MESSAGE BOARD MAKES AJC

[MagnusXXIII]

Falcons fans raise funds to ‘pay' Smith's fine

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Falcons Nation's got your back.

"Just like you got our team's back," said longtime Falcon fan Tandy Garay.

When Falcons head coach Mike Smith flew to the defense a player after a late hit in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, it further endeared the fan base to the second-year coach.

So now that Smith faces a $15,000 from the league for his actions, fans are flying to his aid.

"We are officially collecting donations for Coach Mike Smith in honor of his impending fine from the NFL," wrote Hal Moore, an administrator on the fan site the Official Falcons Message Board.

"In the spirit of helping the coach ‘pay his fine,' we are collecting funds to support the charity of Smith's choosing."

And to add a sly little back-handed swipe at a certain former Falcons safety who also was involved in Sunday's sideline melee and wears the number 23 on his Redskin jersey, the goal is $2,300 and fans are asked to contribute an extra 23 cents to every donation.

Take that, Meangelo!

The effort began Thursday and had roughly $1,900 in donations by midday Friday, Moore said. The money has come from donation pledges and bids for items being sold on eBay.

Since the NFL won't let fans pay a coach or player's fines for him, the group is donating the proceeds to the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.

Moore, who was born the year the Falcons came to Atlanta in 1966, said the plan came together as a bit of a joke.

"What can we do to stand up for the coach, since he was standing up for the team?" Moore said on Friday, recalling the origins of this movement. "People started making pledges."

Mark Tucker said people contributing appreciate giving to a worthy cause, especially in Smith's name.

And Tucker said although fans resonate with Smith for more than just the coach's recent sideline daring do, the show of gumption didn't hurt.

"He's going to do something we've never seen before," Tucker said. "There's a Super Bowl in our near future. And seeing Coach Smith get riled up to protect his franchise player ... we just want to send a statement."

Garay, who lives in Rebecca in south Georgia and made the first official pledge -- $40.23 -- cautioned not to perceive this gesture as "raising money for a millionaire."

"It's not about that," she said. "We've got people contributing $1.23 because they've been out of work, but they feel that strongly about this."

The fundraising drive should reach its goal by the end of the day Friday, Moore said. Then the original artwork and other items will continue being bid upon on eBay through next week, potentially raising another $500 dollars, he estimated.

Garay just hopes the message is felt.

"We know [the money] is not going to him and he can't even really acknowledge it," she said. "But we're saying, we got your back, coach."

[Peyton]

Somebody should tell Marcus that DeAngelo is a cornerback.

[NCFalconfan]

NICE!

[Jaymadd]

A proud day to be a member of Atlanta Falcons Message Board

[Finally]

Somebody should tell Marcus that DeAngelo is a cornerback.

Is that what he is supposed to be doing back there?

[Dem Birds]

Somebody should tell Marcus that DeAngelo is a cornerback.

lol, first thing I thought too. But otherwise, good stuff.

I don't know most people by name, but who is Garay?

[Infinitepwnz]

A proud day to be a member of Atlanta Falcons Message Board

i agree, while reading that I got chills.

[Finally]

lol, first thing I thought too. But otherwise, good stuff.

I don't know most people by name, but who is Garay?

When it said it was a she I figured it was you.

[Infinitepwnz]

lol, first thing I thought too. But otherwise, good stuff.

I don't know most people by name, but who is Garay?

"Just like you got our team's back," said long-time Falcon fan Tandy Garay.

[Dem Birds]

When it said it was a she I figured it was you.

Same here, then I looked down and saw a wiener! Freaked me out, man!

[Robb4242]

Just gotta get the right people involved at the AJC to get work done Know Rev let D Led & others know about it right from the start.

From Twitter:

ajcsportseditor #Falcons fans raise funds to pay coach Mike Smith $15,000 #NFL fine (Thanks to @robb4242 for the alert) http://bit.ly/pz3qO #ajc

[Dem Birds]

"Just like you got our team's back," said long-time Falcon fan Tandy Garay.

