Score Vol. 2 Issue 1

NO ONE HAS BETTER SEATS TO THE BEST EVENTS JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

ATLANTA’S SPORTS TALKTALK NEWSPAPER ATLANTA’S WEEKLY SPORTS NEWSPAPER

VOL 2 NO 1

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02 I SCORE ATLANTA

Get In The Game!

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JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

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IN YOUR

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SCORE ATLANTA LINEUP PUBLISHER/EDITOR I.J. Rosenberg PRODUCTION MANAGER Roy Hickman BUSINESS MANAGER Marvin Botnick ART DIRECTOR Laura E. Hay COVER DESIGNER Shan D. Wallace GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN David Gaudio DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Cunningham EDITOR/REPORTER Jared Wallace INTERNS Alexander Lentz, Tad Arapoglou CONTRIBUTORS Dean Zindler, Mitch Evans, Matt Judy, Richard Diamond, Joe Haines, Brian Katrek, Chris Dimino, Mike Bell, Matt Stewart, Fred Kalil, Nick Cellini, Phillip Leopold, Dave Marshall, Greg Smith, Steak Shapiro, Mike Cather, Beau Bock, Chuck Oliver, Chris Cotter, Matt Chernoff, Roy Hickman, Dave Cohen, John Olah, Jeff Woolverton, Matt Judy, Chris Voss, Bob Rathbun, Courtney Capps SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Mitch Albom, Dave Kindred, Barry Bloom CARTOONIST Rick McKee DISTRIBUTION Gema Distribuidores ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ryan McKay ASSISTANTS Marsha LaBeaume 790 THE ZONE FOUNDERS Andrew Saltzman, Steak Shapiro, Beau Bock ZONE STATION MANAGER Neal Maziar ZONE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Matt Edgar ZONE SALES MANAGER Chris Young ZONE MARKETING DIRECTOR Leslie Smith ZONE MARKETING STAFF Cody Hicks, Leslie Hoar ZONE NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Jim Heilman ZONE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Alexandra Maistrella, Eileen Rosenstein, Gary Blitzer, John Fraser, Leah Doyle, Michael Hoffman, Sara Hanna, KevIn McDonough, Adam Heiser ZONE SALES ASSOCIATE Megan Fussell

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Rob Hootselle of FriendlyPokerGame.com informs us of what makes a woman better at poker than at man. Hint: it isn’t just her looks.

COMING NEXT WEEK IN SCORE :

We take a look at the rebounding Thrashers and hot goalie Michael Garnett, Chuck Oliver wraps up the college football season in only the way “The Kang’’ can do, we grade the Falcons on their 8-8 season and Nick Cellini’s sarcastic ways return after taking a vacation. We heard he spent two weeks in Disney World on all the kiddie rides.

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By the look on Marc Savard’s face, it is hard to tell if he is actually sticking his tongue out at someone, is really tired or just noticed that there was a piece of candy stuck just below his lip. Of course, the way the Thrashers center has played this season, he has earned the right to stick his tongue out for any reason he wants. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

MEMBER OF THE ATLANTA SPORTS COUNCIL

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Chuck Oliver of 790 The Zone tells everyone why the city of Atlanta deserves to host a BCS bowl game every season.

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Hawks and Braves announcer Bob Rathbun takes a look at the early season results by Hawks rookie Marvin Williams (pictured right) vs. Hornets rookie Chris Paul and how they stack up so far. ___________________________________________________________

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Dave Kindred of The Sporting News recounts the story of former reliever Jeff Reardon and recent robbery of a jewelry store in Florida. __________________________________________________________________________________

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04 I SCORE ATLANTA

SCORETOON

Get In The Game!

by Rick McKee

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Look, obviously Mora gets angry, and he game, an ugly 44-11 loss to Carolina Falcons not even two years ago, he had not had word is that he can be very tough on the peoand the Falcons’ sixth defeat in eight one day of experience as a head coach; not in ple who work for him. But I went to Alabama, games, had been over for 15 or so minutes when the NFL, college, pros, or even youth ball. and the stories about how tough Bear Bryant the door to the team’s locker room finally swung And all of a sudden all those that had been was on his players and coaches are notorious. open, and out walked coach Jim Mora. heralding Mora as the NFL’s next wonder boy The Bear would do anything for his people, He walked to the podium and turned to were now destroying him. I even heard one but he was tough, he got mad, and his people face the media, the group that had spent a week report that when Mora walks down the halls of knew who was in charge. picking him apart. The arrows came from Falcons headquarters the employees slip into I’m not saying Mora is the next Bear everywhere: from the newspapers, television, other rooms so they don’t have to face him.

Bryant, and, with Blank keeping an eye on him, sports talk radio, and the Internet. They called Blank himself came out publicly and critI am sure he is going to spend time this off-seahim a brat, spoiled, insensitive, even a mad man. icized his coach’s actions in the radio incident son working on the anger issue. But his intensiBut in front of us now stood a man that but told me of the media backlash, “I thought ty is what is going to make him successful. looked humbled, with eyes that showed his pain some of it went over the top.’’

“We love Jim,’’ said Blank. “What he and voice that had no anger in it. His expresThat tends to happen in this town. We all needs to do now is look back, and see how he sions let all us know how badly he hurt, but he jump on the bandwagon quickly but leap from would do things differently.’’ kept it positive, saying, "I'm upbeat. I'm upbeat it quickly at the first sign of problems.

Bingo. While the Falcons will spend a lot about this football team and this organization.’’

I can tell you from experience with coachof time this winter reevaluating everything, Perhaps. This Falcons team didn’t go 5-11 es in Atlanta that these guys are from a differMora needs to do the same with himself. And like the one in 1999 that followed a trip to the ent cut, which is how they get to be on top. For he certainly can learn a lot from Blank; a great Super Bowl. But they did finish 8-8 after openinstance, take Braves manager Bobby Cox. I ing with six wins in their first eight games, and they finished out of the playoffs with a team that the socalled experts felt was Super Bowl worthy.

However, and while With a Sugar Bowl that ended well past this may sound ridiculous Washington heads into Tampa as perhaps midnight Monday, we at Score Atlanta didn’t have to some, this all may be the hottest team in NFL and I know I wouldn’t want much time to put together much coverage on the exactly what the Falcons, game.

Our Jared Wallace did a recap on page 22 and to face Joe Gibbs and his bunch right now. The and especially, Mora needs. we promise next week to include some of the photos Skins will win 21-17 and you even get a couple of What happened last taken by our own Scott Cunningham. I did, however, points here. season when they went to the NFC Championship have time to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere was too quick, too soon. It at the Georgia Dome. It was exciting. First of all, say The Giants haven’t been in the playoffs in had put an unrealistic what you want about West Virginia fans, but they cer- five years and find themselves hosting a very talentexpectation on a team, tainly support their team. They were here in the thou- ed Carolina team. The Panthers looked awfully good which actually was sands, wearing their colors and as loud as any fans I in Atlanta last weekend and I am not convinced the rebuilding, and especially have heard in the SEC. And the Georgia fans were out a coach in just his second Giants deserve to be here. Carolina takes it 28-27 in there too, setting up a fantastic game with the year as a head coach. the best game of the weekend.

Bulldogs charging back after being down 28-0 but Like Falcons owner finally running out of gas. I was wrong about my preArthur Blank said to me Jacksonville has to go to New England. diction that Georgia would win easily. But I did say after Sunday’s game, Poor guys.

Until they lose I can’t bet against the “There is a big difference the Falcons would lose as well as Miami in the Peach Patriots.

They do it 31-17. in the NFL between a head and I said Florida would take out Iowa. Because we coach and an assistant.’’ put the paper to bed Tuesday, we’ll have to wait and And that is what got Pittsburgh is in Cincinnati for what will turn see if I was right when I called for Texas to win the lost in all the angst surRose Bowl. Meanwhile here are my picks for the into a slugfest. I like the Reds, oh, I mean the rounding Mora’s perBengals 24-10. opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. formance after the previ-

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ous Sunday’s overtime loss in Tampa when, on the post-game radio show on his flagship radio station, the coach threw down his headset and microphone.

If you read the papers or listen to the radio, you would have thought we were talking about Marion Campbell (17-51 with the Falcons), not a coach who had gone 20-12 with the Falcons. Before Mora took the helm of the

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covered Cox every day from 1991-96, and when he is in that dugout he is one of the toughest competitors you have ever seen. He takes losses and criticism hard, and, while I never saw him throw anything, he cut off several post-game interviews when he didn’t necessarily like the question. Many times he just wouldn’t answer.

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mentor for him. While today Blank is very successful, it hasn’t always been that way.

Back in 1978, he got fired before he found Bernie Marcus and Home Depot.

“You learn a lot about yourself when things are tough, through losses,’’ Blank said.

“I remember after my divorce in 1978 spending a lot of time thinking about what I could

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COMING NEXT WEEK

All is not lost … It’s up to Mora to take a tough season and become better coach

Thrashers rookie goaltender Michael Garnett didn’t get off to the best start this season, but he has been coming along nicely in the last couple of weeks. From Dec. 9 through Dec. 26, Garnett posted a 6-0-2 record, with the losses coming in shootouts. On Dec. 23, he tallied his first career shutout against the Devils. The next time out, he shut out the Canadiens on Dec. 26.

Photo by Scott Cunningham.

have done differently.’’

Mora has a lot going for him. He grew up with a football coach (his dad Jim, Sr.), he was an undersized linebacker at Washington but overcome it with a great work ethic and determination to be part of two Rose Bowl teams.

He also worked under some of the best coaches in the business such as Don James, Bill Walsh and Don Coryell, to name a few.

His ascent to the job in Atlanta is no accident.

And Mora is right when he says of the franchise, “If you look at the big picture, it's exciting. We are looking forward to the future and being the best we can be."

But now, a year after everything went right for him and the Falcons, Mora finds himself in the middle of an untimely, unpleasant reality check.

Said Blank, “Jim is a very passionate person. He has to make that work for him, he has to channel it.’’

Listen to him Jim. Listen and that bandwagon will fill up again.

Rosenberg can be reached at ijrosenberg@scoreatl.com.

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06 I SCORE ATLANTA

Get In The Game!

Reardon surprised most and shocked some but this isn’t his first weird story

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o imagine a jewel thief is to imagine the perfect crime. It is meticulously planned and executed, perhaps done in a billionaire’s bedroom at midnight by an adventurer dressed in black. That, or George Clooney in a tux.

But when Jeff Reardon, the old baseball pitcher, decided to rob a jewelry store, he had no such plan.

He walked in about noon, just another shopper at a Florida mall the day after Christmas. His note to a clerk announced the robbery. Hand over money, it said, and no one would get shot.

Reardon didn’t bother with a disguise.

He wore the same thick beard, though now gray, that distinguished him during his time as one of baseball’s best closers. In 16 seasons, he recorded more saves than all but five pitchers ever.

He made four All-Star teams and received significant Hall of Fame consideration. By one account, when he retired in 1994, his major league earnings amounted to $11 million.

Then, at age 50, he played cops and robbers. Cops collared the robber in the mall’s parking lot with $170 in a green shopping bag.

The Palm Beach Post reported all this. It also said that Reardon wrote a second note.

This one, for the police, was a confession.

It started, “I completely lost my mind ...”

With that, who can argue?

Reardon’s note offered an explanation.

It said, “I flipped on my medications and didn’t realize what I was doing.”

His attorney said Reardon had been on antidepressant medication since the drugoverdose death of his 20-year-old son in February 2004. He also was taking medicine after undergoing a heart angioplasty the week before. The attorney, Mitchell Beers, said, “He asked me to apologize to his fans and friends. This bizarre incident is completely uncharacteristic of Jeff Reardon.”

AN OLD TALE… As I read the stories about Reardon’s robbery and wondered exactly which medicines have side effects including, say, “flatulence, drowsiness and urges to commit armed robbery,” I remembered another Jeff Reardon story.

It was bizarre in its own way.

On May 12, 1991, the Red Sox finally had persuaded Ted Williams to return to Fenway Park for a Ted Williams Day. The great man capitulated because ‘91 was the 50th anniversary of the season in which he hit .406. It also mattered that he was 72 years

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old and suffused with the warmth of an old man who wished he hadn’t been a cold young man.

This cold: When the last swing of his career produced a home run at Fenway Park, he sprinted around the bases, head down, and straight into the dugout, ignoring the clamorous huzzahs, refusing again to tip his cap to worshipers. His behavior was born of a long feud with Boston sportswriters; some had urged him to be nicer to fans, thereby guaranteeing his disdain. On that last day, as fans implored with cheers that he end the pettiness, he remained in the dugout shadows. Of that moment, John Updike wrote, “Gods do not answer letters.”

Not immediately, anyway.

On May 12, 1991, Williams thought of those fans. He told reporters, “I had a love affair with them, but I never showed it.” So he not only agreed to appear at Ted Williams Day, he conjured a plan. “‘What am I gonna say?’

Then I thought it might be nice to tip my hat.”

IT JUST GETS STRANGER… Only, he had no cap.

So he asked to borrow a player’s.

The player happened to be Jeff Reardon, near the end of his own career, working that summer in Boston.

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Reardon said no, it was his only cap.

A reporter described Williams’ response as a snarl. “I’ll give it back in a minute.” And Reardon gave it up.

For most of the day’s emotional ceremonies, he kept Reardon’s cap secreted in a pocket. When it came time to make a grand, theatrical gesture, Williams drew the cap out, swept it high, pulled it onto his head and then raised it to the crowd.

John Henry Williams later added a postscript, probably embroidered, for even then, long before he froze his father’s corpse intending to sell the DNA later, the hitter’s son was a hawker of Teddy Ballgame memorabilia and could be trusted no more than you’d trust the average bumbling jewel thief.

Yet it sounds about right that he would ask Reardon whether he could keep the cap for his father and that the closer would answer, “No, you can’t have it. But I’ll sell it to you for $5,000.”

For many years, Dave Kindred was a familiar voice in Atlanta as a sports columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Kindred now writes for The Sporting News.

He is finishing a book on Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell and continues to have the reputation of being one of the top spots journalists in the country. He can be reached at dkindred@sportingnews.com.

JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

SCORE ATLANTA I 07

SCORE LIST

DUE UP

BY I.J. ROSENBERG

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that we thought right now would be resting up in a bye week going into the playoffs. Well, there is always the Georgia Force.

… SO DO THE JACKETS: I can’t understand how you can get beat so bad

WILL THE REAL HAWKS STAND UP?: Seriously, the team puts together a streak and then goes out and gets crunched by Charlotte and Toronto. There is no excuse for that, no excuse at all. Wake up guys!

FRIDAY

NOT SO PEACHY:

Why did the Hurricanes even bother to leave south Florida? Must have been that hangover from the loss to Tech.

Actually, I think

SUNDAY

they are still playing at the Georgia Dome.

A DROP KICK FOR FLUTIE: It’s not local but you absolutely have to love this guy. Doug is what sports is supposed to be all about. And how old is he?

THRASHERS KNOCK AROUND HEATLEY: Take that Dany and it sure is nice to beat up on some snobby Canadians. And by the way, where is Ottawa?

MONDAY

SHOCKLEY WINS AJC PERSON OF THE YEAR:

The Georgia quarterback is super both on and off the field and I have a feeling in a few years he is going to be at the top of whatever he chooses to do.

TUESDAY

For this Alabama graduate it was a great

day. Go you mighty Badgers.

Tyronn Lue Last week, the point guard averaged 18.7 points per game in the Hawks’ three games last week with 13 assists and seven rebounds.

We recently said that Lue would be better as a back up, maybe he took that personally. Either way, we like the way he’s playing.

Maurice Clarett

8-8 Record

What a loser. We were supposed to feel sorry for him when Ohio State kicked him out of school and when the NFL wouldn’t let him play. Then last week, he allegedly robbed a couple at gunpoint behind a bar. Don’t you want your kids to emulate this guy?

This was supposed to be the year that the drought came to an end. This Falcons team was expected to reverse the trend and bring the franchise its first back-to-back winning seasons.

Someone didn’t get the memo. This could only be called a disappointment.

CRUNCHING THE

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36 Number of players in Georgia Tech history to eclipse 1,000 points for their career. Rich Yunkus (1969-71) is No.1 all-time with 2,232 points in only 84 games.

