Georgia sports roundup--Wed, Dec. 31st

Bowl games for Georgia Tech/Georgia--

Georgia Tech's Yellow Jackets look to wrap a successful season under first-year head coach Paul Johnson with a win in tonight's Chick-Fil-A Bowl from Atlanta. Tech is aiming for its first 10-win season since 1998. Johnson earlier this month earned ACC Coach of the Year honors. Tech, ranked 14th in the nation, will face LSU in the bowl game tonight from the Georgia Dome.

Georgia's Bulldogs put their #16 ranking on the field in Orlando tomorrow afternoon for the Capital One Bowl matchup against Michigan State. The Bulldogs began the season with ultra-high expectations, ranked as a preseason #1. Georgia fans will wonder if this will be the final game for quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno, who both might consider leaving school for the NFL Draft.

Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons are deep in preparation for their first NFL playoff game in four years, this Saturday afternoon in Phoneix against the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, an honor for rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. The first-year QB earned Associated Press honors as Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Boston College product helped lead the Falcons to an 11-5 regular season record, following a dismal 2007 for the franchise.

Georgia sports for Monday, September 15th

Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons suffered their first loss of the season, falling 24-9 on the road at Tampa Bay Sunday afternoon. The Buccaneers built a 17-0 lead in the game, helped by a pair of interceptions thrown by Falcons' rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. After a tough 1st-half passing in which he went 3-for-15, Ryan rebounded with his 2nd-half passing numbers: 10-for-18. Tampa was able to stifle the Atlanta-running attack, holding Michael Turner to only 42 yards. A week ago, Turner set an Atlanta single-game rushing mark with 220 yards. The Falcons are 1-1 through 2 games--they'll host Kansas City next Sunday.

**Breaking--Monday morning: Falcons' veteran safety Lawyer Malloy was booked on charges of DUI and speeding early Monday morning. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Malloy was booked into the Gwinnett County jail around 4:30 this morning. He reportedly posted bond in the 9am hour. Falcons' head coach Mike Smith is expected to address the situation in his regularly scheduled afternoon news conference.

College football weekend--

The weekend past saw wins for Georgia and Georgia Southern, while Georgia Tech lost their game on the road. The Georgia Bulldogs did enough to win 14-7 at South Carolina in the SEC-opener for both schools. Depsite the victory to improve to 3-0, Georgia fell to a #3 national ranking.

In other games, Georgia Tech was a 20-17 loser on the road at Virginia Tech. The Yellow Jackets suffered their first defeat under head coach Paul Johnson to drop their record to 2-1. Georgia Southern improved their early-season record to 2-1 with a win over Northeastern in Statesboro Saturday.

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves completed their weekend in New York with a comeback 7-4 win over the Mets Sunday afternoon. Trailing 4-2 in the 9th inning, Greg Norton blasted a 3-run homer to turn the game, stunning the Mets. The series marked the Braves' last visit to Shea Stadium.

Georgia sports for Monday, September 8th

Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons began their new era with a bang in posting a 34-21 season-opening victory over the Detroit Lions inside the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon. The win marked a successful debut for new head coach Mike Smith, and spotlighted strong performances from new Falcons. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's first pass of his career was a 62-yard strike to receiver Michael Jenkins on Atlanta's first offensive series and thrid play. Ryan was 9-of-13 passing for 161 yards and the touchdown. The bigger headline however, probably came from offseason signee Michael Turner--he rolled up 220 rushing yards, setting a new team record. The mark passed the old record held by Gerald Riggs--202 yards in a 1984 game. The Falcons' 318 rushing yards was a team record for a single game. The Falcons next week travel to Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves were 7-4 losers in 14 innings to the Washington Nationals Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.

Georgia sports for Monday, August 25th

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves wrapped a 6-game road trip with only a single victory--that came Saturday night in St. Louis. Sunday, the weekend series in St. Louis concluded with a 6-3 Cardinals' win. The Braves had no answer for St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, who had 8 hits in 11 at-bats in the series, including 2 home runs. Braves' manager Bobby Cox called it a "terrible road trip", as the Braves' pitching staff posted a 7.66 ERA over the 6-game span that included a stop in New York against the Mets.

