NOTES FROM THE ROAD
Greetings, Dear Readers! This is your old buddy, Bob, coming to you from the Hawks charter.
We’re winging it from Portland to Phoenix as I pen this.
The best way to describe the mood of the team is stunned. Just hours ago, the Hawks blew a 19-point lead and a game they controlled, to the Portland Trail Blazers, 94-93.
Atlanta led by six with a little over two minutes left.
But then Brandon Roy took over.
Roy penetrated the Hawks ‘D’ for three straight lay-ups, and then nailed a free throw with 2.3 seconds left for the winning margin.
This was a game the Hawks controlled until they very end. They had a double-digit lead most of the night, only to hand it to the Blazers down the stretch.
Portland’s Travis Outlaw broke the Hawks hearts on MLK Day at Philips with his game-winning jumper at :00.9. Sunday, it was Brandon Roy.
It was clearly the most bitter defeat of the season.
The Hawks will be home Saturday to face Jason Kidd and the Nets. That kicks off a four-game home stand that will see Kobe and LeBron come to town next Wednesday and Friday…..obviously, we all missed out on the NHL All-Star festivities. But what we saw looked great. The hockey world got to see what we know—that Philips Arena is a world class sports and entertainment facility. From the looks of it, the game had to have been fun—8-7 East….now lets get the Thrashers back going again, and win the Southeast Division…Washington is hot, though, and Carolina wants back in. The second half promises to be exciting….it’s amazing how little the folks out West care about the SEC and the ACC. What is wrong with them???....Saturday night, I get to call a big SEC showdown in Starkville, as Tennessee rolls into town to face West-leading Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 5-0 in the league. Rick Stansbury has got ‘em rollin’ again…Jamont Gordon and Chris Lofton should be a great matchup. Check it out on FSN South….A solid road win for Georgia Tech at Virginia in OT Sunday. Jackets are starting to turn things around….Congrats to 3D, Dennis Scott and Rachel on the birth of their daughter last week. Dizzle said she came out shootin’ threes…you’ll know Thursday, but I think Joe Johnson has an outside shot at the Eastern Conference all-star team. Looks like it may come down to Joe and Antawn Jamison for the final spot in the East. It is time to expand the rosters. They’ve been at 12 dating back to when there were 14 teams. We now have 30. It will be strange not having Shaq at the all-star game. First one the big fella has missed…Patriots again? Hard to pick against ‘em. Think of the times in which we live: we are witnessing the greatest golfer ever (Tiger), the greatest tennis player ever (Federer) and maybe the best quarterback ever (Brady). One more Super Bowl might just cement his legacy. Pats 24 Giants 21. I don’t have a rooting interest, but I hope Eli Manning plays well. Just to shut up the critics. He’s done an amazing job. No picks in the playoffs? Outstanding. Hope it’s a good game and we have some good commercials to watch!