List of illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Forward Atlanta
America's virgin sports territory
Franchise free agency
"The greatest location in the world"
Wisconsin v. Milwaukee Braves
"Gravitating toward Atlanta"
"Not catching on around town"
"Losing but improving"
Atlanta stadium: "a center of gravity"
"Outside the stadium, it's the city"
Atlanta stadium: "a meeting place"
The Madison Square Garden of the Southeast
"The developer is boss"
The politics of metropolitan divergence
Probably room for basketball
"The logical choice"
How the Falcons lost Atlanta
"Atlanta's ice society"
"A white player of his ability is just what Atlanta and the NBA need"
I think the fans showed poor taste
Instant city
"Keep hockey a southern sport"
"Loserville no more"
How the Sunbelt became "Loserville, U.S.A."