Ghost Written by: Brandon Joseph

The Falcons need to win on Sunday vs. the Giants not to legitimize the season, not to lock Matt Ryan in as an upper tier QB but for reasons that have nothing to do with the Atlanta Falcons. Before this goes any further it has nothing to do with Michael Vick either. We should all be on the same page that this team, this town, this fanbase is past the “Vick Era” and the argument about that has been settled (Falcons make the playoffs; Eagles enjoying it from home). This playoff game has nothing to do with just football but everything to do with baseball, hockey and basketball added with it.

In the last 10 completed seasons the Atlanta Falcons have made the playoffs only 4 times. They have advance past their first game twice, both times losing their next game. Meanwhile in that same time frame:

Braves: 5 Playoff appearances, all 5 first round losses

Thrashers: 1 Playoff appearance (2006) and they were swept out of the first round.

Hawks: 4 Playoff appearances with 3 advances out of the first round.

The inclusion of UGA football and Tech basketball would help move these numbers into a slightly better light however with when it comes to the cities with at least an NFL, MLB and NBA team the city of Atlanta trails in championships and performance.

Sometimes it is not just about being a warm body at the dance. For this city the Falcons carry the weight not just to show up at the dance but to bust a move and raise the roof or do the Macarena; whatever it takes to change the overall nationwide perception and trend for this city.

***And also this game has everything to do with erasing that 48-21 beating at the hands of the Packers last year in the NFC Divisional Round***

 

 

Ghost Written by: Brandon Joseph

On July 1^st, 2011 the Owners of the NBA locked out the players, creating the 4^th lockout in league history. The owners cited the inability of the small market teams, to break even on their investments. The owners proposed radical changes to the structure of the landscape. This included a hard salary cap, a reduction in player salaries and basically power back to the owners. The player’s stance was fairly simple, asking why and what they get for effectively bailing out the owners from bad contract decisions. In the end the numbers may have changed to give the owners a little relief but the principal and values have not changed in the slightest.

The name on the back of the uniform trumps the team name on the front and thus the players still run the league. Is it bad business; akin to letting the inmates run the asylum? Is it a smart business strategy allowing the players to be out there in the forefront to be able to sell more product and bring in more money? With either course of thinking it was the same environment pre-lockout as post-lockout.

Just last year Carmelo Anthony held the Denver Nuggets hostage all year to force the trade to the team that HE wanted to go to. The only time you hear of this in other sports is when a player has a NO-TRADE CLAUSE. Anthony, who was in the last year of his contract without a no-trade clause, picked the team he was going to be traded to (Knicks) and forced the Nuggets to take an arguably lesser deal than could have been created with another team. One would assume that if the owners wanted power and control back they would of made sure something like this could never happen again. Days after the lockout ended Chris Paul, who is in the last contract for the year with the Hornets and without a no-trade clause, told the team that he would like to be traded. Paul went on to give the NBA owned team a list of about 3 teams that were acceptable for him to be moved to.

A deal is ultimately made and Paul is set to move to the Lakers, until David Stern steps in and voids the trade, that in most circles deemed fair to all parties, citing concern amongst some owners. Check in different circles across these teams markets most seem to think the “concern” is the Lakers getting a top 3 Point Guard to pair with still a top 6 player in Kobe Bryant. As well as reports that the Lakers were close to also acquiring Dwight Howard to form a “Hollywood Big Three” not seen since Willis, Schwarzenegger and Stallone came together to start a restaurant business. The other owners became scared of another powerhouse forming.

The reason Stern had to veto this trade was the pure perception; if allowed it would show that fans were robbed of a sport, people lost jobs for a sport in which they were told that change was needed and was going to happen but in reality everything that us on the outside can see is the exact same.

Ghost Written by Brandon Joseph

It’s always tough as a fan to say goodbye to one of the best at their sport in their respected era. It is equally hard for the athlete themselves. That is why guys like Junior Seau, Brett Favre, Michael Jordan, and Brett Favre again, end up catching the bug one more time; end up believing they have a little something left in the tank. Despite how tough it maybe to walk away it is far sadder to watch a great athlete have time pass them by and get unceremoniously run out of a sport.