298 Wins by Hugh Durham in his 17 seasons as Georgia basketball coach – the most in school history. He is 128 wins ahead of second-place Herman J. Stegeman.

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TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM. Tonight, the red-hot Thrashers take on the struggling Penguins as Atlanta looks to improve their push for the playoffs. The puck drops at 7.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM. This could be a huge game for the young Bulldogs as they look to ruin Florida’s perfect start – UGA did it to Clemson last week. Tip-off is 12 p.m.

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College. 790 The Zone. Fox Sports South.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM. This one could be very tough for the Jackets as they face Jared Dudley, Craig Smith and the Eagles. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

Pool Tournament at Motorheads Bar ‘n Grill.

Every Monday night, all you pool sharks can head out to Henry County to show your stuff against some of the best players around. The tournament starts at 7.

Hawks vs. Boston. 790 The Zone. Fox Sports South.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM. Atlanta faces head coach Doc Rivers and his Celtics. Atlanta earned their first win of the season over Boston on Nov. 23, 120-117. Tip off is 7 p.m.

Dwayne Harris

Slava Kozlov

The quarterback from Tucker High School took every snap for the North squad at the North-South Classic last Thursday. He finished the game 7-for-12 with 98 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in leading his team to a 20-10 win.

The Thrashers veteran left winger notched three of the team’s eight goals on Monday afternoon as the team routed Dany Heatley and the Ottawa Senators 8-2. This was Kozlov’s first multi-goal game of the season. He now has 13 for the year.

Jon Tenuta He is one of the best defensive coordinators in college football, but his defense was abused by Utah last week. The Utes ran up 550 total yards on his guys, and Travis LaTendresse caught 16 passes for 214 yards and four TDs. There’s no excuse for that.

This year’s Heisman trophy winner and runner up will be running at each other for the National Championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4. But the Bowl season doesn’t truly end until Jan. 7, with the completion of the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl.

Seventy-eight high school AllAmericans for the nation to see live. Reggie Bush played in this game. And the list of star studded players goes on: Chris Leak, Vince Young, Adrian Peterson, Kevin Jones, Michael Clayton to name a few.

Players to look for this year are Mitch Mustain, the No. 1 QB, Andre Smith, the No. 1 OL and Jai Eugene the No. 1 CB. Some of

Number of offensive categories that Rafael Furcal ranked in the top three for the Braves last season.

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Thrashers vs. Pittsburgh. 680 The Fan. Turner South.

CORY KESSLER ON THE U.S. ARMY BOWL

NUMBERS

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The Yellow Jackets and Hurricanes do battle in Atlanta tonight in a battle of two very talented ACC teams. The teams only have three losses between them this season. Game time is 7.

SATURDAY Georgia vs. Florida. 750 AM. Jefferson Pilot.

MIAMI GOES HOME AND FIRES FOUR COACHES: The school would have been better off going home and looking up the word “class’’ in the dictionary. I guess it is hard to break old habits.

THUMBS UP TO LEADING THE WAY

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM. Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush will look for their third straight title, while Vince Young hopes to spoil the fun. Kickoff is 8 p.m.

THURSDAY Georgia Tech women vs. Miami. CSS.

by a team nicknamed the Utes. What did this team do for a month before the game? I sure hope they did well on their exams.

AUBURN TAKES A BEATING:

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BY JARED WALLACE

WEDNESDAY USC vs. Texas. ABC.

FALCONS FINISH WITH A FLOP: There’s not much to say about a team

THE SUGAR BOWL THAT DIDN’T WANT TO END:

HOTTEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS

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these players will make their college decision live during the game. Bush decided to play for USC at the U.S. Army AllAmerican Game a few years ago, and Leak informed the nation he was going to be a Gator during this game.

In just six short years the game has become the premier All-Star football game for high school seniors and the lure of live commitments has made it a showcase event for the nation to see. Set your TIVO or DVR for Saturday at 1 p.m. on NBC. You won’t be disappointed.

You can catch Kessler on Fox Sports Net South.

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THUMBS DOWN TO GETTING BEAT DOWN

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“We feel bad about not getting rid of that 40-year problem that we’ve had, and we didn’t get that done.”

- Falcons’ coach Jim Mora commenting on the team’s 44-11 loss to Carolina, which dropped Atlanta to 8-8 this season as the team has still not collected back-to-back winning seasons.

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08 I SCORE ATLANTA

Get In The Game!

I.J. ROSENBERG

Falcons changes may on the way, poor Jeff Reardon and Parade All-Americans fter spending some time with Falcons’ the arrest on medication he was taking for A owner Arthur Blank following Sunday’s depression. Here is a guy who made more loss to Carolina, the feeling I get is this team than $13 million during his career and it is going to take a long, hard look at its coaching and front office staffs.

When Blank ran Home Depot, he employed a process called a “360,” which evaluated the company’s management and was an intense review of an individual and how he/she performed. Typically, evaluations are performed by superiors but the “360” also allows a direct report to evaluate and talk about their superior.

Blank, who is extremely organized and very process oriented, said he remembers back in 1982 when he sat down with then Toys R’ US founder Charles Lazarus, who told him, “You need to look at your staff every year and ask yourself: ‘Can they get you to the next level?’”

Obviously, there are going to be a lot of fingers pointed at assistant coaches, especially the coordinators, after going 8-8 with a team thought by many to have the talent to go to the Super Bowl.

But the question I know I share with many others concerns Michael Vick and whether this is the right system for the quarterback. Wouldn’t the team be better off taking Vick’s talents and developing a system around his skills rather then trying to fit into a West Coast offense?

I know Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said he would change his entire offense if he had Vick.

Anyway, it appears like it is going to be a very busy and eventful offseason for the Falcons.

sounds like Reardon wanted to be caught. He needs help, and I hope he gets it.

THE PARADE IS HERE…

When I was young I couldn’t wait to pick up the Sunday paper in late December and find the Parade Magazine and their AllAmerica High School Football Team. This year I noticed that three players from Georgia made the list including defensive back Marcus Ball of Stephenson in Stone Mountain. The other two are DB Reshad Jones of Washington and running back Carlos Brown of Heard County. By the way, two former Parade All-Americans faced off in the Rose Bowl in USC’s Matt Leinart and Vince Young of Texas. This year there were seven quarterbacks named and one of them was Mathew Stafford of Dallas, who has committed to Georgia. Brown has committed to Michigan while Ball, the brother of Tech QB Reggie Ball, is looking at FSU, Miami and Virginia Tech and Jones is considering Florida, Georgia, LSU and Miami.

AROUND THE HORN…

From Bill Hartman over at Channel 2: “The nice Bulldog backdrop used on our Bowl Championship preview special Sunday night was a shower curtain. Chief sports photographer Eric Hager bought it at the UGA bookstore.” … Also, Hartman chimes in on Georgia coach Mark Richt, saying, “Richt is from another planet. The Bulldog boss is the calmest most even tempered coach I’ve ever TO THE DRAWING BOARD: Jim Mora and the Atlanta Falcons will have to regroup this offseason and been around. Last week we sent our comedifigure out what went wrong with the 2005 season. Mora, Arthur Blank and Rich McKay will work over an friend Durwood Fincher (known profesWHAT HAPPENED TO REARDON… the next several months to discover what they need to do to regain the form that took them all the sionally as Mr. Doubletalk) out to interview I was very bothered when I saw the way to the NFC title game last year. See I.J. Rosenberg’s take on this story on page 5 in his Sitting him and Mark took the silliness in stride. We news that former Braves reliever Jeff tried to fluster him and couldn’t.” … In case in the Cheap Seats column.

Reardon was charged with robbing a jewelry you are wondering, the Braves open their store in West Palm spring schedule at Beach. It is a very Disney on March 1 strange story as with the University of Reardon walked in and Georgia. … Hats off to handed an employee a the Georgia Tech Jr. note saying he had a 18U ice hockey team gun and the store was which spent part of its being robbed. Reardon holiday time collecting was caught at a nearby e wondered if we should print a photo of hopefully, this trend will slow down. Jack toys and gifts to donate restaurant with the the Children’s Brian Katrek because his mug tends to Nicklaus will find it in his heart to retire from to stolen money and was Healthcare of Atlanta found not to have a scare kids. Oh well, sorry parents.

Scottish Rite major championship golf for the 6th time (there at gun. When I was covHospital. … For the ering the Braves for Everyone makes predictions at the are only 4 majors), possibly at the Masters where fourth straight season the AJC, I got to know Falcons sold out he said goodbye for the 2nd time last year. the Reardon, who was beginning of a new year. Me too. Here we every one of their here for one season in go with my predictions for golf in 2006... games. That is 32 As for Tiger... he will win the Masters and home 1992. Reardon was consecutive sellouts brought in by the Morgan Pressel will win on the LPGA the PGA (at Medinah, where he won in which is a franchise Braves right at the Between 1971'99). But, the biggest news for the Woods record. trade deadline. He won Tour, Michelle Wie will not. Wie will 74, the Falcons sold out a game and saved one continue to take handouts on the PGA28 straight at Atlantafamily in 2006 will be a new addition. Fulton in the seven-game County playoff series win TOUR but still won't make any cuts.

Tiger turned 30 last month and wants kids. Stadium. … Speaking (remember Francisco of consecutive records, He gets what he wants.

Cabrera?) over Jason Gore, who had to claw and Falcons linebacker Ike Pittsburgh but had a scratch his way onto the big tour, withReese has now played Each Sunday morning at 9 on 790 The loss in the World in 128 straight regular Series against Toronto. out any free passes, will win again Zone, Brian Katrek and Willie season games since We spent a lot of time drafted by the Celluci (The Fabulous Palm) being talking before games on the PGATOUR (he already won Eagles in 1998. … The and I really got to like once in case you stopped watching finished on top review the PGA Tour and the local Falcons him. He kept to himof the NFL in rushing self but I remember after the US Open). Golf courses Atlanta golf scene. Katrek can also despite their line averhim being very bright. aging 296.8 pounds, will keep getting longer, though be heard on PGA Tour Radio. one of the smaller lines The story out of south in football.

Florida says he blamed

“TIGER WILL WIN TWO MAJORS … BET ON IT!”

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Not loving Mora’s actions, Vick needs offseason and Hurricanes bring light winds thing that Steak said. How do you not get the one of the great things to ever happen to our and is the real reason for the Falcons recent ll right folks, the three weeks of partyA city and the beluga whales clearly steal the demise, most of what the fans want to focus ing are behind us and it’s now time to corn dog? It’s a hot dog, with bread on it, on show…It is hard to find a better place for a on is Vick. Vick does not seem to be growing focus on real crucial issues like what’s up a stick. It’s much more portable and easy to with the Falcons offense and where is the best chicken salad in town, another highly intellectual version of “Steak Tips”…Coach Mora or “Junior” as I dubbed him this past week experienced a rough week on the sports talk radio airwaves. Mora met the ire of myself and most of the Zone’s personalities by another one of his “episodes,” this time a tirade during the Falcons post game radio broadcast following the Buccaneers loss.

This continued an ongoing pattern of Mora losing his cool and treating those around him with a lack of respect. It has manifested itself a number of times over the last year with Mora snapping on media members, his own staff and anyone else who happened to be in Mora’s path when he did not like what was going on around him. What should this mean to the average Falcons fan? Very little, unless the behavior seems to transfer onto his team and has the Falcons playing in an undisciplined manner. It is evident that Mora is uncomfortable with any legitimate criticism of his team that has so clearly underachieved this season. The life of an NFL coach is a rigorous one, but Mora needs to show the same kind of poise and maturity in a down season as in a year when the Falcons are headed to the NFC title game…

BEING MICHAEL VICK…

As for the Falcons and Michael Vick, neither one came close to satisfying their fans over the last three months. While the Falcons young defense got shredded time and again

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as a quarterback in this Greg Knapp, west coast-inspired offense. His post-game outburst to the media after a good throwing day against the Dolphins was totally ill-conceived and showed a bigger issue, that Vick is getting totally consumed by his critics and the notion that he is really an athletic quarterback that struggles in the passing game. Not only are those comments mostly valid but Vick needs to stop worrying about them and just worry about moving his team down the field in the way that makes him special, being Michael Vick. Vick’s head is not in a good place and filled with too much second guessing over his own passing ability, his young receivers and his now under-the-gun offensive coordinator. In short, he needs to take some time away from football and come back feeling confident about himself and whatever system the Falcons are running. The upside of Vick has not even been scratched and he needs to put much of this season behind him and focus on an off season of getting more comfortable with Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, two talented first round picks at the wideout position…

LOVING THE BELUGA WHALES…

Was that really the Miami Hurricanes that showed up at the Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl last week or did Florida International get a hold of their uniforms…Has anyone eaten at one of Downtown’s oldest restaurants, “Dailey’s,” lately? I think it may be time for a visit…The Georgia Aquarium is

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great glass of wine and a hearty pasta than La Tavola in the Highlands…Jack Black did a really nice job hosting Saturday Night Live… “Syrianna” sure is not easy to understand but well worth your two hours. The George Clooney character is the highlight of the movie and God bless him but all thirty-five pounds of the weight he gained for the role are showing up on s c r e e n …

Christmas traffic in Buckhead for the last three weeks was beyond a nightmare, wait till we get those new office buildings and hotels get up in the next year, that should be a real picnic…I just don’t get the corn dog thing…One of the greatest fall from graces in sports history…Maurice Clarett…

In a stunning piece of irony, Steak actually made some statements that were well thought out and insightful. However, we felt it was necessary to take issue with only one

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eat on the go than a regular hot dog. And the mini corn dogs are excellent.

STEAK’S BEST FRIEND: We have it on good authority that this is a photo of Steak’s favorite beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium - we also hear Steak named him Spanky. Apparently he likes the Little Rascals or something.

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Get In The Game!

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•Say this for 790 The Zone’s Steak Shapiro (pictured right): He isn’t afraid to say what he feels but when he criticizes some one he doesn’t duck them like other radio stations in this town. Shapiro, and for that matter, his station, was hard last week on Falcons coach Jim Mora. Steak even called Mora a “spoiled brat.’’ But there was Steak at Sunday’s postgame press conference, sitting right in front of Mora and asking him questions. Steak didn’t have to be there but wanted to make sure Mora saw him and that while critical he wasn’t going to throw the barbs blindly. Good for Steak. I did hear that owner Arthur Blank thought the station, which calls themselves “The official sports talk station of the Atlanta Falcons’’ did go a little overboard on the criticism.

•Thumbs up to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, which donated $105,000 to LSU’s Hurricane Student Relief Fund. The fund was set up to help LSU students which were impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Peach has always been very charitable and this year even stepped up their payout to the teams, giving $3.3 million to both LSU and Miami, a 37.5 percent increase over last year.

•I noticed that despite being down by 34 points late in third quarter Sunday, Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was still working hard on the sideline with quarterback Michael Vick. They continued to look at overhead shots of Carolina defensive formations and eventually Vick came out in the fourth quarter. It’s incredible to think that in three of the last four games, Vick was unable to get the team in the end zone.

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BONDS

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OUR SPORTS MEMORABILIA EXPERT!

The hottest items in 2006, James rules off the court and missing a great one

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s we enter a new year sports writers, fans and collectors alike try to predict who will be the next sports sensation. Well everyone’s got an opinion and I’m no different from the rest. Based on 2005, here are my predictions for collecting in 2006: What’s Hot •Tiger Woods – He’ll probably win another major or two keeping him at the top of the current collectibles market.

•Barry Bonds – Back for 2006. Let the controversy continue but bottom line, although he probably won’t break Hank’s Home Run record, he will pass Babe Ruth on the all time-home run list.

•Reggie Bush – The Heisman Trophy winner from USC will go pro, be drafted No. 1 and garnish a big payday from the Houston Texans and collectors alike.

•Michael Vick – Without a doubt still one of football’s most exciting single play guys. With another Pro Bowl under his belt, despite his 2005 statistics, most coaches and players perceive him as the most potentially dangerous man in football. Look for a better year in 2006.

•Jeff Francoeur – Look for an even KING OF THE COURT: LeBron James just reached the legal drinking age of 21 years old, but even before that time he was arguably the best all-around player in the NBA. He is gifted in all facets of the game: scoring, rebounding, passing and defense. In fact, he could very well end up being the best player to ever touch the floor.

better 2006 as Major League experts and fans from around the country discover the hometown product.

