Rush of support

Braves' fans giddy about team's NLCS victory

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Posted: Wednesday October 20, 1999 02:03 AM

Atlanta's biggest fan, Ted Turner, gives the "thumbs up" from his box during Game 6. AP

ATLANTA (AP) - Like every other Atlanta fan rocking the house at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, Kathy Meller danced like a child.

The Braves are back in the World Series.

"It doesn't get any better than this,' Meller, a 27-year-old resident of Kennesaw, said after New York Mets pitcher Kenny Rogers walked in Gerald Williams for a 10-9, 11-inning marathon win.

"I never gave up hope on the Braves. Never."

Given how the Mets refused to succumb in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, it seemed appropriate the Braves allowed New York to rally from five- and four-run deficits.

"These guys rock!" said Norcross accountant Gartrell White, 26. "I love the Braves! They're going all the way!"

Atlanta will go for the New York sweep beginning Saturday when the American League champion Yankees visit Turner Field for Game 1. The teams last met in the postseason in 1996, when the Yankees rallied from two games down to win the next four games and the World Series.

"The Braves have no chance against my Yankees," said Long Island native John Catapano, 30, who attends Life University in Marietta. "The Braves will fall in five games, if it isn't a Yankees sweep."

White's ecstasy sharply contrasted the agony stretching across the face of Terry McBride, a 20-year-old resident of Middleton, N.J., who left home at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday and drove straight to Turner Field.

His hair dyed an electric orange since New York secured a spot in the NLCS a week ago, McBride could not believe the Mets finally ran out of miracles -- especially after they rallied from deficits of five and four runs to take their first lead in the eighth inning.

Above all else, McBride was distraught over New York missing a chance to host a Subway Series between the Mets and Yankees.

"I was looking forward to it," McBride said. "But now I'll just watch the Yankees beat these rednecks."

 

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