The Falcons always do an exceptional job lending a community-minded hand and 11th-year linebacker Keith Brooking is no exception. In fact, for his admirable work in the community, Brooking is up for The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP award. It is the second year in a row a Falcon has been nominated for a league-wide community award (Warrick Dunn won last year while with the Falcons). Brooking, a former Falcons Man of the Year, works in the community through The Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation. His work has awarded more than $300,000 in grants since February 2004.
Keeping in the giving theme, the Atlanta Falcons have again partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and will host the FalCan Food Drive on Sunday, Nov. 16 prior to the team’s home contest with the Denver Broncos. All proceeds from the food drive benefit the Atlanta Community Food Band and its more than 800 partner agencies serving families in need.
Overlooked in the Thrashers’ recent hot streak on the ice has been the extended hot streak of Chicago Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, who was recently named the Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month for October. Pavelec played in every minute of the month for the Thrashers’ Triple-A affiliate, going 5-3-1 in nine games with a 1.54 goals-against average, a .947 save percentage and two shutouts. Pavelec, 21, is in only his second professional season.
According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com, Matt Ryan and Curtis Lofton are both among the league’s top rookies, as each made Brandt’s midseason All-Rookie Team posted last week. For Ryan, Brandt pointed out his eight starts, 1,668 passing yards and passer rating of 85.4. As for Lofton, Brandt noted that the Oklahoma product had started every game at the time while recording 44 tackles and one sack.
BRAVES NOTES
In what is looking to be an all-important offseason for the “rebuilding” Atlanta Braves, the organization took an important step last week in ensuring their management department is properly equipped and in good hands. The Braves hired Dominic “Dom” Chiti to serve as a special assistant to general manager Frank Wren. Wren, in only his second season as the team’s GM, announced the decision last Friday. Chiti, 49, spent the last six seasons with the Texas Rangers, including the last three as their Major League bullpen coach.
Despite the team’s disappointing season, two Braves players were recently nominated for postseason awards. Third baseman Chipper Jones is up for MLB.com’s This Year In Baseball award for Best Hitter after hitting .364 in 2008 with 22 homers and 75 RBIs. For the award, Jones will compete with the likes of Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard. Joining Jones as a potential TYIB award winner is rookie pitcher Jair Jurrjens, who had a 3.68 ERA in 2008 while striking out 139 batters and posting a 13-10 record. Fans can vote for players on MLB.com up until Dec. 5.
LOOK AROUND
The recent election of our nation’s first African American president has provided Americans with yet another source of pride. In the college football coaching ranks, however, African Americans are moving backwards, as the current number of black coaches in college football is the lowest it has been in 15 years. With the recent dismissals of Ty Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State, the number of black head coaches in the 119-school NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision has been reduced to four. In 1997, there were a record eight black head coaches in Division I college football, while in 1993 there were only three.
The world’s top-ranked tennis player may be sidelined for his sport’s most prestigious team tournament, as tendonitis in Rafael Nadal’s right knee may prevent the Spanish star from competing in Spain’s Davis Cup final against Argentina. Nadal has spent the last week undergoing treatment in preparation for the finale, which Spain will host on an indoor hard court from Nov. 21-23. Spain defeated the United States 4-1 in the semifinals, though, without Nadal, is considered an underdog to win its third Davis Cup trophy in eight years.
Janovitz can be reached at sjanovitz@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
