World Series Hoopla
For all the unfortunate events the pandemic has spurned, its effect on Atlanta professional sports teams has been good—well with the exception of maybe the Falcons.
The Atlanta Hawks played well into the post-season this past year with the young squad on the verge of the NBA finals. Their efforts earlier this year have fans eagerly awaiting the current season, which just began. Three games in, as of the penning of this column, looks like they’re off to a slow start with no wins yet. But the team saw their big boom down the stretch heading into the close of regular season. Unlike most other professional sports, NBA teams play sooooooo many games that 20 losses in the beginning of a season can be nearly eradicated by 60 wins late in the season, guess there can be strength in numbers.
Those positive athletic Hawks vibes must have passed right onto the Atlanta Braves who made it past the regular season, playoffs and into the World Series. The last time the Braves played in the World Series and won bringing the coveted title back to Atlanta, I was living in Florida but rooting for them all the way.
Those were the days of my “Four Js” — Jones, Justice, Jones & Javy. Andruw Jones, David Justice, Chipper Jones and Javy Lopez who were all easy on the eyes, hard on a bat, and quick on the bases. I was in my 20s and each of them were too, they made baseball interesting for me. What would really be interesting now is to see how time has aged them.
In addition to my eye candies, that Bobby Cox squad had a stellar pitching trifecta too with Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox rotating through that position. That particular year I remember Smoltz being “smokin” on the mound and any switches in that position meant no let down whatsoever. They were bad, as in good, like Michael Jackson “Bad.”
They were other notables on the team that I can recall just off the top of my head like the shortstop Belliard, Klesko, McGriff, Neagle, Grissom, and the seasoned veteran Terry Pendleton. From what I remember Pendleton was one of the older members of that squad so that championship came at a great time for him. He always seemed so cool and laid back like he was the level-headed guy that calmed the hot heads during heated moments.
Anyway, the early to mid 90s was probably the most baseball I have ever watched in my life, largely due the “Four Js,” but it sparked a new sports interest. I haven’t watched nearly as much baseball since that time but I do check in on the action from time to time during the season. Haven’t watched much this season at all and will likely not catch a whole game during the World Series but I will be tuning in to see how the local guys are faring. What’s funny is that I could not name nearly as many guys on the current squad in comparison to the mid-90s.
I do know I won’t be trying to buy tickets for the Truist Park games. The hot items can run one from $800, if you are lucky, to $22,000 for the Chairman’s Seat. For avid Braves or Astros diehards I know it‘s all in the spirit of cheering your team onto victory and hopefully an eventual World Series title. It ranks right up there with the Super Bowl, maybe. Besides it’s only money right, especially when you think of all the memories you will make and the possibility of your team winning, right?
Go Braves Go!