Talk bad about the A-town, I'll bust you in your ... mouth

-title comes an from OutKast song

Even though a. I posted before about how exploitative professional sports are for the US, especially for low-income communities, and b. I am an awful fan for most of the season, the Braves have caught my attention recently with their run towards the playoffs. So here goes

In the last year or so, a couple events/news items have put Braves fans, already known for their laziness and apathy towards a world-class team, on their heels even more so than usual.

1. We failed to clinch the NL East last year for the first time in 15 years.
2. Andruw Jones, the reliable hitter, gold glover, and icon (next to Chipper) for Atlanta's decade-long championship run, is planning to switch clubs after this season.
3. Leo Mazzone took off last year, leaving our pitching laurels to olde man Smoltz and one of his many protoges, Tim Hudson.
   

But now, with only a series and a half left in the regular season, the Braves look like they could re-emerge as the comeback kids of yesteryear.

Stories about our 1993 run to the pennant have come out here on ESPN; the team's official website has plenty of interviews where the players take a confident approach to the rest of the season; and homeboy Kyle has been spittin' all year long about how good the Chop Shop is when its movin' right.

The Braves basically have to win out and get a stroke of luck. But its possible and its exciting. For those who like professional sports, that is...

At Dodger Stadium: Will and Dan of USC Ulti (Will's from Atlanta; Dan's abroad right now in Edinburgh, Scotland), Cynthia of Emory Ulti and now La Canada (near LA)