When I started this blog however many months ago, I had a goal, a vision, a dream. That goal/vision/dream was to create an engaging community of intelligent Braves fans. It’s slipped the past couple of weeks, but no biggy. I want to introduce a new series on “The Few, The Proud, The Braves” called, “Braves Blog of the Week”or fortnight depending on how busy I am. I’m going to start with “Toma(T)alk”.
The author is “an Atlanta native and overly-obsessed baseball fan,” and in his spare time likes fantasy baseball, reading baseball books and re-watching “Field of Dreams.”
How long have you been a Braves fan?
Since I can remember watching sports. I grew up in Marietta, GA, which is a northwest suburb of Atlanta, and I immediately took to all of my hometown teams.
Who is your favorite Brave of all time?
Probably Dale Murphy. He was the Brave during my childhood years so it was just natural to love the guy. I’d put in a strong “honorable mention” to Greg Maddux who I always loved watching pitch during the 90’s.
Who is your favorite current Brave?
B-Mac. I’ve been impressed with his hitting and poise ever since he made his debut. Plus, the guy’s just so goofy and lighthearted that it’s difficult to find anything to dislike. I also appreciate that he grows a beard about as well as I do, and yet he still wears it more often than not.
When was your first baseball game? Did anything special happen? Who Took you?
Honestly, I don’t remember my first baseball game. I’m sure it was at Fulton County Stadium, and I’m sure my Dad took me, but that’s about as positive I can be. That’s probably attributable to the rather forgetful decade the Braves had in the 80’s as a whole.
What inspired you to create a Braves blog?
I’ve messed around with writing online about baseball for years. I tend to be a bit long-winded to merely reply to other people’s blogs so I figured I’d make my own blog where I could be as long-winded as I felt like.
How does the Braves’ future look? (2009 and beyond)
I think the Braves are in pretty good hands. It’s tough not to get excited when you see a rookie like Tommy Hanson come up and do so well without being fully mature yet. Having guys like Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Cody Johnson, and Julio Teheran in the minors gives me even more encouragement. So long as the Braves develop these guys to their potential, the team has a bright future. I was happy to see the Braves essentially pull off the bandages this year letting Smoltz walk, cutting Glavine, and trading Francoeur. Many have given the front office a lot of grief in recent years, but they’ve gone a long ways in transitioning this team for the future.
What do you do when the Braves don’t play?
I’m a music person having played the guitar for about a decade now. I also love to read just about anything non-fiction, and I love to pretend to work out.
Fan or Fanatic?
I guess I’d say “Fan.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big time Braves guy, but I’m not someone who hoots and hollers a whole lot, and about as crazy dressed as I get for a game is perhaps wearing a Braves jersey. I also tend to get annoyed quickly at games when I see my fellow Braves fans demonstrate a lot of ignorance about our team, the opponent, or baseball in general.
It’s worth noting that by “fanatic,” I didn’t mean someone who is crazy at games, but rather a level of “fan-a-tism”
Braves biggest rival? (In your opinion)
It had been the Mets for years but it’s tough to deny that the Phillies are the team I get most ramped up about us playing. They’re the defending champions and have been the most consistent team in the N.L. East for the past 4 years. Since Atlanta doesn’t have that traditional rival or geographic rival, our biggest opponent should always be the team we’re chasing most frequently.
Who is worse? Jon Miller or Joe Morgan?
Joe Morgan…..really, it’s not close.
Do you have an Braves related goals?
When I was growing up I had this baseball that I used to take around to autograph signings. Over the years the baseball got the autographs of Glavine, Smoltz, Avery, Justice, Lemke, Blauser, Olson, Chipper, and a few others….the guy I never got was Greg Maddux. I suppose I would still want him to sign it, though I highly doubt that chance will ever come.
Do you have a goal for your blog?
Nah. If I make someone think about something a little differently, give them a piece of information they’d never heard, or just generally strike up a good debate, my only goal’s complete.
Coke or Pepsi?
Anyone who calls them self a Georgian must answer this question Coke. Aside from geography (well, it’s not really “aside” as the two are related, but) my dad’s worked for The Coca-Cola Company for over 30 years and I worked there on and off over the course of 5 years. It’s safe to say that Pepsi is simply known as the “P” word in our household.
Be sure to check out his blog @ http://tomatalk.mlblogs.com
And follow me on twitter @ http://twitter.com/Few_Proud_Brave
Oh and the Braves sign Takishe Saito (another name I have to memorize spelling, ARRGH!)
Go Braves!
That’s all for me, folks!
The Few, The Proud, The Braves 