Looking Back at the 2000 Decade (ATL Style)

The 2000 decade is over and there have been many media outlets coming out with their top teams, players and games of the decade. This made me think about what are some of the best of the decade when it comes to Atlanta sports. So here’s my list of the Atlanta Sports Guy best of the 2000 decade.

Top Local Athlete: John Smoltz – Atlanta Braves. He is no longer with the Braves and the way that he left wasn’t as graceful as he and the Braves fans had hoped, but John Smoltz was the Braves best pitcher throughout the decade. He missed the all of 2000 and most of the 2001 season due to Tommy John surgery and in 2002 he was sent to the bullpen to be the Braves closer. In his first year as a closer, Smoltz only recorded 55 saves which is a National League record and ended the year third in the Cy Young Award voting. In 2003 he would go on to save 45 games and in 2004 he finished with 44 saves. In 2005 he returned to the starting rotation and finished the year with a 14-7 record with 3.06 ERA and 169 strikeouts. In 2006 he finished with a stronger year with a 16-9 record, 3.49 ERA and 211 K’s. He was tied for the NL in wins and third in strikeouts. It was the same story in 2007 where he posted a 14-8 record with a 3.11 ERA and 197 strikeouts. 2008 was a the last year for Smoltz in a Braves uniform and injuries shortened the year for him, but he was able to record his 3,000 strikeout in April and he became the fourth pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 K’s with one team. Other nominees: Chipper Jones, Michael Vick, David Pollack


Top local team: Georgia Bulldogs football. When the Bulldogs defeated the Texas A&M Aggies in the Independence Bowl, it was the eight win for the Dawgs and it was the 13th consecutive season that Georgia has won eight or more games in a season which is a NCAA record. During the decade, Georgia has won three SEC East titles, two SEC titles, been to three Sugar Bowls and finished in the top 10 six times which is the most out of any SEC program. It would have been nice to see this team compete for a national championship, but Mark Richt has done a remarkable job at UGA. Other nominees: Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Tech Basketball.

Top Local Game: Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Game 6 2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. I was at this game and this was an electric as any game that I went to in the history of Atlanta sports. What made it so great was that the Hawks were back in the playoffs for the first time since the 1998-99 season and they faced a Celtics team that was expected to sweep the young Hawks. The Hawks were down 2-0 and it looked like the sweep was going to happen. But when the series came to Philips the Hawks played inspired basketball and won Games 3 and 4 to even the series. Boston was able to win Game 5 with ease and this led to Game 6 battle that has to go down as one of the great games in Atlanta history. The Celtics came out swinging as the scored 32 first quarter points, but the Hawks hung with them in the second quarter as they outscored the Celtics 29-18 in the second quarter. The third quarter was even for both teams as Boston scored 32 points while the Hawks recorded 30, but it was the fourth quarter where the Hawks took over. The Hawks were up by just 2 with a litter more than a minute and that is where Joe Johnson hit the Hawks only three pointer to give them the 100-95 lead. The Hawks would go on to win 103-100 and the 20,000 plus fans in attendance (including myself) were chanting SEVEN! SEVE! SEVEN! The Hawks would get blown out in the final game which ended their season but that night belonged to the Hawks and made them the team that there are now. Other nominees: Falcons vs. St. Louis Rams 2004 NFC Divisional Playoff game, Georgia vs. Auburn 2002, Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles 2005 Monday Night Football.

Podcast No. 11

I have a new podcast up. If you want to take a listen click here. I talk about the Falcons, UGA and why I haven't post anything on my blog since September 6.

I'm back and better than ever!

Okay, I know it’s been awhile since I posted a blog, but I’m back. I’ve been extremely busy with projects at Score, plus the fact the summer is slow for sports other than baseball, there wasn’t much to blog about.

Anyway, football season is underway which means I’m going to have more blogs and more podcast for the next few months. But in this blog I’m going to tell you what is going on with me and the football season.

I’m back as the Falcons beat writer for Score Atlanta and you can pick up the latest edition every Friday at every Blockbuster, Quick Trip and Kroger in the Atlanta area. I’m also the Road Atlanta beat writer if you guys are interested in racing.

We have also brought back the prep editions and I’m the Cobb County beat writer and I’ll have plenty of information of high school football in the area.
For radio, I have a segment on the Official Visit every Monday night on 790 the Zone where I have a different top 10 ranking. We will also have a show on during the Falcons game and I’m sure that I will be involved with that.

As for the blog, I will have my thoughts on UGA, Tech and the Falcons, make weekly college and pro picks and post my top 10 rankings from the Official Visit show on Mondays. Of course I will have my podcast at least once a week previewing the football weekend.

So get ready for a great season of football. I know I am. Have a great Labor Day weekend.

Podcast No. 10

It's time for another podcast. I have thoughts on Michael Vick, Atlanta Hawks and college recruiting. Check it out. Just click on the link above.

Falcons begin mini-camp at Flowery Branch

This is a piece that I worte for SCORE Atlanta which you can find now. This is the edited version so check it out on scoreatl.com.

It was the beginning of a new year for Falcons fans as they got a first look at the 2009 squad at the team’s mini-camp held at Flowery Branch on Saturday. Falcons fans were excited and anxious to see players such as Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White, but with the addition of Mike Peterson, Tony Gonzalez and draftees Peria Jerry and William Moore, the public wanted to get a first look at the new Birds in town.

For those who have never been to an NFL mini-camp or training camp practice, here’s how it works. The practice began at 10:30 and the players spend about 30 minutes warming up and stretching. From 11:00-12:30, they will work on position drills and mix that in with two scrimmages. After that, practice will conclude with autograph session.
What usually catches the fans eye is when the No. 1 offense takes on the No. 1 defense because they like to see who are the projected starters going into the 2009 season. A couple to things to note when it comes to starters, Peterson and Stephen Nicholas were the No. 1 outside linebackers and it looks they will be the starters in the fall. Also Ben Hartsock was the No. 1 tight end on Saturday but that was due to Gonzalez being held out of practice. As for nose tackle, Trey Lewis was working with the No. 1 team while Jerry was working with the No. 2 unit. But this could (and probably will) change when July rolls around because it’s too early to project anything now with the team only practicing three times.

“This is just really the first evaluation,” head coach Mike Smith said after the Saturday practice. “The thing we’re evaluating is who can come out and play hard and play fast when they are getting overloaded mentally.”

Smith was specifically talking about the rookies such as Jerry and Moore who were draft picks, but also rookie free agents like quarterback John Parker Wilson and wide receiver Aaron Kelly who had one of the big plays of the day when Wilson connected with Kelly on a 40-yard touchdown pass.

As good as it is to see local products do well in practice, fans also want to see how the veterans have improve. 2008 Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan received a warm reception when he jogged on to the field and he looked as if he didn’t miss a beat as he found almost every target in the scrimmages. Running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood were in midseason form and wide receiver Michael Jenkins looks to have a breakout year. Overall Smith thought this was a good practice and he was glad that the fans were able to come out.

“It was nice to have the people and it gives the guys a little extra juice,” Smith said. “When they have gone one two-a-day they were a little sore and slow moving this morning in the meetings. But when they got on the field, they started moving around. I thought it was a really good practice.”
Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.

