Where is AJCsportstalk?
AJCsportstalk has moved…to a new blogging platform.
Don’t freak out, though. You’ll still be able to voice your opinion on all the latest breaking news dealing with UGA, Georgia Tech, the Falcons, Braves, Hawks, Thrashers and the rest of the sports world right here.
We’ll see you there.
Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2009 > February
February 2009
Where is AJCsportstalk?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJCsportstalk has moved…to a new blogging platform.
Don’t freak out, though. You’ll still be able to voice your opinion on all the latest breaking news dealing with UGA, Georgia Tech, the Falcons, Braves, Hawks, Thrashers and the rest of the sports world right here.
We’ll see you there.
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Your take on adding Anderson?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves have finalized a one-year contract with veteran outfielder Garret Anderson.
Anderson, 36, has a .296 career average and 272 home runs in 15 seasons in the majors, all with the Angels.
What do you think of the move? Do you like adding his bat to the lineup? How much should he play?
Are you disappointed Braves youngsters may lose playing time or do you think this is the right move?
What do you think of the Braves’ lineup now?
Woud you rather have Anderson or Ken Griffey Jr, who eventually decided to sign with Seattle?
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Blame game begins in Griffey case
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ken Griffey spurned the Braves for the Mariners Wednesday night.
And, according to an article on the Braves website, the AJC’s coverage of the negotiations may have been one reason. According to this account, Griffey was unhappy that news of his original decision to join the Braves was leaked to the AJC Tuesday.
How much validity do you put in such a claim for Griffey’s reversal?
Braves GM Frank Wren said Griffey’s change of heart was based on reasons unrelated to the media.
What’s your take?
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Why can’t the Braves seal the deal?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First, Rafael Furcal; Now, Ken Griffey Jr.: Why can’t the Braves seal the deal?
Furcal pulled the same maneuver in December. The Braves thought they had reached a deal with their former shortstop, only to have him re-sign with the Dodgers.
The Braves also missed out on landing Jake Peavy and A.J. Burnett and saw John Smoltz sign with Boston this season.
Now, it’s Griffey’s turn to burn the Braves.
What’s the deal? Who’s to blame? And what do you think is the biggest reason why the Braves keep getting shunned?
Without Griffey, the Braves still haven’t added the power-hitting outfielder that they craved. So what’s next?
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Wish Mark Richt happy birthday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Guess how old Georgia coach Mark Richt is?
Would you believe he turned 49 Wedneday?
Take a second to wish the Bulldogs’ coach happy birthday.
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What can the Falcons expect to get for Vick?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Take the 49ers off the list of teams possibly interested in Michael Vick.
One day after head coach San Francisco Mike Singletary said he hadn’t ruled out trading for the imprisoned quarterback, a team spokesman told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat “the 49ers are not interested in Michael Vick.”
Why the sudden change in heart in San Fran? Do you think PETA played a hand in the 49ers clarifying their stance on Vick?
Regardless, every time a team says it’s not interested, Vick’s trade value decreases. That leaves the Falcons in an unenviable position: holding a former No. 1 overall pick, who has many more doubters than suitors.
What do you expect the Falcons to receive in a trade for Vick? Is a third-round pick too much? Too little?
Photos: Teams that might be interested in Michael Vick
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Griffey picks Braves: Is it a good move for the team?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ken Griffey Jr. has chosen to sign with the Braves, according to a person close to the veteran star and familiar with the on-going negotiations. Braves general manager Frank Wren and Griffey’s agent were scheduled to meet today in an effort to finalize a deal. For his career, Griffey has 611 home runs, 1,772 RBIs and won 10 Gold Gloves as a center fielder in the 1990s.
If Griffey signs, where should he play? And are you Team Griffey when it comes to bringing him to Atlanta?
