This Article, As Well As Espn, Disgusts Me

[ILikeSprayButter]

How is this even an article a "reputable" media outlet would publish?

http://espn.go.com/n...ts-town-america

Look, being from Atlanta, there have been plenty of times I have been embarrassed by the lack of enthusiasm and/or support from our fans, but to say that there aren't fans, or that we, as fans, don't deserve to win, is absolutely ridiculous. I don't get angry that often, but this really pisses me off.

EDIT:

Since the sh!t brick decided to edit his article in the middle of the night, here's the original copy. Thanks to Tandy Gossett for posting:

"Big Blue is back in the playoffs. Atlanta is the foe.

Hence, the Atlanta Falcons shouldn't be allowed to win and reward some of the worst fans in the country. They just don't get it. They are both missing in action and simply not passionate enough to appreciate their team winning in the NFL playoffs and moving on to the next round.

Giants fans -- even with a fresh Super Bowl in their memories after the 2007 season -- are living and dying with their team. Football is a part of their lifestyle, it's who they are. On Sunday, every single moment of the game will be pure agony until the clock shows all zeroes and the Giants have secured the victory.

Your typical Atlanta fan -- who is probably from another city since so few are actually from ATL -- will be preoccupied with something else -- perhaps even picking peaches. Is it peach-picking season? They might not even be sure what time the game is on.

In fact, at some point, they might ask a friend -- filled with sweet tea -- at a pork-saturated barbeque, "Are the Falcons playing today?"

Pathetic.

But it's Atlanta, known as Hotlanta. It's not for their passion when it comes to sports, just the weather. Oh yes, it gets hot down there.

But when it comes to sports, no city is as cold to warm up to its home teams. And it's just not when it comes to the NFL and the Falcons.

All of their teams have suffered from terrible support.

Just ask the Hawks. Atlanta's young and exciting basketball team has had problems selling tickets over the years -- even during a pretty thrilling playoff run a few years back. It's not like they play in a dump on the bad side of town.

The Philips Arena downtown is sweet, a cool place to see a game and be a part of the city as well. Yet, on most night you can get a section to yourself.

Even back in the old Omni days when I covered the Knicks for the Daily News, there were always more Knicks fans in attendance than Hawks fans -- and they had Dominique Wilkins, the Human Highlight Film. Shame more didn't see him play in person.

Sadly, there always seemed to be empty seats at Turner Field when the Braves were in the playoffs as well. You still have to wonder how fans got tired of the Braves winning. They had the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball for a decade and won a World Series back in the '90s. Fans should not have missed a pitch during that run.

Worse is the lack of passion the fans showed after an epic Braves collapse this season. Looking like a shoo-in most of the season, the Braves, who were 8½ games up in the National League wild-card race to start September, gave up their postseason spot on the last night of the season. The Braves went 9-18 in the final month, including a five-game losing streak to end the season. It allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to get in instead en route to winning the World Series.

Heads should have rolled. Instead, Braves first-year manager Fredi Gonzalez wasn't under fire from the fan base and will be back this coming season. Again, most probably didn't even notice.

Enter the NHL.

It's bad enough Atlanta got another hockey team, the Thrashers, after losing one already, the Flames in 1980. But it happened again -- the Thrashers are now in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnipeg? How embarrassing. Atlanta is once again hockey-less. Why? Terrible fan support.

The NHL wanted to believe Atlanta is a major-league city, a city that could support all four major sports. But it can't. Atlanta is now the first city in the NHL's modern history to lose two hockey teams. So sad.

That's why it would be a waste for the NFL gods to allow the city of Atlanta to lukewarmly enjoy a postseason win.

The city and its lame fans simply don't deserve it."

Edited January 6, 2012 by ILikeSprayButter

[Borat]

ESPN can lick my ahnous after 3 bowls of MiraLax

[Carl927]

The guy's a boob. He's said (and been fired for) some really outrageous crap over the years. Only ESPN would touch him.

[Aftermath]

He isn't wrong, the city of Atlanta sucks as a fan base, from the people I meet at the games it seems like most Falcons fans don't even live in Atlanta. Small minded on his part to limit the fan base of the franchise to its home city, Atlanta might not provide a good fan base but GA sure does. If the GA dome were some else in GA besides Atlanta, or even on the periphery, I think many more people would go to the games. At the very least it would get rid of the khaki pants & suit wearing crowd that goes to a game so that they can talk on their phone. Atlanta is just a ****** city to have a sports franchise.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Aftermath

[Realsurfin]

even the sports bigots are talking smack on us....

