Sports

VOTE: The Final Four of Atlanta sports memories

Our last matchups sent 28-3 and the 1995 Braves to their respective region finals.
Our last matchups sent 28-3 and the 1995 Braves to their respective region finals.
April 2, 2025

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The Final Four is here.

After a couple weeks full of voting, nostalgizing (it’s a word, I think!) and un-repressing memories, we’ve made it to the penultimate moment of truth.

💔 Y’all overwhelmingly chose the Falcons’ Super Bowl LI debacle over Michael Vick’s prison trip, sending it to the Sadness Region final.

💖 Sid Bream’s NLCS-clinching slide performed well, but the 1995 Braves got about 52% of the vote to seal a bid to the Gladness Region final.

Today we’re deciding if those winners will go on to fight in the ultimate battle for Atlanta’s sports soul — or if one of their emotional counterparts gets the call.

THE MISERY MATCHUP

28-3 vs. Jim Leyritz

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan endures a Patriots confetti storm after losing Super Bowl LI.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan endures a Patriots confetti storm after losing Super Bowl LI.

So. The Falcons build a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl, squander it and become a national laughingstock. Again. And possibly forever.

The Yankees’ backup catcher hits a game-tying home run in the 1996 World Series — and thus starts an avalanche of unfortunate that ultimately dooms the Braves’ bid for back-to-back titles.

Both deeply, deeply unsatisfying. But only one can move on …

THE FOND MEMORY FACEOFF

The ‘95 Braves vs. the 2021 Braves

Braves outfielder David Justice celebrates after Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.
Braves outfielder David Justice celebrates after Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.

Well, well, well. Another all-Braves showdown — and this one pitting the franchise’s only two championship-winning Atlanta squads against each other.

Are you riding with Justice, Glavine and the ‘95 squad that brought our fair city its first major pro sports title? Or the motley 2021 crew that shocked us all?

That’s all we got for today. Vote, vote, vote — and stay tuned to Sports Daily on Friday for our championship matchup!

About the Author

Tyler Estep hosts the AJC Win Column, Atlanta's new weekly destination for all things sports. He also shepherds the Sports Daily and Braves Report newsletters to your inbox.

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