The Atlanta Sports Guy

My Thoughts On The Falcons 2011 Draft

2011-05-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

It’s been two weeks since the Falcons made one of the biggest draft day moves in recent memory, as they traded up in the first round to grab Julio Jones. When you make a move like the Falcons did, there is a price to pay, and for the Falcons, they had to surrender their first round pick, second round pick, fourth round pick and next year’s first round and fourth round picks.

When I first heard about the trade, I was a little shocked that the Falcons would make a move like this. General manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith are about building through the draft and not making any risky moves. So as a result, they have built this current team though the draft while adding key free agents.

But now that I think about it and let the trade sink in, I like the move. There are times where a franchise has to make a bold move in order to take that next step. The Falcons were 13-3 last year and won the NFC South Division as well as having the best record in the conference. But Smith was clear that they needed to be more explosive plays on offense. The Falcons did score a lot of points last year, but the reason for that is they were able to control the clock and make little to zero mistakes.

They did have more dire needs on draft day, especially when it comes to the defensive line, offensive line and linebackers. But the organization felt Jones was the right fit for the Falcons in terms of what they want to do on offense moving forward.

So here’s what the Falcons should look like. You have Matt Ryan at quarterback, Michael Turner at running back, Roddy White and Jones at the wideouts and Tony Gonzalez at the tight end spots. All of these players made it to the pro bowl except for Jones, and if everything goes according to plan, Jones should be making trips to Hawaii on a yearly basis.

Did the Falcons give up a lot to get an unproven player? Yes. But the reality is they had a chance to get a player with a huge upside and they seized the moment. Since 2008, the Falcons have been sitting back and not making any bold moves. Now, with the Saints looking to get back to the Super Bowl and Tampa Bay being a team on the rise, the Falcons had to make sure they stay on top and they felt like this was the way to do it.

Now, all this is pending because the NFL is still in its lockout, but If Jones becomes the player we all hope he can be this year, the Falcons will have another legitimate shot to win the Super Bowl this year.

But what if he doesn’t pan out? What if he struggles and the Falcons are 8-8 when the 2011 season concludes? How much heat will Dimitroff have on him if Jones does not perform?

GHSA to Vote on Reclassification in May

2011-04-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

Camden County has been one of the most successful football programs in the state of Georgia for the last decade. But because the school is located on the border with Florida, the Wildcats have to travel long distances for away games which is not fun for coaches, players and fans.

Because Camden, along with other schools in the more remote parts of Georgia, the GHSA has two proposed plans to reclassify teams to make competition better and traveling easier. One plan is features six classifications while the other plan would feature more eight state champions per gender per sport. Here’s a look at the proposed plans.

CHAMPIONSHIPS GALORE …

Back in 2000, the GHSA realigned classes and added a 5A classification for schools with a large number of students. So schools such as Walton, Brookwood, Lowndes and Valdosta were in 5A due to the number of enrolled students, generally over 2,000. With the first proposed plan, 5A would be gone and there would only be four classifications. However, there would be more state champions crowned.

Why is that? Because each region for each classification would be divided into two groups: the upper tier and lower tier. The upper tier will have schools with the larger enrollments while the lower tier will feature the smaller enrollments.

Here’s an example. Region 1 in Class 4A will have 10 schools including Lowndes, Valdosta and Northside (Warner Robins). But due to enrollment, Lowndes would play in the upper tier, while Valdosta and Northside would compete in the lower tier.

Now, here’s how the playoffs would take shape. For a sport like football, each region for each tier will have assigned slots for the tournament. In the system that is in place today, each region gets four slots for playoffs. That won’t be the case with the new proposal because some regions will only have two or three teams in a tier for a certain region. Just like Camden County, which is in the same region as six other schools, but due to their population being over 2,200, Camden along with Brunswick are the only teams in the upper tier. So when the playoffs come around, only one of those two teams will earn a spot in postseason action.

MAKE IT SIX …

The other proposed plan, which has not been talked about as much as the four classification plan, is adding a sixth class which would aim at splitting the teams in 5A because of the difference between the state’s largest school and the lowest populated school in 5A is dramatic. Alabama has a similar structure where they have six classifications with the sixth class being the highest in enrollment and the first class being the lowest. This plan has not been laid out as much as the four-classification plan because this plan is focused primarily on Class 5A.

So when is this all going to kick off? The GHSA is going to meet in mid-May to vote on the 4/8 plan. If the plan receives enough votes by the executive committee, then the plan would be in action during the 2012-13 school year. If not, then the five-class plan will continue until the 2013-14 school year. One thing’s for sure, high school athletics in Georgia will never be the same.

Additonal Thoughts On Wrestlemania 27

2011-04-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

It’s been a week since Wrestlemania XXVII electrified the Georgia Dom and I have to say it was a wild, crazy and fun weekend. From Wrestlemania Axxess to the actual event at the Georgia Dome, it was a weekend I will never forget.

So I wanted to take this opportunity to grade Wrestlemania because there are large majority of people thought it wasn’t that great. One of my good friends, Variable-Y has a wrestling blog and you can read his opinion on Wrestlemania here.

He thought it was a good show and gave it a B+. I will also give the same grade because while the order of matches was not favorable, the matches themselves were solid and the production was top-notched.

The best match of the night had to be Triple H vs. The Undertaker. I think everyone who was watching knew that Undertaker was going to win, but by the way things were going, it looked as if Triple H was going to come away with a win. Both superstars are veterans and they put on a performance that nobody will soon forget.

Other matches that were good were Randy Orton vs. CM Punk, Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes. However, they should have made the Edge-Del Rio match a little longer and it should not have been the first match of the night. That made zero sense.

The worst match of the night had to be Jerry the King Lawler vs. Michael Cole. It wasn’t the fact it was a bad match, it was the fact that there was so much hype surrounding the match and it did not live up to expectations Cole’s wrestling ability is limited, but the match got dull midway through and the ending could have been better.

And I have to mention the John Cena vs. The Miz contest for the WWE title. It was a solid match, but I think everyone was expecting to see The Rock come out to determine the outcome of the match. He did and he gave Cena the Rock Bottom and Miz was able to retain the title. Some people thought the end of the match was predictable, but what else could they do? Besides, they had little time left to do anything else so the end of that match works in more ways than one.

Overall, it was a good night for the WWE. It wasn’t the greatest Wrestlemania, but I did not expect it to be the best of all-time. Sunday was a time for WWE Superstars and Divas to perform in their biggest show of the year. That doesn’t mean the show is automatically going to be great just because they are performing in front of 72,000 fans at the Georgia Dome and millions of fans across the globe.

But it was a good show and they should make their way back to Atlanta in the next 5-10 years. And if they do come back to the ATL, trust me when I say I will be there and take part in all the festivities.

Wrestlemania 27 was a huge success for Atlanta

2011-04-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

This was a piece I submitted for Score Atlanta, but due to time and miscommunication on my part, it was never posted on scoreatl.com. But here it is anyway and I will have more thoughts on Wrestlemania later in the week.

Big sporting events in Atlanta is nothing new to the city. The Final Four, World Series, the NBA All-Star game, the Major League Baseball All-Star game and the Super Bowl have graced the Peach State the last two decades.

But there is one event that took place this past Sunday that could have been the biggest of them all. An event where Drew Carey and Pee Wee Herman made an appearance along with Jersey Shore’s Snooki and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Wrestlemania XXVII took place at the Georgia Dome and to say that it was a success would be an understatement. Pro wrestling has always been big in Atlanta, so it made sense for the biggest show in sports entertainment to make its way to the dome.

