REPORTING FROM ... THE I-85 CORRIDOR (A.K.A. THE NBA'S TRAIL OF TEARS)

by Ryan McGee

Welcome to I-85, the Interstate that runs just five miles north of Charlotte's Bobcats Arena and within one Chipper Jones longball from Atlanta's Philips Arena, home of the Hawks. In other words, it's the NBA's Highway to Hell, its Trail of Tears … or at least the road to the bottom rungs of the Eastern Conference.
     A few nights ago I watched the Bobcats (at least the ones who aren't on crutches) climb to 20-39, a mere 17 games out of first in the Southeast Division. Forty-eight hours later I rolled into Philips to watch the Hawks fall to 24-33 in a 135-118 track meet with the Warriors.
     "We've had some rough stretches this year," Hawks legend-turned-TV analyst Dominque Wilkins told me in the tunnel before the game before adding a subtle jab toward Atlanta's northern hoops neighbors. "But at least we've still got a shot at making the playoffs."
     "You know what we need?" Charlotte legend-turned-radio analyst Muggsy Bogues said in the Bobcats tunnel on Sunday. "We need to get some little guys back on the court. When I was playing for the Hornets, and Spud Webb was doing his thing in Atlanta, we didn't have any problems winning, did we?"
     Yeah, but Muggs, you've got Earl Boykins, who is listed at 5-5 but was obviously measured with heels on.
     "Good point, See ya later."

     Back in the ATL, I got the real skinny from the bus drivers (at right) who haul all the visiting teams back and forth to Philips and the Georgia Dome, who were holding their very own barbershop scene by the media dinner trough. Aric, the driver who brought the Warriors out to play, was fired up on the day of #4's retirement in Green Bay.
     "You know when things went to s--t around here? When we traded Brett Favre for Tony Smith. Tony Smith? He's got like one more NFL touchdown than I do. Hey, magazine guy, at least you're here tonight. The Thrashers are back tomorrow and they've lost seven in a row."
     And who are they playing? The Carolina Hurricanes, who will arrive via, of course, I-85.

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