A baseball collapse so historic that it brings Pedro Gomez to Atlanta is never good but it makes for good sports talk radio. The Atlanta Braves blew an 8.5 game lead in the National League Wild Card race, bowing out to the Cardinals after a loss in the final game of the regular season. Normally in a town so driven by football that one radio station claims “Football Lives Here” and talks NFL and college football 365, the Braves dominated the radio airwaves for the final week of the season. Unfortunately for Braves fans, it was for the wrong reasons. Driving around listening to the radio it was amazing to hear baseball talk, baseball talk and more baseball talk. Braves Country was FINALLY fired up, but most of the callers were of a curious nature. You had some Braves fans calling in saying they “knew what was going to happen,” i.e., a Braves’ choke. You had some Braves fans calling up bemoaning the collapse before it was complete and then you just had fans calling up saying the Braves were terrible. Some passion yes, it is just a shame that the passion was 95% of a negative nature. I am not wishing the comments had been positive, I just wish the situation was different and the Braves had been playing the role of the Cardinals and the response would have been the same. Sadly in this town, baseball only drives negative calls.
Just days after Atlanta radio callers threw dirt on the Braves franchise, Falcons fans were calling up to complain over a road victory against a team that won a game in the playoffs one year ago. Falcons fans/callers, what more do you want? Wins aren’t good enough? Especially on the road? Especially against a team that won a playoff game one year ago? Especially one week after you lost to a division rival? Come on now. You don’t need to call up and slap the coaches on the back. There was plenty wrong in the game. However as the immortal Herm Edwards once famously quipped to a reporter, YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. The Falcons won the game. A road game. Give some credit where it is due. Oh the Seahawks aren’t very good? Last time I checked, professionals still play for Seattle and that stadium offers its team one of the best home field advantages in all of sports. Big win for Atlanta.
The Sporting News has me a bit confused in its latest issue. I was reading its NHL preview and Craig Custance wrote a piece on the former Atlanta Thrashers-turned-Winnipeg Jets, saying that the franchise is building a contender. The interesting comment was found when Custance quotes new Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and the GM says “There’s no anonymity in Winnipeg.”
Custance writes “Its quite different from Atlanta, where the franchise’s anonymity was one of the reasons it was allowed to leave. Half the city barely knew the Thrashers existed.”
OK, so our city didn’t get behind the Thrashers. That possibly had something to do with poor team management and owners that didn’t seem to know anything about hockey and superstar players that wanted to leave every chance they got.
Later though in the issue of The Sporting News, soccer expert Brian Straus suggests that Atlanta is a possibility for MLS expansion. Apparently MLS is keen on the idea of Major League Soccer returning to the Southeast, despite Miami and Tampa contracting clubs throughout MLS’s early years and Straus suggested Atlanta. Can TSN please explain to me how soccer, about 12th on the list of all major sports, is going to make it if the NHL cannot? Why would TSN chose to bash Atlanta on one page and then 13 pages later say that Atlanta is a great sports town and should have another major league team? Are we good or bad? I am confused TSN. Clear that up for me, would you?
The AJC’s Mark Bradley got a shot in on the Falcons last week during an appearance for ESPN. ESPN’s SportsCenter interviewed Bradley once and 680 The Fan’s John Kincade during afternoon SportsCenter shows over the Braves collapse and Bradley did his best Dan Shaughnessy impersonation with a “we’ll never win” act before he dropped a “well now the town can get back to preparing for the Falcons not to win in the playoffs” line. Good work there Mark. And after I gave you some kind words a few weeks back in this very column.
When Lou Holtz started with ESPN, he was unwatchable and unlistenable. I remember wondering when his contract was up and guessing whether or not ESPN would just pull the plug on the former Notre Dame (and multiple other teams) coach. Eventually ESPN found a zone for Holtz and while still unlistenable, he does add some value to his broadcast time. For a local parallel, 680 The Fan has a similar problem with Leo Mazzone. When he first started he was hard to listen to when the topic wasn’t baseball. Even when it was baseball, it was difficult sometimes. During the season, Mazzone adds a nice voice to the Braves conversation, a little too rosy sometimes but the show does a nice job of addressing that. Now that baseball season is over though, I wonder how Mazzone will do until next spring. Will he continue to simply add, “hmmm” comments during interviews? Will he continue to waste time in those same interviews, changing the topic to ask randomly about Notre Dame? Will he continue to sound like he is reading questions that someone wrote for him to ask so he won’t veer the conversation towards Notre Dame. I used to love watching Leo rock back and forth in the dugout during the Braves’ glory days. I want it to work on the air. It isn’t yet.
Can You Believe He Said That
“Bosher will cost the Falcons a game before the season is over”
That was the sentiment on Mayhem in the Am on the Falcons Flagship 790 The Zone the morning after the win over Seattle. Chris Dimino and Nick Cellini were talking back and forth about the Falcons shortcomings in the Seattle game and the punter’s name came up. If a problem with the punter is the biggest issue you have, life should be good. But I guess you need something to complain about.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Buford is loaded; Mary Persons going with the backup
The recent commitment of Vadal Alexander to LSU now gives Buford another bit of bragging rights in Class AA as the team currently boasts two members of the LSU 2012 recruiting class. Reid Ferguson is headed to Baton Rogue while Dillon Lee will go suit up for SEC West rival Alabama. Kurt Freitag has Alabama in his final three while CJ Moore has pledged to UVA and Paris Head is headed to Vanderbilt. Quarterback Sam Clay will play baseball at Georgia Tech and linebacker/fullback Nathan Staub has offers from UNC, Virginia and Cal according to Scout. ...
When Peach County and Mary Persons square off this Friday, the battle of the backup quarterbacks will take place as Mary Persons will go with Jordan Banks and perhaps Macey Zeller, if Zeller is back from the upper-body injury that forced him to leave last week’s game against Rutland. Taylor Williams is out for the Bulldogs with a collarbone injury. Peach County meanwhile has been going with Kentel Kendrick after Greg Williams suffered a knee-injury earlier this year. ...
Greg Chambers lost his season debut Friday when Fannin County fell 35-21 to Rabun County. Chambers is Fannin County’s AD and is serving as interim head coach while the search for a replacement for Clark Drennan is conducted. Fannin County let Drennan go last week according to the AJC/GHSF Daily. ...
The Pope Greyhound volleyball team has been tough to beat this season, recording a 38-2 record into the first round of the state playoffs, but in the Area 7-4A playoffs, forget about it. The Lady Greyhounds have won six straight area crowns and seven of the last eight. Now Pope will seek its third straight Class 4A state title.
When Peach County and Mary Persons square off this Friday, the battle of the backup quarterbacks will take place as Mary Persons will go with Jordan Banks and perhaps Macey Zeller, if Zeller is back from the upper-body injury that forced him to leave last week’s game against Rutland. Taylor Williams is out for the Bulldogs with a collarbone injury. Peach County meanwhile has been going with Kentel Kendrick after Greg Williams suffered a knee-injury earlier this year. ...
Greg Chambers lost his season debut Friday when Fannin County fell 35-21 to Rabun County. Chambers is Fannin County’s AD and is serving as interim head coach while the search for a replacement for Clark Drennan is conducted. Fannin County let Drennan go last week according to the AJC/GHSF Daily. ...
The Pope Greyhound volleyball team has been tough to beat this season, recording a 38-2 record into the first round of the state playoffs, but in the Area 7-4A playoffs, forget about it. The Lady Greyhounds have won six straight area crowns and seven of the last eight. Now Pope will seek its third straight Class 4A state title.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Score Atlanta recruiting tidbits...
North Gwinnett standout defensive end Jordan Washington could well carry on a tradition of Suwanee-area prospects to Ohio State. Washington recently picked up an offer according to his coach Bob Sphire though Washington did not immediately commit to the Buckeyes, who have entered the recruiting picture late. He currently holds offers from Kentucky, Ole Miss and Maryland, among others. Peachtree Ridge has sent DE Cameron Heyward and defensive back Brad Roby to Ohio State in recent years. ...
Buford’s Kurt Freitag, a TE/DE on the Score 44 recently visited Alabama and could announce his decision soon. Freitag’s teammate Dillon Lee, a linebacker, has already pledged to Alabama. Freitag has visited Florida already according to the AJC. Florida State is also in his final three. ...
It was a big recruiting weekend for the Yellow Jackets as nine targeted prospects were scheduled to be on campus for the Maryland game. Lassiter’s Kene Orkioke and Miles Jones, Allatoona’s running back and member of the Score 44, were two of the players that were invited to attend. ...
St. Pius X’s Geno Smith is scheduled to receive his official invitation this Friday to play in the US Army All-American Bowl. The stop at St. Pius is part of the 2012 Selection Tour for the game, which will be played January 7, 2012. ...
And in some hoops recruiting news, Grady High School center Brandon Watkins has pledged to hoop it up at West Virginia. Watkins is just a junior but had offers from the Mountaineers as well as Clemson. He was a Class AAA All-State selection one year ago.
Buford’s Kurt Freitag, a TE/DE on the Score 44 recently visited Alabama and could announce his decision soon. Freitag’s teammate Dillon Lee, a linebacker, has already pledged to Alabama. Freitag has visited Florida already according to the AJC. Florida State is also in his final three. ...
It was a big recruiting weekend for the Yellow Jackets as nine targeted prospects were scheduled to be on campus for the Maryland game. Lassiter’s Kene Orkioke and Miles Jones, Allatoona’s running back and member of the Score 44, were two of the players that were invited to attend. ...
St. Pius X’s Geno Smith is scheduled to receive his official invitation this Friday to play in the US Army All-American Bowl. The stop at St. Pius is part of the 2012 Selection Tour for the game, which will be played January 7, 2012. ...
And in some hoops recruiting news, Grady High School center Brandon Watkins has pledged to hoop it up at West Virginia. Watkins is just a junior but had offers from the Mountaineers as well as Clemson. He was a Class AAA All-State selection one year ago.
Carson pacing Parkview; Big weekend for Harrison
Parkview’s Chris Carson is starting to put up ridiculous numbers and could well help the Panthers give Grayson a run for its money this Friday night. The Panthers will welcome the Rams into the Orange Jungle and the Region 8-5A title may well be on the line. Parkview’s rise to 4-2 after starting 0-2 has been largely thanks to Carson’s emergence. The junior back has 11 touchdowns in the last four games, all in region play. ...
While there is still plenty of season left in the GHSA football season, some teams will need to starting pressing the gas pedal in order to qualify for the playoffs. North Clayton (4-2) and Creekside (3-3) are both on the outside looking in on the currently-seeded teams in Region 4-4A. Banneker (5-2) holds the final spot right now and holds the tie-breaker over Creekside but not North Clayton. Southwest DeKalb (4-2) and Miller Grove (4-2) will face off on Saturday, October 29, for what could be the final spot in Region 6-4A. Mays (5-1) currently sits in the No. 3 spot and holds the tiebreaker over Miller Grove but will not face Southwest DeKalb. ...
It was a great weekend for Harrison as the school brought home two titles. The girls cross country team won its second Cobb County Invitational title in three years (2009). The Lady Hoyas are ranking No. 1 in the latest gatxc.com poll. Meanwhile the volleyball team defeated third-seeded Kennesaw State and second-seeded North Cobb to win its second consecutive Area 5-5A championship, earning Harrison a home date against Area 2-5A’s No. 4 seed this Thursday in the first round of the state playoffs.
While there is still plenty of season left in the GHSA football season, some teams will need to starting pressing the gas pedal in order to qualify for the playoffs. North Clayton (4-2) and Creekside (3-3) are both on the outside looking in on the currently-seeded teams in Region 4-4A. Banneker (5-2) holds the final spot right now and holds the tie-breaker over Creekside but not North Clayton. Southwest DeKalb (4-2) and Miller Grove (4-2) will face off on Saturday, October 29, for what could be the final spot in Region 6-4A. Mays (5-1) currently sits in the No. 3 spot and holds the tiebreaker over Miller Grove but will not face Southwest DeKalb. ...
It was a great weekend for Harrison as the school brought home two titles. The girls cross country team won its second Cobb County Invitational title in three years (2009). The Lady Hoyas are ranking No. 1 in the latest gatxc.com poll. Meanwhile the volleyball team defeated third-seeded Kennesaw State and second-seeded North Cobb to win its second consecutive Area 5-5A championship, earning Harrison a home date against Area 2-5A’s No. 4 seed this Thursday in the first round of the state playoffs.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Score 44-Week Eight. Head, Washington IN
The Score 44 is getting harder and harder to tweak each week as players keep rising up to warrant inclusion to the increasingly-popular list of the best seniors in the state. This week the competition was fierce but two players stood out over a very crowded field of standouts. Jordan Washington of North Gwinnett helped the Bulldogs hold the powerful Norcross offense to just six points in North Gwinnett’s 29-22 victory. His coach praised Washington leading up to the game for his versatility and leadership. It is hard to stand out at Buford but Paris Head, the future Vanderbilt Commodore is certainly doing his best. He reached the endzone twice in Buford’s latest win, including once on a 65-yard punt return. Mt. Pisgah’s Kyle Sloter (QB) and Riverwood’s Garrett Harris (LB/FB) are also playing well but just missed the cut.
In (from week 7) Jordan Washington, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) DL; Paris Head, Buford (Buford), CB/WR
Out (from week 7) George Morris, Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville) RB; Carlos Hood, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DT
Austin Hardin, Marist (Atlanta ), K
Jordan Washington, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) DL
Kurt Freitag, Buford (Buford), TE/DE
Jonquel Dawson, ML King (Lithonia), QB
Kenderius Whitehead, ML King (Monroe) DE/OLB
Blake Tibbs, ML King (Lithonia), WR
Daron Blaylock, Walton (Marietta), DB
Darius English, McEachern (Powder Springs ), DE
Jonathan Jones, Carrollton (Carrollton) CB
Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County (Hinesville) RB
Brandon Greene, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood) OT
Chase Roberts, GAC (Norcross) OG
Greyson Lambert, Wayne County (Jesup) QB
Mike Davis, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) RB
Scott Hosch, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) QB
Nick Tompkins, Brookwood (Snellville), RB
Imani Cross, North Hall (Gainesville) RB
Zack Blaylock, Walton (Marietta), DB
Dillon Lee, Buford (Buford), LB
DeMarcus Sweat, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) WR
Paris Head, Buford (Buford), CB/WR
Jarontay Jones, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DE
Quinteze Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone) DT
Markuss Eligwe, Stone Mountain (Stone Mountain), LB
Jordan Watkins, Woodward Academy (College Park), DT
Dalvin Tomlinson, Henry County (McDonough), DL
Jason Croom, Norcross (Norcross) WR
Jacob Sealand, Tucker (Tucker), LB
Jhaustin Thomas, Columbia (Decatur) DE
Miles Jones, Allatoona (Acworth) RB
Josh Dawson, Tucker (Tucker) LB
Mike Hilton, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), RB
Ricky Parks, Callaway (Hogansville), ATH
Jordan Jenkins, Harris County (Hamilton), DE
Jonathan Taylor, Jenkins County (Millen), DT
Geno Smith, St. Pius X (Atlanta), DB
Kenyan Drake, Hillgrove (Powder Springs), RB/ATH
Raphael Kirby, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), LB
Joe Harris, Lithonia (Lithonia), OG
Vadal Alexander, Buford (Buford), OT
Josh Harvey-Clemons, Lowndes (Valdosta), OLB/WR
JaQuay Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), WR
CJ Curry, Flowery Branch (Gainesville), WR
Josh Holsey, Creekside (Fairburn) DB
In (from week 7) Jordan Washington, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) DL; Paris Head, Buford (Buford), CB/WR
Out (from week 7) George Morris, Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville) RB; Carlos Hood, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DT
Austin Hardin, Marist (Atlanta ), K
Jordan Washington, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) DL
Kurt Freitag, Buford (Buford), TE/DE
Jonquel Dawson, ML King (Lithonia), QB
Kenderius Whitehead, ML King (Monroe) DE/OLB
Blake Tibbs, ML King (Lithonia), WR
Daron Blaylock, Walton (Marietta), DB
Darius English, McEachern (Powder Springs ), DE
Jonathan Jones, Carrollton (Carrollton) CB
Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County (Hinesville) RB
Brandon Greene, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood) OT
Chase Roberts, GAC (Norcross) OG
Greyson Lambert, Wayne County (Jesup) QB
Mike Davis, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) RB
Scott Hosch, North Gwinnett (Suwanee) QB
Nick Tompkins, Brookwood (Snellville), RB
Imani Cross, North Hall (Gainesville) RB
Zack Blaylock, Walton (Marietta), DB
Dillon Lee, Buford (Buford), LB
DeMarcus Sweat, Stephenson (Stone Mountain) WR
Paris Head, Buford (Buford), CB/WR
Jarontay Jones, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), DE
Quinteze Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone) DT
Markuss Eligwe, Stone Mountain (Stone Mountain), LB
Jordan Watkins, Woodward Academy (College Park), DT
Dalvin Tomlinson, Henry County (McDonough), DL
Jason Croom, Norcross (Norcross) WR
Jacob Sealand, Tucker (Tucker), LB
Jhaustin Thomas, Columbia (Decatur) DE
Miles Jones, Allatoona (Acworth) RB
Josh Dawson, Tucker (Tucker) LB
Mike Hilton, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), RB
Ricky Parks, Callaway (Hogansville), ATH
Jordan Jenkins, Harris County (Hamilton), DE
Jonathan Taylor, Jenkins County (Millen), DT
Geno Smith, St. Pius X (Atlanta), DB
Kenyan Drake, Hillgrove (Powder Springs), RB/ATH
Raphael Kirby, Stephenson (Stone Mountain), LB
Joe Harris, Lithonia (Lithonia), OG
Vadal Alexander, Buford (Buford), OT
Josh Harvey-Clemons, Lowndes (Valdosta), OLB/WR
JaQuay Williams, Sandy Creek (Tyrone), WR
CJ Curry, Flowery Branch (Gainesville), WR
Josh Holsey, Creekside (Fairburn) DB
Things learned from the GAHS gridiron over the weekend
The comeback that North Gwinnett pulled off Friday night in the GPB.org game of the week was really something, considering Donnie Miles didn’t play much offensively with a bum ankle. In the second half Miles didn’t play much on defense and sparingly on offense but returned for perhaps the biggest play of the game, intercepting a Norcross pass intended for Jason Croom with under two minutes to play, setting up the winning score. ...
Norcross meanwhile showed that it will be a factor come playoff time as the team certainly has offensive weapons in Croom, Alvin Kamara and the pair of Autrys. ...
The Colquitt County Packers have a coach known for offense and at Mack Tharpe Stadium the Packers can put up some points. Friday Colquitt County scored 40+ for the third time this year and have gone for 30+ four times. The defense is also impressive as it turned seven turnovers into 31 points against Tift County. Colquitt County next hosts Lowndes (GPB.org game of the week). ...
Campbell snapped its 13-game losing streak with a 33-7 win over Kennesaw Mountain. It was a big win for first-year coach Harris Rainbow. ...
Another week, another region victory for Parkview. The Panthers handed the ball 30 times to Chris Carson and the back ran for 184 yards, three scores and a two-point conversion in Parkview’s 22-15 win over Central Gwinnett. ...
Ten different players scored for Buford in its 71-0 victory last Thursday. Yes, I would say that it would be difficult for any AA All-star team to beat Buford right now. ...
Just when Jordan Ramey had returned to the field early from a broken arm to revive South Gwinnett’s playoff hopes, he had to leave a 49-17 victory with an ankle injury. Ramey passed for 92 yards and two scores in the first half.
Norcross meanwhile showed that it will be a factor come playoff time as the team certainly has offensive weapons in Croom, Alvin Kamara and the pair of Autrys. ...
The Colquitt County Packers have a coach known for offense and at Mack Tharpe Stadium the Packers can put up some points. Friday Colquitt County scored 40+ for the third time this year and have gone for 30+ four times. The defense is also impressive as it turned seven turnovers into 31 points against Tift County. Colquitt County next hosts Lowndes (GPB.org game of the week). ...
Campbell snapped its 13-game losing streak with a 33-7 win over Kennesaw Mountain. It was a big win for first-year coach Harris Rainbow. ...
Another week, another region victory for Parkview. The Panthers handed the ball 30 times to Chris Carson and the back ran for 184 yards, three scores and a two-point conversion in Parkview’s 22-15 win over Central Gwinnett. ...
Ten different players scored for Buford in its 71-0 victory last Thursday. Yes, I would say that it would be difficult for any AA All-star team to beat Buford right now. ...
Just when Jordan Ramey had returned to the field early from a broken arm to revive South Gwinnett’s playoff hopes, he had to leave a 49-17 victory with an ankle injury. Ramey passed for 92 yards and two scores in the first half.
A taste of the Official Visit 10/10/11
The Tennessee Volunteers thought that they had its quarterback for the current recruiting class sewn up in Nathan Peterman of Fruit Cove, Florida, but perhaps another has joined the class. Justin King, a linebacker out of Dunwoody, Georgia has already pledged to Derek Dooley but the 6-foot-3 athlete has been playing quarterback for his high school team this year. King was playing linebacker and running back before switching to the signal-caller position. He is still expected to play linebacker at Tennessee. ...
Bryce Kennedy of Southern Pines, NC decided to stay home by pledging to the North Carolina Tar Heels over South Carolina, Duke and NC State. The offensive guard recently took an official visit to NC State but pulled the trigger on the Heels. Kennedy is rated as a three-star guard by Scout.com. ...
Alabama and Auburn somehow let Prattville, AL’s Austin Golson slip out to pledge early to the Florida State Seminoles and the 2013 offensive tackle is still feeling the Noles, despite FSU’s poor start. The Tide and Tigers are still reportedly after the standout and this race will be interesting to follow through February 2013. ...
Chris Bivins is one of South Florida’s top pledges for the upcoming signing class but the three-star cornerback was in Fayetteville over the weekend, watching Arkansas beat Auburn. It was Bivins’ second official visit of the year. ...
The much-followed Nelson Agholor (Tampa, FL) recruiting tour stopped in Notre Dame over the weekend. Agholor is rated as a five-star athlete by Rivals. ...
Ohio State is trying to maintain its Suwanee, Georgia pipeline after offering North Gwinnett defensive end Jordan Washington. Defensive back Bradley Roby and DE Cameron Heyward have both recently suited up for the Buckeyes, both hailing from Suwanee as well.
Bryce Kennedy of Southern Pines, NC decided to stay home by pledging to the North Carolina Tar Heels over South Carolina, Duke and NC State. The offensive guard recently took an official visit to NC State but pulled the trigger on the Heels. Kennedy is rated as a three-star guard by Scout.com. ...
Alabama and Auburn somehow let Prattville, AL’s Austin Golson slip out to pledge early to the Florida State Seminoles and the 2013 offensive tackle is still feeling the Noles, despite FSU’s poor start. The Tide and Tigers are still reportedly after the standout and this race will be interesting to follow through February 2013. ...
Chris Bivins is one of South Florida’s top pledges for the upcoming signing class but the three-star cornerback was in Fayetteville over the weekend, watching Arkansas beat Auburn. It was Bivins’ second official visit of the year. ...
The much-followed Nelson Agholor (Tampa, FL) recruiting tour stopped in Notre Dame over the weekend. Agholor is rated as a five-star athlete by Rivals. ...
Ohio State is trying to maintain its Suwanee, Georgia pipeline after offering North Gwinnett defensive end Jordan Washington. Defensive back Bradley Roby and DE Cameron Heyward have both recently suited up for the Buckeyes, both hailing from Suwanee as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)