Atlanta Sports News From The Weekend: Feb 8-10
We know the weekends are a busy time, and you might not get a chance to keep up with your Atlanta sports news like you want. Well, don’t worry, we got you covered. Here is a look at what you might have missed over the weekend.
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Braves do away with their “Screaming Indian” logo on the batting practice hats, keeping with the tradition ‘A’. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsHawks Drop Game vs. Hornets
Atlanta Hawks Josh Smith scored a team high 23 points Friday night against the Hornets, but it wasn’t enough as the Hawks lost the game 111-100. Teague also scored 21 for the Hawks, while Gordon lead the scoring for New Orleans with 27.
Hawks Hopeful For Lou Williams’s Return For Camp
After a successful reconstructive knee surgery, the Hawks are optimistic that guard Lou Williams is will be ready to go by the time training camp rolls around. Williams had surgery on Thursday to fix an injury he suffered against Brooklyn on January 18.
Josh Smith Trade Rumors Heat Up
According to reports, the Brooklyn Nets, who only are separated from the Atlanta Hawks by one game in the standings, have entered the market for Josh Smith, joining Phoenix and the LA Clippers as the teams pushing the hardest for the Hawks’ forward
Teague Honored By Skills Challenge Invitation
The Hawks may not have had anyone selected to represent them in Sunday’s All Star game, but they won’t be without representation during the All Star Weekend as guard Jeff Teague was selected to participate in the Skills Challenge on Saturday. Teague said it was an “honor” to be selected, and will represent the Eastern Conference along with the 76ers’ Jrue Holiday and the Pistons’ Brandon Knight. The Western Conference will be represented by the Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard, the Rockets’ Jeremy Lin and the Spurs’ Tony Parker.
Atlanta Braves
Braves Do Away With Screaming Indian Logo
The Atlanta Braves announced that their batting practice hats, which were originally supposed to feature the ‘Screaming Indian’ logo, will be replaced by hats with the “A” logo. This comes after some pressure from interest groups for the braves to replace the logo, due to its offensive nature towards Native-Americans.
Atlanta Manager Gonzalez is Excited About This Team
Atlanta Braves manager Freddi Gonzalez announced Friday that he was “more excited than I’ve ever been going into a season.” The Braves picked up both Upton Brothers, and sured up an already solid bullpen over the off-season.
Chipper Jones Visits Winthrop
500 people attended Winthrop University’s First Pitch Dinner on Sunday to hear former Brave Chipper Jones speak. He charmed the crown in Rock Hill, SC with stories of playing the AAA team Charlotte Knights in nearby Charlotte, NC.
Atlanta Falcons
Tukunbo Abinikanda Promoted to Area Scout
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Saturday that former scouting assistant Tukunbo Abinikanda will be promoted to area scout. He is now responsible to scout and evaluate players from a specific area of the nation, which will be determined at a later date.
Atlanta Mayor Reed Announces Change In Stadium Financing Policy
After much controversy over the way the talks about the financing for a new stadium for the Falcons have been hidden from the public, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed promised on Friday that there will be a much bigger effort to be more transparent and to answer the public’s questions concerning details of the financing.
Atlanta Dream
Dream Re-sign McCoughtry
The Atlanta Dream announced on Friday they have re-signed WNBA’s reigning scoring leader Angel McCoughtry. The terms of the deal are yet to be announced, but it is a multi-year contract. McCoughtry was suspended for undisclosed team violations last season.
Atlanta Silverbacks
Silverbacks Strengthen Roster
The Atlanta Silverbacks signed a trio of what coach Haynes calls “very talented players”. Defender Mark Brown, midfielder Pablo Cruz, and forward Jahbari Willis will be dawning Silverbacks’ jerseys when the season starts in two months, pending the approval of the USSF. Both Cruz and Willis played in a handful of games for the Silverbacks last season. They also added midfielder Richie Menjiver from the El Salvador national team.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech Men Beat Hokies By Ten
The Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team (13-9, 3-7) went up to Blacksburg, VA and came away with a ten point victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies (11-12, 2-9), 64-54. Georgia Tech held a 37-18 lead at the half over a Hokies team that missed 20 of their first 23 shots. Marcus Georges-Hunt and Kammeon Holsey led the way in scoring and rebounds for Georgia Tech, both with 13 and 9 (Robert Carter Jr. also had 9 rebounds).
