Talking about this with my father this afternoon, how watching the following players related to the pain and suffering during the late 90s-Mid 00s:
Robbie Reid (I'm a "Reid" so clearly my favorite player)
Gavin Groniger
Domenic Ingerson
Brett Petway
Chris Young
Graham Brown (Was at the game, still remember the sound of him setting the pick on the Wisconsin PG).
Courtney Sims
Avery Queen
Dani Wohl (Pride of Detroit Hillel Day School)
Josh Asselin
Daniel Horton
Dion Harris (NIT Hero)
Maceo Baston
Lou Bullock
Robert Tractor Traylor
Pete Vignear
David Merritt
CJ Lee
Dugan Fife
Bernard Robinson Jr.
Lester Abram
Sherrod Harrel
Jevon Sheppard
Ekpe Udoh
Jerret Smith
And who could forget K'Len Morris and Reed Baker
In all honesty, fondest memory of these teams was Tractor Traylor breaking the backboard...when that overtakes postseason accomplishments you know the program had its "down" moments.
I too am a lifelong/diehard U of M sports fan. I was born 2 weeks after the '89 Bball championship and my father nearly named me Rumeal. Growing up I would be in diapers at football and basketball games, and even had Chris Webber put a basketball in my hands during halftime and held me up to dunk in Crisler when I was 2 years old. Absolutely nothing can change the allegiance that I had to the city of Ann Arbor and U of M sports. Spending at least one night a weekend at Yost and most likely the next day back up at Michigan Stadium. Traveled out to multiple Rose Bowls, and at least 3 or 4 home games each season growing up. I even have a commemerated brick at Michigan Statdium.
Then came high school, and like many other immature teens, I didn't give 2 squats about homework/studying/etc. and thus didn't have the grades to get into U of M. For instate schools (due to money were the only option although I would have gone to Ohio U or Clemson if possible), MSU was the clear cut best option for me and after the 4 years I look back and say that I wouldn't change a damn thing. I absolutely loved East Lansing and the college experience at Michigan State, found my niche as a Hospitality Business major and even got to do some side journalism work for MSU beat writer Shannon Shelton during football games.
Let it be known, that I did indeed become a Michigan State fan. I took pride in my school, but this did not change where my loyalties were at. While I loved everything about MSU (had the pleasure of attending some great games in MSU vs ND 2010, MSU vs Wisconsin 2011), it is 2nd to my love for U of M sports. I do not for one second say "we" or affiliate myself with the university when talking about the sports teams. I still actively follow recruiting because it is what I have known for so long.
I had the unfortunate experience of driving to Ann Arbor, during the first ever football saturday for me at MSU, to attend the debacle that was Appalachian St. I had both MSU and U of M student tickets that year. Trust me, I didn't hear the end of it and it only got worse as I attended MSU as a U of M fan during the worst stretch in program history.
I do think I have been blessed with the gift, due to my split allegiances, to be completely unbiased when it comes to talking about these sports teams. To be able to understand both sides of the ball, and not be completely one minded when analyzing strengths/weaknesses of these teams.
This week, along with MSU vs U of M basketball games, are just the worst for me. I can't win, and I lose no matter what. I watch these games wearing the color grey, not utterring a word and just watch the game play out. Sometimes my instincts get the best of me and I revert to what I've known my whole life.
That being said, I get the whole wal-mart crap argument all the damn time, knowing damn well that I even have friends who are MSU/OSU/etc fans and attended none of those schools.
I got this same video posted on my facebook wall, thinking the whole time that it's just some soul-less ginger who cares way too much about others lives and this hypocritically overplayed argument that has nothing to do with anything. It's America dammit, a free country, and you're going to tell me who I can and cannot root for? That's criminal, he should be ashamed, and anyone who watched the video and agreed (all msu students) are just letting the terrorists win.
An MSU win I would take with a grain of salt because I'd know MSU would have the inside track to Indy and it would result in a U of M loss, but a U of M win would be so gratifying just to shut my friends up.
Recent Comments
Abby is one of the few reasons this team hung in it for 7 games and a took San Jose/Chicago to game 7's before.
