kmccormack

Lang Whitaker is many things - executive editor of Slam Magazine, a contributor for NBA TV, a book author, and most importantly, a die-hard Hawks fan. After starting 2-for-2 in pushing the Hawks into the postseason, he's back for his third season in 2009-10 to share his thoughts on the team exclusively for Hawks.com. Check back every Thursday throughout the season to read his latest musings, and read him every day at www.SLAMonline.com

"If You're Note There, You're Missing Something Special"by Lang Whitaker

During last night's Hawks/Raptors game and saw something I've seen a lot of the last few years: empty seats in Philips Arena.

Now, I am not here to make fun of Atlanta sports fans. You may not realize this, Hawks fans, but I've had your back for a while now. I've patiently explained to media members who are not from the South that being a sports fan in the South, particularly in Atlanta, is a unique experience.

People from media capitals like New York and Los Angeles have no idea of the popularity of college football down South. Heck, high school football in Georgia might be more popular than college football is up here in New York. I've been to soccer matches all over Europe, and I always tell people that the only thing I can compare that experience to is going to a college football game in the South. And enjoying that experience takes time and money.

One of the laziest generalizations by sports writers is when we say Atlanta has the worst sports fans in America, because it's just not true. Atlanta has passionate, knowledgeable sports fans. Yes, the Braves have had some empty seats at playoff games, but then, what other cities have seen their baseball team in the postseason 14 times in a row and still always get stuck playing day games? And lately the Falcons have been good, the Thrashers are in season, there's UGA and GT football and hoops, there's NASCAR, the Atlanta Dream...basically, there are plenty of sports-entertainment options in The A.

But here's the thing: None of those teams are as good as the Hawks are.

As much as I love the Hawks and the NBA, even I can understand why some fans would have saved their money some nights the last few years. The Hawks were in a state of flux. Casual cinema fans don't pay money to look at a movie as it's being made, and tourists don't pay to ride to the top of a building while it's under construction. But once you build it, they will come, or at least they're supposed to come.

I don't have any numbers to back this up, but I suspect teams (not just NBA teams) have seen attendance drop because of the advent of HD television, because the picture is amazing and you don't have to leave the couch. But being in Philips Arena when Josh Smith dunks on someone, when Ryan Cameron yells, "That foul is offensive...Dwight Howard!" or when Joe Johnson drains a three, and then high-fiving complete strangers sitting around you is a heady, electric feeling.

I understand that there are a lot of options for what you can do with your income in Atlanta. I understand that we're in the midst of a terrible economy. But I also understand that right now the Hawks are 8-1 in The Highlight Factory and are playing the best basketball they've played in a decade.

And if you're not there, you're missing something special.

MAILING IT IN...This week, reader Jason  writes...Hey Lang, I want to get your opinion on Marvin Williams so far. Obviously, he hasn't had the year that many people were expecting out of him, and it's partly due to the successes of Smoove and Al and the emergence of Creezy, but even when Marv has been called upon, he hasn't shot the ball well. I've noticed in the last week or two, Marvin has been constantly trying to take his man one on one while there was still ample time on the shot clock. Last time I checked, the Hawks have a handful of players I would rather see going one on one than Williams. I'm afraid Marvin is trying to force his scoring since his numbers aren't where he wants them to be, and this is potentially hurting our offense. Do you agree?

Yes and no, Jason. You're dead on about Marv's numbers being down because the guys around him have improved, especially Al and Josh in the post. Last season, Marv got a lot of touches when the ball went into the post and then came back out to him. This year, it's stayed in the post and the Hawks are taking less perimeter shots, which is a good thing. Truth is, it's harder to be a complementary player than it is to be the main man, and Marvin is constantly trying to toe the fine line between being assertive and fitting in. It takes time; don't forget Marvin is still just 23 years old. I have no doubt he'll figure it out.

Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes throughout the week at SLAMonline.com. Also, catch Lang every Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. on NBA TV's "The Beat." He can be reached at lang@harris-pub.com.

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The Last Word with Lang Whitaker - Missing Something Special - Dec. 3, 2009

First of all, welcome back to The Last Word. This is my third season writing weekly columns for Hawks.com, and I'm pumped to be back. Ever since the Hawks brought me on board, we haven't missed the Playoffs, and I have no intention of letting that streak expire this season.

