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Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2007 > September
September 2007
How do you feel about Braves’ season?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves were eliminated from the playoff race Thursday night.
But the Braves have 83 victories, 10 more than last season, with three games to play.
How do you feel about the season? Was it a huge disappointment or acceptable considering the Braves have a winning record and have had to deal with major injuries to key players like Mike Hampton and Mike Gonzalez?
What one thing do you feel was the biggest reason the Braves did not make the playoffs?
How do you feel next season will play out? What moves must be made to get the team back to the postseason?
Permalink | Comments (145) | Categories: Braves
Skip skipped by TBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Longtime Braves announcer Skip Caray is disappointed to have been left off TBS’s postseason lineup.
“They can do whatever they want to do,” Caray said, “but I’ve done a lot of good work for these people and it’s hurtful that they apparently don’t think I can do good work anymore.”
Atlanta-based TBS, in its first year of televising postseason baseball games, named three play-by-play voices to work first-round series: Dick Stockton, a former baseball broadcaster who has worked mostly football and basketball in recent years; Ted Robinson, a former longtime baseball broadcaster who is the voice of NBC’s tennis coverage; and Boston Red Sox broadcaster Don Orsillo.
What do you think of TBS’s decision? Should they have picked Caray? How does he compare to the broadcasters picked?
Cure the Braves’ Wild Card woes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, they got Mark Teixeira at the trading deadline and it DID help but the Braves are still battling for a Wild Card spot here at the end of the season. What happened to the big push for the pennant? Are the Tomahawks just plumb tuckered out or are they indeed ailing?
Here in the South, we’re nothing if not resilient. Folk remedies are, for many, still an alternative to the “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” modern health method. Some of the old-timey cures include:
— Drinking moonshine to calm the nerves (or honey, for those not possessed of a still)
— Use of prayer. For instance, “fire doctors” used prayer to alleviate the pain of burns in Southern and Appalachian culture.
— Coining: Rubbing the skin with a metal coin to draw out poisons
— Bird nests worn on the head to prevent headaches
With only five games left to make that Wild Card dream a reality, we’re putting out a no-holds-barred house call to all you folk doctors and conjurers out there, to you Moms Who Make It All Better and dads who’ve walked it off back in the day: Send us YOUR tried-and-true cures for whatever it is that ails the Braves so they can rally to the Wild Card.
(Personally, we’re fond of the “Bull Durham” chicken-bone-rubbed-on-bat method but that’s just us.)
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Braves
All the talk’s still about Hall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nearly a full day after his blowup/meltdown/temper tantrum galore, DeAngelo Hall and his potty/motor mouth are the dominating topics for this first installment of the Monday Morning Quarterback Club.
UPDATE, 1:30 P.M: The AJC’s Steve Wyche is reporting that the Falcons are planning disciplinary action against Hall, but coach Bobby Petrino isn’t elaborating.
The out of town press couldn’t resist the obvious.
Neither can those who think the problem may be traced to Hokie Nation.
If you missed D. Hall’s take on his (mis?)conduct, here’s his Q and A with the AJC’s Darryl Ledbetter.
The offensive show by Joey Harrington and Roddy White clearly has been overshadowed, but look for both to get some love like this in the coming week.
Okay, fans, there’s still plenty left in this Monday. What’s your verdict on the Falcons and No. 21 in particular? And what about them facing the Texans and Matt Schaub on Sunday?
Permalink | Comments (160) | Categories: Falcons
Are Falcons due for a win?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After a deflating 0-2 start, the Falcons play their first home game of the season this afternoon against the Panthers.
It’s a late (4:15 p.m.) start, giving Falcons fans more time to think about how their team can turn around its early season misfortunes.
What do you think about the moves the Falcons made this week and the overall state of the team? If you’re heading to the Dome, what’s your level of excitement? If you’re watching on television, how long will you tune in?
Is it too late to recover from a poor start, or does this team have something it hasn’t shown that may trigger a better season?
What now for the Jackets?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gotta hurry to have any shot at making my flight, but some thoughts:
Tech didn’t get manhandled this week, like last. The Yellow Jackets just couldn’t account for Virginia RB Cedric Peerman or the Cavs’ TEs often enough, and the passing game was close to terrible after the first six throws. That’s an oversimplification, but the best I have right now. I thought there were several throws there for Taylor Bennett to make, and he didn’t make many. His touchdown pass was a beauty, but what else?
I don’t think today’s loss has anything to do with the history here. Tech didn’t freak out; the Jackets just made enough bad plays, and not enough good ones.
