit the nail on the head.

By spud

June 23, 2006 06:11 AM | Link to this

I totally agree with you t.m. I have been a braves fan for 40 i left atlanta 15 years ago I have lived on ohio indiana and now ala. every state I have lived in for the past few years during playoff time in atlanta the braves are a laughing stock, folks around the country know and are made fun of because they cant even support a winner of champions. braves fans are the worst it is pretty sad to hear people from ALABAMA rip and insult and make fun of brave fan.

By Leon

June 23, 2006 06:41 AM | Link to this

Hate to break the news to you Terrence, but you can have quite a fulfilling experience in Atlanta without sitting on your rear-end for 3 hours watching overpaid athletes compete. And probably with a longer term benefit. Sorry if that isn’t good enough for the insecure ones among the fans who like to tell everyone else what they should be doing. Come out of the sports cave mentality into the sunlight of real life experiences.

By South Paw

June 23, 2006 06:42 AM | Link to this

I think you will find that Braves’ attendance began declining after 1999. Reason being, AOL started investing less in the team and we were basically TOLD that division titles were our World Series. Put a good/exciting team on the field and fans will come back.

Terrance- using the 2003 Falcons as fodder is BS and you know it. The Dome was empty after the Falcons were out of it not just because Vick was gone.

You are one bad writer. Who do I contact about taking your job?

By THL

June 23, 2006 06:49 AM | Link to this

Atlanta is apethetic and there’s no way around it. Only the Yankees and Marlins have won more championships than the Braves have over the past 15 years. The only difference is that the Braves gave us a postseason every year. They have been a consistent playoff team and have just lost to better teams for the most part. 91 & 92 hurt but were great series and ‘96 was a choke job but the other years the team had more holes than most champions do.

I will agree on the traffic problem though. If we can somehow get this thing fixed and expand the public transit, attendance would go up for all the Atlanta franchises. More people are moving back to the city (because they are fed up with traffic)now so that may help also.

By JR2005A

June 23, 2006 07:01 AM | Link to this

The earlier idea of moving the team to the northern suburbs is an old, tired notion that will never have traction, especially when you won’t cure the REAL problem, which is poor front office management and field decisions. After all, having the team in the northern suburbs back in the 90’s wouldn’t have changed a thing with Cox’s bungled moves which may have cost the Braves some more World Series Titles.

By Bob

June 23, 2006 07:05 AM | Link to this

I agree with the poster that asked “Who Cares”. I was going to look back through the posts to be able to quote the posters name but frankly I don’t care…

By Jim

June 23, 2006 07:13 AM | Link to this

Face it Atlanta Fans, Mr. Moore does have a point. His point couldn’t be driven home more than the example shown during Game 1 of the 1996 NLCS with the Cardinals, when just ONE YEAR removed from their World Series Title, they couldn’t even sell out that game with St. Louis.

By Dan in Augusta

June 23, 2006 07:19 AM | Link to this

EThe Braves are a result of the Big Business baseball has become. They had a team with great players and a farm system that put out many stars, but after Ted Turner lost control, the “team” was not important…..only money decisions. We watched our best pitchers leave, many of our young prospects traded away for players that have been sidelined by injuries. What is there to be excited about.

After the 1994 strike, I watched and went to less games every year. Now I have not watched a whole game this year yet. Don’t plan on it either.

Bring back “The Game” of Baseball and I’ll go and watch. I don’t want to see a power struggle of millionaires play chess with over paid spoiled athletes that have no team loyalty.

By Big Shaun

June 23, 2006 07:30 AM | Link to this

I agree with the traffic comments on here. I’ve been to several MLB ballparks and the common denominator for the great ones is Direct access to public transportation: Baltimore, Yankees (Even Shea), Boston, St Louis (Wonderful), Denver, etc. Turner Field is a great ballpark in a pretty OK location, but it is lacking this Classical aspect of what makes a ballpark great. But that is due to the huge profits that the Bravos make in parking revenues yearly. I don’t think this is going to change anytime soon.

As far as this season. Fuggedaboutit! Bobby Cox and Schuerholtz are averse to change and living a a dream world thinking that they don’t have to make any persnonnel changes to win. Cox, as i’ve said since the 97 Yankees loss, is the most idiotic manager in baseball the last 10 years. He is an Idiot. Until we get rid of HIM, and trade for a bullpen, get used to it ATL.

The Mets seem to have the juice now.

By Carroll

June 23, 2006 07:32 AM | Link to this

NATHAN: Wow! I’m glad there’s someone else out there who sees Atlanta for what it really is. It’s just a wanna-be city of soccer moms and nascar dads trying to pretend that their little fairy-tale world involving a nice house, 2 nice cars, 2.5 kids, 1.75 dogs, and going to church every SUnday to show it all off, etc, is all that matters in life…..it’s almost like a fettish. And nothing else matters except to the extent that it bears on that little make-believe utopia.

As such, there’s only time for the Braves, if at all, between the 2nd and 7th innings, or until the little kiddies get too bored to pay attention, and the alure of cotton candy, big foam fingers, and baseball caps has worn off. And you can forget about getting loud and rowdy during the games….that kinda stuff’s not apprpriate around the little kiddies. You’re right, Terrence is right. The Atl doesn’t deserve the Braves.

By Jim

June 23, 2006 07:34 AM | Link to this

I saw Adam LaRoche on the local news last evening, saying that the Braves needed to get back to having fun. I thought that was pretty hilarious, given the fact that they all look like they’re perpetually constipated. I don’t equate the word “fun” with the Atlanta Braves…sorry Adam. Look at Johnny Damon; look at David Ortiz; look at Dontrelle Willis…those guys are having fun.

By Chris

June 23, 2006 07:42 AM | Link to this

Why don’t more people go to the stadium? Simple…TBS is hassle-free.

By #1

June 23, 2006 07:49 AM | Link to this

WHO CARES, GO DAWGS!!!!

By p

June 23, 2006 07:52 AM | Link to this

i don’t know and i don’t care.

By Mark

June 23, 2006 07:53 AM | Link to this

Another shock piece from Terence Moore, an incompetent, completely untalented columnist that somehow finds a way to convince the clowns running the AJC to give him a paycheck. You’ve somehow made a career out of making outrageous, offensive, and insulting editorials aimed at the few poor schmucks that buy the ajc. TM, the ajc’s version of Jerry Seinfeld. Please do us a favor and move………..and take the Hawks with you.

By Mark

June 23, 2006 07:53 AM | Link to this

Another shock piece from Terence Moore, an incompetent, completely untalented columnist that somehow finds a way to convince the clowns running the AJC to give him a paycheck. You’ve somehow made a career out of making outrageous, offensive, and insulting editorials aimed at the few poor schmucks that buy the ajc. TM, the ajc’s version of Jerry Springer. Please do us a favor and move………..and take the Hawks with you.

By #1

June 23, 2006 07:54 AM | Link to this

WHO CARES, GO DAWGS!!!!

By #1

June 23, 2006 07:54 AM | Link to this

WHO CARES, GO DAWGS!!!!

By batrol

June 23, 2006 07:57 AM | Link to this

Chipper and the other former users need to get back on the steroids. That way we would win a few games & maybe we would want to come back to Turner Field.

By Mark

June 23, 2006 08:00 AM | Link to this

Hail to the Redskins Hail victory Braves on the warpath Fight for old D.C.

Baseball is as boring as watching grass grow. Basketball is even more boring than that. Thank god football is soon to be starting. Year round football would kill every other sport.

By Greg

June 23, 2006 08:03 AM | Link to this

Geez, Moore, what’s your point here? Isn’t this some old column from a few years ago that you roll out every so often? C’mon dude, break some ground, write something innovative/thoughtful. Earn your money, man. What person with a high school level of writing couldn’t write the same thing?

By BP

June 23, 2006 08:04 AM | Link to this

What does it matter how “good” a sports town is? I for one appreciate the ability to go watch professional sports in this town for a reasonable price, and not having to buy tickets 5 months in advance for a regular season game.

There’s two sides to this story. Maybe we should be commending Atlantans for not being as absorbed with the rise and fall of the local sports teams. Probably better for overall health!

By Gregg

June 23, 2006 08:07 AM | Link to this

That’s the lamest column. This isn’t the fault of the fans.

You can’t blame the fans for not showing up when everybody knew the Braves were going to fall flat on their faces in the playoffs. This was especially apparent the last four years.

Yes, as a Braves fan, I wanted 14 straight world championships. Winning our division and then losing in the first round of playoffs got boring. And this season is boring as well.

Yawn.

By tim

June 23, 2006 08:07 AM | Link to this

Terrance, you almost made a point at the end of your column. Here’s the deal, transient cities filed with Yankees have to live with too many people like you and thus have the same issues.

Let’s look at three case studies you mention at the end of your article that have similar ridiculously high influxes of Yankees.

Miami - Can’t sell out a dang thing. Prices for the NBA Finals were cheap and tix were available. They have 2 WS titles and haven’t sold the place out 10 times in 10 years. The Dolphins sell out the NY Jets and NE Patriots games and no others. The falcons attendance is unreal compared to the NFL teams in Miami, Phoenix, or LA. Do you even know the names of the hockey teams in those three cities Terrance?

Phoenix - Cheapest ticket in the NFL, worst attendance in the history of the game. DBacks, one WS title bottom 3rd in attendance, the Suns can’t sell out til the playoffs as they are the thing in Phoenix.

LA - 2nd largest city in America, no NFL team, basketball fans show if there is a show, the Dodgers haven’t outdrawn the Braves in forever and they offer $200 season tix.

Here’s what you should write about, obnoxious Yankees from NY, NJ, CT, MA, IL, MI, etc. keep pulling for the home team and keep their kids pulling for the team of their youth rather than supporting the home team. And frankly, Southerners, Westerners, and Southwesterners are tired of their obnoxious crap.

Go Home Damn Yankees or be gratful you got a chance to leave Hell and root for the Home team! Including you Terrance!

By Ken

June 23, 2006 08:10 AM | Link to this

Maybe people went in the 90’s because MARTA hadn’t thought of new ways to jerk them around, your life might not be in jeopardy if you take a wrong turn out of the parking lot, and the Atlanta cops didn’t haul you off to jail if you tried to sell your extra tickets. You can screw the fans just so much and then the apathy becomes reality.

By Dick

June 23, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this

It is tough for me making less than $25,000.00 a year to give a s—-t about some poor baseball team and basebal player making millions. Has anyone calcualted what Roger Clemens is making per inning of baseball. It is outrageous. Until owners get cost of tickets, etc under control nad have players who love the game, I won’t support thmem.

By The Great Cornholio

June 23, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this

Mr. Moore, it is an EXTREMELY rare occasion when I agree with you, but this is one of those times, so I tip my hat to you.

Your comment about “lowest common denominator” sports fans was right on the money.

The bottom line is that Atlanta is one of the two or three worst sports fans in the country.

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 08:19 AM | Link to this

All you “blame the fans” posters are pathetic. Commuting into the city is horrible. You’re either stuck in traffic or have to run a gauntlet of thieves, muggers, bums, and beggars between the Marta station and the stadium. And once you’re there, it’s bend over and grab your ankles time for the outrageous ticket and concession prices. But wait there’s more, throw in a talented but underperforming team with an idiot manager for say 12 of the last 14 years (1991 and 1996 excepted)and Hell yes I’ll choose to watch on TV every time. It must be sweet having a press pass and watching every game for free. Folks, having your butt in a seat at every home game doesn’t necessarily make you a better fan. It just means that either you have more money, better connections, or less of a life than most fans, especially those of us who live outside the metro area and/or the state. That’s all! And personally I don’t give a rat’s a* what they do in the Bronx or at Shea.

By Brian

June 23, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this

Awesome article. What’s next? Another “Atlanta needs more players like Brian Jordan” column?

By WAYNE WHITLEY

June 23, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this

DID I READ THIS CORRECTLY? WHY WOULD THE BRAVES NEED SOMEONE LIKE A MIKE VICK? THEY HAVE MUCH MORE CLASS THAN TO HAVE THEIR ORGANIZATION POISONED WITH SUCH THOUGHTS. HE’S DONE NOTHING BUT RUN AROUND FUMBLING AND THROWING INTERCEPTIONS. WHAT THE BRAVES NEED IS A LITTLE PATIENCE AND SOME GOOD DRAFT CHOICES. BUT DON’T MENTION SUCH AHTLETIC OVER ACHEIVERS AS MV. ASK THE FALCON FRONT OFFICE IF THEY HONESTLY MADE A HUGE BLUNDER BY OBTAINING A QB WHO CAN’T RUN AND CAN’T THINK. WW

By mountain_jim

June 23, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this

Pro sports priced themselves out of my ‘worth it for the $’ level years ago.

mj

By randy

June 23, 2006 08:26 AM | Link to this

Mr. Moore is 100 percent correct. Atlanta is not a professional sports city, never has been. The majority of Atlanta “fans” have no idea who plays for any Atlanta sports team, but that same fan can tell you the name of every 17 year old high school football player in the south and the colleges which are recruiting them.

By Mike

June 23, 2006 08:30 AM | Link to this

I am a loyal braves fan and always will be. also an atlanta native and been going to games since the mid 80s. Of course I would rather have division titles than losing seasons, but I also believe that winning raises the bar. I’m not talking about the fans expectations, but the players too. 1 world series is not good enough in this run. 4 consecutive division series losses is not acceptable for a team that has 14 consecutive division titles. i am not complaining, that is just a fact.

By LithoniaDee

June 23, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this

This is so funny? People if you want to go to the games then go and stop making weak excuses. This is not NY/Boston/Philly and I am glad it isnt.

I have been to games in Boston and NY and I am not that impressed. Acting like a complete jackaz doenst make you a fan, the people and sports culture is totally different. If you want to be at a game like NY then move or fly to NY. Atlanta is what it is… and I tend to like it that way.

By mart

June 23, 2006 08:33 AM | Link to this

Yikes, where did this columnn come from. Certainly not from the same columnist who has been reminding Atlantans for the past decade that they shouldn’t get carried away with themselves because it’s only been a run of “goodness” not “greatness.” Now the Braves are lousy and the fans are upset and the memory-free columnist is criticizing them for not appreciating the historical 14 year run of … what? goodness? greatness? Shame on you, Mr. Moore. And for cryin’ out loud, stop citing Chuck Tanner has some sort of authority from on high. The has-been, never-was gave you an interview (probably because you were the only writer to ask for one in the past decade and a half) and you can’t stop treating him as if he’s some sort of reincarnate Casey Stengal/Jackie Robinson figure.

By stan

June 23, 2006 08:34 AM | Link to this

Terrence, Looks like your prediction will come true after all. “I guarantee the Braves will not win the division this year.” What was that…1992??? Good work!!