Falcons mini-camp preview

The Falcons are one of the few teams that will have their mini-camp this weekend as most of the NFL teams held their camps last weekend. There is a level of excitement for Falcons fans because they will get a glimpse of tight end Tony Gonzalez as well as the new draft picks, such as Peria Jerry and William Moore. I will be there on Saturday for both practices and here is what I am going to focus on as I observer mini-camp:

1. Secondary – There are a few question marks when it comes to who is going to start at corner and safety. Chris Houston will be one of the starting corners but I don’t think that is set in stone. Brent Grimes, Chevis Jackson and Von Hutchins will be fighting for the two cornerback spots as well as David Irons and Tony Tiller. Draft picks Chris Owens and William Middleton will not likely start on opening day, but can (and probably will) contribute on special teams and also used in nickel and dime situations. As for the safety position, Erik Coleman looks to build on what he did last year, notching 95 tackles and three interceptions. With Lawyer Miloy gone, there is a void at strong safety and everyone thinks that William Moore should win that spot. But not if Thomas DeCoud, Eric Brock and Jamaal Fudge have say anything about it because they will also be fighting for the same position. I think that Moore will win the spot, but DeCoud will make it difficult for him.

2. Linebackers- Outside linebackers will be a spot where fans will keep their eyes one because both Keith Brooking and Michael Boley were lost this offseason due to free agency and the Falcons did not draft or sign anybody that will likely take their place other than Mike Peterson. Peterson has played middle linebacker for most of his career but he will start at one of the outside linebacker positions this fall. The other linebacker spot is up for grabs and I think it’s a two-man race between Stephen Nicholas and Coy Wire. Who is going to win the spot? I think it’s too early to tell but both players had great seasons in 2008 and should improve in 2009.

3. Quarterback – I’m not saying that there’s a quarterback battle because Matt Ryan is one of the rising stars in the league. Trust me on this because I followed Ryan last year and he is just as good as any quarterback in the league. I’m curious to see how much he has improved from the loss against Arizona to the mini-camp on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’m also anxious to see how he gels with Tony Gonzalez because he can only help Ryan in his progression.

So it should be a fun weekend for fans and they have every right to be excited for the 2009 season because they should be a favorite to win the NFC.

20 Greatest Falcons games

I just found this via the Falcoholic blog and I thought it was a great read. Click here to see what the people from the Bleacher Report think what the 20 greatest Atlanta Falcons games are. I think we know what No. 1 is. If you don't, shame on you.

Podcast No. 9

Hey guys. I posted a new podcast where I talk about the Hawks and the Falcons. Check it out. You know you want to. Just click on the title where it says Podcast No. 9.

2009 NFL Mock Draft

It’s almost that time where the 32 NFL teams get together and build for the future. The NFL Draft is on Saturday and I’ve decided to make my own mock draft. The reason I’m doing it somewhat late is I wanted to be as accurate as I can in the sense of if there was a trade (like there was on Thursday when the Falcons got Tony Gonzalez for a 2010 draft pick), I could say that the Falcons will focus on any position other than tight end. Anyway, here is my 2009 NFL Mock Draft:

1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. It looks as if the Lions are working out a deal to get Stafford signed before the Draft. He is going to be a good pro and he is going to be the face of the Lions for years to come.

2. St. Lois Rams – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. Smith could be considered the best player overall in the draft. He should do what Orlando Pace did for the Rams for the next 10-15 years.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. He has the size and athleticism to start right way for Kansas City who could use the help. He could play linebacker and play along with former Longhorn Derrick Johnson.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. I think Jim Mora would like to address the defense as they could use some help on the defensive line, but Walter Jones is not getting any younger and Monroe would be a good pick for them,

5. Cleveland Browns – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. I think that Curry is going to be an outstanding pro and should have no problems fitting into Eric Mangini’s 3-4 scheme. Some experts say that he is the safest pick in the draft.

6. Cincinnati Bengals – Everette Brown, DE, Florida State. One of the problems that the Bengals had over the years is they never had a pass rush. That will change if they select Brown with their first round pick.

7. Oakland Raiders – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. Crabtree had a great college career and has all the tools to be a Pro Bowl wide receiver. This is a typical pick for Oakland as Al Davis likes the fast players.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. This is not a glaring need, but the Jags need to address the quarterback spot to take over the helm when David Garrard retires. You know, he could be a better quarterback than Stafford base on intangibles.

9. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. Raji is by far the best defensive tackle in the daft and this year’s class is deeper than what it was last year. Green Bay could definitely use help on the defensive line so this should be a no-brainer.

10. San Francisco 49ers – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The 49ers could use another quarterback but I think they will go with the best available player in Smith. He has had some issues in the past, but when he is on his game, very few are better than Smith.

11. Buffalo Bills – Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss. This should be a good pick for the Bills because Oher can help protect Trent Edwards which will mean more opportunities for Terrell Owens. Oher was one of the reasons that Ole Miss had a great season in 2008.

12. Denver Broncos – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC. Denver will try to move on with Jay Cutler gone and they will address the defense in this year’s draft. Maualuga should be plugged in right away as he can tackle well react to plays better than any other linebacker in the draft.

13. Washington Redskins – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. I’ll be honest, I don’t know that the Redskins are going to do on draft day. They could bolster their defensive line and I think Ayers will be a good fit to go along with Albert Haynesworth.

14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. The Saints has made a lot of moves in the offseason, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Adding Jenkins would really help a struggling Secondary.

15. Houston Texans – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. Houston needs help on defense but not a cornerback. Davis is a great athlete and has good size for a corner so I think the Texans could not pass on him if he is available.

16. San Diego Chargers – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. LaDainian Tomlinson is still the guy in San Diego, but he is not the player that he once was. Moreno is a guy that doesn’t have top-notched speed, but can do everything else well and is the best running back in the draft.

17. New York Jets – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State. With Bret Favre gone, the Jets need a quarterback in the worst way. Freeman would be the best available quarterback in the draft ia strong arm and great size.

18. Denver Broncos – Tyson Jackson, DT, LSU. This will be a pick where Denver will once again address the defense and Jackson might be the perfect pick for them. With Denver playing the 3-4 scheme on defense, Jackson can play end or tackle.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss. Tampa’s defense is not getting any younger and the only members from the Super Bowl team are Ronde Barber and Jermaine Phillips. Jerry is a little older (24) but he is very strong and very athletic and that fits right in the
Tampa Bay scheme.

20. Detroit Lions – Clay Matthews, LB, USC. I would like for the Falcons to get Matthews but I don’t think he will go past 20. The Lions will need all the help they can get so Matthews is considered the most versatile linebacker in the draft.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State. Brian Westbrook is one of the best running backs in the game today, but he is now 30. Adding Wells will help the Eagles in the run game as he is faster than Moreno and can run between the tackles.

22. Minnesota Vikings – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. Based on the recent events, Harvin could move out of the first round and be an early second round pick. If he is still around, the Vikings have to take Harvin to give Sage Rosenfels more weapons.

23. New England Patriots – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State. New England is a team that doesn’t have a lot of needs but linebacker is an area they will address. Laurinaitis has good speed and great size so he can be a very productive starter.

24. Atlanta Falcons – Brian Cushing, LB, USC. There are reports that the Falcons will pick Cushing if he is available. Cushing would be the third linebacker out of USC picked in the first round and he will compete for one of the two outside linebacker positions.

25. Miami Dolphins – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. Miami had a surprise season last year and they are looking for a deep-threat to help Chad Pennington. Heyward-Bey has to physical tools to be that deep threat but needs to improve route-running skills.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. There is no doubt that the Raves have found their quarterback. Now they need a star receiver and Nicks could be that guy. He has good hands and can run route extremely well.

