October's Not Even This Cold: Braves/Mets

By Adam Krohn
Sunday Paper Sports Columnist/Feature Writer

I'm in the press box at Turner Field watching the Mets and Braves on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Normally, it's 75-80 degrees outside, but today, it's 45 degrees (windchill 36), and it feels more like October than April. And it's very obvious the weather is affecting the players, because both Chipper Jones and Carlos Delgado committed first-inning errors while trying to make routine plays. Worse for us in the media, the cold weather has forced the press box to close it's windows, detaching us from the game in sound-proof fashion, creating an atmosphere that one member of the New York media described as "a doctor's office." When he tried to call in to a live radio show to give a game update, nearly everyone in the room turned their heads to stare at him as if he was in a library. The tension caused him to screw up on live air. It was great.

(Photo: AtlantaBraves.com)

But I'm not complaining: the temperature in here is 70, and I get unlimited free ice cream (seriously).

Anyway, the atmosphere downstairs in the clubhouse, where I was before the game, is not that of an October feel. There is not an overwhelming number of reporters cramming the locker rooms, and the players see today's match-up for what it is - the second game of an early-season series. It is worth noting however, that the Mets were on fire heading into today's game, outscoring their opponents 31-3 in their first four games, all on the road, including the 11-1 thrashing of the Braves in last night's home opener. So, from the Braves point of view, they are simply trying to even the series at a game a piece before heading into tomorrow's rubber match. But to even think about winning, the Braves would first have to find an answer to this burning question:

How do you stop the Mets offense?

The Braves had an answer today, and his name was John Smoltz. He and his pitching dual with the Mets' Tom Glavine was as good as advertised, with the two future Hall-of-Famers going toe to toe with another, and Smoltz getting the better of this contest.

So the Mets finally lose and the Braves move in to a tie for first. But I have to remember, it just happens to be cold - it's not October yet. There is still a lot of baseball to be played. And a lot of ice cream to be eaten.

Early October in Atlanta?

By Jason Chatraw
Sunday Paper Sports Editor

Turner Field hasn't been packed with fans this bundled up like this since Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS against these same New York Mets--and the atmosphere felt like October, too. Fans were chopping and screaming, giving the Mets the business. It's almost as if skipping an early exit last autumn did something to rejuvenate Braves fans. However, all it took was a six-run seventh inning by the Mets to take the wind out of the sails--and the fans out of a chilly blustery Turner Field well before the final out in an 11-1 thrashing at the hands of the Mets.

However, the atmosphere in the clubhouse was fun and loose, like it has been in years past when the Braves are cruising along and enjoying the spoils of winning. Noticeably absent was Marcus Giles, whose fun-loving spirit went with him to San Diego during the offseason. However, newly-acquired Craig Wilson may be a suitable replacement for Giles on the jokester side of things.

Wilson has a fun sense of humor and was deadpanning again before Friday night's home opener against the Mets. Asked if he was excited about returning to Atlanta for the opening homestand, Wilson said, "I'm really excited about finally getting to wear white pants more than anything." (And he actually continued his stream of consciousness as my pen struggled to find its ink by adding, "And this quote would be a lot better if my pen wrote.")

But Wilson's long locks--at least long by Bobby Cox's standards--and free spirit doesn't mean he isn't serious about winning. And he's expecting the Braves to contend this season, especially with the stocked bullpen and solid pitching staff. "I think what's so impressive to me about this team is the depth we have at pitching," Wilson said. "We've got five quality starters--and we've got guys who can take a one-run lead and run with it."

Speaking of pitchers who can take a one-run lead and run with it, Saturday afternoon's tilt pits John Smoltz against former Brave Tom Glavine in a highly anticipated pitching duel. In the only other matchup, Smoltz edged Glavine, 2-1. "I was fortunate to get the win," Smoltz said of their previous matchup. "But we don't play to ties in baseball, so somebody had to walk away the winner."

John Smoltz signs autographs before batting practice on Friday at Turner Field (photo by Mike Mahan)

Smoltz is looking forward to the challenge of facing the Mets' high-octane lineup more than pitching against Glavine. "Up until game time I'm pitching against Glavine, but once the game starts, I'm facing the Mets," Smoltz said. "It's going to be a great challenge for both of us. ... If I had my druthers, I'd take three guys out of their lineup."

