ATL Sports: Why is Atlanta a bad sports town?

[The Falcon Jedi]

Georgia Sports 3:15 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2012

ATL's record: 154 seasons, one championship

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pro sports will crown another champion Sunday night, and once again Atlanta will be left out of the celebration.

So what else is new, right?

Since big-league sports migrated here in 1966, Atlanta teams have finished 154 seasons — 46 in the NFL, 46 in Major League Baseball, 43 in the NBA and 19 in the NHL — and won just one ultimate championship.

If you’re counting — and we did — that puts Atlanta near the cellar in terms of big-league championships won by a city in that time period.

Twenty-four cities have won more NBA, MLB, NBA and NHL titles during that time than Atlanta, a list led by the two metropolises that will be represented when the Giants and Patriots play in Super Bowl XLVI.

The New York metropolitan area, with nine teams spread across the four leagues, has claimed 23 championships since 1966, including nine World Series titles (seven by the Yankees and two by the Mets) and four Super Bowl wins (three by the Giants and one by the Jets).

And Boston has won 17 titles, including nine NBA championships by the Celtics and three Super Bowl wins by the Patriots. Just in the past 10 years, Boston teams have won seven championships — three Super Bowls by the Patriots, two World Series by the Red Sox and one title apiece by the Celtics and Bruins.

Atlanta’s lone championship, of course, came 17 years ago, when the Braves won the 1995 World Series over Cleveland.

Speaking of Cleveland: Of the cities that have won fewer championships than Atlanta over the past 46 years, which is to say cities that have won none, only Cleveland has had teams in all four major-league sports. (Although, it should be noted, Cleveland’s NHL franchise, the long-forgotten Barons, lasted only two seasons in the late 1970s.)

Other than the Braves’ 1990s run, which included World Series losses in ’91, ’92, ’96 and ’99, Atlanta has had only one team play for its sport’s ultimate championship: the 1998 Falcons, who lost the Super Bowl to Denver.

The Hawks have not reached the NBA finals since moving here from St. Louis in 1968. And the Flames and Thrashers, Atlanta’s departed NHL teams, lasted eight and 11 seasons here, respectively, without reaching the Stanley Cup finals — and, in the Thrashers’ case, without winning a playoff game.

[The Falcon Jedi]

Fact is: You dont Win - you Lose. And Atlanta fans are tired of Losing.

[Paprika Neck]

We suck at sports

[Paprika Neck]

Fun fact sometimes I pee sitting down so I can make posts, this one for example

[ggp]

There are probably several reasons why Atlantans do not support their teams as well as, say NYC. In my opinion, the biggest factor is a lack of love for the city. Most so called Atlantans actually live far from the city and avoid it. The flight to the suburbs left the city will little money and even less appeal. So, Atlantans do not feel a shared sense of loyalty. Everyone is into his or her own thing and very little of it has to do with enjoying and being proud of your home.

In places like NYC, Philly, NE and Chicago, people have a very strong attachment to their neighborhoods. They see each neighborhood as an integral part of the city and that binds the entire population. That is why Chicago's teams can suck for decades and still draw a loyal crowd. It is about coming together and enjoying the experience.

Sure, winning is a big factor, but winning never lasts. Loyalty, a sense of belonging and pride last much longer and sports are the most visible way for cities to show such devotion.

[pauliwood]

Someone must have forgotten about Georgia Tech's 4 national championships, bringing Atlanta's total to 5, not 1

[phocis850]

College sports are more celebrated in the South East. That wont change.

Atlanta has some good teams but they seem to collapse under pressure.

[Paprika Neck]

(02-05-2012 02:56 PM)pauliwood Wrote:  Someone must have forgotten about Georgia Tech's 4 national championships, bringing Atlanta's total to 5, not 1

professional championships are the only thing that matter to a city.

[Jesus]

Pro sports are all fixed.


Damn Russian mob

[[cHaOs]]

I must thank the Thrashers for giving up Ilya Kovalchuk though.