Henry “Hank” Aaron was a tender soul away from the baseball diamond. But on the field, he was an incomparable lion that instilled fear in opposing pitchers.
Aaron passed away on January 22, 2021 in Atlanta. He was 86. While Aaron’s legacy is secure, we are left with his indelible record in Major League Baseball as well as many words of wisdom he shared along the way.
Let’s take a look at some of the wise words Aaron left with us as a testament to a life well lived and graciously played.
While we remember these endearing words, let’s also recall the principles that Aaron lived by, including honor, respect and integrity.
Aaron once replied to a letter from a fan way back from his Milwaukee Braves days. Author Sandy Tolan relates:
“It is very heart warming to know that you are in my corner. I will always be grateful for the interest you have shown in me. As the so called count down’ begins, please be assured I will try to live up to the expectations of my friends.”
Here’s Aaron in a heated conversation with Monte Irvin about whether MLB has been fair to African-American players.
“I don’t care if anybody believes me or not, as long as a breath is in my body, someone has to show me they’re going after a Black manager, they can have Black people working in the front office, they can have a Black trainer, I’ll say then that baseball has been fair to Blacks.”
“I remember many times as a little boy growing up that the Ku Klux Klan would come marching down the street, for no reason at all,” Aaron said in a 2010 MLB Network interview. “My mother would tell me, ‘Son, go hide under the bed.’
While Aaron was pursuing the homerun record, he shared with the Greensboro News & Record some choice thoughts on coaching legend Dean Smith.
When I was going after the record, the questions were always coming at me. ‘When are you going to break it?’ ‘Are you going to break it next week?’ ‘Will you break it tonight?’
“How would I know? You just have to try to be patient. I kept answering that I didn’t know, if not tonight, then tomorrow night, or next week, or next season.
Aaron was a beloved figure for most of America, but the constant racist threats, especially as he narrowed Babe Ruth’s homerun lead in the 1970s, left a bitter taste in his mouth. Here’s what he said about that, according to ESPN.
“If I was white, all America would be proud of me,” Aaron said almost a year before he passed Ruth. “But I am Black.”
The city of Atlanta as well as the state continue to express condolences for the loss of “Hammerin’ Hank.”
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a written statement. “This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta. While the world knew him as ‘Hammering Hank Aaron’ because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family.”
Baseball legend Hank Aaron passed away the morning of Thursday, January 22, 2021. He was 86 years old.
A private funeral will be held at Friendship Baptist Church Wednesday at 1 p.m. Local TV stations will stream the memorial service.
Aaron, one of the most iconic players in Major League Baseball history, started his career in the Negro Leagues before making his Major League team, the Milwaukee Braves.
The 23-year-old was a force of nature. Shy and reserved from a small town, Aaron didn’t give interviews in the early years of his career.
In 1958, he took the Braves one game short of a championship. By that time, Aaron’s confidence was brimming.
“I felt extremely proud that I knew all the pitches like the back of my hand, and so I thought any time that I wanted to when I walked up to the plate that I could hit the ball as hard as I wanted to or could hit it out of the ballpark,” he once said.
Playing for nearly two decades, Aaron would rewrite the history books to become one of the most prolific hitters of all time.
The night he broke the homerun record in Atlanta-Fulton Stadium — smashing his 715th — remains one of the most electric feats in all of sports.
His record as the homerun king continues to stand in the MLB pantheon. His offensive prowess is unparalleled. Aaron holds many offensive records. He is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least 15 times.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Aaron always engendered himself to regular folks and never hobnobbed with the elite.
But despite his success, Aaron said he spent years suffering racially motivated death threats and ridicule from opposing fans and people intent at hating him.
Aaron said the years of abuse took a toll on him.
“I never thought that playing baseball would bring out so many negative and bigoted thoughts in people’s minds. I thought that they would be behind me 100%, but that was not the case,” he said.
Even on the fateful night he broke Babe Ruth’s homerun record, indicative of the racial climate at the time, his bodyguards had instructed the ushers to turn to face the crowd rather than the field during his record-breaking feat.
He spent his latter years as a vice president of the Atlanta Braves, his hometown team.
Funeral arrangements have been confirmed. He was to be laid to rest in a private ceremony on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 in a humble Baptist church.
