Falcons Coach Mike Smith Headlines Latest Winners
Announced For 2009 Atlanta Sports Awards
Five Other Award Categories Narrows Candidates Down To Three Finalists

ATLANTA (Jan. 21, 2009) – Atlanta Falcons rookie head coach Mike Smith, who led a remarkable one-year turnaround from last place to the playoffs and earned Associated Press 2008 NFL coach of the year, was named winner of the Coach of the Year Award Presented by Delta Air Lines, the Atlanta Sports Council announced today. The award honors the metro Atlanta coach whose dedication and commitment to coaching excellence is manifested in the performance of his athletes. Smith will be among those honored at the 2009 Atlanta Sports Awards on Monday, Feb. 2, 2009 at the Historic Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom.

Created by the Atlanta Sports Council and presented by Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar, the Atlanta Sports Awards honors the most accomplished athletes and teams at all levels throughout the metro Atlanta community.

Alpharetta High School’s Chelsea Hassett and Greater Atlanta Christian’s Luke Davis were named the female and male winners, respectively, in the High School Scholar-Athletes of the Year category, given to the two metro Atlanta high school athletes whose desire to achieve success in sport is equally matched by a desire to achieve success in the classroom.

Smith, Hassett and Davis join previously announced winners Pete Van Wieren, the late Skip Caray and Ted
Turner. Van Wieren and Caray were named as co-winners of the Furman Bisher award for Sports Media
Excellence presented by the Atlanta Sports Council, and Turner is the winner of the Lifetime Achievement
Award presented by Coca-Cola.

“The list of winners and even the finalists is proof positive that Atlanta ranks among the top in terms of sports talent,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. “Looking at the athletes and their accomplishments further underscores why we created this special evening.”

Finalists in the remaining six categories include:

Amateur Athlete Of The Year Presented by CSS – The metro Atlanta amateur athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport.

· Kara Lynn Joyce – Swimming
· Sarah Steinmann – Soccer
· Angelo Taylor – Track

College Athlete of the Year Presented by AT&T – The metro Atlanta collegiate athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport.

· Jonathan Dwyer – Georgia Tech (football)
· Michael Johnson – Georgia Tech (football)
· Knowshon Moreno – University of Georgia (football)

High School Athlete Of The Year Presented by Russell Athletic – The metro Atlanta high school athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport.

· Tim Beckham – Griffin (Spalding Co.) High School (Baseball – Shortstop)
· Derrick Favors – South Atlanta (Fulton Co.) High School (Basketball – Center)
· Kathleen Hersey – Marist (Dekalb Co.) High School (Swimming)

Professional Athlete of the Year Presented by SunTrust – The metro Atlanta professional athlete who
demonstrates outstanding personal achievement and excellence in his/her chosen sport.

· Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves (Baseball – Third Base)
· Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons (Football – Quarterback)
· Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons (Football – Running Back)

Sports Person of the Year Presented by Champion Window Manufacturing – The metro Atlanta athlete who demonstrates superior physical ability in his/her sport, while epitomizing the highest standards for leadership, sportsmanship and integrity.

· Keith Brooking – Atlanta Falcons (Football – Linebacker)
· Tim Hudson – Atlanta Braves (Baseball – Pitcher)
· Darryl Richard – Georgia Tech (Football – Defensive Tackle)

Team of the Year Presented by The Home Depot – The metro Atlanta team whose dedication and work ethic resulted in a consistently high level of achievement or a championship.

· Buford High School Football
· Norcross High School Boy’s Basketball
· University of Georgia Gymnastics

ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS AWARDS
The Atlanta Sports Awards honors 11 award recipients who distinguish themselves from the five million people living in the 29 metro Atlanta counties and surrounding areas. That includes all eight Atlanta professional sports teams, 14 universities, 12 junior colleges and more than 250 public and private high schools. For information please contact the Atlanta Sports Council at 404-586-8510 or visit www.atlantasportsawards.com.

ABOUT APPLEBEE'S SERVICES, INC.
Applebee's Services Inc., and its affiliates, franchise and operate restaurants under Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and is a DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN) brand. As of September 30, 2008, there were 1,997 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states, 17 international countries and one U.S. territory, of which 480 were company-owned. Additional information on Applebee's can be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com).

ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS COUNCIL
The Atlanta Sports Council promotes the value of sports growth in Atlanta and Georgia by acting as an authority on the economic impact, visibility and quality of life issues associated with sports. Its mission is to lead, organize and support sports development with the goal of building Atlanta’s reputation as the Sports Business Capital of the World. The Atlanta Sports Council won the Sports Commission of the Year Award in 2000, 2004 and 2006. For more information, please visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com.