Thomas Lake the Snake

Can’t believe Sports Illustrated published such a one-sided “My Town My Team” article by the Braves “fan” Thomas Lake. Made me mad just reading it. As a subscriber for almost 35 years, this was absolutely the worst article I have ever read in the magazine. Such drivel could be expected from the Bleacher Report, but not Sports Illustrated. Not factual, nor representative of the opinion or experience of the majority of fans. Most all the reasons for the stadium move were ignored.

Before nailing the writer to a cross I decided to learn a little about him. Like Andy Stanley, Thomas Lake grew up as a preacher’s kid in Tucker. Their hundred-member church met in a YMCA. Thomas was homeschooled and went to Gordon College. As a long-form writer he is well thought of nationally, and was profiled by the Gospel Coalition as “the finest young sportswriter in the nation.” Lives in East Lake and is a member of Oakhurst Church. Wrote the 15,000 word Sports Illustrated article “The Book of Tebow” without much help from the subject. Sounds like a stand-up guy.

But like many in-town Braves fans, Lake is obviously upset over the City of Atlanta’s mismanagement of the Braves stadium and lease (though he left out those details). Inaccurate statements like “the Braves will leave Atlanta” make it sound like the team is moving far away, when in fact the new field is just twelve miles up the road - with an Atlanta address.  He fails to mention the Falcons are leaving a facility just as “new” as Turner Field, despite the Dome having recently received millions in improvements.  

In his article Lake writes about the bad rush hour traffic on his drive from Decatur to Midtown, but fails to mention how all fans traveling to Turner Field currently suffer that same misery. You’d think a native Atlantan would know a few back roads and alternate routes (unless he took the most clogged route on purpose).  

For me, living in Little Five Points, Midtown, Morningside, Buckhead, and Chamblee was great – but there are many things I do not miss. Inside-the-perimeter traffic and crime are bad, prices are higher, and at the time some stores were only located outside the Perimeter. Given the choice today, I would not move back. I understand and accept that those living there enjoy their way of life. Same goes for those who live in places like DC, LA, or NYC.

These smart, educated, seemingly open-minded in-towners understand and accept some things - that all people don’t share the same race, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation (according to studies, 97% are heterosexual and 3% are homosexual) – while not accepting other things, like a different political ideology or place of residence. They ignore the fact that suburbs have nice amenities – trendy restaurants, shops, theaters, museums, schools, and lower taxes, prices, traffic, and crime – that make living there worthwhile. Perhaps we’ll keep that our little secret.