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Monday, May 14, 2007
05/13/07 Reader's Choice: Sports
Best local pro athlete
Jeff Francoeur
The Lowdown: His numbers improve every year, and his raw athletic
ability could have taken him to the NFL had he chosen to go that route.
But he chose baseba...
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SPORTS
Best local pro athlete
Jeff Francoeur
The Lowdown: His numbers improve every year, and his raw athletic ability could have taken him to the NFL had he chosen to go that route. But he chose baseball and is now the future of the Braves. And don’t be surprised when he becomes our starting center fielder next year after Andruw Jones bolts for the big bucks. You heard it here first.
Best local college athlete
Matthew Stafford
The Lowdown: As a UGA freshman last season, Stafford won over coach Mark Richt and the rest of Bulldog nation, emerging as the starting quarterback over Joe Cox and Joe Tereshinski III. Bottom line, he was cool and calculating when it counted, and looked like he belonged. How long until the sophomore season kicks off?
Best local high school athlete
Alicia Manning
The Lowdown: Heading into her senior year at Etowah High School (in Woodstock), the 6-foot-1-inch do-it-all forward is ranked sixth in the nation on scout.com and has verbally committed to Pat Summit and the Tennessee Volunteers. We’re proud to call her Georgian.
Best local pro coach
Bobby Cox
The Lowdown: Not only is he the best local pro coach, he’s MLB’s best manager, period. In nearly two decades, Cox has produced a World Series title, five NLCS titles, and 14 consecutive division titles for the Braves. Currently, he’s ranked fifth all-time in wins—just as the Braves seem poised to have their best season in several years.
Best local high school coach
Troy Baker
The Lowdown:
As the manager of the Eagle’s Landing High School baseball team in Henry County, Baker has groomed many young kids into über-promising prospects, such as Matt Murton, who now plays
for the Cubs.
Best local college coach
Mark Richt
The Lowdown: Entering his seventh season as head football coach at UGA, Richt has put the Bulldogs back on the map in the SEC as perennial championship contenders. In his tenure at the top, Richt has led the Dogs to two SEC titles and four consecutive top-10 finishes between 2002 and 2005, going 61-17 along the way.
Best local pro team
The Braves
The Lowdown: Say what you will about their skill in the postseason, year in and year out, the Braves are legitimate contenders. And this season is no different. With a revamped bullpen and a healthy Chipper Jones, the team is looking to start another string of division titles—and add another World Series title while they’re at it.
Best local college team
UGA Bulldogs, Football
The Lowdown: A timely pick—this year, the Dawgs have the talent to make some national championship noise. To go along with SP readers’ choice Stafford (as best local college athlete), the Dawgs now have Caleb King, one of the state’s premier recruits,
in the backfield.
Best local high school team
Parkview Panthers, football
The Lowdown: For decades, this Gwinnett County high school has put elite athletic programs on the field to compete on the highest state level, Region 8-AAAAA. The Panthers dominate high school football—but they’re just as strong in soccer, baseball and golf. You name it, they own it.
Best local mascot
UGA VI
The Lowdown: The current lovable UGA mascot is entering his ninth season at the helm—er, in the doghouse. That means he’s cheered the Bulldogs to two SEC championships since taking over from his father, UGA V, former Sports Illustrated cover dog.
Best bowling alley
300 Atlanta
The Lowdown: Glow-in-the-dark miniature golf? Yep, bowling is just the beginning at 300 Atlanta. A full bar and restaurant, darts, video games, pool tables, high-def big screens with surround sound—it’s not so much a bowling alley as a happening.
The BASICS: 2175 Savoy Drive, Atlanta, 30341, 770-451-7320, www.3hundred.com.
Best public golf course
Stone Mountain Golf Club
The Lowdown: With two championship courses (Stonemont and Lakemont), Stone Mountain Golf Club provides the perfect challenge for any skill level, a trained PGA professional staff and
a professionally merchandised golf shop. Not to mention a historic, scenic backdrop that’s simply to die for. Long lunch, anyone?
The BASICS: 1145 Stonewall Jackson Drive, Stone Mountain, 30083, 770-465-3278, www.stonemountaingolf.com.
Best private golf course
Augusta National Golf Club
The Lowdown: Was there really another golf course to consider other than Augusta National? This course is host of golf’s Super Bowl, the Masters, where the best golfers from around the world come to stake their claim to fame in the sport’s history. It’s also known as Tiger Woods’ second home!
The BASICS: 2604 Washington Road, Augusta, 30904, 706-667-6700, www.masters.org.
Best tennis courts
Glenlake Tennis Center
The Lowdown: Nestled in the lush greenery behind historic Decatur Cemetery, these hard courts are in rock-solid condition, the players are friendly and the staff is helpful. Only problem? The secret is now officially out.
The BASICS: 1121 Church St., Decatur, 30030, 404-377-7231.
Best sports venue
Turner Field
The Lowdown: Formerly an Olympic stadium (in 1996), the Ted has become one of the country’s premier baseball parks, complete with the Coca-Cola Sky Field and the Chophouse. Not to mention those Braves. Is there a better way to spend a cool spring evening in the Big Peach?
The BASICS: 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, 30315, 404-614-2311 (for tours), www.braves.com.
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