In this edition of The Sports Inquirer Show, we start with the Original Free Kick highlighting Atlanta United’s scoreless draw against the New York City Red Bulls with audio from manager Gabriel Heinze and player Miles Robinson (3:45-13:17), Atlanta United 2’s home loss to Oklahoma City with audio from manager Jack Collison along with players Caleb Wiley and Chris Allen (13:18-23:27), and the European Championships and Copa America (23:27-27:37).
We also break down the NBA Playoffs particularly the potential trouble for the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young’s ankle injury, the emergence of Khris Middleton for the Milwaukee Bucks and two-way dominance of DeAndre Ayton for the Phoenix Suns as well as the coaching carousel particularly how new head coaches are good like Chanucey Billups in Portland and Ime Udoka in Boston, retreads like Rick Carlisle in Indiana are OK and retreads like Jason Kidd in Dallas are bad (27:38-43:17).
Plus we discuss the fan crash on the opening day of the Tour De France, Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominating the Stryian Grand Prix in Formula 1 racing and the United States Olympic Trials in gymnastics and track and field with Simone Biles showcasing elite talent once again (43:18-49:24).
Sports Inquirer Show 167: Atlanta United draws against New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United 2 falls to Oklahoma City, NBA Playoffs, NBA coaching hires, Euros, Copa America (6.28.21)
Detail shots of the King’s Kit during the 2020 Atlanta United Media Day Content Carwash at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, GA, on Friday January 17, 2020. (Photo by Jacob Gonzalez/Atlanta United)
Despite outshooting its opponent 13-8 and possessing the ball at a 61.9-percentage, Atlanta United was unable to break through with a goal in its 0-0 home draw against the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium June 27 in Major League Soccer play. Atlanta (2-2-6, 12 points) stayed undefeated through five home matches in MLS play while New York (4-5-1, 13 points) earned its first away points in MLS this season.
“Both teams were physically strong,” United manager Gabriel Heinze said. “We changed our position on the field and found a little bit of what we wanted.”
Per the scoreline, it was a scoreless first half for both teams. Atlanta’s best scoring opportunity came in the the 44th minute when Ezequiel Barco’s crossing shot from the left side just outside of the penalty area was saved by New York Red Bulls’ goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
“Because they played with a backline of three we put our wingers Barco and (Marceleno) Moreno to play in the mid-channels to combat that situation,” Heinze said.
New York’s best chance came on Wikelman Carmona’s shot saved by Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Atlanta’s Franco Ibarra suffered a leg injury to the hamstring in the first half and was replaced by Alan Franco in the 37th minute. The move forced Atlanta to go to a primary three-man backline consisting of Miles Robinson, Santiago Sosa and Anton Walkes. New York outshot Atlanta 4-3 in the first half. Atlanta led in possession percentage at 58.4 completed 65.8-perent of its passes. New York looked to take the lead in the 68th minute when Kyle Duncan had a point-blank right-footed shot on goal but it was saved by a sprawling Guzan. Brooks Lennon sought to put Atlanta on the board with his shot in the 78th minute but it was stopped by a diving save from Coronel. Atlanta’s final push for a score resulted in a header attempt by Robinson on a Lennon cross that hit the post in the 89th minute.
“Its definitely frustrating to hit it off the post,” Robinson said. “There’s nothing you can do besides forget about it at this point. You have to build off it and continue going forward.”
Its Atlanta’s third shutout in MLS play this season.
“Keeping a clean sheet is always good,” Robinson said. “That’s something you can build off of. They had a few chances but Brad (Guzan) made some great saves. So did their keeper. Overall it was a competitive game. These guys are a high-pressing team so its never going to look pretty out there but that’s how the Red Bulls play. We competed out there.”
Atlanta now sits 10th in the Eastern Conference standings and scored only 11 goals in 10 league matches.
“I’m worried when we don’t score goals,” Heinze said. “I’m also concerned when they score goals against us. The only way they teach me to improve is work. I’m going to continue to do the same job.”
Its also the sixth tie of the season for Atlanta in 10 league matches.
“I don’t like ties,” Heinze said. “I like to build when I lose and when I win. I don’t think I can take the right path to build only when we win. I do the opposite and tell my players that it helps to build when losing. When I lose, I don’t change and when I win is when I need to change.”
Atlanta United returns to action on the road July 3 against the Chicago Fire.
In this edition of The Sports Inquirer Show, we break down the NBA Playoffs including the dominance of the Phoenix Suns, the emergence of the Atlanta Hawks as well as the downfall of Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia Sixers in the Backdoor Cut (2:55-30:15), Atlanta United preparing to visit New York City FC with audio from manager Gabriel Heinze as well as players George Bello, Brooks Lennon and Ezequiel Barco in the Original Free Kick (30:16-41:58) and Major League Baseball’s mishandling of handling doctored baseballs in the Miscellaneous Department (41:59-47:05).
Sports Inquirer Show 166: NBA Playoffs, Atlanta Hawks advance, Ben Simmons struggles, Atlanta United visits NYC FC, Major League Baseball’s sticky situation (6.23.21)
In this edition of The Sports Inquirer Show, we discuss the NBA playoffs including the Philadelphia Sixers struggles against the Atlanta Hawks particularly Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, Paul George’s emergence for the Los Angeles Clippers as well as Stan Van Gundy out of New Orleans in the Backdoor Cut (2:49-39:20). We also highlight Novak Djokovic winning the French Open, Major League Baseball regulating doctored baseballs and the start of the European Championships and Copa America in the Miscellaneous Department (39:21-51:32).
Sports Inquirer Show 165: NBA Playoffs, Philadelphia Sixers and Milwaukee Bucks struggles, Atlanta Hawks emergence, Novak Djokovic, Euros, Copa America (6.17.21)
In this edition of The Sports Inquirer Show, we discuss LeBron James’ elimination from the NBA Playoffs as well as the emergence of young stars such as Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Devin Booker, Nikola Jokic and the dominance of Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in the Backdoor Cut (3:04-22:21), Julio Jones’ trade from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tennessee Titans as well as Aaron Rodgers not reporting to mandatory minicamp for the Green Bay Packers in the Gridiron Blitz (22:21-35:15). We also break down Atlanta United 2’s win over Louisville with audio from manager Jack Collison and players Aiden McFadden and Caleb Wiley as well as the United States winning the CONCACAF Nations League Championship over Mexico in the Original Free Kick (35:15-47:13).
Sports Inquirer Show 164: NBA Playoffs without LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Julio Jones to Tennessee, Aaron Rodgers, Atlanta United 2, United States wins CONCACAF Nations League (6.9.21)
In this edition of The Sports Inquirer Show, we recap Atlanta United’s 2-2 home draw against Nashville SC in Major League Soccer (MLS) play with audio from George Bello in the Original Free Kick (2:10-8:26), the progression of the NBA Playoffs in the Backdoor Cut (8:27-19:34), Georgia Tech baseball being selected for the NCAA Tournament with audio from head coach Danny Hall in the Technical State of Georgia Athletics (19:34-24:46) and the arrest of Atlanta Braves’ player Marcell Ozuna and Naomi Osaka withdrawing from the French Open in the Miscellaneous Department (24:46-34:10).
Sports Inquirer Show 163: Atlanta United, NBA Playoffs, Georgia Tech baseball, Marcell Ozuna, Naomi Osaka (6.1.21)