[Hocus_Pocus]

This ***** is lucky my computer won't let me sign up for an ESPN account.

[Mega Flare]

If the GA dome were some else in GA besides Atlanta, or even on the periphery

To heII with that. Pro sports belong downtown. Let the fans come to us!

[Joremarid]

Lol thats so stupid im not even upset.

[Tandy Gossett]

This is Racist. Well I guess it's not called Racist but he is making fun of the South and Atlanta. I can't help it that the South is so much better than NewYork and the Snowy, Cold, Ugly, Rude North ... Haters Gonna Hate I guess.

I was born in South Fulton Hospital in East Point and I'll be moving back soon. I can't help it that Atlanta is so much better than NewYork that people would prefer to move here instead of staying in that Craphole of a town. I guess he's mad that he can't afford to move down here. It sounds like he's never got out of NY or is he in Conn.?

It's not fair.

And, we know, it really shouldn't matter.

But Atlanta -- the city, not the team -- doesn't deserve a playoff victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.

It has nothing to do with football. It's deeper than that.

Without question, Atlanta is the worst sports town in America.

If the New York Yankees are the standard for excellence in baseball, Atlanta is the epitome of the bottom of the barrel when it comes to fan support.

Wild card: Giants vs. Falcons

Big Blue is back in the playoffs. Atlanta is the foe. Giants Center » Blog »

• 50 Greatest Giants

Hence, the Atlanta Falcons shouldn't be allowed to win and reward some of the worst fans in the country. They just don't get it. They are both missing in action and simply not passionate enough to appreciate their team winning in the NFL playoffs and moving on to the next round.

Giants fans -- even with a fresh Super Bowl in their memories after the 2007 season -- are living and dying with their team. Football is a part of their lifestyle, it's who they are. On Sunday, every single moment of the game will be pure agony until the clock shows all zeroes and the Giants have secured the victory.

Your typical Atlanta fan -- who is probably from another city since so few are actually from ATL -- will be preoccupied with something else -- perhaps even picking peaches. Is it peach-picking season? They might not even be sure what time the game is on.

In fact, at some point, they might ask a friend -- filled with sweet tea -- at a pork-saturated barbeque, "Are the Falcons playing today?"

Pathetic.

But it's Atlanta, known as Hotlanta.

It's not for their passion when it comes to sports, just the weather. Oh yes, it gets hot down there.

But when it comes to sports, no city is as cold to warm up to its home teams. And it's just not when it comes to the NFL and the Falcons.

All of their teams have suffered from terrible support.

Just ask the Hawks. Atlanta's young and exciting basketball team has had problems selling tickets over the years -- even during a pretty thrilling playoff run a few years back. It's not like they play in a dump on the bad side of town.

The Philips Arena downtown is sweet, a cool place to see a game and be a part of the city as well. Yet, on most night you can get a section to yourself.

Fifty Greatest Giants

Choosing the 50 Greatest Giants was a big challenge. ESPNNewYork.com rose to the occasion. Top 50 Rank 'Em »

{C}

Even back in the old Omni days when I covered the Knicks for the Daily News, there were always more Knicks fans in attendance than Hawks fans -- and they had Dominique Wilkins, the Human Highlight Film. Shame more didn't see him play in person.

Sadly, there always seemed to be empty seats at Turner Field when the Braves were in the playoffs as well. You still have to wonder how fans got tired of the Braves winning. They had the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball for a decade and won a World Series back in the '90s. Fans should not have missed a pitch during that run.

Worse is the lack of passion the fans showed after an epic Braves collapse this season. Looking like a shoo-in most of the season, the Braves, who were 8½ games up in the National League wild-card race to start September, gave up their postseason spot on the last night of the season. The Braves went 9-18 in the final month, including a five-game losing streak to end the season. It allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to get in instead en route to winning the World Series.

Heads should have rolled. Instead, Braves first-year manager Fredi Gonzalez wasn't under fire from the fan base and will be back this coming season. Again, most probably didn't even notice.

Enter the NHL.

It's bad enough Atlanta got another hockey team, the Thrashers, after losing one already, the Flames in 1980. But it happened again -- the Thrashers are now in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnipeg? How embarrassing. Atlanta is once again hockey-less. Why? Terrible fan support.

The NHL wanted to believe Atlanta is a major-league city, a city that could support all four major sports. But it can't. Atlanta is now the first city in the NHL's modern history to lose two hockey teams. So sad.