I suspect a significant part of Tech’s problems in the passing game relates to the new practice of receivers making reads on most routes, and adjusting those routes. I don’t think the receivers — especially with James Johnson, the elder statesman, out a lot today — were on the same page often enough, making the right reads, or the reads Bennett was expecting.
Chris Long is a bear. Period. First- or second-round pick next spring.
Cedric Peerman ain’t bad, either.
I might have kicked the field goal on fourth-and-6. Tough call, though.
I don’t know if all the moving around of offensive linemen helps much, even if Dwyer did run for that touchdown behind the double-tackle set.
Tech’s up against it. Clemson’s not bad, in case nobody noticed.
Why not cover those tight ends a little more tightly? You know they’re coming, right?
Later,
Matt
Permalink | Comments (176) | Categories: Georgia Tech
We’re No. 28! (In NFL tailgating)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to a highly-unofficial survey, the ATL ranks 28th out of 31 NFL franchise cities for being tailgate-friendly. (32 cities, if you count Los Angeles, which is in the running to replace the Rams with a new team.)
The heck kind of “survey” is this? Take from it what you will, Birds fans; it was conducted by KVH Industries, DIRECTV and ‘various tailgating experts who have personally visited and ranked every NFL stadium, including www.tailgating.com’s Joe Cahn and the creators of the ‘Ultimate Sports Road Trip,’ according to the online press release. So-called criteria includes ‘analysis of stadium parking lots, overall tailgating environment, fan enthusiasm and the sales of tailgating accessories like in-car live TV and mobile programming.’
We’ve got The Gulch. And the Dirty South can DO some BBQ. What’s up with this? Are these folks right on, way off or just trying to sell a few more big-screen TVs? You make the call.
AMERICA’S BEST FOOTBALL TAILGATING CITIES INDEX
A ranking of the most ‘tailgating-friendly’ U.S. cities by KVH Industries, DIRECTV and professional tailgaters:
- 1 — Baltimore
- 2 — Denver
- 3 — Houston
- 4 — San Diego
- 5 — Cincinnati
- 6 — Miami
- 7 — Tampa
- 8 — Kansas City
- 9 — Buffalo
- 10 — Philadelphia / Phoenix (tied)
- 12 — Washington, D.C.
- 13 — Green Bay
- 14 — Jacksonville
- 15 — Oakland
- 16 — Indianapolis
- 17 — Nashville
- 18 — New York / Pittsburgh / Boston (tied)
- 21 — San Francisco
- 22 — Cleveland
- 23 — Charlotte
- 24 — Los Angeles*
- 25 — Minneapolis
- 26 — Dallas
- 27 — Chicago
- 28 — Atlanta
- 29 — New Orleans
- 30 — St. Louis
- 31 — Detroit
- 32 — Seattle
- * L.A. is listed as an NFL candidate city, not a franchise city
Permalink | Comments (123) | Categories: Falcons
BIG Blastoff: Say ANYTHING
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes The Vent is NOT enough. You Braves Blastoff veterans know the drill: Come here, let it all hang out about the Tomahawks, get it off your chest (good or bad), blah blah blah.
This time we’re going BIG, Atlanta. Whatever you’ve got to say about this weekend’s slew of games — Braves, Falcons, UGA, Tech — say ANYTHING. We’re throwing this blog’s metaphorical doors open to you. Let it all out. You’ll feel better. We hope.
Bulldogs lose to Spurrier, Gamecocks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Spurrier guided South Carolina to a 16-12 upset of No. 11 Georgia on Saturday night in Athens.
What are your thoughts on the Bulldogs’ loss? Were you stunned to see Georgia outplayed so much?
How disappointed are you, or did you see this as a rebuilding season and understand this loss?
What kind of season do you expect from the Bulldogs’ now?
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UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The AJC’s Mark Bradley says the Braves’ playoff hopes are over. The NL standings seem to indicate the same thing. But did the 5-1 victory over the Phillies Monday revive hope? How about the solid start by Lance Cormier? Is that what the Braves have been needing or is it too late no matter how well Cormier pitches the rest of the season?
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Braves
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia pulled away from Oklahoma State Saturday, winning 35-14 in Athens. What did you think of running back Knowshon Moreno’s college debut? How do you grade sophomore QB Matthew Stafford, who was 18-for-24 passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions? How about the defense, which shut out the Cowboys in the second half? Did any part of the Bulldogs’ perfomance worry you? After seeing the opener, what kind of season do you expect the Bulldogs to have? Just how good is this Georgia team?
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UGA
Does Braves’ win revive any hope?
Forum: Georgia beats Oklahoma State
