TheFletch for Memorial day weekend!

It isn’t often that the Atlanta Braves get the lead on the 6 p.m. SportsCenter on ESPN, but last week, for one day, the Braves were the story. The Atlanta Braves were all the rage after Brooks Conrad planted a walk-off grand slam to complete a six-run comeback victory for Atlanta over the Cincinnati Reds in a Thursday daygame. The grand slam, just the nineteenth ever to win a game when the victors were three down at the time, and the comeback even earned a phone interview on SportsCenter with Conrad and Brian Kenny, as well as a “Remember When” timeline of the last few largest deficits overcome. Thanks to the walk-off magic, it was the Braves and not the Red Sox and/or the Yankees leading ESPN’s baseball coverage.

Speaking of that grand slam, I must compliment Jim Powell once again for his call. Powell has been a great voice in the Braves broadcast booth in his short time with the club and I am not certain why others haven’t really embraced him. Is he Skip or Pete? No. But Powell has a bit of that home-town-kid feel to him that gives me the impression that he cares whether or not the Braves win, but he doesn’t go overboard like the guy from the Yankees. In the season opener when Heyward knocked his first home run, I can just hear Michael Kay or the other guys up in the Yankees booth ruining the call. Powell did not. And with the grand slam, it was disbelief that quickly turned into joy with a dash of understanding the importance of what was just seen thrown in. He didn’t go crazy but I got the opinion that after he saw it was a home run, perhaps he stood up in the booth and raised his arms. He was able to keep everything under control but a smile could be heard through his voice. That is the kind of announcer I want.


Perry Laurentino of 680 the Fan’s The Rude Awakening missed the point recently in one of his rants after learning of Cleveland relieving Mike Brown of coaching duties. Laurentino was adamant that Brown was made the scapegoat after his team once again was sent packing in the second round of the playoffs after owning the regular season’s best record. Brown was named Coach of the Year last season and coached the MVP of both seasons in LeBron James but both seasons ended prematurely with James and company watching the Eastern Conference finals from home. Brown was given several new players this season with the hope of making one final run to an NBA title to keep LeBron James, the potential free agent. Laurentino was blasting the GM when in reality it was Brown that was simply outcoached last year by Stan Van Gundy and this year by Doc Rivers. Brown also had his pants pulled down in the NBA Finals several years ago by the Spurs. Laurentino admitted that Brown is not the strategist that other coaches are but then lost the argument when he said, “Was it his fault that Mo Williams couldn’t guard Rajon Rondo? Was it his fault that Kevin Garnett exposed Antawn Jamison?” You had me until there Perry. Yes, that is Brown’s fault. If Brown saw any tape of Rondo from the first round, he should have known that perhaps Williams would need some help defending him. If Brown saw Jamison getting toasted by Garnett, switch up the coverage. Play Anderson Varejao more since he seemed to be effective against Boston. Brown clearly never made any adjustments and because of it his team is at home. And PS, can we pass a memo along that Mike Woodson wasn’t fired? His contract was up and the team told him that the Hawks organization would be going a different direction, SINCE THE CONTRACT WAS UP. These situations are NOT the same. One guy was fired, one guy’s contract was up and not renewed. Both the AJC and 680 The Fan have gotten that one wrong

Speaking of the Hawks going vacancy, I hope everyone is careful calling for Avery Johnson to be the next head coach. Writers in the AJC and as well as hosts on 790 have called for him to be hired as the next coach, but I ask, “Is he that good?” The lasting images of Avery Johnson that I have include his team choking away the 2006 NBA Finals after being up 2-0 with a big lead in game three, as well as securing the best record in the league the following season, only to lose as the No. 1 seed to No. 8 Golden State where he was outcoached by Don Nelson. And to follow that up, he lost early the next season in the playoffs when his players seemingly quit on him. And we really want this guy, especially at potentially $4M per season? Be careful what you wish for guys.

It appears that Georgia Public Broadcasting will be back out at high schools around the state this fall with more Friday Night Football on the gpb webcasts. Last season a record number of viewers watched the state semi-final football contest between Northside and Newnan, and the season featured several big-time matchups such as Lowndes/Northside and Tucker/Southwest DeKalb. This season promises to be even better. For more, check out www.scoreatl.com as well as gpb.org.

Finally, one quick word that we here at The Fletch are keeping good thoughts for you, Mr. Soon to be Famous John Michaels. If you miss hearing John on the air, read his blog on www.790thezone.com to get an idea of what is going on. I had a chance to reach out to John and he said he hopes to be back on the air sooner rather than later. I consider the Soon to Be Famous a friend, and I had the pleasure of co-hosting a few shows with him. He showed me the ropes at 790 The Zone and is truly one of the good guys. Good luck to you John.

Can you BELIEVE he said that?
“To Quote the great Al Michaels, ‘Do you believe in miracles?’” Steve West dropped this line on the Atlanta Braves wrap-up show after Brooks Conrad knocked the walk-off grand slam to beat the Reds. Was it a big comeback? Yes. Was it a bunch of college kids knocking off the biggest, baddest hockey team in the world at the Olympics? No. Exaggeration, my name is Steve.