A...Georgia...Touch of the "Hall"

Today's Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Ceremony...Had quite a "Georgia on My Mind" feeling.

Consider this:  Tom Glavin, Greg Maddux and Bobby Cox all played or coached in Atlanta.

Joe Torre played and later managed in Atlanta.   Tony La Russa spent a year with the Braves as a player.

And...the "Bit Hurt" himself...Frank Thomas...was born in Columbus, Georgia.

But our three...deserve their due justice:

Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony belongs to Braves

JUL 27, 3:36p ET | Cory McCartney

Cory McCartney · World Series · Braves

Hump Day News & Views

It must be Wednesday........

And according to the calenders made available to us........there are 52 of these.....in a calender year. That means 52 "Hump Days". Wow!

In this southern college town, the temperature's rising........Summer..........looms. The "hazy, hot & humid" days........await us. As we crank up our AC's ........and fans.......and other cooling devices.........let's take a look at what's happening around us.......sports........and otherwise.



Magic vs. Lakers..........

Not what the networks wanted......(Kobe vs. LeBron was what ABC was hoping for).....but an intriguing match-up just the same.

Disney Land vs. Disney World............A tale of two franchises.....L A, is in the finals for the 30th time.......the Magic? Only their 2nd.

The Lakers will have Jack Nicholson (long time fan....and the "joker") sitting court side.......The Magic will have Orlando resident, and the best golfer of the planet, Tiger Woods.

Both are led by a player who came straight from high school to the pros........Kobe (Lakers) ........and that man child, from south Atlanta..........Superman himself........Dwight Howard.

The coaches? Phil Jackson has nine rings.........championship rings.......Stan Van Gundy? Weren't they gonna fire him last year?

Regular season meetings? Orlando took 'em both. They last met........61 games ago....

Make no mistake...........Orlando is the real deal..........and they present match up problems for most of the NBA...........

But............the Lakers' front line..........is too big.......too long........too much range.......and they have the x-factor........in that cold blooded.......game on the line ..........cut-throat shooter....in Kobe.

Lakers...........in 6.


A Williams-less.......French Open.......


We don't follow tennis.........except for the William sisters , Venus and Serena.........Well, both have been ousted in the on going French Open Tournament. Bad for tennis........but a lesson for both girls.

Yes.......we know you both want more out of life than tennis.....and you're both capable of "multi-tasking" ...........But........

Tennis...........is what made you famous.......

Tennis ..........is why .......you both have made a fortune....

Tennis..........put the Williams family on a path of greatness...........

So........a note..........and some advice to Serena.......and Venus ........How about getting back to some .......training?

Tennis training..........working on .......your game. Playing in more tournaments to learn more about your competitions' game.

It can only help..........For when it all boils down..............in the end.......with all your "fashion statements"...........Hollywood connections..........and sexy dress lines..........

You both..........are still ........two women..........playing a rich.....white.....sport.......of spoiled elitists............You gave us a reason ..........to watch.

So.......we're begging..........get back..........in the game.


Happy Trails........Tom Glavin.......

Atlanta releases Glavine‎

Today, the Atlanta Braves released the 300 plus win left handed pitcher........a shoo-in hall-of -famer.....The cash strapped Atlanta franchise chose the economy way. Cut Glavin........before he was with the ball club 90 days........Meaning they won't have to pay him a $3 million bonus.

At 42..........Glavin.......vows to pitch again..........in the big leagues.......for somebody.

Tom..........get a grip. You're 42........you've never been a "power pitcher".....You've lived.....on "the corners" and "outsmarting" hitters.

Brand new day..........Retire..........gracefully..........





Things........I ........think I think:

My daughter got her a teaching job.......Middle school math.......May the "force" be with her..

My "great nephew" turns a year old this week-end.......

My step-daughter, Sharmain........graduates from boot camp.....in the US Army tomorrow........at a fort in South Carolina.......I'm proud of you girl!

My garden? With the help of a little watering and fertilization .....it's doing well.

Have a great ........Hump Day!

A "Grave" New World

From 1991 to 2005.......

The Atlanta Braves were the most successful team in all of Major League Baseball, winning an unprecedented 14 consecutive Division titles. Throw in 4 World Series appearances, 1 World Championship, and one could argue......this was the team of the '90s.....and part of the 2000's.

From 1991's "worst to first" season.....to the championship in 1995......to extending their Eastern Division dominance through 2005.....The road to the NL pennant....always went through Atlanta.

Professionalism..........It was taught and practiced in the farm system. From the Braves rookie leagues, to A , AA , and AAA clubs. How to throw.....how to catch....fundamentals....