“WrestleMania XXVII was an overwhelming success and one for the Atlanta history books,” said John P. Saboor who is the Senior Vice Presidents of Special Events for the WWE. “WWE would like to thank our public and private sector partners for helping to make WWE’s annual pop-culture extravaganza a memorable one.”

But Wrestlemania does not take place for just one night. It’s a week-long event that starts with the Wrestlemania Art show where the WWE Superstars showcase their artistic side with painting of other wrestlers, and the paintings are on display at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

Then, Wrestlemania Axxess kicked off the following day, which was held at the Georgia World Congress Center. I went to Axxess on Friday and it had everything a Wrestling fan could ask for. Not only fans get to get autographs and photos with their favorite Superstar and/or Diva, there was also a ring in the center of Axxess for fans to enjoy live matches and Q&A sessions with their favorite wrestlers. There were also championship belts on display and fans could play the new video game WWE All-Stars on the Playstation 3 or XBOX 360.

The night before Wrestlemania is a special night for fans as well as WWE Superstars, Divas and Legends. The 2011 Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place at Philips Arena and it was a time to honor some of the most influential people in WWE history. The 2011 inductees included, the dynamic tag team the Legion of Doom with Paul Ellering, the first WWE Diva Sunny, hardcore legend Abdullah the Butcher, “Bullett” Bob Armstong, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Drew Carey and Shawn Michaels who according to some say he is the best in-ring performer of all-time. The inductees told stories about how they got into this business and why they love it so much.

Then Sunday was the main event, Wrestlemania XXVII. Fans were lining up at the Georgia Dome as early as noon which was four and a half hours before the doors opened. Once the show started at 7:00 p.m. the fans were loud from the start until the final match was over which was at 11:00 p.m.

What got the crowd going was when The Rock came out to open the show. The Rock, who made his return to the ring six weeks ago after being gone the last seven years, got the crowd amped up and ready for the show. He also came back at the end of the show to “lay the smack down” on John Cena and WWE Champion The Miz.

There were 71,617 fans in attendance for Wrestlemania. While it’s not an overall dome record, it’s a record for the highest attend entertainment event at the Georgia Dome which is an 11-year old record. This year’s Wrestlemania also grossed $6.6 million which broke the Georgia Dome record set by the U2 concert which grossed $5.7 million.

So does this mean Wrestlemania will be back next year? No, because Wrestlemania XXVIII will be in Miami. But because this Wrestlemania was so successful and the WWE being a popular brand in the city, it’s safe to say that Wrestlemania will be back in the very near future.

The Atlanta Sports Guy 2011 Wrestlemania Preview

2011-04-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Twenty six Wrestlemanias have come and gone, and today the city of Atlanta, as well as the rest of the world will be treated to Wrestlemania XXVII. I have to say that I’m looking forward to it and it should be a very entertaining night. Here’s a preview of the entire card as well as predictions for each match.

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio – I think Rey will win the match because the stipulation is if he loses, he will have to take off his mask and I don’t think that is going to happen. This has a chance to be a very good match because Rhodes is a rising star and I know he wants to put on a good show for his hometown crowd. And Mysterio has been in the business for years and knows how to put on a performance – especially when it’s Wrestlemania.

The Core vs. Kane, the Big Show, Santino Marello and a mystery partner – The reason for the mystery partner is Vladmir Kozlov was brutally attacked by the Core during a match at Wrestlemania Axxess. I think the Core will win because the WWE seems to like the group since Wade Barrett is the Intercontinental Champion and the team of Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater are the Unified Tag Team Champions. Should be an okay match, but I’m curious who could the mystery partner be. It should be very interesting.

LayCool and Dolph Ziggler vs. Trish Status, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and John Morrison – Because this features a celebrity, I can’t see Snooki, Trish and Morrison losing. I don’t see this match being long and expect Snooki to use her gymnastics background in the match. Personally, I’m just glad to see Trish back in a WWE ring.

Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus for the WWE U.S. Championship – I have to go with Sheamus. I think they are going to give him a bigger push this year after not ending 2010 on a high note. Though, Bryan is liked by fans and he could win to solidify him as one of the up and coming starts on the roster. This should solid match because they seem to work well together.

Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole (with Jack Swagger), special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin – I have to go with Lawler and the reason is this is Lawler’s first Wrestlemania match believe it or not, and I feel after putting a pretty good match against WWE Champion the Miz at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, the win at Wrestlemaina will be a reward for his work in the ring. Now the question is how is he going to win? His finishing move is the pile driver and the move has been banned by the WWE.

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk – I’m going to make a bold prediction and say this will be the best match of the night and the one I’m looking the most forward to. As far as a prediction, I’ll go with Orton to get the win. However, they could have Punk earn the victory and make him more a bigger heel than he is right now. The WWE has done a great job hyping this match and it has a chance to steal the show.

Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – I have to go with Del Rio to take home the belt. He has done a good job working the fans and a win at ‘Maina will give the WWE something new to work with on Smackdown. But I have to say I’m a huge Edge fan and I hope he remains the champ. But with all the talk about Del Rio being the champion, I don’t see Edge getting the win at the Georgia Dome.

John Cena vs. the Miz for the WWE Championship – I have to go with Cena because whether fans love him or hate him, he is the face of the WWE and a win will add to his legacy. But how will he win? We all know the Rock is going to get involved. Will he help Cena, or will the Rock wait to come out after Cena wins and challenge him to a match? Should be a lot of fun.

Undertaker vs. Triple H – This is probably going to be the last match of the night and I have to say the Undertaker is going to go 19-0 when the night is over. This should be a good match, but the Undertaker is broken down and on his way to retirement. The same can be said about Triple H because he is doing more stuff backstage and it will be only a matter of time when he takes more control over the company. And there one important thing to mention about this match. Before this match was even booked, Triple H said in an interview that the Undertaker’s Wrestlemaia win streak should never be broken. I have to agree with him because the “Dead Man” has given so much to the company and have never complained about anything.

So here’s a recap of the winners:

-Rey Mysterio

-The Corre

-Trish Stratus, John Morrison and Snooki

-Sheamus

-Jerry Lawler

-Randy Orton

-Alberto Del Rio

-John Cena

-The Undertaker

Should be an exciting Wrestlemania and if you are going, have fun. It should be a night that we will never forget.

My top 5 Wrestlemania matches of all-time

2011-04-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

WWE Superstar Chris Jericho has said that if you have a great match at Wrestlemania, everyone will remember it. I have to agree with him, because some of my favorite matches have come from the big event, and with the matches on this year’s card like CM Punk vs. Randy Orton and Triple H vs. The Undertaker, there’s a chance a few of these matches will go down as some of the greatest in Wrestlemania history. Here’s my five best Wrestlemania matches of all-time:

5. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania X – It was the first ladder match in Wrestlemania history and it did not disappoint. Both men were Intercontinental Champions and the winner would the undisputed champion. Michaels and Ramon fought back-and-forth but it was “The Bad Guy” who came out on top. However, it was the beginning of many great performances for Michaels.

4. Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, Wrestlemania VI – This had to be the most anticipated matches at the time because both men were at the top of their game. Hogan was the WWE Champion and Warrior was the Intercontinental Champion. While not a technically sound match, both athletes put on a show for the fans. In the end, it was Warrior that became the new WWE Champion. It was one of the most memorable matches when I was growing up.

3. Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Wrestlemania 13 – This match is what made Stone Cold a star. He gave Hart fits all throughout the match but the Hitman was able to put his patented sharpshooter on Austin. The rattlesnake refused to give up and passed out in his own blood. Stone Cold may have lost the match which was for the WWE Championship, but he won the respect of every fan in that area that night and the rest is history.

2. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant, Wrestlemania III – This match was HUGE to say the least. Hulk was the champion, but he was facing a guy that was 7-feet-4 and 500 pounds and was undefeated for the last 14 years. When they faced each other for the championship at the Pontiac Silverdome, Andre looked to remain undefeated. But thanks to all 93,000 Hulkamaniacs, Hogan used every muscle in his body to body slam Andre and earn his biggest win of his career. It was a big moment for Hogan, but in the later years, Andre said it was a proud moment for him because it was kind of like a passing of the torch between him and Hogan.

1. “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Wrestlemania III – This has to be my favorite match of all-time and many wrestlers on the current WWE roster have echoed the same sediments. Savage was the Intercontinental champ was going up against Steamboat who lost to Savage a few months prior. The match lasted 15 minutes and both guys did everything they could to take each other out. Nobody knew how this match was going to end, until Savage attempted a scoop slam, but Steamboat reversed the move into a small package to earn the win. It’s a match every wrestling fan has to see because it was an absolute classic.

So there’s my list. I know there are some matches that should have made the cut such as the Rock vs. Hogan at Wrestlemania X-8 or Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII. The five that I chose were the ones that I feel had the most impact on the WWE. Can this year’s Wrestlemania produce some matches people will remember for a lifetime? I’ll let you know in my Wrestlemania preview.

Shawn Michaels heads solid 2011 WWE Hall of Fame Class

2011-03-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about Wrestlemania week is superstars and alumni get together the night before the big event to celebrate the new class of WWE Hall of Fame inductees. This year I will attend the ceremony which will be held at Philips Arena. And the class is a good group of individuals who put their mark on the industry. Well… there’s one inductee that is questionable, but I’ll let you decide. Here’s the list of inductees for the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame.

“Bullet” Bob Armstrong – Never really made a mark on the WWE, but was a major player in the NWA, winning several regional championships. Armstrong has four sons that are all wrestlers including Brian Armstrong who is better known as the “Road Dog” Jesse James.

Abdullah the Butcher – One of the greatest hardcore wrestlers to step into the ring. Has held many titles in different organizations including the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship. He lives in the Atlanta area.

Drew Carey – This is the one inductee that is questionable. The reason for his induction is he made an appearance in the 2001 Royal Rumble match where he was the fifth entrant, only to eliminate himself as soon as Kane got his hands on him. Honestly, I forgot about his appearance in the Rumble and I’m surprised he was inducted. I like when they induct celebrities in the Hall of Fame but Carey’s appearance wasn’t that memorable.

Sunny – Sunny is considered as the first WWE Diva. She was not a wrestler in the WWE, but was one of the most successful managers during that time. She is also the youngest person to be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame as she is 38 years young. She was easy on the eyes then and she is still easy on the eyes now.

Legion of Doom with Paul Ellering – The L.O.D. was the best tag team in the history of wrestling. And Ellering was the long time manager for L.O.D that led them to numerous titles from various organizations. Their induction is long overdue.

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan – While he may not have the titles, he was a fan-favorite in the WWE throughout the 80’s and the 90’s. He did win the first Royal Rumble match in 1988 and did win a couple of titles in WCW. I want him to say “HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” when he finishes his speech.

Shawn Michaels – Simply put he is the greatest of all-time. He was not the best wrestler, but he could be never outperformed. He was the first Grand Slam Champion in the WWE and is called “Mr. Wrestlemania” for his great matches at the event. When he gets up on the podium on Saturday, expect the “ONE MORE MATCH” chant to start early and often.

So there it is. This year’s class is not like the 2005 class where you have Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff and “Cowboy” Bob Orton, but any class that has Michaels and Sunny, you can’t go wrong. It’s going to be a fun night and I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Get ready, because it's Wrestlemania time!

2011-03-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

It’s here.

After years of not coming to Atlanta, Wrestlemania will be live at the Georgia Dome this Sunday. And I will be there covering the event for Score Atlanta. But even if I wasn’t going to Wrestlemania as a reporter, I had a ticket to go, because I was not going to miss this event no matter what how much it cost.

But why is Wrestlemania a must for any wrestling fan to attend? Mania is like the Super Bowl for professional wrestling. Many celebrities come to watch the spring event and some have even taken part in the festivities whether it’s being a wrestler, a guest referee, a guest host or a speical enforcer. There is an also a full week of events leading up to the event. It started yesterday when the wrestlers arrived to Atlanta. Mark Henry, John Morrison and WWE Divas champion Eve Torres were at the Braves game signing autographs. Wednesday marks the Wrestlemania Art event and it’s where some of the superstars and legends showcase their artistic side. That is happening at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

From Thursday until Sunday, the WWE will take over the Georgia World Congress Center with Wrestlemania Axxess. It’s kind of like the NFL experience but with WWE divas, superstars, legends and celebrities. Plus, there is a ring located in the center of the World Congress Center where several live matches will take place. I will attend the event on Saturday where The Undertaker, Rey Misterio and Harley Race will be there signing autographs and taking pictures.

But I’m going have to hustle as soon as the event ends because I will be attending the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony which will be held at Philips Arena. This year’s class will include Abdullah the Butcher, Bullet Bob Armstrong, Drew Carrey (yes, that Drew Carrey who had his own sitcom on ABC and is now the host on the Price is Right), the original WWE Diva Sunny, the Legion of Doom with Paul Ellering, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Mr. Wrestlemania Shawn Michaels. Solid class and I will have more to say about it on Thursday.

And Sunday is the big day. The show will last four hours and there should be plenty of surprises and tons of excitement. I’m going to get more in depth with the event later on in the week, but I have to say I’m glad to see the Rock back as the guest host for Wrestlemania. He has provided the spark to promote the event and it should be interesting what role he will play on Sunday.

There is no question it’s a big week here in the ATL. There has been a buzz about this event for the last five weeks and as the event grows closer, I’m getting more excited. This week I will have several blogs talking about the Hall of Fame class, which match I’m looking forward to, a look back at some of the best matches in Wrestlemania history and a big Wrestlemania preview. It’s going to be a fun week.

McDonalds All-Amercian game features three players from the Peach State

2011-03-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

There is no question the state of Georgia is a hotbed when it comes to finding some of the best high school basketball players in the country. College coaches all over the United States flock to the Peach State to see who can be their future star. But college coaches don’t have to travel just to Georgia to find some of the state’s best players. On March 30, McDonalds will host their annual All American High School Basketball game at the United Center in Chicago, and three players from Georgia will take part in one of the most prestigious all-star high school basketball games in the country.

Shannon Scott from Milton and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from Greenville will play in the boys game which will tip-off at 10 p.m. In the girls game, which starts at 7:30 p.m., Briana Banks from Fayette County will represent Georgia.

REPPING THE ATL …

Scott played the point guard position at Milton where he led the team to a state title in 2010 and another appearance in the state finals this season only to lose to Norcross in one of the greatest upsets In GHSA history. Scott is still upset about not getting that second state title.

“It hurts a little bit,” Scott told Patch.com last week.

But he also said he is getting over it and is ready to move on to the next step in his life which is playing college basketball for Ohio State.

“I feel like I had a great high school career,” Scott added.