Guy is Captain material regardless of stats.
Talking about this with my father this afternoon, how watching the following players related to the pain and suffering during the late 90s-Mid 00s:
Robbie Reid (I'm a "Reid" so clearly my favorite player)
Gavin Groniger
Domenic Ingerson
Brett Petway
Chris Young
Graham Brown (Was at the game, still remember the sound of him setting the pick on the Wisconsin PG).
Courtney Sims
Avery Queen
Dani Wohl (Pride of Detroit Hillel Day School)
Josh Asselin
Daniel Horton
Dion Harris (NIT Hero)
Maceo Baston
Lou Bullock
Robert Tractor Traylor
Pete Vignear
David Merritt
CJ Lee
Dugan Fife
Bernard Robinson Jr.
Lester Abram
Sherrod Harrel
Jevon Sheppard
Ekpe Udoh
Jerret Smith
And who could forget K'Len Morris and Reed Baker
In all honesty, fondest memory of these teams was Tractor Traylor breaking the backboard...when that overtakes postseason accomplishments you know the program had its "down" moments.
I too am a lifelong/diehard U of M sports fan. I was born 2 weeks after the '89 Bball championship and my father nearly named me Rumeal. Growing up I would be in diapers at football and basketball games, and even had Chris Webber put a basketball in my hands during halftime and held me up to dunk in Crisler when I was 2 years old. Absolutely nothing can change the allegiance that I had to the city of Ann Arbor and U of M sports. Spending at least one night a weekend at Yost and most likely the next day back up at Michigan Stadium. Traveled out to multiple Rose Bowls, and at least 3 or 4 home games each season growing up. I even have a commemerated brick at Michigan Statdium.
Then came high school, and like many other immature teens, I didn't give 2 squats about homework/studying/etc. and thus didn't have the grades to get into U of M. For instate schools (due to money were the only option although I would have gone to Ohio U or Clemson if possible), MSU was the clear cut best option for me and after the 4 years I look back and say that I wouldn't change a damn thing. I absolutely loved East Lansing and the college experience at Michigan State, found my niche as a Hospitality Business major and even got to do some side journalism work for MSU beat writer Shannon Shelton during football games.
Let it be known, that I did indeed become a Michigan State fan. I took pride in my school, but this did not change where my loyalties were at. While I loved everything about MSU (had the pleasure of attending some great games in MSU vs ND 2010, MSU vs Wisconsin 2011), it is 2nd to my love for U of M sports. I do not for one second say "we" or affiliate myself with the university when talking about the sports teams. I still actively follow recruiting because it is what I have known for so long.
I had the unfortunate experience of driving to Ann Arbor, during the first ever football saturday for me at MSU, to attend the debacle that was Appalachian St. I had both MSU and U of M student tickets that year. Trust me, I didn't hear the end of it and it only got worse as I attended MSU as a U of M fan during the worst stretch in program history.
I do think I have been blessed with the gift, due to my split allegiances, to be completely unbiased when it comes to talking about these sports teams. To be able to understand both sides of the ball, and not be completely one minded when analyzing strengths/weaknesses of these teams.
This week, along with MSU vs U of M basketball games, are just the worst for me. I can't win, and I lose no matter what. I watch these games wearing the color grey, not utterring a word and just watch the game play out. Sometimes my instincts get the best of me and I revert to what I've known my whole life.
That being said, I get the whole wal-mart crap argument all the damn time, knowing damn well that I even have friends who are MSU/OSU/etc fans and attended none of those schools.
I got this same video posted on my facebook wall, thinking the whole time that it's just some soul-less ginger who cares way too much about others lives and this hypocritically overplayed argument that has nothing to do with anything. It's America dammit, a free country, and you're going to tell me who I can and cannot root for? That's criminal, he should be ashamed, and anyone who watched the video and agreed (all msu students) are just letting the terrorists win.
An MSU win I would take with a grain of salt because I'd know MSU would have the inside track to Indy and it would result in a U of M loss, but a U of M win would be so gratifying just to shut my friends up.
Go Blue forever and always