•NASCAR Collectibles – With the signing of new eight-year television deal, look for NASCAR items to be everywhere. As exposure to the sport rises throughout mainstream America so will the interest in collectibles.

•Zaza Pachulia – Of your Atlanta Hawks. My six-year-old likes the name.

What’s Not •Brett Favre – A sub-par 2005 for this certain Football Hall of Famer and it appears if he stays around in Green Bay things might not be that much better in 2006. His value will go down in the short term, but will not doubt rebound, as he gets closer to being inducted into Canton. Favre might even retire in 2006 if head coach Mike Sherman gets the axe.

•Terrell Owens – Another potential Football Hall of Famer who will probably resurface on a new team in 2006. No doubt there will still be some backlash throughout the football community that will keep Owens prices down, but they should come back if he posts big numbers in 2006.

IN THE NEWS… The Atlanta Hawks could possibly post a winning record for December. Congrats Hawks. Even so, there were still no birds to be sighted on this week’s on-line auction basketball report. Can you guess what current

basketball collectible brought in the most? a. Shaquille O’Neal Autographed Basketball b. Allen Iverson Autographed Basketball c. LeBron James Autographed Basketball d. Kobe Bryant Autographed Jersey e. Dwayne Wade Autographed Jersey Give it to the youngest kid on the block, King James (c.) just edged out Shaq by $510 to $500. The current No. 1 scorer in the NBA, AlIen Iverson slammed down $410 followed by the second leading scorer in the NBA Kobe Bryant who netted $405. Mr. Wade finished a close fifth swishing in $395.

FROM THE MAILBAG …

Dear Dean: I have a full ticket to the 1992 NLCS Game 7 in which Sid Bream scored to propel the Braves into the Series.

How much is it worth?

Dear Should Have-Been-There: This is probably one of the Atlanta Braves top five most memorable moments. Most Braves fans will remember the sloth like stride of Sid Bream as he crossed home plate to cap off a three run ninth-inning comeback against the Pittsburgh Pirates off a Francisco Cabrera single to left. A ticket stub from this game sells for $35. An unused one would be much more desirable and tougher to come by valued at $75. A must have for any Braves collection.

Want to know what your item is worth or have a question about a particular sports item?

Email me, Dean Zindler, at dzindler@scoreatl.com.

Ringing in the New Year … Babe-style his is it…the biggest week of college football ever. By the time this paper comes T out, the Rose Bowl will be over and a true,

uncontested National Champion will be crowned. I am so excited to watch this game – not since the USC/Notre Dame game this year have I been looking forward to a college game so much. Go Trojans!! Speaking of “go Trojans,” I overheard a guy in the gym last week talking about going to USC and how proud he was of Matt and Reggie. He was wearing his Trojan t-shirt and prancing around like a peacock. It was nice to see a fellow Trojan fan in Atlanta, but geez, guy, if you are going to go around singing the praises of the mighty Trojans, at least wear a shirt that isn’t all ripped up and doesn’t look 40 years old. He just couldn’t carry off this look…it wasn’t working. When I go to the gym I don’t want to see all that those kinds of t-shirts reveal, unless of course you are in really, really good shape!

The NFL will also have completed its last games of the regular season. The playoffs should prove very exciting this year. Seattle is looking pretty darn good. Let’s see how far they can advance. The most mourning I’ve done in a while took place last Monday night with ABC’s final telecast of Monday Night Football. Somehow MNF on any other channel seems like blasphemy. What am I going to do without John Madden? I love his commentary. And how strange was it that the very first MNF game and the very last game were both lost by the Jets by the same score of 3121? Kind of eerie, wasn’t it?

seem that Mora is doing any motivating with his outbursts. And from what I read in the paper, he doesn’t seem to think there is a problem. I heard on 790 The Zone that some of the personnel actually hide when they see him coming down the halls at Falcon’s HQ’s. That is not good in any respect. It is also disappointing that the Falcons have yet to have back-to-back winning seasons. Let’s hope for a coach with his emotions under control, a winning season and the playoffs next year.

John in Lilburn observes…

Boy, with all the good things you said about the Falcons you have to be a little disappointed with the team. How about Jim Mora getting upset after the game and throwing down his headset when he was asked a tough question by his own announcers?

Yes, John I am a bit disappointed in the Falcons season. Jim Mora’s conduct after (and during) the games bothers me. I love the emotional aspects of an intense coach – used in the right manner those emotions can really inspire and motivate a team. Unfortunately, it doesn’t

Randy in Stone Mountain wants to know…

What did the Sports Babe do on New Year’s Eve? Let me guess, you ate potato chips and bad dip and watched bad bowl games.

Randy, THE Sports Babe spent it with good friends, great wine, a delicious dinner and my main squeeze. In order to be able to indulge in guilt-free eating and drinking for the evening, I hit the gym to lift weights on New Year’s Day and rode my bike 25 miles in the afternoon. No potato chips or dip, and I am saving football for during the week. And hey, editor…save your wise-ass comments about my weight. They are getting old and besides, they are not true!

Happy New Year to all!

The editors of Score Atlanta would like to apologize for our wise crack concerning her weights. In fact, the Sports Babe in a real babe and will appear as Miss (year, that’s right) March in our upcoming calendar featuring the best-looking women of the ATL. Oh, we would love to throw in a crack here but we are trying to get the new year off on a good note.

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Get In The Game!

Paul holds the early lead over Williams but their race to greatness is far from over inevitable. comparisons. The “what-if’s.”

I t’sThe They will all start again this weekend, as

the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, and their prized point guard Chris Paul, make their only appearance in Philips Arena this season.

As you are well aware, it was Paul on whom the Hawks passed with the second pick of the draft last summer, in favor of Marvin Williams.

Deron Williams of Illinois went to Utah with the third pick, then the Hornets selected Paul with the fourth pick.

The Hawks have already seen Paul this season. On Nov. 18, Paul and the Hornets held off the Hawks, 95-92, sending Atlanta to its ninth consecutive defeat at the start the season. Paul was sensational with 25 points, 12 assists, five steals and seven rebounds in 42 minutes. In that game, Marvin suffered through a 0-for-4 shooting night and a scoreless 20 minutes as a starter.

The reason for the comparisons of course, are from some Hawks fans that feel the club should have used that second pick on a point guard, rather than add to the glut at the forward position with Williams.

To be sure, the early results favor Paul, heavily, in any head-to-head statistical comparison of their value to their teams.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS…

Paul is having a remarkable start to his NBA career. Over the last 10 years, only Allen Iverson, Steve Francis, Lamar Odom, and LeBron James have led their teams in points and rebounds in their rookie season. Paul

leads the Hornets in both this season.

Iverson, Francis and James went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year (Francis shared the honor with Elton Brand in 1999-2000).

And based on the way he has performed, Paul is conjuring up images of Jason Kidd as the next great point guard of the future.

Check this out: Rookie Comparison Kidd ’94-95 vs. Paul ’05-06 Kidd ’94-95 Paul ’05-06 PPG 11.7 16.3 APG 7.7 7.4 RPG 5.4 6.0 Steals/Gm 1.9 2.3 TO/Gm 3.2 2.4 Truly, the young man is something special.

Look at those points-rebounds-assists. If that continues through 82 games, Chris will join a very select group of first-year players to average 15-plus points, fix-plus rebounds and six-plus assists. The group includes Oscar Robertson (1960-61), Magic Johnson (197980), Steve Francis (1999-2000) and Penny Hardaway (1993-94).

ON THE OTHER SIDE…

Meanwhile, Marvin Williams’ season has had more downs than ups so far. Through his first 28 games, Williams is averaging 5.9 points per game, while shooting .405 from the field, .389 from the three-point line, with 4.3 rebounds and more turnovers than assists.

Williams has really struggled at home, and that seems a bit odd. At Philips so far in his first 12 games, Marvin is averaging 4.3

points and shooting only 35 percent from the floor. Williams has had only nine field goals in the teams’ seven wins.

It would be very easy to say that Williams made a mistake by coming out after his freshman year. Remember, he did not start for the Tar Heels national championship team last year. He averaged only 22 minutes and 11 points a game last year in Chapel Hill.

But you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube. Williams is now a pro, and it’s up to the Hawks to mine his great potential and find the proper spot for him to excel.

General Manager Billy Knight acknowledged back on draft night that the Hawks were taking Williams on his potential future greatness, not on what he would be able to deliver in the short-term.

But as the competition heats up, and the Hawks are desperate for wins, it’s hard not to look at what Paul has done so far and not wonder, “what-if.”

As Bob said, Chris Paul has the decided advantage in the early going over Marvin Williams, but we will not know if Atlanta made a good or bad choice until a few seasons from now.

Williams and Paul could both end up being perennial All-Stars in the league, but the Hawks are holding out hope that Marvin will become the superstar that many feel he has the potential to become. We hope so too.

EATING WELL: A lot of people were concerned with Chris Paul’s small frame and how it would hold up in the NBA game. Apparently, he has been in the doughnuts since entering the league to help out with that situation. Hey, he has the money to afford them now.

Texas + 7 vs. USC Washington + 2 vs. Tampa New England - 7 vs. Jacksonville Carolina + 3 vs. New York Giants Pittsburgh - 3 vs. Cincinnati

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These days salads can be much more than just a pre-dinner treat salads. I always have.

There is just something to be said Iforliketaking a bunch of things that you

would feed to a pet rabbit, throwing it into a bowl and serving it to family and friends.

Of course, there are three main differences between what we feed the little Bugs Bunny wannabe’s (stuck in a cage outside the house because they stink like something has died) and what we call salad.

First, we get the lettuce, carrots, celery, cheese, etc. when it is still fresh, while the poor little bunny is relegated to eating the stuff we forgot was in the refrigerator because it was hidden by a 24-pack of Coke.

Second, some genius years ago came up with the idea of salad dress-

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ing. I personally prefer ranch, but I have been known to dabble in the other offerings such as Italian, French, Russian…you know the ones named after people.

The third, and perhaps most important difference, is that we humans have figured out that you can put more stuff into a salad than you can in gumbo. Turkey, ham, eggs, croutons, bacon bits and the list just goes on. We have figured out so many things to put on a salad that the thing has become a full meal. And it has gone so far passed healthy, that you can gain weight by eating them.

After looking at what Chef Harold has to offer us this week, I now have a new salad to prepare as soon as I get home. Good grief, someone feed me.

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Bistro Salad

2 heads Frisse Lettuce 1/2 oz. Smoked Salmon, cut into sticks 1/4 oz. Applewood Bacon, cut into large dice 6-8 Thin Beans, blanched 1/4 lb. Mushrooms, sliced 1 Tbl. Shallots, minced 1 Clove Garlic, minced 1/4 Cup Sherry Vinegar 1 1/2 Cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil Salt and pepper to taste A few sprigs of Thyme, Chive, Basil and Tarragon, minced Clean, rinse and thoroughly dry Frisse:

Vinaigrette

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Combine vinegar, shallot, garlic

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and a little salt.

Slowly drizzle in oil.

Add herbs and cracked pepper to taste.

In a skillet heat a small amount of bacon fat.

When warm ad mushrooms and sauté.

When cooked add bacon and warm through.

Then add vinaigrette and warm.

Toss Vinaigrette over Frisse mixed with Thin Beans and Smoked Salmon.

Season with salt and pepper.

Larry Wachs can be heard every weekday morning from 6-10 as one of the “Regular Guys’’ on 96 Rock while Chef Harold is the co-owner of Dick and Harry’s in Roswell.

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Get In The Game!

The Falcons flew high early but Sunday completed their eventual free fall take place in the defensive long with bringing us a brand new HOW IT HAPPENED… PLANNING AHEAD… A backfield. While DeAngelo year, Sunday brought us the same old Many factors contributed to this season It’s also not out of the realm of possibilAtlanta Falcons.

Hall has quickly positioned evolving in to a failure. Slow starts. An The scene inside the Georgia Dome on the first day of 2006 had the distinct feeling of many a mid-1980s contest at the old Fulton County Stadium, where a bumbling Birds team would find itself on the receiving end of a thorough massacre.

What was once thought to be another promising season under head coach Jim Mora came to an end with a thud, as the 4411 defeat to the Carolina Panthers completed an improbable freefall from a 6-2 start that followed on the heels of last season’s surprising 12-6 NFC title game campaign.

And so, the long wait continues.

With the 8-8 record, the 40-year curse that’s been cast on the Atlanta Falcons franchise – you know, the one that’s denied them of ever putting together back-to-back winning seasons – lives on for another couple of years… at the very least.

Really though, it’s more than that. This was a legitimate opportunity for the current stewards of the franchise to affix a positive stamp on what had previously been a mostly checkered Falcons’ past. But rather than truly separating themselves from that uneven history, Arthur Blank, Rich McKay and Mora became part of it by virtue of Sunday’s embarrassment.

himself as one of the inability to stop the run. Continued inconsistoughest cornerbacks tencies in the passing game. Inadequate in the league, defispecial teams play. And, a more competciencies at the other itive division that also coincided with a corner position tougher schedule. and both safety Where the 2004 NFC South chamslots will have pions went 6-1 in games decided by four to be addressed. points or less, this year’s squad checked Now, while in at 2-4. Also, the ’05 Birds never beat some of the banter around a team with a winning record, and of press row centered on how their eight losses, seven of them were to Georgia’s Greg Blue playoff-bound teams: the Seahawks, would look really nice Patriots, Bears, Bucs and Panthers. in Falcons’ Red & The other defeat came at the hands Black, the last time I of the woeful Packers, just 1-7 when checked, the “Three they met to start the second half of the Wise Men” don’t season, and it was that incomprehenconsult the sible setback that sent the Falcons media on who on a deadly downward spiral that BACK TO BASICS: Once to draft. concluded with three straight Michael Vick is allowed to use losses – the first such streak his legs more often, like he used in Mora’s two seasons as to, then the Birds will be playing in the NFC title game again instead of field boss. watching it. Let the man run. It’s what he What lies ahead in was born to do. Photo by Scott Cunningham. year No. 3?

Unquestionably, the biggest changes will

JAN 4-10

Compiled by Jared Wallace

2005

services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football.”

– On Jan. 8, Braves rookie sensation Jeff Francoeur celebrated his 21st birthday. At that time, Francoeur knew he would be attending Spring Training with the big team, but he was expected to spend the season in the minors. Oh, how things change.

There’s a chance that 21 will be the most memorable year ever for the man they call “Frenchie.”

2001

1996

– On Jan. 9,

University of Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award. This prestigious award is presented to the “individual, group or institution whose

ity that OLB Demorrio Williams will be converted in to a safety. Ed Hartwell’s return to the middle will shift Keith Brooking back to the weakside, and rookie Michael Boley seems more suited to continue in the strongside role that De-Mo once occupied. With Ike Reese a capable back-up and Jordan Beck returning from injury, linebacker is the least of the Falcons’ worries.

No, the main concern for this organization is how to regain the momentum that was established in the first year-and-a-half of Mora’s reign. The fervor created by an 18-8 start seems worlds away now, as the natives have grown ever so restless over what has transpired since.

Seems like old times, doesn’t it?

Hopefully next week Mitch will tell us who he thinks the Falcons should use for their first pick in this year’s draft. Also, we did take one positive thing about the team from Mitch’s article. It isn’t back-to-back winning seasons, but the 8-8 record did mark the first time that the team didn’t have a losing season following a winning record. Hey, when you have over 40 years of no consecutive winning seasons, you look for just about anything that will make you feel better.

DECISIONS TO MAKE: If we keep running pictures of Jeff Francoeur in our pages then we are guaranteed to increase our female readership. We are taking it under consideration.

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– On Jan. 8, the Atlanta Braves liked what they saw out of backup outfielder Dwight Smith during their World Championship run in the previous season, so they resigned the veteran for one season. The next day, the Braves traded outfielder Mike Kelly, their first round pick in 1991 (No. 2 overall), to the Cincinnati Reds for relievers Chad Fox and Ray King.

1981

– On Jan. 5, the 12-4 Falcons, boasting

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their best team ever, were leading 24-10 entering the fourth quarter in the opening round of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys.

Unfortunately, Danny White would engineer the comeback with Dallas scoring 20 points in the final frame and winning the game 30-27 in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium before a record crowd of 60,022.

1956 – On Jan. 9, the

Milwaukee Hawks stunned the Syracuse Nationals for the second time in a row by a final score of 77-72 (Milwaukee also won in Syracuse on Jan. 2).

