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The Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama face off Monday night in the College Football Playoff Championship game in downtown Atlanta. The game pits the No. 1 and No. 3 teams, both from the SEC, for all the marbles.
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, Jan. 8
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN, but can be streamed at WatchESPN.
It's been 38 years since @FootballUGA won a national championship. Will the Dawgs be crowned champions tomorrow?#GoDawgs || #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/jAZSCmkSBJ
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) January 7, 2018
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As if the College Football Playoff Championships couldn’t get any more surreal, at the press conference for the title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Alabama Coach Nick Saban talked music.
Bama faces Georgia for all the marbles on Monday night in downtown ATL, but that didn’t stop the West Virginia native from getting into other things besides the gridiron when asked by reporters.
Saban made it clear that he’s an old-school coach who reps the music of yesteryear, which he clearly believes was a special time in pop culture.
Nick Saban on the music that moves his soul. pic.twitter.com/qvow5BitZY
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) January 6, 2018
Here’s what the coach said: “I have four favorites on a DVD in my car, all right? Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and Elton John. Now, for all you young’ns — see, one good things about my age is we grew up in a pop culture that no one else will ever have the opportunity to live through, from Elvis Presley all the way through hard rock, Motown, all the way through, soft rock, all that. So I lived all that, so I enjoy all that. And even though my son is 31 years old, he plays guitar. He plays all the stuff (from) when I was going to college. So that’s just proof in the pudding to me that they don’t make them like they used to.”
Fans in Alabama know how much of a fan Saban is of old-school music. In December, a local radio station debuted called Nick 97.5, a homage to the Alabama football coach.
“He is a big fan of the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac and a lot of artists from the ’70s and ’80s,” David DuBose, market president and chief revenue officer for Townsquare Media, told AL.com. “We thought this was a great way to honor Coach.”
Saban’s penchant for soft rock probably means he won’t be enjoying the free Kendrick Lamar concert Monday night a few blocks away from the Merc-Benz Stadium.
To show that we’re good sports, here’s a little something more Saban’s speed.
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It wasn’t pretty, it was beautiful. The Atlanta Falcons put together another solid defensive effort down the stretch, this time to beat the Los Angeles Rams on their home turf for a 26-13 victory.
The crucial playoff victory, catapults the Falcons deeper into the playoffs and puts the rest of the NFC on notice: The Dirty Birds are back.
Quarterback Matt Ryan turned in a workman-like day while defensive stars such as Deion Jones and Desmond Trufant shut down the Rams’ high-flying running and passing attack. While the ground was giving way underneath neither team could get much going early in the game.
Hey ATL! @RockoRocky & @Takk have a message for you!#InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/HftfBybLsE
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 7, 2018
But the Falcons’ first big break came midway through the first quarter when the Rams muffed a punt and the Falcons recoverd. The mistake would lead to a 3-0 lead, the first of four field goals by veteran Falcon Matt Bryant.
Matty Ice’s 218 yards was not much by his standards, but he did a great job of getting the ball to Julio Jones (nine catches for 94 yards).
We’re not here just to get here,” quarterback Matt Ryan told reporters after the game. “We want to make noise while we’re here.”
Hello, WorlAtlanta Falcons NFC Championship Gear!
With less than 11 minutes to play and the Falcons holding on to a precarious 19-13 lead, a short screen pass to Mohammed Sanu rumbled for 51 yards, setting up the Falcons’ last field goal and making the score unsurmountable for the Rams.
#MattyIce❄️ throws a RAINBOW to Julio Jones!!!#InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/MginclPOVI
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 7, 2018
it’s official that the rest of the NFL does not want to see these Falcons in January, especially this defense, which is suffocating when it needs to be and impenatrable when it has to be.
“Our defense has played really well this season, particularly in the last six to eight weeks. For our defense to do that against the Rams was special,” Ryan was quoted as saying.
Now, the Philadelphia Eagles are next on the docket.
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A downtrodden East Atlanta apartment complex is about to be transformed, courtesy of an $18-million renovation, AtlantaFi has learned.
The Edgewood Apartments, located at 1572 Hardee St. SE, is being spruced up as part of a city of Atlanta plan to retain affordable housing. The renovation work will be done by Jonathan Rose Companies, in tandem with Columbia Residential, according to Curbed Atlanta.
Atlanta leaders, including former Mayor Kasim Reed, have long stressed that affordable housing would be the linchpin to a successful and thriving city. But wholesale changes to the city’s landscape, such as the Beltline and the torrid pace of commercial redevelopment, has boosted rents across the region.
While there is no firm word on when construction will start, work is expected to be done well into 2019.
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One of the the oldest arts organization in the United States is partnering with the Atlanta Beltline to add more community representation to the project, according to the AJC.
The collaboration between the National Black Arts Festival and Atlanta Beltline stems from the need to highlight art in the city’s neighborhoods. Joining forces, the two entities believe they can reach more artists and better reflect Atlanta’s diverse interconnected communities.
Known in Atlanta and internationally for its annual festival, the NBAF offers local, national and international artists an exposure they can’t achieve on their own. Add the Beltline’s arts initiative and you have a winner.
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Exit stage left for music acts and welcome wrestling! NXT wrestling tapings will begin taping this week in Midtown Atlanta’s Center Stage. The popular weekly WWE Network program is et to begin taping Thursday, Jan. 4, Thursday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 2, 2018.
Center Stage is no stranger to wrestling. High-profile bouts of NWA and WCW Saturday Night have been held there featuring ring legends such as Lex Luger and Sting.