That's why it would be a waste for the NFL gods to allow the city of Atlanta to lukewarmly enjoy a postseason win.

The city and its lame fans simply don't deserve it.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Tandy Gossett

[ATLBrave]

What a ******* moron. If I could find this ******* bigot's email, I'd send him a nice long rant. Pass it along if you know it or find it please.

[GENERALZOD]

WOW!!!! It's one thing to criticize a NFL team, it's another thing altogether to go after the Fans and a city for having opinions and then post a judgmental conclusion like this.

Last time I checked to be optimistic, doubtful, questioning the front office and team players and decisions was called being a fan who cares. Losing is not an option, it should be questioned.

As for not deserving to win, that's your typical ANTI-FALCON reporter, nothing really new there.

Unlike most I laughed at this reporters opinion, he's a joke and should be laughed at for posting such garbage.

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tandy Gossett]

I actually think that Arthur Blank should sue him for defamation of character.

I know that would make this idiot feel like his opinion actually matters. This should be brought to Mr. Blank's attention.

I wish I was in Anonymous I would show this idiot how "Country" I really am.

Sad that there is still people that think the South is full of idiots still. It's funny that Southern food is the most popular food ATM, and TV shows have all started to move down south, and as a matter of fact the Movie industry has moved to Atlanta because it's so good.

[slamee101]

Who is he? I refuse to click the link since it seems like more attention w h o r e journalism.

[Karst41]

We all fight and argue with each other, because we are entitled to.

But this guy presents no arguments between us because we will

all agree that he is a first class A-Hole.

[Aftermath]

"Worse is the lack of passion the fans showed after an epic Braves collapse this season. Looking like a shoo-in most of the season, the Braves, who were 8½ games up in the National League wild-card race to start September, gave up their postseason spot on the last night of the season."

He is obviously not a Braves fan, most of us braves fans saw the collapse coming and were neither shocked nor outraged, we had spent the entire season preparing for it.

[jfalconsp]

Nothing but a waste of space, dude needs to go play in traffic. And that's exactly what I told him. I'm passionate as f u c k about my Falcons and to say our city doesn't deserve a championship is ridiculous.

Dude's a controversial f u c k, check his wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Parker_(sports_journalist)

[slamee101]

Rob Parker??? Bwahahahaha. He's trying to be the next Whitlock or Bayless...I usually avoid First Take anyway but absolutely do when it him vs. Skip.

[GENERALZOD]

Who is he? I refuse to click the link since it seems like more attention w h o r e journalism.

He's on ESPN's first take a lot, he's just trying to act like skip brainless bayless trying to create some controversy. Sounds like a narcissistic review on his behalf to tell you the truth, he's just wanting attention.

[Karst41]

Time for some Chips and Salsa Pace Picante.

NEW YORK CITY !

Good Lawd somebody call Gene Autry.

[Carl927]

I'd tell him to go **** himself, but I think he's done that already.

[birdz4i]

lol for people getting upset for something that is well known. atl has been in the top 5 worst fan bases for a while, yet someone in the media mentions it and everyone is pissed like someone pissed in their cheerios.

[Lord Sarcomere]

How did this guy even get hired...

[TheFatboi]

Obviously this guy hasn't been to Atlanta since the 60's. We all know what time our birds are playing and where. My only issue with our fans is how quick we throw our players and/or coaches under the bus and then love them seconds later but there's plenty enough fans to start a fight with if that's what he wants. lol. There's Falcons fans from my dads generation that talk s h i t about the Falcons all the time because they endured so many let downs but they still have a burning desire for us to win the hardware. The Blank era is a new day and we will rise up. So F U guy that writes with his a s s!!

[Durrtay]

I actually think that Arthur Blank should sue him for defamation of character.

I know that would make this idiot feel like his opinion actually matters. This should be brought to Mr. Blank's attention.

I wish I was in Anonymous I would show this idiot how "Country" I really am.

Sad that there is still people that think the South is full of idiots still. It's funny that Southern food is the most popular food ATM, and TV shows have all started to move down south, and as a matter of fact the Movie industry has moved to Atlanta because it's so good.

dude i was working at papa johns right next to the grocery store where they filmed the store scene in zombieland... there was sooooooooo many cops lol

[Hocus_Pocus]

lol for people getting upset for something that is well known. atl has been in the top 5 worst fan bases for a while, yet someone in the media mentions it and everyone is pissed like someone pissed in their cheerios.

The city may be considered a bad sports town, but to say that we don't deserve to win a playoff game? He can go **** himself.