Best Team in Atlanta Doesn't Have Any Players Yet

So Atlanta has a new team in town.

The WNBA has decided to expand their brand with a new franchise in the "New York of the South." This blogger was quite modest about his feelings on this decision:

The NBA has a hard time expanding, and their game is actually interesting to watch, and we certainly can't make that distinction for the WNBA. It's amazing that this story even exists. They bring a game that no one cares about to a town that doesn't care about basketball. Should be a happy marriage.

I'm sure a lot of people agree with this sentiment, including the one comment to that post:

"Awards"? [In reference to title of this ESPN.com article] That's not really the first word that came to mind when I read that. I was thinking something closer to "forces upon".

I think that's a little bit harsh. I just read an article about how buying boxes for WNBA games are great marketing tools for companies and small businesses alike. It's taking some time, but the league is fairly new, and it's growing. Heck, I even watched the WNBA Finals, and as I reported, they were surprisingly exciting - much more so than the championships of their male counterparts.

Considering the state of sports teams in Atlanta, this can only be an improvement. The Falcons (no comments necessary), the Braves (ok, but just ok), the Thrashers (the who?), and the Hawks. Right now, Atlanta sports writers are saying the Hawks are going to be the best team in town, right after admitting that the city's been conditioned to laugh hard when the Hawks are mentioned. (Just keep in mind that one decent draft does not a great season make.) If you don't believe me, check these comments from the new franchise owner, J. Ronald Terwilliger, that the team does not have to be affiliated with an NBA team, as previously mandated by the WNBA:

Terwilliger said not having to be affiliated with an NBA team was one of the main reasons he pursued a franchise. That means, Terwilliger said, he won't have to "be distracted by going off and selling Hawks tickets."

Perhaps it's just me, but I read this to mean that trying to sell Hawks tickets is a bit like trying to get that piece of toilet paper off the bottom of your shoe: not going anywhere.

So maybe this WNBA team will be the best thing to happen to Atlanta sports in a long time. There should be a lot of support for them, especially if they start winning. One thing's for sure: they're coming in with one of the best winning percentages in town, and they haven't even played a game. Now that's impressive.