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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Dominique Wilkins

By Atlanta United FC

May 23^rd, 2019

Dominique Wilkins steps off the capo stand at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, literally breathless from what he’s just seen. He’s been all over the world, played sports at the highest levels in historic arenas, but he can hardly believe what he’s just seen.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” he says.

Sports can divide opinions, but if Atlanta had a sports version of Mount Rushmore, Dominique Wilkins would be a unanimous selection. A nine-time NBA All-Star, a scoring title and a Hall of Famer, Wilkins played basketball at a level rarely seen in the sport. But it was more than just the stats, it was how he played: The ‘Human Highlight Film’ was how we was known, with his spectacular dunks stealing the show. That’s what Atlanta wants: excellence is revered, but excellence with swagger is adored.

“I played at one speed, and that was all out, all the time,” he says. “I never quit, I never sat out games. That was just who I was. I was about being in the trenches and going to war with my teammates. That’s the thing that I really wanted people to remember, is how hard I worked.”

Wilkins was actually born in France and spent his childhood in Baltimore, but there’s only one place he can call home. Atlanta took him in from the start, and that was important for a young man looking for that home base.

“Before I went to the University of Georgia I came to Atlanta, and Atlanta embraced me. The city and the fans embraced me. That’s why I never left and am never going to leave. I never really had a place to really call my home. Atlanta is that place for me now.”

“Atlanta helped build the national sports scene to what it is now –– definitely basketball, and I like to think I’ve had a little part of that. But it’s always been a great city, a very diverse city, and I’ve learned so much from a cultural standpoint. Atlanta is just a special place.”

So when Wilkins wrapped up his playing career, there was only one place he could settle. He’s still involved with the Atlanta Hawks, walking by a statue of himself outside the arena on his way into work. But just down the road from where the Hawks play, Mercedes-Benz Stadium rose, and in it, a movement for the beautiful game.

“When Atlanta United first came to the city, I was anticipating it but weren’t really sure how it would go. We’ve never had an MLS team, how could I know? That went away real quick. What they’ve done in their first few years is nothing short of remarkable. You just don’t see that. This team is the real deal. They play hard, they play together, they like playing with one another. They got respect from the city from the very first year. Winning the championship last year, what else can you ask for?”

But he had never gotten an up-close look at the supporters’ section from the capo stand itself until this breathless moment at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And in that moment, he struggled to truly put it into words.

“They get some fans out here, boy,” he says with a Southern twang. “This is the way sports are supposed to be. I’ve been to a few soccer games in Europe and it was pandemonium. That’s exactly what this is like. That was really cool, these people are really crazy.”

But when Wilkins won his scoring title, he didn’t settle –– he kept grinding to stay on top. That’s what made him a Hall of Famer, and what immortalized him as a statue in downtown Atlanta. So that was his advice to not only the players at Atlanta United, but the supporters as well.

“Fans here have really embraced United, they show every game how much they love this team. Just continue to do that. For the players it’s about longevity, continued success and a commitment to the city. That’s what makes you truly special, that’s how you get a statue. You have to be patient –– it took me 30 years! But at the rate they’re going, we could have some Atlanta United statues joining me out here real soon.”

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