27. Indianapolis Colts – Evander Hood, DT, Missouri. The No.1 need for the Colts is defensive tackle as they had a hard time stopping the run. Ziggy Hood would be a nice addition because he can split gaps and has the ability to get into the backfield.

28. Buffalo Bills – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Trent Edwards has his deep-threat in T.O. but where is his security blanket? Pettigrew can be that guy as he can do anything any NFL tight end can do.

29. New York Giants – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers. With Plaxico Burress gone, the Giants need a No. 1 wide receiver. Britt got more lover earlier in the year, but he is a guy that has tremendous size and blazing speed. He could very well turn out to be the best receiver in the draft.

30. Tennessee Titans – Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut. The Titans could use a defensive tackle or a receiver but is Butler is still on the board they should run to the podium. Butler has that confidence that the best NFL cornerbacks have and is very physical with opposing receivers.

31. Arizona Cardinals – Larry English, LB/DE, Northern Illinois. The Cardinals shocked everyone by reaching the Super Bowl, but they can use some help defensively if they want to go back to the Super Bowl in 2009. English can play both end and linebacker and the Cardinals
need help with both positions.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. The world champions could use help on the offensive line if anywhere. Britton will not have to play right away and can work on his blocking while waiting his turn. If he improves, he can play left or right tackle.

Gwinett Braves fall in home opener but win over a new legion of fans

This is a piece I wrote for SCORE Atlanta in which I went to the Gwinnett Braves inagural home opener on Friday. I should be covering more Gwinnett Braves game so be sure to check out scoreatl.com often.

The Braves organization is a franchise rich in history. From Boston, to Milwaukee and now here in Atlanta, the Braves are the longest running franchise in the Major Leagues. The history is the same in the Minor League organization, as the Richmond Braves, the Atlanta Braves’ AAA squad, had played in Virginia for over 40 years. But on Friday, history was made again as the Gwinnett Braves took the field for the first time at the brand-new Gwinnett Stadium. A sellout crowd of 10,247 fans was there to witness the event.

The Braves played against their division rival the Norfolk Tides and the Braves end up losing the game 7-4. But in this case, winning or losing was not as important as being a part of history and playing in front of the Gwinnett community.

“I thought it was electric,” Braves Manager Dave Brundage said. “It was fun I think from a standpoint just finally getting to the day. A lot of anticipation and a lot of energy. Obviously, from a fan standpoint they waited for this day a long time.

The fans were not disappointed, as they were a treated to pregame celebration which included Braves alumni such as Brian Jordan, Javy Lopez and Phil Niekro. There was also fireworks and two skydivers landed on the field to deliver the game ball.

What probably would have been the icing on the cake would have been future ace Tommy Hanson taking the mound to christen Gwinnett Stadium. But Charlie Morton got the nod and he was solid giving up three runs on five innings. And Like Brundage, Morton was impressed with the energy of the fans and the facilities.

“It’s exciting,” Morton said. “I wish it would gone a little better but it was exciting.”

It was clear that the fans in attendance didn’t know most of the players because they are used to seeing the boys at Turner Field. But they supported the team like they were the Atlanta Braves and they know that these are the future stars of the organization. One of the players that fans should keep an eye on is J.C. Holt, who went 2-for-3 in the loss on Friday and has spent the past couple of years playing in Richmond. And like the rest of the team, Holt is glad for the change.

“It was awesome,” Holt said about playing in front of a sold-out crowd at the brand new Gwinnett Stadium. “Anytime you move into a new stadium, there’s always a little bit of pressure. It’s almost impossible to win whenever you open up a stadium. The Yankees got smoked, the Mets got smoked and we got beat tonight. It’s always good to get it out of the way and now we can concentrate on playing ball.”

They may have lost the game and their record now stand at 4-5, but they did win over the fans and it looks like they will be playing in front of more packed houses as the season rolls on.

Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com

G-Day Scirmmage and Falcons Schedule Thoughts

I went to the G-Day game in Athens on Saturday and let’s just say that it wasn’t the most exciting game I’ve seen. But that’s just it. It’s was a scrimmage. Not a game, a scrimmage. All week I’ve been hearing fans and media types saying that the G-Day game was a failure because there were not a lot of points scored as the lone touchdown of the game was scored on the final play. Also, according to most people who watched the game, nobody stood out on offense other than A.J. Green who caught the first pass of the game which was a flea-flicker.

Look, there is no question that the Bulldogs have some work to do. But even if the final score was 30-28 rather than 13-3, they would have work to do anyway because it’s April and the season starts on September 5 when they travel to Stillwater, Ok to take on Oklahoma State. There are players that are injured that didn’t take part in the spring scrimmages and there are new signees who are getting ready for their high school prom. I don’t know how this team is going to do this year. They could finish the season 8-4 with a trip to the Music City Bowl, or they could go 10-2 with a trip to the Capital One Bowl. You know, they could very well win the SEC and go to the Sugar Bowl or the National Championship if they can somehow beat Florida. But one thing is for certain, Mark Richt will have this team ready in September and the 2009 season will be more exciting than 2008 because the expectations won’t be as high which means less pressure for the Dawgs.

Moving on to the other team that dawns the red and black, the Falcons 2009 schedule is up along with the other 31 NFL teams and I like the way it’s set up. You can go to atlantafalcons.com to see the schedule but I do want to say this. I’m not going to make a prediction how many games the Falcons are going to win, but I will say that I’m glad that the Falcons have two nationally televised games so the country can see how good Matt Ryan is and why he was named Rookie of the Year in 2008. I thought they were going to have one more nationally televised game, but if they are able to win some games this season, NBC will probably pick up one of the games one flex scheduling starts. Man, all this football talk gets me ready for the season. I’m glad baseball has started, don’t get me wrong, but I’m counting down the days when opening weekend for college and pro football kickoff.

Etowah tennis hoping for tournament glory in '09

Last week I had a chance to Billie Morgan who is the head coach for the Etowah girls tennis team and she talks about what they need to do in order to make it to the state finals. I also take a look at the boys tennis team as they look to finaly take home the crown after comming so close last year. You can check this story in the current issue of SCORE Atlanta or scoreatl.com.

Tennis season is winding down as the Region Tournaments are going on this week. The Etowah boys and girls tennis teams are the defending Region 5-AAAAA champions and they look to do that on Wednesday when the finals take place at Marietta High School, the same place where they won the region championship last year. If they are able to do that, it would mean back-to-back titles for the girls and four consecutive titles for the boys. But both teams have a bigger goal that they set for themselves before the season, and that is winning the state title. If both Eagles teams can continue to play like they have all season, that goal should be well within reach.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Both teams’ paths to a dominating regular season were very different. The girls record at press time was 13-2, with both of their losses coming against Marist in February. That record is quite an accomplishment considering the team lost five seniors from last season.
“The freshmen and the one sophomore that I picked up are really, really good players,” girls head coach Billie Morgan said. Most of my wins came from the underclassmen that I had, not so much the seniors that I had. So I knew when I picked up these really good players, I had a really good team.”
The two freshmen, Nicole LaDuca and Alyssa Siebold, have been keys to their success this year. And they are also going to be factors when the state tournament begins and the girls that are back from last year want to go further than last year when they lost to South Forsyth in the first round.
“The girls I have returning, their goal is to get deep into the state playoffs,” Morgan said. “It still haunts them. They still talk about it, they know what happened, they know what they did [last season].”

