Atlanta Sports(cont.)
Atlanta, GA(cont.) -
The Falcons were the 15th Franchise to be awarded from the National Football League. June 30, 1965 will forever be etched into the minds of the citizens of Atlanta as the day the Falcons came home to roost! A contest was held to provide the nickname for the team and a school teacher came up with the "Falcons." Her description best suited what the football team would turn out to be for Atlanta... 'The Falcon is proud and dignified, with great courage and fight. It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has a great sporting tradition."
This team's sporting tradition has led it to a NFC Western Division Championship in 1980; six pro-bowl stars including: Steve Bartkowski, William Andrews, and Tommy Nobis, and 1998 NFC Champions. The 1998 season took them to their first ever Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. Miami was the hot spot as the Falcons took on the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII. Even though the Falcons weren't victorious, the final outcome was a dream season that neither the players or the fans will ever forget!!!
The 60's represented many things to many different people, but to the people of Atlanta, it meant the arrival of the City's pride and joy... The Atlanta Braves baseball team, The Atlanta Falcons football team and The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team.
The Hawks moved from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968 and with them came Atlanta's first taste of NBA action. A great team deserves an awesome stadium, and that's just what they got. The Omni Coliseum would serve as the home of the Hawks for 26 seasons until it's demolition in 1997."
Among the Hawks many accomplishments was the 1987 exhibition game in the Soviet Union; Atlanta's very own became the first NBA team ever to compete there. Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens became the NBA's all time "winningest" coach with 939 wins in 1995 and as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Wilkins was named one of the top 10 coaches in history!
With spectacular coaching comes spectacular players: Bob Pettit , Lou Hudson, Dominique Wilkins and, more recently, Dikembe Mutombo.
The Hawks will soon be racking up victories in The Philips Arena. Once completed, this state-of-the-art arena will be worth $213 million. More than 20,000 fans will pile into Philips Arena with its opening in the fall of 1999 and alleyoop their Hawks to a Championship Season!
But the Hawks aren't the only team that will be enjoying the Philips Arena. The Atlanta Thrashers will share the attention, as Atlanta's own hockey franchise. Since their arrival as the newest team to join professional sports in Atlanta, The Thrashers have caused quite a commotion while preparing to kick off their inaugural season with the 1999-2000 NHL Regular Season. Hockey fans everywhere will soon get a taste of hockey . . . "Southern Style!"
Georgia Tech calls Atlanta home and offers awesome Yellow jacket action! With heavenly hoops, a frightening football team and dangerous diamond action, Georgia Tech will drive fans wild!
So . . . if you're looking for some excitement and fun, you've come to the right place. Atlanta combines southern hospitality with fierce competition as it serves up a hearty portion of heart-pounding excitement with the Falcons, Thrashers, Hawks, the Braves and college sports!
