Believe it or not folks – it’s football season.
Friday marks the official start of the gridiron schedule as high schools in the state of Georgia begin their quest for a trip to the Georgia Dome — this year’s site for GHSA state title games.
Georgia Southern and coach Chris Hatcher will also begin their journey to try and make it back to the FCS playoff for the first time since 2005.
In these parts, we live for football — and on Friday it will finally be here. The heat will be as intense as the action on the fields. The coaches will be just as annoyed at their own players’ transgressions as they will the gnats that constantly buzz around their faces. The junkies will lurk around the practice field trying to gain some kind of insider knowledge they can impress their friends with about the team they know and love.
Then, hopefully, at the end of the season, those teams’ records won’t be a pitiful as mine has come to be.
Still a touchdown back: 17-24.
The Braves
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Atlanta Braves had a chance to make some noise in the increasingly intense National League East. In words — they failed.
After losing two out of three to the worst team in baseball (at home) — the Washington Nationals — the Braves rebounded by winning a series in Florida against the Marlins.
But as has been the case all season, Atlanta was inconsistent during the three games, failing at numerous chances to break open a close contest in the middle game, a 4-0 loss.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitans of New York sprinted ahead of Philadelphia, giving the Braves a chance to go into the Cradle of Freedom and beat up a reeling Phillies squad.
After putting up a huge ninth inning on Friday for an 8-2 win, Atlanta came right back on Saturday afternoon and ripped Cole Hamels for nine runs in a demoralizing fourth inning. Game over, series won, hope restored.
Or so we thought. The Braves’ bullpen imploded and the offense went into submission. A frustrating setback for a club that can’t afford setbacks.
Sunday was more of the same — a 5-0 lead evaporated before Philly fans could remember why they were booing just a few minutes earlier and the Bravos were suddenly 71⁄2 back of first.
Now all eyes — the few that hadn’t been looking this way to begin with — are turned towards Mark Teixeira. Will the Braves trade the multi-talented first baseman or won’t they? Can they find a deal that would even be worth it? Are there any teams out there that have a serious need for a power-hitting lefty? Does the Atlanta Club believe they can still overcome this hefty deficit or are they ready to throw in the towel?
At the beginning of the season I predicted the Braves would make the postseason. Right now, the wild card is almost out of the question. To win the division, the Braves need a winning streak and they need one now. As the days go by, however, I’m finding it harder and harder to believe.
Look to 2009, kids, I’m throwing in the towel.
Arena Bowl of...
I try to give most sports a fighting chance. But Arena football’s luster has worn off.
Flipping channels in between the Braves’ debacle and Arena Bowl 22 Sunday, I just find it hard to take this sport seriously.
When an errant pass bounces off a net and is still in play — I don’t think so. When a receiver goes twenty yards backwards only to be two yards offside when the ball is snapped — c’mon. When the first defensive stop isn’t recorded until there’s six minutes left in the first half — laughable.
It’s a nice story that there are still young men out there fighting for their dreams of playing NFL football. The Kurt Warner’s of the world made us all believe anything is possible.
But the Arena Bowl is so saturated with offensive showmanship and gimmicky rules that it’s hard for the true football fan to become emotionally invested.
Thankfully, REAL football is here again and the Arena folks disappear until we’re ready for their circus next year.
Friday marks the official start of the gridiron schedule as high schools in the state of Georgia begin their quest for a trip to the Georgia Dome — this year’s site for GHSA state title games.
Georgia Southern and coach Chris Hatcher will also begin their journey to try and make it back to the FCS playoff for the first time since 2005.
In these parts, we live for football — and on Friday it will finally be here. The heat will be as intense as the action on the fields. The coaches will be just as annoyed at their own players’ transgressions as they will the gnats that constantly buzz around their faces. The junkies will lurk around the practice field trying to gain some kind of insider knowledge they can impress their friends with about the team they know and love.
Then, hopefully, at the end of the season, those teams’ records won’t be a pitiful as mine has come to be.
Still a touchdown back: 17-24.
The Braves
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Atlanta Braves had a chance to make some noise in the increasingly intense National League East. In words — they failed.
After losing two out of three to the worst team in baseball (at home) — the Washington Nationals — the Braves rebounded by winning a series in Florida against the Marlins.
But as has been the case all season, Atlanta was inconsistent during the three games, failing at numerous chances to break open a close contest in the middle game, a 4-0 loss.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitans of New York sprinted ahead of Philadelphia, giving the Braves a chance to go into the Cradle of Freedom and beat up a reeling Phillies squad.
After putting up a huge ninth inning on Friday for an 8-2 win, Atlanta came right back on Saturday afternoon and ripped Cole Hamels for nine runs in a demoralizing fourth inning. Game over, series won, hope restored.
Or so we thought. The Braves’ bullpen imploded and the offense went into submission. A frustrating setback for a club that can’t afford setbacks.
Sunday was more of the same — a 5-0 lead evaporated before Philly fans could remember why they were booing just a few minutes earlier and the Bravos were suddenly 71⁄2 back of first.
Now all eyes — the few that hadn’t been looking this way to begin with — are turned towards Mark Teixeira. Will the Braves trade the multi-talented first baseman or won’t they? Can they find a deal that would even be worth it? Are there any teams out there that have a serious need for a power-hitting lefty? Does the Atlanta Club believe they can still overcome this hefty deficit or are they ready to throw in the towel?
At the beginning of the season I predicted the Braves would make the postseason. Right now, the wild card is almost out of the question. To win the division, the Braves need a winning streak and they need one now. As the days go by, however, I’m finding it harder and harder to believe.
Look to 2009, kids, I’m throwing in the towel.
Arena Bowl of...
I try to give most sports a fighting chance. But Arena football’s luster has worn off.
Flipping channels in between the Braves’ debacle and Arena Bowl 22 Sunday, I just find it hard to take this sport seriously.
When an errant pass bounces off a net and is still in play — I don’t think so. When a receiver goes twenty yards backwards only to be two yards offside when the ball is snapped — c’mon. When the first defensive stop isn’t recorded until there’s six minutes left in the first half — laughable.
It’s a nice story that there are still young men out there fighting for their dreams of playing NFL football. The Kurt Warner’s of the world made us all believe anything is possible.
But the Arena Bowl is so saturated with offensive showmanship and gimmicky rules that it’s hard for the true football fan to become emotionally invested.
Thankfully, REAL football is here again and the Arena folks disappear until we’re ready for their circus next year.