Milwaukee finished the season at 26-46, last in the NBA, and the Nationals fin-

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ished 43-29 and won the NBA Championship.

Also, Jan. 8 marked the third birthday of future Atlanta Brave reliever, and possible Hall of Famer, Bruce Sutter.

1936

– On Jan. 9, Georgia Tech head coach Roy Mundorff and the Jackets would open the season with a win for the first time since 1932 when they defeated Clemson 29-28. This game would be much easier for Tech as they took IN THE BOOKS: Roy Mundorff has out Mercer 53-36. This the third longest tenure in Tech history was the beginning of Mundorff ’s 11th season at with 17 years on the bench. He finished with a 172-134 record, and the helm of the program, and it would be his best his .562 winning percentage is season at that time. second in school history.

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Get In The Game!

SOUTHERN GOLF WEEKLY CHANNEL 45 ON COMCAST

Happy Birthday Tiger, a list of accomplishments and a great deal from Canongate ast Friday, Tiger Woods turned 30. In his L 10 years on the PGA Tour, Tiger has collected $55,770,000 in official Tour winnings (only his accountant knows the total of worldwide tournaments, silly season events, plus endorsements) and 10 professional major championships (third behind Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen). His 46 PGA Tour victories ranks him seventh all-time, and with a “normal” season, he could move to fifth in 2006, ahead of Billy Casper (51 wins) and Byron Nelson (52 wins). All this before the age of 30.

On top of all this, he married a Swedish bikini model. Anybody know what happened to her twin sister?

Traditional thinking says that a golfer reaches the peak of his game in his 30’s, but this idea was built back when most golfers started playing in their early teens. Tiger, according to his father, was swinging clubs and hitting balls before he was 18 months old. Now that he is 30, we are starting to hear that he needs time to “recover” after competing in 28 tournaments this year.

I know, I hear the voices out there – “poor baby, having to work half a year to make $10 million playing golf four days a week,” but in this modern sports era, golf is only a fraction of the demands on Woods’ time. Tiger Woods has become a corporate entity and a charity foundation for kids. Both require much of his time off the course.

All this and he still has time to tell jokes at the Skins Game.

PROVING HIS GREATNESS… So, now what do we have to look forward to after the age of 30? Tiger is over half way to ward his goal of Nicklaus’ record 18 major championships. He overcame his aversion to new technology this year, adding graphite and extra large titanium drivers to the bag. Hank Haney has been added to Team Tiger, to overhaul what was already one of the all time great swings. Haney teaches a more handsy swing than Butch Harmon, and that handsy swing led to some classic misses, on both sides of the fairway, something that generally spells disaster for the average mortal Tour player. All he did was win six times and finish at the top of the scoring average list. Six wins in spite of the new swing. The talent, heart and intelligence of this man seem capable of overcoming just about anything.

TV ratings say that golf fans can’t get enough of Tiger Woods. When he is on, the public wants to watch. Sadly, with an 11 month schedule, his 18-20 tournament appearances are spread out and the rest of the tour suffers the complaints of fans who only see greatness when Tiger is on the course.

So, what can we wish for Tiger Woods as he turns 30? How about an opponent or two with his drive to win and someone who will push him and keep his competitive fire burning. On top of that, we can hope that the PGA Tour develops a season schedule that will feature their best players together more often. And most of all, a happy return to health for his father. Somehow, I think that last one would be his biggest wish.

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Happy Birthday, Tiger.

We’ll see you at The Buick in a few weeks.

Forest was added in Forsyth, just 20 minutes south of McDonough.

Canongate is offering a very special deal on membership. There are initiation and monthly dues discounts up to 30 percent.

For all the information on Canongate, check out www.canongategolf.com, or call 678-794-8945.

Capps wanted to send 30 red roses to Tiger for his birthday, but he was informed by his attorney that this action would violate the stipulations in his current restraining order. Courtney was devastated by the news and hasn’t left his basement in over a week. Don’t worry about him too much though, he has the 2005 Masters on video and he watches it on a continuous loop. Capps can be reached at onthegreen@scoreatl.com.

NEW COURSES AND GREAT OFFERS… If the idea of a golf club membership has been on your wish list, but the thought of being restricted to one course has kept you from taking that step, here is the perfect solution. Canongate Golf Club offers 14 separate courses around town, and a membership at one course gives privileges at the rest.

Until last year, Canongate was located on the south and west sides of town. In 2005, the Canongate stable was expanded to the north and southeast sides of town.

Hamilton Mill and Windermere were purchased on the north side.

Whitewater and Georgia National joined the group on the southeast side, and most recently, River

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EL TIGRE: No matter which language you say his name in, everyone knows that he is the best.

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JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

Compiled by Jared Wallace

Compiled by Jared Wallace

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hat’s on the calendar: The Braves still have a couple months off before Spring Training officially begins, but things are coming around very fast.

The hot story: Coming into this offseason, all Braves fans wanted to know three things: 1. Will Rafael Furcal be back? 2.

Who are we going to get for the bullpen? and 3. Who will be the closer next season? So far, only one of those questions has been completely answered. Furcal is gone to Los Angeles, but Edgar Renteria has been brought in to fill the void. The reason that question No. 2 is only part answered is because the Braves might not be done in this area. Although, they have brought in youngsters Oscar Villarreal and Lance Cormier so far. And the million dollar question about a closer is still a great mystery. As of now, it looks like Chris Reitsma will get the ball to open the season.

Quote of the week: “I would love to see Dale in the Hall of Fame, for two reasons.

The numbers he put up, he was MVP twice.

And if you look at the all-around type of player he was, he went from catcher to first base to left field to center field and became a Gold Glove winner. Also his character, what he does for communities and all that, has to add in somewhere.” This came from atlantabraves.com as Braves manager Bobby Cox commented on why he feels that Dale Murphy belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Big performances: There are only two

players in Major League Baseball history that have won back-to-back MVP awards but are not in the Hall of Fame. One of those is Roger Maris, and the other is Braves legend Dale Murphy. He is one of the greatest players from the 1980s, yet he has never managed more than 23 percent of the vote for the Hall. Murphy won the National League MVP in 1982 and 83, Gold Gloves from 1982-86, was a Silver Slugger from 1982-86, and didn’t miss a game from 1982-85. He only has a .265 career average, but he also boasts 398 homers and 1,266 RBIs. Put him in the Hall. He earned it.

Super statistic: Although the team’s opening day roster could look much different, as of now, the Braves top four batters should be Marcus Giles, Edgar Renteria, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones. If this is the case, then this could be a very potent lineup. Last season, these four combined for a .282 average with a collective 95 home runs and 333 RBIs. Off the field: If you haven’t gotten your season tickets for the Braves upcoming season then don’t worry because there is still time. Right now you can get 83 games for as low as $249. That’s just $3 per game. These tickets are available for a number of seats in the first few rows of the Upper Pavilion, which is located in right field. This is the lowest season ticket price ever at Turner Field, so get yours fast.

To buy tickets: www.atlantabraves.mlb.com

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hat’s on the calendar: It is still a couple of weeks away, but there is no reason not to be excited about the Force season opener at home on Jan. 28 against the Orlando Predators at 7 p.m.

The hot story: League experts have made their predictions on how the teams will fare this year in Arenafootball.com’s Preseason Poll. The runaway choice as the top team in the league was last year’s runnerup, the Georgia Force. The Force received 10 more votes than the Colorado Crush, who won the ArenaBowl last season. Of course, it’s easy to see why the Force were picked to take it all this season because they return QB Matt Nagy and the superstar trio of Troy Bergeron, Chris Jackson and Derek Lee. Quote of the week: “We were very pleased with the turnout. The weather was rough, and the attendance may have suffered some for it, but that may have been a blessing in disguise, because it meant the players who were there were motivated and really wanted to prove something. There were some real athletes in attendance, and there were several individuals that warrant more attention.” This came from head coach Doug Plank as he commented on the team’s second open tryout that was held last week.

Big performances: OL/DL Dary Myricks, an Atlanta native returns to his former high school (Jackson) each offseason to

coach football and serve as a substitute teacher. This is how he met Charlie Watson, of the school’s special education program.

His Christmas wish was to see Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons play. Myricks, with the help of Nick Polk, Director of Football Operations for the Force, made it happen and the young man attended the Monday night game against the Saints.

Super statistic: Last week, the Force made a huge move as they re-signed wide receiver/linebacker Chris Jackson through the 2007 season. The six-year veteran came to Georgia in a mid-season trade with Grand Rapids, and he was a key part of the team’s run to the ArenaBowl. Jackson finished the season with 107 catches for 1,366 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also added five rushes for 18 yards and three more scores. On special teams he had 43 returns for 850 yards and three TDs. Off the field: Last week, the Force announced the signing of arenafootball2 standout FB/LB Matt Huebner. In his first season of arena football, he led the Green Bay Blizzard with 160 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder has played in the NFL with the Packers and Vikings and was a star tight end at Division II St. Cloud State, where he caught 46 passes for 641 yards and six TDs as a senior.

To buy tickets: www.georgiaforce.com

FOR TICKETS GO TO ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Falcons lose big in finale, Dunn talks about season and Crumpler sets record career mark with 280 rushes for a career-best hat’s on the calendar: The offseason W awaits most of the Falcons players, 1,416 yards. Dunn finished the season No. 8 with the possible exceptions of Keith on the rushing list, but his 5.1 yards per carry

EASY TO TURN TO: Backup quarterback Matt Schaub has been so impressive as the Falcons’ No. 2 signal caller that several teams have reportedly tried to find a way to pry him away from Atlanta. This season, the second-year man out of Virginia nearly led the Birds to a win over New England in his only start of the season.

Photo by Scott Cunningham.

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Brooking, Rod Coleman, Alge Crumpler, Warrick Dunn, DeAngelo Hall and Michael Vick, who were all selected to the Pro Bowl.

The hot story: The season is now officially over for the Falcons and at this point it can be considered a major disappointment.

Not only because the team will not have a chance to make another run at the NFC Championship game, but this franchise must wait at least two more years before realizing the goal of back-to-back winning seasons.

Last Sunday, the Birds had a chance to play a major spoiler for the Carolina Panthers and their playoff hopes. Carolina had it all riding on this one game, and the Falcons had nothing to lose and everything to gain. They didn’t play that way. Carolina showed more heart and determination than the Falcons and walked away with an easy 44-11 win. In fact, the game was so lopsided that the Panthers replaced their starting quarterback in the third quarter, Vick didn’t leave the game until early in the fourth.

Quote of the week: “Well, I know a lot of fans are disappointed with the way we played this season. Not just today. I just think it’s one of those things. I remember a couple of years ago when we ended at 5-11 and we played these guys at the end of the season and it was a packed house. But today and this season is different because of a lot of expec-

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tations. When your main goal is to get to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl and you come up short on that and don’t even make the playoffs, then getting your butts kicked in the last game, it’s tough and I know fans are frustrated. The players are, too. There are going to be a lot of things in the offseason we’re going to try and do as a team to get better. Hopefully the fans keep their heads up and stay positive.” This came from Warrick Dunn as he commented during the team press conference following Sunday’s loss.

Big Performances: This season, Brooking, Crumpler and Dunn showed fans why they belonged in the Pro Bowl as they all set career highs in some category.

Brooking tied a career-high with 3.5 sacks and set a new career best with four interceptions. Crumpler finished with a career-high 65 catches for a career-high 877 yards. This total was also a best in franchise history for tight ends. He is now ninth on the team’s alltime receptions list with 216. And Dunn set a

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ranked behind only Tiki Barber and Larry Johnson in the top 10 – they finished No. 1 and 2 respectively.

Super Statistic: The most telling stat of Sunday’s game came in the rushing yards.

Atlanta, the NFL’s top rushing team all season, was only able to muster 26 yards on the ground for the game. On the other hand, Carolina ran for a whopping 229, including 165 by DeShaun Foster on a mere 18 carries.

That’s 9.2 yards per carry for those scoring at home. Of course, when Dunn only runs the ball seven times in a game, it might be difficult to amass too many yards. T.J. Duckett ran six times for minus-4 yards. Also, Vick was held to zero yards rushing for the first time in his career as he ran once for no gain.

Off the field: Last Monday, Vick and 30 youngsters from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta celebrated the holidays with the children of the Atlanta Union Mission’s My Sisters House, which is a homeless shelter for women and children. Vick was on hand to personally give out presents to those in attendance and to give them a pizza party.

He also provided the shelter with a new afterschool room with new computers, multimedia equipment, books, games and furniture. This was the third year for Vick’s holiday event.

To Buy Tickets: www.atlantafalcons.com

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FOR TICKETS: 1.866-715-1500 or THRASHERS.COM Compiled by Jared Wallace

Thrashers whip Senators, Exelby brings the pain and Hossa continues hot play three assists and Slava Kozlov notching a hat trick and an assist. It was the worst loss of the season for Ottawa. Heatley, who was booed by some of the crowd, scored one goal in the game. However, defenseman Greg de Vries, who was part of the Heatley trade along with Hossa, also notched a goal in the contest.

Quote of the week: “He’s got to be one of the most feared hitters in the league. His timing, the way he’s able to step up at the appropriate time and hit guys, that’s a skill that not everyone has. Everyone thinks you can just do that, no problem. But being able to do that without putting yourself at risk or out of position is hard to do. He’s exceptional at it.” This came from Thrashers defenseman Shane Hnidy as he commented his teammate Garnet Exelby, the team’s leading hitter, in a recent story by Jon Cooper on the team’s website.

Big performances: The Thrashers opened up the 2005-06 season with a long list of serious injuries, and they suffered through a 3-8-0 start in October as a result.

Since that time, the team is 15-9-6 and has accumulated 36 of a possible 60 points during that span. As of press time, the team had moved to within one point of second in the

hat’s on the calendar: The Thrashers will look to get back to their recent winning ways this week. On Wednesday night, the team will travel to face the divisionleading Carolina Hurricanes at 7. On Friday, Atlanta will be back home to face the lowly Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. The next night, the team will face Pittsburgh once again, but this time it will be on the road at 7:30.

The hot story: The Thrashers’ New Year’s weekend may not have started off the way they wanted it to, but it sure did end up that way. On Friday, the team failed to score a point for the first time in nine games as they fell to Buffalo 4-1 in Kari Lehtonen’s first game back since the season opener. On Sunday, Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk helped the team start a new streak as they combined for three goals and two assists in the team’s 5-2 win over Washington. It was Hossa’s second two-goal game of the year.

The next afternoon, Hossa’s old mates, the Ottawa Senators, came to town with the best record in the NHL and former Thrasher Dany Heatley. Atlanta did not seem to care. The Thrashers blasted Ottawa 8-3, with Hossa scoring two goals and adding an assist, Kovalchuk adding another goal to go with

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TOP OF HIS GAME: Ilya Kovalchuk has been an absolute dynamo for the Thrashers this season. From Nov. 18-29, the talented Russian went on a sevengame point streak that saw him score 14 points. Then, after three games without a point, Kovalchuk went on an eight game streak from Dec. 6-26, in which he scored 13 points. This is the kind of player that people want to come out and see. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

Southeast Division and the eighth playoff spot behind Tampa Bay. The game against Ottawa on Monday night was the team’s seventh of 10 games over a 17-day stretch. At press time, Atlanta was 4-1-2 in those games.

Super statistic: Marian Hossa received a late Christmas present recently as he was named the NHL’s Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending on Christmas Day. Hossa scored six points on two goals and four assists during that time span to earn the award. He notched points on all of the team’s goals for the week as the Thrashers went 1-0-1 for the week. He opened the week with a franchise-record tying five points in a 6-5 loss to Montreal on Dec. 22, and then he score the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over New Jersey the next night.

Off the ice: On Jan. 14, the Atlanta Thrashers will hold the 2006 Thrashers Casino Night from 7-11 p.m. All proceeds from the even will benefit the Thrashers Foundation and the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Tickets for the event are $150, and all those planning to attend should RSVP by Jan. 9. For information call 404-878-3250.

To buy tickets: www.hawks.com

FOR TICKETS: 1.866-715-1500 or HAWKS.COM Compiled by Jared Wallace

Hawks lose three tight ones, Harrington has great week and Pachulia is glass cleaner hat’s on the calendar: This Friday, the Hawks will travel up the east coast to take on the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. The next night, the team will be back in Philips Area to take on Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets at 7 p.m. Atlanta will be off until the following Tuesday when Boston comes into town for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

The hot story: The Hawks went through a slight regression last week as they lost three straight games to Charlotte, Toronto and New Jersey, respectively.

