MSU to Resume Athletics This Weekend
February 16th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^
Spartans will...resume their athletic schedule.
Here's to hoping a return to some semblance of normalcy can help them heal in crazy times like these. I am Go Green! Go White! for them right now on that front.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:19 PM ^
They will be welcomed with a special moment-of-five-minute-scoring-drought in the second half by the Wolverines.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
Don't forget spotting them the initial 5-7 points...that seems to be our calling card in most of our losses.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
lol, that's just wrong man.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^
Bless the Spartans.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
in this instance, absolutely.
February 16th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
I'm hoping the guys on today's WTKA Roundtable are right as they hinted / suggested this horrible shooting will provide some perspective on the rivalry, easing the vitriol. "Hate" in a rivalry can be fun, hate in the real world can be horror.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
Not sure that the men's basketball game is a good idea.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:31 PM ^
Already cringing at Hunter's next move.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
I am tired of Hunter's antics, but I feel like Dickinson was clearly trying to bring some levity to Howard's awkward return to Wisconsin. I don't think the shooting really crossed his mind. I personally did not learn the attacker at MSU wore a mask until after the Wisconsin game.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:20 PM ^
Sorry, but I disagree. I think we were all assuming Dickinson was just too ignorant to understand the implications of wearing a ski mask the day after a mass shooting less than an hour away from where he lives. It’s still a poor decision. Wearing a ski mask is rarely funny and even more rarely does it bring “levity” to a situation, especially in our society where bad things are happening much more frequently. If he hasn’t apologized, he should have. It was a fucking stupid thing to do.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
He should probably apologize either way because even though I agree it wasn't likely his intent (the fact Jett also wore the "Free Juwan" shirt leads me to believe these guys were focused on the Howard-back-to-Wisconsin narrative) it was still perceived as tone-deaf. I didn't know the shooter had worn a mask at MSU, and Dickinson doesn't strike me as a guy so insensitive he'd try to make fun of dead students, especially in a very specific way like that.
But in general this has not been a good year for Dickinson and his antics and so it would be best for everyone involved, IMO, to knock it off and focus on playing out the season without trying to win the "mind games" or whatever is driving stuff like this.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:43 PM ^
If Hunter talks shit this week he should be kicked off the team.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:47 PM ^
Wut? You don't think MSU is going to be talking trash? Have you watched MSU play?
Michigan needs to pay some proper respects pregame and then play ball.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^
He said “this week”, which I’m assuming meant on his podcast, or publicly talking trash before the game. He wasn’t saying he couldn’t or shouldn’t talk trash during the game.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
That is what I meant.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
I think Dickinson can be a huge dick but he doesn't seem quite that bad. But yeah, this is a week where you either don't talk about the game or just give basic platitudes and focus on literally anything else.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:13 PM ^
Both teams play hard.
- Rasheed Wallace
February 16th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
It hasn’t been since the Amaker years that I cared so little about a men’s bball rivalry game, but here we are.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Rivalry aside I'm rooting for that campus to heal as best as possible. I hope UM and the fans treat them appropriately as a symbol of the greater MSU community.
That said, I do hope the media discussion isn't spent framing this as some magnanimous effort by Izzo and this team to play a basketball game.
EDIT: And to be clear, since I think this post might be coming across unintentionally harshly, I give immense credit to that student body for having to deal with this nightmare. But I can absolutely see a certain announcer narrative around the game framing MSU as the unassailable avatar for a healing campus and Michigan the dastardly villains standing in their way. And that's not a helpful (or particularly healthy) narrative for anyone involved.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
Well that’s exactly how the media will frame it, but who cares. Like you said, support by the fans and allowing the community to heal is most important.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
You're right, I just am not looking forward to 2.5 hours of announcers giving Tom Izzo a bunch of credit for coaching a basketball game.
I actually went to MSU for grad school, and walked past and used those buildings where the shooting occurred. I had trouble sleeping the night it happened, and as a parent of some kids I've already seen them go through active shooter drills as little kids, as well as being stuck in a school when an actual active shooter (in this case it turned out to be a knife) situation broke out. It's terrifying. There's some statistic out there that the US averages a mass shooting (>3 dead) a day, and whether or not it's exactly a per-day count the fact that general sentiment seems right is beyond depressing. It's all awful, and again I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the MSU family as they process this trauma. But I'm not excited about Gus Johnson and Kevin Kugler trying to wax poetic about this tragedy by proxy as Hunter Dickinson and Maddy Sissoko battle for position in the paint.
February 16th, 2023 at 5:23 PM ^
“There's some statistic out there that the US averages a mass shooting (>3 dead) a day”
Kind of minor point but FWIW, that’s indeed the FBI definition of “mass shooting”.
But I think the one a day thing was true for a different definition - the “Gun Violence Archive” defines it as “4 or more deaths or injuries by firearm”, and they did count 417 of those in 2019 and 611 in 2020. But it includes a lot of shootings that aren’t quite the same thing as what happened at MSU.
FBI has started tracking “active shooter” statistics - they define that as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” This seems to better align with incidents like this one at MSU. They counted 40 such incidents in 2020 and 61 in 2021 (apparently the worst year they counted?).
For total murders, there were 26,031 in 2021.
February 16th, 2023 at 5:31 PM ^
On your actual point, I agree. I’m actually really happy to see MSU getting back to competition and I think the students and athletes and fans will all be mature enough to handle this respectfully and have some fun and carry on in the face of tragedy.
