Good morning. This is Leadoff, the early buzz in Atlanta sports.
The Braves' plans for honoring Hank Aaron at SunTrust Park are a big hit with the franchise's greatest player.
"I am very grateful that the Braves thought of honoring me," Aaron said on a video produced by the Braves of his recent tour of the new stadium. "They've thought of me in every aspect. I look around, and there's bats and balls and things (from Aaron's career), and it makes me feel good.
“It makes me feel good because it gives your grandchildren something to be proud of. And I’m so grateful for the Braves for what they’ve done and very thankful for the thought.”
The Braves unveiled plans Thursday for tributes to Aaron throughout SunTrust Park: a bronze statue of him hitting his record-breaking 715th home run; a "Hank Aaron Terrace" with indoor bar, displaying the bat and ball from No. 715; a large sculpture featuring 755 baseball bats, representing Aaron's career total of home runs; and a silhouette of his famous swing at the ends of every row of seats.
“The baseball park is just fantastic,” Aaron said on the video of his stadium visit. “Terry (McGuirk, the Braves’ chairman and CEO) had a chance to drive me through the ballpark, and I am amazed. I don’t think they left anything undone.
“I’m telling you — this is quite a deal.”
Aaron also liked the adjacent mixed-use development.
“Glad to say that my wife can shop,” he said with a laugh.
* * *
The Falcons' playoff game against Seattle on Saturday could be the last football game at the Georgia Dome. Or the next-to-last, if the Falcons win and Green Bay defeats Dallas.
Click here for J. Scott Trubey's story on saying goodbye to the Dome, the Falcons' home since 1992.
• 25 years of sports thrills at the Georgia Dome
* * *
Al Horford will play his first game in Philips Arena as a Hawks opponent tonight when the Boston Celtics visit.
Click here for Chris Vivlamore's interview with the former Hawk.
* * *
Atlanta United's home schedule will be pretty evenly divided between Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium and the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium this year — the first eight home matches at the former and the last nine at the latter.
The team will play at Tech until Mercedes-Benz Stadium opens July 30 with a match against Orlando City.
Click here for Doug Roberson's report on the MLS schedule, released Thursday.
* * *
Further reading:
