Before the season started I talked about how fun this young team was going to be.  They have such a great nucleus of young and dynamic guys and when you add in a ‘winner’ like Al Horford who brings energy and passion you have the mix for something special.

Last night at Philips was SPECIAL!

To be even with the MIGHTY Celtics is a HUGE accomplishment.  They were down 2-0 and written off for dead, but they bounced back and ‘stole’ game 3 at home.  That made this a ‘nice story’ to the National Media, but last night was different.  First, they came out playing with attitude and said, “This is STILL our house and we’re not going anywhere”.  Second, they showed HEART.  The Celtics came out on fire to start the 2nd half and you could hear the announcers saying, “well, that was a nice story but these guys couldn’t stand up to the big boys on the block…”.  The fourth quarter brought a resounding answer.  This is not your father’s Atlanta Hawks.  Josh Smith and Joe Johnson carried the team scoring, Al Horford was a beast on the boards with huge plays on the offensive and defensive glass and this morning the series is TIED 2-2.

Do the Hawks pull off a miracle and get past the Celts?  I still don’t think so but we are seeing what’s to come.  There are still many needs on a team that didn’t win 50% of its games, but the nucleus is there and better yet, last night there was crowd support and a college game atmosphere.  The boys were playing with and to the crowd. 

With the Falcons in turmoil, the Thrashers in an utter mess and the Braves searching for identity this could be the time for the Hawks to become ATLANTA’s TEAM!

Game 6, regardless of the outcome should be a celebration of what’s to come for the next 8-10 if ownership can stop bickering and capitalize on the momentum.
 

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Usually this game has a ton of fanfare!  For the 2 Universities playing in the game (Tennessee & LSU) I guess it still does but this year it will certainly be lacking the drama.  All in all the SEC puts on a good show and there are lots of festivities around downtown that make it a great weekend.

There is also a lot of subtext to this years match up and around the nation:

1.  Will Les Miles bolt for the Michigan job?

2.  Will LSU fans care and who would replace him?  Does Jimbo Fisher leave FSU already?

3.  What's the deal with Phillip Fulmer?  I guess he keeps his job but are UT fans happy?

4.  Which BCS game does Georgia get?  Personally I'd like to see them meet USC in the Rose Bowl but that would mean Ohio State is back in a Championship game and we that would be a re-run of last year just substitute West Virginia for Florida.

I'll take LSU to win a pretty tight battle.

I'll have a complete Bowl rundown once the match ups are made and you can bet I'll be talking Heisman as my fellow Gator, Tim Tebow, is certainly a finalist if not the front runner.

What a sad day today is in the NFL, on the campus of the University of Miami and in the hearts of everyone who hates to see senseless violence stop a life way too short.

This morning Sean Taylor passed away after being shot in his home on Sunday evening.  Sean was at home rehabbing a knee injury.  He was set to return to the Washington Redskins shortly. 

He was 24 years old and leaves behind his girlfriend and mother of his one year old daughter.  On the field Taylor was know for his big hits and big play ability.  He was a leader at both the University of Miami as well as the Redskins.

May his soul be restful and all who mourn him find peace.

Believe it or not it's the HAWKS!  yes, the Hawks people.

 Last night the Hawks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-96 and they looked GOOD doing it.  They are now 2 and 2 on the young season but they are showing real signs of maturity.  They have beaten 2 of the best teams (Dallas & Phoenix) and have played very tough in their 2 losses, both on the road. 

What has looked like an Organization in complete drift has all of the sudden become something.  Let's see why:

 1.  The young nucleus - Joe Johnson, Josh Childress and Josh Smith are becoming bonafied stars in their own right and the oldest of them (Johnson) has been in the league 6 years.

2.  Marvin Williams - this guy looked like another 'dud' pick but all of the sudden he has exploded and is playing with confidence.