But the talking heads are absolutely going to try to make a narrative out of the outcome of the game and the performance of the Spartans as Saying Something Important about the shooting.
When that completely misses the point. The point is not to go out and win one for the victims, or “rise from the ashes”, or “put their emotions into the game” as if young adults tossing a ball around means a damn thing against similarly young adults lying dead.
The point is to do our best to get back to living while still grieving, to find comfort in our usual communal gatherings and rituals. And that’s really it, and the respectful thing to do would be leave it at that. But the strictures of sports commentary compel them to build a redemptive narrative.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
You can’t understand that these student athletes are probably processing a ton of trauma from the mass shooting?
February 16th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
I absolutely can. I can't imagine what they're going thru as a campus. I clarified my comment above but it feels like we (as a society) have become some inured to these mass shootings that we're already focusing on redemption arcs and a basketball game really shouldn't serve that purpose.
February 16th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
Gotcha, makes sense and thanks for the edit.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:52 PM ^
There was a gathering on the Diag yesterday to show support for MSU. I hope that carries over to Saturday.
Members of the U-M Central Student Government organized the vigil on the Diag. It began with a four-minute moment of silence to symbolize the four hours that MSU students were asked to shelter in place while the gunman remained at large. Some students brought flowers and one placed three green pieces of paper on the Block M reading simply, “Enough is enough.” Burton Tower was lit green and white for the evening and played MSU’s Alma Mater before the vigil started. After the speakers concluded, there was a large piece of paper with the words “Wolverines for Spartans” written where students could sign messages of support.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Yeah, I've really been impressed by the UM community's response to this tragedy as you've seen none of the petty rivalry BS leak in.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
Sports often divide us, but occasionally it can unify us.
Who wins Saturday doesn’t matter. Just compete with fraternal affection in your heart, fellas.
February 16th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
I just hope Crisler keeps it classy Saturday.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
It is going to be a unique and surreal experience as a fan who will be attending. On one side, you are playing your arch rival and desperately need a win, on the other side is that your arch rival has gone through a tragedy and needs to be treated with respect, compassion, and all of that. I Personally know 5 current MSU students and most of my extended family are Spartans. They are hurting big time.
I hope that the UM admin, team, and fans treat MSU with all the respect and compassion that they can, but at the same time do everything they can to win the game (both the team and fans in attendance).
February 16th, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
Yeah, I have to say, I think too much is being put on a basketball game here, and too much responsibility put on Michigan players to try.... but just not that hard.
You cannot win a game by playing "compassionately." Michigan is in desperate need of a win and I think they should play with desperation. I think the message Howard should be sending right now is to act with appropriate veneration of the circumstances until the whistle blows, and then fight like hell to win a basketball game.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:06 PM ^
Agreed. Treat Michigan State with compassion, but play with desperation.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
I think UM will play with appropriate compassion and the fans will show a healthy respect and empathy for the MSU family. They've done as much thus far. I'm sure they'll boo when an MSU player makes a play and cheer when UM does well but I have faith that those in attendance will show their humanity.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
Sounds like UM is going to show support for MSU during the game.
EDIT: I also forgot that Michigan commemorated the UVa shooting victims that had occurred earlier in the month when they played.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
A Green-out would actually be pretty cool.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
A Green Out? Seriously? Should Michigan fans be actively cheering for Michigan State during the game? If Michigan was traveling to Michigan State and the situation was completely reversed, we would be traveling into a very hostile atmosphere nonetheless.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:55 PM ^
Should Michigan fans be actively cheering for Michigan State during the game?
sure, why not. i mean, who cares it's just sports. why not show support for your brothers in a time of tragic loss?
we can be better human beings
and besides, we're playing for what, NIT seeding right now?
February 16th, 2023 at 3:58 PM ^
I care. I want Michigan to win the game. I want them to gather some momentum for the BTT. I care about Michigan’s players and our basketball program. No?
I think there should be an appropriate gesture of support but this over the top. Don’t venture over to RCMB where they are currently talking about beating “scUM” and calling our players thugs.
Well I guess at least we won’t have to see anymore hot takes about removing them from the football schedule.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:10 PM ^
It’s a game. Touch grass
February 16th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
it's a game. absolutely none of this shit matters.
and yeah, i think it would be really, really cool to see a bunch of 'spartan strong' t-shirts.
February 16th, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
Honestly, who cares? It's not like we're making the tournament.
February 16th, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
I’m sorry but this is pretty bad. It sounds like our team is getting ready to play a home game in front of a road crowd. I sympathize a great deal with the victims of the shooting and hope there are brighter days for MSU, but our players should not be being put in this situation.
Weird thread.
Go Blue. Beat State.
February 17th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
I'm with you goblu330 - Go Blue. Beat State.
February 16th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
I'm not saying cheer for them, just wear green as a show of support.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
Yeah, it would be a nice sign of respect for the players.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^
I support all of this. At the end of the day, we're all Michiganders and, more importantly, humans.
February 16th, 2023 at 7:14 PM ^
This exactly. We can show class and compassion for the horrific events msu has endured this week. My best friend's grandson is a student there and was only a couple hundred yards from the shooting when it happened. This not only affects the students but their family and friends as well.
Go Blue, beat staee!!!!