Around Atlanta, the state and baseball world, condolences poured in for Aaron, a true son of the South.
“This is a considerable loss for the entire city of Atlanta,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement. “While the world knew him as ‘Hammering Hank Aaron’ because of his incredible, record-setting baseball career, he was a cornerstone of our village, graciously and freely joining Mrs. Aaron in giving their presence and resources toward making our city a better place. As an adopted son of Atlanta, Mr. Aaron was part of the fabric that helped place Atlanta on the world stage. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with the Aaron family.”
The Atlanta Braves also released a statement, commenting on the gentle nature that Aaron always displayed.
“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of our beloved Hank,” Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk said. “He was a beacon for our organization first as a player, then with player development, and always with our community efforts. His incredible talent and resolve helped him achieve the highest accomplishments, yet he never lost his humble nature. Henry Louis Aaron wasn’t just our icon, but one across Major League Baseball and around the world. His success on the diamond was matched only by his business accomplishments off the field and capped by his extraordinary philanthropic efforts.
Former Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn wrote an emotional letter to Atlanta just days after he was let go. He especially shouts out the players and the Falcons organization.
To almost no surprise, Quinn was fired hours after his team’s fifth loss of the 2020 season, which dropped the Falcons to 0-5.
In the letter, which is posted on AtlantaFalcons.com, Quinn says:
“I will miss so many things, but none more than the men in the locker room. From pro bowlers to practice squad players, it was an honor to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with you and be a part of your lives on and off the field.”
The former star defensive coordinator got the job because of the staunch Super Bowl-winning defense he built in Seattle. But he was never ever to replicate their success in Atlanta.
The closest Atlanta got was a historic collapse three years ago after surrendering a 25-3 lead to the New England Patriots.
Here is Quinn’s letter in its entirety.
To the city of Atlanta,
How fortunate am I that I close this chapter the very same way I opened it – with gratitude.
Being the Head Coach of your Atlanta Falcons has been the privilege of a lifetime. I can’t express my appreciation enough to Arthur Blank for the opportunity to represent this organization for the past six seasons. It truly has been my family. My wife Stacey and I will forever be grateful for every single person in this organization who made our lives better and fuller.
I will miss so many things, but none more than the men in the locker room. From pro bowlers to practice squad players, it was an honor to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with you and be a part of your lives on and off the field.
Finally, to the people of Atlanta and Falcons fans everywhere. I can’t thank you enough for making this Jersey boy feel right at home. I know there are great things ahead for this team and I’ll continue to root like hell for them, and for you. I hope I represented your team with the grace and character you deserve.
In Brotherhood,
DQ
The Falcons have appointed former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as interim head coach for the final 11 games. if Morris can show some substantial improvements across several facets, including winning games, he has a shot at the permanent position.
The Falcons are an organization that has never had the elite talent it has now, especially at wideout in Julio Jones. Although much of their history has been subpar, the recent decade with quarterback Matt Ryan at the helm has been among their most glorious.
Increasingly, Ryan has become the subject of trade rumors as some see the quarterback more valuable to other teams at this point.
Relationship with head coach Kyle Shanahan ✅
Year-to-year contract situation with Jimmy G. ✅@foxworth24 and @DanGrazianoESPN both think Matt Ryan to the 49ers makes a lot of sense. pic.twitter.com/Plg1Mszl4E
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 14, 2020
While they have never won a Super Bowl, they made two appearances at the end of the 1998 and 2016 seasons. The Falcons have won division titles the following years:
Will they win the division again soon? Time will only tell.
The Atlanta Falcons have fired head coach Dan Quinn and General Manager Thomas Dimitroff hours after their loss to the Carolina Panthers, the team confirmed late Sunday.
Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay will assume day-to-day operations for the ball club, which had high hopes for this season.
“Decisions like these are very difficult,” owner Authur Blank said in a written statement. “But the previous two seasons and start to this one have been especially hard for me because of the deep love, respect and admiration I and my family have for Dan, Thomas and their families.”
If you would have told Atlanta Falcons and Quinn that his team would begin the 2020 season 0-5, no doubt he would not believe it. But that’s hole the Falcons have dug for themselves.