By Matt

June 23, 2006 08:36 AM | Link to this

Mr Moore, I can honestly say this is the first time that I have ever agreed with you about anything. It is truly embarrassing and frustrating to buy a ticket to a playoff game and go there to find a half-empty house. Even worse to go and be out numbered by opposing fans. You would think the constant bashing Atlanta fans take in the national media would light a fire under some peoples’ rear ends and get them out to support their teams. Being as big of a sports fan as I am, and an ardent supporter for all teams Atlanta, I cringe every time an ESPN analyst states that we have the worst fans in the nation. That alone is enough to make me want to wear a paper bag on my head, never mind the fact that the team is dreadful this year. Fans need to realize that we truly do have something special here in Atlanta. We as a collective group have witnessed more winning baseball by are home town team than some people, who are lucky enough to have a team in their market, will see their whole lives. I don’t know why this city is so apathetic about the Braves, but it needs to change. Perhaps a down year or two will put these last 14 years will put things into perspective for some folks around here.

By WAR EAGLE

June 23, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this

Atlanta is and always will be a college town. Sports tickets are too expensive and colleges use the money to put back into the school system. Major Leagues do not. Also, parking at the “Field” is horrendous and some of the cops are unfriendly-no advice for directions, nothing. And with the games on TV and Radio-why bother? Hey Terrence! Are you gonna blame this on the “White” people just like Ms. Tucker?

By Rick

June 23, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this

It always cracks me up when someone who hasn’t paid to go to a game in years criticizes the folks who do. Hey Terry, next time, why don’t you walk a mile in our shoes (literally, if you don’t want to pay out the nose for parking) before throwing us under the bus.

By Vinnie Boombotz

June 23, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

LOL!!! It figures that an intelligent brother with an intelligent point of view could never get through to a town full of rednecks. Enjoy last place, losers.

By Jamie

June 23, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this

Terrence, I’ve always been one to get riled at the way you are so negative about the Braves most of the time, but I must say, this time you have hit the nail on the head. The Braves fans, of which there are few, don’t show up for games, don’t do the Chop, don’t give a darn about the Braves if they’re not winning. When one of them makes a great play or hits a homerun, you barely see any excitement from the stands. Hey, if the fans don’t care about winning, why should the team? Those guys can’t get fired up if SOMEBODY isn’t up there in the stands supporting them through the good AND the bad times!! They need us, people!! GO BRAVES! Terrence, you are 100% right today.

By Hoosier Aaron

June 23, 2006 08:48 AM | Link to this

Terrence: While I agree with a majority of your article, there are a lot of issues at hand as it relates to Braves fans. Those of us long-time (out of town) Braves fans can no longer listen to WSB for Braves games, TBS carries very few games now, we purchase the MLB extra innings package to get the rest of the games but where’s Skip & the Professor? While I loved the years and years of winning, I can live with down years too - they didn’t keep me from making several trips a year to Fulton County Stadium for games - great seats then too! But really, Skip, Pete and of course (Ernie) ARE the Braves to those of us long-distance fans. I guess MLB is forcing me to purchase satellite radio to feel like I’m watching the Braves. This is a TOTAL effort - we Braves fans can’t take the total blame.

By Sicko'sh*t

June 23, 2006 08:48 AM | Link to this

Terrence, once again you have validated why you are one of my favorite sports writers.

The phoniness of this metro area is laid bare in sooooo many ways. But be careful, when you have the intellectual honesty of exposing this crap, you get responses like the one RP made in the second entry of this blog, the ol’ broke-a* Lewis Grizzard quasi-impersonation.

Or you get the gem from EB, “Location, location, location” with his fellow suburbanites complaining about lack of transportation options while simultaneosly resisting the one penny sales tax that would have MARTA running from Dallas to Covington, Cummings to Newnan almost as soon as it’s voted for.

And no, this isn’t an anti-suburbanite rant, I live in Monroe and would love to ride the train to town. And for those fake-a* ‘fans’ that imply they would support Atlanta sports if the venues were closer…take a look at your Jekyll/Hyde mindset.

You’d support eventual higher taxes to support the bonds needed to pay for the stadiums/fields constructed in your areas (let’s face it, what professional team owner pays for those things…), but you won’t pay the extra penny sales tax to better the region’s vitality!?!

By Phil

June 23, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this

To put it simply: The Braves haven’t been competetive to win a title since 1996. I’m sick of hearing about the division titles! Most of the time the division has been mediocre so there is no competition so the Braves with their solid pitching and so so offense could win the division. What if the Braves were in the American league East? Would they have 14 straight? I was there in 95 when the Braves won it all, since then the fans have gotten burned and it’s up to The Braves to win their fan’s trust back.

By Phil

June 23, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this

To put it simply: The Braves haven’t been competetive to win a title since 1996. I’m sick of hearing about the division titles! Most of the time the division has been mediocre so there is no competition so the Braves with their solid pitching and so so offense could win the division. What if the Braves were in the American league East? Would they have 14 straight? I was there in 95 when the Braves won it all, since then the fans have gotten burned and it’s up to The Braves to win their fan’s trust back.

By Phil

June 23, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

To put it simply: The Braves haven’t been competetive to win a title since 1996. I’m sick of hearing about the division titles! Most of the time the division has been mediocre so there is no competition so the Braves with their solid pitching and so so offense could win the division. What if the Braves were in the American league East? Would they have 14 straight? I was there in 95 when the Braves won it all, since then the fans have gotten burned and it’s up to The Braves to win their fan’s trust back.

By Michael

June 23, 2006 08:56 AM | Link to this

Get real. You want the real reason people don’t show up to the games? Drive to the stadium during a big series on a weeknight and see how much fun it is to get in and out of the green lot. Take MARTA and see how much fun it is to move at the speed of molasses. I would bet my life savings that had the city’s “brain trust” put a MARTA train stop at Turner Field when the stadium was being built, you would have seen sellouts for all of those playoff games.

As an Atlanta native I can say it is not the team. People are smart. They know when they are getting fleeced. And people are getting fleeced when they attend a Braves game. Just ask MARTA, who decided that they should charge this captive audience an extra quarter for the simple fact that they were attending the game.

It’s a money grab and everyone knows it.

By JK

June 23, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this

I am so sick of hearing about the apathetic Atlanta fans. I am a huge Braves fan and have been since my family moved here in 1968. I have loved them win or lose. I only attend 2-3 games a year but that should not be the measure of my devotion! How many games have you paid to go and see?

By Dookie Boy

June 23, 2006 09:00 AM | Link to this

Here is a headline…

David Fuller turns himself in at the county jail on battery and child cruelty charges.

Im sure his wife deserved EXACTLY what he gave her.

POOT

By Jeff

June 23, 2006 09:02 AM | Link to this

Your points are well made, but it still begs the question: “Why have seats remained empty during playoff series?” What is it about Atlanta that people don’t show up? If the Cubs or the Red Sox had had the run the Braves had, either team would have filled their stands each and every playoff game.

By calvin

June 23, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

Maybe the Braves will lose enough that I can afford a ticket and a hotdog next season.

By calvin

June 23, 2006 09:04 AM | Link to this

Maybe the Braves will lose enough that I can afford a ticket and a hotdog next season.

By BP

June 23, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this

I love the Thrashers…and am not a “lukewarm” fan. I just have a hard time spending $150 for two tickets, parking and a couple of beers for three hours worth of entertainment.

By BP

June 23, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this

I love the Thrashers…and am not a “novelty” fan. I just have a hard time spending $150 for two tickets, parking and a couple of beers for three hours worth of entertainment.

By Zinte

June 23, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this

Funny, when the game is on prime time in the post-seaon and Turner Field is full no one seems to complain about the “parking” and “stadium access.” When the team is tanking all of a sudden the alleged logistics problems come out. Atlanta is NOTORIOUS for having fair-weather “fans.” Hey, don’t let your insatiable hatred for the messenger(Moore)get in the way of the fact that this STUNNING run of going to the playoffs probably wasn’t appreciated like it should have been. Nothing lasts forever and rebuilding is never pretty to watch. It may be time to re-evaluate on several levels if you’re JS. This has absolutely nothing to do with the way other cities/teams do ANYTHING. GO BRAVES & just play the best ball you can.

By Drexel Gal

June 23, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

How often did the legendary Connie Mack say that fans would become bored with success? As justification for his breaking up his championship teams to pump up his shoestring budget, he often intoned that, “… there must be an uncertainty of the outcome …” for fans to show interest.

That day has now arrived at the Chop Shop.

By Paul Hamilton

June 23, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

Move the Braves north. Nooone wants to drive downtown to watch the Braves, especially at $3 a gallon. Sue me because I have a life that doesn’t revolve around the Braves. Do the Marlins get ripped this much for not even being able to put 5,000 fans in the seats???? I mean we average over 30,000 fans a game. In the Braves long run of success, the Marlins have won two World Championships and you can barely even tell they are a major league team by their support. Oh and the Hawks are the laughing stock of the nba, you are throwing your money down the drain if you pay to see them. Put a better product on the court if you don’t like the attendance #’s.

By Jltdawg

June 23, 2006 09:11 AM | Link to this

Yeah, its the Dawgs fault that the Braves suck.

By KC

June 23, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this

Michael, I think you’re on to something. Getting in and out of Turner Field is a nightmare.

I tried the Marta/Braves shuttle thing once, and it’s an absolute joke! You have to walk all the way from 5-points, through Undergroud Atlanta (which is rapidly reverting to the decrepid thing it was before they shut it down the first time) to the World of Coke-Cola to catch the shuttle bus.

Then after the game, half the damn stadium gathers in a mob on the sidewalk, all trying to push their way onto the buses. If Marta was routed to Turner Field, and ran their trains more often than one every 45 minutes, attendance probably would be better.

By Jeff

June 23, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

Your points are well made, but it still begs the question: “Why have seats remained empty during playoff series?” What is it about Atlanta that people don’t show up? If the Cubs or the Red Sox had had the run the Braves had, either team would have filled their stands each and every playoff game.

By Brent

June 23, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this

While I don’t fully understand the all of dynamics that go into why Turner Field doesn’t have higher attendance than it does - including first round play-off series - I still know that Braves fans are as good as anybody’s.

I think it gets completely ridiculous to categorize a group of fans, based strictly on the # of people in attendance at the ballpark.

I have lived > 90% of my life more than 500 miles from Fulton Co./Turner Field - does that make me a bad fan?

I will admit that the fans are somewhat more passionate at the games in cities like Boston, Philly, and New York.

But just because you can’t get all the fans in Turner Field to stand on their feet with 2 outs, doesn’t mean you throw the Braves fans and the city into the toilet. I grew up going to games in Cincy, and the fans there certainly aren’t on their feet all game - but I NEVER hear anyone classify Cincy as a bad baseball town, nor does anyone criticize its fans.

All of the Braves fans I know are great Braves fans. We love baseball, we love to win and we hate to lose.
Find me any fan of any team that isn’t excited about winning and upset about losing, and I’ll show you someone who isn’t really a fan.

The same guy that told us just 6 weeks ago that Chris Reitsma would be just fine, is now criticizing the city/fan base. Ridiculous.

By charlie

June 23, 2006 09:16 AM | Link to this

Why would we want to go see this team play? I can watch fundamentally unsound baseball for free at the local little league field. The Braves have repeatedly left base runners stranded after getting to second with no outs or third with one out. These players are no executing the fundamentals. They can’t bunt, hit to the right side, or sac fly. If they could have done these things, they would not be losing the one run games regardless of the bullpen.

Thursday night they failed to do these things at least twice. Thorman led off the seventh with a double and Andruw led off the eighth with a double. If they score those runners, it doesn’t matter that the bullpen gives up two runs.

By steve in virginia

June 23, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

My goodness. Atlanta baseball fans sound pretty passionate to me.

I was born and raised in Atlanta but moved away in 1970. But fond memories remain of going to the early Braves’ games in the late 60s. A seat in right field cost $1.00. Plus, you could bring in plastic containers of beer into the stadium. We’d get a one-gallon plastic milk container and fill it up with draft beer for $1.00. So, for $2.00 I had a seat in right field (where Hank Aaron roamed) and a gallon of beer. And we’d yell, “Stay alert, Hank! The ball’s coming to you!”

Good memories.

By mike

June 23, 2006 09:26 AM | Link to this

I have not been to a game since they went on strike. That ended it for me. I do like to go to Georgia Tech baseball games. They have a nice stadium, cheap tickets and the games are fun.

By Terrence's brotha

June 23, 2006 09:27 AM | Link to this

I’d love to see you write a column about how the African American population supports our beloved Braves, Terrence.

By jbro

June 23, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

Unsold seats don’t bother me. What I wish is that the fans who are there would make more NOISE. I went to the Red Sox game on Saturday and was shamed by the lackluster energy of the Braves fans. We were there, but just way way too quiet. The team needs our loud support now more than ever.

By DHD

June 23, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

Hank is the Greatest…….

Hank Aaron didn’t hit 714 in Atlanta.

I go way back too. I saw Sandy Koufax lose to Denny LeMaster.

Why is it that when attendance is compared, no one considers the population? They talk about the Yankees outdrawing the Braves…duh. NY has about 20 million more people to draw. I have never seen a comparison using the population as a guide. If you use the population of inside the city limits, Atlanta draws 4 to 5 times it’s population. If NY did that, they would have to draw 100,000,000 fans to be equal, or since they have 2 teams, you could say 50,000,000 to be fair.

By charlie

June 23, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this

Why would we want to go see this team play? I can watch fundamentally unsound baseball for free at the local little league field. The Braves have repeatedly left base runners stranded after getting to second with no outs or third with one out. These players are no executing the fundamentals. They can’t bunt, hit to the right side, or sac fly. If they could have done these things, they would not be losing the one run games regardless of the bullpen.

Thursday night they failed to do these things at least twice. Thorman led off the seventh with a double and Andruw led off the eighth with a double. If they score those runners, it doesn’t matter that the bullpen gives up two runs.

By Flash

June 23, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this

Ahh, Typical Terence. Considering that the AJC is a rag of a newspaper, I would not expect anything less. I could go on and on as to the reasons I feel the attendance and enthusiasm is what it us, but why? Fact: The New York Yankees never drew 2.5 millions fans until 1998…..nuff said.

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 09:36 AM | Link to this

Hey it’s too bad more of you can’t attend a Richmond Braves game … Win or lose, and we don’t have a very good team this year, it’s always a great experience … especially on dollar dog nights. All seats are reasonably priced, it’s easy to get parking close to the stadium, the area’s relatively safe, and you get to see future big league stars before most of them become jerks. Steve you probably know what I’m talking about!

By KC

June 23, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

To key in on something else Terrance said in this blog… The Braves are going to turn this thing around. Not this year, but next year’s looking pretty good.

If Heracio Ramirez can continue to throw the way he has, I’m very encouraged about next year’s rotation with Mike Hampton also coming back.