Scott should fit in with the Buckeyes right away. During his high school career, he showed he can run a team and can make good decisions. Those are just one of the many reasons he was chosen to play in the game with some of the best high school players in the country.

Banks was one of the key contributors on a Fayette County team that won the 4A state title. She is ranked 24th in the nation by ESPN and is the Fayette County’s first McDonalds All-American selection.

“This is a great accomplishment for Brianna and her family,” Fayette County Head Coach John Strickland said to Fayette County News last month. Brianna Banks is the total package.”

And the total package are the right two words to describe Banks because she can pull up jumper and can play tight defense as well. She can also create moments at both ends of the floor. Banks will head to Connecticut in the fall to help the Lady Huskies continue their dominance.

SHARP SHOOTER …

Caldwell-Pope is considered by many as the best basketball player in Georgia. So it’s no surprise that he made the All-American team. But what is surprising is how well he can shoot at any point on the floor. Caldwell-Pope has the ability to create his own shot and has great court vision. According to Rivals.com, he is the 11th best player in the country. He will play for Mark Fox and the Georgia Bulldogs next which makes him the first McDonald’s All-American from Georgia to commit to UGA since 1992.

How will Mark Richt be evaluated during the 2011 season?

2011-03-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

It all begins on September 3 when the Bulldogs take on Bosie State at the Georgia Dome.

It not only marks the beginning of the 2011 season for Georgia, but it also marks a season long evaluation of head coach Mark Richt.

Last year, Georgia put together a 6-7 record, the first time the Bulldogs posted a losing record since 1996. In the last two years, the Bulldogs’ SEC record is 7-9 and they also did not finish in the top 25 in those two years.

It’s safe to say Richt is on the hot seat and in order for him to keep his job he is going need to do just one thing and one thing only.

Win football games.

He can’t just win the big game, such a Boise State in the opener. Georgia has to win the SEC East and the SEC title in order for Richt to keep his job. That may seem a little too much, but with the hype surrounding the recruiting class and the fact you have players such as Aaron Murray coming back, fans want this team take a huge step forward.

Now the question is: Can it be done? Can Richt lead the Bulldogs to an SEC title? They have some work to do, but it’s possible if the young players produce and the veteran players improve their play.

If they do win against the Broncos on September 3, it will be a great start for the Richt and the Bulldogs and that will give them some momentum when they play South Carolina the following week. If they win that game and go 2-0, it’s already a better start than last year and that will set the tone for the Bulldogs for the rest of the season.

If they somehow go 1-1 or 0-2, then the hot seat conversations will come again up again and Richt will have to win out in order to keep his job. The reason is 8-4 or 9-3 will not cut it for Georgia fans, especially when Richt has had six 10-win seasons in his 10 years at Georgia.

One thing to watch for this year is Richt is four wins away from winning 100 games at UGA. Only Wally Butts and Vince Dooley have more wins at Georgia so why will Richt be evaluated so closely this season when he has done so much for the program?

The one thing that Richt does not have that Dooley and Butts have is a National Championship. Richt has come close in 2002 and 2007 with a No. 2 final ranking in the polls, but fans are tired of being close, especially when Auburn, Alabama, Florida and LSU have won the last five BCS National Championships.

The last five years for Richt at Georgia has not been as good as the first five. From 2001-2005, Richt has won two SEC titles and finished in the top 10 four times. From 2006-2010, Richt has won zero SEC titles and finished the top 10 once.

As good of a job Richt has done for Georgia, the fans, students and alumni want more. And if he doesn’t deliver, and Georgia has another 6-7 season, the search for the 26th head coach for the Georgia Bulldogs will be well underway in January in 2012.

A look at the 2011 NCAA Tournament venues

2011-03-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is a piece I did for February/ March edition of Hooters magazine which is currently out in newsstands all across the country. This is the unedited version.

March madness is right around the corner, and it’s a time where some of the best college basketball games are played all over the country. This year will be no different, as the Final Four tournament will be hosted by venues that are some of the best in the country. The semifinals and finals will take place at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Tex., which is a state-of-the-art facility. But the other venues that are hosting tournament games are no slouch either when it comes to providing fans the game day experience. Here’s a look at the venues and cities that will be hosting tournament games in March.

FIRST AND SECOND ROUND

This year the NCAA tournament will have a First Four round where four at-large teams and teams that are the 65 through 68 seeds go to war. The games will be played at the University of Dayton Arena in Ohio. It has hosted the “play in” game for the NCAA tournament since 2001 and many who have been in the arena have said it’s one of the best in the nation.

As for the venues that are hosting first and second round games, they include the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz., the Pepsi Center in Denver, the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, the United Center in Chicago and the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. Out of those eight venues, the Verizon Center and the United Center are the most inexperienced when it comes to hosting tournament games. One note on the Verizon Center is when they were the host for the region finals venue in 2006 the game was George Mason vs. Connecticut where George Mason upsets the Huskies and they become the first team that was a double digit seed to reach the Final Four;

One venue that is new to the tournament game is the BOK Center which was opened in 2008. This 19,000-plus seat arena is home to the Tulsa Shock, the Tulsa Talons and the Tulsa Oilers, but in order for the arena and the city to gain more national recognition, they are starting to host regional and national tournaments and there is no better way to start than the NCAA tournament.

THE REGIONAL ROUND

The sweet 16 and the elite eight rounds are always compelling games and those games have to feature arenas that are also compelling. The arenas, centers and stadiums that will host the regional finals are the Honda Center in Anaheim, the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, the Alamodome in San Antonio and Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

The Honda Center will host the west regional and was also one of the venues for the NCAA tournament in 2008. The center is no stranger to hosting big events, as it has hosted the Staley Cup Finals, two Wrestlemanias and several UFC pay-per-view events. The New Orleans Arena is also no stranger to hosting big events and games from the 2007 and the 2010 NCAA tournament took place in the arena that opened in 1998. The Alamodome is a 65,000 seat facility that is used for football and basketball games. It’s is no stranger to hosting the NCAA tournament, hosting the semifinals and finals in 1998, 2004 and 2008. The 2008 Final Four Championship game featured Kansas and Memphis and Kansas came out on top in overtime to win their first title since 1988.

The Prudential Center has not hosted the finals or semifinals matches, but the 18,000-plus seating facility a few basketball teams such as Seaton Hall, the New Jersey Nets and the New York Liberty. And with “The Rock” opening in 2007, it’s a arena that has many cool features such as 750 flat screen televisions and 76 luxury suites which is the most in North America.

THE MAIN EVENT

When the tournament gets down to four teams after the second weekend of action, those four teams will head travel to Houston to play their semifinal game at Reliant Stadium. The facility opened in 2002 and its main occupier is the NFL team Houston Texans. It’s the first stadium in the country to have a retractable roof and the facility can hold over 71,000 people. But the stadium obviously is not used for just football. It was part of the 2008 NCAA tournament as they hosted the south regional part of the bracket. The four teams that were part of that region were Memphis, Sanford, Texas and Michigan State and it was the Memphis Tigers that came out on top and went on to San Antonio for the Final Four round.

The stadium was also home for the 2010 South Regional Finals and the four teams that took part in that were Duke, Purdue, St. Mary’s and Baylor. When it was all said and done, Duke came out on top in that region and went on to defeat Butler in the national championship game. Because of the much success it has gained since hosting NCAA tournament games, they will once again host the Final Four in 2016.

