There are certain American cities where the distractions are so compelling and varied, going to a ballgame ranks awfully low on the totem pole of cultural activities. Take Atlanta for instance. You’ve got Freak Week. Parties at Andrew Young’s house. The Varsity. The Dan Baird Birthplace & Museum. The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Theme Park.
Reminding us yet again that ATL’s professional sports fans are a fickle, if occasionally invisible bunch, the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Terrence Moore bemoans the Braves’ lack of support.
If there ever was a city that didn’t deserve a team doing the unprecedented and the unthinkable such as the Braves along the way to 14 consecutive division titles, that city is right here in the heart of Dixie. Or should I say that city is right here in the heart of apathy? Take it from Chuck Tanner, the Braves’ manager during their previous dark days of the 1980s. He sighed over the phone the other day after reflecting on those who have shrugged during the Braves’ nice run. “I mean, what do you want?” Tanner said, before easing into a chuckle. “I’ll tell you what they wanted. They wanted 14 consecutive world championships.”
Which brings me to this: Unless an Atlanta professional sports team is doing something or has somebody that appeals to the lowest common denominator of sports fans, you can forget it. They aren’t coming. To keep their focus away from what the Bulldogs are doing, they need a ‘Nique or a Vick or a worst-to-first miracle.
The Hawks have finished among the bottom two in NBA home attendance for each of the past five years, and even when they were at least good during the Mookie Blaylock, Steve Smith and Dikembe Mutombo years, they barely showed a pulse at the gate. The Falcons’ recent popularity is a No. 7 thing. Period. Before the 2003 season, the Falcons sold every ticket for every game, but after Michael Vick broke his leg during the preseason, the only place more empty than the parking lots around the Georgia Dome during home games were the many sections inside. The Thrashers still draw well because they remain a novelty to many, but their honeymoon is another trip away from the playoffs from becoming a nasty divorce.
Then you have the Braves, the epitome of it all with an asterisk. In contrast to the Hawks, for instance, the Braves have perfected victory. It mattered at the start of their run to the masses, when the chopping and the chanting was unique, but then winning became passe. Actually, that’s being kind when describing the Braves’ shocking lack of physical and vocal support during the past decade, especially when it counted the most in October.
The place was packed this past weekend for the Braves’ regular-season games against the Red Sox, and that was good for the Red Sox. While the Red Sox players contributed to the Braves’ slide in the standings, the Red Sox fans made so much racket compared with their counterparts that you’d have thought there was a Green Monster in left field
The bottom line is that Atlanta fans need a wake-up call regarding pro sports, and maybe they’ll get one now that the Braves’ dominance is going to sleep.
This evening, the Braves and Devil Rays find themselves tied at 2-2 after 7 innings at that hotbed of wild partisan support, Tropicana Field. John Smoltz lasted just 29 pitches before leaving the game with an as-yet undetermined leg injury.
A picture of the Varsity JR??? You really know how to kick a city when it’s down.
Also, the ATHF park doesn’t hold a candle to this place: http://members.aol.com/interama/krofft.html
Well written article, but I disagree with most points made. First of all, the Braves attendance is excellent this year. It was excellent last year as well. I don’t know what you’re basing your comments on, but the Braves have been averaging over 33,000 seats sold per game (67% of seats), not bad for city of fair-weather fans, right? If you look at the 11 teams ahead of in attendance, you will find one of two commonalities amongst them: a new stadium within the last few years OR a serious playoff contender. The Braves in the last two years were not considered serious contenders from opening day. And it seems the worse the Braves do, the more support they get. That is a sign of a dedicated fan base. When they realize the ship is going astray, they come out to show their support. You may consider say that they should be there all the time, but you know what, coming out when your team needs support, spending $12 on parking, $15 for a ticket, fighting Atlanta traffic, all to get in to spend $7 for a cup of beer, $5 for a bag of peanuts, to support a losing team..that’s a fan. Overall, I think your assessment of the Braves attendance was rather bland and generic: you’re saying the same nonsense that ESPN analysts say, and anytime that happens, you need to re-evaluate your stance.