Permalink | Comments (162) | Categories: Braves
Braves owner bails out Sirius XM… and the team?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
News this morning that Liberty Media Corporation, which owns the Atlanta Braves, will invest $530 million in financially struggling satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio Inc. got us wondering: If Braves ownership is willing to infuse money into a company on the brink of bankruptcy, why do the Braves still operate on what, in MLB monetary terms, is considered a fairly stringent budget?
YOU tell us: We’re not economists but just thought we’d ask you, our readers, what you think about this. What’s YOUR response to the news that Liberty is bailing out Sirius XM for $530 million while the Braves work to keep payroll in the $100 million range?
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Griffey a good fit for Braves?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves are interested in signing veteran free agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who also wants to play in Atlanta.
What do you think about the idea of adding Griffey and playing him in left field?
Would you rather the Braves used Matt Diaz plus the young outfielders they have instead? Or would you rather Atlanta trade or sign someone else instead of Griffey?
What are your thoughts about the future Hall of Famer perhaps playing in a Braves uniform?
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Selig “not dismissing” idea of reinstating Hank Aaron as home run king
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves legend Henry Aaron may again be baseball’s all-time home-run king.
For the first time Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has said he would consider a move to strip Barry Bonds of his record for all-time home runs, according to a report.
Christine Brennan of USA Today called on Selig to alter baseball’s record book and reinstate Aaron as the official record-holder for the most career home runs. Aaron hit 755 in 23 seasons. Bonds broke Aaron’s record in 2007, and with his career seemingly over, he has 762 in 22 seasons.
In a telephone interview with Brennan on Wednesday, Selig said of altering the record book: “Once you start tinkering, you can create more problems. But I’m not dismissing it. I’m concerned. I’d like to get more evidence.”
Attempts to reach Selig and Aaron on Thursday evening were unsuccessful.
Bonds’ accomplishments have been tainted by allegations that he has used performance-enhancing substances. He was indicted in 2007 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice and is accused of lying to a federal grand jury when he said he never used steroids.
The indictment is part of the ongoing federal investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative of Burlingame, Calif., that began when federal officials raided the lab in 2003 and allegedly found numerous illegal performance-enhancing substances.
The suspicions that Bonds was using illegal substances began to surface when he hit a record 73 home runs in the 2001 season.
The baseball commissioner’s power to alter the record book would fall under the broad category of making decisions in the “best interest of baseball,” a clause invoked by commissioners a number of times in a number ways.
The most relevant to this situation came in 1961 when Yankees outfielder Roger Maris was challenging Babe Ruth’s single-season record of 60 home runs, a mark he would eclipse that season with 61.
The American League schedule expanded from 154 games to 162 games for that season, and as Maris and teammate Mickey Mantle got close to 60 home runs, commissioner Ford Frick ruled that any player who reached or surpassed 60 home runs through 154 games on his team’s schedule would be recognized as a record-holder, but no one would who needed more than 154 games.
Publishers of baseball records reacted to Frick’s edict by adding an asterisk to Maris’ name, even though Frick wrote in his 1973 autobiography, “No asterisk has appeared in the official record in connection with that accomplishment.” In 1991, as baseball was compiling its version of an “official” record book, commissioner Fay Vincent ruled that any asterisk beside Maris’ name should be removed.
Related Links: Mike Luckovich’s Roids in Baseball • Hank Aaron Career Photos • Video: Aaron congratulates Barry Bonds
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Will Tebow be a good NFL QB? Gruden thinks so.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A lot of NFL experts doubt whether Tim Tebow can make the transition to the NFL as a quarterback.
Former Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden isn’t one of them.
Gruden told the Orlando Sentinel that not only will Tebow succeed in the NFL, but the Florida quarterback also could “revolutionize the game.”
In a Q&A with the Sentinel’s Chris Harry, Gruden said Tebow could take the “wildcat” formation—a direct snap to a running back—to an entire different level.
“Most of the teams that have the wildcat back there, it’s Ronnie Brown, it’s Jerious Norwood, it’s whoever you want to say it is,” Gruden said. “This guy here is 250 pounds of concrete cyanide, man. And he can throw. He throws well enough at any level to play quarterback.