Smoltz and Glavine remain friends to this day--and Smoltz wishes the fans in Atlanta would cut Glavine some slack, even though the vitrol has cooled since his initial departure to the Mets. "I don't think everybody realizes when (Glavine) becomes a Hall of Famer, it'll be a special day for this city," Smoltz said. "But I think he's handled it well and he's taken the high road."

BULLPEN IRONY
Braves GM John Schuerholz decided not to rest on his laurels and went out and dealt and signed for some pitchers to shore up Atlanta's beleaguered bullpen. However, after all that money spent to bring in new pitchers, it was Chad Paronto who bagged the first save of the season for the Braves. Who would've guessed it? One sportswriter asked me, "Don't you wish you would've placed $100 on Paronto to become the first pitcher to get a save on the new season?" You bet!

I would insert a video of Paronto right here, but there was none to be found on youtube. This is the best I could do in finding something on him on the web. However, I do know the lumbering 6-foot-5, 250-pound (that's a bit on the light side) right-hander told me last season that he didn't play high school football. To which I looked at him, mouth agape. He quickly added that it was only because his high school, Woodsville High School (N.H.), didn't have a team. If it did, I would guess that he wouldn't be playing baseball today. Although in his favorite sport growing up--oddly enough, basketball--he did excel and was offered a scholarship to play at Vermont, which he passed up for his possible success in pro baseball. Looks like he made a good choice.

Donovan Right to Stay at UF

by Julie Galich

Sunday Paper Sports Writer

Wherever there are coaching vacancies there are coaching rumors. Many UK websites had fans announcing that a new coach from the Sunshine State was headed their way this week. To me, it was a no-brainer for Billy Donovan to stay put at Florida. I don’t buy into the notion that Florida is now and will always be a football school. You don’t make history with your 2-time fully loaded (for now) championship basketball team and say you are still standing in Urban Meyer’s shadow.

It is true Kentucky has a long history of success but I’d say players are interested in what a program has done lately. Florida is prime recruiting ground and layer on top of that back to back national titles and Donovan would have been a fool to leave.

Want more proof it was a good decision?

1) At Kentucky he wouldn’t even be the best coach in the state. At Florida, his reputation is solid and his ability to recruit in a super fertile state is proven.

2) You lose at Kentucky and the "firethecoachnow.com" sites pop up instantly (see T. Smith). Keep in mind that Kentucky’s last coach bolted for the not so impressive Minnesota job just to avoid the “win now or leave” mentality…or the inevitable firing.

3) All that good will, fan backing, and excellent name he has established in Gainesville goes out the door when he jumps to a conference foe.

4) He’s forged a solid relationship; even a friendship with UF AD Jeremy Foley. Try having a similar one with the aloof UK AD Mitch Barnhart.

I say the only plus to the UK job may be the posh new $30 million practice facility. Oh, and maybe a few would say having Ashley Judd as your number #1 fan!

NOW is the time to watch the Thrashers!

By Earle McDonald
Sunday Paper Sports Writer

This is addressed to all the sports fans in Atlanta who have ever said "I'd like to get to a hockey game sometime", or "I've tried to watch the Thrashers on TV, but it seems boring".

NOW is the time to check it out. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any ill will for Atlanta sports fans that aren't behind the team yet. I understand all the arguments: so many foreign players, I don't understand it, it's boring on TV, there's no tradition with the Thrashers/we're in the south, or even - they're not winning. I truly understand and empathize with all those things.

When I was a kid growing up in Connecticut I would hear people talking up the Whalers (first the New England Whalers, later the Hartford Whalers, now the Carolina Hurricanes). But I was a football/baseball guy.

Then my Dad went in with three guys from work to split season tickets. We went to about 10 games one year. I was absolutely hooked. Many sports are better live than on television (although many argue that football is actually better on TV - a discussion for another time). Hockey is like a different sport live. You can see the plays develop, you can see the action that happens away from the puck, you feel the cold, you hear the banging of the boards better. It truly is the largest disconnect live vs. TV of all the sports.

Plus, this team has several players that have been here for years. Add to that the four, that's right, four, trade deadline acquisitions the team made, and we've got a great team. The Thrashers are in the playoffs for the first time ever.