Reliant Stadium was an idea the Houston NFL Holdings group came up with in 1997 because they wanted the first ever stadium with a retractable roof so fans can enjoy outdoor football, but have the same comfort as an indoor area. Ground was broken in 2001 and the stadium was opened in 2002 when the Texans, who was playing their first game ever, facing the Dallas Cowboys. Since then the Stadium has been home for many rodeos, The Texas Bowl and Wrestlemania 25.

With a stadium like they way Reliant is constructed, one would think the features would be outstanding. Well, they are right, as there are numerous bars, 7,000 club seats and largest multiple lounges and bars.

So why is Reliant Stadium host of the Final Four and not a typical basketball area? It’s the same reason the Georgia Dome and Alamodome has hosted the Final Four. Its size and capacity of the those stadiums attracts NCAA officials and it’s going to be that way for a while. Also Reliant is a state-of-the-art facility and if the NCAA wants the fans to have a great experience when they come to the stadium.

Another reason Reliant Stadium is a hot spot for the college basketball tournament is the stadium is a part of Reliant Park entertainment complex named after Reliant Energy. The complex features Reliant Center, Reliant Arena, Reliant Astrodome (which closed in 2004), Carruth Plaza as well the stadium. So this gives the NCAA opportunities to host tournament events such as awards banquets, fans fares and concerts.

The NCAA announced that Houston would be hosting the Final Four back in 2003. Along with Reliant Stadium, the University of Houston and the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau were responsible for making this all happen. And like the Super Bowl, Wresrlemania and the Texas Bowl, the Final Four hopes to bring more attention to Reliant Stadium and more importantly, an economic boost for the city of Houston.

One thing’s for sure, when March Madness arrives, these 14 stadiums will be on fire with fast-paced basketball action along with die-hard fans that travel miles to watch their team try to reach Houston. And once the four teams get to Houston, the place will be on fire all week with events going on at Reliant Stadium related to the Final Four. It should be an exciting time and based on what has happened in Houston when it comes to the tournament in 2010, the 2011 Final Four should be one that folks will talk about for years to come.

Georgia Force are back in town, win season opener

2011-03-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

After losing to the Cleveland Gladiators in the playoffs three years ago at the Gwinnett Arena, the Georgia Force made their return on Sunday with a 53-47 win over the Tulsa Talons in their season opener.

But it wasn't just about getting that important first win of the season. It was playing for a loyal fan base that were out in full force (no pun intended) to support the team that dawns black and blue.

"This is my first game here," defensive lineman Jerry Turner said who was named Defensive Player of the Game for nothing a sack and blocking a field goal early in the third quarter. "It's going to be a great place to play as long as we win."

The Force were able to get off to early lead, being up 27-19 at halftime. Thanks to a two key defensive stops in the third quarter and scoring on four consecutive drives the Force were up as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter.

The offensive explosion was led by quarterback Brett Elliott, who threw for three touchdowns and led four other touchdown drives. He was named Offensive Player of the Game for his efforts.

"I thought we played very well," Elliott said after the game. "There were a lot of penalties. We got to clean that up and execute better in the one-minute range. But other than that, I thought we played very well.

Elliott was right when it comes to the penalties. Numerous holding calls on the offensive line as well as personal foul calls could have limited the scoring for the Force. But they were able to hang in there and make the big plays when they needed it.

"One bad drive set us back a little bit," Force head coach Dean Cokinos said talking about the drive at the end of the first half where it was the only time they scored zero points. "I think we controlled the game."

Benji McDowell and C.J. Johnson also had big games for Georgia. McDowell had two rushing scores including the first touchdown of the game which came midway through the first quarter. Johnson had one of the plays of the game in the second quarter, returning a kick for a 56-yard touchdown to give the Force the lead going into the half.

So with the win the Force start their season with a 1-0 record, but they will be on the road the next two weeks as they face the Jacksonville Sharks and the New Orleans Voodoo. Like the Force, the Voodoo are making their return to New Orleans after stopping operations in 2008. But the Sharks, who the Force will play next week, are coming off a 12-4 2010 season and won the South Division.

The Force accomplished a lot on Sunday with a return the Atlanta area and earning that first win, can they pass another test with a road victory against a playoff-caliber team?

"I would like to think so," Elliott said. "You never know until you get there. But I feel good about this group of guys. At this level, you don't always get really good guys so it's nice to be around."

Top 10 georgia high school football prospects for 2012

2011-02-18T10:39:00.001-08:00

High school football has come and gone for the 2010 season. So now it's time to take an early look at the 2011 season and find out who are the top prospects in the state. This is the list that I came up with which was announced on the 790 the Zone's radio show "The Official Visit" Monday night. If you have any comments or questions, send me an email at bjones@scoreatl.com.

10. Niles Clark (CB, Lassiter)- Had 65 tackles and four interceptions last season. He also plays basketball and runs track. Committed to N.C. State.

9. Deion Bonner (CB, Carver, Columbus) – Is the next line of great players from Carver. Offers range from Georgia, Auburn, Clemson and Tennessee.

8. Jason Croom (WR, Norcross) – Big target that should have a big year for the Blue Devils. Has gotten offers from Auburn, Illinois and Miss State.

7. Jordan Jenkins (DE, Harris County) – A great athlete that has speed and explosion. Has gotten offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia.

6. Kenyan Drake (RB, Hillgrove) – Drake can carry the ball and catch the ball as well. Will be used in various ways in college. Alabama, Georgia and Purdue have made offers.

5. C.J. Curry (WR, North Hall) – A big receiver that will look to improve his route running this offseason. Is the first UGA commit.

4. Jonathan Taylor ( DT, Jenkins County) – Some have already pegged him as the best defensive tackle in the county. Has gotten offers from FSU, Georgia, Georgia Tech and LSU.

3. Dakota Ball (DT, Pepperell) – If Taylor is the best DT in the country, than Ball is not far behind. He is strong and athletic. Committed to Alabama and he can play either the nose or defensive end in the 3-4 scheme.

2. Greyson Lambert (QB, Wayne County) – Has a great arm and his vision is elite. Has to work on footwork and pocket presence. Alabama, Clemson and N.C. State have made offers.

1. Vadal Alexander (OT, Buford) – Size is great, footwork is great and explosion is great. Could be the best OT in the county when it’s all said and done. It looks like every school in the county has made an offer.

ATL Sports Guy exlcusive: The Super Bowl 45 preview

2011-02-05T20:58:00.000-08:00

If you know me, I am a fan of every sports team in the Atlanta area. But the Falcons are the team that is near and dear to my heart because I have covered the team for Score Atlanta since 2006 and have been a fan since I was little.

So when they lost to Green Bay nearly three weeks ago in the playoffs, I was disappointed because I thought they would at least make it to the NFC Championship. But, I realized the Falcons are in a better place than they have ever been and if they continue to improve, they will win the Super Bowl in the next three years.

With that said, it’s time for the official Atlanta Sports Guy Super Bowl preview between the Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I like the matchup because both teams have played at a high level all season long considering all the distractions, suspensions and injuries they had to deal with.

Green Bay comes into the game as a favorite by Vegas and the general public. Their road to Dallas was not easy because they had to win their final game of the regular season against the Chicago Bears to claim the final playoff spot in the NFC. Then they defeated Philadelphia, the Falcons (ugh) and the Bears again. So, a lot of media outlets love the way this team has played and they think QB Aaron Rodgers is the next big thing. Rodgers has been outstanding this postseason, throwing for six touchdowns and two interceptions in the three games. He has even rushed for two scores and has a QB rating of 109.2. In order for the Packers to win, Rodgers has to be on top of his game against an aggressive Steelers defensive unit.

