2011 Recap: Atlanta Sports Style (Part 2)

Atlanta Hawks

The 2010-2011 Atlanta Hawks finally "broke through" in the Eastern Conference. By defeating the Orlando Magic by a score of four games to two, the Hawks looked poised to make a playoff run. However, they met a stronger team in the Conference Semifinals in the Chicago Bulls. Sure, they won two games in the series, but the Hawks never really stood a chance.

Zaza Pachulia's interview from the 2008 playoff battle with the Boston Celtics didn't inspire the Hawks either, as the team never reached a Game 7.

However, Joe Johnson's contract raised the eyebrows of nearly every Hawk fan, as he didn't play like a man worth more than $120 million.  

First year head coach Larry Drew preached an offense with more passing and motion and less dribbling and Joe Johnson fadeaways. It worked for the most part, but it will be interesting to see how the 2011-2012 ends up without former Sixth Man of the Year and shooting specialist Jamal Crawford. Crawford signed with Portland over the offseason.

Atlanta Thrashers

AtF staff,

I have lived in Atlanta since 1960 and consider myself a casual sports fan. But while riding MARTA, I saw a man wearing a powder blue jersey with some sort of tornado on it. Out of curiosity, I asked the man what kind of jersey he was wearing. The man seemed annoyed and told me that he was asked the same question too frequently. In fact, he had found the jersey on the ground in an alley a month earlier and had no clue which team wore the jersey. I decided that I would go home and look it up on the internet, but I was distracted by something I can't recall. Now, I have decided to write you this letter instead of take the effort to research this mysterious jersey. Thoughts? 

--- Ivan (Atlanta, Ga)

After a couple of hours of research, I discovered that the jersey belonged to the Atlanta Thrashers. I learned that the field hockey team had been in Atlanta since 1999 and had been bought by a group in Winnipeg, Canada. 

In all seriousness, this news traumatizes a grand total of 5,000 people. The move to Winnipeg was beneficial for the franchise's well-being,economic future, and fan support.  While a small fraction of Atlantans were certainly upset, the overall trauma caused by the Thrashers' move has the lowest impact possible on the city of any of the four major franchises in 2011.  

Here's to a 2012 filled with playoff victories from the Falcons, Braves, and Hawks, and Thrashers' nonexistence.