gopoohgo

September 27th, 2014 at 12:52 AM ^

May as well start the endless Zingerman's v. Maize and Blue arguments.  More entertaining.

I like Zings.  Cheerfully admit I'm a food snob, and buy my balsamic (Vecchia 10 year), Montgomery's Farmhouse Cheddar and Stilton via mail order during their annual sales.

Their sandwiches are a bit overpriced, but I think bread is just as important as the meat, and the Zingerman's bakehouse bread is top notch.  Miss being able to walk down to Kerrytown and getting a fresh loaf of Parmesian Pepper bread for prosciutto sandwiches.

 

Njia

September 27th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^

Really like M&B, love me some Zingerman's. Comparing those two is like trying to argue Ford versus BMW. Sure, both will get you from here to there, both are well engineered, and both are built to deliver against a specific value proposition. But the BMW is recognized as one of the best cars on the planet. The Ford is a nice car.

MGolem

September 27th, 2014 at 7:29 AM ^

confounds me. Zingerman's is not "overpriced" at all, it is expensive, and rightly so. The ingredients they put into their food are the best of the best whereas a place like Maize and Blue uses store bought ingredients and compensates by giving you a sandwich you can barely get your mouth around. Both are enjoyable to eat but recognizing the differences is important. Eating a hamburger at Blimpy Burger and eating one made in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant are both enjoyable experiences but one is a work of art and the other is just good. If you are going to debate at all I agree that Dibella's has to be in the conversation. Zingerman's is a special occasion experience due to the price. If you are looking for a sandwich that is delicious and relatively affordable Dibella's is the clear winner over Maize and Blue.

LSAClassOf2000

September 27th, 2014 at 7:43 AM ^

I'll be honest, my initial thought was that it was more a swipe at the Memphis State / Minot State / Midwestern State or other MSU that had the same sort of profile in the national picture as your local AAA agent. That being said, I will say that I did definitely agree with one point - I cannot think of a lot of ways to owe the state of Indiana $60,000.

Hi Gang

September 27th, 2014 at 1:28 AM ^

I graduated from MSU.  I'm a huge fan, and I come here to bs about MSU and UofM football.

The "good enough for your father" comment didn't bother me a bit.  I'm usually slow to get offended.  But, I think this didn't really get me going because it's par for the course.  And by that, I mean that ripping on other people or institutions that people are affiliated with have become far more common than the positive and the objective neutral comments combined.

Just think of the actual and entire accomplishments and long-term results for both Michigan and Michigan State Universities.  Thatt should at least be a source of mutual gratitude. 

I love college football, so I'm not going to stop watching any time soon, and I'm not going to stop checking out message boards because some of it is still part of the entertainment and has become part of the football experience, but I think the latter is having a negative affect on me.

I know the whole rivalry thing is fun.  It is.

But, this experience has become more and more negative.  Win or lose.  Negative entertainment, similar to how reality TV is negative entertainment.  Judgment and hate over the outcome of a bunch of kids colliding into each other, and the occasional negative but highly reported behavior off the field.  Hot seat charts and articles for head coaches?  It makes me feel silly getting as caught up as I do, sometimes.

Maize and Blue…

September 27th, 2014 at 7:04 AM ^

I've been to MSU twice for M/MSU games.  After the first game some idiot comes up and starts poking me in the chest and screaming in my face luckily I had my kid with and decided restraint was the proper course of action.  The second one I had to have an usher come and stop the dick behind me from kneeing me in the back after repeatedly asking him to stop and this was before the game actually started. Not to mention all the getting patted on the head and having popcorn thrown at me. Never in my life would I consider putting my hands on another individual because he was a fan of another team in "our" stadium.

I also attended a MSU/Nebraska game there and had a brilliant MSU fan tell our group to "go back to the farm".  I stopped and asked him if he knew State was formed as an agricultural college and he looked confused.

Then there was the destruction of personal property issue when MSU fans decided to spray paint cars and buildings after a win in Ann Arbor. I actually use to cheer for MSU to win every game but one. I even use to room with an ex Spartan football player when I lived and worked in the Lansing area and now I can't stand the school or its fans.

 

flashOverride

September 27th, 2014 at 7:12 AM ^

Spot on. I've been to games at every Big Ten stadium except Indiana, Iowa, and the three newbies, and there isn't a more spiteful and negative fanbase than MSU's. Not even at Ohio State. Yes, they are bloodthirsty and I have seen some awful behavior, but even *most* of them seem to get that at the end of the day, it's just a form of entertainment that we all happen to love. Michigan State fans act from the get-go as if you being a Michigan fan means you have somehow personally wronged them.

flashOverride

September 27th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^

I'm talking about life in general. I lived in Columbus for two years, I live in the Lansing area now. In Ohio, my coworkers were obviously all OSU fans, and sure I got plenty of good-natured ribbing, but that's all it ever was. I was always a member of the gang in good standing, except on "Spirit Fridays" when I'd wear something Michigan to work. And this was during Rich Rod. I don't know, maybe it would have been worse if it had been during the '90s or in the early '00s when they finally started beating Michigan again.

My current place of employment is mostly MSU fans. Totally different. It's the day of the Michigan-MSU game 365 days a year. Some have even tried to exclude me from work social functions over it, they are so obsessed (and the worst one of all is - wait for it - NOT an alum of MSU! And I *am*!). My girlfriend's place of work is similar, she's come home from work in tears a few times, and I've had to personally confront one of her male coworkers over leaving her the fuck alone. There are plenty of decent State fans among my family and friends, but there seem to be a lot of truly revolting ones out there. Never did Ohio State fans treat me like they were better people than I simply because their football team was beating mine. Can't say the same for MSU fans the last six years.

umumum

September 27th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^

I lived in EL for many years.  Your experience and your wife's doesn't reflect mine, my wife's or frankly anyone's that I know.   Not even close.  Never even had an argument about the schools or the football programs that was anything but normal sport's bar talk.  Not questioning your experience--just believe it is out of the norm.

Brhino

September 27th, 2014 at 3:06 AM ^

How do you even know they're referring to Michigan State?  The article just says "MSU".  There's like a dozen M****** State Universities out there. 

Voltron is Handsome

September 27th, 2014 at 8:26 AM ^

Oh yay. More talk about the academic sides. Last I checked, that doesn't mean shit for the football team.

laus102

September 27th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

I think Zingerman's is overrated and overpriced. 

The Lunch Room is close to Zingerman's and has (IMHO) the best pastries in town, not to mention the fact that all their food is vegan.  

Zingerman's Roadhouse is an over-hyped, over-priced, white country club rip-off of Bob Evans.