AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > April > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Tuesday Countdown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: Just got back from the Thrashers’ skate. Asked Keith Tkachuk if a team approaches a game three any differently when it’s down 0-2 in a playoff series. Keith looked around the room, then whispered: “We’re really gonna try to win tonight. But don’t tell anybody.” See, it’s not such a complicated game.
9: Had dinner at a nice steakhouse last night with my AJC brothers. Ran into the Thrashers. The entire team. What are the odds? Asked Bob Hartley today what the tab came to. “I don’t even know. It’s, what, maybe $100 a person? Must have been $25,000.” I think he meant $2,500. Otherwise, it’s the first dinner to qualify as a salary cap hit.
8: And if it really was $25,000, there’s one more lawsuit coming among Atlanta Spirit owners.
7: I will say this about the Thrashers: They’re remarkably loose for a team that’s two losses away from the off-season. But the NHL playoffs have seen its share of strange turnarounds - witness Carolina losing its first two playoff games to Montreal before winning the Cup last season - and the Garden has hosted its share of collapses (tease to 6).
6: For some reason, the Thrashers have always played well in New York, even in the painful early years. The most memorable: a 5-2 win in March of 2002 when where-are-they-now goalie Frederic Cassivi was making his first NHL start and the undermanned Thrashers’ lineup total 419 career goals compared to the Rangers’ 2,349. I can still remember the late Dan Snyder throwing a punch at Eric Lindros, who towered over him.
5: Welcome to Burger King. My name is Mike Nifong. May I take your order?
4: I don’t doubt that Nifong has some regrets about the way he acted during the Duke investigation. But his statement - “To the extent that I made judgments that ultimately proved incorrect, I apologize to the three students that were wrongly accused” - might be the worst apology I’ve ever heard.
3: Saw a headline this week, “Team’s core likely will stay together.” It was a Hawks story. Question: If a franchise that goes 13-69, 26-56 and 29-52 (so far) even has a core, do you want it to stay together?
2: Mike Woodson missed a game the other night with “food poisoning.” Look, Mike, you can say you have a bad headache. Trust us, we’ll understand.
1: And by the way, enough about NBA teams “tanking it” to try to position themselves for the draft lottery. The Hawks don’t need to try to lose.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
Comments
By braves fan
April 17, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
Were more words ever spoken about things that nobody cared about?
By Nate
April 17, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
Hmmm…you criticize Nifong’s apology, yet, you never offered one for criticizing Vick (rather harshly I might add) in the court of public opinion. “Can we say hypocrite boys and girls?” “Hy-po-crite.” “Very good class.”
By T-Bone
April 17, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
Hey Braves Fan, one thing not many care about is a Tuesday night game against the Nationals in April. And tell those pampered ballplayers that wearing those silly wool masks in 30 degree temps is embarrassing. Toughen up buttercup!
By ZAvalanche
April 17, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
Hmmm, lets see. Tuesday night in april. Hawks-NO, Braves-NO (don’t get me wrong, I like the braves and attending the games), Thrashers-YES. Seriously, this is Stanley Cup playoffs, and if you give me crap about it being hard to watch the game, get some new bi-focals. Best playoff action around. 3-1 Thrashers tonight.
By Peter
April 17, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
Brother finally you start off with food! You know with me it’s all about the food. Saw a few Thrashers when we arrived but no AJC people.
Tonight you should hit either B.Smith’s (downtown) or head up to Aquavit (54th between 5th and 6th) great seafood. Good luck tonight in the primordial soup of MSG. Really a challenge to Darwinism there.
By Scott
April 17, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Braves fan, change your name you are embarrassing all the real Braves fans out there.
If you don’t care about the Thrashers then you are borderline retarded or need to move the hell away from Atlanta. Playoff hockey is the greatest live event you will witness in the sports arena.
By ZAvalanche
April 17, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Ha! Peter, nice post. You a Thrashers fan in NY or a native just chillin on the AJC boards?
By ZAvalanche
April 17, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Scott you got it right man, a spectacle equaled by no event. Ther speed, the power, the fans huddled in a dome yelling their arses off. Couldn’t be better. 2 hours 15 mins. till puck drop…….
By caveman22
April 17, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
I’m off to Taco Mac in Lindbergh
anybody going there ask for the Thrashers Blog Table
By Hockey sucks
April 17, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this
Hocky sucks.
That said, fire Billy and Woody.
That said, go Braves.
That said, hockey still sucks.
By Hockey sucks
April 17, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this
Oh, by the way not borderline retarded. Really high IQ.
And, I already don’t live in Atlanta.
By Thrash
April 17, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
Kiss the playoffs goodbye, what a pathetic display tonight from the team. Work your butts off to get into the playoffs and then immediately look like you have no business being there.
By braves fan
April 18, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Yes, I guess I was wrong. The Thrashers getting beat down 7-0, on their way to being 0-3 in the series, IS the most important sports news in Atlanta currently.
When the Thrashers or Hawks actually win something, then we can waste time talking about them. But for now, lets talk about baseball or the NFL draft or spring college football. Things that actually matter here in the south. This aint Canada, eh!