If Chuck James impresses, the Braves will actually have a logjam of talent in the rotation next season.

The bullpen’s obviously another story, but I think they’ll get it fixed between now and April.

The offense could use an infusion of life as well. Here’s hoping that Scott Thorman is the real deal.

I think we should start letting wilson Betemit play nearly every day. Play him 2-3 days a week at 2B, and have him give C. Jones and Renteria a day off once a week at 3B & SS. Let’s see what he can do when he plays everyday.

I know this probably sounds silly given the way the Braves are playing right now, but I honestly believe they have a great chance of getting back to the World Series next year. The rotation should be excellent, and again, I have faith that Shueholz and company will get the bullpen fixed before next season. The offense could use a little help, but they’re really just underacheiving right now more than anything else. I mean… C. Jones, A. Jones, Renteria, Giles, Franceour, McCann… there are some good hitters in theis lineup.

I truly believe next year will be the Braves best season in many years. Go Braves in 2007!

By DM

June 23, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

It’s true the Braves suck now, but (some)Braves fans have seriously sucked for much longer. Remember 1991, when the atmosphere was electric and the tomahawk chop was in all its glory(unlike now, since it is just a pathetic, weak, half-hearted excuse for a chant these days). I am a huge Braves fan, but do not live in Atlanta. I have been to playoff games in recent years in Atlanta where it seemed that shock paddles were needed to resuscitate dead fans. I’m not sure what it would take to get these fat, lazy, boring yahoos excited. Take a lesson from watching a Red Sox home game. Are they bored because their team has been to the playoffs several years in a row? Not hardly. Congratulations, Turner Field coma ward, you finally have a boring team to match the sorry, unenthusiastic support you offer.

By G

June 23, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

I WOULD GO TO MORE BRAVES GAMES IF THEY WOULD STOP MAKING THOSE STUPID SOUNDS FREQUENTLY FOR THE WHOLE GAME — EX: THAT STUPID “CHARGE” RYTHM, THOSE DUMB KNOCKING SOUNDS, THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE RETARTED “YMCA” SONG, THAT ANNOYING DOORBELL SOUND. I SAY, CUT THE SOUNDS AND BROADCAST THE GAME OVER THE LOUD SPEAKER.

ALSO, GET A BUG ZAPPER TO ELIMINATE ALL THOSE TERRADACTYL SIZE BUGS THAT SUICIDE DIVE THEMSELVES INTO FANS.

By Jim

June 23, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

Maybe the bulk of the Atlanta population is not a swarm of rabid, foam at the mouth, paint the body, stand naked in the snow, hankie-waving, obnoxios, nothing else to do pro sports group. Maybe most of us are tired of the over paid, ego driven, tatooed, in your face, uneducated, me me me pro athelete. So what? Maybe the sports writers and reporters need to focus on something different, like high school sports, the ultra exciting Stanley Cup championship (which Chuck[aka Mushmouth]Dowdel didn’t even mention until it was over), or maybe get a new assignment & talk about the Lilly in the Park exhibit. Maybe that’s where most genteel Atlantans prefer to go.

By Rutuger

June 23, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

The hard truth is that the city is 70% black, and they are notorious for their fairweatherism. Just take a drive down Boulevard, or watch an Atlanta rap video. Previous years featured Tom Brady jerseys—now it’s Roethlisberger ones. It’s not cool in the black community to support a team that isn’t the most recent championship winner.

Flame me all you want, call me a racist (I’m not)—but it’s the truth. Black folks in general (NOT ALL) don’t value hometown loyalty. Listen to 790 and you’ll hear guys call in who are somehow at once Lakers, Yankees, and Patriots fans. When asked, they have no practical explanation.

(Why did you fail to mention this factual tidbit in your column, I wonder?)

Well I’m from Atlanta, and I’ll be damned if anyone I knew from here ever tried to pick up a team from somewhere else just because they were winning—you would be a joke.

Add this with the consistent postseason failure and our DS games being scheduled at 3pm on weekdays and it makes for some less-than-capacity crowds. People are tired of having their hearts broken. I never learn and am there every year, and am crushed each time.

Spare me. Atlanta may not be Boston or NY, but we aren’t Miami either. That place can’t give away tickets unless their team is in a championship.

By Nick

June 23, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

I agree, but it regards to the lack of sell-outs in the play-offs it gets kinda pricey to pay $50-$75 a ticket to sit in the upper deck 14 years in a row. Other cities/fans can afford to pay that price when it only happens once every 5 or 7 years.

By Philip

June 23, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

Terrence,

Please RETIRE.

Your writing and your perspective means nothing to Atlanta.

Love,

Atlanta Sports Fans, Residents and People Everywhere

By Philip

June 23, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this

Terrence,

Please RETIRE.

Your writing and your perspective means nothing to Atlanta.

Love,

Atlanta Sports Fans, Residents and People Everywhere

By Mike D.

June 23, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this

Some of the comments above seem very astute. TM, do you ever read the e-mails? Do you ever re-think your positions? Do Braves front office persons ever read them?

By steve in virginia

June 23, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

59bulldawg… yes, I do! Go, R-Braves!

By KC

June 23, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

Philip, stop insulting Terrance, pull you’re head out of you a**, and go away.

By olcottr

June 23, 2006 09:48 AM | Link to this

I hate it when TM is right.

You know, the ironic thing is, this is the same thing we (Braves fans) snickered at the L.A. Dodgers for back in the Lasorda era.

By Mark

June 23, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Hey, Terence (or should I write “Terrance”?):

Desserts are what you eat; deserts are what you deserve. Does your software have a spell check function?

Bad spelling aside, I agree about apathetic Braves fans. The skimpy attedance at playof games is a disgrace. But be careful what you wish for: these fans—-many of them just interested in making the scene, not in watching the game—-also haven’t given this cruddy team the loud, loud boos they’ve deserved. If you want to make a player eat crow, that’s how you do it. Now that would be a just dessert.

By vb

June 23, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Braves - terrible, unreachable stadium location. then you have to walk the the gauntlet of panhandlers, scam artists, etc.

Hawks - terrible product (witness overall NBA attendance and TV ratings, then add in the Hawks standing therein). plus you have to deal with the panhandlers, scam artists, etc.

Thrashers - misplaced in ATL to begin with. unappealing product (the women’s college softball series outdrew the Stanley Cup on TV). then you have to deal with the panhandlers, scam artists, etc.

Falcons - after a day of great college games played outside in the great fall weather, without rap music blasted in between each play, why would one really want to go indoors to watch the pro game? plus, you have to deal with the panhandlers, scam artists, etc.

Let’s not forget the outrageous prices for tickets, parking, concessions, etc. Add in to all of that the general attitude and demeanor of the players, stadium workers, etc. and ask yourself: why do I want to pay these peoples salaries?

Its easy then to justify staying home and buying a nice HDTV for the cost of attending only a few games)

don’t blame the fans Terrence

By zap

June 23, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

The problem is economics, 75% of the people in Atlanta can’t pay 100-150 dollars to watch a baseball game. Mr. Moore do you want to donate some of your money so poor people can watch the braves? If the product was worth watching most people still can’t afford to go to a game. Our society just has everything backwards, pay people more to play a game than those who risk their life every day like police officers, firemen, etc. but hey that’s America!

By Mark

June 23, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

Hey, Terence (or should I write “Terrance”?):

Desserts are what you eat; deserts are what you deserve. Does your software have a spell check function?

Bad spelling aside, I agree about apathetic Braves fans. The skimpy attedance at playoff games is a disgrace. But be careful what you wish for: these fans—-many of them just interested in making the scene, not in watching the game—-also haven’t given this cruddy team the loud, loud boos they’ve deserved. If you want to make a player eat crow, that’s how you do it. Now that would be a just dessert.

By Mark

June 23, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

Hey, Terence (or should I write “Terrance”?):

Desserts are what you eat; deserts are what you deserve. Does your software have a spell check function?

Bad spelling aside, I agree about apathetic Braves fans. The skimpy attedance at playoff games is a disgrace. But be careful what you wish for: these fans—-many of them just interested in making the scene, not in watching the game—-also haven’t given this cruddy team the loud, loud boos they’ve deserved. If you want to make a player eat crow, that’s how you do it. Now that would be a just dessert.

By olcottr

June 23, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this

I hate it when TM is right.

You know, the ironic thing is, this is the same thing we (Braves fans) snickered at the L.A. Dodgers for back in the Lasorda era.

By Mark

June 23, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

Dear Terence (or is it Terrance?):

Desserts are what you eat; deserts are what you deserve. Does your software have a spell check function?

Lousy spelling aside, your comments about apathetic Braves fans are on the mark. The skimpy attendance at playoff games shows that Atlanta fans are spoiled. Perhaps we need a losing season to show them just how lucky they’ve been, and how much they’ve taken winning for granted.

But be careful what you wish for: these apathetic fans also haven’t given this cruddy team the loud boos they richly deserve. Venting your anger at the ballpark also shows that you care, and may even make some of the filthy rich ballplayers eat some crow. Now that would be a just dessert!

By jd4jc

June 23, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this

You can be a solid Braves fan and be rooting faithfully for them without necessarily being willing to pay outrageous prices for playoff tickets (and stadium food) and deal with the hassles of scheduling, traffic, and parking to go to the playoff game. Charge regular season prices for playoff tickets, at least the less expensive seats, and watch those last 14,000 seats fill up.

By tom

June 23, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this

Our just desserts! How about Marketing 101! If your not happy with the fan turn out, then the fans aren’t happy with your product. Build a team that will make fans want to come and see your product. You don’t spend your hard earned money on something you don’t like. In parting, “Build it and they will come”.

By tom

June 23, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

Our just desserts! How about Marketing 101! If your not happy with the fan turn out, then the fans aren’t happy with your product. Build a team that will make fans want to come and see your product. You don’t spend your hard earned money on something you don’t like. In parting, “Build it and they will come”.

By jd4jc

June 23, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

You can be a solid Braves fan and be rooting faithfully for them without necessarily being willing to pay outrageous prices for playoff tickets (and stadium food) and deal with the hassles of scheduling, traffic, and parking to go to the playoff game. Charge regular season prices for playoff tickets, at least the less expensive seats, and watch those last 14,000 seats fill up.

By Intowner

June 23, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

Don’t you think that if the stadium were moved to Dunwoody, it would make it impossible for folks on the growing southside, westside or eastside of town to get to the game?

The current location, while not perfect, is the most central location possible for the entire metro area. And it has access to public transportation, which would be impossible in a more suburban location.

The location is not the problem. It’s the apathy of Atlanta fans.

By jbro

June 23, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

Unsold seats don’t bother me. What I wish is that the fans who are there would make more NOISE. I went to the Red Sox game on Saturday and was shamed by the lackluster energy of the Braves fans. We were there, but just way way too quiet. The team needs our loud support now more than ever.

By Outsider

June 23, 2006 09:59 AM | Link to this

I, along with my wife, attended the Sunday Red Sox game and the Tuesday Blue Jays game. She has been a Braves fan for a few years now (thanks to Hampton and Frenchy) and had not been to Turner Field. So we made the 10 hour trip from Springfield, IL.

Let me make a couple of observations about Turner Field, the Braves, and all that goes with it.

1) Turner Field - nice place. But, even as they admit to in the Turner Field tour (which we took last Monday), it’s now designed to be an “experience” as opposed to just a baseball game. I never saw a game at Fulton County Stadium, and I’ve been to many other major league parks, but if they would stick to what’s taking place on the field and shy away from all of the “minor league schtick”, I think it would have been much better.

2) I think some of the ushers/game day workers at the “Ted” might be just short of ignorant. I’m not blaming those people personally, but when an usher(rette) goes and tells people that they have to sit down (during a pitching change no less) because they are cheering, having a good time, yet “blocking the view of others behind them”, I think there is something wrong. I think if you want fans to have a good time, who paid to get in (not there for the free beer and sky box views), there’s no need to do what that usherrette did (right field seats, Tuesday night).

3) Our hotel was downtown. It was a two block walk to the Marta station and we actually walked all the way to Underground. We took the bus from Underground to the stadium, and back, and had no problems (never felt for my safety or anything). My only issue, and it may have been the time of day, was that the trains were spread out pretty far in regards to the time they ran. Of course, I may be used to riding the train in Chicago where you can catch one every five minutes.

I don’t know how access is from the Atlanta suburbs, but from my limited point of view, I don’t think access is that bad and felt much better about being on the bus rather than in the line of traffic trying to leave the stadium.

4) I would kill, OK maybe not that extreme, to live in a major league city. I am 2 hours from St. Louis and 3.5 from Chicago. It might just be the baseball fan in me, but I don’t know why there are so many people complaining about the cost of going to a game at Turner Field. $1-$50 seats? Come on! Most of the cheaper seats are the ones that are empty! (At least from my observations on Tuesday and from what I’ve seen on TV). We had $5 seats for the Sunday game and had no problem with sight lines, etc. (We were in the right field seats on Tuesday). If I could spend $81-$405 (for 81 games) and see major league baseball, I wouldn’t complain too loudly. (Cheapest seat in Wrigley is $6 (for the “value dates”, normally $14-17 and some of those seats are blocked view) and at Busch they are now $13-18.

I guess the biggest point I would make is that from an outsider’s point of view, things aren’t or can’t be that bad. Once again, it might just be my limited experience. I’d rather have 25,000 people who are there to be entertained by what’s taking place on the field rather than by what’s happening between innings off of it.

I never understood, and still don’t, why fans don’t go to Turner Field. Is it truly the “college town” label? Or do fans really not realize how good they have it?

Tell me what I’m missing.

By the way, Mr. Moore’s comments don’t seem to be that far off base. Any columnist, from any other city, would say the same things.

By Kelley

June 23, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

Couldn’t agree more.

I have been so tired of seeing the Falcons’ sell out every home game, they can’t even put together back to back winning seasons, and the Braves NOT selling out during the playoffs.

Not to mention the constant whining about not winning the World Series every year.

Don’t even get me started on the ignorant who complain about Bobby Cox and John S. Remember life before those two in the 70’s and 80’s? This season is a horrible reminder of what every season was like before Bobby and John S.

Can you imagine how happy Cubs fans would be if their team could win their division for 14 straight years. Two years ago I went to Wrigley for the last series of the regular season to see the Braves play. The next week I went to a playoff game in Atlanta, it was a sad, sad, difference in the atmosphere of the fans here and in Chicago (they didn’t even make the playoffs then).

Atlanta gets what Atlanta deserves for their lack of support of this franchise that has given us all so much to be proud of.

By Outsider

June 23, 2006 10:06 AM | Link to this

I, along with my wife, attended the Sunday Red Sox game and the Tuesday Blue Jays game. She has been a Braves fan for a few years now (thanks to Hampton and Frenchy) and had not been to Turner Field. So we made the 10 hour trip from Springfield, IL.

