The Magic City discourse has dominated Atlanta Hawks coverage long enough. It's time to get back to talking about a team that's actually worth watching.
During my brief time at Hawks Roundtable, I have enjoyed writing about something we all love: Basketball.
What else would I write about? The Atlanta Hawks are an NBA team. Not only that, but they're an awfully exciting one. I am, mostly, honored to be here.
This team is on the rise. The Hawks have a remarkable collection of young talent. They've been hot since the All-Star break. This is a basketball team we should be talking about extensively:
Unfortunately, all we can seem to talk about is one Hawks promotional evening.
Atlanta Hawks' 'Magic City' Discourse Has Run Its Course
You know the promotion in question.
Listen. It's a reasonable point of contention. There are no clear answers. Is it right for the Hawks to celebrate a...gentlemen's establishment...in an NBA game?
Some call it empowering. Others call it degrading. Some will say that it's a celebration of women. Others will argue that it has no place in a family environment.
I will not tell you where I stand. That's not the point here.
The point? Well, there's a war, if you haven't heard. A lot is going on in the United States and across the world.
This isn't a "shut up and dribble" - or, more accurately, a "shut up and watch people dribble" piece. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Discourse is good. This isn't even directed at fans:
It's directed at my peers.
Let's Stop Writing About Magic City Controversy
Attention, fellow sports writers: This horse is officially dead.
Please. This is an appeal to reason. It's a plea. Please, please please:
Stop writing about the Magic City thing.
Dear reader: Do me a favor. Google "Atlanta Hawks". I'll be here when you get back.
Magic City everywhere, right? It's hard to find anything else about the team. Jalen Johnson is playing like a fringe MVP candidate. The Hawks can't stop winning games. It's fun.
Everything else, around the world, is not fun. Some of what's happening is antithetical to fun. So here's the deal.
Let's let Atlanta Hawks basketball be fun in a world that needs fun. This conversation was fruitful. It was worth having.
It has run its course.
I don't presume to be able to manipulate the Google algorithm. The endless parade of Magic City think pieces will persist. As I sat on my computer this morning, attempting to ideate, I felt that this piece had to happen.
My next piece will be about the Atlanta Hawks.