But the Packers defense is not a slouch either. From playmakers such as B.J. Raji, A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews and 2009 Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson, they Packers defense has been one of the best in the NFL all season long and they will try to end their season by taking down Ben Roethlisberger and company. That won’t be easy, but they were able to shut down Michael Vick and the Eagles as well as Matt Ryan and the Falcons. So they’ll be up for the challenge.

Much talk has been made about the Steelers defense, that’s fair because they have been one of the elite units in the NFL for many years. But the offense can score with the best of them, averaging 23 points per game, and they have done it by running the ball with Rashad Mendenhall and throwing with Big Ben. As much as some people don’t like Roethlisberger, he is a gamer and knows how to play, and win in big games. In order for the Steelers to come away with another Super Bowl win, Big Ben will have to avoid the pressure and he can do it by handing it to Mendenhall who rushed for over 1,200 yards this season.

As far as the Pittsburgh defense goes, they are going to have their hands full with Rodgers and the rest of the Green Bay offense. However, they do have their share of playmakers and there are two players to watch for Pittsburgh. Troy Polamalu and James Harrison are the two players that need to have big games in order for Pittsburgh to win. Polamalu is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and James Harrison won the same award in 2008. It was also the same year the Steelers won the Super Bowl, defeating the Arizona Cardinals in one of the better Super Bowls I’ve seen. If those two are playing at a high level, Rodgers will have hard time getting anything going which will be a problem for Green Bay.

So what is my final analysis of the game? I think whoever gets off to that fast start will win. I love the way Green Bay has played throughout the playoffs and they deserve to be the favorite. But there is something about Pittsburgh that I like. From their offense, defense, special teams and coaching, they are just solid from top to bottom. I’m not saying Green Bay isn’t, but there is a reason Pittsburgh is going for its third title in six years. And I think when it’s all said and done, the Steelers are going to hold the Lombardi Trophy for the seventh time in their storied history.

Looking back at National Signing Day

2011-02-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

National Signing Day 2011 has come and gone. Some schools came away with successful classed and other schools did not get the players they desired. For Georgia and Georgia Tech, their signing class comparisons are night and day. Many believe the Georgia class could be the best class in the history of the program. As for Tech, when you lose five commitments in the last three weeks, that’s not a good thing. Here’s a closer look at both schools class and how they fared.

EVALUATING THE BULLDOGS

Georgia head coach Mark Richt talked about building a dream team before signing day where he targeted some of the best players in the state. Two players, Ray Drew and Isaiah Crowell were on top of the list and Richt was able to get those two players from South Georgia. Drew, a defensive end, is considered the best player in Georgia and one of the 10 best players in the nation. Crowell is right behind Drew when it comes to being the best player in the state and is also one of the top running backs in the country. But that was not all Richt and company was able to accomplish with the signing class. Valdosta TE Jay Rome and WR/DB Malcolm Mitchell joined the team as well as QB Christian LeMay from North Carolina and ATH Nick Marshall from Wilcox County.

And the best thing about this is they are not done signing players yet. Junior college player John Jenkins who is a big nose tackle, will choose his college on Saturday and if Georgia nabs him, he will have a chance to play right away because Georgia needs a guy who can eat up the middle of the line to free the linebackers to make plays. But even if they don’t grab him, this class is a good as it gets when it comes to targeting the state’s best players and keeping them in-state.

EVALUATING THE JACKETS

While Georgia class is being praised by everyone in the media, Georgia Tech was able to get a good group of players, but five players that were committed to the school in Atlanta backed out and left Tech in a hole. But they were able to get some fine athletes such as QB Vad Lee from North Carolina as well as LB Jabari Hunt-Days from Hillgrove. They also signed Chris Milton from Charlton County who can play a number of positions. And they signed corner back Jamal Golden who was named Mr. Alabama Football.

The only problem with this class is they did not sign a nose tackle that can be a space eater in the 3-4 defense that the Jackets run. It looked as if they had a chance of signing Darian Cooper from Maryland, but he decided to go with Iowa on signing day over Tech, Michigan and Michigan State. Georgia Tech was able to get an abundance of linebackers and defensive ends, but if they were able to get a nose tackle, it would have made the Yellow Jackets’ class a little stronger.

REST OF THE NATION

As far as the rest of the country, the big winners had to be Alabama, Texas, USC and Florida State. Alabama only signed 21 players and five of them are from the home state, but they singed RB Demetruis Hart who is one of the best all-purpose backs in the country and they also signed DB Haseasn Clinton-Dix who could be a full-time starter as a sophomore. Texas only signed 22 players but expect for one signee all the players are from the state of Texas. One player to watch for is RB Malcolm Brown who could be the best running back in the country.

USC signed 29 players including WR Greg Farmer and OL Aundrey Walker. Farmer could be the best receiver on the country and could contribute right away on special teams. Walker is from Ohio and could see time at wither guard of tackle as a freshman. Florida State also signed 29 players and leading the class is RB James Wilder Jr. It’s very likely Wilder will play right away, the only problem is FSU needs to find a position to put him in because he can also play the linebacker spot as well as defensive end.

TCA event featured numerous college prospects announcing their school of choice

2011-02-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

National Signing Day is big in the South. High school seniors signed their letters of intent to determine where they will spend the next three-four years of their lives.

Some of metro Atlanta best players made their way to Andretti Indoor Karting and Games to announce where they would play college football. The event was hosted by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. Some of the high schools that were represented were North Gwinnett, Buford, Peachtree Ridge, Wesleyan and Blessed Trinity. The young men wore the hats to represent the school that they choose and the schools ranged from as big as Georgia to as small as Chattahoochee Tech.

The boys from Brookwood, who won the 5A state championship got the festivities started with their announcements. QB Ben McLane announced he signed with Georgia State and LB Andre Sims will play for Michigan State. North Gwinnett followed a little bit later and QB C.J. Uzomah announced he will play for Auburn. OL Garrett Clark announced he will play for Southern Mississippi and Brandon McGowan signed with Appalachian State.

Another team from Gwinnett, Buford, who won the 2A state title, followed shortly after and RB Dominique Swope announced he will play for Georgia Southern. Swope picked the Eagles for one reason that any player should pick a school where you will spend a good amount of time away from home.

“It’s one big family,” Swope said.

Swope will not be alone when he heads to Statesboro. Teammate Sean Jones will head to Georgia Southern also he is ready to take that next step because of what Buford does to get them ready on and off the field.

“Things we do are different from other schools around Atlanta,” Jones said talking about Buford. “They prepare us for the next level.”

Another Buford signee that was in attendance was QB Alex Ross who will play at Coastal Carolina. Ross went to Coastal Carolina in the summer and fell in love with it.

“It’s right by the beach,” Ross said. “It’s a unique place to be. I felt like this was the place for me.”

Chattahoochee, who won the 4A state crown, was right behind the Wolves and they had a good amount of players at Andretti to announce their college choice. QB Timmy Byerly who was one of the state most productive players this past season, will play for Middle Tennessee State next season and he chose MTSU because of the familiarity of the system that they run.

“It’s almost the exact same offense,” Byerly said. “They’re going to try to get away from running the quarterback, instead of 25 times a game, maybe 10. I’m pretty excited about that.”

Buford, Brookwood and Chattahoochee may have won state titles, but were they winners in the recruiting game on National Signing Day? If you want to know who was the big winner, it had to be Stephenson who had 20 players sign their letters of intent. Not all were in attendance, but some of the players that will move on in their football careers will be Kadetrix Marcus, Regis Ball and Tarik Cook. Marcus will play for South Carolina, Ball will head to Memphis and Cool will join George O’Leary at Central Florida.