As the season progresses, here are their remaining opponents, which will do all they can to continue the Falcons’ losing ways. Can Atlanta rebound? They have to. Let’s look at the schedule to see their chances.
The Falcons entered the season with big hopes, but coaching issues and a penchant for folding in the second half have haunted them.
| Date / Time | Opponent | Get Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. | Seattle | Get Tickets |
| Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. | AT Cowboys | Get Tickets |
| Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. | Bears | Get Tickets |
| Oct. 5 at 8:15 p.m. | At Packers (Monday Night Football) | Get Tickets |
| Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. | Panthers | Get Tickets |
| Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. | At Vikings | Get Tickets |
| Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. | Lions | Get Tickets |
| Oct. 29 at 8:20 p.m. | At Panthers (Thursday Night Football) | Get Tickets |
| Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. | Broncos | Get Tickets |
| Week 10: BYE | BYE | BYE |
| Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. | At Saints | Get Tickets |
| Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. | Raiders | Get Tickets |
| Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. | Saints | Get Tickets |
| Dec. 13 at 4:25 p.m. | At Chargers | Get Tickets |
| Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. | Buccaneers | Get Tickets |
| Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. | At Chiefs | Get Tickets |
| Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. | At Buccaneers | Get Tickets |
Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn started the season on the hot seat after failing to avenge his team’s Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots two years ago.
Criticism reached a fever pitch when the Falcons lost at the last second in Week 2 to the Dallas Cowboys. The noise got deafening after a similarly brutal collapse against the Chicago Bears.
In both games, the Falcons lead by double figures in the fourth quarter and nearly three scores at halftime. But Quinn managed to find a way to lose both games.
Atlanta rapper Quavo of Migos is the owner of football team in a new league that will commence after the NFL season concludes.
Days after the Super Bowl, an alternative to the NFL aims to keep fans excited about football. Fan Controlled Football (FCF) is the only professional sports league that enables fans to call the plays in real-time.
The FCF Season v1.0 will launch in February 2021. Quavo shot a video promoting the new league.
League play will begin with four teams stacked with pro-caliber athletes playing over a six-week schedule.
All FCF games will be live-streamed exclusively on Twitch.
“We are pushing boundaries and pioneering a new category of immersive sports that will be a seismic shift in the worlds of sport and entertainment,” said Sohrob Farudi, Co-founder and CEO of Fan Controlled Football. “Fan Controlled Football is IRL meets URL. For the first time in sports history, fans get to call the shots for their team, everything from team branding, player selection, and real-time play calling is decided by the fans. This is the future of sports and we’re excited to co-create history with the fans.”
Other FCF team owners include San Francisco player Richard Sherman, former player Marshawn Lynch and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
The Georgia Bulldogs begin the 2020 season with some major questions on an uneven playing field in more ways than one. Not only has COVID-19 severely limited the number of games, fans and everything else, but the Dawgs have some holes to fill.
If you’re looking for a place to watch UGA games, these bars have the big screen TVs and great food you need.
Last year, Georgia won the SEC East behind strong performances from the signal caller and defense. This year, the competition — an all-SEC affair — will be stiffer.
| Date | Opponent / Score | Time | Tickets Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sept. 26 | Arkansas -- 37-10 | 4 p.m. | From $78 |
| Saturday, Oct. 3 | Auburn -- 27-6 | 7:30 p.m. | From $279 |
| Saturday, Oct 10 | Tennessee -- 44-21 | 3:30 p.m. | From $197 |
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | Alabama -- 24-41 | 8 p.m. | From $303 |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Kentucky | Noon | From $125 |
| Saturday, Nov. 7 | Florida | 3:30 p.m. | |
| Saturday, Nov. 14 | Missouri | TBD | From $172 |
| Saturday, Nov. 21 | Mississippi State | TBD | From $204 |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | South Carolina | TBD | From $137 |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | Vanderbilt | TBD | From $171 |
Here is the Georgia 2020 football schedule. It opens in a PDF and you can download it o you can keep it handy.
Let’s hope Head Coach Kirby Smart can bring home a championship!
If you want to find a good spot to watch Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State and other college football, here are the best sports bars in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Falcons debuted new team uniforms on Wednesday with updated designs that build on the team’s main red and black colors.