Player development was a high priority and a major key to success.

But time changes.....people change.......the world around us changes.

The 2008 Atlanta Braves.....well, they are just an average franchise. For the 3rd year in a row........the road to the NL pennant.......will not be going through the ATL.

And .....as is always the case.....it starts at the top.

First, there is the ownership. No longer are the Braves owned by one individual.....Ted Turner sold his majority stake to AOL-Time Warner..........who sold it to a conglomerate , Liberty Media in 2007......

General Manager , John Schuerholz has stepped down.......long time pitching coach Leo Mazzone left.....and Manager, Bobby Cox is only signing one year contracts these days.

The "darlings of the nineties"........that pitching staff of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddox.......well ........2 of the 3 still are trying to pitch for the Braves (Maddox is with the San Diego Padres).....but both are on the disable list.......and both are now over 40 years old.

Prospects from the minors?

Who knows........with all the injuries this year......and all the call ups from the AA and AAA teams........No one has stepped up.....to become the next Chipper Jones or Brian McCann.

Trades?

Without 5 ........or even 4 star prospects........they can't get a front line player in return.

Solution?

Blow this team up and start over. This is not New York.....Atlanta will be patient....but it has to be done right. Development of the farm system has to be tops .......again. The focus must continue to be on the development of young arms......

Hire a successor to Cox........Nobody lives forever.......get a young, hungry manager, who knows the game of baseball.

Get back to basics........bunting.....stealing a base every now and then?

But the reality of it all is simple......

Instead of a "Brave New World"..........

2008 has given us ....a "Grave New World"

Mark Teixeira.......No Return on Investment

The Atlanta Braves......need a crash course in Economy 101......

$12.5 million........1 future star catcher (Jarrad Saltalamacchia), and 3 minor league prospects.

This what the Braves gave up in the trade for Mark Teixeira almost one year to the day, in hopes of making a play-off run.

Well.......the Braves didn't make the play-offs last year.......

And yesterday.......they traded Teixeira.....to the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem ..........for an average 1st baseman and a minor league pitcher.

And.......no.......they won't make the play-offs .....this year either.

It was an expensive lesson for the normally shrewed Atlanta front office.

Major League Baseball........has come down to the following:

If....you're the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Redsox........you buy the best team money can buy......

If.....you're the Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins........you build your team with the draft, good scouting, and a great minor league system.

There is no in between.

It is quite apparent, the Braves should go back to what made them a near dynasty in the 90's.......a great minor league system (from A ball , to AAA).....focusing on good young pitching.....

This year.......Atlanta.......instead of developing young arms.......tried to go back in time...putting their investments in the likes of Tom Glavine.... John Smoltz.....and Mike Hampton.......

It did not work!

Atlanta will again.......for the 3rd straight year........miss the post season.

Time to start getting returns on the investments......

It's Time....to get Serious

Our Beloved Atlanta Braves...........


After 95 games, you are in 4th place in the NL east (45-50). 6 1/2 games back of the Phillies. We play 162 games at this level, so there is still time.....

But...........you have to get serious........now.

You have lost more 1 run games on the road this year than any team in the history of baseball.

John Smoltz......gone. Tom Glavine.......gone. Both due to injuries. Can't use this as an excuse any longer. Every team has injuries. Play through them.

It has been said .....of this 162 game marathon.....a team will automatically win 60......and lose 60. It is what happens in the 42 remaining games which will determine any post-season aspirations.

The one glaring statistic of this year's team is the home record (30-18).......versus the road record (15-32).

This ...........has to change...........Now.

Useless information: In the latest Harris poll, guess who is the second most popular MLB team in America? Yes........your Atlanta Braves. The New York Yankees are number 1.........the Boston Red Sox, number 3. Go figure.

And go Braves........

Let's get serious.........now.

So....You want to live in New York?

Can't believe the Mets are going to re-sign Tom Glavin. Here is his box score from yesterdays' historic melt down. 0.1 innings ....7 earned runs.........5 hits... 2 walks and 1 hit batsman. The New York media is killing this guy. New Yorkers have never really embraced Tommy, many thinking that deep down......he's still a Brave. Glavin, at 41 is at a cross roads in his career. His family still resides in the ATL. At his age, he is still a gifted lefty. But I don't think......he thinks he needs all the drama NY dishes out. He will either take a home team discount with the Braves, or likely retire all together with his 300+ wins and future hall of fame credentials. At any rate , Tom thanks for being a class act through it all.