With that sort of track record, it’s little wonder that the Hawks are dribbling through life with hardly anyone paying attention. Even in a city that has become a Mecca for pro athletes with its large, affluent black population, few of the NBA’s biggest stars have shown the least bit of interest in playing for the home team.

“Nobody likes a losing team,� Johnson said bluntly. “The Hawks haven’t made the playoffs in who knows how long. It’s tough. Nobody likes to really root for a losing team. We’ve got to develop some respect. You don’t get respect just on paper. We’ve got to come out and start winning some ballgames. Then we’ll start filling the arena.�

Don’t bet on it. Since the beginning, Atlanta has never shown much promise as an NBA city.

After leaving St. Louis, the Hawks played their first four seasons at Georgia Tech’s 7,000-seat arena but couldn’t even fill that tiny building, averaging less than 4,500 their first season despite sending out a high-scoring playoff team led by Lou Hudson and Zelmo Beaty.

The following year, the Hawks won the first of four division titles they’ve captured in Atlanta, but the city let out a collective yawn; there were still plenty of good seats available with attendance increasing to just 5,200 per game. The move to the twice-as-large Omni didn’t help much, as the Hawks cracked 10,000 in average attendance just once in their first 18 seasons.

The Hawks draw far more fans these days, though the official numbers — last year, it was 15,068 — reflect “tickets distributed� and not how many people actually show up. A few years ago, the turnout was so pathetic for one game that everyone was invited to sit in the lower deck, leaving the upper level completely empty for the second half.

Back in the 1980s, the Hawks seemed on the verge of carving out a lasting legacy.

Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins led the team to four straight 50-win seasons, attendance soared over 15,000 for the first time and the city went wild for the Hawks during a classic 1988 playoff series against Larry Bird and the powerful Boston Celtics.

After a stunning Game 5 win at Boston Garden, Atlanta returned home with a chance to wrap up a spot in the
Eastern Conference finals. But the Celtics escaped with a 102-100 win at the Omni, then returned to Boston for another two-point victory in Game 7, best remembered for the back-and-forth shootout between Wilkins and Bird.

The Atlanta star poured in 47 points but Bird countered with 20 of his 34 points in the final quarter, including a long 3-pointer over Wilkins with less than 2 minutes remaining that helped secure a 118-116 win.

The Hawks never really recovered from that loss. They did win another division title in 1994, but the season was marred by the unpopular trade of Wilkins for Danny Manning. Atlanta was knocked off in the second round of the playoffs, Manning left as a free agent and the franchise is still feeling the impact.

“They had some good years here during the ‘Nique era,� third-year coach Mike Woodson (above) said. “Sure, they never won a title, but they were in some playoff games. My whole intention in taking the job was to try to get this team back to the playoffs. Once you get in, anything is possible.�

It’s been a long, still-to-be-completed road back to the playoffs.

The current woes began after two more 50-win seasons during the late ‘90s, each followed by playoff flops. The Hawks made an ill-fated attempt to get younger and quicker. The Rider trade was the most glaring mistake during that overhaul, which sent the team into a tailspin that it’s still trying to recover from.

Atlanta has collected some promising young players — Johnson, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams — who talk hopefully of leading the team back to the playoffs.

“This is the team of the future,� Smith said. “We can’t look in the past.�

Of course, that’s wishful thinking. No matter how good these youngsters are, it’s going to take a while to escape the dark cloud that has hovered over this franchise for nearly four decades.

“When you put on that Hawks uniform, you’re part of the history,� Johnson said. “We’ve got to pick this franchise back up."

A look at the 2006-07 Atlanta Hawks:
LAST SEASON: 26-56, missed playoffs.
STARTING FIVE: G Speedy Claxton (12.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.8 apg), G Joe Johnson (20.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.5 apg), F Josh Smith (11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Marvin Williams (8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg), C Zaza Pachulia (11.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 apg).
KEY ADDITIONS: Claxton (free agent, Hornets), C Shelden Williams (draft, No. 5).
KEY LOSSES: F Al Harrington (free agent, Pacers).
COACH: Mike Woodson, third season, 39-125.
X-FACTOR: Claxton. Missed most of preseason with a broken hand, but plans to be ready by the start of the regular season. The runner-up for the sixth man award last season, he’s expected to be the starter now at a position that’s long been a weakness for the Hawks.
OUTLOOK: Just as Claxton was set to return, the Hawks lost Marvin Williams to same injury. He’s expected to be out 6-8 weeks. Woodson is 86 games under .500 in two seasons as an NBA head coach. Hawks actually doubled their win total last season, so if they do that again they’ll win 52 games. Don’t count on it. This team hasn’t made the playoffs since 1999.

A look at some of the worst franchises in pro sports:

BASEBALL
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS: Have never had a winning season since joining American League in 1998. Changed team colors and uniforms after just three seasons, but it didn’t help. Finished last every season from 1998-03. After going 70-91 and finishing next-to-last in 2004, the best showing in franchise history, Devil Rays dropped back to cellar the last two years, going 61-101 this season. Ownership has been criticized for its unwillingness to spend for better players. Tropicana Field is domed stadium devoid of atmosphere. Usually rank among worst teams in attendance. Even nickname has been criticized for promoting Satanism.

FOOTBALL
ARIZONA CARDINALS: Only one winning season and NFL playoff appearance since 1984. Played before sparse crowds at sweltering Sun Devil Stadium until this season, when team moved into spectacular new facility with retractable roof. Sold out for the season but still struggling on the field, losing six of first seven games. Owner Bill Bidwill roundly decried for penny-pinching ways, though he’s opened up his wallet more since getting new stadium. Team won its lone NFL title as the Chicago Cardinals in 1947.

BASKETBALL
ATLANTA HAWKS: Haven’t made the playoffs or had a winning season since 1999. Generally rank at or near the bottom of the league in attendance. Won their only championship in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks. The 48-year drought that followed is the longest of any NBA team, with little hope of ending anytime soon. Ownership is a mess, with two warring sides trying to buy each other out.

HOCKEY
WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Began in 1974 with the worst team in NHL history, winning just eight of 80 games. Finally made it to the playoffs in 1983, beginning run of 14 straight postseason appearances, but got past second round only one time during that span. Made an unexpected run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998, only to get swept by Detroit. Haven’t won a playoff series since then, failing to qualify at all the last two years. Ranked 28th out of 30 teams in attendance this past season, averaging 13,905 per game.