I’m not sure how buying tickets in April to see a team that has won 15 consecutive division titles constitutes “supporting a losing team.” But please keep in mind, this is Terrence Moore’s bland and generic stance on the Braves’ fan base, not mine. If you think he needs to re-evaluate his stance, by all means, write a letter to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“If you look at the 11 teams ahead of in attendance, you will find one of two commonalities amongst them: a new stadium within the last few years OR a serious playoff contender.”
Well put. The Chicago Cubs are averaging 39,000 + this season, perform in the glitzy new Wrigley Field and they’re already printing playoff tickets.
as far as I’m concerned, you tomahawk chopping motherfuckers can go to the game, stay home and save your money for the Table Of The Elemens festival or just kill yourselves. I’m happy either way.
Dear Editor,
The Braves lost every postseason except the 95 strike shortened season and John Schuerholz said they are a dynasty, team of decade, dynasty. Not. Florida Marlins won 2 World Series in 6 years as a wild card team, they are in the NL east like the Braves. They beat the Braves in the 97 NLCS.The Toronto Blue Jays repeated as World Series Champs ,and beat the Atlanta Braves in 92 World Series,not John Schuerholz Braves they repeated as losers of 2 World Series 91-92. For 6 years 2000-2005, the Braves won the division and lost in postseason what does that say about regular season and the Braves nothing! The great Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz Haha. they the Braves suck in the postseason. Someone has to be blamed for this mess that the Braves are in every postseason.Regular season means NOTHING when POSTSEASON starts.What about the Yankees 3in a row 98-00 Oakland A’s 3 in a row in the 70’s they are great teams not the Braves who lose every year in postseason and they are sad losers. 1 World Series championship in 14 years is lousy,sad,sorry, choking. The Braves under John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox never repeated as World Series champions. Never have,never will. About Philadelphia sports teams the NFL,NHL, NBA, MLB. All won championships in their sports. Not Atlanta sports teams only the Atlanta Braves won one World Series the other sports teams nothing.Who is a bad sports city? Atlanta. Where is the respect for all the baseball teams that beat the Braves from 91-93,96-05? The Braves won 100 games a few times during this division title run 91-05. The Braves put so much on the division titles that they win. Where are all these World Series rings? I forgot the Braves collapse in the postseason. They are a disgrace. 1 out of 14 is lousy.NOTHING ELSE TO SAY!!!!
not anymore, no. You’ve taken all the oxygen outta the room.
One world series in 14 years for the Atlanta Braves and the sad thing it was a strike shortened 144 game season. Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz should get fired for all this misery they cause the Braves fans? Who gives a rats ass if the Braves win the division title and lose in the first or second round of the postseason! Regular season means nothing at all when the postseason starts.Bobby Cox sucks every postseason, he is not a great postseason manager,look at his lousy record,One World Series in strike shortened season,and the Braves lose every postseason.Why? Florida Marlins are in the same division as the Braves,yet they never won the division title, but won two world series in 6 years not John Schuerholz & Bobby Cox.Toronto Blue Jays with Cito Gaston as manager repeated as World Series champs 92-93. NOT John Schuerholz’s Braves with Bobby Cox as manager.The Braves never have in the 90’s or this decade repeated as World Series champs.How can they be labeled as a team of decade,dynasty,team of 90’s? This is bull!! THEY SUCK. THEY DON’T WIN WORLD SERIES, THAT IS WHAT BASEBALL PLAYS FOR NOT APPEARANCES IN POSTSEASON. NOT DIVISION TITLES. THEY MEAN NOTHING IF/WHEN THE BRAVES LOSE,WHICH IS EVERY YEAR IN POSTSEASON.IF the Braves ever repeat as World Series champs then they can go on TV and say they are a great team until then,PLEASE, STOP THE NONSENSE, WHERE IS THE LOVE FOR TORONTO BLUE JAYS BRAVES FANS? THEY REPEATED IN THE WORLD SERIES.BOBBY COX NEVER REPEATED AS WORLD SERIES CHAMPION LIKE CITO GASTON.THINK ABOUT THAT BRAVES FANS.He lost 2 in a row. HE SUCKS!!!