BOYS UNDEFEATED
Going into the region tournament, the boys team was undefeated and was ranked No. 1 in the state in the GACA Coaches Poll, having cruised past every opponent this year. Last year they won the region title in convincing fashion and made it all the way to the finals of the state tournament, losing to Northview. This year they look hungry to win that title, winning the Wheeler Wildcat Tournament at the beginning of the season. Not only are the Eagles boys undefeated in matches on the season, they have only lost two games.
So which teams stand in their way? For the girls, a dominant Walton program would be a tough opponent in the postseason. For the boys, defending champion Northview is a team that is familiar with this Eagles team. No matter who they face, however, the Eagles will be the teams to watch in the Class 5A state tournament.

Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.

WWE 2009 Draft Recap

I'm a wresting fan and I got a chance to watch the WWE 2009 Draft which was here in Atlanta. I thought I would do a recap and you can also find this on the Sports by Fletch blog. Don't forget to hear me every Sunday from 10-3 on 790 the Zone.

The WWE was in Atlanta on Monday and held their annual Draft where all the superstars from Raw, Samckdown and ECW come together on the Raw show and random superstars were selected to go another brand. For example, on Monday one of the matches that went down was World Heavyweight Champion Jon Cena (from the Raw brand) faced off against ECW Champion Jack Swager. Cena won the contest and as a result of the win, the Raw brand won the pick in the draft. That was the format for the entire show and here are the final results:

RAW Draftees: MVP, The Big Show, Matt Hardy, Triple H, The Miz, Maryse
Smackdown Draftees: Melina, CM Punk, Kane, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio
ECW Draftee: Vladmir Kozlov

It’s obvious that Raw is the clear winner because Triple H is the current WWE Champion so know you have the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Champion on one show. Also MVP made a name for himself over at Smackdown and should do the same over at Raw. Smackdown did pretty well as they got Jericho who should stir up some shenanigans like he did over at Raw. And the fact that Melina (who I think is the hottest diva on the WWE roster) is now a new member of Smackdown really helps because she is the WWE Women’s Champion. ECW only got one draft pick but Kolzlov was the right choice for them as he will bring a new meaning to Extreme Championship Wrestling.

So there you have it. I would say this year should be interesting for the WWE when it comes to new angles and new rivalries due to the draft. I expect to see Cena and Triple H do battle as well as Kane and Mysterio continue their war. But there is one more twist – The Supplemental Draft will take place on Wednesday so expect to see more superstars going to different brands and cause more turmoil in the WWE. Oh Vince McMahon what will you think of next?

MLB NL Preview

It's time for the NL preview. Here's my predictions on standings, rookie of the year , manager of the year, MVP, NL Champion and World Series winner:

NL EAST

1. Phillies

2. Braves

3. Mets

4. Marlins

5. Nationals

NL CENTRAL

1. Cubs

2. Cardinals

3. Brewers

4. Reds

5 . Astros

6. Pirates

NL WEST

1. Dodgers

2. Diamondbacks

3. Giants

4. Rockies

5. Padres

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- Jordan Schaffer-Braves

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR- Joe Torre-Dodgers

NL MVP-HANLEY RAMIREZ-Marlins

NL WILD CARD- Cardinals

NL CHAMPION-CUBS

WORLD SERIES CHAMPION- Cubs over Angles in 6

I want to pick the Dodgers for the pennant winner to see a LA World Series, but is their rotation and bullpen deep enough to take them to the promise land? I think that Hanley Ramirez could become the best players in all of baseball one day if he isn't already. The Phillies could make another run at the title, but they are not going to run away with the division.

In the next blog, I'm going to talk about the braves and what they need to do to get back in the playoffs.

MLB AL Preview

It’s time for baseball season to begin (finally). After a month of spring training, the regular season will kick off on Sunday when the Atlanta Braves will face the world champion Philadelphia Phillies. I will talk about the Braves and the Phillies in another blog but I want to preview the American League in this space and I will predict the winners of each division, the wild card team, the AL MVP, the Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year and the AL Champion. So here we go:

AL EAST
1. Red Sox
2. Yankees
3. Rays
4. Orioles
5. Blue Jays

AL CENTRAL
1. Twins
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. White Sox
5. Tigers

AL WEST
1. Angles
2. A’s
3. Rangers
4. Mariners
AL WILDCARD
Yankees


ROKKIE OF THE YEAR
Matt Wieters- Baltimore


MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Terry Francona- Boston


MVP
Vladmir Guerrero- Los Angles


AL CHAMPION
Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim

I like the Angels lineup but the loss to K-Rod may hurt them down the stretch. Also, Guerroro maybe a long shot at the MVP award, but if the Angles win the pennant it's going to be because of him. I’m curious to see how Wieters does because they are comparing him to Joe Maurer but more powerful. The Yankees have the line up to compete and ever win the AL title but it all depends on when Alex Rodriguez returns to the lineup. So this should be a really interesting season in the American league with come compelling stories.

New football leagues for 2009

At this time last year, the Arena Football league was just getting their 2008 season kicked off. Now due to the economic crisis, league officials and players decided to take the year off and come back in 2010. Unlike the majority of people in the United States, I'm a big fan of the Arena Football league and I was disappointed to hear that there will be no games played this year.

However, their are a couple of professional football leagues that are slated to start this year. The first organization that I want to mention is the United National Gridiron League which will kick their season off on May 3 with eight teams. The UNGL is more of a developmental league which will consists players from the arena league, college players and players from the NFL that were on practice squads. They held their inaugural draft in early January and former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd was selected first to the Georgia Stallions. Now before I go any further, Georgia is one of the eight teams that will play, but the UNGL will not officially release the team name and the rosters until mid-April. So I'm not sure what city they will play their home games but rumor has it that they will play in Columbus. Other than Boyd, the list of former college and NFL stars that will play in the UNGL is limited but I think it will be successful because they are not competing with the NFL. In fact it's slogan is "Developing tomorrow's stars of the game".

The other league that will start in the fall but will play their games on Fridays is the United Football league. This league has gotten more media attention because of the NFL ties that will go along with the UFL. For example, in their inaugural season, four teams will play and the four head coaches have coached in the NFL. Dennis Green will coach the San Fransisco team, Jim Fassel will coach the Las Vegas team, Jim Hasslet will be the head man for the Orlando team and the New York team will be coached by Ted Cottrell. They will start play in October and the games will be aired on the Versus Network they haven't had their draft yet so players and rosters should be announced within the next couple of months.

Honestly, as a fan of football, I love this. It's give young players and opportunity to hone their skills and prepare them for the NFL. The thing that I don't want to happen is the AFL getting lost in the shuffle which could happen. Arena football has been around for over 20 years and is the only professional football league that is not the NFL has thrived. But with the UNGL, the UFL and the All-American Football league which will start play in 2010 will more likley take players from the AFL which will leave the AFL scrambling for players. But the one thing I will say is this, because of the new leagues, the NFL draft, mini camp and training camp, football season is all year long and that's the way it should be.

Podcast No. 8

It's been over a month, but I'm bringing back the podcast. I promise, I will do more podcasting, I'm going to set a schedule for that and blogging as well. Anyway this podcast is about the Braves and the Falcons. Enjoy!

