The Blue Workhorse

A lot of interesting stuff took place in Philips Arena on Saturday night as not only an NBA game took place but there was an NBA doubleheader: Pat Riley fell to 0-4 in doubleheaders, Shawn Marion technically played and lost for two different teams on the same day, and the Miami Heat are still really bad at basketball.

When all was said and done, the result of the replayed game was the same, Joe Johnson just scored three less points as no one scored in the replay, which lasted approximately two minutes. The Hawks were triumphant 114-111.

The first clear signal Spring Training has begun in earnest for the Atlanta Braves organization has arrived: Mike Hampton is injured once again.

The lefty hurler, who once went 22-4 in 1999 with the Houston Astros but hasn’t thrown in a regular season game since 2005, left abruptly in the second inning of today’s game against the Detroit Tigers (his second outing of the spring).

Last season, the New York Metropolitans collapsed at the end of the season allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to take their first division title since 1993. The Atlanta Braves, the former requisite 1st place team in the NL East, also appear to be back in the running after two consecutive seasons finishing in third. However, each team appears to have some weaknesses whether it is age, pitching, injury issues, or a combination of possible calamities. Then there are the up-and-eventually-coming Washington Nationals and then…the woeful Florida Marlins.

The Atlanta Falcons have released Joey Harrington, the third overall pick from the 2002 draft who starred at the University of Oregon prior to learning that football isn’t easy. Coming off a season in which he threw for 2,215 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 12 games (including 10 starts), Harrington will be forced to seek for a new team for the fourth consecutive off-season.

Harrington and #1 overall pick David Carr are the posterboys for what is likely one of the poorest quarterback classes in NFL Draft history. Along with Harrington and Carr, Patrick Ramsey also fits the bill as a first round draft bust from the 2002 draft class.

The writing was on the wall…but I didn’t want to read what had been written.

On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons signed free agent running back Michael Turner to a six year contract worth a reported $34.5 million dollars, and with young, electric back Jerious Norwood under contract for the next two seasons for less than a million dollars total, it became painstakingly evident.

On Monday, it became official — next season Warrick Dunn will not be in a Falcons’ uniform.

While there are only a few days where there is significant player movement, the impact these few days have on a franchise is magnanimous. If an owner and/or general manager aren’t able to woo any talented free agents, the franchise is likely to struggle.

With so much at stake for franchises, several players across the league pursued new contracts, and possibly new homes, all whilst teams tried to lure in talent to fill as much necessities as possible before the April 26-27 draft. Since Thursday, several players have made a move on the market including CB Asante Samuels (Eagles), DE Justin Smith (49ers), RB Michael Turner (Falcons), TE Alge Crumpler (Titans), OL Alan Faneca (Jets), and wide receivers Donte Stallworth (Browns), Issac Bruce (49ers), Bernard Berrian (Vikings) and Jerry Porter (Jaguars).

“Sex, drugs and high rollers. A former prostitute said all three were in play during wild sex parties at an exclusive Denver social club.” (CBS4 in Denver)

Once again, professional athletes are being linked as clients in a sex scandal (see Gold Club), but this time they are even paying for the services.