By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

There is some bad news coming your way. Despite the fact that we recently celebrated the summer solstice, summer is half over. It may feel as hot as summer and be as insect plagued as any summer, but within the next few days we will have crossed over into the second half. It is clear because the professional sports leagues that play their sports in the summer, have their all star breaks this week.

The Atlanta Silverbacks, Atlanta's A-League soccer team, had its all-star game last night. Currently, the Silverbacks are 6-9 in their division. Many of the young team's games have been close, often their losses come within one goal. The Silverbacks are scheduled to play the Charleston Battery Saturday evening.

The Atlanta Classics, Atlanta's W-League team, is in second place in its division, behind last year's champs (also the team that knocked the Classics out of the championship) the Raleigh Wings. Their record is 6-3 and they start a three-game road trip tonight. The Classics are full of talented players from the region, all with aspirations to continue playing at higher levels.

And who could forget the Braves? The All Star game is Tuesday night and for the first time in years there is not a Brave starting the game.

It has been an odd season for the Bravos. At the time of this release, they lead the Mets by three games and were winding up a series with the Marlins. They have been in first place all season and that is with the loss of Andres Gallaraga, injuries to John Smoltz, Walt Weiss, and Javy Lopez, plus a bull pen that lost Mark Wohlers but still performed outstandingly and has looked problematic of late, and an ERA that is not representative of the talent on the team.

What will happen after the break, you wonder? The Silverbacks will have 13 games left before the playoffs begin in September. They must get more production from their offense, controlling the tempo of the game and making opportunities out of a tough defense. There is also a chance that the Miami Fusion, the Silverbacks' MLS team, will send some players down to Atlanta and bring some of the Silverbacks up. It would definitely change the course of the second half of the season.

The Atlanta Classics are doing great so far. Their offense is supercharged, scoring numerous goals against tough opponents. The team is mostly made up of college soccer players from around the South. In the second half of their season, the Classics must continue their pressure and also limit their defensive letdowns. Their toughest competition comes from their rivals, the Raleigh Wings. The two teams will face each other several more times before the playoffs.

The Braves should continue their winning pace and make the playoffs, but the Mets will give them fits when they meet again at the end of the season. They should probably make a trade or two, but you wonder what position they should bolster first.

The bull pen could use another pitcher just to assure Rocker his rest every now and then. A first baseman would be nice, but Gallaraga should be back in the spring. The rumors of Ken Griffey Jr. coming to Atlanta before the end of the season keep percolating as well.

Most likely, the starting pitching will continue to improve and the bull pen will lose a little confidence and become a tad rusty. The bats have been very active this year, thanks to new hitting coach Don Baylor, and they are manufacturing more runs than ever this year. A World Series appearance isn't out of the question for the Braves, but we have all said that before.

To purchase tickets for the Silverbacks call 404-377-5575 or visit their Web site at www.atlantasilverbacks.com. The Classics box office can be reached at 770-TRY-FOOT or at their Web site at www.atlantaclassics.com. Braves tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400 or on the Braves official Web site; www.atlantabraves.com.

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