Dansby Swanson is one of my favorite Atlanta Braves of all time. He was a No. 1 pick and the hometown darling that eventually blossomed into an All-Star shortstop and helped lead the Braves to their first World Series since 1995. It was disappointing the team decided not to re-sign him, but the decision can be understood.
It will be nearly impossible for Swanson to outperform the $177 million contract the Cubs handed him. The Braves are all about finding value, and there was none to be found when it came to his free agency. Moving on was the right decision, and I thought this would be an amicable breakup, but now Swanson is taking digs at Atlanta and their fans prior to his first season with the Cubs.
The former Braves shortstop had this to say recently in an interview with Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.
“This team means so much to so many people, which is very similar from the place I just came from. From the gist I’ve gotten so far, pro sports in Chicago are a massive deal. Pro sports in Atlanta are like, well, kind of a deal,” Swanson said.
“It’s not a knock against anything about Atlanta, trust me. I’m a huge Falcons’ fan and big Hawks’ fan, but it’s just different. Cubs fans, Cubs everything, is just a little bit different.’’
Swanson attempts to hedge his bets by saying it isn’t a knock on Atlanta fans, but there’s no beating around the bush with this statement, which should rightfully irk fans of the Braves. I’m in agreement with him when it comes to all the sports team in Atlanta. The Falcons and Hawks haven’t done enough over their existence to earn the undying fanship like the Bulls and Bears have in their respective leagues.
The Braves, on the other hand, have some of the best fans in all of sports. They sell out nearly every game and were behind Swanson since he came up as a baby-faced rookie and were one of the worst teams in the league. Saying it’s different in Chicago — when it comes to baseball — simply isn’t true.
I’ll always fondly remember Swanson for his most electric moments in a Braves uniform. I’m not sure if that’s how all Atlanta fans feel, but comments like these are ones that just don’t need to be said. Focus on baseball; the Cubs are going to need you if they want to avoid losing 100 games.
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