Let me make a couple of observations about Turner Field, the Braves, and all that goes with it.

1) Turner Field - nice place. But, even as they admit to in the Turner Field tour (which we took last Monday), it’s now designed to be an “experience” as opposed to just a baseball game. I never saw a game at Fulton County Stadium, and I’ve been to many other major league parks, but if they would stick to what’s taking place on the field and shy away from all of the “minor league schtick”, I think it would have been much better.

2) I think some of the ushers/game day workers at the “Ted” might be just short of ignorant. I’m not blaming those people personally, but when an usher(rette) goes and tells people that they have to sit down (during a pitching change no less) because they are cheering, having a good time, yet “blocking the view of others behind them”, I think there is something wrong. I think if you want fans to have a good time, who paid to get in (not there for the free beer and sky box views), there’s no need to do what that usherrette did (right field seats, Tuesday night).

3) Our hotel was downtown. It was a two block walk to the Marta station and we actually walked all the way to Underground. We took the bus from Underground to the stadium, and back, and had no problems (never felt for my safety or anything). My only issue, and it may have been the time of day, was that the trains were spread out pretty far in regards to the time they ran. Of course, I may be used to riding the train in Chicago where you can catch one every five minutes.

I don’t know how access is from the Atlanta suburbs, but from my limited point of view, I don’t think access is that bad and felt much better about being on the bus rather than in the line of traffic trying to leave the stadium.

4) I would kill, OK maybe not that extreme, to live in a major league city. I am 2 hours from St. Louis and 3.5 from Chicago. It might just be the baseball fan in me, but I don’t know why there are so many people complaining about the cost of going to a game at Turner Field. $1-$50 seats? Come on! Most of the cheaper seats are the ones that are empty! (At least from my observations on Tuesday and from what I’ve seen on TV). We had $5 seats for the Sunday game and had no problem with sight lines, etc. (We were in the right field seats on Tuesday). If I could spend $81-$405 (for 81 games) and see major league baseball, I wouldn’t complain too loudly. (Cheapest seat in Wrigley is $6 (for the “value dates”, normally $14-17 and some of those seats are blocked view) and at Busch they are now $13-18.

I guess the biggest point I would make is that from an outsider’s point of view, things aren’t or can’t be that bad. Once again, it might just be my limited experience. I’d rather have 25,000 people who are there to be entertained by what’s taking place on the field rather than by what’s happening between innings off of it.

I never understood, and still don’t, why fans don’t go to Turner Field. Is it truly the “college town” label? Or do fans really not realize how good they have it?

Tell me what I’m missing.

By the way, Mr. Moore’s comments don’t seem to be that far off base. Any columnist, from any other city, would say the same things.

By timh

June 23, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

Gooooo Braves! Smoltz starts the 10 game winning streak tonight!

By steve in S. Ga

June 23, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this

NATHAN has it right. Atlanta is a suburb of spoiled yuppies with kids. I drive up from Columbus for games when I can. It seems the people in the stands do everything EXCEPT watch the game. Fans who try to watch the game can’t for all the people constantly getting up and down for more beer, more ice cream, etc. And it really annoys me that they sit there a yap on their cellphones thru the entire game. Why do they bother even coming? The traffic and parking are terrible. Atlanta police are rude and uncaring. Don’t dare ask one for some help on how to get back to the interstate! And why isn’t there a MARTA station next to the ballpark?

By TNBravesFan

June 23, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

Great article—and so true. I lived in Atlanta for the early years of this run, and saw first-hand how the city went nuts for the winning team. Now I am in Tennessee, and have driven down to Atlanta and gotten playoff tickets—at face value—for the lower level. And the sad thing is that the stadium was half full at best. Send the Braves up here—we’ll go see them!!!

By Brent

June 23, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

One thing that I haven’t seen addressed directly here is the FACT that Braves fans are all over.

Attend a Braves game in Cincy or Dallas/Arlington and you will see it packed to the gills with Braves fans.

I am sorry that Atlanta is a transient city full of northerners who would rather stay at home and watch their team on ESPN than to drive to Turner Field and watch a National League team (that they hate) play baseball.

When all of those Cardinals fans showed up in 2000, do you really think they all came from St. Louis? Of course not, they were midwestern transplants.

When all the Sox fans showed up last week-end, do you think they trekked down here from Boston?
And then, to criticize Atlantans for not buying out their stadium, well, these folks are from Atlanta and have every bit as much right to buy tickets as Braves fans.

They now how to use Ticketmaster or E-Bay, just like the rest of us.

Give me a break. The Braves are one of the most popular teams in all of baseball and consistently one of the top road draws in all of baseball.

Those of us that go to games can’t force non-Braves fans, or people with kids, or people on a budget or people who are “scared” of the “big city” to come out and watch games.

But, don’t blame the fans, and don’t blame the city.

By RHS

June 23, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

Look- for the idiots who want to disparage the University of Georgia and their fans- get real! While college sports aren’t perfect, the loyalty and commitment of the alumni and fans to UGA is exemplary. The success of the athletic teams at UGA provide a monetary benefit to the university which in turn benefits the state as a whole- which is more than I can say for ANY pro sports team in the Atlanta area. While TM and the national media have lambasted ATL’s fans, they should be looking at way the city and team ownership have treated us over the years. Getting to the stadium or any of the athletic venues is a hassle at best. The prices are exorbitant, especially for basketball. Parking is a nightmare, and while it is safer after dark in Atlanta than in the past, I am always relieved when I find my car undamaged and where I left it. I agree with the other posters about location- if I attend a 7:35 game at Turner Field I will not be home in Fayette County until after midnight because of the way the city routes traffic. There is also the lack of entertainment and accomodations near the stadium, which contributes to the problem. Unfriendly police, indifferent venders and too many panhandlers make attending a game very unpleasant. I love the Braves, Falcons, Hawks and Thrashers, but I do not enjoy paying my hard-earned dollars for a bad experience. ATL is a great city, and I am a native-born son, but lets put the blame for the “apathy” where it belongs-on the ones who have the most to gain or lose- the team owners and the city of Atlanta.

By ebineezer

June 23, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this

Terence, you need to start doing the LifeStyles section and leave the sports writing to somebody, anybody else. The whole consept of scolding the fans for not showing up is just plain stupid. The Braves are responsible for selling their own product and how well they do it will determine how many fans are at Turner Field.

By Brent

June 23, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this

One thing that I haven’t seen addressed directly here is the FACT that Braves fans are all over.

Attend a Braves game in Cincy or Dallas/Arlington and you will see it packed to the gills with Braves fans.

I am sorry that Atlanta is a transient city full of northerners who would rather stay at home and watch their team on ESPN than to drive to Turner Field and watch a National League team (that they hate) play baseball.

When all of those Cardinals fans showed up in 2000, do you really think they all came from St. Louis? Of course not, they were midwestern transplants.

When all the Sox fans showed up last week-end, do you think they trekked down here from Boston?
And then, to criticize Atlantans for not buying out their stadium, well, these folks are from Atlanta and have every bit as much right to buy tickets as Braves fans.

They now how to use Ticketmaster or E-Bay, just like the rest of us.

Give me a break. The Braves are one of the most popular teams in all of baseball and consistently one of the top road draws in all of baseball.

Those of us that go to games can’t force non-Braves fans, or people with kids, or people on a budget or people who are “scared” of the “big city” to come out and watch games.

But, don’t blame the fans, and don’t blame the city - unless you want to blame the folks who didn’t get a train stop at Turner Field!

By Sean

June 23, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this

Toronto Blue Jays came to town, took three games……signed lots of autographs including Vernon Wells for 20 minutes on Wednesday in the heat. They are a classy organization who has won back to back World Series championships in 92/93. Go Jays, thanks for making it a great week to be a Jays fan living in Atlanta.

By CRB

June 23, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

My sister-in-law works for the Devil Rays so I was able to snag some free tickets for a good buddy of mine who is a big MLB fan and who attends alot of Braves games. He was in Tampa on vacation, so I hooked him up.

He came back raving about how much fun it was to go to a game down there. Young players, fans who were involved in the game even if there wasn’t a huge crowd, and a fresh feeling that was distinctly different from the Braves.

He said he’d go back even if he had to pay for tickets the next time.

Just goes to show that there are teams out there doing things right and that Atlanta isn’t one of them.

By george

June 23, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

Mr. Moore,

Are you including in your “fans” those of us who are unable to come to the ball park but have missed fewer than 10 games over the past 25 years via tv or radio?

By RHS

June 23, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this

Look- for the idiots who want to disparage the University of Georgia and their fans- get real! While college sports aren’t perfect, the loyalty and commitment of the alumni and fans to UGA is exemplary. The success of the athletic teams at UGA provide a monetary benefit to the university which in turn benefits the state as a whole- which is more than I can say for ANY pro sports team in the Atlanta area. While TM and the national media have lambasted ATL’s fans, they should be looking at way the city and team ownership have treated us over the years. Getting to the stadium or any of the athletic venues is a hassle at best. The prices are exorbitant, especially for basketball and hockey. Parking is a nightmare, and while it is safer after dark in Atlanta than in the past, I am always relieved when I find my car undamaged and where I left it. I agree with the other posters about location- if I attend a 7:35 game at Turner Field I will not be home in Fayette County until after midnight because of the way the city routes traffic. There is also the lack of entertainment and accomodations near the stadium, which contributes to the problem. Unfriendly police, indifferent venders and too many panhandlers make attending a game very unpleasant. I love the Braves, Falcons, Hawks and Thrashers, but I do not enjoy paying my hard-earned dollars for a bad experience. ATL is a great city, and I am a native-born son, but lets put the blame for the “apathy” where it belongs-on the ones who have the most to gain or lose- the team owners and the city of Atlanta.

By paul

June 23, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

To all those pointing to empty seats in other ballpars - he’s talking about the POST season. Every other team sells out their playoff games in minutes. When was the last time there was an empty seat at a Yankeee Stadium playoff game? And they’ve had the same lack of success in the post-season recently as the Braves have had.

Face it. Atlanta is a pathetic sports town. But at least you show a lot of passion for a college team located an hour and a half away.

By op

June 23, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this

yes, some fans are incredibly foolish, demanding more success from the most consistently successful franchise in sports history.

but the prices are too high, they go up nearly every year, and they increase for the playoffs…which are held in the fall when school is in session, meaning kids can’t stay up all night; and the traffic/parking problems make for a late night.

so much easier to watch on tv.

but i listen to skip and co. on radio when the game is on fox on tv, muting the tv sound, even tho the radio is a second or two ahead of the tv broadcast. But thats another subject.

By Keith

June 23, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this

Outside most newer ballparks there is a vibrant area filled with restaurants, hotels, and pubs. What do we have outside of Turner Field? A Church’s Chicken and the abomination that is “The Bullpen.” Couple that with the fact that to take the Braves Shuttle, with it’s forced walk through the thrice failed Underground and MARTA surcharges, costs more for a family of four than it would to park your car in one of the Turner lots. Thanks, but no thanks. Once we get a good atmosphere around the ballpark with reasonable transportation, you will have fans that will pay more attention to whether the paint roller will win the Home Depot race than watching the game. Mr. Blank, please save us!

By steve in S. Ga

June 23, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

I was in Boston last July and went to a Red Sox game at Fenway. What an experience, the place was rocking during the entire game. I’ve never seen such crazed fans. And a real party atmosphere outside the park. A huge difference between Fenway and “The Ted” is that the area surrounding the ballparks. Boston (Wrigley in Chicago also) has a decent area around the park, places where fans can hang out before or after the game. Boston has a subway station right next to the ballpark. What does Atlanta have? No MARTA station, and has anybody looked at the neighborhood around Turner Field? Would you really want to hang around there after a game? The city should buy up the land surrounding Turner Field and bulldoze it all and create an area of shops, sports bars, etc that would make the area more appealing to the fans.

By Paul

June 23, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

DHD said it best. Look where the fan base is coming from - North metro. Driving to games in this city sucks. No other city has to endure what we do when it comes to getting down to the games.

By pat

June 23, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

You are wrong, this is a great baseball city. I would go to every game if I could. Here’s why I can’t: price, distance, parking nightmare, and parking nightmare, oh yea, the parking nightmare. I got to the stadium at 6:00 pm on friday. I got in the gate in the 2nd inning. That’s a problem.

Maybe you like football more of something Tarrence. We are baseball fans, we want our team to win. We feel each loss personally. We are not showey, we are sincere.

By Don

June 23, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

Atlanta may or may not deserve to have the Braves, Falcons, Hawks and Thrashers, but we certainly don’t deserve a pathetic rag like the AJC which is staffed by no talent hacks like Terence Moore, Jay Bookman, Mike Lukovich, Cynthia Tucker and Jeff Schultz.

Terence, the contempt you have for the people of Atlanta pales in comparison to our contempt for you.

By Justin

June 23, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

You hit the nail on the head. As a lifelong Braves fan from Jacksonville, it makes me sick to watch games on TV, especially during the playoffs, and not see the place packed and rockin. I make several trips up every year to see them and its more like going to a social event than a ballgame to root for your team.

By Lew

June 23, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Thank you TM. Excellent column. I get so tired of these lousy fans. All of this bull about the stadium’s location is absurd. Atlanta is not that hard to maneuver if you give yourself enough time. I haven’t lived in Georgia since 1985, yet have seen games at Fulton Co. stadium, the Ted and I have seen the Braves 14 times in Montreal (I live in Vermont, now), in Boston and at Cooperstown. If they had played up here more often I would have gone more. It is a 3 hour drive to either Boston or Montreal. Get real people, it’s nothing but sour grapes and excuses. You deserve what is happening.

By Lew

June 23, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Thank you TM. Excellent column. I get so tired of these lousy fans. All of this bull about the stadium’s location is absurd. Atlanta is not that hard to maneuver if you give yourself enough time. I haven’t lived in Georgia since 1985, yet have seen games at Fulton Co. stadium, the Ted and I have seen the Braves 14 times in Montreal (I live in Vermont, now), in Boston and at Cooperstown. If they had played up here more often I would have gone more. It is a 3 hour drive to either Boston or Montreal. Get real people, it’s nothing but sour grapes and excuses. You deserve what is happening.

