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Atlanta sports fans suffer weekend of tough losses, look for coping mechanisms

ATLANTA, Ga. — It was a rough weekend for Georgia sports fans.

The UGA Bulldogs lost a big game against Alabama while the Braves fell to the Dodgers in Game 7 of the NL championship series.

Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen spoke with fans about how to cope with the losses.

Jim Chapin is still trying to recover from the shock of the weekend.

“I’ve been a Braves fan for probably 50 or 60 years,” Chapin said.

Chapin’s feelings from Sunday’s Braves loss mirrors those felt by UGA fans who suffered a Saturday letdown, not to mention other big game letdowns Georgia sports fans have already endured like that 2018 national championship game and the pain that remains from the 2017 Super Bowl.

The Falcons managed to get the win on Sunday but so far, it’s been a rough season.

“As a native Atlantan, I know it can be disappointing,” mental performance consultant Abby Keenan said. “That’s really the first thing. As an Atlanta sports fan, the first thing to know is however you’re feeling, that’s very normal.”

Keenan emphasized the importance of realizing what you can and can’t control.

“We cannot control organizations, teams, coaches, or players,” Keenan said. “What we can do is choose to support them, win or lose.”

Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein offered some perspective of social media:

“If I were to tell you the Braves would lose their ace, start three rookie pitchers in the playoffs, have five players 23-and-younger on the field in the NLCS and take the number one team in baseball to within one run of the World Series, would you take it?”

Still, sports fans can’t help but feel a bit let down.

“I guess it’s the ‘Georgia Fever’,” Atlanta sports fan Anna Bowbliss said. “Georgia fans are constantly disappointed by their teams. They’re constantly losing. But you know, one day it’s going to get better.”