Thankfully, the Hawks appear to agree with me. I love what GM Rick Sund was able to do this summer, keeping all the key pieces from last season (and all at reasonable rates), adding Jamal Crawford and Joe Smith and Jason Collins (a.k.a. Collins the Greater) plus drafting Jeff Teague, who plays like a live wire out there. Seriously, this is the Hawks, this team with this lush, luxurious, deep bench? It's a little jarring. That Hawks squad that won 13 games just four years ago seems like such a distant memory, doesn't it?

Out of all the moves that happened this summer, the thing that meant the most to me was the willingness of Bibby, Zaza and Marvin to all re-up with Atlanta. They could've looked elsewhere, could've searched out more cash in different divisions, but they didn't: Them re-signing with the Hawks showed me that they all cared about continuing what they'd started with the Hawks; they silently co-signed their approval of Mike Woodson and Rick Sund and Atlanta Spirit and, most importantly, all of us Hawks fans. Five years ago, a lot of players weren't so hot on being Hawks. Now, these guys *want* to be a part of what's happening at the Highlight Factory.

Maybe the Hawks aren't as stacked as some of the other teams in the East, but we're right there. What's interesting is that most NBA pundits believe the Hawks will finish behind Cleveland, Boston and Orlando this season. Sure, those teams all added better players than they had last season, but Hawks fans should remember that simply adding better players doesn't automatically mean you've become a better team. (Remember back in the day when we picked up Theus and Moses?) A strong roster is great, but it's just as important to have a strong team, meaning guys who like each other and get along with each other. And the Hawks definitely have that.

My biggest issue with the Hawks right now is that I'm not sure what we can call this Hawks team. Are they a running team? A physical, bruising team? What are these Hawks? I was on WABE in Atlanta the other day,
and they asked me what kind of identity the Hawks have. I didn't know the answer. I'm pretty sure Woody wants us to be a defense-first squad, like the Pistons were back in the early 2000's when Woody was an assistant coach for Larry Brown. But even while Woody stands and observes gravely from the sideline, the Hawks just aren't that kind of team.

The best NBA teams always have an identity, from the Showtime Lakers to the Bad Boy Pistons to the Bulls who...well, they had Michael Jordan. But the Hawks don't seem to have assumed any kind of identity of yet. Do the have an identity? Who are these Hawks?

MAILING IT IN...
This is the first column of the year, but I want to remind you folk to send in your emails, comments or questions each week. Even if you have questions for players, let me know and I'll try to get answers, even for the toughest questions. (Like last year when someone wanted me to ask Josh Smith why he shoots so much.) I want to involve you guys as much as possible, so drop me a line and let's have fun this season.

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The Last Word with Lang Whitaker - October 29, 2009

ATLANTA HAWKS UNVEIL NEW SECOND ROAD UNIFORM

ATLANTA, GA (Oct. 25, 2009) --
The Atlanta Hawks will begin a new chapter in franchise history on Thanksgiving Night (Nov. 26) against the Orlando Magic at Philips Arena, when the team dons their new second road uniforms in a game for the first time.  The latest on-court look incorporates red as the primary color, with blue and white trim, and in lieu of the traditional "Hawks" across the front of the jersey, the club has added "ATL" emblazoned in white.

"The new uniform celebrates both the history of the Hawks and the significance of the city that our team has called home for more than 40 years," said Tracy White, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Sales Officer for the Atlanta Hawks. "Red has been a dominant color in the Hawks logo and in past Hawks uniforms. And the featured `ATL' word mark underscores that the Hawks are Atlanta's team and that the fans in this city truly are our sixth man."

The Hawks will wear the second road uniforms for two home games during the season, as well as six road contests:
					* November 26 vs. Orlando Magic (Philips Arena 8 p.m.)
					* December 11 at Toronto Raptors (7 p.m.)
					* January 4 at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m.)
					* January 18 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Philips Arena 2 p.m.)
					* February 6 at Washington Wizards (7 p.m.)
					* March 1 at Chicago Bulls (8 p.m.)
					* March 26 at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m.)
					* April 2 at Cleveland Cavaliers (8 p.m.)

"I'm excited about our second road uniforms and I think the fans will love the new look," said Hawks forward and Atlanta native Josh Smith. "I grew up watching the Hawks wearing red uniforms and am looking forward to honoring the tradition of those teams."

