Author | Daniel Wright |
Decade. Review. Every year, sports teams will go back and make a compilation of the best play or goals or home runs or touchdowns of the season. Well, at the end of a decade, it seems only right to make a compilation of the best Georgia sporting moments of the past ten years.
9. Land of the Free, Home of the Braves
SunTrust Park opens, 2017
In late March of 2017, the Atlanta Braves opened a brand new stadium. SunTrust (now Truist) Park opened up to replace the beloved Turner Field. Fans were optimistic about a new version of the Braves, a better version of the Braves. Following a rough 2017, Braves Nation was rewarded with this latest version. The rejuvenated Braves have since won two consecutive NL East titles and, both years made it to the NL Division Series.
8. Welcome to the Billion Dollar Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Opens, 2017
In late 2017, Arthur Blank opened his new stadium. "The Benz" (as it is lovingly called by fans), stands 305 feet tall and can hold 70,000, expandable to over 75,000 with standing room tickets sold. The largest crowd to ever appear at The Benz was a total of 73,019 people at MLS Cup 2018. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is considered the most technologically advanced stadium in the world, with a 62,000 square foot halo board jumbotron. This stadium has brought much attention to Atlanta through both the Falcons and Atlanta United. It has hosted the Super Bowl and will be hosting the Final Four this April.
7. Rise Up to the Super Bowl
The Falcons Get to the Super Bowl, 2017
Every Falcons fan remembers it. A glorious time when the Falcons were the best of the NFC. In late January of 2017, the Falcons played host to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. The Falcons controlled the game the entire time. They eventually won 44-21. Punching their ticket to Super Bowl LI.
6. United and Conquered
Atlanta United Plays Its First Game, 2017
March 5, 2017. That is a day that Atlanta United supporters will never forget. On that day, the Five Stripes started a new era of sports in Atlanta. They faced off with the New York Red Bulls in front of over 55,000 people at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. While they lost 2-1, this game started a soccer frenzy in the A-Town that does not seem to be leaving anytime soon.
5. Get Out Ball! Get Out Ball! GRAND SLAM!
Ronald Acuna Jr. becomes the youngest player to hit a Grand Slam in the MLB Postseason, 2018
On October 7, 2018, down two games to one, Ronald Acuna Jr. stepped up to bat. It was the bottom of the second inning, and the Braves help a 1-0 lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With bases loaded, two outs, and the count 3-0, Acuna watched ball four pass him. As he started towards first base, the umpire called it a strike. On the very next pitch, Acuna made history. At the ripe old age of 20, Acuna became the youngest player in MLB history to hit a postseason grand slam. The ball drove in four runs to put the Braves up 5-0 and essentially win them the game. The ball left Acuna's bat at 109 MPH before traveling over 400 feet and being caught by a young fan in the outfield.
4. Glory, Glory to ‘ol Georgia
UGA Plays in the National Championship Game in Atlanta, 2018
While this game didn't end well for the Georgia Bulldogs, it was not only great for the program, but it was good for the city of Atlanta. It was great for Georgia's football program because they did what they were aiming to do: make it to the National Championship. Now, they didn't win (they lost in overtime 26-23), but their success has made UGA a desirable place to play. It was also good for Atlanta because it brought more business to the city. It only added to the 51 million tourists that come to ATL every year.
3. Living in the Hall of Fame
Chipper Jones is Inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, 2018
When he retired, everyone knew that Atlanta Braves career player Chipper Jones would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Chipper played for the Braves from 1995 until he retired in 2012. He had a career batting average of .303 (meaning 30.3% of his at-bats ended with an on-base hit), with 8984 at-bats, 1623 RBI, and 468 home runs. Chipper had 2726 hits over his career and never had a season batting average under .248, with his career-high coming in 2008 at .364. Chipper Jones is one of the greatest Braves players ever and rivals Adrian Beltre and Alex Rodriguez as the best 3rd Baseman of the past 20 years.
2. “Duke, I am your father.”
The Mercer Bears Knock Duke out of the NCAA Tournament, 2014
During the second round of the 2014 NCAA Basketball Tournament, the 14th ranked Mercer Bears were pitted against #3, who was no other than the Duke Blue Devils. As we all know, when it comes to basketball, Duke is an absolute powerhouse. Well, on an exciting night in March of 2014, Duke fell to the lowly. The Blue Devils were heavy favorites going into that game. They were 27-9 with an average of almost 79 points per game scored and only 67.4 points allowed per game. Mercer had nearly identical season stats, but they had played weaker teams all season. The Bears came out on top, with a final score of 78-71, knocking Duke out of the tournament in only the second round. To cap it all off, Mercer started selling these awesome Star Wars parody shirts.
1. The Cup Called, We Answered
Atlanta United Wins MLS Cup, 2018
People are going to try to say that this isn't the state's most significant sporting moment of the decade. Well, here is the reason for this. The Five Stripes brought the first league championship trophy to the state since the Braves won the World Series in the '90s. The Falcons couldn't do it in 2017. Georgia choked at the last minute and couldn't do it in 2017. Atlanta United dominated throughout the playoffs and brought a trophy to the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Something that we have been longing for since the '90s. Also, in MLS Cup 2018, Atlanta United set both the league attendance record and the playoff attendance record with over 73,000 rowdy, proud fans cheering on the Five Stripes. Atlanta United beat the Portland Timbers 2-0 to bring the Cup to Atlanta in only its second season.
Make sure to check out my article on MLS Cup 2018 here.
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