There has been so much digital ink spilled over this rivalry, I really have a hard time saying anything that isn’t a “Feelingsball.”   Feel free to skip to the picture for the cocktail.

So quick talk.  Harbaugh almost immediately returned this rivalry to its “normal” state.  My opinion of a normal state is in any 4 year span the 4 games can be averaged out to:   2 blowout wins, 1 close win and a close usually suspicious/fluky loss.

The losses from 1987 – 2008 are ingrained in this Michigan fan’s head.

1987 --  Lose by 6 , with a -6 turnover margin

1990 --  Howard tackled in the end zone.

1993 --  I don’t remember this one, exception that proves the rule.

1995  -- MSU scores winning touchdown in the two minutes.  A horrible spot on 4th and 11 keeps the winning drive alive.  Woodson tips the ball into Mason’s hands for 22 more yards.

1999 --  Plaxico game,  Carr pulls Brady for Henson in the 2nd Quarter on  goal line.

2001 -- Spartan Bob clock game.

Dantonio, once Rodriguez and Hoke in 2008, took over flipped the script.  They dominated us by developing players, having a more prepared team and being more physical.  It was embarrassing going into that game knowing we were going to lose.  As much as the luckiest, fluki4e6 fluke that ever fluked hurt, the knowledge that weren’t even in a competition for those years hurt more.  Even our lone win during these years, required a 4th quarter comeback and winning without scoring a TD.

Harbaugh came and immediately went:

Biggest fluke loss in history with O’Neill crew

Loss in rainstorm with -5 turnover margin with O’Neill crew

3 straight dominations

So when a MSU fan says that Harbaugh is overpaid, just reply he ended MSU’s short dominance and is worth every penny just for that alone. (They won’t understand that the ticket sales, and donations he brought in made the athletic department 50 million more the first year alone.)

 

The Last Word

 The state cocktail of Michigan is the Hummer.  It’s horrendous.  It was created by a Yacht club in Grosse Pointe,  I don’t know why it took so long for someone to put rum an Kahula into a Vanilla shake.

However, one of the treasures of the cocktail world was created in 1916 at the Detroit Athletic Club.  Equal parts Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, and lime juice is considered a prohibition drink although obviously created before prohibition.  Most cocktails were created during prohibition to hide the awful bathtub gin, whiskey and moonshine people were drinking.  I would say maybe Yost enjoyed one of the first ones at the DAC, but he did not drink. 

The drink was very popular for years and then almost forgotten during WWII.  It was then resurrected in a Seattle bar from an old cocktail book and quickly became a huge hit.

This is an easy build and easy to remember so you can impress your friends by making a Pure Michigan cocktail. 

.75 oz   Gin (I generally use Tanqueray 10, but can use the amazing local Valentine’s Liberator gin)

.75  oz Green Chartreuse

.75  oz  Maraschino Liquor (Can’t use a substitute and don’t let the store owner say it’s the same as cherry liqueur or cherry pucker.

.75  oz lime juice  -  I’m lazy , you can use real limes, but I use real lime juice from a bottle, use real stuff not the abomination of plastic lime juice.  Santa Cruz organic Lime juice works for most cocktails.

Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 20 seconds and strain into a cocktail glass.

Enjoy Respons………I can’t drink this this color this  weekend ..  Let’s change it up

Empress 1908 Last word

Gin  --.75  Empress gin  (tough to find in Michigan,  you can get it shipped or available in Canada if close to the border)

Everything else the same… Much better.

Enjoy Responsibly!