Georgia Tech Softball Beats Coastal in Five to Complete Tournament Sweep
The Lady Jackets (5-0, 0-0) beat (my) Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers (2-3, 0-0) 11-3 in five innings in their final game of the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational on Sunday. Georgia Tech jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, including two homeruns off of Chanticleer starter Ashley Bagwell in the first two innings. Georgia Tech had beaten Coastal 2-1 and Missouri State 8-7 on Saturday, after blowing our Butler and Eastern Michigan on Friday.
A Historic Day for Tech Women Ends In Disappointment
The Georgia Tech women (10-13, 3-9) took to the hard court against ACC foe Virginia Tech (8-14, 2-9), only to come away with a heart wrenching 63-61 loss. Junior Tyaunna Marshall scored 15 to break into the top ten all-time scoring list for the Jackets and Sophomore Sydney Wallace hit two threes to put herself tied for tenth in three points made in school history.
Other Results
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team (2-4) dropped a match to rival Georgia (4-1) on Friday 1-5. The men’s golf team finished fourth at the Amer Ari Invitational. The track and field team placed first in five events in the Samford Invite on Saturday, as Broderick Snoddy shattered his own school record in the 60-meter dash (6.67 seconds). This was their final tune-up before the ACC tournament starts February 21.
Georgia State Panthers
Panthers’ MBB Take Towson to OT; Lose 90-82
Georgia State took Towson to overtime before coming up just short Saturday afternoon, losing the game 90-82. Manny Atkins scored a career high 26 points for the Panthers (12-14, 7-6) including seven straight points for GSU in the closing minutes. Devonta White contributed 22 points to the cause, including tying the game at 77 with two free-throws with a second left in regulation.
GSU Women Get Trounced By Hofstra
GSU (11-11,3-8) struggled from the opening tip against Hofstra (11-11, 7-4) on Sunday, making only 4 of their first 20 shots, and had 22 turnovers in route to a 72-59 loss. Panther’s point guard Ashley Watson scored a career high 20 points in the losing effort.
Softball Goes 1-3 In Bulldog Kick-Off
The GSU softball team split a double header on Friday, losing to Troy 5-3 before beating Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 10-9, and then got knocked off twice on Saturday, first by Mississippi State 9-1 in five innings, then shutout by South Alabama 8-0 in six. They had two games cancelled on Sunday to the weather.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham Staying
Georgia Bulldogs’ football team received good news on Friday as their defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who was at the center of many coaching change rumors over the past month, announced that he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the defensive coordinator position for the New Orleans Saints. “Georgia is a great place, my family loves it here, and I do as well,” said Grantham. “This is where our heart is.”
Bulldogs Beat Aggies In Defensive Battle
Georgia’s men’s basketball team (12-11, 6-4) took on the Texas A&M Aggies (14-9, 4-6) on Saturday in what coach Mark Fox called a “physical” game and a “slug-fest.” They walked away winners in the low scoring affair, with a 52-46 victory, to extend their winning streak to five games, the Bulldogs’ longest SEC winning streak since 2001. Georgia was paced by Sophomore Nemanja Djursic’s 13 points.
9th Ranked Lady’s Team Upset By LSU
The Lady Bulldogs (20-4, 8-3) went into Sunday’s game against LSU (14-10, 5-6) ranked ninth in the country, only to be sent home with a disappointing 62-54 loss. Georgia trailed by only one with 1:57 left in the game, but LSU went on a 9-2 to put it away, and complete the upset. Jasmine Hassell scored a team high 18 points and had a career high 12 rebounds for the ‘Dawgs in the losing effort.