Atlanta lost those games by a total of 17 points, with the team’s biggest loss coming by eight points against the Nets last Friday.

The Hawks had a good chance to extend their hot streak with the games against Charlotte and Raptors, who had a combined 14 wins heading into their games against Atlanta.

Unfortunately, even with their recent success, the three losses moved the Hawks into a tie with the New York Knicks for the worst record in the NBA at 7-21.

Quote of the week: “We played well for three quarters and then the fourth kind of caught up to us. … I don’t have any complaints. They play hard and we’ve been in every game we’ve played this year. We just

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continue to have lapses in the fourth quarter.

They’re a pretty seasoned team and playing well right now.” This came from head coach Mike Woodson as he commented on his team’s performance in their loss to the New Jersey Nets last week. Star forward Al Harrington said, “We just have to know we can play with these very good teams. We’re right there, I really feel that way. We just have to continue to play with the effort we’re playing with.”

Big performance: Harrington had three monster games for the Hawks last week. He led the team in scoring in all three games with 19, 25 and 26 points respectively. Harrington also notched eight, six and six rebounds in each of the three contests. He shot 55 percent from the floor on 28-of-51 shooting during the week.

However, he only attempted seven free throws in the games, connecting on five of those. The only other player in a Hawks uniform that had nearly the success that Harrington did last week was point guard Tyronn Lue. He scored 56 points, an 18.7 points per game average, in those three games to go along with 13 assists and seven rebounds.

Super statistic: Zaza Pachulia pulled down 13 rebounds in the team’s loss to Charlotte last week. This was the 13th time

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this season that the big man from Georgia has notched double-digit rebounds in a game. Also, he has led or tied for the lead in rebounds in 17 of the team’s first 28 games.

His closest competition is Josh Childress, and he has only led the team in rebounds three times this season.

Off the Court: Hawks basketball and Chick-fil-A … sounds like a nice combination to us. Chick-fil-A Family Nights include four tickets and four Chick-fil-A combo meal coupons beginning at only $69. The packages can run from $69 through $129, and you can save anywhere from $51 to $111, depending on which seats you choose.

All you have to do to take part in this promotion is visit the team’s website and order your tickets today. The best part is that you still have five more chances to take part in a Chick-fil-A Family Night deal. The remaining games on the schedule are Jan. 20 vs.

Milwaukee, Feb. 3 vs. Orlando, March 3 vs.

Sacramento, March 25 vs. Dallas and April 7 vs. Washington. Also, $4 from each package will be donated to WinShape Homes, which is a collection of foster homes designed to provide children with a permanent family.

Tickets: www.hawks.com

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THE FEARLESS ONE: Hawks rookie guard Salim Stoudamire has shown that he can be as valuable a scorer in the NBA as he was in college. The 6-foot-1, 186-pounder has the ability to fill it up from anywhere on the court, whether it’s from behind the arc, the free throw line or driving to the basket. So far this season, he is averaging over 10 points per game (fourth on the team) despite playing just over 20 minutes a night. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

SCORE ATLANTA I 21

FOR TICKETS: GWINNETTGLADIATORS.COM Compiled by Jared Wallace

Gladiators have perfect week, Gajic makes big splash and team has three All-Stars hat’s on the calendar: The Gladiators will spend most of this week on the road as they play four games in a span of five days. The team will open things up at Pensacola on Friday. The next night, the team will be back at home for “Kids T-Shirt Night” against Columbia at 7:35 p.m. The team’s third game in three nights will take place on Saturday as they play Augusta. On Tuesday, the team will be on the road again to take on Greenville.

The hot story: If you think that you had a good holiday, the Gwinnett Gladiators may have had the best week of all as they posted a 5-0-0 record and scored 10 points. The team opened up with a 3-2 win over Columbia on Dec. 26 as Guillaume Desbiens and Brad Schell each posted a goal and an assist to lead the Gladiators past the Inferno. The next night, Gwinnett posted a 7-3 beating over South Carolina as the team overcame three deficits in the game and exploded for four goals in the third period. Brad Schell and Derek Nesbitt each had two goals in the win for Gwinnett as the Gladiators won their sixth consecutive home game at the Gwinnett Center. Adam Berkhoel made 28 saves to record his first win with the Gladiators this season. Last Thursday, the team posted a 5-1 win over Augusta as Desbiens posted two goals and Campbell had three assists, and the Gladiators home winning streak moved to seven games. The next night, Gwinnett posted a 5-4 overtime win as Jimmy Sharrow scored the game winner 1:13 into overtime snapping the Everblades 12-game home winning streak. The team closed 2005 out with a 5-2 win over Florida on New Year’s Eve. Derek Nesbitt scored what proved to be the game winner with just four seconds left in the first period.

Quote of the week: “I remember the guys that were starters my first year (as an All-Star) and you knew when you were playing against them.

It’s humbling just to be held in that respect. It’s an honor to be named to the All-Star team and it would never be able to happen without the team I’m on. It was a great time (in 2004) and I’m looking forward to this one.” This came from defenseman Troy Milam as he commented to the Gwinnett Daily Post about being named to the 2005-06 ECHL All-Star game.

Big Performances: Forward Milan Gajic was assigned to the Gladiators from the Providence Bruins last Monday. The forward didn’t take long to make himself at home with the team as he registered an assist

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for the Gladiators in the 3-2 win over Columbia that night. He then went onto tally points in each of the team’s next three games while recording his first professional goal in the Gladiators’ 5-1 win over the Augusta Lynx last Thursday. In his first five games with Gwinnett, Gajic posted two goals and four assists for six points. … The Gladiators posted a team-high four goals on the power play during last Friday’s 5-4 overtime win over Florida. The team’s only goal in the game that did not come on the man advantage was the game winner, which came 1:13 into the extra frame. This mark passed the team’s previous season high of three power play goals in one game, which they had accomplished three times earlier this season.

Super statistic: Forward Brad Schell picked up his third shorthanded goal this season to extend the Gladiators ECHL lead in shorthanded goals to 11. His shorthanded goal came in the team’s 7-3 win over South Carolina. The goal moved him into a tie with Jeff Campbell for the team lead, and they are tied for third in the ECHL in shorthanded goals this year. … Three Gladiators have strung together fourgame point

scoring streaks over the last four games.

Scott Kelman has two goals and six assists during that span, Troy Milam has a goal and four assists and Derek Nesbitt has four goals and an assist as all three have at least one point in each of the Gladiators last four games. Milam and Kelman each have four game assist streaks ongoing as well.

Off the ice: Last Friday, the ECHL announced the American Conference AllStar team and three Gladiators were named to the team. Defenseman Milam and forwards Desbiens and Pascal Pelletier earned the honor. This is the second appearance for Milam, who recorded a goal and an assist in the game last season. He was named ECHL Player of the Week for Dec. 12 through the 18, becoming the second Gladiator to win the award. Desbiens leads Gwinnett rookies in scoring with 12 goals and 14 assists for 26

points. He posted at least a point in nine consecutive games from Nov. 25 through Dec. 13. He was named the ECHL Player of the week for Dec. 5 through the 11 posting 10 points for the Gladiators during that span.

Pelletier will be making his first All-Star appearance along with Desbiens. He currently leads the team in goals scored with 18 in just 21 games. … Also, goalie Adam Berkhoel was recalled to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL following the team’s 5-1 win over Augusta last Thursday. The win improved his record with the Gladiators during the week to 2-1-0 posting a 7-3 win over South Carolina on Tuesday. He was reassigned to the Gladiators for the second time this season from the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 26. In three games this season with the Gladiators, Berkhoel has posted a 2.69 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.

To buy tickets: www.gwinnettgladiators.com

MEET THE PLAYERS Adam Berkhoel Goalie 5-11, 185 St. Paul, Minnesota

Attended Ferris State University...was honored at the CCHA’s Offensive Player of the Week for March 7, 2005...scored first career hat trick against Western Michigan University on March 5, 2005...also won the honor during the 2002-2003 season...enjoys golf and baseball...lists Seinfield as his favorite TV show...would like to meet Wayne Gretzky...Joe Sakic is his favorite NHL player.

A POWERFUL TRIO: So far this season, (clockwise from left) Jeff Campbell, Steve Slaton and Scott Misfud have combined to score 69 points on 28 goals and 41 assists.

Photos by Dale Zanine.

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UGA MERCHANDISE WWW.GEORGIADOGS.COM Compiled by Jared Wallace

Men earn ninth win, Mercer scores career-high and Baker moves atop all-time list hat’s on the calendar: The women’s W basketball team will play two SEC games this week with one coming in Athens

JUMP FOR JOY: Sophomore forward Younes Idrissi was overjoyed as the final horn sounded in Georgia’s 72-69 upset of Clemson last week. It was Idrissi who forced the Tigers into a bad shot on their final possession of the game and led to a lay-up by Levi Stukes to seal the game. He finished the game with seven points, four rebounds and one blocked shot in 25 minutes of action that night. Photo courtesy of University of Georgia.

and the other on the road. The Lady Bulldogs will travel to Ole Miss on Wednesday, and then, they will play host to Florida on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. On Thursday, the No. 1-ranked gymnastics team will open their season with a trip to beautiful Cancun, Mexico, for the Cancun Invitational. On Friday, the men’s basketball team will host Florida at Noon. The swimming and diving teams will be very busy this weekend. The swimmers will host Kentucky on Friday at 11 a.m. The next day, the women’s team will host SMU at 1 p.m. Also, the Georgia divers will host the Georgia Diving Invitational from Friday through Sunday with action taking place all day.

The hot story: Last season’s struggles for the Georgia men’s basketball team have been well documented. The team was severely undermanned due to NCAA infractions that came from the previous regime, and the team finished the season at a dismal 8-20 in head coach Dennis Felton’s first year with the team. So far this season, Felton is leaving no doubt as to why he was hired to turn this program around. In a mere 12 games this year, Felton and his young crew have already eclipsed last year’s win total with nine wins.

The team’s three losses came against Old Dominion, Oregon State and Nevada, respectively, with the first coming in the season opener and the next two were back-to-back

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losses on the road. Still, with a 91-75 crushing of arch rival Georgia Tech and their 7269 upset over previously unbeaten Clemson, these Dogs are making people excited about the future.

Quote of the week: “I was never too worried about winning more games than last year this season. Our expectations were high going into the season and I think this was a tremendous win for our team.” This came from Felton as he commented after the win over Clemson as the Dawgs tied their win total from last season of eight.

Big performances: Junior guard Cori Chambers put in a career-high 29 points last Friday night in her team’s 81-47 thrashing of Tennessee-Martin in Athens. Chambers finished the night 11-for-15 from the floor and an astonishing 6-of-8 from behind the threepoint line. She also added nine rebounds just for good measure. One of the more amazing parts to her night was that she did all this in just 28 minutes of action. In fact, by halftime

she had already scored a season-high 21 points, which was three points more than Tennessee-Martin scored as a team during the first half. She closed out the first frame with 10 points in just 2:54.

Super statistic: In the Bulldogs 72-69 upset over Clemson last Wednesday night, freshman guard Mike Mercer scored a careerhigh 22 points and hit a key three-pointer late in the game to give the Bulldogs a 70-69 lead, which they would not relinquish. Levi Stukes added 17 points and five steals in the game, and freshman Billy Humphrey added eight boards. Sundiata Gaines notched a careerhigh eight assists, and freshman center Rashaad Singleton tallied a career-high eight points and two blocks.

Off the court: Senior guard Sherill Baker tied former Georgia great Teresa Edwards with her 342nd career steal during the team’s game last Friday night. This moves her into a tie with Edwards at the top of the program’s all-time list in that category.

Baker posted seven steals in the game against Tennessee-Martin to earn her spot atop the rankings. The historic theft from Baker came with just over one minute to play in the game. This also moved her into a tie with Edwards at the No. 5 position on the SEC’s all-time steals list. She had a great allaround game on Friday as she posted 21 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Tickets: georgiadogs.collegesports.com

GEORGIA 35 WEST VIRIGINA 38 Compiled by Jared Wallace

Bulldogs fall in Sugar Bowl, Shockley closes his career and youngsters to take over

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hat was written: Carter Strickland of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote: “College football is about moments.

Some you seize. Some slip past. And some speed by so fast they are gone before you even knew they were there. Georgia had one of those whiplash moments Monday night.

West Virginia raced past the Bulldogs in a flash and before they knew it, their season and some of their careers were over. It all happened so fast, 38-35 in front of 74,458 at the Nokia Sugar Bowl in the Georgia Dome on Monday night. And then the No. 11 Mountaineers (11-1) were gone. Back to the conference that had been so belittled, leaving the big, bullish SEC team wide and tearyeyed. See, this isn’t the way it was supposed to end for No. 8 Georgia (10-3), especially not for D.J. Shockley, the player who gave four years to play one.”

A new face: In honor of Shockley’s final game in a Georgia uniform, we felt it was appropriate to give him the recognition he deserves. Granted, it is very difficult for a

fifth-year senior to be a “new face,” but this was his first start in a bowl game. Shockley was a beast for the Dawgs as he completed 20-of-33 passes for 277 yards and three TDs to three different receivers with no interceptions and eight rushes for 62 yards.

Something to be excited about: Coach Mark Richt is building a perennial powerhouse by recruiting some of the best players in the country each offseason. Since 2002, the Bulldogs recruiting classes have been ranked in the top 10 every season except one – they were No. 11 in 2003. Last year, Richt signed the No. 4 ranked class, and at this point, he boasts the No. 3 class in the country. Superstar QB prospect Matthew Stafford will headline a stellar class that could see several impact players in their first year.

It’s time to worry: The Bulldogs have a very bright future with all the youngsters that are already on campus and the many more that are to follow. However, next season could be a bit of an experience for the Dawgs as they turn to an unproven quarterback for the first time

since David Greene entered as a freshman.

Seniors D.J. Shockley, Max Jean-Gilles and Bryan McClendon will leave the offense with some holes. But the defense is losing a ton of talent, such as DeMario Minter, Greg Blue, Quenton Moses, Kedric Golston, Tim Jennings, Darrius Swain and Will Thompson.

Also, junior tight end Leonard Pope could very well leave the team for the NFL. The injuries: The only thing you don’t want to happen in a game like this is to have a player suffer such a major injury that they will not be ready for the beginning of next season. The team suffered no such injury on Monday night.

Scouting report: The Dawgs have a tough task next season as they turn to a very young class of talent in hopes of returning to the Sugar Bowl for the third time in six years. The Bulldogs lost a lot of senior experience last season but they proved that this program has the talent that is necessary to reload as opposed to rebuild – next season might be even tougher.

TOUGH TO DEFEND: The 38 points the Bulldogs gave up in Monday night’s Sugar Bowl to West Virginia are the most a Mark Richt team has surrendered since he came to Georgia. Photo courtesy of the University of Georgia. Photo courtesy of University of Georgia.

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SCORE ATLANTA I 23

FOR TICKETS GO TO WWW.RAMBLINWRECK.COM Compiled by Jared Wallace

Men destroy Bethune-Cookman, women win tourney title and The Sting newsletter hat’s on the calendar: The women’s basketball team will play two games this week. They open things up with a home game against Miami at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Then, they will travel to Clemson on Sunday.

The men’s team will also play two games this week with the first contest coming at home against Boston College on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. On Tuesday, the men will play Centenary in Shreveport, La. On Saturday, the swimming and diving teams will host Savannah College beginning at 1 p.m.

The hot story: The men’s basketball team split their two games last week. The team lost to Air Force on Wednesday night by a score of 54-46, as the Falcons improved to 11-1 on the season and Georgia Tech fell to 54. The Yellow Jackets were once again led by their super sophomore duo of Jeremis Smith and Ra’Sean Dickey. Smith finished the game with 12 points, and Dickey added 11 in the game. The most telling stats: Tech had 19 turnovers to Air Force’s six, and the Falcons were 21-for-26 from the free throw line and Tech was 4-for-7. On Saturday night, the Jackets would rebound in a big way as they pounced on Bethune-Cookman for a 73-46 win. Anthony Morrow scored 20 points with seven rebounds, and Zam Fredrick added 12 points and seven assists. With the win, the Jackets improved to 22-0 against members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

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GROWING UP FAST: Sophomore Anthony Morrow is currently leading the Jackets with 16.5 points per game. The 6-foot-5 guard is also pulling down 4.5 rebounds per night for the team. Morrow has played more minutes than any player for Tech this season, and he has started in every game for Paul Hewitt. He is easily the team’s most dangerous outside shooter. Through the weekend, he had 28 three pointers, and his next closer competitor, Zam Frederick, only had four. Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech.

