We started on Wednesday, counting down the five biggest sports stories in Atlanta from 2017. You can check out the progression by looking at what came in at:
No. 5. The Braves’ Coppolella Scandal
No. 4. New Stadiums Everywhere
No. 3. Unite & Conquer
No. 2. Smart Worked Fast to Revitalize Georgia’s Title Relevancy
How’d this countdown come to be?
The Morning Show with John Fricke and Hugh Douglas spent days debating on the air and took to social media (Twitter and Facebook) to let their listeners help determine the five biggest sports stories of 2017. Before we get to No. 1, let’s briefly mention some of the stories that helped build up to the moment that lives in our top spot (in no particular order):
- Atlanta’s regular season finale lands them in the No. 2 spot in the playoffs.
- Mike Conti sat with Coach Jeff Jagodzinski, who coached both Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, prior to the NFC Championship game against Green Bay.
- Here’s a short video from the press box of the on-field celebration after Atlanta clinched its spot in Super Bowl 51.
- We got to ride on a huge Wade Ford bus to Houston for Super Bowl 51.
- The 12-hour ride to Houston was filled with shenanigans. Here’s one of the Facebook Live videos where we lets the fans join us.
- Here’s another Facebook Live from the bus.
- Of course we were on Radio Row.
- Media night was off the chain.
- Some hijinks from Radio Row.
- We threw a Falcons pep rally in Houston. CeeLo Green stopped by to entertain.
- But let’s get to 2017’s biggest sports moment in Atlanta…
1. THE BROTHERHOOD, RISE UP & SUPER BOWL SHOCK
READ MORE: K-9 Locates Missing Woman In ThonotosassaThe Falcons took the city by storm. Hammering everyone in their path on the way to the NFC Championship and a spot in Super Bowl 51.
We all know the score, the story and the fallout. Yes it will always be with us; 28-3 is the most famous (infamous) score in the history of the town. I still wouldn’t trade it.
The trip was magical and the team incredibly fun to witness. From Matt Ryan’s MVP run to sandblasting star quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Aaron Rogers back-to-back in the NFC playoffs. It will always sting, but it will be our sting and we will own that. In the annuals of incredible Atlanta moments (715, Sid Bream, beating the Indians…) this run should be remembered for what it gave us and not for what it left us.
MORE NEWS: Biden to travel Tuesday to Buffalo following mass shootingReporting and information from The Morning Show was used here, and John Fricke provided reporting and contributed to the writing of this article.