Some notes by the numbers:
8th: That's where the Georgia football team ranks in Sports Illustrated's post-spring Top 25, published Thursday. The seven teams ranked ahead of the Bulldogs by SI at this point are No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Washington (which opens the season in Atlanta's Chick-fil-A Kickoff game vs. Auburn), No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 6 Miami and No. 7 Oklahoma. Less than four months until the season begins.
$11.2 million: That's the total compensation of the 30 players on Atlanta United's roster this season, according to data released by the MLS Players Association on Thursday. So $11.2 million will pay a full season of all Atlanta United players … or a season of Braves right fielder Nick Markakis ($11 million salary) … or about six games of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (based on his five-year, $150 million contract extension).
8: That's how many consecutive road games the Braves have won through Thursday night's victory at Miami, two short of the franchise single-season record of 10 consecutive road wins in 2009, 1994 and 1992. (Across two seasons, the franchise record for consecutive road wins is 12 from Sept. 25, 1993-April 17, 1994).
50-8: That's the cumulative margin by which the Braves have won their past eight road games, including Thursday's 9-2 rout of the Marlins. And baseball being baseball, the road wins were separated by a 0-3 homestand last weekend during which the Braves were outscored 24-9. Go figure.
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TODAY’S LEADOFF LINKS
> Long after his last field goal, Kevin Butler made good on his academic goal, earning his degree from UGA. Read Steve Hummer's story here.
> Atlanta United's Tata Martino found peace and joy coaching 4,828 air miles from home. Read Jeff Schultz's column here.