By yellowjax

June 23, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

Nice column Terence. I don’t always agree with you but you hit this on the head (wish the Braves could hit something). For those of us who grew up with the Braves of the 70s and 80s, we appreciate what the they have accomplished over the past 14 years. In the sports world, a dynasty like that was nothing short of a miracle and the bandwagon fans, frustratingly, seem to have jumped off. We figured it would end some time, unfortunately we never thought it would get this bad, this fast but I still can’t make myself not watch, no matter how painful. Let me throw this out for consideration - I know we may not have as much talent as in the past but we are much too talented to be in this current 10 game skid (preceeded by a 7 game skid; preceeded by a 5 game skid and, well, you get the idea). I would suggest the the blame (not all of it mind you) must be placed at the feet of Bobby Cox. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think Bobby is one of the greatest managers of all time and history will look kindly on his career, however, his “even keel” style of management that was so key to the braves success through the 90’s is now becoming his undoing. Never get too up or too down is a great approach over a 162 game season (and hopefully post season) and has helped this team to some phenominal comebacks over the years but this crash and burn has to stop and since it doesn’t look like any of the veterans are going to step and take the bull by the horns, its high time that Bobby gave this team a “Major league butt chewing”. Maybe smash some clubhouse coolers; throw some bats around in the shower. He’s got to get the attention of these lolly gaggers. And, oh yeah…quit sending Remlinger to the mound. I don’t know Mike personally but if Bobby says he’s a great guy, then he’s a great guy but his career as at an end. I would rather see young guys learning their trade blow saves than old veterans who are not going to get any better. This is not a bad team. We have some really good pieces and John Schuerholtz is too smart to gut the roster in an attempt to “save” this season. With a few key moves and the continued support of the “real” fan base, we could be set to be a powerhouse in this division for years to come.

By Lew

June 23, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

Oh yeah. Don, you’re an idiot. If you can’t give constructive criticism, why don’t you just go back and hide in your black hole.

By wayne kappler

June 23, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

Coming recently from St. Louis, where any conversations with three or more males turns inevitably to pro sports, I find there is a lack of collective community spirit in this area; most likely by it’s sheer size and secondarily where traffic can be a turn off to spontaneous notions. With a population half the size of Atlanta, one can go anywhere in a half an hour so there is a sence of knowing the whole town and any event being at your beck and call.

By RHS

June 23, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

Deserve what, knucklehead? Losing? Can’t you tell we don’t care? Go stick your head in the sand with Howard Dean!

By Jason T

June 23, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

NewsFlash: Terrance you’re such a racist, how do you even have a job!

By Scott

June 23, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

Finally!!!!!!!!!!! I have been a life long Braves Fan and I live in Florida, I only WISH I could have the Braves as my home town team instead of the D-Rays. I would have season tickets in a heart beat, but for years I have watched as Turner field was half full or hear comments during the playoffs that it didn’t even sell out. I Can’t begin to understand. Since when did winning become not enough for Atlanta Fans?? I mean you don’t have a history of championships in any other sport. Yes I would have loved to see the Braves win more championships(and they should have) but at least they were a winning franchise and you have good qualilty people on the team that put that team and the city first before their own salaries. Bottom line is that this team deserved better from the city for most of the last ten years. And now that they are not winning, we have a bunch of GM’s in hiding comming out and saying what should do to improve the team. Save your weak and pathetic ideas (like trading the jones boys), do us all a favor and just go start posting on the Falcons board. Because you are not baseball fans!!!!!!!!

By Lew

June 23, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

If you don’t care, why are you plaguing the rest of us with your inane comments and offensive presence on this blog?A*******hole.

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this

Oh here we go again! You don’t appreciate the Braves because you don’t know how bad things were before JS and Bobby came to town. Well I remember the Braves in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. I grew up in Athens and I remember when you could buy a ticket and sit pretty much any where you wanted because attendance was so bad. Do we really need to possess such long memory credentials to criticize Bobby Cox? I don’t really have a problem with JS but Bobby is a mediocre manager at best. With the talent he’s been provided since 1991, and especially since the Braves moved to the weak NL East, there are few if any excuses for having won only one world championship. What I can’t understand is the “Cult of Cox” fans who seemingly don’t know beans about baseball thinking “Oh what a wonderful manager” just because of the Braves success since 1991. To me those are the real idiots! I posted the following ealier this week in another TM column. So for those of you who missed it, here is most of it again. In Bobby’s first stint as skipper of the Braves [1978-1981] he was 266-323. In 1978 the Braves finished with a record of 69 wins and 93 losses, 26 games out of first place; in 1979 they were 66 and 94, 23.5 out; in 1980 they were 81 and 80, 11 games out; and in the strike shortened season of 1981 they were 50 and 56, 15 games out of first place. At Bobby’s next stop Toronto, he was better but so was the talent he managed. From 1982-1985 he was 355-292. In 1982 he was 78 and 84; in 1983 he was 89 and 73; 89 and 73 again in 1984; and in 1985, his best year in Toronto and the only year he finished first, Bobby’s Jays were 99 and 62. Of course they lost to Kansas City in the American League Championship Series 4 games to 3. And by the way that 1985 Royals Team … which went on to win the World Series … was built in part by John Schuerholz. Even at the beginnining of his second stint with the Braves in 1990 … when Tanner was fired … and Bobby managed 97 games he was only 40 and 57. Yes since 1991 Bobby’s record has been wonderful but his postseason record is only 63 wins and 62 losses … just barely above .500? My point is that Bobby is not the second coming of Casey Stengel or Sparky Anderson as some of you Braves fans evidently seem to think. When his teams have talent he wins because the abilities of his players cover up his management flaws. When he doesn’t have the talent, Bobby’s leadership and management style doesn’t inspire his players to play up to their potential and/or overachieve. Even the Braves teams that he coached from 1978-1981 were not completely without talent. They had Rick Mahler, Phil Niekro, Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, and Jerry Royster among others. But although they were not overall as talented as the teams Bobby has coached since 1990, Joe Torre, in 1982 took the Braves, who had finished 15 games out of first in 1981, Bobby’s last year of his first stint, to the division title with a 89 win and 73 loss season. It was pretty much the same team that Cox had left behind. And whether you like it or not Torre was able to get more out his teams then the same as when he faced Cox and the Braves in 1996 and 1999. I’m not a Bobby Cox hater but neither am I blind. I’ve been saying the same things about him since the early 90s. He’s too much of a players manager, he’s too partial to veterans and too often plays his favorites rather than the most talented, he’s too slow to make pitching moves often leaving a pitcher in the game long after he begins to lose his stuff, and he too often tries to use a player in a position where that player is not suited [Reitsma as closer and Giles as leadoff hitter]. Bobby, however, is an excellent judge of talent and a lot of the credit for our amazing minor league system rightfully belongs to him. He’s just not a great manager of that talent once it gets to the major league level. Since 1991 Bobby’s regular season record has been great but so has the talent. That talent has been much better than a mere 63-62 postseason record and only one World Series championship. For most of second stint as skipper of the Braves, JS has given Bobby the tools to do the job. Bobby, however, except for that one brief shining moment in 1995, just hadn’t got it done.

By RHS

June 23, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this

Thanks for spicing it up, Lew- the blog was getting a little boring. Sorry if I offended you, I’m sure you are a sincere Bravos fan. Have a nice weekend.

By cw

June 23, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Moore:

Thank you for the commentary. I agree with you that Atlanta has not fully appreciated the accomplishment of 14 straight division titles. During that time the team has been the epitome of a class organization and reflected well on Atlanta. However, I will take issue with the presumption that we have an obligation to attend their games, or any professional games. There are several reasons I no longer go to pro games. 1) Cost: My family of 4 can drive to Chattanooga, attend a Minor league game, eat at the stadium, enjoy local attractions and drive back for less that going to the Braves and getting a hot dog. 2) The experience: I find pro games are full of loud constant noise and distraction that are suggestive and inappropriate for children; all have nothing to do with the game. 3) Drugs: Pro sports (and Olympics) are noteworthy for athletes with drug enhanced bodies and drug enhanced performances. 4) 1994 Strike: I am stil resentful of the strike.

In summary, in general pro sports are unappealing to me as entertainment for my family. I have better, more family friendly, options.

By Ed

June 23, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

So you want fan or customer loyalty. Well that’s a two way street. MLB, Owners, and the Players Union don’t seem to see it that way. Smoltz’s best budy Glavine left for a few million dollars more, he must have needed the money. All three entities have stood on the sidelines and let steroids affect the game all for the almighy dollar. In fact it literally took an act of Congress to get them do do anything about it. Yes Cynthia Tucker the Bush Administration actually did something positive which I’m sure you can’t stand. You are the reason to Paddy’s point that I won’t buy the AJC rag as well. The players union is actully debating wether or not to let MLB have the right to use the ALL STAR GAME to determine who has home field advantage in the World Series. In my company that would be a management decision. When you put an inferior product in front of a fan/customer we have the right to let you know through our spending what we think of it. You wouldn’t buy a car if you didn’t think you were getting a good product in return. Baseball is a business that has gotten out of hand and you want fan loyalty to keep it afloat. Everyone that has mentioned the cost of going to the ballpark is right on. What you are asking for is a person making $20 dollars an hour to support people making millions. Sooner or later the bucks stop comming in. A guy batting 240 is a multimillionaire. The real world doesn’t work that way. I feel MLB and the Plyers are completely out of touch with the fans and by the basis of your article the fans you are telling you why.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

Do any Southerners live in Atlanta? And how does one city have its own accent? Amazing. “Yah” instead of “yeah.” I bet you can’t get sweet tea and grits anywhere in the city.

By Ed

June 23, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this

Skip made the comment last night that he thought the reason for the Braves struggles this year was that the veterans had never experienced losing. I think one of the reasons is the coverage they get from the AJC sports writers. Can you just imagine how Chipper felt last night after reading in the paper how old and washed-up he has become? And how they will feel tonight after reading how bad they are. Give the guys a little encouragement.Remind them that they are the same guys who won last year.

By NYFAN

June 23, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this

I think most braves fans knew that the Mets would be the team winning the division when the brave run ended. It was obvious by reading all the negative talk about the Mets in the Vent and Blog all these years.

By NYFAN

June 23, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

I think most braves fans knew that the Mets would be the team winning the division when the brave run ended. It was obvious by reading all the negative talk about the Mets in the Vent and Blog all these years.

By Pompano

June 23, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

The only thing I’m amazed at in Terence’s article is that he didn’t once again work David Justice’s name into it (another Atlanta hater).

He has some freakish attraction to the guy. I joke each year as to the over&under on the number of times he’ll work his name into an article each year (usually over a dozen).

By Ed

June 23, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this

Skip made the comment last night that he thought the reason for the Braves struggles this year was that the veterans had never experienced losing. I think one of the reasons is the coverage they get from the AJC sports writers. Can you just imagine how Chipper felt last night after reading in the paper how old and washed-up he has become? And how they will feel tonight after reading how bad they are. Give the guys a little encouragement.Remind them that they are the same guys who won last year.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this

If you get there about an hour before the game, the best parking is at the Comfort Inn near the stadium. Within 10 minutes of leaving Turner Field you can be on I-75…Wait a minute. Now I’ll never find another parking space

By BeBrave

June 23, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

While I live not to far from there, the stadium experience is not the most pleasant in the world I must admit. Once inside, its cool, but there is no atmosphere around the stadium like in Boston or other towns. The area around Turner is devoid of life and can be dangerous. This is not the only excuse ofcourse, but when you have a populace that is dominated by suburban conservatives who think the world is out to get them, you better find a way to make them feel all warm and safe if you want them to pack up their Suburbans and drive 2 hours on Atlanta roads from their comfy Alpharetta homes. Add to this the history of this franchise before the 90’s, catastrophic losers, plus we all grew up with TBS televising every single game. For free. I know every other city has obstacles they seem to overcome and still fill the stands, so why can’t we? While we tout Atlanta as an international city, it is really an international Northern half of the state with a city devoid of people. Until the recent revitalizations started, no one really lived in Atlanta, and I believe the city itself must attract people to the stadium as much as the team. And while they have won the division an unprecented 14 times, they have lost the playoff an unprecented 13 of them. So the regular season they draw a respectable amount becuase they are winning, then comes the losing in the postseason so people dont show up to get their hearts ripped out over and over. I am a Braves fan but I am tired of hearing them whine about attendence. Do something inventive, like Arthur Blank has with the Falcons, instill an atmosphere around the team and dedicate yourself to doing what it takes to win, not always trying to shoestring together a team and hoping for a miracle. We are out of miracles so try something new, like fielding a team built to win a championship.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this

Guys, when it says “Please wait” please do so.
/

By Pasquel Perez

June 23, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

I keep trying to get to the games, but I can’t get off 285.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

BeBrave, good post. I feel like I should be armed outside the stadium. Cops directing traffic but not stopping the pan-handling and harrassment. Insane.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

Remember when Blank actually wrote a letter of apology for the Falcon’s dismissal season after Vick got hurt? Start firing up that word processor Time-Warner and JS.

By Andy Messersmith

June 23, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

I can still pitch. Just put that “super 17” on my back and I’ll go at it.

Seriously, how does TM still have a job ? He never writes anything of any value. He constantly bashes anything positive about the Atlanta teams and is quick to thrash when things go bad.

I always try to ignore his columns but this one struck a nerve. I’m from GA but don’t live there anymore and would love to be able to go to Braves games. There are probably a lot of us out there. But TM won’t admit to anyone that folks like us exist who still support the Braves from 500 miles away. That would be too positive.

By Lew

June 23, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

Apology definitely accepted. The problem with these blogs is that they tend to get emotional and this does not lead to rational comments. As far as how good BC is. If you listen to “all that talent” he has managed, invariably the players point to BC as their favorite manager to play for and he appears to (usually) be a positive motivator. As far as supporting the team-if you don’t feel that a superior product is being offered, either by the Braves or MLB, then don’t attend. However, this is like voting in a way. If you don’t vote you have no right to complain. If you don’t like where baseball has been or where it is going, then why are you on this blog bit##ing? If you can’t support your home team then I guess it really isn’t your home team. My point about living in Vermont (I graduated from Mercer and UGA, was married in Macon and my son was born in Athens) was that if you are truly a Braves fan, you will find a way to support your team. I know Atlanta is impossible to drive in. I used to live there and it was bad then. However, if you want atrocious driving conditions, try Boston-they are giving Atlanta lessons in terrible driving conditions. Support your team or just don’t say anything. YEAH, it su##s that we are in this losing streak, but it sure has never stopped Cubs fans or the Red Sox fans from selling out every single night. Last weekend’s series with the Sox was embarrassing to me as an Atlanta fan.

By Andy Messersmith

June 23, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

I can still pitch. Just put that “super 17” on my back and I’ll go at it.

Seriously, how does TM still have a job ? He never writes anything of any value. He constantly bashes anything positive about the Atlanta teams and is quick to thrash when things go bad.

I always try to ignore his columns but this one struck a nerve. I’m from GA but don’t live there anymore and would love to be able to go to Braves games. There are probably a lot of us out there. But TM won’t admit to anyone that folks like us exist who still support the Braves from 500 miles away. That would be too positive.

By Don

June 23, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this

Hey Lew you moron, congratulations on figuring out how not to double post. Not surprising to see that you live in Howard Dean country.

