Lets win this one for...

So you know the old saying when a player is about to retire, "Lets win this one for..."then you fill in the name? Well, I'm going to finish the phrase with two names. Being a hometown Atlanta fan, can you think of the two names I'm referring too? Yes, the names I am referring to are none other than two first ballot future hall of fame candidates, Chipper Jones of the Braves and Tony Gonzalez of the Falcons.

3B Chipper Jones salutes Turner Field crowd: Photo/Keith Cawley

Chipper wants to go out on top, and he is doing everything in is power to do so. The Atlanta Braves are on a roll, just accepting another trip to the postseason two nights ago with a win over the Miami Marlins at the Ted in Atlanta. The Braves are in a match with the St. Louis Cardinals to play in the one game wild card game, winner moves on, loser watches the rest of the playoffs from the couch. But if the Braves have anything to do with it, they want the division. The Braves (90-65) are only 4 games back of the NL East leading Washington Nationals (94-61). Both teams are in the playoffs regardless who wins the East pennant, and the Braves are playing the last remaining games as they mean something. It seems all fitting to the Braves organization and their fans that Chipper is retiring, and the team is getting hot at the right time. It's good for Chipper, because he is playing good as well. Currently Chipper is batting .295, with 14 home runs and 62 RBI's. Total career  statistics are Hall of Fame worthy. In Chipper's career, he's batting .304 with 468 homers and 1,623 RBI's. And if you were to ask him, it's all about team, and not individual statistics. It wouldn't mean as much if Chipper was hurting and just waiting for the season to end so he can start the next chapter of his life. But he and team are both giving it their all. There is no doubt, win or lose in the playoffs, Chipper will go down as the best 3rd baseman of Braves history, and second best Brave of all time behind Henry "Hank" Aaron. In my opinion, Chipper moves past Dale Murphy. But Murph was still the man back in the 1980's. Chipper's 19th season is his last, and he will enter the hall as an Atlanta Brave. This doesn't happen too ofter in professional sports anymore with free agency playing a big factor in player contracts. Chipper has played all 19 years in a Braves uniform. Funny thing is, he has played more because that 19 doesn't count the minors.But Chipper said he wouldn't have it any other way. He loves the organization, fans, and the city.

TE Tony Gonzalez signature dunking after TD; Photo/ Curtis Compton/AJC

So know lets focus a little on something called football.  And I know that the name Tony Gonzalez rings a bell, even so for all the non football fans. And how can you not be a football fan? Gonzalez is entering his 4th season as the starting tight end for the Falcons, 16th season overall with 12 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Now Gonzalez won't go into the Hall of Fame as a Falcon, but as a Chief, because he spent most of his career there, and his heart is still with KC. And who could blame him? It would be the same way if it were me as well. But in all of his 16 years, he has never won a championship, let alone a playoff game. And he is 0-3 in Atlanta in the postseason. Currently Gonzalez is 2nd all time in receptions behind Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1,549) with 1,107 catches. Rice is also leading in receiving yards with 22,895, and Gonzalez is 10th with 13,552. But that could change at year's end. But this could be his year. Gonzalez is hanging up his cleats at the end of this season. But he is also going to put up a fight to extend the Falcon's season past the 16th game and shoot for a ring. The rest of the team is helping in that cause as well. The Falcon's have started the season 3-0, and are number 2 in power rankings. The defense leads the league with 11 turnovers, and the offense has put up 94 points in three games, an average of 31 ppg. Last night on NFL Network Total Access former QB Kurt Warner named QB Matt Ryan best in the NFL this year so far. But for me, all the top accolades are great, but I always want to be under the radar. Because I don't want all this to go to the player's head. I want the team to stay focused. And that is where the leadership of this team comes in hand. I think Gonzalez will help with that. And there is one goal, and that's to let Gonzalez hold up the Lombardi in New Orleans. Wow, that would be something, for Atlanta to win a Super Dome on the Saints home turf, and funny at the same time. But let's not focus on that. One game at a time to get to that goal, and Gonzalez is the right player to help.

So if the Braves and Falcons continue moving forward with the success both teams are having this year, both Chipper and Gonzalez could both ride off into the sunset with rings.

Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley
I am a loving husband, father.  God and family are #1 in my life.
Kennesaw State Univ alum in Journalism. 
Academic librarian/writer/blogger. "Your thoughts are better organized 
when they are written."

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.