Back in the fold

Okay. It's been over three weeks since I've posted a blog or podcast. My laptop has been out of commission for the last two weeks so that's one of the few reasons that I haven't posted anything. Anyway, I'm back at it and I just wanted to make a few bullet points.

• I've been watching the NCAA Tournament and I think that Villanova has as a very good shot winning the championship.
• The Braves are having a good season, but I do have some concerns with the pitching, in particular Kenshin Kawakami, and the bullpen.
• The Hawks need to find a way to win against the Lakers but I don't see that happening.
• The Falcons are having a solid off season because they are doing what they said they were going to do and that is not be major players in the free agency market. However, the New Orleans Saints are making a lot of moves on defense and if everything pans out for them, they could be the favorite to win the NFC South.
• The Thrashers are playing great hockey down the stretch but an they build on this next year? Probably not.

I just wanted to get those points out there. In my next blog I'll take a closer look at the Falcons and who are the possible players the Falcons could pick in the first round of the draft.

Former college football star blogging from prision

Maurice Clarett looked to have a bright future ahead of him after leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to a National Championship in 2002. But things went downhill after that and now he is in prison due to armed robbery and gun possession charges and has been incarcerated since 2006. Recently, he started his own blog from prison and he talks about how he is becoming a better man and going back to school at Ohio University. It's really interesting so check it out by clicking here.

ATL Sports Guy on 790 the Zone

Hey Guys. I want to let you know that I am on Sports Radio 790 the Zone on Sundays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The five hour block is split into two shows. The first is Score Atlanta Sports Sunday with I.J. Rosenberg, Scott Janovitz, Fletcher Proctor and myself which runs from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The second show is called Score Atlanta's Offical Visit which has the same cast of characters plus Alex Ewalt which goes from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Today was my first time on the Offical Visit show and I should be on there a few more times if not from now on. So check us out on 790 AM on the radio dial or you can listen on the 790 the Zone website.

Two possible Falcons signees

Free agency period is here and the Falcons have said that they won't be major players in free agency. Now that's not saying that they won't pick up any players, but don't look for any big-name players (like Albert Haynesworth) coming to Flowery Branch anytime soon. But if I had a say in the players that the Falcons should sign, here's two players that I would like to see in a Falcons uniform.

Jermaine Phillips- He had some great years with the Tampa Bay Bucs and he is the safety the Falcons are looking for. He is aggressive at the point of attack and can grab interceptions with 11 in his seven-year career. The only problem is that he is injury-prone as he missed five games last season due to two broken arms. But it would make sense for the Falcons to sign him because he's from Roswell, Ga and played at UGA. So Phillips would love to come back to the ATL especially with the future bright for the Falcons.

Angelo Crowell- I would put Channing Crowder here but he signed a multi-year deal to stay with the Miami Dolphins. Not a name Falcons fans will know right off the bat, but hadsome good year with the Buffalo Bills and can contribute right away and the Falcons are going to need that because Keith Brooking and Michael Boley will not be with the team next year.

It should be an interesting first couple of days and I'm looking forward to who the Falcons sign if they sign anybody.

Falcons Report- Brooking could come back and Haynesworth not in Falcons 2009 plans

Last week, the hot topic at Flowery Branch was Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff telling atlantafalcons.com that he is looking to trade the rights to quarterback Michael Vick. This week, free agency is drawing closer and Dimitroff and company are talking to guys such as Keith Brooking, Michael Boley Dominique Foxworth and Lawyer Miloy as they become free agents on the 27th.

If you were to ask me what's going to happen, as to who stays and who goes, I think that when it's all said and done, Brooking stays and Boley will be playing elsewhere in 2009. I think the reason that Brooking will be back is the fact that he is one of the leaders of the defense. Sure, he is not as fast as he once was and he blew an assignment late in the wild card playoff game against Arizona, but he doesn't make mental mistakes and it will help Curtis Lofton if Brooking is patrolling the weakside linebacker position. As for Boley, he did not have the breakout year that most fans expected, so he will probably shop around to test the waters.

Miloy will stay because he is the locker room leader for the birds and Foxworth proved that he can be a nickel corner. But don't expect Albert Hayenesworth anchoring the defensive line for the Falcons because Dimitroff said that they won't be major players when it comes to signing big free agents. This is good because they are sticking to their philosophy which is building through the draft and get quality veterans through free agency. That's how the New England Patriots did it and that's why they won titles in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

In one of my blogs next week I will predict the free agent the Falcons will try to sign. As mentioned earlier, they won't be big names, but I have some players in mind that can help the Falcons go deeper in the playoffs this season and for years to come.

Podcast 02-19-09

In this podcast, I talk about Ken Griffey Jr. and Michael Vick. Both have Atlanta ties but both won't play for any teams from Atlanta anytime soon. Click on the link above to take a listen.

Hawks Midseason Report

The second half of the 2008-09 NBA season is about to get underway and the Hawks are coming in with a 31-21 record, their best since 1997. So what do they need to do in order to keep up the intensity and try top catch up with the Orlando Magic and earn the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference? Well, here's what I think the Hawks need to do in order to have a successful end to their season.

1. Stay Healthy- The break helps because it gives players a time to rest their bodies. Josh Smith Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby and Al Horford have missed time due to injuries and those are the starting five for the Hawks.

2. Protect Philips- This goes for any NBA team trying to make the playoffs and the Hawks have done a good job winning at home with a 19-6 record which is the fourth best in the conference. They only have one more home game this month as they take on the Miami Heat on the 27th, but after that, they have 12 home games in March including a nationally televised game again the Cavs on March 1 and on the 29th they go up againt Kobe and the Lakers. So the Hawks have an opportunity to gain so ground.

3. MAKE FREE THROWS- Any time I watch a Hawks game, it seems like they struggle to make shots from the charity stripe and lose games because of it. They are 29th in the league in free throws shooting 73.9%. But guess who is ranked 30th? It's none other that the Orlando Magic shooting 72%. I think the reason for this is both teams have high 3pt percentage with the Hawks in 11th place and the Magic are atop the league making 40 percent of their shots beyond the arc.

I think if the Hawks can do these three things, they can make some noise at the end of the season and lock up at least the No. 4 spot. Johnson and Bibby will keep doing what the have been doing so Smith, Horford and Williams just need to get better. Regardless of what happens, the city of Atlanta should get excited because the Hawks have a chance to do something special this spring.

A-Rod on roids, Favre retires and Chris Brown beating up Rihanna?

Well, nobody is safe when it comes to baseball players. Earlier this week there were reports that Alex Rodriguez tested positve for steriod use in 2003. At first, he denied it when he was interviewed by Katie Couric. But a couple of days ago, Rodriguez admitted to ESPN that he did use steroids from 2001-2003 when he was with the Texas Rangers. Now, in 2003 he did win the AL MVP award and was the homerun leader.

So here's my question - Is he a Hall-of-Famer? The answer is yes because if he only used steriods from 2001-2003 and he was clean from 2004 to present time, I think the numbers would dictate he would still make it to Cooperstown. He made a mistake and he lied to the public about making the mistake. But it goes to show you that anyone that is accused of using steriods, can you trust a player when they say they didn't do it? And if a player say that they didn't use steroids and they really didn't, will the fans believe the player? Those are a few questions to think about.

