OT - East Lansing Police need our help. On Facebook.
So we're a little slow on this one, my fellow MGoBloggers. Deadspin did the story and it has been picked up by just about everybody since, including every one of our rival blogs. I might let it go, but I was actually laughing out loud at this one, given one of my own posts on the MGoBoard within a few minutes of the B1G Championship Game broadcast.
The executive-summary version of the story if you haven't already seen it: The East Lansing Police Department's official Facebook page (why not?) posted a still image from the Fox Sports broadcast; it was a shot of the guy who is now the most beloved Sparty in the history of Michigan State University, holding up his own homemade sign saying "Burn the Couch" with a rose below. (It looks like an ELPD officer's cameraphone taking a photo of a tv in the coffee room at the station house. Lulz. Wonder if the ELPD is violating any Fox copyrights?) The rose at the bottom of the guy's sign sort of looked like it had been chewed on by Charles Woodson for 16 years and then spit out, but this isn't the time or place for art criticism. It probably wasn't part of a secret signal to "Commence burning on my signal, fellow students!" Anyway, in the wake of certain as-yet unidentified citizens of East Lansing actually, uh, burning some as-yet unidentified couches, the men and women of the ELPD are on the job, and they want to know, from the Facebook scene, who knows the individual who held up the sign. In Indianapolis. On national tv. So let the hilarity begin. If the ELPD can post the photo, I suppose I can too:
So far my favorite post from the ELPD Facebook page was the one from the guy who said that he thought he knew the person with the sign. "Bronson Pinchot." Not quite sure why that one struck me as so funny; maybe because the potential for humor at the expense of the ELPD was so wildly rich, I couldn't decide. There are about a hundred uproariously funny comments at Deadspin, 11W; you name it.
I'll hand it to the ELPD; it only took them about 300 sarcastic posts on their Facebook wall to correct the grammatically idiotic "You're tip can remain confident" to "Your tip can remain condfident." Because hell, I sure wouldn't want to be known as the rat who gave up the name of a guy sitting in expensive seats in a domed arena on national television. I wouldn't even want to be known as the person suffering national ridicule for misspelling "your."
Personally, I sort of need to know if the Fox Sports cameramen, directors and producers will also be questioned for their possible role in any incitment of arson in Cedar Village, because of my own aforementioned post, which might also be mistaken as part of the vast Spartan couch-burning conspiracy:
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/congratulations-msu#comment-2318676
Naturally, I wanted to use this space to clarify what was a completely wordless post on my part on the evening of December 7, when I was at home, watching the game on tv and oh by the way Iive 69 miles away from Cedar Village and I don't know a single MSU student. Just to be clear about that.
What I meant by posting nothing more than this Google Images-selected photo of a burning couch on the MGoBoard, was to say to all of my good friends in East Lansing; let this photo stand as a stark warning, that burning couches should not be a longstanding tradition following big wins and losses in Spartan athletic contests because somebody could get hurt and it is not nearly so riotously fun as it looks. So please don't do it. I ask you to please cooperate with the fine men and women of the East Lansing Police Department in this regard. Thank you and have a pleasant and peaceful evening.
So I hope this clears things up from my perspective.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 12:45 PM ^
Snitches get stitches! (lol)
December 10th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
What is this? Nazi Germany? Clearly the guy with the sign was the one who organized the whole thing.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
What would he sue for?
December 10th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
I think what everyone is missing here is those people holding the "big ten champs banner", if they didn't make that sign would the spartans have beat OSU ? ELPD should investigate that !
December 10th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^
They should be prosecuted, they insighted a riot.
That sign inspired MSU to win the football game, which excited the students, and led to the couch fires.
December 10th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
+1 Inciteful
;)
December 10th, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^
I am praying to the fake god that MSU loses this game. I hope they gets completely annihilated.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^
As long as your praying, you might as well pray to the real God.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
Things that will end well != this
December 10th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
I know. I know. But i couldn't stop myself. : /
December 11th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^
Yes, you could have.
"I couldn't stop myself" is more like an excuse for the Maury Povich show. /s
December 10th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
Cthulu?
December 10th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
Vishnu has more important things to take care of than fixing bowl results
December 10th, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^
It's "you're," but man I wish we could talk religion on this blog because I would win every argument, including this one.
December 10th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
when it comes to religion.
