PTSD: Titletown, USA
The Georgia Bulldogs did it!
In an outcome that I personally never saw happening, Georgia was able to defeat Alabama earlier this week to win the college football championship. Unless you cheer for Alabama, I’m sure everyone was cheering for Georgia to emerge victorious, but I’m still in shock that it actually happened. This marks the second time ever, and second time this season, that Alabama head coach Nick Saban has lost against one of his former assistant coaches. I think it’s a turning of the tide, no pun intended.
Georgia was able to capitalize on a great 2nd half and an even better fourth quarter to close out the defending champion Alabama team on Monday. Georgia benefitted from Alabama’s loss of their two best wide receivers, but Alabama was thoroughly outplayed and would’ve lost by even more if they didn’t overturn a scoop and score in the first quarter. Despite this loss Alabama is still a college football powerhouse and will be as long as Thanos, I mean Saban, remains their coach. However, it does put a few chinks in their armor to lose to a Georgia team that they thoroughly beat in Atlanta in December.
The Bulldogs’ win marks the 4th championship for the state of Georgia in the last 5 years. The Georgia Swarm kicked us off with their lacrosse championship in 2017, Atlanta United added more hardware the following year, and as previously mentioned the Atlanta Barves were able to secure their first World Series victory since 1995 in October. I’ve never seen such momentum among Georgia sports teams since I moved here in 2008. There are two championship infinity stones remaining for Georgia to continue its path to becoming Titletown, USA but I don’t have much faith for this to take place.
The Atlanta Falcons finished 7–10 and limped across the finish line, losing at home to a New Orleans Saints team that has struggled to find its identity after the retirement of Drew Brees. To make matters worse, the Falcons best receiver Calvin Ridley has stepped away from the sport entirely to focus on his mental health with no timetable in place for his return. Everyone knows the Falcons have no defense, but now their offense is beginning to run on fumes as well. It’s not looking too good for Arthur Blank’s organization.
In the stadium next door, the Atlanta Hawks took one of the most unexpected playoff runs in NBA history and have proceeded to flush all of that goodwill immediately down the toilet. This season has seen a Hawks team that alternates between being Covid-stricken and injury-riddled, and now the Hawks seem intent on making some drastic changes to the lineup to right the ship. News broke yesterday that the Hawks have shipped Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks in exchange for Kevin Knox and a draft pick, but an even bigger trade rumor refuses to go away. Allegedly, the Hawks are hellbent on trading away John Collins to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons. BEN SIMMONS! UGH!
I’m hoping that the Hawks come to their senses and find a way to keep Collins and the young core that all recently signed contract extensions. I’m hoping that Nate McMillan turns around their season, and I’m giving them until next month’s All-Star Game to start to show signs of life before I give up on this NBA season. And I’m hoping that Blank ends up developing an affinity for the United Kingdom and decides to move the Falcons to London full time. It’s our only hope at reaching our Titletown dreams.
Either that or angels in the end zone.
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