Nov 29 2008
Rivals fire up Braves Nation
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — Today is a huge day in Georgia sports. It’s Good Old Fashioned Hate Day.
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech brings out the best – or in some cases, the worst – in the Georgia sports fan. It’s a rivalry that stokes the fires and boils the blood like no other.
In the spirit of today’s Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, not to mention the fact there is little news surrounding the Atlanta Braves as we embark into this holiday weekend, I thought it’d be fun to look at the rivals that get Braves Nation all riled up:
Braves vs. Dodgers: This is more historical in nature. Remember 1982, when the Braves ran out to 13 straight victories to start the season, then backslid into second place with a 2-19 stretch in late summer? The Dodgers were the chief competition then, and nine years later, Darryl Strawberry’s famous announcement that he wasn’t worried about the upstart Braves launched this rivalry to a whole new level.
Braves vs. Cubs: Ted Lilly and his tendency to throw fastballs at Braves’ hitters’ heads, not to mention the fact annoying Cubs fans make their presence more than known at Turner Field, has pushed this rivalry to the forefront. Atlanta swept the Cubs in the 1998 NLDS; the Cubs topped the Braves five years later.
Braves vs. Phillies: It’s not a rivalry if one team dominates the other, and let’s face it … the Braves might as well call the Phils “Daddy” for the way Philly has whipped Atlanta the past two years. Getting beat nine out of nine times at home this season only adds fuel to this fire.
Last, but not least …
Braves vs. Mets: Playoff matchups, John Rocker, chants of “Larry” at old Shea Stadium … good stuff indeed. Nothing ticks off Braves Nation more than the mere sight of David Wright, Carlos Beltran and the Amazin’s. The highlight of the horrid Braves 2008 season had to be a four-game sweep of the Mets in late May at Turner Field, a stretch that helped cost Willie Randolph his job.
Even though the Braves missed the playoffs the past three years, the fact the Mets lost in the 2006 NLCS, then choked away leads in the NL East in the closing days of 2007 and 2008 put a smile on the face of Braves Nation.
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Bud, hope you and your clan had a great Thanksgiving.
Rivalry weekend in college football brings out the passion and there’s nothing quite like it. Georgia/Georgia Tech, Florida/Florida State, Texas/Texas A&M, Michigan/Ohio State, Auburn/Alabama, Oklahoma State/Oklahoma et al. Great football being played today.
Meanwhile about 20 miles east of my locale, the podium is being prepared for Lane Kiffin to take over the reins of Tennessee football while Phillip Fulmer attempts to go out with a win versus Kentucky. Tennessee, much like my beloved Braves, slipped a bit in 2007 to be sure.
Wow, amazing how much has changed since Braves-Dodgers was the series to be circled on the calendar. While it was very one-sided in the years the Braves weren’t able to muster offense, defense or pitching, it was VERY satisfying in the magic summers of 1982 and 1991, when it was almost as sweet knowing we beat the Dodgers at the finish line than winning the division itself.
I’ll remember that summer of 1982 always, Scribe. I was very aware of the dates when the Braves and Dodgers played. Would look forward to it weeks beforehand. I had as much contempt for those guys that a 12-year old could muster. Valenzuela, Garvey, Sax, Cey, Bill Russell, Guerrero, Bob Welch, Steve Howe and the kingpin of the evil empire himself, Tommy Lasorda. Hate is a strong word, one I chose not to use for the most part, but boy did I loathe the Dodgers.
Most of the big game memories I have are from those guys, to be sure. And now? Just not the same, even before Frank McCourt hired Joe Torre prior to the start of last season.
Honestly, the Mets and Phillies were stepping stones on the way to October to me and many good folks that fly the Tomahawk on their team flag. I completely understand the fact that Phillies and Mets fans have a chip on their shoulder the size of a house about us. The Mets rivalry had it’s beginnings in the waning days of that 1999 season, when the Offensive Assassin took this team on his shoulders and willed us to a division title, winning an MVP award in the process.
The Phillies rivalry has been anything but this year and didn’t play well against the Cubs at all. We were four games above .500 against the Mets, but a woeful ten games under against the Phillies, and there’s little consolation to me that they went on to win the World Series this year. The Cubs? 0-6, and aside from an extra inning loss at Wrigley in mid June, the rest weren’t even close.
The 2008 team loved to get up for the Mets, no denying that, however against their division rivals, the team was ten games under .500 including 6-12 against the last place Nats. Have to play better against the other NL East teams not from Gotham.
Should be interesting next week to see how the free agent bidding goes once the arbitration deadline passes and as the days lead up to the winter meetings. Have a great rest of your weekend, Bud!