Donovan McNabb is looking to be next up on the ballet for this distinction. McNabb went to 6 Pro-Bowls was seemingly a sure lock for the Hall of Fame. Now Donovan is begging for a chance doing interviews saying he is not a “locker room cancer” when the fact really is he is not a top tier Quarterback anymore. The one thing that universally looked down upon is desperation and McNabb smells of that right now. McNabb like Seau, Favre, Jordan and Favre again were people who we thought at the end of it all we could associate with only the jerseys that made them great: Seau with the Chargers, not trying to find that extra gear (which wasn’t there) in New England just to keep up with the FB running to the flat; Jordan hitting the 1998 NBA Finals game winner as a Bull, not trying to make Kwame Brown look worthy of a #1 overall draft pick with the Wizards; or Favre as the gunslinger in Green Bay, not the old man playing for the Vikings scrambling and throwing an effective walk off interception to the Saints in the NFC Championship. McNabb now holds the same designation as guys like Jamarcus Russell and Terrell Owens as guys who have helmet and will travel but no one wants them. Who would of thought this would be the case back in 2004?

The rise to greatness is only matched by the fall from grace. The ending moments of these players will stain their whole legacy. So as the greats in Atlanta are tailing off their careers or we continue to watch the younger stars continue their rise we can only hope it will be a more graceful exit when it is time to say goodbye.

I'm talking about Johnny Venters deserving a shot at the Cy Young award this year. The award simply says best pitcher in each league, it doesn't specify starter or closer or in this case set up man. I know we have never seen a set up guy win the award and I think it's a long shot for Venters but he should at least be considered if his amazing year continues. The only way I believe a set up man would ever really be given serious consideration would come from a combination of an all time year for that pitcher and just so so year's from big name starters. Which if you look at the stats as we sit here today is what is happening. Venters numbers are sick to this point, he is 4-0 with an 0.50 ERA. He has 35 K's in 35.2 IP and has only allowed 16 hits. Opposing hitters have a .164 slugging pct. this year. One of many ridiculous Jonny Venters numbers: On days he's pitched with zero days of rest, opposing batters are 1-for-34. That's an .029 AVG. Lets say Venters continues at his unreal pace this year and finishes with 9 or 10 wins, 7-10 saves, an ERA of 0.50 and 95-100 innings pitched...Can it happen then? Again I agree its a long shot. My guess is if a guy like Roy Halladay goes 16-9 with a 2.76 ERA the voters will give him the award simply because its what has always happened in baseball. No matter what happens I think two things are clear Johnny Venters is an All Star and hands down is the best relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.

I always appreciate your comments so feel free to email at Matt@680thefan.comor
Tweet me @realmattlanta on Twitter 

Lets go OTR

It's time to go on the record for our Braves Predictions...this way at the end of the season I can say I told you so or you can mock me daily..

Vegas has the Braves at 87 1/2 wins, do you go over or under?

I will go over, i think this is a 93 or 94 win club

Now for my personal over and under bets for the Braves.

Chipper Jones 18 HR's -  I go over..Chipper hits 20 long balls

Nate McClouth batting average .265 - I go under, Nate hits 265

Tommy Hanson wins 17 1/2  - I go over Tommy goes 18-6 2.54 ERA

Dan Uggla errors - 16 1/2 - I go under at 14

Jason Heyward HR's - 26 1/2 - I go under but barely..ill say 25

Craig Kimbrell saves - 27 - I go under at 20...I think Venters picks up 18 saves

Brian McCann batting average .287 - Ill go over at .301

Freddie Freeman HR's - 16 1/2 - I'll go under but barely with 16

Chipper Jones games played - 129 - I'll go under at 126

Derek Lowe wins 15 1/2 - i'll go under..he wins his usual 15


If you have any guesses on my over-under bets or you have some of your own..email me at Matt@680thefan.com.
 

The beauty of our job as Sportstalk radio hosts these days is the ability of the fans to share their thoughts with us through e-mail. Sometimes its in response to an opinion we give on our show and other times its just to vent about a game or their favorite team's struggles. Here are just a few of the e-mails I have received since the Falcons loss to the Packers Saturday night. Enjoy!

 

 E-mail from David R:

It was ugly.  Packers score 28 points in the second quarter to put the Falcons behind by 14; from there, done.  What we saw...Falcons could not stop the slant route.  Falcons could not get pressure with Its front four.  Falcons' secondary was just not good on this night.  The Packers made Matt Ryan look like a rookie at times.  The Packers were the better team.