Go to Philips and see a game, maybe two. Plus, after you've seen a few live, watching on TV will be a lot easier. Call one of your friends that's a Bruin, Ranger, or Blackhawks fan and go with them. They can talk you through the parts you don't understand.

Plus, as an added benefit, these guys are easy to root for. I've had the opportunity to get to know several of them over the last few years, and these guys are good guys. They're nice. I want to root for them. I don't always have as easy a time rooting for pro athletes in other sports.

Several of these guys are big time hockey veterans like Scott Mellanby, Keith Tkachuk, and Marian Hossa. Our team also has budding superstars like Ilya Kovalchuk and Kari Lehtonen. And from a 25-year fan of hockey, let me assure you there are few things in sports like the NHL postseason.

Go see a game or two live, watch the others on TV (if you can stay away from Philips after the first game). If you're a sports fan in Atlanta and you're not part of Blueland, you're missing out.

Where's the Superstar?

by Jason Chatraw
Sunday Paper Sports Editor

ATLANTA -- Did he have a date? Were his parents in town? Did he suffer an injury? Where was superstar Ilya Kovalchuk in the third period of the Thrashers' 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals at Philips Arena Wednesday night before a jacked-up, sell-out crowd?

There were more people looking for Kovalchuk on the ice than combed the state for Jennifer Wilbanks.

But after the game, Thrashers coach Bob Hartley clearly expressed his displeasure with Kovalchuk's play in the second period with an unmistakably indirect insinuation that Kovalchuk was loafing on the ice. When asked about Kovalchuk's near absence in the third period, Hartley said, "When you're a superstar, you need to play like a superstar--not act like one. ... There was one superstar on the ice tonight and he played on the other team."

And his name was Alexander Ovechkin, who owns the Thrashers. Ovechkin put in two goals in a second period that consisted of the Thrashers getting lulled to sleep like Rip Van Winkle. The Southeast Division could've been all but won Wednesday night by the Thrashers in a home game against the last-place Capitals--and they couldn't get it done.

Granted, the Thrashers woke up and made a game of it, but it was too little too late. In a cruel twist of fate, the Thrashers appeared to pull within one with about seven minutes remaining, but Eric Boulton was called for a high stick on the goal-bound shot, nullifying the goal and sending Boulton to the box for four minutes. Nevertheless, with less than five minutes remaining the Thrashers' Andy Sutton scored a short-handed goal, just his second of the season, which have both come in the last week. And in the final two minutes, not one but two Capital players were sent to the box. After Kari Lehtonen was pulled from goal, the Thrashers had a 6-on-3 for the final 44 seconds of the game and couldn't jam the puck in the net.

Lehtonen dismissed the fact that it's harder to play a team with nothing to play for, especially when his team had everything ot play for. But he did admit that the Capitals were risky Wednesday night: "It's different--they don't have any kind of system except just play hard. And sometimes that works. But we just didn't play our best hockey."

After the game, Kovalchuk dressed quickly and left the locker room in a hurry. It's clear he's in Hartley's dog house, but it's only because Hartley knows what's at stake. "Each individual has to look in the miror and address their situation," Hartley said. "Right now, we're not playing playoff hockey." And win or lose the final two games of the regular season, the Thrashers will be playing playoff hockey soon--and Hartley doesn't want it to be a short-lived experience.

CHECK OUT OVECHKIN'S SKILLS

Are these Gators the best ever?

by Michael Mahan
Sunday Paper Sports Writer

After the Florida Gators became only the seventh team ever to repeat as National Champions, the debate has started. Are these Gators one of the best teams ever? Close, but no cigar. Since forever is such a long time, here is a breakdown of the best five college basketball teams of the last quarter-century, in ascending order.

Honorable Mention - 1985 Georgetown, 1983 Houston, 1994 Arkansas, 1999 Connecticut, 2001 Duke

5) 1982 North Carolina - This squad has become overrated and overmentioned in the discussion of the best teams ever. Jordan was a freshman who was still called "Mike Jordan" most of the time. Yes, Worthy, Perkins and Jordan were superb players, but after these three the talent level and depth of this team drops signifcantly.

4) 2007 Florida - Has there ever been a team with better chemistry? The "go-to guy" at any particular time was the player with the best look at the basket. They play basketball the way it was meant to be played. Naismith and Wooden would be proud.