Brett Favre announced that he will retire and it looks as if he is really hanging it up this time. I know that a lot of people don't like Favre for various reasons. But I love Favre for what he did on the field. Sure, he wasn't as smart as Tom Brady and as accurate as Peyton Manning, but what he did was played the game like the way it should be played. He gave 100 precent every time he stepped on the field and was a absolute warrior. He threw over 300 interceptions but threw for over 400 touchdowns. He won the most games out of any quarterback and has a Super Bowl ring so he is certainly a first ballot Hall-of-Famer. Congratulations Brett on a great career and good luck on your retirement.

Somebody who I won't congratulate is Chris Brown because there are reports comming out that he physically assaulted his girlfriend Rihanna. Both were scheduled to be at the Grammys and both canceled at the last minute. Brown's songs have been pulled from radio stations and he will no longer do the DoubleMint and Got Milk commercials. If he really did this to Rihanna, I lost a lot of respect for him and he needs get some help before he even thinks about music, TV or film.

Podcast 02-09-09

I wasn't going to do a podcast today, but I wanted to talk about the Jamal Anderson ordeal because it's shocking to say the least. I also get into what's going on with the Falcons and I have an opinion on the Hilary Duff and Faye Dunaway catfight. So click on the title above and download it already.

Top 10 most anticipated movies for 2009

I'm a huge movie fan and I want to use this space to talk about the most anticipated movies for this year. 2008 brought us The Dark Knight which was a classic, Pineapple Express which was funny and Tropic Thunder was just mindless fun. Other than that, it wasn't a great year for movies (just take a look at the nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards). This year should not be the same story as some recognizable characters are coming to the big screen. So here is my list of movies that are worth seeing this year:

10. Race to Witch Mountain

9. Land of the Lost

8. Angels and Demons

7. Star Trek

6. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

5. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

4. Terminator: Salvation

3. Transformers: Revenge

2: X- MEN Origins: Wolverine

1. G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra

Wolverine would be No.1 on my list, but after seeing the trailer for G.I. Joe, I have to put it on the top spot. Nonetheless, this should be a better year at the box office and by looking at my list, it should be a great deal of action packed films that should not disappoint.

Podcast 02-05-09

Hey guys. I just posted a new podcast and it talks about Bobby Knight, National Signing Day and the retirement of a Falcons player. So take a listen when you get a chance. Just click on the title above.

Falcons update 2/4/09

Free agency begins at the end of the month and there have been talks that the Falcons are aiming to get defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth from the Tennessee Titans. Haynesworth has not been happy with the ongoing contract negotiations with the Titans and said that he would like to play close to home since he is from Hartsville, SC. So playing for the Carolina Panthers or the Falcons will be a likely fit for the two-time pro bowler. If the Falcons are able to get him signed, it would improve their defensive line a great deal. But I do believe that they should address the outside linebacker and defensive end positions as well because even though Jamaal Anderson had a better year than in 2007, he is still very raw and linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley are now free agents and there is a good chance both of them will not return for the 2009 season.


Other than free agency, there is not much going on right now as far as Falcons news, Roddy White and Michael Turner are now in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl and the coaches got back from the Senior Bowl and will now get ready for the NFL Combine which takes place on Feb. 18. But I will take a close look at the Michael Vick story this summer as he will get out of prison before training camp begins and we’ll see if he is let back into the league or has to wait another year. If he is allowed to play, expect the Falcons trade the rights to him for a key player or a draft pick.

Super Bowl Preview: The coaches, outcome and MVP

I’m going to make this quick because I think I’ve done enough blogging about a game that is not a huge draw. But the last aspect I do want to talk about is the coaches.

For Arizona, Ken Whisenhunt has done his best coaching job against Atlanta where he got the team to be more physical at the point of attack. They were able to build fomr that win and went on to destroy Carolina and Philadelphia. Other than Kurt Warner, he is the reason that the offense is one the best in the NFL. In fact, he was the offensive coordinator for the Steelers when they won their last Super Bowl in 2005. He will have this team ready and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals come out with a fast start.

Even though I liked what Whisenhunt has done with the Birds, I have to say this about the Steelers head man Mike Tomlin; I’m a huge fan of his. Every time I see him I say to myself, “This is a NFL coach.” He is only 36 years old but sounds like he has been a head coach for the last 20 years. The best coaching decision he has made is keeping defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau on the staff and keeping the 3-4 defense. That doesn’t seem like a big deal to most, but Tomlin is a disciple of Tony Dungy which means that he runs a 4-3 Tampa 2 defense which is highly successful. He has the intensity of Bill Cowher and the calmness of Chuck Knoll which is the reason why Pittsburgh hired him in 2007.

So who do I think is going to win the game? It really could go either way, but I have to go with the Steelers by 10. I think because their defense is so smothering, it’s going to be difficult for Warner to et anytime in the pocket. But if Arizona gets off to another fast start like they have in the last three games, they will win because the Steelers offense is not built to come from behind. I don’t see that happening though and I think that the MVP of the Super Bowl will be Heath Miller. A tight end you say? I know it’s odd, but I really believe with Hines Ward hurt, Miller is going to come up with some big catches and will lead the men in the black and gold to their sixth Super Bowl victory. That’s it for now. Have a safe and fun Super Bowl Sunday.

From a Cardinals View

Hey guys, if you want to learn more about the Cardinals, go to www.glitzandblitz.com. Kiki and I went to Kennesaw State together and she now lives on the West Coast. She is a huge USC Trojan and Arizona Cardinals and has good opinions on NCAA and NFL football. And you know she is excited about Sunday.

Super Bowl Preview: The Playmakers

As I have already mentioned, Super Bowl 43 is not an anticipated ball game and I think that everybody is taking the Steelers because very few people know anything about the Arizona Cardinals. But I think it will be a close game and there are a few players to watch for on both teams.


Over the past 40 years, the Steelers have been known for playing hard-nosed, smash mouth football and the 2009 squad is no different. In my previous blog I talked about Ben Roethlisberger and how he doesn’t have to play well in order for the Steelers to win. The reason for that is running back Willie Parker is the catalyst for what the Steelers want to do on offense – run the ball and throw on play action. Parker is having a solid postseason with two touchdowns and averaging 3.8 yards-per carry. But I think the most important piece on the Steelers offense is former Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward. He has not scored a touchdown in the postseason, but can stretch the field and can make bone-crushing block. Ward will be playing with some pain as he suffered a knee injury in the AFC Championship game against the Ravens. If he is not effective, look for receiver Santonio Holmes and tight end Heath Miller to pick up some of the slack.

As good as the Arizona offense has been this postseason, they have their most daunting task as the go up against a Steeler defense that has been ranked No. 1 in the NFL all season long. They are led by linebacker James Harrison who was named Defensive Player of the Year when the regular season ended. But also watch out for linebacker James Farrior who leads the team in tackles in the postseason linebacker LaMarr Woodley who has four sacks in the last two games. But the one player that Kurt Warner needs to find on every play is safety Troy Polamalu. He is dangerous when it come to stopping the run or defending the pass. I can also make the argument that he is slightly better than Ed Reed, but that’s another blog for another day. Their version of the 3-4 scheme is what other teams aspire to be and fans what a top-notched NFL defense is on Sunday.

Now on to the Cardinals. As I mentioned earlier, they don’t have household names other than Kurt Warner. But Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald make up the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL and when they are both on, they are extremely dangerous. Running back Edgerin James is not the back he was earlier in the decade with the Indianapolis Colts, but he has rejuvenated himself this postseason and he was one of the reasons that the Cardinals were able to get past the Falcons and the Panthers. But I have to give credit to their offensive line because they have kept Warner upright all throughout the playoffs. Led by Levi Brown and Mike Gandy, the O-line is a big unit with the average weight around 325 pounds.