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(that it was a good comeback). Headed into ACC play, it was good to get a contest like that where we had to play from behind. We thought that UMass was a much better team than 3-7 headed into the game, so I’m proud of the way that our team responded today. I told them (at halftime) that the worst thing is that this was the worst half of basketball that we’ve played this year, but I also said that the best thing is that even though it's the worst half that we’ve played, we’re trailing by only four points.” This came from women’s head coach MaChelle Joseph as she commented on her team’s play in the finals of the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Marriott NW Holiday Invitational Championship. The Lady Jackets won the tourney.

Big performances: Junior quarterback Reggie Ball was one of three players that had a pretty good game for the Jackets last Thursday in San Francisco. Ball finished the game 18-for-38 for 258 yards and one touchdown, but he did have two interceptions.

Senior running back P.J. Daniels carried 20 times for 109 yards in his final game in a Georgia Tech uniform. The other player with a big game for Tech was not standout receiver Calvin Johnson, but fellow wideout Damarius Bilbo. The former quarterback caught four passes for 103 yards on the day.

Super statistic: Sophomores Janie Mitchell and Chioma Nnamaka led the Yellow Jackets to the Georgia Tech/Atlanta Marriott NW Holiday Invitational championship last week with a 57-43 win over UMass. Mitchell, the tournament MVP, recorded her second straight double-double in the championship with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She now has five double-doubles in her career, including four this season. Nnamaka notched 17 points in the championship game en route to being named to the All-Tournament team. Also, sophomore Jill Ingram tallied a game-high 18 points in the championship game.

Off the field: For all you Ramblin’ Wreck fans out there, you can become an insider to your favorite Tech teams by subscribing to “The Sting.” With a subscription you will receive insider invitations to special events and appearances, and special ticket and merchandise offers, contests and promotions.

The best part is that this is all free. You must be at least 13 years old to register, but parents can sign up on behalf of their children.

Tickets: ramblinwreck.collegesports.com

GEORGIA TECH 10 UTAH 38 Compiled by Jared Wallace

Cooper has best game, Tech to lose several seniors and defense falls apart

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ONE FINE DAY: It’s hard to say that Damarius Bilbo had a good day in Tech’s 38-10 loss to Utah in the Emerald Bowl last week. However, it is very possible and appropriate to say that he had a good game. The senior finished his career as a Yellow Jacket with a team-high four catches for 103 yards in the game. The next closet receiver to Bilbo was George Cooper, who only had 45 yards receiving. Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech.

hat was written: Michael C. Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune wrote: “Long before the Utah Utes so much as landed here to play No. 24 Georgia Tech in the fourth annual Emerald Bowl on Thursday, offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig had grown to love his chances of exploiting the heralded Yellow Jackets. Even said so, privately. So it was hardly a surprise to him to watch quarterback Brett Ratliff enjoy another astonishing performance while receiver Travis LaTendresse carved the Yellow Jackets apart with a record 16 catches for 214 yards and four touchdowns in his final college game to give the Utes a 38-10 victory in front of 25,742 fans at wet and slippery SBC Park.”

A new face: Junior tight end George Cooper had easily his best game of the season with three catches for 45 yards and the team’s only touchdown in the game. Prior to this game, Cooper had made five catches for 47 yards and no touchdowns on the season.

His 31-yard touchdown in the Emerald Bowl was also 15 yards longer than his previous long reception on the season. He was second

on the team in receiving yards in the game behind Damarius Bilbo’s four catches for 103 yards.

Something to be excited about: Eighteen seniors will leave the Georgia Tech football team this offseason, and the team will return multiple key players from this year’s team. Reggie Ball, Tashard Choice, Mike Cox, Rashaun Grant and Calvin Johnson, of course, will all be back in the fold for the offense. On the defensive side, Joe Anoai, KaMichael Hall, Adam Oliver, Kenny Scott and Philip Wheeler will be back in for the team.

It’s time to worry: Of the 18 seniors that will not return next season, most of those players were huge parts of the Jackets success. Players such as Salih Besirevic, Damarius Bilbo and P.J. Daniels on offense, which are all big losses. However, the biggest losses come on defense. Dennis Davis, Eric Henderson, Dawan Landry and Gerris Wilkinson have all played their last game for the Jackets. Also, punter Ben Arndt will not be back next season. These

are all significant losses for the team, and some of these players will be nearly impossible to replace.

The injuries: The physical health of the Yellow Jackets is good but the emotional toll from their embarrassing loss to Utah could take some time to heal, especially considering that many Utah players have been quoted as saying that the Yellow Jackets “quit” during the Emerald Bowl. Any minor injury suffered in last week’s game will be no hindrance for next season.

Game Report: The Jackets defense had roughly a month to prepare for the Utah offense in the Emerald Bowl, but somehow the team looked confused for most of the game. The Utes ran up 550 yards of offense, and Brett Ratliff, who was making his second career start, went 30-of-41 for 381 yards and four touchdowns. The team also gave up 120 yards to running back Quinton Ganther.

The four touchdown receptions by LaTendresse, who only had four TDs all season, all came on a simple post route to the middle of the field.

THE YELLOW JACKETS WILL OPEN THE 2006 SEASON AT HOME SEPT. 2 AGAINST NOTRE DAME G E T

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FOR TICKETS GO TO WWW.GEORGIASTATE.COM

Panthers must score 80 or more, Lady Panthers “D” it up and Favors climbs list

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hat’s on the calendar: The Panthers jump back in to CAA action with their first trip North when they travel to Boston to face Northeastern on Thursday and then to Hempstead (N.Y.) for a game at Hofstra on Friday. The Lady Panthers will host William & Mary on Thursday and UNC Wilmington on Sunday in the Georgia State Sports Arena.

The hot story: Coach Michael Perry’s squad is beginning to show its versatility as seven players have played almost 175 minutes in the first seven games with four different starting lineups so far. A different player led the team in scoring in each of the first six games. The problem during this early part of the schedule has been cold-shooting with five straight games under 42 percent and four of those were under 38 percent. The Panthers have also been bitten by the turnover bug with 20 or more giveaways in two of the last three games. State has averaged just 54 points per game during their five-game skid from Dec. 2 through Dec. 20.

On the contrary, the Panthers have won 19 straight games when scoring 80 or more points. Last Friday, the team’s five-game losing steak finally came to an end as the Panthers beat Alabama State 66-49 on the

road. Georgia State had four players finish in double figures. Guard D’Andre McGrew tallied a game-high 15 points with five assists, forward Justin Billingslea put in 14 points with four blocks and guard Boyd Copeland added 10 points and nine rebounds. The game marked the first time Georgia State has won in 19 tries when scoring 69 or fewer points with the last time being a tournament win over Stetson in March 2004.

Quote of the week: “We are absolutely thrilled to have a player of Amy’s caliber set to join our program. She is an extremely talented student-athlete, and will make an immediate impact on our program.” This came from volleyball coach Mike Webster on the signing of Amy Lusk, a member of the 2005 American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Two-Year College AllAmerican Second Team.

Big performances: The Lady Panthers rolled to their fourth consecutive victory last Thursday afternoon with a 71-44 victory over Mississippi Valley State in the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Invitational. The defense led the way again as it held Mississippi Valley State under 70 points. The Lady Panthers have not allowed more than 70

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points in any of their first eight games this season. The Lady Panthers entered the game 10th in the nation in blocked shots (6.7 per game) and blocked 11 more on this night. Kelcey Roegiers-Jensen led the way with 17 points and seven assists, while Vatai Smith added 11 points and four blocked shots.

Super statistic: Herman Favors is now ranked eighth on Georgia State’s career assist list with SHARING THE WEALTH: Senior guard Herman Favors has always been a very unselfish player that is more concerned with the team’s success than with his scoring average. Photo courtesy of Georgia State.

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238 while Boyd Copeland has 224 and needs just nine more to crack the top 10. … The Lady Panthers, which lead the CAA in assists with 16.6 per game and are 43rd in the nation. The team added to that average with 18 more assists in the win over Mississippi Valley State last week.

Off the court: Six CAA men’s teams are ranked among the top 85 in the nation according to the RPI ratings compiled by Collegiate Basketball News through games of Dec. 26.

UNC Wilmington leads the way at No. 23, followed by Drexel at No. 65, Northeastern at No. 69, Old Dominion at No. 74, George Mason at No. 75 and VCU at No. 83. The CAA is one of only six conferences with six teams among the top 85 in the RPI, joining the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Missouri Valley and SEC. The CAA slipped from No. 7 to No. 12 in this week’s conference rankings.

Dave Cohen is in his 23rd season as the “Voice of Panther Basketball and Baseball” on WRAS-FM (88.5). He also works on the football radio crew at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.

JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

SCORE ATLANTA I 25

BOWL RESULTS TEAMS

SCORE

S. MISS (-17) VS. ARKANSAS ST

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BOWL

DATE

WINNER

DEC. 20

NEW ORLEANS

USM

DEC. 21

GMAC

UTEP (+2.5) VS. TOLEDO

45-13

TOL

DEC. 22

LAS VEGAS

BYU (+6.5) VS. CALIFORNIA

35-28

CAL

DEC. 22

POINSETTIA

COLORADO STATE (+2.5) VS. NAVY

51-30

NAVY

DEC. 23

FORT WORTH

KANSAS (-3) VS. HOUSTON

42-13

KAN

DEC. 24

HAWAII

NEVADA (-2) VS. UCF

49-48 (OT)

NEV

DEC. 26

MOTOR CITY

DEC. 27

CHAMPS SPORTS

DEC. 27

INSIGHT

DEC. 28

MPC COMPUTERS

DEC. 28

ALAMO

MICHIGAN (-11) VS. NEBRASKA

32-28

NEB

DEC. 29

EMERALD

GEORGIA TECH (-8.5) VS. UTAH

38-10

UTAH

DEC. 29

HOLIDAY

OREGON (-3.5) VS. OKLAHOMA

17-14

OKLA

DEC. 30

MUSIC CITY

DEC. 30

SUN

DEC. 30

INDEPENDENCE

DEC. 30

PEACH

DEC. 31

MEINEKE CAR CARE

DEC. 31

LIBERTY

DEC. 31

HOUSTON

JAN. 2

COTTON

JAN. 2

OUTBACK

JAN. 2

GATOR

JAN. 2

CAPITAL ONE

JAN. 2 JAN. 2

MEMPHIS (-5.5) VS. AKRON

38-31

MEM

CLEMSON (-10) VS. COLORADO

19-10

CLEM

ARIZONA STATE (-11) VS. RUTGERS

45-40

ASU

BOISE STATE (+2) VS. BOSTON COLLEGE

27-21

BC

MINNESOTA (-4) VS. VIRGINIA

34-31

UVA

NORTHWESTERN (+3) VS. UCLA

50-38

UCLA

SOUTH CAROLINA (-4) VS. MISSOURI

38-31

MIS

MIAMI (-7) VS. LSU

40-3

LSU

SOUTH FLORIDA (+4) VS. NC STATE

14-0

NCST

TULSA (+7) VS. FRESNO STATE

31-24

TUL

TCU (-4) VS. IOWA STATE

27-24

TCU

TEXAS TECH (-3) VS. ALABAMA

13-10

BAMA

IOWA (+2) VS. FLORIDA

31-24

FLA

LOUISVILLE (+8) VS. VIRGINIA TECH

35-24

VTECH

WISCONSIN (+11) VS. AUBURN

24-10

WIS

FIESTA

NOTRE DAME (+4) VS. OHIO STATE

34-20

OSU

SUGAR

WEST VIRGINIA (+7) VS. GEORGIA

38-35

WVU

JAN. 3

ORANGE

PENN STATE (-9) VS. FLORIDA STATE

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JAN. 4

ROSE

USC (-8) VS. TEXAS

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Congratulations to ASA Xtreme Blue U12 soccer team, who played up a division and took first place in U13 Green, in the 9th Annual Orange Classic Girl's International Soccer Tournament held last week in Broward County, Fla. This year's tournament had 362 girl's teams participating from twenty-two states, Canada, Denmark, Belgium, Holland and Columbia, South America. Team members, coached by Iggy Moleka and Kim Bleekrode, include: Molly Apgar, Annie Beyer, Mary Beth Bleekrode, Elizabeth Brenner, Karissa Campbell, Kala Faulkner, Alicia Gant, Meagan Hall, Ally Jordan, Kacey McInerney, Jordan Morell, Dani Paz, Abby Toner and Kate Ward.

With the college football National Championship being decided in Pasadena this season, let's do some Rose Bowl trivia: 1.What was the matchup for the first Rose Bowl, college football's first bowl game ever, in 1902?

2. And what city was the host, for the only 'East Coast' Rose Bowl?

2. In January of 1942, less than a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, officials decided that moving to other side of the country was the safest thing for the game, and Duke played host to Oregon State, in Durham, NC. The home field wasn't enough though, as the Beavers beat the Blue Devils 20-16...

1. Michigan, a team dubbed the 'Point-a-Minute' Wolverines, for coming in averaging 55 points a game, fell short of that, but still routed Stanford 49-0

COME JOIN 790 THE ZONE’S DAVID HUBBARD AND THE TEAM TRIVIA FUN! Monday: The Royal Oak Pub (Dunwoody), The Crown & Anchor Pub (Atlanta) Tuesday: Dunwoody Tavern (Dunwoody), Mellow Mushroom (Cumming), Bogey's Neighborhood Bar & Grill (Woodstock), Ship & Anchor Pub (Atlanta), Atkins Park Tavern (Smyrna), Miller's Atlanta Ale House (Alpharetta) Wednesday: Montana's Bar & Grill

(Marietta and Alpharetta), Buffalo Wild Wings (Alpharetta), Taco Stand, StarTime Entertainment (Roswell), Rody's Sports Bar & Grill (Dunwoody), Five Paces Inn (Buckhead) Thursday: Frankie's at the Prado(Atlanta) Friday: Sportsline (Marietta) Sunday: Montana's Bar & Grill (Marietta and Alpharetta)

Join us for trivia at our 3 newest locations. Tuesday, at Miller’s Ale House, and Wednesdays, at the Five Paces in Buckhead, and Rody’s Sports Bar & Grill, off Mount Vernon, in Dunwoody.

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ATLANTA’S MOST COMPLETE

LISTING & CALENDAR

what’s on

OF SPORTING EVENTS COVERING THE METRO AREA SCORE Atlanta is happy to list your sporting event. You can submit it by email, fax or letter. Please submit a descrption of your event, a contact

DECK is broken down by sport or event in the following order.

1 BASKETBALL

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the fax: 404.236.8913 and the address is SCORE PUBLISHING 290 Carpenter Drive, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328.

2 BASEBALL

WHAT’S ON DECK

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name and number. The WHAT’S ON DECK email is: info@ScoreATL.com,

REASON TO SMILE: Thrashers center Bobby Holik has been a big part of the team’s recent hot streak. His name might not show up in the box score as much as the names of Hossa, Kovalchuk and Savard, Holik is the man that has no fear of going into the teeth of the defense and clearing the way his teammates. Of course, when you are 6-foot-4, 240 pounds it is a little less frightening to go head on into a fight. But not much. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

Prospect Watch. Ongoing - Buckhead. Baseball pitch ing and hitting lessons by a former college and minor league coach. For information call 404-8697966 or visit http://www.eteamz.com/tryouts.

Jack City Giants baseball team. Ongoing during Oct. and Nov. Thirteen-and-under travel team will hold open practices. For information call 404-906-6800 or visit www.giantsbaseball.org.

East Metro Baseball League. Ongoing. Seeking players 18-and-over and 35-and-over. All night games during the week. For information call 770-7888077 or visit www.embl.net.

Men's senior baseball leagues. Ongoing. Players and teams for 18-, 28-, 38- and 48-older divisions. For information on 18-older call 404-250-8075; for 28-older call 404-851-2861; all others call 404851-2426; or visit www.atlantamsbl.com.