3) 1992 Duke - Is there another player in the history of college basketball that you would want to take a do-or-die shot at the end of a game more than Christian Laettner?

2) 1991 UNLV - No, they didn't even win the championship. As defending champions, all this team did was go undefeated until meeting Duke in the Final Four. Larry Johnson may have been the most dominant single player in NCAA hoops in the last 25 years, bar none. LJ had a fine pro career, but on the collegiate level he was simply a man among boys. Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, and a deep, talented bench ran all opponents but one of the court. Sure, they lost the big one, but in a game with any other team since 1980 I would take these Runnin' Rebels. Except.....

1) 1996 Kentucky - Rick Pitino taught Billy Donovan how to do it. Eleven years ago, this team revolutionized college basketball with unprecedented tempo, trapping defense, and downpours of three pointers. This team may not have invented this style of play, but they perfected it. Want star power? Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson, Tony Delk, Walter McCarty, Nazr Mohammed all had solid careers at the next level. The bench was 5 deep, and this team never, EVER let up. Possibly the best team ever.

Final Four Wrap

By Jason Chatraw
Sunday Paper Sports Editor

ATLANTA -- It was promised to be one of the greatest Final Four fields ever assemebled--four teams with 30 or more wins, four storied programs, four vocal fan bases. But it turned out to be one big joke ... for Florida, that is.

What's hard to figure out is why Florida wasn't an overly impressive team. Their body of work for the past two seasons in repeating as champions was certainly impressive, but the way they did it wasn't. They just simply outshot, outhustled, outharrassed, outplayed and outwitted their opponents.

All throughout the tournament, I kept thinking that Florida was going to come out flat against a good team and lose. And it never happened. After they came out flat against UCLA (the Gators didn't hit a shot from the field until the 12:25 mark of the first half)--and still smoked the Bruins--I concluded that Ohio State didn't have a prayer.

Joakim Noah, who looks like Steve Urkel on speed going to the hoop, was all smiles after the game and began his poetic waxing. "It's all about livin' in the moment, just like coach taught us to do," he said after flatly refusing to divulge his plans for next season. The junior forward/center has the personality for the NBA, but does he have the game? Only time will tell just how effective he'll be at the next level, but he's definitely got some crazy hair.

MORE GAME NOTES
To read more game notes, check out the piece I wrote for SLAMonline.

NCAA SEEDING CONSPIRACY
When the seeds were first announced this year, the NCAA selection committee looked like they were sky high on Rock Star energy drink. How they justified putting some of the teams in the tournament escapes all logic. Take Stanford, for example. The Cardinal looked like they didn't even belong in the NIT after their poor performance, pushing out some more deserving teams.

However, the biggest mystery to me is how the ACC managed to get seven teams into the field. Just because Duke has a down year doesn't mean the ACC is down--but this year it was true. Only UNC had a good team, while the rest of the conference was just "eh." Meanwhile, the SEC, obviously the best conference in the nation per their NCAA performance and the total domination by Florida, only managed to get five teams in. How could this be?

While most people comment about how the NCAA gets a huge payday with March Madness (I was thinking that knowing that people paid $160 dollars to sit in the upper deck 100 yards away from the court in the Georgia Dome this weekend), they are gravely mistaken. All the money is distributed to the conferences that participate. However, the way the monies are distributed opens the door for conspiracy theories.

Each team earns one unit for appearing in the tournament, with teams capable of earning up to four additional units for each victory (It ends after the teams reach the Final Four). However, the units are calculated for the previous six seasons. So when the Colonial Athletic Association was receiving just over the NCAA's $1 million and some change minimum paycheck for its one-team appearances, the run by George Mason nearly doubled it in 2006. And it will remain doubled (over $2 million) until 2006 is no longer factored into the equation.

But this is where my semi-, half-hearted conspiracy theory comes in. With Florida and the SEC owning the tournament over the past couple of years, the NCAA is in danger of watching one conference collect potentially millions more than its sisters of the poor brethren. So, the SEC's chances of earning more cash was reduced by reducing the teams that received bids. But it didn't matter too much, as the SEC earned 13 units for this year's tournament with its paltry five teams, upping its share after an 11-unit year (2001) is dropped for the next distribution.

With the SEC already running away from the pack in every sport that fans care about, I'm assuming the NCAA wants to make sure they don't take all the money with them.