Defensively, the Cardinals don’t make as many plays as the Steelers defense, however, they are probably the fastest unit in the game. Linebacker Karlos Dansby leads the team in tackles (28) while cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie leads the team in interceptions (2). Safety Ardian Wilson is the Cardinals version of Polamalu and can lay a lick on a receiver. Darnell Dockett, Roderick Hood and Bertrand Berry are also having great outings in the playoffs and will have to come up big against an aggressive Steelers ground attack. That shouldn’t be a problem because they were able to stop the likes of Michael Turner, DeAngleo Williams and Brian Westbrook to make their way to Tampa.

That’s part two of my Super Bowl 43 preview. Come back on Saturday as I take a look at the coaches and make my predictions and who will win the Super Bowl MVP.

Falcons update 1/29/09

I thought I would do something new and give a weekly Atlanta Falcons update since I have covered the team for the past three seasons and I think the 2009 year is an important year for the franchise because they have a chance to have back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in team history.

For the most part, it has been quiet in Flowery Branch and that is a good thing because there has been so many coaching changes and the Falcons have been fortunate to keep all their coaches in tact (especially Mike Mularkey who is the OC). But there has been a few notes before Super Bowl 43 kicks off on Sunday. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has been named NFL Executive of the Year by Sporting News. This is no surprise as he tuned an 4-12 team into a 11-5 playoff team with a rookie quarterback and and a rookie head coach. With Matt Ryan winning ROY and Mike Smith winning COY, the Falcons became the first team ever to win those three awards in the same year. I really believe that the Falcons are on the right track and expect those three to led the Birds to more wins for the next 5-10 years.

And speaking of winners, former Falcons Claude Humphrey is a finalist for the Hall of Fame and will know if he will be inducted on Saturday. He is the Falcons all-time leader in sacks (94.5) and went to six Pro Bowls. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1968 and led the Falcons in sacks eight of 10 seasons. Atlantafalcons.com managing editor J. Michael Moore sat down with Humphrey so go to www.atlantafalcons.com for more information.

That's it for now. I will have a Super Bowl preview on Friday and it will be on the coaches and playmakers. Take care folks.

Super Bowl Preview: The Quarterbacks

Well, the Super Bowl is only days away. Are you excited? Didn't think so because even with this game being the biggest game in the No. 1 sport in America, there is not a lot to talk about when it comes to story lines and angles. But I think the most intriguing thing to look for in the NFL Championship is the the two quarterbacks as both Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner have won the big game and who ever wins on Sunday will solidify themselves as a Hall-of-Famer. Here's what each player bring to the table:

BIG BEN

Okay, maybe it's too early to say he will make it to Canton , but with a win on Sunday won't hurt his chances. Most media types would say that the road for Roethlisberger has been easy since the Steelers have made the postseason four out his first five seasons and reaching two Super Bowls. That is far from the truth because he has take a beating like no other quarterback I've seen. Concussions are not new to him with the last one he suffered was right before the playoffs in a game against the Cleveland Browns. He is not a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady type who is going to throw the ball all over the field, but when he has to throw he is extremely effective, especially when he rolls out of the pocket. He has over 100 passing touchdowns and 14,000 passing yards in his career and has a rating of 89.4 which puts him sixth all-time. He engrave his name as one of the Steelers' all-time players if he can get a win on Sunday.

WARNER

But Kurt Warner has proved that he's still got it and is hungry for another ring. Most people know the Warner story; bagging groceries, playing in the Arena Football League and in 1999 he got his chance with the St. Lois Rams because Trent Green suffered a season-ending injury and all he did was led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory with one of the most high-powered offenses in NFL history. But after that things went downhill for the veteran, he did go to another Super Bowl two years later and was beat by a younger Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Then he fell out of favor in St. Louis and was sent to New York. But Eli Manning beat Warner out and now it was on to see the Cardinals and Warner got his chance to be the full-time starter beating out Matt Leinart. Warner had one of his best seasons as a pro with 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns. And with his help, the Cardinals were able to beat the Falcons (ugh), Panthers and Eagles to make their way to Tampa. Regardless of how the game goes, Warner has a good chance to, reach the Hall-of-Fame. He third all-time in passer rating with 93.8. Warner has also thrown for nearly 30,000 yards and has won the MVP award twice.

So who do I give the edge to? At first I said Warner, but the more I think about it, I say it's a push. Both have rings and they make plays when they need to. Warner does have the better numbers and has the MVPs, but Roethlisberger could win a few awards when his career ends and could end up with a better win-loss record when all is said and done. I will say this, both quarterbacks will need to play well if they want to hold the trophy late Sunday night.

New Podcast

Hey guys, I have a new podcast. Click on the title above if you want to hear my take on the Mt. Rushmore of Georgia sports. Have a great night.

Ed Dudley: One of the great high school coaches

High School football in Georgia is something that we cherish. I played at Walton High School and my coach was Ed Dudley. After I graduated in 2000, I would go back from time-to-time and see how he and the football team was doing. Every time I would go back. I said to myself “He is going to be here until he wins a state title and I can see him retiring here at Walton.”


Well, I was wrong about that statement as he announced on Thursday that he is leaving Walton to be the Head Football coach for Ware County down in Waycross. I’ll be honest, I was caught off guard because I don’t’ think anybody from the High School thought that he would be looking at other places to coach. He said on Thursday that it was a tough decision and that he loves the small town football atmosphere and is excited about the opportunity.


I think it’s safe to say that the people from Ware County did their research because what Coach Dudley did at Walton was nothing but amazing. Before he arrived at Walton in 1995, Walton only claimed one region title. During his tenure, he had won the region crown in 1999 (which I was a member of), 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. He has led the 2004 and 2007 Raiders to the state semifinals and has coached 10 first-team All-State players. So he is leaving the program in better shape then what Robbie Robertson did after leaving in 1994.


Dudley is going down to Ware County who is replacing interim coach John Stephens. Stephens was replacing longtime coach Dan Ragle who led the Gators to a state title appearance in 2007 losing to Northside-Warner Robins. Dudley will come into the program that is expected to take that next step and win the state title. Based on the other teams in the region such as Brunswick and Glynn Academy, he should make the playoffs every year if the players respond to him.


So why did he leave? I may not be the right person to ask question, but based on the story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday, It probably came down to a change of scenery. After living in urban East Cobb for 14 years, rural South Georgia sounded nice to him and also the fact that Ware County football is the only team that the community can rally around, not like Walton where Lassiter, Pope and Wheeler are within a 10-mile radius. I know that the faculty, staff, students and alumni are disappointed that he is leaving, but he is going on to do bigger and better things. Not only he was a good coach, he was a great teacher and was like a father figure to most of his players. The only thing that I can say is thank you coach for what you’ve done for Walton over the last 14 years and good luck to you in Waycross. I hope you do get that state title that you have been chasing for so long.

Basketball in Georgia: UGA, Tech and Hawks

If you don’t already know, I’m a huge football fan and with me covering the Falcons for the past three years for SCORE Atlanta (check us out at http://www.scoreatl.com/), my blogs on this site tend to be more focused on the pigskin. But this time I want to talk about basketball and where it stands in the state of Georgia when it comes to college and pro.