One of the big winners when it comes to colleges signing players was Miles College which is a small school located in Alabama. Six players from the Elite Performers Sports Academy signed with Miles College. If you are wondering what the Elite Performers Sports Academy is, it’s a post-graduate football program that allows athletes to gain participation in college sports. So Anthony Armstrong, Baron Fox, Julantate English, Xavier Simmons, Gresten Coakley and Mike Mitchell will move on to Miles College in the fall.

Other notable signees of the day were Corey Moore from Griffin (Georgia), Brian Randolph from Kell (Tennessee), Ralph David Abernathy IV from Westminster (Cincinnati), Alex Chisum from Sandy Creek (Cincinnati), Demarco Robinson from MLK (Kentucky) and Xavier Dickson from Griffin (Alabama).

Mays and Miller Grove fight it out on GPB Webcast

2011-02-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

This is a preview of the Mays and Miller Grove basketball game which will be on the Georgia Public Broadcasting website tonight. Action starts at 6 p.m. and here's the link for the girls game and the boys game.

The hardwood is heating up.

A rematch of the Class 4A championship game from 2010 will take place on Tuesday as the No. 1 team in 4A Miller Grove takes on Mays which will be broadcasted on GPB.org. This will be the second time these two teams have met this season as Miller Grove defeated the Raiders 69-52. Junior center Tony Parker led the Wolverines with 28 points and 21 rebounds in the win.

Mays looks to get revenge and it could happen with the players they have on their roster. The Raiders are looking to pick up where they left off last season, reaching the state finals with a 22-5 record. Things are not going as smooth for Mays as they did last year, losing their first three of five games. But they seem to be gaining momentum as the season is progressing winning six of their last seven.

The Raiders are led by Colin Cook who is an excellent shot blocker at 6-6. Cook was named to the All-Region team last season and was even named Region Player of the Year. Other players that will have to play big for the Raiders in order for a victory are Kendall Leslie and Jonathan Williams who were big contributors last season.

As good of a team Mays is, Miller Grove is the defending Class 4A state champions and they have been playing like a team that wants another championship ring. The Wolverines have played against teams from all across the country including New York, Oklahoma, Ohio and North Carolina, and have come out on top every time. They even defeated Class 5A champion Milton earlier in the year.

The reason for their continued success is the talent they have this season each year. Two players that are on the Score 44 list are Devon Propst and Henry Brooks. Propst has been a good defender averaging three steals a game and he knows how to find the open man, averaging 3.4 assists per game. Brooks has been a dominant power forward for Miller Grove, averaging 13 points and two blocks per game average this season. Brooks has gotten offers to play college ball from schools such as Georgetown, Rice, Virginia Tech and even Harvard.

But the one player Mays has to watch out for is Parker who could be the best center in Georgia. Parker averages 18.4 points per game and leads DeKalb County in rebounds at 13.4. He is considered by many as the best junior in the state and has gotten offers from Alabama, Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Miller Grove also seems to be a program that produces top-notched college talent. Mfon Udofia is a key contributor to Georgia Tech and Donte Williams is a doing big things as a freshman at Georgia.

All the action will start at 5:30 p.m. with the girls playing first. The boys will start shortly after which will be approximately at 7 p.m. The games will be played at Mays’ home court which is at the Coretta Scott King Leadership Academy.

Herschel Walker easily defeats Scott Carson to win second MMA fight

2011-01-30T08:10:00.000-08:00

This is a quick recap I did on the Herschel Walker win against Scott Carson for SB Nation Atlanta.

Does Herschel Walker ever get tired of winning? It doesn't look like it, because he was able to pick up his second MMA win by defeating Scott Carson in the Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg event on Saturday night.

Honestly, this fight was one sided as soon as the opening bell rang. In fact, according to Michael David Smith who covered the event for mmafighting.com, Carson did not even try to punch back. Walker threw punches at Carson as soon as the fight got started. Then Walker slammed Carson on the ground and started whaling on him, which forced the referee to stop the match a little over three minutes in.

Here's what Walker told Smith after the match:

"I was OK. I've got to be on offense. Being a young MMA fighter I've got to control what I'm doing in the cage."

He certainly had control in the fight, and he improves his MMA record to 2-0. So with the win, the question is how far can he go with MMA? Will he face a much younger opponent that has more experience? And if he continues to win, could he compete for a title? Only time will tell, but knowing Walker's work ethic and dedication, anything is possible for the 48-year old.

For more on this match as well as MMA, go to SB Nation's MMA hub.

Herschel Walker gears up for second MMA fight on Saturday

2011-01-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

This can be found on SB Nation Atlanta. I will post a recap of the fight Sunday morning.

It's no secret Herschel Walker is 48 years old and the opponent he is facing, Scott Carson, is 40. So there is talk around the MMA world that Walker is only fighting because they think it's a publicity stunt.

But Walker, who will turn 49 in March has said that this is real and if you were to come to his training sessions, you would see he is not joking around. That said, Carson is not the most feared opponent in MMA, and the reason for that is he has only competed in one MMA event in the last 10 years.

So that has done little to justify Walker's seriousness of the sport. But he also says that he is doing this to challenge himself. He's not going to compete for titles, he just wants to get better at the sport because he has fallen in love with it.

As far as the outcome goes, Carson is a guy that has been in five MMA matches and has won four of them. He has trained with the likes of Chick Liddell, Jake Shields and Tim Kennedy. Some injuries have forced him to not have the career he would have hoped for, and he is coming off a tough loss to Lorenz Larkin back in June.

Walker won his first ever MMA match to Greg Nagy back in January. But like any inexperienced MMA fighter, he has a lot to learn, which could give the advantage to Carson. So this has a chance to be a good match, but it will come down to fundamentals.

For more on this match as well as MMA, go to SB Nation's MMA hub.

Ray Drew will not be a nember of UGA's Dream Team

2011-01-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick blog I did for SB Nation - Atlanta yesterday talking about Ray Drew who is one of the top college football prospects in Georgia.

Georgia head coach Mark Richt has put together a "dream team" of recruits that he thinks will help get Georgia back to their winning ways. They have done a good job so far by grabbing star prospects from Valdosta High School, Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell. But the Bulldogs got a hit to the gut, as super star prospect Ray Drew is possibly ruling out Georgia as his college of choice.

Drew broke the news last night on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit, a recruiting radio show on 790 the Zone. One of the things he mentioned about Georgia is he is not sure how he will fit into the 3-4 defensive scheme. He also said that Georgia is looking to put him as a outside linebacker rather than his natural position, defensive end.

Many have said Drew is the best prospect in the state, and some have gone further and said he is one of the 10 best prospects in the country. He is set to make his decision on Friday. Some of the finalists could be Auburn, LSU and Clemson.

For more on this, you can go to the Sports by Fletch blog, which is ran by Fletcher Proctor, the co-host of the Official Visit. He has quotes from the interview with Drew.

Despite bad loss to Green Bay, Falcons will be okay

2011-01-23T15:53:00.000-08:00

I know it hurts more than anyone could imagine.

If you were at the Georgia Dome or watching the Falcons take a beating against the Green Bay Packers last Saturday, there is a lot of pain and emotion that still runs through your veins. Many people want to point the blame at Matt Ryan, Mike Smith, Mike Mularkey, Brian Van Gorder, Christopher Owens or the entire defensive unit.

