Bizarre moments in Atlanta sports history

Sports

Bizarre moments in Atlanta sports

At a time when sports are shut down, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a look at some of the bizarre moments from Georgia sports history.

New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver poses for a September 15, 1973 file photo. (AP Photo)

Julius Erving (54) plays for the Atlanta Hawks in an exhibition game on September 24 against the Kentucky Colonels. Erving signed a contract with the Hawks, giving them a formidable roster that included 'Dr. J', Pete Maravich, Walt Bellamy and Lou Hudson, but a judge ruled his contract belonged to an ABA team. Erving returned to the Virginia Squires. This rare photo was shot by Chuck Vollertsen of the Atlanta Journal.

Ted Turner, owner, president, general manager and field manager of the Atlanta Braves, sits alone in the dugout prior to the Braves' game with the Pirates, May 11, 1977, in Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo)

FILE - In this May, 8, 1984, file photo, Atlanta Braves' Pascual Perez delivers a pitch on his way to earning a victory against the Philadelphia Phillies during a baseball game in Philadelphia. Police in the Dominican Republic say the former major league pitcher has been killed in his home during an apparent robbery. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)

Herschel Walker stands on his back patio with reporters and photographers trying to interview him. Steve Deal / AJC file photo

Atlanta Braves Rick Mahler, center, is dragged away by San Diego Padres Rich Gossage, right, Bobby Brown and others August 12, 1984, during a brawl that erupted after Braves pitcher Pascual Perez was hit by a pitch from Padres pitcher Craig Lefferts at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly)

New York Knicks' Bernard King (30), left, has his shot blocked by Tree Rollins (30), right, of the Atlanta Hawks during first period action in New Orleans, La., Dec. 26, 1984. (AP Photo/Andrew J. Cohcon)

Fans in the stands are sprayed by powerful water hoses. Photo by Louie Favorite / AJC

Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins gestures to his players during the first half against Florida State Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, in Tallahassee, Fla. It was Cremins' last appearance in Tallahassee as head coach of the Yellow Jackets. He is stepping down at the end of the season. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Atlanta Braves players David Justice (left) and Deion Sanders clown around as a fire burns at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in 1993. John Kuntz / Special to the AJC

JAN. 30, 1999 - It was the night before Super Bowl XXXIII. Falcons vs. Broncos. “At about 9 p.m., Falcons player Eugene Robinson, in his car at the time, offered one of our undercover (officers) $40 to perform a sex act. The man was properly identified as Robinson. He was released at about 11 p.m. to Falcons general manager Harold Richardson on condition that he report for a court appearance, likely within three to four weeks.” Next day, Broncos 34, Falcons 19.

DEC. 26, 2002 - Curt Fraser reported to work and was met with a message to see the general manager. It was not a good thing, not a how-was-your-Christmas kind of meeting. For at a 1:30 p.m. news conference that day, it would be announced that Fraser had been fired by Don Waddell. Later that same day, Hawks coach Lon Kruger got his pink slip. The official announcement didn’t come until about 9 p.m., as Kruger wanted to make sure all his players were informed first.

In August, 2005, inside a Massachusetts courtroom, Hawks General Manager Billy Knight, left, refuses to shake hands with Steve Belkin as members of the Atlanta Spirit fought for legal control of the team. (AP Photo/Bizuayehu Tesfaye)

Artist's rendering shows Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, wearing a black-and-white prison suit, along with his attorney's Billy Martin (left) and Lawrence Woodward (right) as he is sentenced in Federal Court in Richmond, Va., Monday, Dec. 10, 2007.

Bobby Petrino, second from right, cheers with his wife Becky, right, and Arkansas cheerleaders after being named as head football coach for the University of Arkansas during a news conference Tuesday.

MARCH 14, 2008 - We know now that a tornado had ripped through downtown Atlanta and damaged the Georgia Dome as well as dozens of other buildings. But at the moment it occurred, as Mississippi State led Alabama 64-61 with 2:11 remaining in overtime of their quarterfinal matchup of the 2008 SEC Tournament, nobody knew what just happened.

APRIL 1980; APRIL 2011: There are seven active NHL franchises that have been relocated. The list begins and ends with Atlanta organizations, first the Flames and then the Thrashers. The Flames played their last game in Atlanta on April 12, 1980, a 5-2 loss to the Rangers, before moving to Calgary. The Thrashers played their last game on April 10, 2011, a 5-2 loss to the Penguins, before moving to Winnipeg. The finales came two days shy of 31 years apart. Both franchises came to Atlanta as expansion teams. Both did not last.

Braves ground crew members scramble to pick up debris as fans toss it on the field after the umpires made a controversial infield fly call during the eight inning in the National League wild card game at Turner Field in Atlanta on Friday , Oct. 5, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

NOV. 20, 2017 - There are three enduring memories from when hundreds of people gathered nearby to watch 4,800 pounds of explosives bring down the 25-year-old Georgia Dome: A thick cloud of smoke engulfs the sparkling new Mercedes-Benz Stadium next door; two large sections stubbornly defy the dynamite and remain standing; and a MARTA bus stops in front of a Weather Channel camera, blocking the shot of the crumbling stadium.

Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz exits Game 5 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, at SunTrust Park in Atlanta.

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New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver poses for a September 15, 1973 file photo. (AP Photo)

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