Sports Columnists

By Bob from Winder

January 22, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

8: An ESPN talking-head Tuesday morning referred to the Falcons’ coaching search as ‘disastrous’ and ‘a totally botched operation.’ Maybe I missed something. What’s today’s date again? YOU SOUND MAD THAT THEY TOOK YOUR ROUTINE. DON’T YOU USUALLY OVERSTATE THE NEGATIVE IN ORDER TO FILL A COLUMN?

By Herschel Talker

January 22, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Jeff: today is Tu B’Shevat. Are you planting a tree?

By mostly 2poopoo

January 22, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately we will be left with Marion Campbell Round 3. Nobody but unwanteds want this job. Thomas Dimitri-who??

By NASCARfan

January 22, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

How can you say Patriots in a walk, Schultz? I’m a Pats fan, and even I don’t think they’ll win by more than one score. The Giants have a great defense. They have a receiver-QB tandem that’s playing out of their minds right now. They have all kinds of momentum. Doesn’t that sound like a certain Carolina team that gave the Pats all they could handle a few years ago? How did that game turn out? Three point win, just like EVERY OTHER PATRIOTS SUPER BOWL WIN? Come on Jeff, the line is 13. If I had any money, I’d lay $500.00 on the Giants plus 13. You can’t lose that bet!

By Jimmy Etheridge

January 22, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

As a lifelong Cowboys fan, I have to say that you are right on concerning Romo. It’s not his fault that in the first half the defense couldn’t stop a bunch of old ladies headed for a bingo game, or that in the second half the offensive line crumbled like pillars of salt.

By Charles

January 22, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

“Patriots in a walk?” Jeff, don’t get on that bandwagon. They looked beatable against the Chargers and the Giants lost to them by only three points in late December. The Giants have won 10 straight road games - an NFL record - having beaten to two top NFC seeds, the Cowboys and Packers. Their defense is awesome and Eli is on his way to becoming one of the elite QBs. The Giants, like the Dawgs, are the hottest team in football. The Giants are a blue collar, “All Joe Team” that can smack down Patriotsmania. They’re 13 1/2 points underdogs - just what they want. GO GIANTS!

By 82DAWG

January 22, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

To answer your question, Jeff, which Atlanta team is likely to win the next playoff game? Well, The Braves are an average team in a poor division, the Falcons are in shambles, the Thrashers are an average team in a poor division and the Hawks are a talented team with a questionable coach. Since its easier to make the NBA and NHL playoffs, it will probably be the Thrashers or the Hawks. I will guess the Thrashers, but probably not this year.

By Ryan

January 22, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Jeff, interesting column. I was talking with my buddy last night about this same thing. Atlanta sports are a mess. Who the heck is wanting to come to the Falcons? So far no one. The braves will rebound. The CEO of the Atlanta Spirit resigned today. Hopefully that will create something positive for the Hawks and Thrashers. Other than that, Atlanta is becoming the laughing stock of professional sports. And Jeff, I don’t think the Pats will “walk”. This may be a Super Bowl worth watching this year.

By ken who know football

January 22, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW THE NUMP-SKULLS THT RUN THE FALCONS TALK ABOUT GETTING A GUY WITH PRO WXPERIENCE AND THEN CHASE ALL THE UNPROVEN ENTITIES. IN MY BEST OPINION AND I’VE SEEN A LOT OF FOOTBALL FROM PLAYER TO COACH TO BROADCASTER, THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB IS NON OTHER THAN THE GUY WHO CREATED THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF ” MIKE MARTZ” YES DEFENSE WINS FOOTBALL GAMES BUT OFFENSE SELLS TICKETS. MIKIE IS THE PERFECT GUY. HE HAS BEEN THERE AND HE HAS WON. ASK SOM OF THE OLD WASHED UP DB’S THE FALCONS USED TO GIVE MONEY TO. I THINK IN TWO YEARS MR MARTZ MINUS THE KNUCKLEHEADED MCKAY BOY WILL HAVE OUR INTEREST AGAIN. THE GUY KNOW FOOTBALL AND THERE ARE MANY DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS WHO CAN HOLD IT DOWN.

ARTHUR “DON’T BE MR MAGOO” OR “ELMER FUDD” BLANK, HAS NOT MCKAY RIPPED YOU OFF ENOUGH. WHAT’S HE TELLING YOU FOR YOU TO FALL INTO THE SAME TRAP? CUT YOUR LOSSES YOU CAN DO BAD BY YOURSELF. GET RID OF THE LOSER HE IS RUBBING OFF ON YOU. ONE MORE QUESTION ART, IF HE J.K.(JUST KAN’T) MCKAY WAY RUNNING YOUR HOME DEPOTS HOW MANY DO YOU THINK HE WOULD HAVE SQUANDERED, MAYBE SOLD EVEN YOUR DOG

dO THE RIGHT THING ARTIE, GET MIKEY

By KEN OLI VER

January 22, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

K** MARTZ MIKE MARTZ MIKE MARTZ MIKE MARTZ MIKEMARTZ MIKEMARTZ MIKEMARTZMIKEMARTZMIKEMARTZMIKEMARTZ MIKE MARTZ MARTZ MIKE MARTZ MIKE

YOU CAN PAY ME LATER FOR THIS IT’S WORTH IT’S WEIGHT IN WINS

By ex-fan

January 22, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

When is everyone going to realize that Arthur Blank is the reason for the disaster of the Falcons, not Mckay, not Vick, not this yrs team. Blank is a master of throwing people under the bus, when the heat is turned up, he flipped flopped on Petrino, and the truth be told Petrino did not tell him he was staying he announced it put and then said Petrino lied to him. He did the same thing with Vick, if you go back to the interview that he had after he came back from Africa, he said on national tv that he never asked Vick if he was involved in dogfighting and it was because McKay thought legally if he asked he would have to testify. Then all of sudden he said he was lied to. I dont understand why everyone looks at him as the victim he knew everything that was going on with Vick since PETA knew in 2004, he also knew.

By Ron not in bkk any more

January 22, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

I was thinking about this yesterday - We have evolved (devolved) from waiting for the playoffs to waiting for the draft/new players/front office changes. Hope in professional sports is firmly linked to the murky future in Atlanta instead of winning a championship with the current team(s). We can add Ga. Tech to the list as well (UGA is Athens, not ATL).

By Xynox

January 22, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

I know the Falcons HAVE to interview a black coach before hiring a white coach. But seriously, why did they interview the Vikings Frazier for the token interview? Why not interview a former coach like Denny Green or someone who actually wants the job like Mike Singletary?

By Xynox

January 22, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

I know the Falcons HAVE to interview a token black coach before hiring a white coach. But seriously, why did they interview the Vikings Frazier for the token interview? Why not interview a former coach like Denny Green or someone who actually wants the job like Mike Singletary?

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 22, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

Schottenheimer.

By Chikara

January 22, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

As far as No. 9 goes, I predict the next postseason victory will be from the Braves. The Hawks are one West Coast Swing away from being totally irrelevent (speaking of which, that happens this week) and the Thrashers are too inconsistent to be a threat.

I’m not concerned about the Falcons’ coaching search at this point. If they don’t have a coach by the draft THEN we should get really concerned.

By Left to Right

January 22, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

When will GM’s in this town be held accountable for the performance of the teams they oversee? Waddell trades away the future to save his job, McKay gets a raise and an extension for performance and Knight keeps sailing along with his “all 6’8”” master plan. It’s just a very sad time to be a fan of Atlanta sports. The media needs to start hitting these organizations (and their ownership) harder. Treat them the way the NY media treats their teams. I don’t think it is a coincidence that with the higher expectations in NY there has been higher achievement. The same is true of Boston. But the media people here are afraid of losing their chummy access to the teams and let themselves be cowed into meek protestations.

By Left to Right

January 22, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

When will GM’s in this town be held accountable for the performance of the teams they oversee? Waddell trades away the future to save his job, McKay gets a raise and an extension for performance and Knight keeps sailing along with his “all 6’8”” master plan. It’s just a very sad time to be a fan of Atlanta sports. The media needs to start hitting these organizations (and their ownership) harder. Treat them the way the NY media treats their teams. I don’t think it is a coincidence that with the higher expectations in NY there has been higher achievement. The same is true of Boston. But the media people here are afraid of losing their chummy access to the teams and have let themselves be cowed into meek protestations.

By atlfaninkc

January 22, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

That’s nice but we are not impressed signed Kansas City and 5120 days and counting

By yessir

January 22, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

You suck Jeff!!! You are the worst sports writer ever

By Dawgbyte

January 22, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Surely the Falcons have assured themselves(through talks with Spagnuola’s agent)that he has a real interest in the job, even if he won’t commit to accepting it if it is offered. Otherwise, they risk ending up with an omelet on their face. and a 2nd-tier, or worse, coach.

By Hammerin Hank

January 22, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

How can someone accuse others of ignorance when he thinks numbskull is spelled “NUMP SKULL”?

By Jay

January 22, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Kiefer Sutherland spent 48 DAYS, not HOURS in jail, Jeff. Not that it matters much to the point of the column, but it does show you don’t waste any time fact checking.

As to the rest of the column, the Falcons are a joke, the Hawks are a sideshow, the Thrashers are a waste of time, and the Braves show promise.

By NASCARfan

January 22, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

The Braves will never be promising as long as the Booger Picker still mismanages the team every October. You’d think being a 13-time LOSER, many times with the best team in baseball, would teach you that you’re doing SOMETHING wrong. Like maybe you shouldn’t manage the postseason like you do the regular season? That way you don’t screw up your bullpen. That way you don’t leave hot bats on the bench in favor of “veteran” guys who are hitting .187. That way you don’t leave your pitchers in one inning too long, EVERY G-D YEAR!!!

Until Booby Cox is gone, the Braves are dead to me. Most OVERRATED manager in the History of Baseball History.

By Chikara

January 22, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

atlfaninkc, I see your point. Here’s the thing though, while the Chiefs and Royals have had their droughts as well, it’s even sadder for the city of Atlanta considering they have FOUR professional franchises. It’s pathetic that not even one can even CONTEND for a playoff spot. What’s even worse is that all of the optimism that was here earlier with the Hawks is gone in the reality that they are the most talented team in the city yet have the worse leadership.