By Glass Half Full

June 23, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this

A bartender at the Atlanta-Hilton told me that right before the ‘96 Olympics the city government rounded up a bunch of homeless people and beggars and offered them bus fare to New Orleans; they refused to take it. True or not? Who knows for sure, but interesting story.

By The One

June 23, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

Look, I just think the Braves and why shouldn’t lemonade?

By Tom

June 23, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

Someone made a comment about a seller convincing the buyer that his product is worth buying. Well, right now the product (Braves Baseball) is not worth buying. Consumers all over the world, every day choose not to buy products if there is little to value in the purchase…so they don’t make it. Yeah, Braves fans are fickle, but also smart. They see the product is no good, so why buy it? Make the product worth buying and the consumers will return…it’s that simple…and once the Braves figure this out, please pass this little nugget of knowledge to the Hawks. It’s all laughable at this point.

By Scott

June 23, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

No 1. Why does the AJC keep Mr. Moore employed all he does is talk badly about the city, sports teams, and yet he does it week to week. No 2. Let me guess Peyton Manning is the best Qb in the NFL and we as a city should whis that we could trade Vick for him. Lastly. Im so sick of reading these sorry A— columns by this city hating Atlantans are never good enough for him so AJC I hope your happy I have just washed my hand of you and will let COX newspapers know how I feel about this and how the AJC let one writer push away a life ong reader…

GOODBYE

By Lew

June 23, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

Don, you’re still an idiot and it is the AJC website that causes the double postings. I may live in Howard Dean country, but guess what. He wasn’t even governor when we moved here. To the person who mentioned all the free telecasts on TBS-you may definitely have a point. However, I would be willing to bet that in the next couple of years when TBS fazes out Braves broadcasts and Turner South drops games also, attendance will not go up. Don, you’re an idiot, not necessarily because of your politics (I really don’t know what they are any more than you know mine), but making racial slurs about TM and denigrating the AJC writers, accomplishes nothing except to make you look like an idiot.

By The Man

June 23, 2006 12:00 PM | Link to this

Lew - you’re still a moron.

By Smelly Faturdo

June 23, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this

Atlanta’s biggest problem in all sports is an incredibly ignorant fan base that values style over substance.

Word to your mother.

By Ryan

June 23, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this

I have lived in Baltimore for 15 years, watching this city stop going to Camden Yards because the team is being mismanaged (whole other story). People here still support this team after 8 years of crap.

However, this is America, and if people don’t want to plunk down half a paycheck to see a ballgame, who are you (or anybody for that matter) to tell them they should. If management was concerned with filling the stadium, they could do it in a heartbeat by slashing prices and marketing that move heavily. This game is a business, putting butts in the seats is not helping the bottom line, selling TV spots is.

Fewer fans at the games equals more folks watching on TBS and Turner South. More money for the team. They are not this bad, they could easily win 12 of 15 and approach 500 again.

Don’t call out the fans, entice them. Don’t jack up prices for the playoffs if you want a full house. Run it like a business, lower costs equals higher volume.

By The Man

June 23, 2006 12:07 PM | Link to this

The only idiot on this post is Terence himself.

By Tony Dobson

June 23, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

As a British fan who has travelled to Atlanta to see the Braves I can’t believe the complaints here.

Expensive ticket prices? What about 2-for-1 offers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? In 2004 my wife and I saw three Braves games together for less than in cost me to see one Premiership soccer game that same season.

And as for traffic? No problem for us, straight in, straight out at the end. It is a matter of experience I guess but I found getting in and out surprisingly easy.

Personally I’d be tempted to shut down massive sections of the stadium and just let in the 20k who come every night and support the team. Everyone else can go elsewhere and take the negativity with them.

By mossy

June 23, 2006 12:13 PM | Link to this

Hey Terrance, Go back to Oakland, just leave, 14 pennants in a row, all we need now is you to be the new GM. It’s so obvious that you hate this City, just leave. I know, maybe you can cover the sports in Iraq. That’s the ticket, they know how to treat journalists like you!!

By Don

June 23, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

Lew you moron, how about pointing out the “racial slurs” you claim I made? Can’t find them? Then shut the hell up. I’m not the one living in a state that’s 99.5% white.

By Atlanta Fans Smartest

June 23, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this

Wow, have never read such ignorant comments in my life. How many NBA Finals have the Hawks played in?..have they even been close? Why pay and support that? Falcons? 1 Super Bowl appearance. Again, why support that? Also, I was in Minneapolis to see the Twins v. YANKEES Division Series a couple of years back - the Twins were in the playoffs for the 3rd (not 13th) year in a row and there was already apathy there for the Division Series (sellout came last minute once the Twins won a game). I think the “true fans” are actually a buch of idiots who happily shell out hard earned cash to be a part of something that is much more enjoyable to watch from the comfort of your own home. By the way TM - my career entails doing demographic analysis and you are quite off base about how many “native Atlantans” comprise this market - that number is roughly just over 1.5 million…not really a “major metropolitan areas” worth….more like Quad Cities Iowa.

By Glenn

June 23, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

Terence ,I can’t agree with you. Are you suggesting we didn’t deserve the perennail playoff Hawks of the mid to late 90’s. Didn’t you write that the trade of JR Rider for Steve Smith was a good idea to get the Hawks out of the boring playoff one & out rut that they had gotten into ? We have not been in real contention for the title since 1999 when the Yankees swept us. I was at the Cubs playoff series a couple of years back. It was packed, loud ,& in the end sad. It had become a routine as well. The only games that didn’t sell out were the 4pm weekday games . Unfortunately we did get alot of those . Anyway I’m glad the Braves aren’t going to the playoffs. It would be better not to go then to keep the habitual “one & done” routine going on for another season.

By Lew

June 23, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

Don, I truly apologize for saying you made racial slurs. I was wrong-it was another idiot. However, you did mention a number of journalists by name and cast aspersions on the AJC. If you don’t like these writers or the paper, why are you even here? You haven’t made a single comment relevant to the discussion at hand and you have been personally abusive to all sorts of people. What difference does it make that I live in Vermont? You don’t know if my move from the south has a damn thing to do with politics (it doesn’t), nor would it matter it was the reason (if you really want to know, it was because the pay here is 50%better than in the south). You’re not a debater, nor a complainer. If you don’t have anything really pertenent ( you do know what that means, don’t you?), than just shut up and let the rest of us discuss the Braves. F##ing idiot.

By Lew

June 23, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

Excuse me, that should have been “you’re a complainer”

By R2dawggie

June 23, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

Gee, Terrence, you really love being a villain.

I know you are too smart not to realize that the Southeast is a college football mecca and anything else is just a slight diversion.

I love the Braves. But not as much as the Dawgs.

By Brent

June 23, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

Okay, to be honest, some of you who complain about driving and parking are probably the same people that ignorantly cause traffic jams all over the interstate.

While it is nice to have great public transportation close to the park,

I HAVE NEVER HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM GETTING INTO, OUT OF, OR AROUND Turner Field.

Quite frankly, I think that a lot of people just can’t drive, as I regularly am teaching people new ways into and out of the area around Turner Field (and I’ve only lived here for 11 months).

Anyway, and this may sound silly, I would encourage some of you to get up on a Saturday morning and attend one of the 1:00 games this September. Get to the game early and drive around the area when there’s no traffic.

Figure out a nice route for you into and out of the area.

Then, in the future, use the same routes, even in heavy traffic, and I think you’ll find that it’s not that bad to get away from the park.

(A little tip: If you’re heading North after the game, then try and park a little north of the stadium. With all the crowds coming to and leaving the game, it is actually quite safe to take a little walk. The cops may not be friendly, but they still carry guns.)

By Geoff Johnson

June 23, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

Too much emphasis on winning. A true fan (sic fanatic) supports the team win or lose. I am am Met fan from the mid sixties and the only time that I can remember fans jumping ship was for a short period when they traded Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, and Tom Seaver. I don’t check attendance, so I may be wrong. We support our Mets win or lose. Granted, NYC has 24 million people in the NY metro area to draw from, so the comparison may not be fair. I agree, auto traffic going downtown is a true deterent. After 20+ years here I have concluded that many Atlantans are country folks, they do not want to live in a city, or in a highrise, or in walking urban centers. They prefer control to access. If the Braves played in a rural area near where the fans live, they would draw better. The comments regarding MARTA and the “dregs of the city” are obscene. I do agree that, except for along P’tree street, the airport, and Lenox, MARTA does not go directly where people want to go. Just look at the station at Perimeter Mall. Given the walking distance to and from the train, the hills, and the heat, MARTA is generally not a viable choice. Don’t crucify TM. Too many people only want to hear supportive comments, and not the truth if it is not good news.

By Kat

June 23, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this

What exactly is the point of this column? Seriously. Are you trying to shame us into attending Braves games? Convince us that some mystical karmic energy is permeating the bullpen, and that’s why we can’t pull a win? None of the above? Then WHAT???

I GUARANTEE that Terence Moore came up with this “idea” for a column about 2 hours before press time. Huge waste of space.

Cheers to Sosa in the bullpen. GO BRAVES!

By Gary LeJeune

June 23, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this

This article is on target and accurate. There should be NO excuses about not selling out playoffs like the excuse crap that is being mentioned on this board. Atlanta is NOT a good sports town. Compare the location of the ballparks - Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Cellular Park on Chicago’s Southside. Dead Downtown St. Louis —— Fact is, Atlanta is NOT a good sports town and the Braves have deserved better at the gate than what we have given them. When Vick is gone, you will hear echo’s again the Georgia Dome, too.

By Gary LeJeune

June 23, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

This article is on target and accurate. There should be NO excuses about not selling out playoffs like the excuse crap that is being mentioned on this board. Atlanta is NOT a good sports town. Compare the location of the ballparks - Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Cellular Park on Chicago’s Southside. Dead Downtown St. Louis —— Fact is, Atlanta is NOT a good sports town and the Braves have deserved better at the gate than what we have given them. When Vick is gone, you will hear echo’s again the Georgia Dome, too.

By Bill

June 23, 2006 12:40 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately, as a suburbanite, I cannot afford to attend games more than once or twice a year. After paying twenty five dollars for a decent ticket, ten for parking, and then attempting to feed my family for fifteen dollars a person at the ballpark I find that I cannot go as much as I would like. I know that this can’t be helped, as we must continue to pay players millions a year, but it kind of explains how many fans cannot attend regularly. Also, with almost every game on TV, it makes more sense to stay at home and watch than to go through all that hassle and sit in cheaper seats in the upper deck. Terrence, get in touch with society.

By Don

June 23, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

Lew, not only do I know what pertinent means I know how to spell it. That makes one of us.

Terence Moore has the right to rip the people of Atlanta for not spending their time and money in the way he thinks they should spend it and the citizens of this area don’t have the right to rip him back? Do you understand what a blog is? Can you tell me another business that allows employees to regularly insult their customers and remain employed? No wonder the AJC circulation is sinking even faster than most major newspapers.

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Yeeee-ha! Let’s all of us country folks jump on our mules and go to the game!

By Lewis

June 23, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this

My Questio? Do you EVER write a positve column? I live 4 hours from Atlanta and make it to about 4 games a year. I buy Braves mechandise, I subscribe to the MLB package, both which the Braves make money off of. The Stadium is hard to get to, then $10 parking, $60 for tickets, $20 for 2 hotdogs, 2 drinks and 2 bags of chips and $5 for a program Add in $120 for a decent motel room and meals for 2 days and $ 500 is pretty much gone to take in a 2 games. Pretty steep for 5 hours of entertainment

By Mark

June 23, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Amen Kat. Looking up the number of playoff sellouts the last few years must have been exhausting to research. What to do when you can’t think of anything insightful to write? Tweak the natives, of course. Terrence, thanks for reminding me why I stopped reading your column.

By The Man

June 23, 2006 12:50 PM | Link to this

Lew - you like men

By Sam

June 23, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

Hey Guys, I am a transplanted fan from Massachusetts to Florida and I go back as far as the Boston Braves. Remember that famous 7th playoff game against the Pirates when Sid Bream scored from 2nd base on 2 bad wheels. The thing that peevy me off of the Braves fans. Before the Bravos scored 3 runs in that 9th inning…at least 7,000 fans left the ball park. Braves fans are famous for doing something like that. I have that game on tape and it was imbarrassing that the announcers of the game Sean McDonough and Tim McCarver said at least 7K fans left the park before the Braves fireworks began. I don’t think the fans in Atlanta are loyal.

By The Man

June 23, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

Sam - I’ll tell you what’s embarrassing - your spelling. You fool.

By Tim

June 23, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with the column but I think this team will never get over the hump of becoming a true dynasty until Bobby Cox is gone. Need I say we also need to spend a little money and get some proven quality relief pitching. The braves need a more assertive manager to exploit this very talented team. If you look at every braves postseason with the exception of 95 the braves have been out coached when it really mattered. So this team has finally had it’s run and sometimes maybe it’s necessary to make changes at the top! Giles is not a leadoff hitter and should be benched or traded and Betemit should be starting and Adam Laroche should be benched. The braves have a boat load of talent they just need the right leader to motivate them.

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this

Right on Tim!

By Bill

June 23, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

I believe the problem lies with TBS having less games on their programming. I blame it on having Bob and Jeff calling the games. Skip and Pete to the rescue!

By Still A Fan

June 23, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

First, Terence Moore is a talentless jack*. If you dislike the people you write for as much as you appear to, find a new job. It seems your argument is that REAL fans are obligated to attend games. Well, I am a real fan and, unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of attending games whenever I would like. I would venture to guess that there are many like me out there.

Second, if the Braves want to immediately increase attendance, why not try the Arthur Blank model. Make it more affordable and you instantly increase your attendance base. Last I checked, it still cost in excess of $100 for a family of 4 to attend a game once you add in parking, hotdogs, $5 cokes, etc. And that is with mediocre seats. Personally, I have been a Braves fan since I moved to Georgia 17 years ago and have never been to a playoff game simply because of the cost. But then, if I were an overpaid and undertalented columnist for the AJC, I would probably be able to attend every game. I am sure you do since you speak so poorly of those who don’t.

By Bill

June 23, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this

I believe the problem lies with TBS having less games on their programming. I blame it on having Bob and Jeff calling the games. Skip and Pete to the rescue!

By Jim

June 23, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this

Attendance down everywhere for most pro teams, all sports. Cost too much.

By Jonny

June 23, 2006 01:34 PM | Link to this

I love the Braves, I was a Braves baby, and I love Turner Field. Turner Field is the best baseball stadium I have been to as far as blending modern comfort and baseball tradition. Fenway has that special tradition, yes, but you can’t walk the stadium and still see the game like you can at Turner. I go to about 20 games a year.