Now, I have covered the Falcons for Score Atlanta since 2006 and I have seen my share of highs and I have definitely seen my share of lows. I think they deserve some of the blame because the entire team did not play well. But I don’t want people to forget what this team has done over the course of the 2010 season. What this Falcons team has done is put together a 13-win season, which is something they have not done since 1998 when they won 14 and went on to the Super Bowl. And because they won 13 games, they won their division and clinch the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

When I was on 790 the Zone the day after the game, many callers were upset with the team, and they thought the team needed an overhaul. I’ll go back to my point that the Falcons won 13 games and won their division, so to say that major personnel changes need to be made will not solve the problem because the personnel has been great on offense, defense and special teams. Yes, the front office will make some moves in the draft and free agency, but they are going to keep the core group of players as well as the coaching staff because they have improved each year since 2008.

In the last three seasons, the Falcons have won 34 games which, is the most in Falcons history in a three-year span. They have been in first or second place in the NFC South during that span and have not lost three consecutive games during that span as well.

What the Falcons are trying to do is build a team that wins on a consistent basis. General manager Thomas Dimitroff has done a great job putting the pieces in place, but it takes more time to build a team. Dimitroff along with Smith will work hard this offeason to get the right players in Flowery Branch and the 2011 season will be just as good, if not better than 2010.

I understand that the team under Smith is 0-2 in the playoffs and Smith even said that the team played poorly and you are ultimately judge by what you do in the post season. But Falcons fans should be thankful where this team is now because after the 2007 season, many thought this team is five years away from being in a position to win a division title. They have accomplished that, but now it’s time to take the next step and that is to make some noise in the playoffs. This Falcons team has a chance to be an elite team in the next two years if they can improve and find a ways to win football games in January and possibly February.

If you listened to the radio show on 790 the Zone that featured Fletcher Proctor and myself on Sunday, you heard give us individual grades for the Falcons. For my next Falcons blog, I will go more in-depth with the grades including an overall grade for the team in 2010.

Milton takes care of Washington powerhouse at Marriott Invitational

2011-01-23T15:37:00.000-08:00

Norcross High School hosted the third annual Marriott Invitational where some of the best basketball teams in Georgia showcased their talent to the rest of the country. The last game of the event took place on Saturday, as Milton, the top-ranked team in Class 5A, squared off against Rainier Beach, one of the premier programs in Seattle. Rainier Beach has talented players on their roster, but it wasn’t enough, as Milton came away with a 66-50 win.

Milton, who is the defending Class 5A state champions, got off to a fast start with a 8-0 run. Evan Nolte opened the scoring with a three-pointer and Dai-Jon Parker was able to follow, scoring six of his 22 points in the first. Rainier Beach was able to keep the game within reach after the first half, with the scoring being 30-22. They were able to get quality production from Michael Middlebrooks who scored eight points in the first half. Middlebrooks finished the night with 18 points and was named the team’s Most Outstanding Player.

But a slow third quarter doomed the Bears, as Milton got on a 7-0 run and was able to increase their lead to as much as 20 points midway through the quarter. Rainier Beach was able to cut the lead down to 13 in the fourth quarter, but never could maintain the offensive momentum and Milton was able to capitalize.

One of the problems for Rainer Beach is two of their starters did not score at all and they virtually got all their points from Middlebrooks and L.C. White who scored 17 points in the loss. They have one player that is committed to play at the college level and that’s Hikeem Stewart who will play for Washington next season. He only scored five points and was held to zero points in the second half.

As for Milton, it was another solid performance against an athletic team that gave the Eagles everything they had. Parker was named the team’s Most Outstanding Player and Nolte had a productive game as well, scoring 14 points in the win. Four players from Milton have committed to play college ball for next season including Parker, Julian Royal, Shannon Scott and Jordan Loyd. Parker will play for Vanderbilt, Royal will join Georgia Tech, Scott will dawn the Ohio State colors and Loyd will go to Furman.

Milton has improved their record to 16-2 and they have won six games in a row. However, this week will be their toughest test to date. They will face Northview on Tuesday, Centennial on Friday and Saturday will be their biggest game of the year as they face Wheeler which will be on Milton’s home court.

Aaron Rodgers takes apart Falcons in divisional round of the playoffs

2011-01-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Everything was set up for the Falcons to advance to the NFC Championship. They had the week off, they had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and they were facing the Green Bay Packers who were coming off an emotional win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round. However, the Packers came into the game against the Falcons with an agenda, scoring 28 points in the second quarter en route to a 48-21 win over the Falcons to earn a spot in the NFC title game.

“It’s extremely hard in this league to get the outcome that you want when we play the type of football that we played today,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “Very uncharacteristic when it comes to turnovers, protecting the football and winning third down on defense.”

Smith is right on all three accounts. The Falcons turned the ball over four times, they could not get the Green Bay offense of the field and because of that, the Falcons only had possession for just 21 minutes when they average over 32 minutes per game.

The first quarter started in typical Falcons fashion when it comes to jumping on the board early. They were able to score first when Michael Turner scored on a 12-yard touchdown run. The score was set up thanks to the defense forcing a turnover, as Stephen Nicholas forced a Greg Jennings fumble which was recovered by Brent Grimes.

“We thought that the first quarter of the game went fairly well,” Smith said. “But one we got into the second quarter, it started to go away from us.”

Green Bay got the scoring started in the second quarter, producing a 13-play, 81-yard drive which ended with an Aaron Rodgers 6-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson. The Falcons would answer on the ensuing kickoff as Eric Weems scores on a 102-yard return to tie the game at 14.

That’s when the Packers made their move and they would score on their next drive with a Rodgers 20-yard pass to James Jones to break the tie. The play of the game came in the Falcons next offensive series when Matt Ryan threw an interceptions to Tramon Williams which he returned 70 yards for the score to end the half. That was Ryan’s second pick of the game, as he threw his first pick to Williams in the end zone earlier in the second quarter which led to the Rodgers 20-yard TD pass to Jones.

“It was just not a very good decision on my part,” Ryan said, talking about the second pick he threw to Williams. We’re in field goal range at that point. I just needed to throw the ball away.”

Green Bay was able to add more to their lead in the third quarter with 14 additional points. The Packers opened the quarter with a 12-play 80-yard drive which ended with a Rodgers 7-yard touchdown run to increase the Packers lead to 21. Later in the quarter, Rodgers threw his third touchdown pass of the game to John Kuhn to go up by 28.

“They were a better team today,” Tony Gonzalez said who only had one catch for seven yards in the loss. “I don’t think there’s any dispute. The game wasn’t even close.”

All around, it was not a good day for the Falcons. The offense only gained 194 yards and the defense could never get off the field, as the Green Bay offense converting 8-of-12 on third downs. In fact the Packers did not punt one time during the game.

“We ran into hot quarterback playing at a high level,” Smith said talking about Rodgers who scored four total touchdowns in the win. “We obviously had a hard time stopping them.”

The Packers will face either the Seattle Seahawks or the Chicago Bears depending on the outcome of their game on Sunday. As for the Falcons, they will go home with a bad taste in their mouth, but all is not lost. They finish the regular season with a 13-3 record and their fourth division title in franchise history. While it may not be their ultimate goal, they have come a long way since the 2007 when this franchise was in disarray.

“I love this team,” Gonzalez said who could retire after this season. “I love the future of this team. It’s just the beginning of something great.”

Gonzalez along with Ryan, Roddy White, Turner, Weems, John Abraham and Ovie Mughelli will take part in the Pro Bowl which will be played in Hawaii two weeks from Sunday.