Matt Ryan, Boston Athletes Show Support on 'Boston Strong Night' at Coolray

They may live in Metro Atlanta, but their hearts were with Boston Tuesday night.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan played football at Boston College. Jason Varitek—a Georgia Tech alum—won two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox. Rodney Harrison also won a championship playing safety for the New England Patriots. Retired Basketball player Dee Brown won the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest while wearing the Boston Celtics’ uniform.

All four came together to show their support for those affected by April’s bombings at the Boston Marathon on “Boston Strong Night” at the Gwinnett Braves game. The athletes threw out the ceremonial first pitches before the start of the G-Braves game against the Pawtucket Red Sox, the minor league team of the Boston Red Sox.

“We were approached by some people in the organization here [the Gwinnett Braves] and some friends,” said Variteck. “It was a no brainer to help.”

“We’re happy to help out in any way we can,” said Ryan.

As a student at Boston College, Ryan would regularly watch the Boston Marathon as the runners raced through the campus. “Some of my favorite memories are from Marathon Monday,” said Ryan. “It’s just inconceivable that it happened.” 

Brown’s wife is originally from Cambridge, Mass.—the city where bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev lived. She also graduated from the same high school as the suspects and her brother is an officer with the Cambridge Police Department who aided in the search for Tamerlan. 

“It’s what we do. We stick together. Boston Strong,” said Brown about his and the other Boston athletes’ participation in the event. “Once you’re a Red Sox or a Celtic or a Patriot, you’re always that.” 

The former Celtics player and his wife, like the entire nation and the world, were in shock to learn about the bombings.

“Marathon day is a big holiday,” said Brown. The marathon route ran right by his house in a Boston suburb and his family would watch the race every year.

“When I heard it [the news of the bombing], it was devastating just because you didn’t know if it was an accident, then once all the details started coming out that it was a terrorist act,” said Brown. “You really got upset, just because it’s Boston, the marathon. You just want to go home and hug your kids and kiss your family and pray that everything turns out good for those families.”

“When something happens to the United States of America, I don’t care which city it is, everyone joins together and it just shows our loving spirit, kindness of people’s hearts,” said Harrison. The retired football star and current NFL analyst for NBC was also overcome by the news. “It really takes a sick person to want to intentionally hurt or kill someone and it really hurt my heart.”

All the athletes were amazed by the way everyone has come together to support Boston, especially the people who came out to the special Gwinnett Braves game.

Coolray Field was transformed into Fenway Park South Tuesday night. Some vendors sold special Boston foods like fish and chips and Sam Adams beer. Players came up to bat to songs by Massachusetts musicians like Donna Summer, New Kids on the Block and Aerosmith.

And of course, the unofficial anthem of Fenway, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” blasted through Coolray’s speakers as fans danced and sang along.

Those in attendance also had a chance to bid on items like balls autographed by the athletes and the special Boston Braves caps worn by the players on the field. The Boston Braves were the predecessor of the Atlanta Braves.

Fans had fun in spite of the G-Braves losing to the PawSox 7-3.

The Gwinnett Braves raised over $15,000 for the Boston bombing victims through OneFundBoston.org.

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