Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sports
What Was And What Will Be
SP’s sports editor looks at the year gone by—and the year ahead
The Thrashers’ Mark Recchi—one of the bright spots in Atlanta sports
CREDIT: Scott Cunningham/NHLI via Getty Images
By Hunt Archbold
The New Year brings fresh opportunities. It’s a time to bring about change, a period of transition and fresh starts. Here’s a brief look at Atlanta’s professional franchises: what happened to them in 2007 and what to expect in ’08.
FALCONS
Where they were: On Jan. 1, 2007, owner Arthur Blank gave third-year coach Jim Mora his pink slip. Within a week, bright young offensive coach Bobby Petrino was hired. With one of the game’s most electric players under center, the Falcons were focused on a return to the playoffs, having played in the conference title game only as far back as 2004. Somebody must have thought they were going to be good, as Atlanta had no less than four nationally televised prime time home games this year.
Where they’re going: If you don’t know what’s happened to this team, then you just don’t follow pro football. This has been a substandard NFL franchise for the better part of its existence, but 2007 saw the Birds reach new lows. They are now the laughing stock of the NFL. What we do know is that like it or not, Michael Vick, Petrino and Bill Parcells all played Blank for a fool. But Blank isn’t a fool, and he is committed to this franchise—at least for now. This organization has endured four-plus decades of mediocrity, having never posted back to back winning seasons. The Falcons need so much help in so many areas there’s not enough space to list it all here. But there is something Falcons fans can take solace in and it is this: The last six teams to finish last in the NFC South came back to win the division the following season. But the way things look right now, it would take a miracle for a seventh straight occurrence.
2007 Highlight Film Title: Nightmare On Peachtree Street
THRASHERS
Where they were: Atlanta’s NHL franchise skated into 2007 playing well (23-11-6) and seeking its first-ever playoff birth. The Thrashers did win the Southeast Division, but a quick four-and-done sweep from of the playoffs last April, coupled with an 0-6 start to the current season, had casual watchers dismissing this year’s team before there was even a chill in the air.
Where they’re going: Following the miserable start, the team canned the coach, put the general manager on the bench and promptly went 18-11-1 over its next 30 games. A repeat division title is entirely possible. The solid addition of Mark Recchi has allowed Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov to be reunited on the line again. If Recchi and center Todd White can help Ilya Kovalchuk maintain his NHL-best scoring pace, the Thrashers will have enough offense to offset those games when the sometimes brilliant, sometimes Swiss Cheese-like Kari Lehtonen has an off night. In a year when the league’s All-Star game shines in Atlanta, this year’s Thrashers might be the to first win a playoff series in 17 seasons of NHL hockey in this city. No one thought that last Halloween.
2007 Highlight Film Title: Believe In Blueland, Because Our Marketing Department Says So
HAWKS
Where they were: Last January began with the injury-riddled Hawks in the tail end of a season-worst eight-game losing streak and staring at an eighth straight playoff-less season. While Atlanta, the league’s youngest team a year ago, did drop 11 of its final 14 games, the 30 wins notched marked the third season in a row Atlanta had upped its win total from the year before.
Where they’re going: Having survived an up-and-down start, the Hawks are still battling injuries, but for the first time in nine years, they’ll be over .500 when the baby new year arrives. After a slow start, Joe Johnson has awakened, while Josh Smith (still just 22!) and Marvin Williams have begun to accept their roles as the team’s No. 2 and 3 players. Top pick Al Horford long ago quit playing as a rookie and will battle Seattle newbie Kevin Durant for postseason honors. If Anthony Johnson can continue to give Atlanta steady play at the point, this team can make some noise come spring in the watered-down Eastern Conference. And while Mike Woodson still draws up questionable late-game plays, the Hawks do listen to their embattled coach. And at seventh in the league in scoring defense, no one can question Atlanta’s work ethic on that end of the floor.
2007 Highlight Film Title: Hey, At Least We Aren’t The Falcons
BRAVES
Where they were: Last January, the Braves signed former Pirate first baseman Craig Wilson, who went on to bat .172 in 58 at-bats before being released. Wilson was just one of many players who underachieved last season, as the Braves endured a second straight season without playoff baseball. Andruw Jones’ cold bat (.222), another June swoon, bad pitching at both the end of the rotation and in the pen were lowlights of another sub-par season that concluded with longtime general manager John Schuerholtz moving upstairs to assume club presidential duties.
Where they’re going: Jones, Edgar Renteria and the popular Willie Harris are gone, but power-hitting Mark Teixeira is back. And optimism is again high at Turner Field with the return of Tom Glavine, who will be asked to provide some stability to a rotation headed by John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. New G.M. Frank Wren has made what appear to be solid deals with both the Tigers and Cubs, and new regular shortstop Yunel Escobar should join Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann as fan favorites. There’s still help needed in the outfield and in the pen, but there’s no reason that in the topsy-turvy world of the National League (the Rockies are defending N.L. pennant champs!) the Braves can’t make a return visit to the Fall Classic.
2007 Highlight Film Title: We Told You 14 Straight Division Titles Would Spoil You
GLADIATORS
Local pro sports supporters like their minor league teams, as well. Hockey fans along I-85 North love their Gwinnett Gladiators, now playing their fifth season of hockey at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The East Coast Hockey League team, which exited in the second round of the playoffs last spring after playing for the title in 2006, is near the top in both standings and attendance figures (fifth among 25 ECHL teams) this season.
SILVERBACKS
The Atlanta Silverbacks celebrated their 10th season with a record-breaking 2007 campaign. Led by former Grady High School standout Warren Ukah, the team finished as runner-up in the United Soccer League’s First Division in 2007. In addition, the Silverback Women were recognized as the USL W-League Organization of the Year.
WNBA (TEAM NAME TBA)
It seems somewhat unbelievable that the ATL didn’t have CBA and WNBA hoops franchises as the 2007 calendar year began. But now we do. Atlanta’s first pro women’s team in a decade will begin play at Phillips Arena in May, with Marynell Meadors as head coach and general manager. The team’s name will be announced before the upcoming draft, where Atlanta holds the No. 4 pick.
KRUNK
The Continental Basketball Association may not be well, but it is alive in Atlanta. The Krunk are currently playing their inaugural season at Morris Brown’s John H. Lewis Gymnasium. Coached by former Georgia Tech standout and 14-year pro Kenny Anderson, the team dropped 10 of its first 16 games. Of note: The club’s majority owner is not Atlantan Lil Jon, as the name might suggest, but Freedom Williams, the distinctive rapper on C+C Music Factory’s 1991 hit “Gonna Make You Sweat.’’ Everybody Dance Now!