OK, with the Final Four this weekend, I am very sad on one hand that MSU is not involved. They have been at 6 of the last 12. But I am kind of happy too since they haven’t won the championship in a decade.

It would be something if the #11 seed wins it all. That would be a statement.

In the end when it comes to college sports, it boils down to which college you went to. Without a doubt, universities figured out a long, long time ago how to get graduates engaged in the university long after graduation. Alumni, endowments, gifts, named buildings, scholarships, sport tickets and so much more bring in billions of revenue each year. Not to mention TV rights, heck, the Big Ten has its own cable network.

And what alumni doesn’t walk around wearing  a T-Shirt or cap on football Saturday’s? I even have a S on my license plate and pay an additional $35 a year for that Go Green!

One day I hope to have a building on MSU’s campus with my name on it. With Eli Broad already endowed in the business school, I was thinking what building would make sense. A few ideas that came to mind:

• Gaynor building of Cosmetology. Why not institute a 4-year program on campus? This way hairdressers and nail techs can really party without having to deal with commuting. Not only will they earn their license and undergrad degree, they will have two years of apprenticeship in hand. Who cares that it will cost $60,000- that’s what student loans are for.
• Gaynor building of Failures. It’s a proven fact that humans learn more from failure than success. As Spartans, we know first hand the agony of failure when it comes to our sports teams and many of its players. Enrolling in this program will ensure that students learn failure first hand from professors, coaches and others that are experts on losing. Just think of the opportunities graduates will have after this curriculum. Most likely it will be oversold in its first year.
• Gaynor building of Gambling. More money is spent on gambling than perhaps any other activity known to man. It’s time to have experts in this field and why not have MSU be the first to issue degrees in gambling? Students will learn about odds, book makers, participate in casino games, lotteries and understand more about the vig, bookies, Vegas and street gambling. And if possible, the program could be a dual-degree, Gambling and Failures. WOW!

Until then, I have say I am a Spartan and love going to the games. I am thinking of moving to East Lansing because for as long as I have been going the games, the players, marching band and cheer squad never get older. Now I know why universities have such a large alumni population, gee, I should have figured that out long ago.

Oh, there is one more reason. There is nothing more satisfying than kicking the Wolverine’s ass.

On a serious note, here is a two minute video highlighting MSU’s 2010. You will note that the Spartan’s were BIG 10 champions in football. What you won’t see are clips of the bowl game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTnZgfpT6M0

Go Green! Go White!

Happy Thursday!

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MSU: 85  Maryland: 83

Korie Luscious made the shot of his lifetime. The shot that will go down in the Top 10 of MSU’s history. And the shot that will sting the Maryland Terrapins for a long time.

The story is of basketball legend. MSU was playing without its top star, Kalin Lucas. It’s starting forward Chris Allen was 99% gone. Devron Roe was barely able to walk let alone run. Chris Morgan broke a tooth towards the end of the game. In a word, the Spartans were playing in P-A-I-N.

But here is the real story. Up by 15 the Spartans looked like victory was a matter or running down the clock. With only 2 minutes to go and up by 8, the strategy was sound. But then the P-A-I-N took over as all the Darvacet’s, Oxycotin’s and Morphine drips wouldn’t have made a difference and suddenly with 6 seconds to go, Maryland had its first lead since the game was 7-6.

Spartan fans were SCREAMING MAD. Terrapin fans were SCREAMING JOY. How could this be? Spartan fans were yelling obscenities at their TV’s and anyone else around them. 911 was called as fans were having heart attacks, strokes, anxiety attacks. Terrapin fans were hollering like health care reform didn’t pass, high-fiving, hysterical. 911 was called as fans were passing out from lack of oxygen and being slapped too hard in the back.

But while the Terrapins were hollering, the Spartans knew there was 6 seconds left. The Terrapins so excited about leading forgot about the full court press and instantly Draymond Green had the ball over the half court line, thought about shooting and heard Luscious. He passed and somehow the ball got to Luscious. The time on the clock was .9 seconds and Luscious released the ball just then.

The Spartan team was on their feet. The Terpin team was on their feet. The fans were on their feet. Every fan in every home and sports bar was on their feet. Instead of SCREAMING, there was SILENCE. While the ball was in the air toward the hoop. it was the longest stretch of SILENCE since the last time your spouse said to you, “What did you just say?” And then all anyone heard was the sound of NET and the rest is history.

But there are two sides to the story and all you have to do is read the Maryland Sun’s newspaper this morning.

The photo and caption from the Detroit News:

“The whole year went through my mind,” Izzo said. “I’m thinking, is it worth the constant hammering? And it kind of made it worth it, all in one shot.”

The photo and caption from the Maryland Sun:

A drained Maryland coach Gary Williams was asked where the defeat ranked in his 21-year Maryland career. “Let’s see, where would it be?” Williams replied. “[In] 2001 in the Final Four we were up 20 on Duke. I’m sure there have been others. Right now, I can’t think.”

This is what makes college sports the best sports to watch. And it’s also good to be on the winning side of the story.

Happy Monday!