The Sisyphean Sports City

I live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Well, not Atlanta, exactly, but in a suburb just outside of Atlanta called Decatur. I’m maybe 2-3 miles away from the heart of the city, and for the most part, I, and Decaturans alike, consider ourselves a part of Atlanta (a colorful and vibrant one at that). This is how I was raised. I’ll always consider myself an Atlantan.

Even when it sucks.

One of my most vivid memories was 7 years ago. I remember sitting on the couch with my Dad in early February 2017, watching the Super Bowl - Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. This was much before my love of football really blossomed, I think*. But at that moment, the Falcons were my everything.

I remember sitting on the couch as the game went into overtime. The Falcons had blown a 28-3 lead to the Patriots. I was in a fetal position.

“This is the first time the Super Bowl’s ever gone into overtime,” said my dad. I nervously flashed a smile. I was too young to really understand the magnitude of this game. And yet, there I was, rocking back and forth, biting my nails and fidgeting with my fingers.

We lost. I sat there in stunned silence as the TV blared nonsense. Matt Ryan walked off the field. Grady Jarrett’s three sacks meant nothing. Tom Brady shook Robert Goodell’s hand. I understood none of it, and yet the empty despair I felt stayed with me. I felt terribly weightless and impossibly heavy.

And yet, it was just another day as an Atlanta sports fan.

After the loss, I really got into sports. For Christmas one year, I got an FM radio for my room, and suddenly my room was filled with the chaos of early-morning sports talk. Everyone talking about everything, all at once. But I started to notice that everyone seemed…down. 28-3 was hardly discussed, but it was always on everyone’s minds, like the worst elephant in the room. We laughed about it, sure.

But the whole fanbase was suffering.

We desperately needed something, anything to save us.

And then - it happened.

Atlanta United arrived. 2017, the year of revival. They were a breath of fresh air. They were good. And they were more than that - they were fun. Mercedes-Benz was packed every night. Why wouldn’t it be? Michael Parkhurst. Franco Escobar. Julian Gressel. Miles Robinson. Jeff Larentowicz. Miguel Almiron. Brad Guzan. Josef. Freaking. Martinez. In 2018, they finally brought us a championship. It was so amazing. They were so awesome.

But then, we weren’t so awesome. And then we were awesome again, and then not.

Breathe, Ian.

It was - and still is - the same tale, again and again and again and again and AGAIN.

No matter what happens, every single damn team ends up the same way - so close to the top, but so far away. In 2018, the Atlanta Dream had one of the best regular-season teams ever, fueled by Angel McCoughtry’s usual brilliance and a career year for Tiffany Hayes. We had the 2nd-best record overall that year the best in the East. And guess what: we lost in the 2nd round.

The same year, the Braves had their best season in a long time. Freddie Freeman was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner, and Ronald Acuna was Rookie of The Year. The whole city was in high spirits. And we lost in the first round.

2019 and 2020? Same story for the Braves. 2019, in the Winner-take-all Game 5, we lost 13-1. 2020, We were up 3-1. Only 1 more win takes us to the World Series. AND THEN WE LOST 3 GAMES IN A ROW AND LOST THE SERIES.

In 2021, the Hawks made a miraculous run to the Eastern Conference Finals, fueled by the trashing-talking, shoulder-shimmying, crowd-shushing supervillain turn of Trae Young. It was truly one of the most fun moments in my sports life. Even though we lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Milwaukee Bucks, it was a sign of life for a struggling franchise. That same year, The Braves finally won the World Series. The city had life again, the curse was broken, whatever you want to say.

And then the next year (2022) happened. The Hawks hovered around .500 for most of the year and then lost in the first round. So much for progress! And yes, the defending champion Braves, on top of the world, lost in the 1st round. Why not?

In Ancient Greek mythology, there is a story about an ancient king - Sisyphus. Sisyphus, the King of Corinth, knew his time on this earth was almost up. So when Death arrived at his door, Sisyphus chained him up and kept him hostage. For a long time, no one could die. When Death was eventually freed, he immediately took Sisyphus to the Underworld. But before he died, Sisyphus told his wife not to do the proper Greek funeral rites. When it came to his audience with Hades, ruler of the Underworld, he promised to return to the Underworld when he had finished his proper burial rites. But he never did. Death eventually found Sisyphus, and Sisyphus paid dearly.

For his punishment, Hades made him roll a boulder up a hill. If he rolled it up and fully over the hill, he would be free. But every time Sisyphus rolled that boulder up the hill, it rolled all the way down again. Every time. With every journey up the hill with that boulder, Sisyphus swore he would do it, he would push that boulder over, and he would finally be free of his curse. And always, he was so far away.

*I credit that to the Falcons 26-13 Wild Card win over the Rams in 2018

Thanks for having me, it’s been a blast.

Until next time,

Ian