The lead for Braves' 3rd-baseman Chipper Jones in the National League batting race has shrunk to a single percentage point. Jones holds the .359 batting average edge, to now only .358 for the Cardinals' Pujols.

Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons have made their decision for a starting quarterback for the season--rookie Matt Ryan. The team's top pick and #3 overall selection in this April's NFL Draft will get the call for game #1 of the season on September 7th, when the Falcons host Detroit. The former Boston College star completed 15 of 21 passes for 102 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the Falcons' preseason win over Tennessee Friday. The Falcons' final preseason tuneup is Thursday night at Baltimore.

Georgia sports for Wednesday, August 20th

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves opened their road trip with a frustrating 7-3 loss to the Mets in New York. Atlanta held a 3-2 lead in the 8th inning, only to allow the Mets to score 5 runs that frame and turn the contest.

Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons play their third preseason game this Friday against the Tennesee Titans. The focus will fall on Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan, who's expected to get the start at quarterback.

Georgia sports for Friday, August 15th

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves lost again to the Cubs 11-7 last night, and it completed a Chicago-sweep in the 3-game series. Tom Glavine’s return to the mound for the first time in two months did not go well, allowing 7 hits and 7 runs in 4 innings of work. There was good news however from the offense, and a rarity: centerfielder Mark Kotsay became only the second Atlanta Brave to hit for the cycle--a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. The triple came first, and the double was the last of the four--in the 7th inning. The feat is only the fifth for a Brave in franchise history since 1900.

Atlanta Falcons--

From the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons play their second preseason game tomorrow night inside the Georgia Dome against the Indianapolis Colts. Rookie QB Matt Ryan is expected to get playing time.

Georgia sports for Monday, August 11th

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves wrapped their road trip out West with a 6-1 loss at Arizona Sunday afternoon. For the 7-game swing, the Braves won 4, including 3-of-4 in Phoneix against the Diamondbacks--leaders of the NL-West division. It was not the good day for pitcher Mike Hampton, who was rocked for 5 hits and 6 runs in only 4 innings of work. The Braves' offense was held in check by Arizona-starter Brandon Webb in his 6 innings on the hill. Veteran 3rd-baseman Chipper Jones returned to the lineup from the disabled list with 4 hits in 10 at-bats. His major league leading average stands at .370. The Braves have today off before opening a home-series against the Chicago Cubs.

Braves/Skip Caray--

The Braves, along with family and friends, will attend this afternoon'e memorial service for Skip Caray. A week ago Sunday the longtime Braves broadcaster died at his Atlanta home. Tomorrow morning, a tribute event is planned for fans at Turner Field, followed by a pre-game ceremony before Tuesday's game.

Atlanta Falcons/pre-season--

The Falcons on Saturday night lost 20-17 at Jacksonville in their opening game of the preseason. But there were kudos for the team's top draft pick, quarterback Matt Ryan. The thrid overall selection in this April's NFL Draft showed well in his first pro action, leading the team on an 11-play touchdown drive.

Georgia sports for Wednesday, May 21st

Atlanta Braves--

A good day for the Braves at home in Turner Field yesterday, posting a doubleheader sweep of the New York Mets by the finals of 6-1 and 6-2. In the opening 6-1 daytime victory, Tom Glavine earned his 2nd pitching win in his last 2 outings. Offensive support came from catcher Brian McCann, who knocked a 2-run homer. In the 6-2 nightcap win, Jorge Campillo came out of the bullpen to get the pitching start, and gave the Braves a strong effort with 3 hits scattered and 7 strikeouts across 6 innings. Offense included a Mark Kotsay 2-run home run, and 2-run triple from Kelly Johnson. The Braves improved to a major-league best 18-5 record at home, and moved into a 2nd-place tie with Philidelphia in the NL-East division, only a game-and-a-half out of first.

NFL-Atlanta Falcons--

From the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons have signed their 1st round draft pick. Quarterback Matt Ryan, selected number-3 overall in the NFL Draft, inked a 6-year/72-million dollar contract. Over 34-milllion dollars of the deal is guaranteed.