Dear wsbtv.com user,

So sorry I haven't written lately, but it's not because I haven't been thinking about you.

So many things have been happening that every time I thought of something to write to you about....something else would happen and I would get distracted.

As an example, just as I was about to write to apologize to you for my over-zealous reaction to the Hawks return to the post-season (oops!), the Braves conducted the most ham-handed release of a future Hall of Famer in the history of organized sports. I am still trying to figure out how a franchise that has been as savvy as this one through the years, got that deal so fouled up. And you know how fouled up it was when team President John Schuerholz felt compelled to apologize. That alone qualified as a "man bites dog" story. Counting that time, in the nearly two decades that I have known Schuerholz, that would make a total of "one" time I have known him to apologize for something.

I will tell you this, on the day that GM Frank Wren announced Tom Glavine's release, the first words out of his mouth were "this was not a business decision, it was a performance decision." That immediately brought to mind the old line from former Braves president Stan Kasten who always said, "Anytime they say it's not about the money.......it's about the money!"

Then as I was about to write to you about that, the team's new pitching phenom Tommy Hanson made his debut and showed why he is considered the rotation's lead dog of the future. He is currently 2-0 and the talk of major league baseball. If he remains healthy, the Braves will be able to deal some other pitcher before the deadline at the end of July, as Tim Hudson is very close to returning. With the team’s current wealth of starting pitching, a much needed bat could be acquired for a late run at the division title.

Of course, as I was about to write to you to point out the Braves possible strength for trading next month, the U.S. Open golf tournament got underway in New York and I was totally caught up in the day to day maze of story lines being produced at Bethpage. From the opening weather related troubles of Tiger Woods, to the improbable strong run by former great David Duval, to the all too familiar scene of Phil Mickelson coming unglued over the final holes, this tournament offered as much drama as you have come to expect from any tournament hosted by the U.S.G.A.

Lucas Glover? Good for him.

So please forgive me for my failure to sit down at this keyboard and get you caught up. I promise to be more diligent as the summer progresses.

Sincerely,

Chuck