THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR ATLANTA SPORTS TEAMS

If you have been living in Georgia for a few years you have seen your share of ups and downs. There have been the most absolute pure moments of joy as well as heartbreaks that can make one feel as if they just fell off of a cliff. But where are we right now with our teams?

Atlanta Braves

There isn’t another baseball team on the planet that is as well balanced and talented as our current Atlanta Braves. General Manager Alex Anthopolous has been a magician tying up high quality players at team friendly contracts. Guys like Ronald Acuna, Jr, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider are just a few of the core players that should be here for years to come.

The 2021 World Championship was a little surprising and somewhat came out of left field (no pun intended) but looking back we can now see that moment of time as the real beginning of a hopeful 10-15 year run of success.

Championships aren’t guaranteed (just look at the Braves from the late 90’s/early 2000’s for numerous examples) as a lot of it is about getting hot at the right time. But things are being done here the right way and Truist Park will be a red hot destination well into the 2030’s!

Atlanta Falcons

You can really feel a new era dawning for Arthur Blank’s beloved Falcon franchise. If not for the Braves’ Anthopolous (above) General Manag Terry Fontenot may be the new golden child in town. All this guy has done in his two years here has been make right move after right move highlited by last year’s 2022 draft which was a masterclass on how to get it done. Of course, these things will take time and the jury is still somewhat out but Drake London is a star, Tyler Allgeier was a firstround pick (in hindsight) taken in the fifth round and Desmond Ridder is a very poised young man and quite possibly the Quarterback of the future who was snatched up fairly late in the third round. Add in Tight End Kyle Pitts from the previous year along with the numerous recent free agent signings and we are looking at a team that is on the cusp of exploding. We have somewhat seen this before with the Falcons as guys like Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley along with a few others have been splashy in the skill positions. The difference now, though, is Fontenot and Head Coach Arthur Smith seem to be building this thing properly, from the inside out valuing the big uglies on the lines. Offensive Linemen like Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary and Jake Matthews form a magnificent three-some and have all been locked up to much deserved healthy sized deals, which should make Ridder’s life that much easier.

No doubt the Birds still need some help rushing the opposing team’s Quarterback but every team will have some sort of a flaw and right now in 2023 this team is very much trending up!

Atlanta Hawks

This franchise is a little bit of an enigma and probably the least settled of the bunch. The talent is there as Trae Young is a super star and we saw this team a few years ago explode into the Eastern Conference Finals, but frankly there’s been a little bit of a regression ever since.

The Hawks have been defensively challenged allowing right around 120 points per game and the increasingly loud and gaining steam rumors about Young leaving town is, well, let’s just say, not good.

With the above said, Head Coach Quin Snyder has been able to get his feet wet again, back in town since the beginning of March and he and his staff should be settled in for some reasonable success moving forward. Who will be on his roster and for how long, though, is a major question.

Bottom line: We need a happy and a healthy Trae Young here in the Atl. If that turns out not to be the case then it’s anybody’s guess which way this franchise goes.

Atlanta United

It’s amazing what a little success early on in a franchise can do for you!?!?! And I mean this in a couple of ways, both good and bad.

Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra and the United came flying out of the gate winning a championship in year two, December 8th, 2018 to be exact. The sky was the limit with Josef Martinez, Miguel Almiron and Michael Parkhurst and so many other high-quality veterans that gelled so quickly. It was amazing to watch the build up of soccer here in Georgia the way United did it. 60,000 plus fans would routinely show up to Mercedes Benz Stadium chanting and screaming and just living the life. But it also created false expectations as it’s just impossible to live up to that level year in and year out. Amazing start, yes, potential to keep it going forever, of course not.

So, we saw a few lean seasons and some coaches come and go which, unless you were totally caught up in the moment, was to be expected. But, right now, after a great start to the 2023 season you can’t help but feel that Atlanta United is on the right course to becoming a powerhouse on the pitch once again. Thiago Almada, Miles Robinson, Giorgos Giakoumakis and a few others form a nucleus that really could win another MLS Cup and that means some more exciting times are ahead!

ATLANTA THRASHERS?

Wait, what? Hockey? What hockey?

Crazy talk, right?

Nope. If you follow and listen to some people in the know they say it is going to happen in the next 5-10 years up in Alpharetta or Forsyth County. This could certainly change as it’s far from a done deal but the whispers are starting to get louder and it’s looking like a good chance we get some NHL action in our parts in the not so distant future!

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Dr. Dimple Patel offers comprehensive dental care for the whole family in their state-of-the-art dental office in Marietta. Dr. Patel has been providing dental care to the Atlanta area for the last 18 years and continues to implement new procedures and techniques to better serve the community. At Leading Edge Dentistry, Dr. Patel is a family dentist who specializes in cosmetic and comprehensive care that includes crowns and veneers, whitening, endodontics (root canal therapy), oral surgery (extractions and gum contouring), implants, and dental prosthetics (partials and dentures).

“We can restore patients back to excellent health while attending to their esthetic and emotional needs,” Dr. Patel says. The practice utilizes the latest in modern technology and techniques, and Dr. Patel consistently strives to improve both her skill level and knowledge.

Impressive Credentials

Dr. Dimple Patel grew up in South Carolina and attended Emory University in Atlanta. There, she graduated with honors with degrees in Psychology and Religion while simultaneously fulfilling her requirements for dental school. She then returned to South Carolina to attend dental school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. While in dental school, Dr. Patel was inducted into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society and was named a Hinman Scholar where she was awarded a coveted scholarship. After graduating at the top of her class, she moved to Atlanta to pursue her career in dentistry. Since then, she has treated and changed the lives of thousands of individuals and continues to serve her community. She is constantly learning new techniques and staying on the forefront of advancing dentistry by partaking in countless hours of education. Dr. Patel has been residing in Smyrna for the last 15 years and has enjoyed watching her Cobb community grow and thrive. When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Patel enjoys spending time with her adventurous husband, playing basketball with her two energetic boys, working out, and supporting the Atlanta Falcons, Braves, and Hawks!

WHAT MAKES LEADING EDGE DENTISTRY DIFFERENT?

“What sets us apart is our commitment to treating each person with compassion and excellence while restoring health and beautiful smiles. We listen to each patient’s desires and empower them to make the best choices for their personal health and happiness.”

Being a mother herself, Dr. Patel understands the need for creating healthy habits early and the importance of preventative dental care for lifelong oral health. Dr. Patel routinely sees patients who have had negative dental experiences at other offices leading to fear and anxiety. At Leading Edge Dentistry, Dr. Patel and her highly skilled and experienced staff prioritize patients’ needs and comfort above all. From providing complementary nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) to warm neck rolls and plush blankets, patients are treated like family. Patients receive personalized care throughout their experience and take notice when treatment far surpasses their expectations, like the after-hours calls following a procedure to check on them. Since Covid, the office has also taken extra measures to ensure the health and safety of their patients by installing a state-of-the-art air purification system to eliminate the spread of viruses.

“After almost 20 years of practicing dentistry, I’m more excited than ever to go to the office. I have a great team and great patients and have found a niche allowing me to offer top-notch dentistry in a relaxed, comfortable manner.”