This week was certainly a lot. As I type this, the Georgia Men's Basketball team just squandered away a 4 point lead over Tennessee, turning it into a double digit loss over a span of about five minutes. This by itself is not terribly frustrating, as I don't really expect the mens basketball team to win a conference game, much less over the SEC's elite team. However, for someone who was looking for just the slightest ray of hope that the Sports Gods do not hate Atlanta, it was just another punch to the stomach.
The starting point for the Worst Week Ever was the Falcons loss on Sunday. After rallying to obtain a halftime lead, Kurt Warner decided to take the Gabe Kapler approach. He was inaccurate with his passing, but every completion he made seemed to be in excess of 50 yards. While Atlanta regained hope behind an impressive touchdown march by Matt Ryan and an incredible tackle by John Abraham resulting in a 3rd and 17 situation; linebacker Keith Brooking inexplicably took the low route in coverage leading to the final nail in the Falcons comeback season.
While there was plenty of grumbling after the game (and I'm still irate about the "in the grass" safety call that negated a completion and added 2 points to the deficit), the Falcons were significantly better than anyone could have predicted, and Atlanta fans now have a reason to "wait until next year."
The next blow came Wednesday afternoon, when Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno both declared for the draft. While we all knew that it was coming (especially after they announced a press conference), the little ball of hope inside of me was much more convincing than any sort of logic. I've also heard from other respected sources that their "little balls of hope" have a lot of faith in Joe Cox. Citing the Colorado game from three years ago, the sole touchdown drive against Florida, and the fact that he never lost a game in High School, they make a convincing case.
To Cox's credit, he has the passion for Georgia Football that kept him from transferring to another school, and while he may not have the ridiculous arm strength that catapulted Matthew Stafford to the top of the draft charts, Mark Richt has traditionally taken slightly above-average quarterbacks and led them to prestige, be it Weinke, Ward, or Greene. Regardless, it's disheartening to see what was possibly the most talented Georgia team ever leave without accomplishing their potential.
We had still only hit the point of "mildly upset" until the news broke on Thursday afternoon that John Smoltz was going to sign with the Red Sox. I know Lav gave his opinion on this yesterday. To his credit, it was well-reasoned and logical. However, he is absolutely wrong. It is one thing if Smoltz was acting as a mercenary, demanding the Braves outbid every other team. However, despite the PR spin that Terry McGuirk and the Braves front office have attempted to put out, Smoltz was never officially offered a contract.
There was speculation about "an offer," but even this conceptual deal was insulting to the man who was not only the legacy of the franchise, but has been one of the most charitable figures for the metro Atlanta area. To give him incentives for reaching 200 innings is insulting, because it was already known that he wouldn't be able to pitch until almost June, from which 200 innings would involve Atlanta going on a 3.5 man rotation (which ironically seems to be what they'll be able to staff this year).
I would personally be in favor of paying John Smoltz 12 million just to sit on the bench and wear the uniform, because the man has earned it. I know that's bad business, and quite frankly don't care. And apparently, I'm not alone. For those of you who are local, have you EVER seen Atlanta fans this angry? We're a city whose standard deviation of fans ranges from apathetic to nonexistent, and there is actually a public outcry for Frank Wren's head.
While I've defended nearly every move that the man has made thus far, he has undone all of it with this. For a team that came into the offseason with 35 million dollars to play with and no play-mates, a matter of 4 million should not be the difference in letting the city's most beloved athlete leave. Especially to Boston. Because while I wish John Smoltz the best next year, I will NEVER cheer for Boston to win a game, much less a championship.
Finally, my Hawks entered this weekend with a chance to cut the Magic's division lead in half. I'm not even going to acknowledge the final scores of those games, because my spirit was already broke when I received the message from Adam while I was at work reading "Hawks are down 71-33 at the half. Not a typo."
I'm a notorious optimist. I think my players are better than they other team's players, they just need to hit their potential. I defend most personnel moves because I can blindly see prospect stats and cite the future. I have nothing positive to say about this week, except that it's over. And the first time I see John Smoltz in a Red Sox jersey, I'm going to have to take a couple sick days from work. I'll be preoccupied huddled in a fetal position in my bed, hoping to wake up from this horrible nightmare.
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