ATLANTA -- Atlanta, a city noted for its losing professional sports teams, became downright giddy Friday as it savor its first National League pennant.
The Atlanta Braves completed their improbable march from worst to first by blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 Thursday night in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. John Smoltz pitched a six- hitter and Brian Hunter belted a two-run homer to lead the charge.
Now it's on to the Minneapolis and Saturday night's World Series opener against the Minnestota Twins.
The World Series? Hard to believe for Atlanta residents, but easy to take.
As the Braves clinched the pennant, dignified, laid-back Atlanta went bonkers. Fans screamed, danced in the streets, did their now-famous tomahawk chop and mugged for TV cameras.
Some threw beer on passing cars and blocked traffic near the Three Dollar Cafe in Buckhead. Police tried to clear the street, but they were largely ignored.
At the sports bar Jocks & Jills in suburban Gwinnett County, fans started a New Year's Eve-type countdown toward the final out, then sprayed beer from longneck bottles around the room.
Champagne was the choice for spraying revelers at Hooter's near Galleria in Cobb County. Cars jammed onto Peachtree Street from Underground to Buckhead, horns honking and passengers screaming -- and, of course, exchanging tomahawk chops.
'Atlanta was born to be an underdog,' one celebrant shouted.
'It's not just Atlanta,' said another. 'I was up in Tennessee the other day and they're going nuts. It's the whole South.'
Another added, 'Nobody would have believed this, especially in this town. We haven't ever won anything.'
At Our Lady of Perpetual Help hospice in the shadow of Atlanta-Fulton County stadium, Sister Marian cheered her team on, a Braves visor tacked to her habit, a Braves pin next to her heart, waving her 'magic tomahawk' at the television screen.
'I know one way or another, when this is all over, I'm going to cry, ' she said.