While not as well known to Atlantans, the stars of NXT are going to be seen and heard a lot more around Atlanta. They include: NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas, Mae Young Classic winner Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon, SAnitY, The Undisputed ERA, Johnny Gargano, Roderick Strong and more battle inside the squared circle.*
@WWEDozovic and I are ready to show Atlanta why we're the future of @WWENXT
Best believe we will run through anyone who gets in our way.#NXTAwardFutureStar pic.twitter.com/IUEdM18fOo
— Tucker Knight (@TuckerKnightWWE) January 4, 2018
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Two Atlanta sports legends are getting the recognition they deserve later this month, it was announced Thursday. Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and longtime Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson are both going to be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame.
The honors will happen on Saturday, January 27 at the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery Atlanta. The tandem will bring to 33 the number of greats in the Braves Hall of Fame.
Hudson played in the Mayor Leagues for 17 years, joining Atlanta from the Oakland Athletics in a December 2004 trade. In his nine seasons in Atlanta, he accumulated 113 wins and a 3.56 ERA in 244 games, the Braves said.
Simpson, now in his 27th season as a Braves broadcaster, is a former player who starred in stints at several ballclubs, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and California Angels. Starting his playing career in 1973, he retired after the 1984 season.
Eleven years later, in 1995, he was named “Georgia Sports Broadcaster of the Year.”
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Alabama and Georgia fans will be hit with a feast of the senses when they visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. For many, the College Football Championship on Monday, Jan. 8 will be the entree to a smorgasbord of experiences, including grade A restaturants, in the new venue.
No doubt, fans will want to try Kevin Gillespie’s Gamechanger, located in the 200 concourse Western end zone of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Favorites there include the “Closed on Sunday” chicken sandwich, the pork shoulder “French dip,” smoked cheddar cheese steaks, fries and adult slushies.
Henri’s Bakery & Café puts football-sIf you can’t make the game, there are several eateries around the city that will be offering football fare. Here are several of them.
Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland will have game-time grub, a large beer selection and of course, plenty of TVs.
HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern locations in Midtown and Brookhaven will be game-ready as well with fan-centric fare, creative cocktails and cool craft brews. The Brookhaven location has even added a large-screen TV.
Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown will be catering to fans withseveral flat screen plasma TVs, booze and classic dishes to choose from.
Ormsby’s on the Westside will stay open until 3 a.m. for after-game festivities.Ray’s in the City will be rolling out the red carpet for game fans, including a choice selection of hand-cut steaks, made-to-order sushi and fresh seafood from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Reservations: 404-524-9224.
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, January 8, 2018
Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia -
Atlanta Mayor-designate Keisha Lance Bottoms was sworn in Tuesday in an emotional ceremony that saw the wife and mother vow to uplift the city and continue its deliberate path to greatness.
“I am committed to working with City Council to resolve issues surrounding property deeds to the Atlanta Public Schools & land on the Morris Brown campus,” Lance Bottoms told the crowd, which was filled with many who look like her.
“It is imperative that we be united, so we can move forward and take the next great step in our collective future. Now is the time to put aside race and division and geography and politics, and invest in becoming #OneAtlanta.”
Yesterday was incredibly special to me. Being sworn in as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta was one of the happiest moments of my life. Here is a look back at my inauguration speech. pic.twitter.com/zvb7kFlake
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) January 3, 2018
The inauguration was streamed live on the city of Atlanta’s website so that any who wished could see the star-studded event. Outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed spoke, as did former Mayor Andrew Young.
Lance Bottoms seemed overwhelmed with emotion at times as she reflected on her place in local and national history. “Standing here today as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta is the proudest moment of my life. I want to thank all of Atlanta and each and every one of you here today for your support, your encouragement and your faith in me.”
She promised to work with regional leaders to help improve the lot of all Atlantans and pledged to create a citywide Children’s College Savings account for each child entering kindergarten in the Atlanta Public Schools. She also said that she would appoint a Chief Education Officer on her staff to make sure the city’s youngest residents were a priority.
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Local news anchor Amanda Davis’ impact was felt far beyond metro Atlanta, where she warmly served court among the region’s viewers for nearly 30 years. On Tuesday, many of her colleagues, many of them whom Davis paved the way for, paid tribute to the CBS 46 broadcaster by donning a red outfit.
Read: Amanda Davis hospitalized after massive stroke
Davis, 62, was at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport last week when she suffered a spontaneous massive stroke while waiting for a flight to go to San Antonio.
Davis was about to board a flight to attend the funeral of her stepfather in San Antonio, according to news accounts.
On social media, especially Twitter, newswomen showed up to work in red to call attention to stroke awareness — and Davis’ legacy.
“Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. About 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. #RedForAmanda #StrokeAwareness,” one Twitter user posted.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. About 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. #RedForAmanda #StrokeAwareness pic.twitter.com/9QnIkn5H45
— Candace S. Coleman (@candacescoleman) January 2, 2018
Wearing #RedforAmanda and #StrokeAwareness in honor of late Atlanta news anchor, Amanda Davis.
*Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
*64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. pic.twitter.com/TgLSaq0xq0
— Jazmin Bailey (@JazminMBailey) January 2, 2018
According to CBS46, Davis has been at WAGA-TV for 26 years. “She has received numerous honors and awards during her career, including: RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award, ten Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, Georgia Association of Broadcasters Gabby Award and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists Pioneer of the Year Award.”
Today is public viewing for @AmandaCBS46 @Cityofatlanta news anchor, who died suddenly of a stroke
Nationwide, black female journalists wearing #RedforAmanda❤&raising #StrokeAwareness
Know @American_Heart signs
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911 pic.twitter.com/SrjcFJHpYl— Beairshelle Edmé (@BeairshelleWNCN) January 2, 2018
A public viewing is set for Tuesday while a funeral will be Wednesday in Cascade.