One departure from past jerseys is that the uniforms have the word “ATL” printed on the front. Typically that’s where the actual name of the team would go, but this is groundbreaking.
The Atlanta Falcons Twitter account shared the new fits with the caption: “New day, new drip.”
New day, new drip. pic.twitter.com/Lvc74QgJgh
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 8, 2020
The jerseys add some spice to the squad’s 2020 season, which will be like no other, given the global health crisis going on.
The Falcons likely aren’t the only team with new outfits this year. It remains to be seen if any other franchises will follow suit.
Falcons Coach Dan Quinn says the team has had to adjust to the new normal by learning how to teach online. He says with the technology they have and the planning they’re putting into place, they’re learning “how to throw a hell of a virtual offseason.”
Dan Quinn said Falcons are ready to throw a hell of a virtual offseason with teaching guys online if OTAs, minicamps don’t occur. pic.twitter.com/mG5q5GnPi3
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) April 8, 2020
If you’re serious about your wellbeing and nutrition, you might want to read up on the keto diet. It is a no-sugar regimen to help you live a healthy life.
Here Some Related Articles From Atlantafi.com:
And there were some who didn’t even want Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young to even be in the NBA All Star Game. But of course, they were wrong.
Young proved them wrong not only at the game but long before it. Here’s how his All Star day went:
The 22-year-old rookie was perhaps the most busiest player in the history of All Star Weekend.
Young is the only player to play in three events on separate nights. Here’s what he accomplished:
First-time All-Star @TheTraeYoung sees his #NBAAllStar threads! pic.twitter.com/nmexRXQaDq
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 16, 2020
After he tried on his new jersey, he got a biiiig All Star introduction.
Trae Young getting introduced as an All-Star starter 🙏 pic.twitter.com/xuLNhpW1VK
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) February 17, 2020
Young had his highlight moment when he jacked it up from the logo to end the half. Of course, it was nothing but net!
TRAE YOUNG. BANG. pic.twitter.com/JZI3bdaPYm
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 17, 2020
Here’s a crazy Twitter stat from Kevin Keneely: “85 players have attempted buzzer beaters from 40+ feet away to end the first half this season, totaling 110 attempts. Of those 110 attempts, only four have gone in… Trae Young has made half of them. Young is now 2-for-2 (100%) on such buzzer-beater attempts this season.”
I’d say Young had himself a very good All Star day.
.@TheTraeYoung showed out in his All-Star Game debut, tallying 10 points and dishing 10 times
Presented by @KumhoTireUSA#TrueToAtlanta | #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/NREO43ET3a— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 17, 2020
The Atlanta United 2020 schedule features some tough soccer matches at home and away. But the MLS champs wouldn’t have it any other way.
The season’s first home match in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is on Saturday, March 7 against Cincinnati FC.
ATLUTD shocked the professional soccer world by winning the championship in just their second season in existence.
In the process, Atlanta United put the city on the map as far as soccer goes. It also redeemed the city’s professional sports fan base by bringing a title back to the ATL for the first time since 1995.