That is apparently missing from my page, I do not see that ANYWHERE lol. I read it the first time but I just skimmed through 2 times looking for that, I don't see it. lol. The way I saw it, it just started showing Garay and I just thought it was an odd first name.

Oh well, thanks for clarification though.

[Infinitepwnz]

Just gotta get the right people involved at the AJC to get work done Know Rev let D Led & others know about it right from the start.

From Twitter:

gj rob ;]

[Warrior999]

When peeps mention this board. This is the reason I want them to mention it. Great job everyone.

[Infinitepwnz]

That is apparently missing from my page, I do not see that ANYWHERE lol. I read it the first time but I just skimmed through 2 times looking for that, I don't see it. lol. The way I saw it, it just started showing Garay and I just thought it was an odd first name.

Oh well, thanks for clarification though.

its at the very top 2nd sentence i believe

[Falcons Ace]

When Falcons head coach Mike Smith flew to the defense a player after a late hit

"We are officially collecting donations for Coach Mike Smith in honor of his impending fine from the NFL," wrote Hal Moore, an administrator on the fan site the Official Falcons Message Board.

And to add a sly little back-handed swipe at a certain former Falcons safety who also was involved in Sunday's sideline melee and wears the number 23 on his Redskin jersey

Mistakes:

1. to the defense OF a player after a late hit

2. "...wrote Hal Moore, an administrator on the fan site the Official Falcons Message Board." Do what? Doesn't make sense to me. It's the Official Message Board of the Atlanta Falcons' team website, not some fan site to visit.

3. MeAngelo is former Cornerback, not Safety.

Just being a nit picker. Sweetness, none the less.

[Tandy]

That is apparently missing from my page, I do not see that ANYWHERE lol. I read it the first time but I just skimmed through 2 times looking for that, I don't see it. lol. The way I saw it, it just started showing Garay and I just thought it was an odd first name.

Oh well, thanks for clarification though.

If you stopped looking down to confirm your gender - you'd see it at the top of the article :P (jk)

Actually - he left that off the original post:

Falcons fans raise funds to ‘pay' Smith's fine

By Marcus K. Garner

Don't worry, Coach. The Falcons Nation's got your back.

"Just like you got our team's back," said long-time Falcon fan Tandy Garay.

Falcons head coach Mike Smith was fined $15,000 by the NFL for his role in a sideline fracas involving Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

[Dem Birds]

its at the very top 2nd sentence i believe

I swear to Christ it's not there lol This is the first mention I can find of her...

Garay, who lives in Rebecca in south Georgia and made the first official pledge -- $40.23 -- cautioned not to perceive this gesture as "raising money for a millionaire."

Maybe I'm just ********.

[Falcons Ace]

Falcons fans raise funds to ‘pay' Smith's fine

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When Falcons head coach Mike Smith flew to the defense a player after a late hit in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, it further endeared the fan base to the second-year coach.

So now that Smith faces a $15,000 from the league for his actions, fans are flying to his aid.

"We are officially collecting donations for Coach Mike Smith in honor of his impending fine from the NFL," wrote Hal Moore, an administrator on the fan site the Official Falcons Message Board.

"In the spirit of helping the coach ‘pay his fine,' we are collecting funds to support the charity of Smith's choosing."

And to add a sly little back-handed swipe at a certain former Falcons safety who also was involved in Sunday's sideline melee and wears the number 23 on his Redskin jersey, the goal is $2,300 and fans are asked to contribute an extra 23 cents to every donation.

Take that, Meangelo!

The effort began Thursday and had roughly $1,900 in donations by midday Friday, Moore said. The money has come from donation pledges and bids for items being sold on eBay.

Since the NFL won't let fans pay a coach or player's fines for him, the group is donating the proceeds to the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.

Moore, who was born the year the Falcons came to Atlanta in 1966, said the plan came together as a bit of a joke.

"What can we do to stand up for the coach, since he was standing up for the team?" Moore said on Friday, recalling the origins of this movement. "People started making pledges."

Mark Tucker said people contributing appreciate giving to a worthy cause, especially in Smith's name.