The new uniforms, which are produced by Adidas in conjunction with the NBA, were unveiled earlier this afternoon at the Hawks' "Paint the Town" event at Atlantic Station. The new uniforms can be purchased at the Philips Arena Team Gear Store and online by clicking here.

Click Here for a video and photo gallery of the Hawks Paint the Town

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Hawks Unveil New Second Road Uniform

HAWKS EXERCISE CONTRACT OPTION ON HORFORD

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Hawks Exercise Option On Horford

ATLANTA HAWKS PARTNER WITH ON COURT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

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Hawks Announce Partnership With On Court Player Development

Hawks Participate In Zoo Atlanta "Give So They
Stay Campaign"

This past Sunday, there were all smiles as children and families in
attendance had a chance to hang out with the Atlanta Hawks basketball team at
Zoo Atlanta. One of their primary focuses was to encourage people to donate to
the "Give So They Stay Campaign" as a part of their annual NBA Cares program.
Pandas have always been hard to find in the wild but the people in Atlanta have
gotten the rare opportunity to enjoy them for the past ten years. The giant
pandas are on the verge of becoming extinct from China's bamboo forests and Zoo
Atlanta could see same result if help is not given. Zoo Atlanta is currently one
of four zoos in the United States that has Giant pandas and they have raised
over $132,000 total in an effort to keep them here.

"It's always nice to come out and show support and it's a really good cause
to keep panda's here in the Atlanta Zoo", stated Hawks Center Al Horford.
The panda's seem to be a fan favorite for the players as well, because point
guard Mike Bibby stated, "If I could be any animal, it would definitely be a
bear because of their tenacity." Horford and Bibby were very instrumental in
encouraging families to donate to the campaign.

The most memorable moment of the entire event had to be when 6"11 rookie
center Garrett Siler held an 8

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Zoo Atlanta Feature

Atlanta acquires free agent veteran power forward

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Hawks Sign Joe Smith Release

ATLANTA HAWKS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2009 CHARITABLE GRANT RECIPIENTS
$40,000 awarded to Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Girls On The Run,

North Metro Miracle League and the Ryan Cameron Foundation

ATLANTA, GA (Aug. 7, 2009) -- The Atlanta Hawks Foundation has
announced the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Girls On The Run, the
North Metro Miracle League and the Ryan Cameron Foundation as the recipients of
its 2009 charitable grants. Each organization was awarded $10,000 from the Hawks
Foundation.
"During these tough economic times, we recognize that many non-profits are being
asked to provide services to more people and to do so with fewer resources,"
said Tracy White, Atlanta Hawks Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "As a
result, the Hawks Foundation is particularly pleased to be able to award grants
this year, and it is our hope that these funds will allow our partners to serve
even more communities and individuals."
The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy provides books for preschool
children in all 159 counties in Georgia. Children who register for this program
receive a book at their homes every month through the U.S. mail until their
fifth birthday. Additional literacy support materials are also provided.
Girls On The Run educates and prepares young girls for a lifetime of
self-respect and healthy living by empowering third-eighth graders to have a
stronger sense of identity and positive self image. Groups of 16 girls meet
twice a week at Atlanta area schools, parks and community centers where they
discuss social issues and participate in physical fitness activities. The
curriculum covers three topics - Self awareness and self care, selecting healthy
relationships, and empowerment and community service - and culminates in a
non-competitive 5K race for group members.
The North Metro Miracle League provides adapted sports programs and inclusive
social activities for children with disabilities in the Atlanta area. The Hawks
Foundation's grant will help fund the organization's Summer Fitness Day Camp,
which features seven weeks of physical therapy facilitated by special
education/adapted PE teachers and teen volunteers.
The Ryan Cameron Foundation seeks to create healthy transitions from childhood
into adulthood for Atlanta area youth by offering resources and programs
designed to empower, inspire and encourage positive growth. The Hawks Foundation
and Ryan Cameron Foundation are teaming-up to create the SALUTE Program, which
will focus on helping kids understand working together to achieve a goal as well
as overcoming barriers and obstacles. The program also includes the Fourth
Annual Youth Golf Clinic and Youth Health Fair.
The Hawks Foundation makes grants to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Visit theHawks community section of
www.hawks.com for more information.