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(01/30/19 4:08am)
When people think of hockey, they think of chasing a thick, black disk down a sheet of ice where people hit each other. In the South, where I have grown up and spent all 20 years of my life, hockey is hardly enjoyed, if not unrecognized.
The reasonings people have for not liking the sport range from, "It just is not cold enough down here!" to "It's way too physical!" to “The majority of these players aren't even American!"
While I can understand why a lot of people don’t like hockey, I beg to differ.
In fact, I was a disbeliever for the first half of my life. I went to a hockey game when I was eight and hated it. It was too cold, too physical and I just didn’t think it was fun. Then a couple years later, I began to take notice of hockey, and I fell in love with the high-speed, high-intensity game.
Unfortunately, the team I was rooting for was the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League (NHL). That team moved to Canada just as quickly as I became a fan of the game.
One thing I have noticed from watching and following hockey is that markets such as Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas get struck down for being inferior to the hockey markets up north. I believe that there are many reasons those who don't know or don’t like the game should give it another look.
First, as I said before, it is a high-speed, high-intensity game. The fast-skating from players and trying to follow the puck makes a viewer anticipate a goal. When said goal is scored, there is a rush from the crowd as everyone gets up and cheers.
Even when a goal is stopped by the goalie, the excitement of "Oooh, so close!" is a fulfilling one.
And for those who state the game is too physical, you have seen football right?
As for the claim that hockey should be passed over because the game is not an American tradition is nonsense! Think of it this way.
We live in a world where diversity of cultures is embraced. Hockey is a major part of another culture, and while that culture may be similar to ours in more ways than one, it is still very interesting to experience what is highly enjoyed in many parts of the world.
In fact, the city of Macon is doing its part in getting people exposed to the game. The Macon Mayhem won the league championship two years ago, and are still one of the most exciting teams in the South. While it's no NHL, it's still fast, exciting and very interesting to watch!
So my challenge to those who don't consider themselves a hockey fan down here, go to a game! And if you have been once and hated it, try it again! You may find something interesting that you didn’t before.
(09/13/18 2:51am)
After years of rebuilding a team known for dominance, the Atlanta Braves have surprised many as they are in the thick of the playoff race as the 2018 Major League Baseball season enters the homestretch.
So did the rebuild work? Did these young players become the stars they were viewed as when they were acquired for all those veterans?
First, let’s look at the lineup.
Everyone already knows that Freddie Freeman is the face that the franchise builds around. He has not slowed down as he is having another MVP-caliber year at the plate.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is as good as advertised. Buoyed by a strong hitting performance in August, he is a hot pick for the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award.
The real surprise is Ozzie Albies who is having an excellent breakout season in only his first full year of play, especially after his wingman at short, Dansby Swanson, sagged in production last season. Albies has hit 22 home runs, batted in 64 runs, and has a batting average of .273, according to MLB.com.
There are also the two pieces picked up from Arizona in 2015, Swanson and outfielder Ender Inciarte.
Inciarte’s defense has been as good as advertised making spectacular inning-ending catches, and keeping his team afloat. Swanson, while his contact at the plate could be a little better, has improved his power with a career-best 14 home runs, according to MLB.com.
The most notable improvements are found in the pitching staff, which, during the rebuild, was among the worst in the game, especially in the bullpen.
How are they now? Their bullpen has certainly improved with pitchers like Jesse Biddle, Dan Winkler, A.J. Minter, Shane Carle and closer Arodys Vizcaino winning more games than losing and holding Earned Run Averages (ERAs) under four.
The rotation is also solid buoyed by veterans Anibal Sanchez and Julio Teheran. What’s really worth noting is breakout seasons from Mike Foltynewicz (10-9, 2.80, according to MLB.com) and Sean Newcomb (11-8, 3.92, according to MLB.com).
Foltynewicz’s effort was enough to earn him his first All-Star bid while Newcomb was really strong in May and June. Despite struggling recently, he came one strike away from no-hitting a powerful LA Dodger lineup on July 29.
Even better is that the Braves are helping their deadline purchases. Specifically, Brad Brach and Kevin Gausman have suffered tremendously in a nightmarish season with the Orioles. Once traded, they turned it around.
Overall, things are going according to plan as the Braves enter the long haul of September, where the pennant races amp up. They are in a tight race with the Phillies for the NL East as well as having to keep up with as many as five teams for a Wild Card.
The fact that the Braves are still alive at this point brings relief to a hardcore fan base that has endured three consecutive 90-loss seasons.
Even if they don’t make the playoffs, the future is very bright for this team. Having a winning record at the end of the season shows that this team is taking the next step and is knocking on the door of a return to prominence of just a few years ago.
What’s better about this team is that with the young talent they have and how they can improve, the Braves will be a legitimate threat in the NL East once again. Fans will continue to flock to Cobb County and be entertained nightly by the Braves.
The Braves still have a whopping nine prospects in the Top 100 list on MLB.com’s Prospect Watch. Even if they grow comfortable with what they have now, these prospects might just turn into trade chips for an All-Star at the deadline.
Get the tomahawks out. It’s gonna be a fun ride.