Atlanta - You don't know us.

I'm frustrated. I read all of these articles (Dan Shaughnessy for one) that poke fun at my city as our Falcons prepare to play in Super Bowl LI. This is the city I call home. It's the city where I was born, raised, where I got married and where I've lived most of my life. It's the city where both my children were born. It's the city that has taught me manners but also how to fight. It's the city whose reputation is vastly mistaken around the world. I am proud to say that I'm from Atlanta!



My city

People often ask me why I don't have a southern accent. Well, first off, please remove the image from your head that Atlanta is the Andy Griffith show or Designing Women. That was our city a few decades ago. And please stop the Peachtree jokes. Yes, we have a lot of Peachtrees but we have thousands of other street names. Atlanta is one of the biggest and fastest growing markets in the world. We have some of the greatest corporations: Coca Cola, Chick Fil-A, Home Depot, UPS and Delta Airlines. Speaking of Delta, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) airports in the world and odds are you've stopped here at least once in your life because it's the hub for Delta. Atlanta is where many of the great TV shows and films are shot. Ever heard of the Walking Dead? It started here. The Hunger Games series? Yup! Cinema has slowly moved from Hollywood to the ATL.

Atlanta has a rich southern charm, too. You'll find a tradition of courtesy. We open doors without being asked. We say "sir" and "ma'am." We are tough too. Atlanta is where a lot of Civil Rights history started. We are proud of those who have fought: Andrew Young, MLK, John Lewis and so many others.

Atlanta has some superstars too. Evander Holyfield, former heavyweight champion of the world, is from Atlanta. Usher, Tyler Perry, Cam Newton, John Mayer and Ryan Seacrest are all native Atlantans.

Atlanta has some of the coolest places to visit: The Varsity, The Georgia Aquarium and the College Football Hall of Fame. We have so much history here: The Fox Theatre, The MLK Historic Site and the Margaret Mitchell House. Other cool things to see in Atlanta: The Carter Library (Yes, our state claims a president), CNN Center (Yep, the world's biggest news network started here), the Coca Cola Museum and Centennial Olympic Park (yes, we hosted the Olympic Games).

Atlanta, over the last decade, has become one of the biggest transient cities. You wonder why we don't fill up our stadiums for our sports teams? That's because most of the people who live here did not grow up here and are not avid fans like the natives. I can tell you this though. The natives are huge sports fans. Over 93,000 people filled up Sanford Stadium to watch the University of Georgia Bulldogs...host a practice!!! The Atlanta Falcons had more fans come to games this year than the team they are playing in the Super Bowl: The New England Patriots by 35,000! Take that, Dan Shaughnessy!

In a year where the Braves were once again terrible, they still had over 2 million people come through the gates. Many people laugh that we lost 2 NHL teams as we most recently lost the Thrashers. Well would you come watch a team that in a decade of playing had ZERO playoff wins? I'm not talking about zero series wins. I mean they didn't win a single game. And heck, this is the south. We aren't exactly a hockey town.

The Hawks are another example. They are usually at the bottom too. That's because they don't have a superstar and the NBA is a superstar league. In over 50 years, the Hawks have never even won an NBA Eastern Conference Championship game. Again, not a series. A game! When Dominique Wilkins was here, the Omni would constantly sell out. Sadly, he's the last superstar this NBA team has seen.

I'm proud of my city. We have so many things but the one thing we're lacking in are championships. In over 50 years of sports seasons between 3 to 4 teams, Atlanta boasts just 1 championship...the 1995 World Series. Sunday means so much to the people of this community, especially the natives who year after year have watched as other teams have triumphed against our teams in our ballpark (Braves Octobers are legendary for that). We have hosted Super Bowls and crowned champions but never our own. Sunday, we have a chance to experience a winner and we are super excited about the possibility.

People call this city "boring" and "uninspired." They couldn't be more wrong. If the Falcons win the Super Bowl on Sunday, you'll see how much a championship means to this town. You'll see how "boring" and "uninspiring" we are.

It's time this town gained some respect. Sunday we intend to get it.



Rise up!

Live your dreams and love your life!

Andy