Terry Pendleton developmental program tryouts.

Ongoing. 12-U and 16-U, and high school juniors and seniors. For information call 678-957-0885 or visit www.pendletonbaseball.com.

TNT Sports. Ongoing. Baseball pitching and hitting lessons by Rob Blair, former college coach, Snellville.

To set up a free pitching or hitting analysis call 678-344-5876.

Georgia Tech. Jan. 7 vs. Texas A&M 6 PM. Jan. 13 vs.

Florida State in Savannah TBA. Jan. 14 vs. Georgia in Savannah 8 PM. Jan. 19 vs. Northern Colorado 10 PM. Nov. 21 vs. Northern Colorado 6 PM. Jan. 28 vs. Florida Atlantic 6 PM. Feb. 3 vs. Florida 9:30 PM. Feb. 4 vs. Florida 6 PM. Feb. 11 vs.

Kennesaw State 9:30 PM. Feb. 17 @ Clemson TBA. Feb. 18 @ Georgia TBA. Feb. 25 FREE Clinic TBA. Georgia. Jan. 13 vs. Florida in Savannah 8 PM. Jan. 14 vs. Georgia Tech in Savannah 8 PM. Jan. 28 vs.

South Florida 10 PM. Jan. 21 vs. South Carolina 6:30 PM. Jan. 27 vs. Florida Atlantic 10 PM. Jan. 28 @ Tennessee TBA. Feb. 3-5 Region Tournament TBA. Feb. 10 @ South Carolina TBA. Feb. 11 vs.

Tennessee 7 PM. Feb. 18 vs. Georgia Tech 6:45 PM. Feb. 24 vs. Alabama 10 PM. Feb. 25 @ Georgia Tech TBA. Silverbacks Sports Center. Ongoing. Adult and youth InLine Hockey teams or individual sign-ups. For information call Greg Kuhlman at 678-714-7454 or visit www.gscfun.com.

Zoar UMC. Ongoing. For ages 6-9 and 10-14. For information call Matt Norris at 770-985-1831 or visit www.zoarumc.org/recreation.htm.

Peachtree Booster Club. Ongoing - Pickneyville Roller Hockey Rink. Fees: $95 for 12-game season, $30 out-of-county fee. For information visit www.pbc sports.org.

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9 RUNNING

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10 CYCLING

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11 VOLLEYBALL

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12 TRACK & FIELD

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13 EQUESTRIAN __________________________________________ 14 SWIMMING & DIVING

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15 CARD GAMES __________________________________________ 16 YOUTH REGISTRATION

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17 TRYOUTS

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18 SOFTBALL

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19 GYMNASTICS

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20 RACING

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21 OFFICIATING

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22 ATL SPORTS COUNCIL

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23 MISC

GET UP CLOSE

1 BASKETBALL

Hawks. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM Jan. 6 @ Boston 7:30 PM. Jan. 7 vs. New Orleans 7 PM. Jan. 10 vs. Boston 7 PM. Jan. 11 @ Washington 7 PM. Jan. 13 @ New York 7:30 PM. Jan. 14 vs. Washington 7 PM. Jan. 16 vs. Houston 2 PM. Jan. 18 vs. Detroit 7 PM. Jan. 20 vs. Milwaukee 7 PM. Jan. 23 vs. Indiana 7 PM. Jan. 25 vs. Cleveland 7 PM. Jan. 27 vs. Phoenix 7 PM. Jan. 28 @ Chicago 8:30 PM. Jan. 30 vs. New York 7 PM. Georgia Tech Men. Jan. 8 vs. Boston College 5:30 PM. Jan. 10 @ Centenary 8 PM. Jan. 14 @ NC State 12 PM. Jan. 18 @ Wake Forest 9 PM. Jan. 21 vs. Clemson 12 PM. Jan. 25 vs. Maryland 7 PM. Jan. 29 @ Boston College 5:30 PM. Jan. 31 @ Virginia Tech 7 PM. Georgia Tech Women. Jan. 5 vs. Miami 7 PM. Jan. 8 @ Clemson 3 PM. Jan. 11 vs. Duke 7 PM. Jan. 15 vs. Kentucky (Russell Athletic Shootout) in Duluth 12:30 PM. Jan. 18 @ North Carolina 7 PM. Jan. 22 vs. Wake Forest 1 PM. Jan. 26 @ Maryland 7 PM. Jan. 29 vs. Clemson 3 PM. Georgia Men. Jan. 7 vs. Florida 12 PM. Jan. 11 @ Tennessee 7:30 PM. Jan. 14 @ South Carolina 3 PM. Jan. 17 vs. Kentucky 9 PM. Jan. 21 vs. Ole Miss 5 PM. Jan. 25 @ LSU 8 PM. Jan. 28 @ Auburn 3 PM. Georgia Women. Jan. 5 @ Ole Miss 8 PM. Jan. 8 vs.

Florida 2:30 PM. Jan. 12 @ Tennessee 7 PM. Jan. 15 vs. Miami (Russell Athletic Shootout) in Duluth 3 PM. Jan. 19 vs. Mississippi State 7 PM. Jan. 22 vs. LSU 3 PM. Jan. 26 @ South Carolina 7 PM. Jan. 29 @ Florida 3 PM. Georgia State Men. Jan. 5 @ Northeastern 7 PM. Jan. 7 @ Hofstra 4 PM. Jan. 12 vs. Old Dominion 7 PM. Jan. 14 vs. William & Mary 2 PM. Jan. 19 @ Drexel 7:30 PM. Jan. 21 @ Towson 4 PM. Jan. 26 vs. Northeastern 7 PM. Jan. 28 vs. VCU 12 PM. Jan. 30 @ Savannah State 7 PM. Georgia State Women. Jan. 6 vs. William & Mary 6 PM. Jan. 8 vs. UNC Wilmington 2 PM. Jan. 13 @ Virginia Commonwealth 7 PM. Jan. 15 @ Towson 2 PM. Jan. 20 vs. Northeaster 6 PM. Jan. 22 vs.

Hofstra 2 PM. Jan. 27 @ Drexel 7 PM. Jan. 29 @ Northeastern 1 PM. Top of the Key. Ongoing. Personal basketball lessons with Olympian Debbie Miller-Palmore, boys and girls ages 8-18. For information call 770-465-1502.

Southern Xposure. Ongoing. Cobb County Christian School - Marietta. AAU and YBOA tryouts for 9and-under and 8-and-under teams. For information call 404-447-3992 or email pharper333@yahoo.com.

GOING OLD SCHOOL: As you might be able to tell, this photo of former Hawks and Braves owner Ted Turner was not taken at a recent game. It may be the hair, mustache, coat, giant shirt collar or even the microphone that gives it away. Well it isn’t the hair or mustache because they are still pretty much the same. Anyway, whatever he just said must have been pretty funny because everyone is laughing. Let’s hope he said something funny. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

3 FOOTBALL

Collins Hill Athletic Association. Ongoing. Accepting applications for qualified coaches in all age groups.

For information email Craig Deneau at deneauc@charter.net.

Grayson Athletic Association. Ongoing. Football coaches needed for eighth grade and all age groups. For information call Duane Davis at 678300-0282 or visit www.gaasports.org.

Lawrenceville Youth Association. Ongoing. Needs eighth grade coaches for all positions. For information call Bob Brand at 404-297-1287 or visit www.lyasports.com.

4 HOCKEY

Thrashers. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ENCORETICKETS.COM Jan. 6 vs. Pittsburgh 7 PM. Jan. 7 @ Pittsburgh 7:30 PM. Jan. 11 vs. Nashville 7 PM. Jan. 13 vs.

St. Louis 7 PM. Jan. 18 @ Dallas 8:30 PM. Jan. 19 @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM. Jan. 21 vs. Tampa Bay 7 PM. Jan. 24 vs. Boston 7 PM. Jan. 26 vs.

Carolina 7 PM. Jan. 28 @ Carolina 7 PM. Jan. 31 vs. Buffalo 7 PM. Gladiators. Jan. 6 @ Pensacola 8:05 PM. Jan. 7 vs.

Columbia 7:35 PM. Jan. 8 @ Augusta 4:05 PM. Jan. 10 @ Greenville 7:05 PM. Jan. 13 vs.

Greenville 7:35 PM. Jan. 14 vs. Charlotte 7:35 PM. Jan. 16 vs. Columbia 12:30 PM. Jan. 20 @ Greenville 7:05 PM. Jan. 21 @ Pensacola 8:05 PM. Jan. 28 @ Columbia 7:05 PM. Jan. 29 vs.

Columbia 4:05 PM. Jan. 31 vs. Greenville 7:05 PM.

5 SOCCER

Challenged Soccer. Ongoing. For mentally and physically disabled youngsters. For information call Ken Higgins at 770-985-0434.

Fair Play Sports Center. Ongoing on Saturdays.

Indoor soccer for ages 4-7. 30- to 60-minute classes. For information call 770-831-3210.

Silverbacks Sports Center. Ongoing. Adult indoor soccer teams or individual sign-ups. For informa tion call Jose Carrera at 678-714-7454 or visit www.gscfun.com.

Hall of Fame soccer clinics Ongoing on Fridays Clarkston Community Center. For under-6 through under-12 players. Fees: Free. For information call 404-508-1050 or visit www.clarkstoncommunity center.org. 5:30-7 PM.

6 GOLF

Georgia Tech Men. Feb. 8-10 @ UH-Hilo Invitational All Day. Feb. 26-28 @ Puerto Rico Classic All Day. Georgia Men. Feb. 26-28 @ Puerto Rico Classic All Day. Georgia Women. Feb. 20-21 @ Wildcat Invitational All Day. Georgia State Men. Feb. 5-7 @ Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate in Jacksonville, Fla., All Day. Feb. 18-19 @ Gator Invitational All Day. Georgia State Women. Feb. 21-22 @ Miccosukee Women’s Championship in Miami All Day.

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Georgia Men. Jan. 11-15 @ Mexico Invitational in Manzanillo, Mexico All Day. Georgia Women. Jan. 13-15 @ Michigan Invitational TBA. Georgia Tech Men. Jan. 20-23 @ SEC Indoors in Lexington, Kent. TBA. Jan. 29 vs. Louisville 2 PM. Georgia Tech Women. Jan. 13-15 @ UNLV Invitational All Day. Jan. 20-22 vs. Georgia Invitational All Day. Jan. 26 vs. William and Mary 5 PM. Jan. 28 vs.

Georgia Southern 12 PM. Mixed Doubles Round Robin. Ongoing on Fridays Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. For information call 770662-6162. 7-9 PM. Advanced Drills. Ongoing on Saturdays - Chastain Tennis Center. For intermediate players. Fees: $18.

For information call 404-610-6609 or email tennisqro7@netzero.net.

Technique Clinics. Ongoing- Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. Tuesdays (serve/volley) and Saturdays (forehand/backhand). Fees: $18. For information call 404-790-4772 or email jimhines01@yahoo.com.

2 PM on Saturdays, 6:30 PM on Tuesdays.

Lincoln Tennis Center clinics. Ongoing. Fees: $12 for technique and $10 for points and drills. Call one day in advance at 770-465-3340. 10 AM (tech nique), 11 AM (points and drills).

Tennis camps for kids. Ongoing weekly. Lost Mountain Tennis Center. For information call 770-528-8525.

West Cobb Tennis Academy. Ongoing - Courtyard Swim and Tennis Club. Fees: $55 per month. For information call 770-529-2666.

Tuesday of the month. For club information, trips, etc. call 770-428-0987 or visit www.reefdwellers.com. 7 P.M. Swimming lessons. Ongoing - Alpharetta City Pool Alpharetta, Ga. - 1825 Old Milton Parkway. For information call 678-297-6107.

Dynamo Swim Club lessons. Ongoing - 2084 McGee Road - Snellville, Ga. For information call 770-9724055 or visit www.dynamoswimschool.com.

Gwinnett Aquatics. Ongoing- 2800 Quinberry Drive and Bethany Church Road. For ages 5-18. Swim team and lessons available. For information call 770-972-4055.

Senior Water-Exercise class. Ongoing - Mountain Park pool - Lilburn, Ga. Fees: $1 per class. For informa tion call 770-546-4650. 10-10:50 AM. SwimAtlanta Sugarloaf at Kid’s Village. Ongoing.

Swim team, lessons, lap swimming, mater’s pro gram, water aerobics and scuba available. For information call 678-442-7946.

The Ryan Pyles Aquatic Foundation. Ongoing Canton. Offers private swim lessons in for ages 110. For information call 770-720-0623 or visit www.infantswim.com.

Cheerleading for ages 6 and older. For information call 770-242-0678.

Gymnastix Training Center. Ongoing. Registration for 18 months and older. For information call 678-546-6626.

information call 770-982-0901 or visit www.tlgsnellvillega.com.

20 RACING Nothing Scheduled.

17 TRYOUTS

Wade Walker Park baseball team. Ongoing. Nine-andunder travel team seeking players for spring. For information call 404-210-2904, email ege129@aol.com or visit www.wadewalkerpark.org.

Georgia Lady Eagles basketball club. Tryouts for competitive AAU girls program, ages 13U-16U. For information call Jury Sollenberger, 770-338-0917 or email HoopsJS1@aol.com.

Georgia Lady Eagles basketball club. Tryouts for girls ages 16-17. For information call John Woods at 404-429-0088 or email woulde97@aol.com.

Terry Pendleton developmental program tryouts. 12U and 16-U, and high school juniors and seniors.

For information call 678-957-0885 or visit www.pendletonbaseball.com.

Northview Jr. Titans. Ongoing. Sixth-, seventh-, and

21 OFFICIATING

Basketball - Duluth basketball association. Ongoing.

Looking for youth officials with training provided.

For information call Barry Sullivan at 770-623-1750.

Multi-County basketball officials association.

Ongoing. Need men and women 18 and older to referee middle and high school games in Gwinnett area with training provided. For information call David Pattillo at 404-529-8535 or visit www.mcboa.homestead.com.

Peach State basketball officials association. Ongoing.

Looking for experienced and inexperienced men and women to officiate high school games with training provided. Call Kevin Propst at 404-4574552 or visit www.psboa.org.

15 CARD GAMES

Texas Hold ‘Em at the Ugly Mug Pub. Every Thursday Night - Ongoing - Norcross/Duluth. Cost: No cover.

For information call 770-497-1459. 7:30 p.m.

Texas Hold ‘Em at Rock Star Saloon at Paradise City.

Nightly - Ongoing - Alpharetta/Roswell. Cost: No cover. For information call 678-990-8024 or visit www.quincyentertainment.com. 7 p.m

8 LACROSSE

Lacrosse. Ongoing. Registration for 1st-8th grades. For information call 404-216-5870, email jasona@bagatawaylacrosse.com or visit www.bagatawaylacrosse.com.

PlayLaxGwinnett. Ongoing. Players, coaches, referees needed for play at Gwinnett Sports Center. For information call Chris Chico at or 678-429-0094 or email chris@kicks-sticks.com.

Decatur Recreation instructional fall lacrosse.

Ongoing on Saturdays in November. For ages 9-14.

Fees: $90 resident, $120 nonresident. For information email laxrigger@mindspring.com. 3-4:30 PM.

9 RUNNING

Chattahoochee Challenge 10K. Feb. 11 - Chattahoochee Nature Center - Roswell. Fees: $20 in advance, $25 race day. For information call 770-992-2055, Ext. 234 or visit www.chattnaturecenter.com. 8 AM. Freedom Run Walk 5K. Feb. 18 - Fellowship Bible Church - 480 West Crossville Road - Roswell. Fees: Freedom Run Walk: $20, Fun Run: $12. 8:15 PM.

HARD TO STOP: With his speed, power, jumping ability and overall athleticism, Hawks guard/forward Josh Smith can be a force when driving to the basket. Is anyone else as excited about this year’s Slam Dunk contest as we are? Photo by Scott Cunningham.

eighth-grade boys and girls feeder basketball teams will be held in late September. Games start Oct. 17.

For information call 678-640-4034 or visit http://eteamz.active.com/northviewjrtitanshoops/.

