Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sports
Baseball takes center stage … sort of
The Buzz: What's moving and shaking in the world of sports
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
The Yankees’ Derek Jeter
Football season, as you may have noticed, is well underway. But with the World Series set to begin this week, baseball steps to the forefront. Or will it? Philadelphia’s five-game victory over Tampa Bay in 2008 drew record-low television ratings (down 17 percent from the previous low). The Phillies are attempting to become the first repeat World Series winner since the Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000. And it’s fitting that New York, aiming for its 27th title, looks to be standing in Philly’s way at press time. The question for Braves fans, who saw their team win exactly one playoff series in the decade about to close: Who do you root for? The hated division rival, with their obnoxious fans and pesky winning ways, or the loathed Bronx Bombers, with their obnoxious fans and unjust $208 million payroll?
Highlight Factory opens
Sure, the Hawks need more in the front court to be a legitimate NBA championship contender, but at least they’ve got a new second road uniform. Whee! The team u
nveils its new duds today (Sunday, Oct. 25) at a “Paint the Town" event at Atlantic Station. Festivities begin at noon with the entire Hawks roster of players and coaches on-hand for a free autograph session. The new season tips off Wednesday night as Indiana visits Philips Arena. The Hawks’ centers are undersized (Al Horford) or unathletic (Zaza Pachulia), and in a conference that features very good front courts in Boston, Cleveland and Orlando, this team must step it up inside after being
the eighth-worst rebounding team a year ago. That’s where Josh Smith (below), whose offensive and defensive boards numbers were down last season, comes in: He’s got to end his affair with the three-point line and develop a strong passion for the glass.