We are at the time of this writing a half hour away from the start of the Atlanta Hawks shortest play-off run in their history. I have heard all the predictions of a Hawks sweep and frankly I have no argument with anyone who says that Kevin Garnett and Co. will quickly dismantle the young Hawks team. There is also no doubt that the Hawks will fire their coach. Right now, Mike Woodson who has led the team to four straight seasons of increased win totals is getting ready to coach his last four games. He and the GM, Billy Knight, who were once close friends now do not even talk to each other. Woodson could have been fired earlier in the year had it not been averted by the in-fighting between the ownership group, the GM, and Woodson himself. If the Hawks were a more storied franchise they would be compared to the Oakland Raiders in regards to their dysfunction. The fact that the Hawks have just made the play-offs for the first time in ten years and no one knows who actually owns the team or who makes any decisions beyond which strip club to go to after the game makes them comparable to let's say...the Falcons. The Hawks appear to be on the rise. Good young players being balanced by good veteran leadership (Johnson and Bibby). That is where the rise ends. The coach will be gone in about four games. The GM probably will be gone too. Their young players will realize that they can go to strip clubs and make more money anywhere else. The Hawks again will have no money (so they say) to spend on a free agent and this year they will not have two lottery picks. And let me ask this: If you were a high priced free agent would you come to Atlanta? Yes, I know Atlanta has the Gold Club, but still would you even think about coming to join this mess? I have made my point. The ownership will continue to battle in court for control. All in all it is a dumpster fire full of toxic waste. It is very sad though because if the team were willing and able they could nurture this team into a more formidable force in a weak conference in the next few years. Now, Hawks fans like myself will endure the embarrassment of being mauled on national television. I wonder what the ratings will be like for the Hawks games? Well, since they are playing the Celtics the ratings will probably be good. If they were playing the Raptors the games would probably be televised only on Versus. Now for your Zito-Jones update!!
BARRY ZITO
Barry made it six innings against St. Louis, but gave up three earned runs, five hits, and five walks in another loss. Currently, starting pitchers pitch six or fewer innings 66% of the time. So this is par for the course for someone who makes more than the GDP of Poland.
W-L: 0-4 ERA: 4.50 SO: 8
ANDRUW JONES
Andruw hit his first home run of the season in Atlanta of all places. Craig James laid a big fat ball up in the zone for him to hit. Frankly, tee-ball players should be able to get a home run off a pitch that bad. Andruw teased us this week by going on a five game hitting streak until taking the big dog collar today. He still has twice as many strike outs as hits.
AVG.: .169 HR: 1 RBI: 3
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