The top 10 sports stories in Georgia for 2004 as selected by The Associated Press:
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FINAL FOUR JACKETS - Georgia Tech reaches the Final Four for the second time in school history after being picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Yellow Jackets fall one win short of the national championship, losing to Connecticut in the title game.
VICK'S FALCONS - After missing most of the 2003 season with a broken leg, Michael Vick leads the Atlanta Falcons to their third division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. He is rewarded with a new contract worth more than $100 million and is voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time.
LUCKY 13 - Despite losing Greg Maddux, Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez and Vinny Castilla, the Atlanta Braves win their 13th straight division title with surprising ease. Bobby Cox is voted manager of the year and calls it one of his most satisfying seasons, even after the Braves lose to Houston in the first round of the playoffs.
DAWG DAYS - Beginning the year with hopes of a national title, Georgia falls short with losses to Tennessee and Auburn. The Bulldogs settle for a spot in the Outback Bowl and personal honors for David Pollack (Lombardi Award) and David Greene (winningest quarterback in major-college history).
LEFTY'S GREEN JACKET - Phil Mickelson sinks an 18-foot putt on the final hole of the Masters to beat Ernie Els, giving Lefty the first major title of his career. Mickelson came up short in his first 42 tries, many of them gut-wrenching losses that gave him the title, "Best Player Never To Win A Major." No more.
DOOLEY'S FAREWELL - Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley reluctantly steps down on June 30, ending a 40-year tenure as football coach and AD. His protege, Damon Evans, moves into the job and quickly fires several of Dooley's longtime underlings.
HOWARD DIALS UP NUMBER ONE - Dwight Howard leads Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy to a state championship, then jumps straight to the NBA. It's a wise decision. He's drafted No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic and is a double-figure scorer and rebounder in the early going of his rookie season.
HOCKEY WOES - Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley misses 51 games because of a 2003 wreck that killed Atlanta Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder. After the season, Heatley is indicted for vehicular homicide. Meanwhile, Atlanta's plans to host the 2005 NHL All-Star game are scuttled by a lockout that threatens the entire season.
HAPLESS HAWKS - The Atlanta Hawks have new owners, a new coach and an almost entirely new roster. But the early returns are all-too-familiar: Hawks lose 20 of their first 25 games and appear certain to miss the NBA playoffs for the fifth year in a row.
DIVISION II SWEEP - Georgia schools sweep the top sports in Division II. Kennesaw State takes its first national championship in men's basketball, then Valdosta State does the same in football.