Is it all doom and gloom?  No.  Does Mr. Blank, Mr. Dimitroff, and Coach Smith have some major retooling to do?  Maybe.

Free agency is going to go a long way in helping this franchise build toward getting back and going far in the playoffs.Nnamdi Asomugha from the Raiders comes to mind.  The Falcons defense cannot be effective against great quarterbacks if they cannot cover.  John Abraham is showing signs of slowing and the Falcons will need to continue to address their defensive line.

Dimitroff would love to build a Super Bowl contender through the draft.  I think he is doing a solid job so far.  Ryan is only in his third season as a starter...just like Aaron Rodgers.  However, remember Rodgers has been in the league for six years and was able to back up one of the all-time greats at the position.  Matt Ryan came into the world's worst situation and had to make do.

As embarrassing as this loss was for the organization and the city, don't think for a minute that this team, as young as it is, is going to start going backwards.  Blank, Dimitroff, and Smith simply won't let that happen.

 

 

E-mail from Terry:

Hey Matt, Do you know the date and time of the falcons celebration parade? HAHAHAHAHA. Maybe next season instead of the slogan rise up it can be ONE AND DONE.     Terry

 

E-mail from Mark:

If chris owens still has a key to get into the complex on Monday its a shame!! Should drop the pads and walk away!
  Why does it always look like we're the team that don't belong on the big stage even though we were the higher seed !
 Please don't talk about how good we will be next year. Nothing Is certain in the NFL , we may only win 3 games !
 And by the way the robinson pick up sucked now how long are we strapped with this garbage  . One pick all year give me a break !!

 

 

 

E-mail from Brandon:   First let me say Falcons for life....Man i dont blame this game on the offense or matt ryan at all...this game came down to the defense Aaron Rogers palyed like a beast..I have called to the show at least 3 times this year and i told u and the King it was gonna come down to our defense tackling....its like the same thing against the Saints we get to the QB on 3rd down and littlle William Moore cant bring him down, even my boy St Nick, and John Abraham missed key 3rd down tackles that would have got us the ball back.... Do you think we need to fire Brain Van Gorder????? Somthing has to give man....You learn to Tackle in High School..and im not tacking anything from Aaron Rogers dont be surprised if their in the Superbowl!!!!

 

 

E-mail from Jeff

Time to scale back the Matty Ice = Tom Brady = Peyton Manning comparisons.

 

 

 

E-mail from James

love the show man, long time listener. The 2011 NFL free agency class isn't loaded with talent but teams will be making moves. What do the Falcons have to do to sign names like Oaklands' shut-down CB Asomugha, or a pass-rushing LB like Hali from Kansas City? As for offense, what about a complement WR for White? Vincent Jackson seems like someone that could help stretch the field for Ryan and the passing attack, as long as he isn't a locker room distraction. thanks guys, keep up the good work

 

 

 

E-mail from Randy

 

Hey Matt,
I just wanted to write and congratulate you and your Falcons on getting there ass kicked by the Packers!  I guess it goes to show, contrary to what the yahoos in Georgia think, they do play football in other places then the south.  Maybe now, people in that backwards state will show some respect for Green Bay, because when I lived there they sure never did.  So, I guess there will be no "Falcons rise up" (that song really blows worst team song ever) and I guess Matti is not so "ice" after all, ha ha.  Enjoy the off season douchebag.

 

 

 

E-mail from Casey

It would be too easy to revert to hyperbole when first reflecting on the Falcons worst playoff loss in franchise history. Perhaps if I wasn't a lifelong Atlanta sports fan I would find this loss more disheartening, but we've been conditioned for this our whole lives. I'd like to say I thought this time was different, that this team made me believe, but there was always that gnawing sense of impending doom that lingers in the dark recesses of every Atlanta sports fans' mind. If it had to end this way, and inevitably it did, at least all of the Falcons' weaknesses were put under the microscope and magnified to the greatest degree possible in the most public of venues. This shouldn't be viewed as just a humiliating loss, but as an opportunity to address the numerous shortcomings this team has on both sides of the ball.

 

 

As always you can share your thoughts with me..good or bad at matt@680thefan.com