Stop now.
December 10th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^
I'm praying that he or she keeps going.
December 10th, 2013 at 2:11 PM ^
about religion.
Nobody respond to this on an internet message board.
December 10th, 2013 at 2:02 PM ^
Teach me the ways, great leader.
December 10th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
You might be able to win every argument. But winning arguments never convinces anyone of anything. It just irritates them.
Need proof? When your mom and dad argued, and your dad "won," was it worth it? Did it change your mom's mind?
Arguing about religion is usually a waste of time, imhe.
December 10th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
It's actually quite fun.
December 11th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
Need proof? When your mom and dad argued, and your dad "won," was it worth it? Did it change your mom's mind?
This really puts the whole NSFMK thing in perspective.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^
on the burning stuff thing, but exactly what crime has the guy holding the sign committed? Going after him is complete bullshit.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 1:29 PM ^
I will never eat Ranch dressing. I don't give a shit what Lloyd Brady has to say about it.
December 10th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
Yeah, that stuff is nasty.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^
If they actually pursue this it might be one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. I feel like that sign is completely out of their jusidiction, and clearly intended as a joke.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^
Why does the ELPD need to know the guy holding the sign? Are they going to try to do something stupid large charge him with inciting a riot or something?
December 10th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
I wonder how the ELPD knew just which couch he wanted burned; is the NSA involved as well, or are they just rounding up all known couch-burners?
December 10th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^
Section 1, have you ever had sex before?
December 10th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
I've never even seen a burning couch. Only pictures. That's all I know. Can I go now?
December 10th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^
Are you having so much fun down there in Bolivia that you've decided to take up permanent residence?
December 10th, 2013 at 10:59 PM ^
essentially. It's nice and warm down here!
December 10th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
Guess they'll have to go after Spencer Hall too since he used to (maybe still does?) sell those EDSBS shirts with a burning couch on it.
December 10th, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^
The Lansing State Journal website features a blog by Graham Couch, "Couch on Fire."
There is the well-known West Virginia Mountaineers blog, "We Must Ignite this Couch."
West Virginia fans are so protective of their couch-burning brand (meanwhile, the state has made it a specific felony), that they complained of a kind of copyright infringement when Kentucky basketball fans burned some couches of their own.
I understand that there is a Michigan State ultimate frisbee team, "The Burning Couches" (no link).
There is a Missouri garage band, "The Burning Couches."
If somebody wants to suggest, "this won't end well," I'd agree and say that I very much hope it won't end well. I'd like to think that this police department idea of questioning a fan seen holding a sign on a football broadcast will end in a charred, smoking, smelly ruin of embarassment for the ELPD. I don't see how it can end any other way.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
So, maybe they can sue some schmuck who makes $10 an hour and blew his Christmas budget on the Big Ten Championship Game; they can blame him for all of the other idiots who burned couches. Like they are going to ever collect the money.
This may be the first time in my life I have ever felt sorry for a Sparty fan.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
1. Police department posts request for help. Uses incorrect "You're".
2. I hope to god no one identifies the man holding the sign. It was clearly meant in jest, but in our hyper-sensitive society, where everything someone does that is even a touch out of line is a potential crime, the cops now are looking for a scapegoat.
3. I also hope that the person holding the sign gets a hold of a good attorney, so that if he is identified and charged with a trumped up nonsense charge, he will go free.
I am probably crossing the no-politics line here, but this is the nation we live in today. You are not as free as you think.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
STOP CALLING ME LITTLE BROTHER AND TELLING ME TO BURN COUCHES!!!!!!!
December 10th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
That was typo. Should have said "Spartans reputation confirmed"
December 10th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^
That "rose" looks more like a Dum-Dum anyway. He shouldn't be prosecuted for inciting a riot, he should be prosecuted for crimes against art.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^
sign, I would be catching the first plane to Bolivia. That has to be a constant problem in EL!
December 10th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
I saw this last night. What exactly would the ELPD attempt to do if they do identify this guy? I refuse to believe that they would actually be able to prosecute him...Would they? Good riddance.
December 10th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
December 10th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^
Put him away before he gets on camera with a "begin the coup" sign and starts a government overthrow. The very fabric of reality is at risk: imagine the consequences of a "divide by zero" sign
December 10th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
ADDITION IS NOT COMMUTATIVE