The thing that gets me about the Braves not selling out during playoffs is that I do not believe it is the fault of the fans. I believe the fault lies with the Braves ownership not pricing their tickets in such manner to sell out and allowing their concessions to be ridiculously expensive. Oh, and the lack of security around the stadium is an embarassment. Would any of you dream of letting your mother walk alone to her car after a Braves game? I wouldn’t either. The Braves ownership needs to take better steps to keep the fans that don’t park in the Lexus Lot safe, especially the women.

Promotions are also lacking. Now with TBS dropping Braves games next year (Ted Turners genius of promoting his club through greater exposure made Braves fans everywhere that had TBS)

If you aren’t selling out you lower prices. Supply and Demand, boys. That’s a business mans problem and fault not to correct, not a fan making a choice in where to spend entertainment dollars.

By Josh

June 23, 2006 01:37 PM | Link to this

ANYONE who argues with this post IS THE PROBLEM. Terrance Moore, I have written the AJC so many times trying to get someone to write THIS ARTICLE that my fingers hurt. THANK YOU!!! People around here make me absolutley sick when they won’t even show up to watch what 95% of other fans around the country would love to have.

By Nathan

June 23, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree more with my fellow Redskin/Redhawk. Do any of you truly realize how awesome an accomplishment the Braves have achieved in the past 14 seasons? We can’t even sellout during the playoffs but everyone who doesn’t go wants to whine and moan about how we are underachieving. If anything this season is a blessing because it gives us a chance to see what these young Braves are really made of. The key to this season is not to save it by selling off pieces but rather to really examine our obvious holes (i.e. Bullpen, Chipper, 4th and 5th starters) and make the necessary adjustments this offseason.

More importantly all of us Braves fans need to get to the ballpark. I don’t want to hear excuses that its to far because if you wanted to go you would find a way. And those of you with kids out there, you don’t need to feel like you have to spend $300 on tickets. I’m 23 and remember fondly how great it was to be at old Atlanta Fulton County watching the Braves get worked by Howard Johnson whenever the Mets came to town in the nosebleeds. Kids just want to go to the park, so make it happen.

Of course the obvious excuse is “why should I cheer and why should I go since the team is losing”. Well knucklehead, you weren’t going in the first place and if you were a true fan you would stick it out and show a little support because the vast majority of you have no idea what a loud cheering crowd can do to give the team a boost.

The team needs to get their butt in gear but more importantly the fans need to get some perspective and remember what it used to be like.

By Still A Fan

June 23, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

Hey Josh, if you think this was a good article, you should read a very similar one by Haywood Jablowme. I think you will like it too.

By Mikey

June 23, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

to Mr Ted Turner….the worst form of bigotry is a bigot that calls other bigots..and Mr Moore the Braves never sell out Division series games because they are ALWAYS played in the afternoon, when DUH most of us have to work! only to get home and watch the Yankees in prime time! You’re sickening and should leave sports writing to someone who knows their a** from a hole in the ground.

By Nathan

June 23, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree more with my fellow Redskin/Redhawk. Do any of you truly realize how awesome an accomplishment the Braves have achieved in the past 14 seasons? We can’t even sellout during the playoffs but everyone who doesn’t go wants to whine and moan about how we are underachieving. If anything this season is a blessing because it gives us a chance to see what these young Braves are really made of. The key to this season is not to save it by selling off pieces but rather to really examine our obvious holes (i.e. Bullpen, Chipper, 4th and 5th starters) and make the necessary adjustments this offseason.

More importantly all of us Braves fans need to get to the ballpark. I don’t want to hear excuses that its to far because if you wanted to go you would find a way. And those of you with kids out there, you don’t need to feel like you have to spend $300 on tickets. I’m 23 and remember fondly how great it was to be at old Atlanta Fulton County watching the Braves get worked by Howard Johnson whenever the Mets came to town in the nosebleeds. Kids just want to go to the park, so make it happen.

Of course the obvious excuse is “why should I cheer and why should I go since the team is losing”. Well knucklehead, you weren’t going in the first place and if you were a true fan you would stick it out and show a little support because the vast majority of you have no idea what a loud cheering crowd can do to give the team a boost.

The team needs to get their butt in gear but more importantly the fans need to get some perspective and remember what it used to be like.

By Karin

June 23, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Great article - I totaly agree. I went to my first game in years on Saturday, and it was very distressing to be in beautiful Turner Field and hear the crowd chant, “let’s go Red Sox!”. I am a Brave’s fan in good times and bad.

By BeBrave

June 23, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

TM, can anyone say the Braves deserve more support than they are getting? This isn’t your local little league where your own and your neighbors kids are playing. These are MILLIONAIRES whining about profit margins and tax write-offs. Time Warner deserves nothing from me, nor from this city. While I am a fan of the Braves I am not here on this earth to put multi-millions in the pockets of ultra-rich A-holes that have turned a sports team into a cost center on a balance sheet. Your definition of loyalty is shelling out x amount of dollars to show your support, I can be just as loyal to my team without putting money in Time Warners collection plate. Its not just the Braves, its the MLB in general. I grew up playing and loving baseball the sport, but I hate baseball the business. When Schuerholz trades Justice or lets Glavine walk and says “its just the nature of the business”, well business is also nobody overpaying for your inferior product. Get over the sorry 14 division titles, they mean nothing people in the “business” of baseball. No one starts the season saying we want to win another division title. So this product is not worth the money and thus they cannot cry when the seats are empty. The American auto-makers don’t get our loyalty either, becuase their product sucks. If you call not going to a local cities games disloyal, then how about when you drive that Honda or Toyota, you sorry traitor. Same difference with this ignorant column. Delta is also an Atlanta team so am I disloyal when I buy a cheaper ticket on American? The Braves are not a charity organization who need moral support for ‘giving it their all’. Win another championship or shut up about your accomplishments. You think after this year when the Mets win it anyone will remember who won the year before?

By Rutuger

June 23, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

Hey Tim—and just how many Boston fans left before the ALCS game ended in 2004? I watched that game and I saw those fat f*** streaming out and ripping up their signs before the comeback.

How dare you.

By JBK

June 23, 2006 02:09 PM | Link to this

I agree with all the writers that location is the big problem. I hate dealing with the parking, bootleg vendors and the unsafe feeling of the surrounding area—after sitting in 90 minutes of traffic to get there. 80%+ of the people who have the money to attend the games live on the north side of town. Go ahead and call it race—but the braves attendance would be stronger on the white side of town. Just like golf courses, fine dining, schools, and malls all do better on the North/white side of town. The fan base is strong—the fans who have the money don’t want to deal with leaving the pleasant bubble on the north side of town.

By jbk

June 23, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

I agree with all the writers that location is the big problem. I hate dealing with the parking, bootleg vendors and the unsafe feeling of the surrounding area—after sitting in 90 minutes of traffic to get there. 80%+ of the people who have the money to attend the games live on the north side of town. Go ahead and call it race—but the braves attendance would be stronger on the white side of town. Just like golf courses, fine dining, schools, and malls all do better on the North/white side of town. The fan base is strong—the fans who have the money don’t want to deal with leaving the pleasant bubble on the north side of town.

By Alan

June 23, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

$100 bucks for a family of four? Perhaps SAF hasn’t heard about that deal with 4 upper box tickets, 4 drinks, 4 hot dogs, a parking pass, and a program for $60. However, SAF has a point. As long as baseball players (and other athletes, for that matter) get paid millions of dollars to PLAY A GAME FOR A LIVING, then we are going to pay a lot for tickets. If their salaries were more in line with what they deserved (like maybe $300K max, plus all living and travel expenses paid during spring training and the season), then tickets would be cheaper AND every team could afford to compete for top talent. As for you, Terence, attendance is not mandatory at sporting events or concerts or anything else. If you want to live in a city where every single game is sold out years in advance - regardless of whether the team is good or bad - then move to Boston or Chicago. I like being able to go to Turner Field at the last minute and get a decent ticket.

By Reid

June 23, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this

TM obviously gets paid on the number of comments he generates. Way to troll there, Terence. I bet you even chuckled as you filed the piece, knowing how much blather you were going to generate.

By Laurence M

June 23, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

First of all, let me say that the folks complaining about the money they have to spend to attend the games are dead wrong! $59 for four tickets, four hot-dogs, four Cokes, and a parking pass — that’s not expensive! They’re always having deals similar to that. Plus, outfield seats are generally $5 (or less) apiece. And it’s the cheap seats that are ususally the ones that are not full! So it’s not the money that’s keeping people away.

The lack of access to Turner Field, due to traffic-congestion and no nearby MARTA station is far more likely to be the culprit here. It is an absolute PAIN to get into and out of Turner Field, unless you can manage to go to one of the during-the-week day games. Driving to the field is more often than not a total nightmare, and driving home after the game usually means an hour of sitting and staring at the tail-lights of the guy in front of you, while moving just inches at a time, trying to get out of the parking lot. Walking to the nearest MARTA shuttle stop is nearly just as bad — the wait in line there can easily be just as long as the wait to get out of the parking lot if you chose to drive. And for handicapped people (like myself) it is NOT an option — the long walk and the standing-in-line-for-an-hour is just not possible. So, for me personally, I do not attend Braves games as often as I’d like because it’s very difficult to get to the field — make that easier, and there will be quite a few more folks who will “bother” to go more often.

And judging by the number of people who live in the Metro-Atlanta area, I’d say we have a pretty good attendance record, despite the difficulties in accessing Turner Field. Our stadium has more seats than most metro areas that have twice our population or more, and we still manage to fill it more than halfway just about all the time — and its usually well over 75% full on weekend games… Not too shabby, in my opinion.

By Northeastern Troll

June 23, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS

Give it up and root for the next world champs! Or, bring back John Rocker, at least your team had one entertaining player then. Maybe Gene Garber will come out of retirement and improve your pitching. Lindsay Nelson would be an improvement to your announcing crew, and he’s dead!

LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS

By godawg

June 23, 2006 02:29 PM | Link to this

$35 a ticket, $12 to park, H20 $4, cotton candy $5, peanuts $6.25…times 4 for the average family…gee, I wonder why more people don’t go to every game…

By Greg C

June 23, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this

The price of tickets, parking, indifference, apathy by the players all SUCKS!! The Braves can’t: hit, field, follow signals, steal bases, run, hustle, think, nor play!! The starting pitching SUCKS, the bullpen SUCKS, the hitters SUCK, and late inning coaching blunders SUCK!! And I want to go to a Braves game? You’ve GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! Btw, when does TM START a career, because he sure as heck ain’t no journalist, just a critic and an awful one at that!

By Greg C

June 23, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this

The price of tickets, parking, indifference, apathy by the players all SUCKS!! The Braves can’t: hit, field, follow signals, steal bases, run, hustle, think, nor play!! The starting pitching SUCKS, the bullpen SUCKS, the hitters SUCK, and late inning coaching blunders SUCK!! And I want to go to a Braves game? You’ve GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! Btw, when does TM START a career, because he sure as heck ain’t no journalist, just a critic and an awful one at that!

By Greg C

June 23, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

The price of tickets, parking, indifference, apathy by the players all SUCKS!! The Braves can’t: hit, field, follow signals, steal bases, run, hustle, think, nor play!! The starting pitching SUCKS, the bullpen SUCKS, the hitters SUCK, and late inning coaching blunders SUCK!! And I want to go to a Braves game? You’ve GOT TO BE KIDDING!!! Btw, when does TM START a career, because he sure as heck ain’t no journalist, just a critic and an awful one at that!

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

Bebrave, sounds like most of these Braves fans actually drank the Kool-Aid! You preach it, brother!

By Hunk Erdown

June 23, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

The one constant over the last 16 years is Bobby Cox and his lackluster, no spirit, emotionless way of managing. He is protected by the paradox of “if the Braves win, what a great manager he is, but if they lose, its not his fault.” It is ridiculous to say that all of metro Atlanta is full of bad fans and its all their fault for not showing up. There are several hundred thousand fans that would be glad to support a fan friendly team. Sure there are problems with location, prices, traffic, and an unfriendly attitude from the police and city employees toward fans. But the Braves have a marketing problem and they refuse to address things that a lot of us natives have complained about for many years. The same attitude that would lead an idiot like TM to publicly blast all of Metro Atlanta for the failure of a Multi million dollar business called the Braves to have the ability to recognize that they’re product is not attractive enough for the population to support IS THE PROBLEM. The fans that are now going to the stadium will go whoever the manager is. The rest will come when and if the Braves wake up and bring in someone with fire in their belly. Ozzie Guillen would have the stadium packed in no time. Jim Leyland after one of the pitiful performances the Braves have made a daily habit would generate enough support by publicly lambasting his team that the fans would come from all over to cheer him alone. College teams have spirit and fire… The Braves have a boring, gimme my money attitude that fans hate. So give Bobby Cox a ticker tape parade, then a briefcase and desk… Bring in someone who will treat the players like players instead of business partners and golfing buddies. It would help if people could come to the game thinking their children had a chance in hell of meeting a few players and getting an autograph. I could tell you several tales of bad experiences with times I have gone to the games, like getting arrested for scalping tickets when I was not. I had a stack of tickets left over from a company outing to the game. 12 dollar tickets I was trying to get rid of for 10 dollars. I had sold most of them and had 2 left. Quoted a price of twenty dollars to an undercover cop who decided to say I was selling them for twenty apiece. Showed up to court twice with witnesses to prove my case and the case was held over because the cop couldn’t be there, so I gave up… paid a fine and went away. I still go to games, but Atlanta is a tough place to bring a family, and if the Organization refuses to see the inept managing style of Bobby Cox… if for no other reason than marketing strategy… then they need to look in the mirror, not at the state of Georgia.

By Big Dawg

June 23, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

What’s wrong with wanting exciting players. When Nique was with the hawks they sold out. When David Justice was with the Braves they sold out. With Vick the Falcons are selling out. THE FALCONS

If this is what the public wants then the teams should deliver.

By Chewyandrw

June 23, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

hey godawg…its like that at almost every big league ball park…yet we see the awful Cubs who WERE worse than the Braves, never make the playoffs and havent won a World Series in decades, yet they sell out every game…many teams sell out no matter the prices…and by making your name with UGA, how much do you pay to see your beloved Bulldogs….figuring that you might live in Atlanta you have to put in the gas for the drive, the food to tailgate, the scalped tickets, the beer, and just like the Braves in the playoffs, another year of high expectations and a major let down at the end

By William

June 23, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

Looks like the curse lives. Any Atlanta team that broacasts on 96Rock ends in the basement. Look what it did to the Falcons.

By Mikey

June 23, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

Hey…NE Troll..IF the Mets make the playoffs, they will be eliminated even faster than the Braves usually are. Perennial losers always trying to “buy” a team. The Braves have owned them for years. That’s why Chipper named his child “Shea”.

By mfs

June 23, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

I knew it. I knew it wasn’t the numerous playoff bullpen chokes, the numerous playoff drop-off-a-cliff run production, the numerous playoff questionable decisions by Bobby Cox. It was the fans’ fault. I knew it.

