TAILGATING DOWN SOUTH-BRAVES HONOR CHIPPER

CHIPPER JONES TRIBUTE NIGHT

By Doc Lawrence

ATLANTA-Not an empty seat anywhere for over an hour before game time. The fans came from all over the South to thank their hero, third baseman Chipper Jones, a future Hall of Fame member and a career-long Brave. Outside in the parking lots, Tailgaters were grilling Andouille, lamb lollipops, Georgia White Shrimp and one was serving Ceviche, a dish more common to South Beach than Peachtree Street.

But, Chipper is a Floridian, so the dish was appropriate after all, particularly since my generous hosts Babs and Jim Morris, two Atlanta residents, served this with generous pours of Nadia Sauvignon Blanc, a delightful wine from Santa Barbara County that has found a home in Atlanta.

I ate and then ate some more. The benefits of being a roving Tailgating reporter include great food and wine, hand-crafted  cocktails and the joy of making new friends. This was just a perfect night to play some baseball, have a pre-game feast and begin the process of saying goodbye to Chipper.

The final act before going into Turner field to watch the ceremonies that included other Braves legends like Hank Aaron and Bobby Cox, was enjoying an Old Fashioned, perhaps America’s oldest cocktail. This beauty was made with Maker’s Mark, a perfect end to this Tailgating feast.

Great job, Chipper. Braves fans have long memories. We’ll always be grateful.