“He can play quarterback in the NFL. What he said after the Ole Miss game, I said, ‘That’s my favorite football player I’ve ever seen in my whole life.’ I said, ‘I want Florida to win every game that kid plays from now on.’”
Sounds like someone other than FOX broadcaster Tom Brennaman has a man crush on Tebow.
Do you believe Tebow will be a good NFL quarterback or would he better suited changing positions?
Permalink | Comments (53) | Post your comment | Categories: College sports, NFL
Will SEC coaches be eager to turn Kiffin in?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One week after accusing Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation, Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and the Volunteers reported minor recruiting violations of their own.
The violations stemmed from Tennessee’s use of a fog machine as one recruit entered Neyland Stadium and a mock news conference that nine recruits participated in at the Vols’ media center.
It was not reported whether or not the recruits were asked if they thought they could beat Wyoming at the news conference.
While it’s unlikely Kiffin and the Vols will receive anything more than a slap on the wrist for the secondary violations, could this be a sign of things to come?
Do you believe opposing SEC coaches, who certainly haven’t been amused by Kiffin’s antics, will be more likely to turn the Vols in for recruiting violations? If so, do you have any advice for Kiffin?
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Should sponsors back, or drop, Phelps?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kellogg Co. has said it will not renew its sponsorship contract with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps because he has acknowledged smoking marijuana last fall.
The company said Thursday that Phelps’s behavior — caught in a photo — is “not consistent with the image of Kellogg.”
Phelps has apologized for his “regrettable” behavior and “bad judgment.”
The company put Phelps on boxes of its Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes.
Phelps has kept the backing of many other sponsors since the photo surfaced.
What do you think of the decision by Kellogg?
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Report: Georgia not only SEC program Bob Knight is interested in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nick Saban and Bob Knight coaching at the same school? Yikes.
Apparently, another one of Knight’s friends spoke to Mobile-Press Register columnist Paul Finebaum about the General’s interest in the vacant Alabama coaching position.
We’re guessing it’s the same friend that spoke to the AJC’s Furman Bisher, who first reported Knight was interested in, and would accept if offered, the Georgia position.
According to Finebaum’s Tuesday column, Knight has been investigating the vacant position at Alabama since Mark Gottfried departed early last week. Knight has even gone to the extent of looking at game tapes, recruiting commitments and the Tide’s roster.
Has he done the same for Georgia? If so, is he still interested in coaching the Dogs?
Either way, it appears Knight will be back on the sidelines soon. Whether or not he lands in Athens is still to be determined.
If you had to bet right now, will Bobby Knight be the next head basketball coach at Georgia?
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How would Haynesworth fit with Falcons?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How would Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth look in the middle of the Falcons’ defense?
According to a Nashville City Paper report, Haynesworth is not happy with the pace of contract talks with the Titans.
Haynesworth can become a free agent on Feb. 27.
If the two sides can’t work out an extension, Haynesworth, a former Tennessee Volunteer, has said he would like stay close to his Knoxville home.
That makes Atlanta and Carolina possibilities.
Of all the potential free agents the Falcons could acquire, where would you rank Haynesworth? It would have to be near the top, right?
Haynesworth recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks this season and is headed to the Pro Bowl for a second straight season.
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Greatest Super Bowl ever?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Pittsburgh franchise cemented its stature as one the best in by capturing a record-setting sixth Super Bowl with its win 27-23 Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa.
But does Super Bowl XLIII’s fourth quarter hold up to the legends of past games?
Does it hold up to the N.Y. Giants’ Eli Manning’s escape and the miracle catch of David Tyree to slay the previously unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII?
Or the Titans’ miraculous comeback in Super Bowl XXXIV that fell a half-yard against Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams?
Or even Joe Montana’s engineered 92-yard drive that clinched Super Bowl XXIII for the San Francisco 49ers?
Can you think of others? Or was this Super Bowl THE best you recall? Period.
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