10 CYCLING

Bicycles Unlimited. Ongoing. Shop in Peachtree City Peachtree City, Ga. Year-round weekly rides. Ride 10-15 miles on cart paths. Helmets required. Fees: FREE. For information call 770-486-9252. 9:30 AM. GEORGIA BIKES! Membership. Ongoing. The effective ness of GEORGIA BIKES! is dependent on volun teers, supporters, and members, like you, who are willing to make a difference. Thank you for your support. Fees: Individual Membership: $25, Family: $50 and Club/Small Business: $100.

11 VOLLEYBALL

Gwinnett Sports Center. Registration ongoing. For information call Jerry Robison at 678-491-0203 or visit www.gscfun.com.

12 TRACK & FIELD

Georgia Tech. Jan. 13-14 @ Kentucky Invitational All Day. Jan. 20-21 @ Clemson Classic All Day. Jan. 27-28 @ Rod McCravy Invitational in Lexington, Kent. All Day. Georgia. Jan. 20-21 @ Clemson Classic All Day. Jan. 27-28 @ UNC Fast Times All Day. Victory Thoroughbreds track team. Ongoing - 2595 Beaver Ruin Road - Buchanan High School of Technology - Norcross, Ga. For information call Georgetta Brown at 770-572-7885 or email gbrowngill2002@yahoo.com.

13 EQUESTRIAN

Georgia. Jan. 27-28 @ Big Eight Western Tournament in College Station, Texas All Day. Horse Riding Instruction. Ongoing - Buckhead Barn 576 Broadland Road NW - Atlanta. For more information call 404-240-0636.

14 SWIMMING & DIVING

Georgia Tech. Jan. 7 vs. Savannah College 1 PM. Jan. 21 @ Clemson 1 PM. Jan. 28 vs. Emory 11 AM. Georgia. Jan. 6-8 vs. Georgia Diving Invitational All Day. Jan. 6 vs. Kentucky 11 AM. Jan. 7 vs. SMU (women only) 1 PM. Jan. 14 @ Texas 11 AM. Jan. 21 vs. Tennessee 11 AM. Jan. 21 vs. South Carolina and Alabama in Columbia 12 PM. Atlanta Reef Dwellers Scuba Club. Ongoing. Jocks ‘N Jills - Brookhaven. Monthly meetings the second

IS DANCING WITH THE STARS NEXT?: When Falcons quarterback Michael Vick rolls to his left and lets the ball go, it really looks like he is in the middle of a dance move.

When you see the chrome plates on the bottom of his cleats, it only looks that much better. Even though he looks graceful when he passes, the scene is even more amazing when he runs. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

16 YOUTH REGISTRATION

Girl Scouts. Ongoing - 1577 Northeast Expy - Atlanta.

For information call 404-527-7500 or visit www.girlscoutsnwga.com.

Basketball - Alpharetta All-Stars. Ongoing.

AAU/YBOA 14-and-under team looking for players.

For information call 770-842-2997, email eric mort99@yahoo.com, or visit www.eteamz.com/all starsbasketball.

Georgia Hawks. Ongoing. 11-Under Boys Basketball will be conducting tryouts for the 2006 AAU-YBOA season. For more information, please call Gregg Mathieu at 678-634-8746, or email at gahawkhoops@aol.com or visit georgiahawks.com.

Upward Basketball registration. Ongoing. - Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. For 1st-5th graders. Practices start week of Nov. 14. Fees: $72 by Oct. 17, $85 after. For information call 770-565-0854, Ext. 3117 or visit www.jfbc.org.

Soccer - Soccer Alley. Ongoing - 3265 Roswell Road - Atlanta. For information call 404-266-0762 or visit www.starsoccerclub.com.

Tucker Youth Soccer. Ongoing - 2803 Henderson Road - Tucker, Ga. For information call 770-414-0538 or visit www.tysa.com.

Hockey - Norcross Youth Roller Hockey League.

Ongoing. For ages 8th-12th grade. For information call Debbie Tuschall at 770-729-1877.

Track and Field - Peachtree City Flash Youth Track Team registration. Ongoing - Riley Field Peachtree City, Ga. For ages 6-14. For information call 770-631-3552 or email ptcflash@bellsouth.net.

Gymnastics - Georgia Gymnastics Academy. Ongoing.

For registration in Lawrenceville call 770-962-5867; in Suwanee acll 770-945-3424.

Gym Elite. Ongoing. Registration for ages 2 and older.

18 SOFTBALL

AYSA Spring Season. Ongoing - North Park - Cogburn and Bethany - Alpharetta. Fees: If Alpharetta Residential Property Tax IS NOT PAID at the pri mary residence of the player, then the Non-City Resident Fee must be paid. After Jan. 13, $10 late fee is charged.

Senior Softball League. Ongoing - Lucky Shoals Park Norcross, Ga. Harmony Grove Park - Lilburn, Ga. All Skill levels welcome. Men age 48+ and women age 40+. All skill levels welcome. Practice on Saturdays and games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For information call Gary Mastrodonato at 770-963-6578 or visit www.atlantaseniorsoftball.com.

Dacula Lady Falcons. Ongoing. 14-UA fast-pitch travel team tryouts. Fro information call Bill Waugh at 770-527-9092.

Lilburn Elite 14-U fast-pitch softball team. Ongoing.

Looking for a pitcher and middle infielders for sum mer season. For information call Pat Thornton at 770-313-1492 or email ladypantherssoftball@yahoo.com.

East Cobb Blast. Ongoing. 12A fast-pitch team is looking for players for spring season. For information call 678-468-9636 or email gwjonesiii@hotmail.com.

19 GYMNASTICS

Georgia. Jan. 6 @ Cancun Invitational TBA. Jan. 14 vs. Maryland 4 PM. Jan. 20 vs. Arkansas 7:30 PM. Jan. 27 @ Florida 7 PM. Gymnastics Classes at Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta. Ongoing - 3126 Cobb Parkway Kennesaw, Ga. For information call 770-975-8337 or visit http://www.gymnasticsacademyofatlanta.com.

Gymnastics Classes at Gwinnett Gymnastics Center.

Ongoing - 927 Killian Hill Road Lilburn, Ga. For information call 770-921-5630 or visit http://www.gwinnettgymnasticscenter.com.

Atlanta School of Gymnastics in Lawrenceville.

Ongoing. Classes for tots through teens.

Cheerleading classes for ages 5 and older. For information call 770-277-9434.

The Little Gym of Snellville. Ongoing. Noncompetitive gymnastics and motor-skills development classes and camps. For ages 10 months-12 years. For

Football - Lanier Football Officials Association.

Ongoing. GHSA member accepting applications with weekly training meetings. For information call Tom Tipton at 770-967-3197, ext. 239 or visit www.lanierofficials.org.

Peach State Football Officials Association. Ongoing.

High school officials needed with training provided.

For information call Ron Barton at 770-448-3003.

High school wrestling officials. Ongoing. Needed in Henry, Fayette, Coweta, Newton, Rockdale and Douglas counties. For information call 678-7945756 or email budhen27@bellsouth.net.

Metro Atlanta Wrestling Officials Association.

Ongoing.Needs officials. For information call Bud Hennebaul at 770-338-0705 or email BudHen27@aol.com.

22 ATLANTA SPORTS COUNCIL

Nothing scheduled To reach the Atlanta Sports Council call 404-586-8510 or visit www.atlantasportscouncil.com.

23 MISC

Senior Horseshoe Pitching League. Ongoing Gwinnett Senior Center - Bethesda Park. Includes instructional coaching. Games will be played under NHPA rules. For men and women seniors. Meets Tuesdays. For more information call 770-9722434. 10 AM. Pool Tournament. Every Monday - Ongoing Motorheads Bar ‘n’ Grill - Henry County. Cost: No cover. For information call 770-898-0008 or visit www.motorheadsbarandgrill.com. 7 p.m.

Pool Tournament. Nightly - Ongoing - Sean Patrick’s Bar & Grill- Buckhead. Cost: No cover. For information call 770-650-5723. 8 p.m.

East Cobb Bass Club. Ongoing - Ryan's Family Steakhouse - Canton Road - Marietta, Ga. Boaters and nonboaters welcome. Meets the first Tuesday of each month. For information call 770-364-3036 or email noeyf@aol.com. 7 PM. Cohutta chapter of Trout Unlimited. Ongoing Delkwood Bar and Grill. Meets the fourth Thursday of each month. For information call 770-425-5364 or email sonnysjm@cs.com. 6:30 PM. Big Shanty Bassmasters. Ongoing - Kennesaw Senior Center. Meet the first Thursday of each month. For information call 678-232-0187 or visit mhcfish@aol.com.

ENCORE TICKETS FOR CONCERTS, THEATRE SHOWS AND BALLGAMES - SEE PAGE 30 T E A C H I N G

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HOT TICKETS EVENTS CALENDAR

Not a Peachy game, Tech lays egg and some New Year promises n most cases, my loyalists will be interpreting this week’s jargon sometime following the most anticipated national championship game in the last 25 years. I say that as I sit here in my airline seat missing all of the NFL games this New Years Day as I fly cross-country to see the Trojans and Horns up close and personal. Yeah, that’s right, me at the Rose Bowl, you at home with the remote … seems backwards. Golf at Torrey Pines precedes a full day blowout in Pasadena, and I can cross both of those off both of my lists. What a cap to a marvelous year … IJ, thanks for the opportunity, Happy New Year everybody!

I

GET THE FLOCK OUTTA HERE …

What a clucker the Peach Bowl got this go round. The highly anticipated matchup of ACC and SEC powers deteriorated into an all out woodshedder that continued into the post game coordination breakdown. The game was all LSU once Miami refused to muster enough offence to make a first down beyond the middle of the second quarter. The score, not indicative of the historically close Peach Bowls of the past, was truly surprising. The post-game mess, caused by the volume of teams being accommodated in the dome over such a short period of time, was bound to happen. A dilemma not of their own making, the dome and bowl officials can only be cited for not adjusting the plan for team exits based on what was happening on the field and the situation that existed with housing six teams in four days.

SOME EXTRAS STARTING WITH THE PEACH …

Now the Peach Bowl officially changes it’s name to the Chick-fil-a Bowl as of next year. Hard to believe, but there they are, lumping themselves in with the other corporate lovelies like the Emerald Bowl, the Capital One Bowl, the Insight.com Bowl, and the EV1.net Bowl, great. Not only have they paid a minimal sum to get the “Peach” dropped , Chick-fil-a was not happy in the least about the Sugar Bowl being here, and they leveraged their deal with ESPN for an additional on-field logo placement in Houston for the TCU vs Iowa State game, if anyone noticed.

Is it a wonder we see so many half-filled stadiums for some of these beauties? I like the bowl system, nothing like ending the year with a win as 28 teams will this year, but there are at least four games too many, and a few more worthy of elimination consideration. I love what ESPN has done with the Bowl Week game time sets, the indulgence is great following the holiday hibernation schedules now in vogue but we hit max capacity a few 6-5 teams ago.

Speaking of 6-5 pre-bowl teams, how bout the egg that GT laid in San Francisco vs. Utah. Did you watch that? Jeff Wolverton of 790 The Zone is right about ESPN’s Pam Ward, she’s awful, but maybe ESPN knew something. I turned on Wes Durham in the 2nd quarter, but it got so bad in the second half, I couldn’t even listen to

him anymore either. How does a Juco QB and a walk-on WR light up John Tenuda’s vaunted defense like that? Yes, the field was bad, but Tech seemed totally unprepared and unable to make meaningful adjustments, just excuses. Coupled with Miami’s embarrassment, the ACC looked, as Niedermier said, “Worthless and weak”.

ND comes calling in a little over eight months, you better be ready Jackets, the Irish will.

OK, SOME RESOLUTIONS …

•I am this close to losing all faith in the Hawks ... again.

•I wish I could do this column everyday, I have the material.

•Hey NHL, when is our All-Star Game?

•I am not looking forward to my fivehour return flight.

•After a fantastic preseason, college basketball goes to conference play.

•NFL Playoffs here I come!

We certainly wish our critic a very Happy New Year and hope he gets back safely from the West Coast. And we sure hope he doesn’t try to turn in a receipt from his round at Torrey Pines. He must be confused because we told him we would be glad to pay for a round of putt-putt, not at one of America’s best courses. And from what we hear about his backswing, he would be better off trying to putt his ball into the mouth of a Disney character. Our hacker can be reached at mediacritic@scoreatl.com.

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JANUARY 4 - 10, 2006

SCORE ATLANTA I 31

If you want to build the perfect poker player, make sure he carries a purse

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good friend asked me recently, “Could a woman compete with men in the professional world of poker?” “That’s simple,” I said. “Not only do I think that a woman could compete, I venture to say that women are better suited to be poker players than men in general. Women have weapons and have a capacity for sensing changes in behavior and emotions far greater than the opposite sex and are clearly more intellectually evolved than men, and therefore can become better poker players, all things being equal.”

Is it really that surprising? Most men fall into two main types. On the one hand, many men are dreamers, creators and are more apt to risk everything in search of something they desire. Men built the first skyscrapers, invented the nuclear bomb and drilled for oil in the desert. Conversely, another group could be considered the worker bees of society. These are the hunters, builders and laborers, steadfastly working each day to satisfy their basic needs. Most women see two types of men in varying shades of Hugh Hefner or Fred Flintstone.

At the card table, these stereotypes translate in a similar fashion; Aggressive players and Conservative players. The first group strives to bluff, intimidate and have showdowns at high noon with their opponents. They make the game a reflection of the person they want us to believe they are.

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drive Brad Pitt from the uber-girlfriend, Jennifer Anniston? Right, Angelina Jolie.

The consummate mix of aggression, beauty and mystery.

Think of the difficulty men have had over the past thirty years when confronted with strong, intelligent women. Sexual harassment suits, bitter power struggles, jealously and confusion just to name a few. And while these unfortunate outcomes have been a clear result of men’s inability to deal with women wanting their rightful place in the office, along with equal amounts of respect, the benefits from their involvement in the working world are unmistakable, from eBay to Oprah. Women have the capacity and the capability to lead, even if men want them to look like Pamela Anderson while doing it.

In essence, the game becomes more about proving their manhood than proving they are the better player.

Conservatives tend to be “grinders” or “turtles” in the world of poker. They play very few hands, only coming out of their shell long enough to take their chances when it’s clear they are in a favorable position, leaving the risky ventures to the alpha-males.

It’s not sexy, but it’s functional. When you see a Turtle raise a pot, get out, because you’re almost certainly beat.

THINKING VS. ACTING… Women by and large are more contemplative in nature. Much like the masters of martial arts, women know how to use their energies most effectively when faced with a challenge, and how to use an opponent’s strength as their own leverage. When a woman is taught to use her natural skills as an intellectual in combination with more traditional techniques of “male” aggression, the result is an unstoppable brew that intoxicates most men.

Don’t believe me? I believe most men are dumbfounded as to how to act towards a woman who is both sexy and smart, humble yet powerful, innocent but nonetheless savvy.

This type of woman often transfixes men, causing them to do things totally out of character and devoid of reason. What else would

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DECEPTIVE LIARS… At the poker table, I would much rather face a man than a woman. Honestly, I cannot tell when my girlfriend is lying, much less Annie Duke, the greatest woman poker player alive. Men who bluff and show aggression are easily recognizable. They wear their game-face. They have goatees; wear opulent jewelry, dark sunglasses and crocodile shoes.

Aggressive men talk the talk and are unafraid of the risks involved.

Annie Duke, on the other hand, looks like my son’s first grade teacher. I’d buy

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cookies from her if she came to my door.

There’s no way if she went all-in I’d believe that she was holding a 7-2 in her hand. It just wouldn’t compute. When a woman learns the game well and studies how her expressions and mannerisms affect men, it can be incredible to watch.

If you saw the Tournament of champions on ESPN last year, when Annie beat nine other legendary players for a $2 million purse, you saw the number she did on everyone, including her own brother, Howard Lederer, nicknamed “The Professor,” as well as second-place finisher Phil Hellmuth.

Hellmuth never really had a chance. Not only did she win, but Duke practically caused Phil to have a nervous breakdown on camera as she toyed with him hand after hand, playing into his massive ego and taking down the winning hand and the title.

Can a woman compete? Without question. I just hope by the year 2006 the World Series of Poker main event isn’t sponsored

by Victoria’s Secret, although…then again, progress isn’t all bad.

Rob has made it a point to never play cards with women ever since his mother took his entire paycheck from him in a rousing game of Old Maid. Hootselle insists that she cheated. There is an investigation currently underway.

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