First, I want to focus on the Georgia Bulldogs. I’ll be honest, I haven’t watched a lot of Georgia Basketball this year, but I ask myself “are they ever going to turn that corner?” After winning the SEC Tournament in Atlanta last year, I thought this team is taking a step in the right direction. But I was wrong. In their last game against the Kentucky Wildcats, the Dawgs only shot 31 percent from the floor. In fact, they have yet to beat an SEC opponent this season. Now I will say the team is relatively young with Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie both true freshmen and they second and third on the team when it comes to scoring, respectively. But from what I’ve seen, somebody has to step up if they want to make another run at the SEC crown. With Florida improving and Tennessee continue to play at a high level, it’s going to be a hard road for the Dawgs to get back to their winning ways.


Now on to Tech. Before I go any further, Georgia has an excuse for struggling because they do not get the recruits that Tech does. It seems that GT has the tools to compete in the ACC, but they have yet to win a conference game and are standing at 9-9 overall. Former Norcross standout Gani Lawal has played well, leading the team in points-per-game and rebounds-per-game. But it seems as if the Jackets are out of sync and have a lot of growing up to do. They have the ability to get off to fast starts, but for one reason or the other, they cannot close out games whether its turnovers or missed opportunities, the Jackets are struggling and the schedule is not going to get easier with Clemson and Wake Forest on the horizon. I’ll say this, Derrick Favors and Glen Rice Jr. cannot come to Tech soon enough.


And now the Hawks. This team is a prime example that if you continue to build through the draft and acquire the right players via trades, you can be successful in the NBA. They currently stand at 25-16 which is good enough for fourth in the Easter Conference. They are doing this with good backcourt play by Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby, and solid bench play by Mo Evans and Flip Murray. They have been better defensively and can shoot the trey if they need to. They still need that a good post player, but they will make the playoffs and could possibly win their first round series. They just need to get healthy as Marvin Williams, Al Horford and Acie Law are out due to injuries.


So I’m disappointed that the Georgia and Georgia Tech, but the Hawks are finally back to their winning ways after a decade hiatus. With high school basketball big in the Atlanta area, Georgia and Tech fans can hope that both teams can improve keeping the best high school players in the area in state. If they can do that, they will get better. As for the Hawks, they just need to keep playing at a high level and try to better their seeding. But nonetheless, Philips Arena should be rocking this spring as they make another playoff push.

Falcons magical 2008 season comes to a dissappointing end

I've gotta say this. I'm disappointed but I'm not discouraged. The Falcons lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the wild card round of the NFL Playoffs 30-24. It was a game where they stared off slow, came back to take the lead in the second half and made too many mistakes at the end. Were the Cardinals the better team? On Saturday yes. But don't get it twisted, the Falcons exceeded expectations because nobody (and I do mean nobody) expected this team to accomplished what they did in 2008.

From Matt Ryan winning Offensive Rookie of the Year to Mike Smith winning NFL Coach of the Year, this team is built to win for many seasons to come. It's not like the 1998 Super Bowl season where the team was built around veterans and their only rookie that got a good amount of playing time is Keith Brooking. Or in 2002 or 2004 where the team would do well depending on how Michael Vick would do. What this team accomplished with so many young players is amazing and could make a run at the big game within the next three years. I think the only problem is that their schedule for next year is a daunting one to say the least. They will of course play Carolina, Tampa Bay and New Orleans at home and on the road, but the will face the NFC East opponents and the AFC opponents as well. That means that they will have to face Philadelphia, Dallas, New York Giants the Jets, New England and Miami. They will also have to face the Chicago Bears again at the Georgia Dome and will be back on the west coast to take on the San Fransisco 49ers.

If they are able to win at least 10 games in 2009, there is no reason that they can't reach the Super Bowl. This will be a busy offseason for Mike Smith and Thomas Dimtroff as they will evaluate the roster and see who they will keep and who they need to let go. Also Michael Vick will get out of Jail in July and if they can trade the rights to him and get a quality player, that would be beneficial to the franchise. But I can't wait for the 2009 season and I know that the players are looking forward to it as well because they want to get that bad taste of Arizona out of their mouths.

Falcons vs. Cardinals Preview

Okay. This is it. The Atlanta Falcons are in the playoffs and are coming into the the tournament winning three consecutive games. The Arizona Cardinals are limping into the postseason, winning only two of their final six games. In fact, six of the nine wins that Arizona produced came from their divisional opponents in which all have losing records. But they do have a high-powered offense where receivers Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston all went over 1,000 yards receiving for the 2008 year. Here's a closer look at the game:

WHEN THE FALCONS ARE ON OFFENSE...

Quarterback Matt Ryan had a great season and was rewarded this week as he won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. But he has struggled the latter part of the season as he has thrown five interceptions in the last five games. But still makes plays when the team needs him to. The Falcons are going to try to keep Arizona's offense off the field by grinding it out with Michael Turner who has over 1,600 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns on the year. Both of those numbers were good enough to put him in second place in both categories and ever came in second place for NFL MVP. The Cardinals defense will try to contain Turner as well as spell running back Jerious Norwood with the help of linebacker Carlos Dansby and cornerback Antrel Rolle. Dansby leads the team in tackles with 119 while Rolle is right behind him with 89. Adrian Wilson could also come down from his safety position to help with the run defense as they give up 110 rushing yards-per-game.

If the Cardinals do stop the running attack, no worries because Ryan has a No. 1 receiver in Roddy White who pulled down 88 catches, 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns. Michael Jenkins has developed into a solid No.2 receiver and has come up with big catches all season long. The Cardinals pass defense is not great as they give up around 220 passing yards-per-game and Bertrand Berry leads the team in sacks with only five.

WHEN THE FALCONS ARE ON DEFENSE...

John Abraham is the play maker for the Falcons defense and Lawyer Miloy is the emotional leader. Both of theses players will have to play at a high level on Saturday in order to shut down Boldin, Fitzgerald and Breaston. Abraham leads the team and all NFL defensive lineman in sacks with 16.5 (and yet he didn't make the Pro Bowl), and Miloy isn't the safety he was five years ago, but he did have a good season with 93 tackles and one interception. Kieth Brooking led the team in tackles again with 102 and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton has a stellar rookie campaign with 94 tackles.

Arizona has one of the best passing attacks in the league and will try to attack a small Falcons secondary early and often. Brent Grimes, Chris Houston and Dominique Foxworth are the corners for the Falcons and will have their hands full. But they are aggressive at the point of attack and will be in your face for the entire game. Quarterback Kurt Warner is having his best season and will try to use his playoff experience to carry his team to victory.

THE BOTTOM LINE...

What this game comes down to is ball control and which team can pressure the quarterback. The one thing that the Falcons do better than any team is getting off to a fast start. The led the NFC in first quarter points and were third in first quarter points allowed. They are also coming into this game with a three-game winning and are as confident as they have ever been. The Cardinals are confident because they are hosting a playoff game and are coming of a much needed victory. But they have struggled and have not faced a running attack like the Falcons. The same can be said for the Falcons as they have not faced a passing game like Arizona, but they are able to apply pressure with their defensive line and do not have to blitz. Also, the Falcons are known as being one of the most aggressive teams in the NFL and if they hit the Cardinals hard early it will be hard for the Arizona to hit back. So with that the Falcons win 24-17 and win their first road playoff game since 2002.