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 at 10 p.m. ET | Motagua | Olímpico Metropolitano -- San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET | Motagua | Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw |
Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2020 at 8 p.m. ET | Nashville | Nashville Stadium |
| Saturday, March 7 2020 at 7 p.m. | FC Cincinnati | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, March 14 2020 at 7 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, March 21 2020 at 3:30 p.m. | Chicago Fire | Soldier Field |
| Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 5 p.m. | FC Cincinnati | Nippert Stadium |
| Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. | Portland Timbers | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 1 p.m. | At Orlando City SC | Exploria Stadium |
| Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 3 p.m. | Real Stal Lake | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. | at Philadelphia Union | Talen Energy Stadium |
| Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 1 p.m. | at New York Red Bulls | Red Bull Arena |
| Sunday, May 24, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. ET | Inter Miami CF | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. ET | Toronto FC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 6 p.m. ET | at San Jose Earthquakes | Earthquakes Stadium |
| Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 8:30 p.m. ET | at Houston Dynamo | BBVA Stadium |
| Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 7 p.m ET. | at New York City FC | Yankee Stadium |
| Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 5:30 p.m ET. | Philadelphia Union | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 5:30 p.m ET. | at Columbus Crew SC | Mapfre Stadium |
| Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 7 p.m ET. | Montreal Impact | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, July 4, 2020 at 5 p.m ET | D.C. United | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 5 p.m ET | at New England Revolution | Gillette Stadium |
| Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 12:30 p.m ET | Seattle Sounders FC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, July 18, 2020 at 4 p.m ET | at L.A. Galaxy | Dignity Health Sports Park |
| Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 8 p.m ET | at Inter Miami CF | Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale |
| Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 3 p.m ET | New York City FC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, August 9, 2020 at 3 p.m ET | at Minnesota United FC | Allianz Field |
| Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 7:30 p.m ET | New England Revolution | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Sunday, August 16, 2020 at 3 p.m ET | Los Angeles Football Club | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Sunday, August 23, 2020 at 2:30 p.m ET | Orlando City SC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 7 p.m ET | at Montreal Impact | Stade Saputo |
| Sunday, August 30, 2020 at 6:30 p.m ET | New York Red Bulls | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday,Sept. 12, 2020 at 7:30 p.m ET | at Toronto FC | BMO Field |
| Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 at 3:30 p.m ET | Chicago Fire FC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 at 6 p.m ET | Columbus Crew SC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 at 4:30 p.m ET | at D.C. United | Audi Field |
Atlanta United matches will typically be shown on FS1, a regional sports network.
Here’s THE LINK to watch Atlanta United games.
Of course, you may want to drive or Uber or MARTA down downtown Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to attend a game for yourself. They are — without question — the hottest games in town.
Now let’s talk about how to attend a UTD game.
(Editor’s note: This is a sponsored post. Read more about our sponsored content.)
Atlanta United have prepared for the upcoming MLS season by reacquiring a familiar face recently: English right back Anton Walkes.
MLS Soccer explains how the 22-year-old defender has signed back on at the Mercedes Benz park, having been on the books of English League One side Portsmouth.
He previously played for the Five Stripes on loan back in 2017, but returned to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur, who loaned him to Portsmouth before selling him.
Portsmouth couldn’t make use of the defender as they hunted promotion from their division. His transfer has divided fans at Fratton Park.
Throughout this season, bwin states that Portsmouth have had problems at the back making Walkes’ transfer all the more baffling for some. However, journalist Mark Catlin explained how letting him leave made sense as he wanted to play regular soccer.
Portsmouth’s loss is Atlanta’s gain ahead of the new season in which they’re hoping to push on in the Eastern Conference.
Capturing Walkes represents something of a coup for Atlanta. His brief stay back in 2017 was a success and he slotted in comfortably at right back during that time. Having finished second in the Eastern Conference they lost in the semi-final of the MLS Cup, but as they’re boasting crowds in excess of their rivals, there is a feeling they could be on the cusp of further success. So, what will Walkes bring to add to that hope?
Manager Frank de Boer is an experienced European soccer player and coach who played in defense himself so he knows the modern game, and how players at the back also need to be able to attack. On the right side of Atlanta’s defense last year was Franco Escobar and whilst he was solid enough at times, he doesn’t have the same attacking attributes as Walkes.
The Englishman is more of a wing back, able to break down the flank at great speed and help the attack.
The Five Stripes played a variation of three at the back last season which is only effective if the full backs overlap and add value to the attack. Julian Gressel can operate as a winger, but with Walkes being added to the roster it gives De Boer far more flexibility in his approach.
Signing a young and exciting player from a major European country is also a big bonus for Atlanta in terms of further recruitment.
The fact Walkes, a player likely coveted by several clubs in his own domestic league, chose to join is a real boost.
That’s been further developed by Manchester United taking Efrain Morales on trial recently. If Atlanta is seen as a club fit for developing talent that can excel on the world stage, they’re more likely to be trusted with loan players from big European clubs.
De Boer’s side finished third overall in the MLS last year and if they’re to catch up with New York City and Los Angeles FC, they’ll need to be able to tap into whatever vein of talent they can. Luring Walkes Stateside is a huge step towards asserting themselves as one of the top MLS sides in the eyes of the soccer world.
For the very latest sports news and views from Atlanta, be sure to check out our sports pages.
Photo credit: Eric Jason Cross / Wikipedia
