Remember, you heard it here first.
In fact, I mentioned it a couple of columns ago when I said this Falcons team reminds me of the 1991 Braves. No one knows that Braves team better than I do, since I covered them for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that year, missing only four regular-season games and writing more than 1,000 stories on them including a best-selling book (“Miracle Season”).
And the way the Falcons won Sunday’s game against Chicago reminded me of those worst-to-first Braves, who lost to Minnesota in seven games in one of the greatest World Series matchups ever. So, while the Falcons are 4-2, tied for first in the division and in the thick of the wild-card race, let’s have some fun and compare the two teams.
THE OWNERS: Back then, Ted Turner owned the Braves and, like Arthur Blank of the Falcons, built his billions from scratch. Now, Arthur is a much better dresser and drives a fancier car, while Turner loved suits from Sears and always drove American. But they both have great vision and surround themselves with good people. Interestingly, by ’91, Turner had turned over the franchise to president Stan Kasten and become the team’s biggest fan. Blank also appears to be loosening his grip on management, letting general manager Thomas Dimitroff come in and put his touch on the team. While we have seen Arthur on the sidelines at the ends of games, we haven’t heard a lot from him in the media this season. And although there is no doubt he is still in full charge of the team, Blank is letting others drive the car.
THE GENERAL MANAGERS: John Schuerholz was in his first year as the Braves GM in ’91, coming over from Kansas City where he had tremendous success in a small market, building a World Series winner. The first thing Schuerholz did was come over and change the attitude of the club to a winning one, which was followed closely by dumping baggage such as shortstop Andres Thomas. He also brought in key free agents like Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream and Rafael Belliard, all three of whom were instrumental in that great season. Dimitroff, while not having the experience Schuerholz had then, also has brought in a winning attitude from New England, dumping problems like DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams and adding valuable pieces, like free agents Michael Turner and Jason Elam and first-round draft pick quarterback Matt Ryan. All three have played key roles in the start.
THE COACHES: The comparisons here are uncanny. Bobby Cox was in his first full season back in the dugout in six years, quickly gaining the respect of his players while not getting too close to them. Cox also did a good job of giving everyone a chance to get on the field, giving young players such as Brian Hunter, David Justice, Steve Avery and others a chance to play early. Mike Smith has done the same for the Falcons, needing to go young as much as Cox did back then. Smith doesn’t pal around with his players but he shows them the ultimate respect and, like the Braves did for Cox, they play hard for him. Cox also had a very hands-on staff, similar to what Smith has put together with the Falcons. The best comparison I can make, knowing both of them, is that they both do a good job of diverting praise toward their players and not allowing their criticisms to go public.
THE QUARTERBACKS: The quarterback then for the Braves was Pendleton, who both on and off the field ran the show. But where Pendleton gave the Braves the most-excluding the fact that he was the National League MVP that season-was his production in tough situations late in games. He was there when the Braves needed it most and his double to deep center late in Game 7 of the World Series would have given the Braves a world title if not for the fact that Lonnie Smith was deked at second base. Ryan, despite being a rookie whereas Pendleton was towards the end of his career, shows that same coolness, and his throw Sunday to get the Falcons in position to kick the game-winning field goal has to be one of the best pressure passes in recent team history.
THE POWER MEN: The Braves had two of them in Ron Gant and David Justice, and both gave the team the power they needed to score in bunches. Interestingly, Gant was built very much like Falcons tailback Michael Turner, who continues to drive the team into good field position and set up scores. Gant and Justice were young at the time and gave the Braves a great power nucleus to work from. The same can be said for Turner who, at 26, is in the first year of a six-year contract.
THE DEFENSIVE STOPPER: It’s weird to compare a 5-foot-6, 150-pound player to a guy that is 6-foot-4, 266 pounds, but here we do just that. At shortstop, the smaller Belliard saved the Braves time and time again, getting to one ball after another while really solidifying an infield that was made up of Pendleton at third, Mark Lemke at second and Bream at first. For the Falcons, it has been big John Abraham, who is leading the NFL in sacks with seven and continues to make one big play after another.
THE BIG-PLAY GUYS: In addition to Pendleton, it was John Smoltz for the Braves who had an incredible second half and was really the reason the Braves won the division, as they fought the Dodgers down to the final day of the regular season. Also that season, Otis Nixon gave them the speed they so desperately needed. For the Falcons, perhaps the biggest game-breaker has been Roddy White, who is second in the league in receiving yards with 566 in six games. Throw running back Jerious Norwood and his speed in there as well. There are other comparisons, such as the fact that the Braves had young players like Jeff Blauser and Lemke step up while Michael Jenkins and Jonathan Babineaux are doing it for the Falcons.
What the Braves achieved was one of the greatest sports stories in some time, while the Falcons have played only six games. But at the same time, it all came together for a baseball team that had struggled for so many years. And for the Falcons, it seems only fair that, with all they went through last year off the field with Michael Vick and their head coach, things fall right for them this year and perhaps they get a break or two.
And that might be the best comparison.
Rosenberg can be reached at 404-256-1572 or ijrosenberg@scoreatl.com.
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