Cover story: The 2009 World Football Challenge is coming to the Georgia Dome, bringing Atlanta its second big-time, international soccer match this summer. Josh Bagriansky discusses how this major event came to Atlanta and talks about the future of international soccer competition in Atlanta.
In this issue: I.J. Rosenberg discusses Jeff Francoeur’s departure from the Braves after a year and a half of struggles at the plate. Francoeur, he writes, still had a lot of potential and could have turned it around in Atlanta. … In our weekly recruiting column, Scott Janovitz recaps Sunday’s edition of The Official Visit, Score Atlanta’s all-recruiting radio show, which airs every Sunday on 790 The Zone. … Braves beat writer Fletcher Proctor warns fans not to expect too much too soon from Tommy Hanson, despite his brilliant start. … Hawks beat writer Scott Janovitz breaks down the team’s offseason so far, as well as the decisions the team has yet to make.