3.  The rookies - both Acie Law and Al Horford (my man from the University of Florida) are already playing HUGE minutes and contributing (Acie distributing the ball and Al is a MONSTER on the glass)

What might be the best part of this whole thing is that these guys are DYNAMIC and fun to watch.  They could easily fit in the West Coast style of basketball as they like to run up and down the court. 

There is still room for improvement as these guys will only get better. 

 Now it is up to you though!  The crowd, while a pretty good size because Phoenix was here, needs to get louder and more supportive in crunch time.  The Hawks were up 3 to 7 points late in the 4th Quarter and you could feel the crowd just waiting for the Suns run to put the Hawks away.  It never came and now is the time for us to help the boys out!

The Eastern Conference is VERY mediocre.  If this team can stay healthy and keep growing they will make the playoffs this year...the future is in sight!

 Get to Phillips now while you can get good seats!

First of all, I love the South in the Fall and for no other reason than College Football.  Of all the weekends in the Fall this is my favorite, Florida-Georgia weekend, and yes sorry fellow Georgians, I'm a Gator and it will always be Florida-Georgia for me.

As a Gator there is always much debate about who is our biggest rival? FSU, Georgia or even Tennessee to some.  For me this is a no brainer.  Do I hate the Noles with a passion?  You bet!  But there is something more than 'hate' when it comes to UGA.  In fact, since living in Atlanta for many years now I've developed a respect for UGA and it fans, most of my friends have now either gone to UGA or root for the Dawgs so it's something I've learned to live with but this week we won't speak much (though I'd be happy to talk to them, must be something to do with 15 out of 17 and National Championship :), but I digress). 

Reality is, as a Gator, there are one or two things I am envious about UGA and that is the FOLLOWING.  This by no means puts down UF and Gator Nation but by living in Atlanta I have learned to recognize the difference (and no it's not that we wear jean shorts in Gainesville).  Here is what I have observed:

1.  UGA is so close from almost all of Georgia whereas UF is 6 hours from Miami and even a good 3 1/2 hours from most of the panhandle

2.  Besides Georgia Tech there is no other real dominant big time college program in Georgia.  In Florida we have UF, the clowns out West (FSU) and the basket weaving school in Miami (UM) and recently USF and UCF have upgraded facilities and now have 35,000+ students on campus.  This is all good but when it comes to bloodlines they run much deeper in Georgia, this I am envious of.  It's not fair that I have one friend who grew up in Atlanta the son of a Georgia Grad who is a die hard fan yet goes to school at Duke!  Now he gets to root for UGA Football and Duke hoops!  Is this fair?  Not really but it is very common here.  Bottom line is he along with others like him grew up with the Dawgs and that passion will always be there.  As much as I love UF it's not exactly a 2 hour drive to Gainesville to take in a game.  We have committed to one game a year to take my girls to and I hope that's enough but only time will tell.

3.  History - no iffs and or buts about it, UGA has a more storied past than UF.  That's ok with me I like to live in the present, should I mention the 15 out of 17 again or the 2 National Championships and 7 SEC titles in 11 years, or should I go to the back to back basketball National Champs, but UGA definitely has a longer 'national presence'.

So what makes Florida-Georgia so special?  Well there are the obvious things: border rivalry, SEC East, Steve Spurrier, Run Lindsay Run, Ricky Nattiel, etc...but for me it's Jacksonville and no not so much the 'Cocktail Party' though as a student that was fun.  The fact is this game is one of only THREE neutral field games left in college football.  Side note, I am actually really familiar with all THREE - growing up in Philadelphia a was around the Army-Navy deal and having lived in Dallas for 6 years I got to go to a few Red River Shootouts (Texas-OU).  There is NOTHING better than splitting fan bases down the middle!  The passion and enthusiasm really shines through.  I know over the last decade some members of UGA's fan base wishes this series was not in Jax but they are forgetting history.  For years the Dawgs OWNED Jacksonville.  When I was at UF (86-91) it was not such heady times for our program but going to Jax was only was big on our 'to do list'.  I fear that if this series ever went 'on campus' it would lose it special status amongst college footballs elite rivalries. 