y’know, I believe it was a wise man named Tim Dao that once wrote “NOTHING ELSE TO SAY” If only Tim Dao paid attention to these words.
bobby cox leaving tim hudson in after 8 great innings,when they have a steady closer was a perfect example of the retarded way that cox manages his team.even if hudson asked to stay in,the point is the manager should use his own judgement (whick i really question) and know how to utilize his players for the good of the team.cox has always been a wrench in the braves plan for success.
Bobby Cox SUCKS
Bobby Cox sucks. Tim Dao meant, because Bobby Cox sucks every postseason the Braves lose. Who cares? I care about the World Series Winner not the division winner or wildcard winnerNot the World Series loser. Speaking of the Marlins, they won 2 world series in 6 years How many did John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox win in 6 years? Zero!!!
Division titles mean nothing in postseason. Every team in baseball plays to be the World Series champ not Division tiltle winner like the Sorry ass Braves. Yankees won 3 world series in 4 years, not John Schuerholz and Boby Cox they suck in postseason!!!!! Why keep the losers around they stink!!!!!!!! Look at their crappy postseason record it speaks for itself.John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox should be Fired!!!!!!!!!
Show me the World Series rings John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox you Suck in the post season. Who cares about division titles? A true dynasty is a winner of World Series not the loser no one remembers the Losers!!! You said yourself that the Braves are a dynasty in what world! They lose every postseason and make excuses we are not supposed to win division title who gives a rats ass! Ask any football or basketball player you don’t play for division titles you play for the ultimate prize in baseball that is World Series!! Braves have 0 this decade because John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox stink.
Bob Brenly got fired from Arizona after 2001 World Series ring, what about the loser Bobby Cox? He didn’t win anything in the last 14 years every year it is excuses. Excuses are for Assholes!! Stop crying Braves fans. You stink, Until John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox get fired or replaced they will never repeat as World Series champs or 3 peat like the Yankees or win 2 world series like the Marlins who never won A division title. Sorry Atlanta Braves tomohawk chopping losers!! And, repeat like Toronto Blue Jays and Cito Gaston did in the 90;s Not John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox they stink!! The Braves never repeated as world champs only Toronto and the Yankees. The Marlins and Twins won as many World Series as the sorry Braves franchise. I forgot they both beat the Braves who according to Tim McCarver the best pitching beats the best hitting NOT!!!!! ONE world Series in 14 years is sorry, No EXCUSES!! JUST CHOKING!! Braves could not score one run in the 91 WORLD SERIES! gO BACK TO SCHOOL TIM mcCARVER,read your notes! DIVISION TITLES NOTHING WORLD SERIES WINNER EVERYTHING!!! FIRE JOHNSCHUERHOLZ AND BOBBY COX they are losers losers look at the post season where it matters!!
Bobby Cox…when Andruw Jones and Jeff Francouer are good enough.
The thing that confuses me is that there are people like you that think it is our responsibility as human beings to support a bunch of grown men who make more money for playing a game than most people will ever see. There are some of us whose world will go on just fine if the Braves never win a game. I use to tie my feeling to sports, professional or otherwise, until one day I realized how foolish that is. You know the kind of person I’m talking about, they do destructive things just because their team lost. Just because a bunch of rich grown men lost to another bunch of rich grown men. It’s all so foolish.
“The thing that confuses me is that there are people like you that think it is our responsibility as human beings to support a bunch of grown men who make more money for playing a game than most people will ever see”
The thing that confuses me is that there are people like you who lack the basic comprehension skills to figure out who is being quoted. Have you thought about writing to Terrence Moore or would you like to wait another 6 years?