I do think that there will be a major ship of coaches in 2008. Cox will probably have one last year and go out with hopefully a WS ring.

By Matthew Cafaro

January 22, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Jeff,

Very astute observations but I am too much of an emotional wreck right now. I just found out that my favorite thespian, Heath Ledger, just passed away.

I am deeply saddened. He was also in the lead to play me in the sequel to the movie about my life which will be called: “Broke Knees Mountain 2: Electric Boogaloo”. I’ll be allright but tonite I think I will drown my sorrows with Cosmopolitans.

The first movie about my life, “Broke Knees Mountain: The Matthew Cafaro Story”, is now available on DVD by the way.

By School Marm

January 22, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

People who write in ALL CAPS do so because it looks to them like the crayons with which they usually write. Besides, as Mz. Manners will concur, writing in ALL CAPS is rude.

By Kelley

January 23, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

If it weren’t for the Braves, we would have very few memories of any sports team being in the playoffs in this town. Maybe we all should be mindful of that when their 08 season starts.

Maybe we should appreciate what they’ve done for this town, rather than complain about lack of World Series wins like so many do. At least they’ve given us one, what other team has given us a championship of any sort?

How many days until Spring Training?

By Kelley

January 23, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

I just read Nascarfan’s entry. Wow, I’m totally shocked that someone who can’t make a point w/o stooping to name calling like “booger picker” would call himself nascar fan?? How appropriate!

I, myself, have a post graduate degree in leadership and administration and have read tons of literature and books on the subject of leadership.

Make no mistake about it, Bobby Cox is a great leader.

In my opinion one of the best the game has ever seen.
Anyone with any training in leadership would have the capacity to recognize his amazing leadership ability.

Those who don’t recognize it should stick to sports where people drive round and round in circles and not much thought is required.

By Singletary

January 23, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Xynox is right. We should be openly talking to every potential candidate with telephone—in the parlance —“informational interviews.” No need to fire up the corporate jet and whisk someone across country like Daniel Snyder. I’d be thrilled if I knew TD had conversations with MSs (Singletary, Schttenheimer…)and other coaches before bringing them in … or summarily dropping them in an unwanted heap without a hearing.

I’ve interviewed and I’ve hired. It’s a long but defined process if you do it correctly.

Remember 5th grade science? You have your hypothesis where you think the experiment will go, but then you seek to DISPROVE IT. You try to find the rule breaker, in this case the better candidate. I fully accept Spagnuolo as the new coach IF and ONLY IF I see 8-10 more conversations/evaluations with other potential candidates.

Someone please tell me they are more frustrated than I am right now.

By Matthew At The SLC

January 23, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Kelley,

Pay no attention to NASCARfan. He is just a troll on here crying out for attention. To him there are two rules, #1 NASCARfan is always right; #2 If NASCARfan is wrong, refer to rule #1.

He was on here at one time pretending to be me, posting ludicrous hate filled racist diatribes in my name trying to defemate my character. That is why I read the columns more than post nowadays, which is sad, but not quite as sad as him as a person.

Besides trolling on the forums he also harasses the writers, especially Terrence Moore. He accuses Terrence Moore of being a racist but I think it is just projection.

While not quite as impressive as your education, I am currently working on my bachelors at UGA. Even me as an undergraduate can tell NASCARfan has no idea what he is talking about(which pretty much sums him up on any subject discussed here).

By bored

January 23, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

The Falcons should hire Terrence Moore as the Head Coach (token black) Jeff Schultz as defensive coach( he thinks he tough), Mark Bradley as offensive coordinator (he thinks he is smart) and GM can be any of the PETA people who pull Arthur Blanks strings, trade all the players and only play people who have dogs as their love ones, no children or family and that would make all of the Animal lovers happy, they may win 2 games a yr, have no sponsors or season ticket holders but he will make PETA happy. Dummies

By bored

January 23, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

The Falcons should hire Terrence Moore as the Head Coach (token black) Jeff Schultz as defensive coach( he thinks he tough), Mark Bradley as offensive coordinator (he thinks he is smart) and GM can be any of the PETA people who pull Arthur Blanks strings, trade all the players and only play people who have dogs as their love ones, no children or family and that would make all of the Animal lovers happy, they may win 2 games a yr, have no sponsors or season ticket holders but he will make PETA happy. Dummies

By Kelley

January 23, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

To Matthew at the SLC: Thanks for your reply.

Honestly, I didn’t mean to toot my own horn in talking about my leadership degree. I just wanted to make the point that I was forced to read tons of stuff about leadership, when really if you want to learn about a good leader, just watch a Braves game any 162 days out of the year to see Bobby. I don’t think my degrees make me superior to anyone, honestly, most the time I can’t remember where I put my car keys.

You keep up your undergrad work at UGA and keep on posting w/o resorting to using racial slurs in your posts!

Wouldn’t these blogs be alot nicer if everyone could post w/o resorting to racial slurs and name calling?