 Its Tuesday morning just 103 hours or so to kick off and I'm already having trouble concentrating.

 If you are a college football fan there are certain things you should go to and this one is in the top ten! 

 Wow, what a good poll idea...the top ten events to go to as a college football fan....I'll list mine and tell you which I've been to...how about yours?

1.  a National Championship game (now the BCS) - I have been to several including both Gator wins (96 & 06) and a couple in the Orange Bowl

2.  Florida - Georgia in Jacksonville - 15 or so

3.  a game in South Bend - not yet!

4.  Michigan - Ohio State in either stadium - not me, but I did go to the Big House once

5.  Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee - yep, was there in the rain in '96 when UF beat the Vols

6.  Army - Navy - never actually been to the game

7.  Texas - OU - the Red River Shooutout, I've seen 2 of them from the stands

8.  Tailgating in the 'Grove', Ole Miss - they no longer have the football team status but wow what a place for a party

9.  Auburn - Alabama - I've been to both places but not for this game

10.  LSU @ night - several times and it's always scary!

Pro Sports

Football - Falcons - http://www.atlantafalcons.com/

Baseball - Braves - http://www.atlantabraves.com/

Hockey - Thrashers - http://www.atlantathrashers.com/

Basketball - Hawks - http://www.atlantahawks.com/

Soccer - Silverbacks - http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/

Collegiate Sports

Southeastern Conference - http://www.secsports.com/

Atlantic Coast Conference - http://www.theacc.com/

University of Georgia - http://www.georgiadogs.com/

Georgia Tech - http://www.ramblinwreck.com/

Recreational Sports/Associations

Tennis - http://www.altatennis.org/, www.southern.usta.com/atlanta

Club - http://www.usclubsport.com/, http://www.atlantaoutdoorclub.com/

Atlanta Sports Council - http://www.atlantasportscouncil.com/

Cobb Sports Council - http://www.cobbsportscouncil.com/

Covering 'sports' in Atlanta is a huge task!  Atlanta is a great place to play and watch from so many angles.  Here are just a few areas that I'll look at and cover with your help!

 1.  Professional Sports - Atlanta is home to ALL FOUR Major Sports, baseball, football, basketball and hockey, and yes hockey is a major sport.  We are also home to a professional soccer team, the Atlanta Silverbacks, http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/, and the WNBA is looking to expand here in 2009.  If that's not enough, we host TWO PGA Tour Events (the Bellsouth and The Tour Championship) as well as an LPGA Event.  If NASCAR is your thing we have one of the country's best tracks and host TWO events on their circuit as well.  We also have hosted professional volleyball and tennis tournaments.

2.  Collegiate Sports - the South and Atlanta are probably best known for their passion for college sports, especially football.  Atlanta is geographically seated in the heart of both the SEC and the ACC.  Whether you like the pigskin or a little hoops we have access to the best in the nation.  With the University of Georgia less than TWO hours away in Athens and Georgia Tech right here in downtown you can see some of the country's best athletes all year round.  Atlanta is also home to smaller schools that also have vibrant programs like Kennesaw State, Georgia State, Morehouse and Emory to name a few.

3.  High School Sports - if you have kids in school or just love the pure passion of playing for the love of the game then we have plenty of action in Atlanta.  Whether it's a Friday night football game in the fall or taking in a baseball game in the spring, Atlanta has some of the best talent in the nation and it's easily accessible to the public.

4.  Recreational Sports - so maybe you'd rather play than watch?  Then there might not be a better city in America to do just that!  Thanks to fairly mild winters many of our sports are played year round and there are a vast number of organizations to help you find the right sport and league for you to join.

So, that should scratch the surface of what we'll discuss here.  The purpose of the posts is two-fold, one to let folks know what's out there and two, to engage in a healthy dialogue about sports.  I am passionate about my sports, and you'll find out who I root for as we go, so I look forward to discussing teams, leagues, issues and whatever that comes to mind.

 Gil