As my Spartans prepare for battle today, let us remember what happened the last time MSU was in the Final Four in Indianapolis…

“One Shining Moment” indeed.  I was there, crying lke a school girl!  One of my best memories ever…

Go Green!  Go White! Victory for MSU.

via Spartan Sports Network

Wow – what a weekend.

So if you are new to the blog and haven’t caught up on all my previous posts (what are you waiting for – there is some good readin’ in here) I am a proud Michigan State graduate.  I love my school and cheer/suffer along with my sports teams.  Lately, we have had an embarrassment of riches when it comes to basketball and this weekend just added to that “legacy”.

Now I will be the first to admit I didn’t give them much of a chance this post season.  They ended the Big Ten campaign on a huge down note having to settle for a three-way tie for the conference championship (when they were up by THREE games at one point late in the regular season) and then had their typical conference tournament beat down/melt down.  Still, I am biased when it comes to these guys and figured we’d at least make the Sweet 16 (although in my heart I was ready for a loss against Maryland).

So here we are two weeks later and the Spartans, THE SPARTANS, are going back to the Final Four.  They are doing it after losing arguably their best player.  We are watching these kids literally mature in front of us and damn if it is not exciting!  Yes there was a LOT of screaming at the TV during all four games so far…I hate that we are playing so much of a perimeter game right now..we make some great defensive stops only to take quick, sloppy shots on the other end…but yet we somehow find a way to win.

Last night after the game I switch on ESPN News just so at the start of every half hour I could watch the highlights again.  I left the channel on for almost 4 hours.  I was just so happy!!

You got to be in it to win it right?  Well here we are!  Sixth time in 12 years.  Lines makers already have us as an underdog against Butler.  Great!  Keep underestimating us…keeps the pressure off.  I am so proud of my school, my program, my coach, my team!  Today is a good day.

Go Green!  Go White! Victory for MSU!!

Headin’ to Indianapolis for my annual “boys” weekend at the Big 10 Tournament (Go Right Through for MSU) and I’m not taking my laptop so no “real” posts until Monday.

But don’t worry my ten’s of readers, I will still have something new for ya.  Yesterday I had the bright idea that I would document everything I drink all weekend long.  I will be taking photos and posting via my Twitter / TwitPic account.  Any bacon consumed will also be duly noted.

So there’s that…should be at least vaguely interesting (and maybe slightly shocking yet impressive for a 38 year old man).

Have a great weekend everyone.  In the immortal word’s of “Hoosiers” Jimmy Chitwood,

“I’ll make it.”

Maybe…

Michigan State Version – It’s Homecoming 2009 baby!!!

Go Green, Go White!

Victory for MSU!!!

Traveling for a week can really pile things up on a guy!  How does this pertain to TDB? Well I’ve got a PACKED DVR with tons of stuff to watch, including two episodes of “Top Chef“…hence the reason why no recap yet. Also, I can’t get the photos off my camera right now, so I can’t get my Fast Food Friday post up today. Plus, I’m leaving early today to head up to MSU for Homecoming.  Need to start that party early.

I should get back to a normal schedule next week as I’ll mostly be either sitting at my desk or sitting at home (I lead such an exciting life).  So let’s just plan on meeting up back here on Monday!  I’ll catch up on the stuff above plus have a little review of my dinner at Aqueous, the AAA Four Diamond restaurant at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, that incuded plenty of bacon!

Have a great weekend.  Go Green!

Sparty Edition…Go Green, Beat UofM!

Have a great weekend everyone, regardless of the outcome.

Oh football.  How I love to hate you and hate to love you!

Let me ’splain…

I was born and raised just outside of metropolitan Detroit.  As such, my professional football team by birth is, has been and will forever be the Detroit Lions.

I am also a proud graduate of Michigan State University.  If you cut me, do I not bleed green?!? (PS – I do)

So Saturday Michigan State plays uninspired and undisciplined while losing to Central Michigan and then today the Lions did what they do best…provide that faint glimmer of hope before monumentally failing!

Sadly, this weekend became one of those soul crushing, drive me to drink depressing weekends!  There have been so many before this last weekend and I am sure as the sun shines that there will be more in the future.

I tell myself each year that I will not get emotional, that these are just games, but that never works.

WHY? Why do you hurt me so?  You cruel, cruel mistress you!

At least I have my fantasy teams…oh wait, I was playing the guy who started Drew Brees!! The guy who threw for SIX touchdowns against the Lions…UGH!

When does hockey and basketball start?

Looking through my posts it came to my attention that I really hadn’t added much to my “Idiot” series of posts…after some soul searching, I figure now I should come clean, bear my soul if you will, to the 10’s of readers to this fine weblog (or blog as the kids call it) about a “small” incident that recently occurred.

Let me take you back to a few weekends ago when a little basketball tournament was happening in The “D”.  My friend Sam Singh who is finishing up his 16 month trek around the world (see his blog at www.singharoundtheworld.com) flew back to Detroit just because Michigan State was in the Final Four.  I picked him up on Saturday afternoon and we headed downtown to join in the festivities.  That evening, as we are all aware, MSU beat UCONN and they were now going to advance to the Finals on Monday.

That next morning (Sunday) and I had planned for Better Half to bring Lil’ Baird downtown for brunch with Sam.  “Uncle” Sam had not seen Lil’ Baird yet and Better Half wanted to also see Sam, so it seemed like a good plan.  Little did I know that Better Half had been working on a plan of her own. [Read more →]

“There can be only one!” – Connor MacLeod, The Highlander

Monday, April 6, 2009. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)

Well there you go.  The 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball season has come to a close and Spartans everywhere got a huge humbling at the hands of the North Carolina Tar Heels.  Ouch.

All through the day, you start believing, thinking “why not us”. Anticipation starts to build.  The venue looked great. There was a sea of Spartan fans. The noise was terrific during the team introductions.   The teams come to center court, the tip goes up, flash bulbs go off, the hair stands on your arm as the realization that you are at the finals. 

But then, in keeping with an automotive theme, the wheels came off.  Who were these guys?  This wasn’t the same team that beat Kansas, beat Louisville, beat UCONN?  Did the pressure of the moment just catch up with them?  I looked down for a minute and we were losing by 10.  Ouch!  The air came out of the arena.  Sure, there were fleeting moments where the crowd tried to will the team a bucket, but it just wasn’t meant to be.  Down 20.  I feel the anger start to build.  I’m cussing like a sailor.  Better half spent a fortune on these tickets and we’re getting our butts handed to us.  OUCH!

But then you start trying to rationalize things.  If they could just get the lead to 15, maybe get within 10 by half, just go on a small run…

I didn’t want to stay, but I did until 2:00 minutes left.  I just couldn’t watch another team, that team, hold up the trophy and celebrate on what became “our” floor.  I still have avoided media coverage from last night.  I’m just not ready for that.

“So we come, to the end of the road” – Boyz 2 Men

Tell you what though, I really do love my school and this team provided some great memories this year. Friends flew in from all over the country for this Final Four. We drank beer, did shots, sang the fight song, ripped on each other and reminded ourselves just how lucky we are to have each other. For that, I am grateful and I know I’ll look back and only see the great times.

I’m rambling, so I’ll stop.  Thank you Spartans!  Thank you Izzo.  You represented us well and provided a positive spotlight on Michigan all week.  We’ll see you next season!

GO GREEN! GO WHITE!

Michigan State University vs. the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

As if Spartans needed any more motivation…a little something to start the day!

How about a rendition of the fight song, feel free to sing-a-long:

Now, the 2000 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final:

and finally, that one song we are hoping to hear for the Green tonight:

GO GREEN!  GO WHITE!