And Tucker said although fans resonate with Smith for more than just the coach's recent sideline daring do, the show of gumption didn't hurt.

"He's going to do something we've never seen before," Tucker said. "There's a Super Bowl in our near future. And seeing Coach Smith get riled up to protect his franchise player ... we just want to send a statement."

Garay, who lives in Rebecca in south Georgia and made the first official pledge -- $40.23 -- cautioned not to perceive this gesture as "raising money for a millionaire."

"It's not about that," she said. "We've got people contributing $1.23 because they've been out of work, but they feel that strongly about this."

The fundraising drive should reach its goal by the end of the day Friday, Moore said. Then the original artwork and other items will continue being bid upon on eBay through next week, potentially raising another $500 dollars, he estimated.

Garay just hopes the message is felt.

"We know [the money] is not going to him and he can't even really acknowledge it," she said. "But we're saying, we got your back, coach."

I don't see the word Tandy ANYWHERE here. Could someone quote the OP and highlight it so I can see it?

[Dem Birds]

When Falcons head coach Mike Smith flew to the defense a player after a late hit in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, it further endeared the fan base to the second-year coach.

So now that Smith faces a $15,000 from the league for his actions, fans are flying to his aid.

"We are officially collecting donations for Coach Mike Smith in honor of his impending fine from the NFL," wrote Hal Moore, an administrator on the fan site the Official Falcons Message Board.

"In the spirit of helping the coach ‘pay his fine,' we are collecting funds to support the charity of Smith's choosing."

And to add a sly little back-handed swipe at a certain former Falcons safety who also was involved in Sunday's sideline melee and wears the number 23 on his Redskin jersey, the goal is $2,300 and fans are asked to contribute an extra 23 cents to every donation.

Take that, Meangelo!

The effort began Thursday and had roughly $1,900 in donations by midday Friday, Moore said. The money has come from donation pledges and bids for items being sold on eBay.

Since the NFL won't let fans pay a coach or player's fines for him, the group is donating the proceeds to the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.

Moore, who was born the year the Falcons came to Atlanta in 1966, said the plan came together as a bit of a joke.

"What can we do to stand up for the coach, since he was standing up for the team?" Moore said on Friday, recalling the origins of this movement. "People started making pledges."

Mark Tucker said people contributing appreciate giving to a worthy cause, especially in Smith's name.

And Tucker said although fans resonate with Smith for more than just the coach's recent sideline daring do, the show of gumption didn't hurt.

"He's going to do something we've never seen before," Tucker said. "There's a Super Bowl in our near future. And seeing Coach Smith get riled up to protect his franchise player ... we just want to send a statement."

Garay, who lives in Rebecca in south Georgia and made the first official pledge -- $40.23 -- cautioned not to perceive this gesture as "raising money for a millionaire."

"It's not about that," she said. "We've got people contributing $1.23 because they've been out of work, but they feel that strongly about this."

The fundraising drive should reach its goal by the end of the day Friday, Moore said. Then the original artwork and other items will continue being bid upon on eBay through next week, potentially raising another $500 dollars, he estimated.

Garay just hopes the message is felt.

"We know [the money] is not going to him and he can't even really acknowledge it," she said. "But we're saying, we got your back, coach."

OK, someone quote this and highlight it! The only name I see at the top is Rev's.

[MagnusXXIII]

I swear to Christ it's not there lol This is the first mention I can find of her...

Maybe I'm just ********.

Try it now ... accidentally deleted when I cleaned up the post.

[Dem Birds]

I don't see the word Tandy ANYWHERE here. Could someone quote the OP and highlight it so I can see it?

Thank you! I'm not the only one!

[Dem Birds]

Try it now ... accidentally deleted when I cleaned up the post.

OMG! Thank you! I was freaking the **** out! lol

[phattywankenobi]

Great job guys!!! After a lot of persistence over the last two days they finally got it right or at least the purpose.

[Supes™]

I always tell the truth. I am Mark Tucker and I haven't talked to the AJC and didn't say those great things. I have NO IDEA how my name got in the article, but hey,......y'all bow down!