How Braves second basemen Tommy La Stella took the path less traveled to the bigs
After the recent one-game suspension of Dan Uggla, it seems safe to declare that Tommy La Stella will frequent Fredi Gonzalez’s starting lineup for the rest of 2014 and possibly beyond. The 25-year-old has performed serviceably, hitting .292 in 154 at-bats—a welcome jump in production from the .189 average that other Braves second basemen have collectively hit this season.
7 slightly random, mostly Atlanta-centric facts to help you enjoy the World Cup final
Drinking beer, singing songs, spilling said beer while shouting “Gooooal!,” and singing more songs, it all comes to an end with Sunday’s World Cup 2014 final between Germany and Argentina. Will Germany score seven goals again, as they did against tear-stained Brazil? Will Messi turn all the pressure into diamonds with seven goals of his own? In what has been a zany World Cup, not even Nate Silver has the answers.
Who is casting All-Star votes for Justin Upton?
What do a supermodel and an evangelical political strategist have in common? How about a legendary half of Outkast and our hometown burrito chain? They all support Atlanta Brave Justin Upton's All-Star bid. Oh, so does BJ Upton, in case you wondered.
Q&A: Chris Conley, UGA football player, Star Wars fan film creator
His middle initial, "R," may as well stand for “Renaissance Man.” After leading the Dawgs in receptions last season, Christian Conley decided to lead his campus in the production of a Star Wars fan film, titled Retribution. And according to his Twitter bio, he’s also a lover of Christ and aspiring writer. Plus, he can carry a tune quite better than most. I think the only thing this guy doesn’t do is wear jorts. “Yeah, I wouldn’t be caught in those,” he said when we talked about the surprise response to his film.
Mayor Reed is hosting a World Cup viewing party and you are invited
The other day I was in Manuel’s Tavern, the iconic Atlanta bar best known for hosting election night watch parties. The staff discussed last week’s U.S. versus Germany game, and the unexpected throngs who showed up to watch. “None of us really know soccer,” said owner Brian Maloof. “But obviously people loved it.”
The role of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce in luring the Braves away from Atlanta
It would be difficult to overstate the role the Cobb Chamber, a 2,500-member business organization, played in bringing the Braves to Cobb, whether as public cheerleaders or private decision-makers.
The connection between UGA turf and the World Cup
Team USA is not favored to survive its placement in the “Group of Death” in the World Cup—pitted with Germany, Portugal, and Ghana. But, as the global soccer spectacle prepares to, ahem, kick off tomorrow, rest assured that at least one Made in America product will last—the turf on which the matches are played.
Cobb stadium dissenters finally got a chance to speak
The TV news cameras rolled. The newspaper writers hovered over their laptops. On Tuesday morning, two weeks after being escorted kicking and screaming from the Cobb County Commission chambers, the opposition to the Braves stadium finally was to have its day to address the commissioners. Three dissenters showed up.
A look at Craig Kimbrel’s career highlights thus far
In the last three seasons, Craig Kimbrel has redefined the notion of pitching dominance, striking out hitters at rates never seen before. Along the way, he has collected saves with an efficiency similar to that of Braves legend John Smoltz. This past weekend, Kimbrel equaled Smoltzie’s career total of 154 saves, a franchise record.
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