SPORTS DAY

Saturday at noon my son Evan called and asked if I wanted to go with him to the Atlanta Braves baseball game that started in an hour. Though I had plans to go with Cissy to visit her “Aunt Tissie” who was celebrating her 93^rd birthday, Cissy was able to go with “Cousin Helen” instead. Good to have all these relatives around!

The baseball game had been rained out the night before so I expect there were a lot of people like me who scrambled at the last moment to fill empty spots for this makeup game. We arrived at the bottom of the first inning.

Our seats were on the fifth row behind home plate so we were up close to the action. Unfortunately, the Braves lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4 to 2.

Evan and I drove back home for us to rest briefly and pick up Cissy to meet my son Seth and his “Roswellington” family (they live in Roswell) for the Atlanta Silverbacks soccer game. They beat the Charleston Battery, 3 to 2.

This game was the first for the Silverbacks in their new stadium. Seth is the project manager for the construction company that has done all the work for the Silverback Park.

In the first phase he built two synthetic turf fields and a grass field with state-of-the-art lighting and drainage systems, plus parking. This second phase just completed is a 3,000 seat stadium (which was sold-out last night). The third phase will be to increase seating to 7,500 with a health club and administrative offices. The final stage will be an upper deck to increase total capacity to 15,000 seats.

Seth was on-site Friday night and all day Saturday helping to make sure the stadium was ready to open the gates. You can go to the Silverback website (http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/) and notice that my flash show of the game is better than theirs! (Their website might be updated with other photos by the time you read these words.)

We got home shortly after 11 p.m. for me to hear the wrap up comments of the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns NBA western conference championship. I have never followed NBA post season as fervently and faithfully as this year. Along with all the other fans I have not been disappointed with all the great series, both in the east and west.

For the last two years I have been pulling for Phoenix to win the NBA championship. I enjoy watching Steve Nash spark his fellow players. Yet I like this Dallas team and wish them the best against the Miami Heat.

Just before going to bed, I went on-line to see how my Wake Forest Demon Deacons played in the NCAA golf championship. They had been charging to win the team and individual titles. However, the team tied for third, and Deacon Kyle Reifers tied for second place. Still, not bad! It was a good sports day for me.

Flash Slideshow