Good afternoon, everyone. Tim Tucker of the AJC here. With the Braves' 50th season in Atlanta winding down and the Falcons' 50th season about to begin, the AJC has run a series of articles in the past few days marking a half-century of major-league team sports in Atlanta. Hope you've had a chance to read them. The floor is open here to discuss the past -- and the future -- of major-league sports in ATL. Anything you want to discuss ... the successes or failures of the past half-century, what's ahead with the teams, the new stadiums, etc.
Wondering ... which Atlanta team do you think is closest to winning a championship?
I agree, hard to see a championship right now. Braves' chances for foreseeable future seem dependent on how a crop of young pitching prospects develops, which is always an unpredictable proposition at best.
So what's your very favorite moment from 50 years of major-league team sports in Atlanta?
Yes, I do think so. Five-time Pro Bowler and shouldn't be penalized for playing on bad expansion-era teams.
He also was on NFL's All-Decade team for the 1960s.
Good question. Not exactly overlooked, but I think Andruw Jones is one that might not get the credit he deserves. At his peak, a defensive player for the ages.Wonder when/if he'll go into the Braves Hall of Fame.
1991 team probably would have won it if not for Lonnie Smith's base-running blunder in eighth inning of Game 7. And 1996 team certainly was good enough to win it and seemed well on the way before Jim Leyritz's homer.
Ever is a long time, but I think the league will be very, very slow to return to a city for a third time.
Ted's team has the only championship, so that gives him the edge until someone else wins one. What's happening with the Braves now (the need to unload players as they approach expensive free agency, etc.) underscores how important Turner was to the Braves' 1990s success by allowing the team to have one of the larger payrolls in baseball.
The Hawks seem closest of Atlanta's teams now, coming off 60-win season. But can they win it all without adding a superstar? And yes, based on last season's Eastern Conference finals, I'd have to say Cleveland looks closer than Atlanta to winning a championship right now.
Bob Hope, the former Braves public-relations star, was reminding me the other day that shortly after Turner bought the Braves in 1976 there was talk about possibly changing the team's name to Eagles. It was never serious, but created quite the buzz for a few days.
I'm sure Atlanta's passion for college football was well known to the NFL. But as the market grew, the league was coming here regardless.
I don't think Atlanta is a bad sports town. I just think the teams have been bad a lot of the time. Major league sports have been here since 1966, and in only one decade (the 1990s) did any Atlanta team play for an ultimate championship.
Yeah, I think it (Eagles) was just something Ted kicked around for a day or two. It drew some attention, then he said not really.
Who was left off? Joe Torre, Hubie Brown, Boom Boom Geoffrion were three of the last cuts, rightly or wrongly. Glad you enjoyed the list.
I, too, have fond memories of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium from going to games there as a kid. Favorite? Probably the Georgia Dome, mainly because some of the big events there.
If not Ryan -- and his legacy largely remains to be written -- I can't think of anyone currently active on Atlanta teams.
Olympics. Then two Super Bowls, five World Series, four Final Fours.
I don't think any other team is in danger of leaving, no.
I enjoyed the discussion. Thanks for participating.