By mfs

June 23, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

I knew it. I knew it wasn’t the numerous playoff bullpen chokes, the numerous playoff drop-off-a-cliff run production, the numerous playoff questionable decisions by Bobby Cox. It was the fans’ fault. I knew it.

By ballen12

June 23, 2006 03:04 PM | Link to this

I am 23 years old, and live in Roswell (You know suburbanite Yuppeyville). I usually make it to about 5 games a year. The experience isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Tailgating a little bit before the game is fun. As far as the concession prices go, most don’t realize that they let you bring food and drinks into the game. You obviously can’t bring alcohol in, but grab some subs on the way to the game, and save yourself the $5 slices of pizza. Cheap tickets are available for not so bad seats. I said earlier that the experience isn’t that bad, but it also isn’t good enough to justify attending more than a few games a year.

And to those of you who bash people for taking their familis to a ballgame. What is that? You seriously have a problem with a father taking his kids to a Major League Baseball game?

By DHD

June 23, 2006 03:08 PM | Link to this

TO ALL METS FANS……….

Finish in first place for 14 years in a row, then come back and tell me how you tied us.

If you live in Atlanta, in the words of the immortal Lewis Grizzard, Delta can have your butt back in NY by this evening.

By RHS

June 23, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

Never had any problem getting into or out of Turner Field, Brent? Gee, too bad the rest of us don’t live in Summerville…

By Robert

June 23, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this

Excuses Excuses. I don’t care what city, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE to have more Cubs fans at a Braves home game than Braves fans (see the 2003 NLDS). There is absolutely NO EXCUSE to have more Red Sox fans at a Braves home game than Braves fans (see last weekend). Do you think you’d see anything like that in one of those cities? No! That is why Atlanta fans are the laughingstock of Major League Baseball. Those Cubs and Red Sox fans found ways to pony up the money for a ticket and make their way to the Ted to fill up the stadium. And all you ATLiens offer is excuses. Lame excuses and ad-hominem attacks on the messenger (Terrence Moore).

And just so you know, I’ve been a Braves fan since I was 8 years old (almost 20 years), I live in San Francisco now, but I make a point to go every Braves home game whenever I’m in Atlanta…and every Braves road game wherever I’m at.

By Dawgfan

June 23, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this

Simple…I watch Braves on TV, in the comfort of home and don’t spend $$$ for an outragious ticket price, OVERPRICED beer and food, nor fight with traffic before and after a game.

By Lou

June 23, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

Moving to Georgia on a military move years ago and as a die hard NY Mets fan, I went to many games in Fulton Co. stadium during the Dale Murphy, Bob Horner era and was with about 800 other folks, but I loved it because I love baseball and had a great time with my son and his friends. I soon came to realize that Georgia and the South is College Football territory as on some SAt nights when they drew 26,000 a lot of the fans were Cincinatti, Cubs, Cardinals, fans etc. This is college football country (nothing wrong with that-it is what it is and that is fine) period!

By Lou

June 23, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this

Moving to Georgia on a military move years ago and as a die hard NY Mets fan, I went to many games in Fulton Co. stadium during the Dale Murphy, Bob Horner era and was with about 800 other folks, but I loved it because I love baseball and had a great time with my son and his friends. I soon came to realize that Georgia and the South is College Football territory as on some SAt nights when they drew 26,000 a lot of the fans were Cincinatti, Cubs, Cardinals, fans etc. This is college football country (nothing wrong with that-it is what it is and that is fine) period!

By RHS

June 23, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this

Cellular Park on the Southside? Have you ever seen the White Sox play there? Maybe its the new park, but I would hardly call White Sox fans supportive. With the exception of last year when the Sox started winning, they were lucky to get 20,000 on a Saturday afternoon.

By RHS

June 23, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this

I’m glad to see so many younger Braves fans responding. Now act- bring your friends to the park-you are the future of Atlanta sports!

By Hunk Erdown

June 23, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this

5 million people in Metro Atlanta… can’t get 1% of them to come to a playoff game. They are all just bad fans… yeah… that must be it.

By BeBrave

June 23, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

Robert— do you really care what fans in other cities think of you. Wow becuase you didnt go to a Braves playoff game you must really be a huge loser! There just arent enough die-hard fans of MLB here in Atlanta to sell out consistently here. To sell out here the team has to have something novel or win championships. While I have thrown up the corporate culture and lack of vibrant downtown populace as potential contributors of Atlantans baseball apathy, I truly dont know why it happens. I have been to 4 playoff elimination games in this run. And yes, seeing Cardinals, Cubs or Astros fans sitting all over the stadium is depressing. But I dont think less of anyone who claims allegiance to the Braves for it. If and when we get back to the playoffs all you can do is buy a ticket for a few friends and hope others will do the same. But for a journalist to trash people for their personal choices is one of the most ignorant things I have ever seen in this paper. Does he get paid by Time Warner to sell their product?

By John the Handsome

June 23, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

Said many times why I do not take my family to the games. Cut tires and scared of the high crime area. Move the team to a more desireable location and maybe the fans will go. Screw Atlanta!

By godawg

June 23, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

Chewy, I live in TN and was at the Braves game last Saturday, so yes, I spend the money. Wrigley field is not in South Chicago and the park is smaller. There is also a big difference in a 12 game college football season and 163 games in baseball. Duh!

Oh BTW, no major let down in the Dawg Nation last year. SEC Champions, BCS bowl berth, Top Ten finish, so chew me…

By rednex

June 23, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this

I agree with some of the posts about the price of the tickets and the amount payed to the players. I know many law enforcement officers whom souble as firemen for their local areas and between the two jobs make less than $30,000 a year. Tell me what is wrong with America when a Jeff Gordon, a Mike Vick, a Tom Cruise or a Kobe Bryant get paid millions a year for entertaining people, but someone who risks his or her life daily gets crumbs!!!!

By BeBrave

June 23, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

Also, can anyone tell me who Terrence is referring to when he states:

“Unless an Atlanta professional sports team is doing something or has somebody that appeals to the lowest common denominator of sports fans, you can forget it”

So he also berates those that do attend the games as “lowest common denominator”.

How many playoff games has Terrence been to personally, when the tickets weren’t a freebie or part of his assignment?

By 59bulldawg

June 23, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

No excuse huh? As much as I love baseball and the Braves, I don’t think I want to find a way to “pony up” for overpriced playoff tickets. I’ll watch at home thank you! As for the regular season, more than 4-5 games a year is a lot for me. And yes the Braves do have so-called “specials” but from where you sit you need binoculars to watch the game. If you enjoy the game but don’t like the shake down of the MLB experience, check out the minor leagues. I live about 50 miles from Richmond and minor league Braves games at the Diamond are a much better experience to me personally. I can go to the game, have more than one hotdog and/or drink if I choose, sit close to the action, and still leave the park at the end of the evening with a little bit of jingle in my pocket. Folks “who find a way to pony up” aren’t necessarily better fans they’re just more willing to part with a dollar. Call me cheap if you wanna, but I don’t live with mama and I’ve got more important things I have to “pony up” for each month.

By Tgober

June 23, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this

Go Dawgs, Love the braves and will watch every game this season on TV and maybe take in 5 in person, but Go Dawgs. The Foxsports crew on TV sucks. Bring back the braves announcers.

By Jerry

June 23, 2006 04:40 PM | Link to this

If ya move the teams to north Atlanta you’d sell out every game.

By weenie hater

June 23, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

How is it that EVERY year fans of certain teams have NO PROBLEM coming into Atlanta, securing tickets and transportation to outdraw you in YOUR OWN PARK???

Why aren’t they complaining. “Move the stadium….” What weenies you are? You blame everybody else except yourselves. YOU DON’T SHOW UP AND SUPPORT ANY TEAM.

You almost lost your Falcons to Jacksonville. Jacksonville???? A cow town. I can’t wait until Belkin makes you a two cow (Braves and Falcons) town.

Every excuse in the book. Pro teams don’t do everything to make it easy for you weenies to get to the game. Boo Hoo for the WEENIES!

By DL

June 23, 2006 05:13 PM | Link to this

TM, please “..take the next train to the coast…”

By brucer

June 23, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this

I think the lack of passion for pro sports in Atl is directly related to the lack of bookies and decent places to place a wager.

By Ron Roberts

June 23, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this

Trivia question…. which Major League Baseball city currently holds the longest streak of 2 million + fans-attended seasons?

Terrence?

Anybody?

A: Atlanta

The city’s not apathetic DURING the season. The ownership is apathetic during the season and offseason, and hence, the fans give a rip only slightly more than the team’s ownership has shown the past four or five years.

By jbro

June 23, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this

Move the stadium just so the richies can go and feel safe in their cocoon? Excuse me, they are the ATLANTA Braves, not the Alpharetta Braves. The stadium is in a great location and brings business to an area that desperately needs it. I love being downtown and with people of all races. I have never encountered anything negative in or near the stadium. Everyone who wants to move the stadium to the suburbs sounds like a racist to me.

By LEW

June 23, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this

Other working people along with me can not or will not make the financial sacrifice to attend a game at Turner Field. We are not apathetic, but prices are pathetic.

By RicoChaCha

June 23, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this

TM, you are a whiner. There are 2 key things the Braves can do to make repeat customers out of most Atlantan’s. First, they can produce entertaining sports spectacles with impressive performances. Like the entertainment value of watching Mike Powell jump farther than any human ever has before, people will pay money to see the spectacle. However, fewer people would pay money to watch Mike jump only as far as Jessie Owens did 70 years ago. The Braves have traded on the sports spectacle commodity to earn customers. No wonder they are losing customers. The second thing they could do is to create personal relationships between the players and Atlanta. We cheer our children’s losing little league teams because we care about the players, not because we care about the little league. This is what ‘fans’ are. They are people who care about the players first, before the performance. The Braves continue to field players we don’t know. Then, they do nothing to help us build a personal relationship with them through media and marketing. When they learn how to earn fans instead of sports performance spectators, Olympic Stadium will sell out, win or lose. BTW, I’m an Atlanta native of 40 years, and have attended more Braves games before 1990 than after.

By p

June 23, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

I don’t know, amd I don’t care.

By Tfournier

June 23, 2006 05:59 PM | Link to this

The Atlanta Team Stink(APESTA)

By Tfournier

June 23, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

The Atlanta Team Stink(APESTA)With Bobby Cox And Company

By Ryder

June 23, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

Atlanta is similar to many cities in the south, where sports is simply considered to be entertainment, and not a religion as in the northeastern cities. I’m sure if this was San Diego or Florida winning 14 straight titles the fans would feel the same way. You can’t expect Atlanta with its many transplants to be like Pittsburgh, Chicago, or New York, fans who treat sports as gospel.

During the Hawks greatest days, people would flock the Omni to see what Nique would do. I don’t exactly remember them filling up when Dikembe was blocking shots. If I remember they were known as the most boring team to ever win a playoff series.

The Falcons would never sell out until Vick came along. When you think of the Thrashers you think of Ilya. Young exciting playmakers who fans love to see. Face it, when you think of the Braves, you go back to their great days at the Launching Pad, but rarely do you hear anyone say “Man I’ve got to see Chipper play”.

Everyone, Atlanta is a city of STARS! This city loves to have superstars they can follow. I think that is what will bring people to the team, because it sure hasn’t been winning, which you would think is the solution.

Think of the players they’ve had over the years: Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, Andruw Chipper, McGriff. Great players yes, but superstars, nope.

At least the Marlins have Willis…

By Greg

June 23, 2006 06:21 PM | Link to this

The reason why the Braves are lacking in attendance is because the Braves have shown futility in the playoffs. They have shown terrible futility the last 5 times they’ve gone to the playoffs by being eliminated in the first round of the division playoffs. I must admit it gets boring when they lose in the playoffs and fans/citizens in Atlanta and around become bored and apathetic. Who knows the Braves may have to go through a period of futility and arise again. The more the gap between losses and wins the more loss in fan attendance. When you have lowering fan attendance, you have to cut your payroll. I see Smoltz, A. Jones, Chipper, or Hudson being trading because of this disastrous season!!

By Joseph Allen McWhorter

June 23, 2006 06:29 PM | Link to this

Great article Terrence. I agree totally. And furthermore, the Braves need another David Justice type personality. Who can ever forget what he did in the 1995 World Series in regard to the fans?

By Willie Bobo

June 23, 2006 06:45 PM | Link to this

Excuses, excuses, excuses - move the ballpark, bad location, price of tickets, lackluster players, lackluster management, blahzay, blahzay, blahzay. And at the day’s end, the majority of Atlanta fans still suck. Don’t get mad at the messenger (Terrence Moore), look in the mirror. There you will find the true culprit. There are other factors: Bobby Cox needs to go away; maybe we need a fresh perspective from a new GM; the team sale needs immediate conclusion. But the fans need to do their part also. Stop with the “if you don’t like it here, then leave” BS because folks will live where they want to and say what they want to say. Just get out to the park and yell like you’ve got a pair (gonads or ovaries).

By Connie

June 23, 2006 07:13 PM | Link to this

Terrence Moore is DEAD ON! He forgot one thing. TRADE CHIPPER!

By Dave

June 23, 2006 07:52 PM | Link to this

I consider myself one of the biggest baseball fans in the world and would love to commute to more games; playoff or otherwise.

Since most of us DO live outside the city and it’s painfully obvious how ridiculous and confusing Atlanta has chosen to make it’s infrastructure, I watch at home.

Consider this, oh great city leaders…We build up the city for years in advance of the ‘96 Olympics, from which Turner Field was derived, but yet NO MARTA trains end up at Turner Field, or the aforementioned Olypic stadium, which needed it back then too.

I agree 100% with others who say dealing with inept signage, traffic flow and officers, just plain keeps most away, when they would have taken a direct, public train there.

But here’s the real kicker during playoff time…Don’t blame the fans for sitting on their hands during playoff games, when the Braves have saved their least enthusiasm for the playoffs!

By et

June 23, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Moore, I think Atlanta’s problem is it doesn’t exist - as a city is supposed to I mean ; rather it is like a P.O. box in the US’s biggest suburb. It’s a nice suburb mind you, with handsome homes on manicured lawns, but you can find that anywhere. Atlanta’s soul? Hm.

By Surfrider

June 23, 2006 11:54 PM | Link to this

Sorry Terrance, but that is the way of a world that values materialims….everyone loves a winner and they well don’t have time for a looser particularly when it means dropping $100 and at least 4 hours worth of valuable time. The line in the 80’s Wallstreet movie said it all..” I would rather never have money or in this case won than to have money or won and lost it”

By BnB

June 24, 2006 01:30 AM | Link to this

yawn

By Kingofqueens718

June 24, 2006 03:21 AM | Link to this

LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS LETS GO METS

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