Macon is not a sports town
The announcement came Tuesday at a press conference from a place called SportsTowne.
That was the irony.
Macon is not a sports town.
The Macon Knights are dead.
R.I.P.
Six seasons of arena football. Competetive teams. Good promotions. Involvement in the community and the schools.
Still, they couldn’t keep hanging on. There was not enough support. The fan base was loyal, but too small.
Pretty soon, business decisions had to be made.
Macon is not a sports town.
I spent 18 years of my life covering sports in this city. I’ve seen the Macon Whoopee hockey team come and go twice, then the Macon Trax skate on thin ice. Couldn’t make it work. Too many empty seats. Couldn’t pay the rent. Couldn’t pay the players. Pulled up stakes and then pulled up skates.
Macon is not a sports town.
Since the 1950s, seven different baseball organizations have tried to operate minor-league teams at historic Luther Williams Field, the second-oldest minor league park in the country.
The Dodgers, Reds, Phillies, Tigers, Cardinals, Pirates and Braves have all fielded teams here. None of them lasted, and now we’re stuck with co-op teams and independent leagues.
Macon is not a sports town.
There have been other failed efforts. We once had semi-pro football teams called the Macon Chiefs and Middle Georgia Heat Wave. Did they make it? No, they bit the dust, too. We had a basketball team, the Macon Blaze, but I can't name a single person I know who ever went to the games.
There have been other disappointments. We failed to get any Olympic events to Macon. The Nike Tour came and went. Macon State College tried to get a men’s basketball program started, but the Mustangs played most of their home games in a half-empty gym. That should have come as no surprise. The community has never supported Mercer in basketball, either.
Sure, we have a few things to celebrate. We have a rich athletic heritage of great athletes and coaches. The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located here. And, every year, thousands of high school basketball fans arrive at the Macon Coliseum for the state tournaments. Those are mostly out-of-town folks, though.
Macon is not a sports town.
It hurts to say it.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
(Photos courtesy of Macon Knights, minorleagueballparks.com and Mercer University Press)
posted by Ed Grisamore at 5:54 AM
9 Comments:
I'm glad you said that Mr.Gris. Somebody keeps dragging that dead horse back in town every few years. We are a town that honors southern sportsmen and musicians, even produces a few but that's it. Those two catagories aren't going to draw the masses of Maconites like a river park will if it's developed right. We have potential as far as that is concerned. Building an upscale hotel close to that river park would be smart too.
Ed. Great blog. As a sports fan and Macon native, the truth hurts. Unfortunately, our town and city leaders can't seem to quit arguing about the unimportant stuff and fail to realize that Macon is slowly dying. With the present leadership, one wonders when we'll have the funeral.
Hey Ed what about Macon only semi-pro team that brought a championship to this city?Oh my bad you forgot! Well I'm a pretty good guy I'll help you The 1982 Georgia Football League Champion Macon Chief! Now why's that dead to the city of Macon and why's it dead you?
Why the city didn't recognized the Macon chief championship team they should be in the Georgia Hall of fame tell me why not
I played for the Macon Chiefs from 1979-1983. David Lucas did his with his money and efforts. Toward the end Luke was calling guys on Saturday afternoon to play that night. Greatest player I ever saw was Ruben Hurston but he couldn’t quite hang on to a NFL team but came back to the Chiefs for one more try. Really, we all want just one more try. I also played on the first Ga Southern team under Coach Erk Russell.
Does anyone remember Bruce “Greyhound” McColumn (receiver) for the Macon Chiefs?
Macon chiefs CHAMPS Don't ever forget we did it Donald Green and u can't take it from us
My father (Andy Robinson) was quarter back for Macon chiefs in late 1970s. Does anyone happen to have pictures of the league or front & back of the jersey?
I agree I reached out to Macon sports hall of fame thinking they’d have something. I then reached out to Donnie’s fam. ❤️. Most ppl don’t know you guys existed
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