Your favorite Spartans

Submitted by GoBlogSparty on

As a long-time lurker, occassional poster, I thought I would offer some friendly banter during hate week. I know from various comments on here which of my fellow Spartan brethren you collectively despise. 

Out of curiosity, who among the Spartan community does MGoBlog collectively admire or respect (if any)?

I'll start it off and will admit that I did like watching Trey Burke (except when he played us), Biakabutuka and the A-Train, and also Jeremy Gallon for his accomplishments. Also, it's really hard to hate or disrespect Beilein. 

This might be a disaster, but what the hell. Who are your favorite Spartans (if any)?

(Cue the "the guy always hooks me up with extra fries at McDonald's...durrr" posts)

MGoBoard

The Dirty Nil

October 14th, 2015 at 7:33 PM ^

I met Mork once at his brother-in-law's cabin in northern Michigan when he was coordinator at OSU or coaching at Cinci. Not a bad guy, just real quiet and simple. I respect and like him. But fuck him on Saturday.

Joined: 05/13/2012

MGoPoints: 6222

Wohlverine

October 14th, 2015 at 5:51 PM ^

Jeff Lerg was a monster, so to speak. I worked for the Toledo Walleye last year before moving to Utah for a job, and he was the starting goaltender. He's deep into his career in the ECHL, and still works harder than anyone in the league. Sure, he's no Shawn Hunwick, but, he's got my respect. 

Joined: 10/11/2010

MGoPoints: 67

Watts Club Moz…

October 14th, 2015 at 5:52 PM ^

I used to work on the coaches shows when they were produced at WLAJ in Lansing in the late 90s. Izzo and Greg Kelser couldn't have been nicer guys. Friendly to the staff despite having to be there at 7am on a Sunday. There was one instance when Izzo asked at the last minute if he could tape the show at 11:30 on a Thursday so the team could catch a later flight back from a road trip. We were gung ho cause it meant we could sleep in on Sunday. Izzo thanked us like we'd given him money.

Saban was absolutely terrifying. I corrected him once when he referred to Memphis as "Memphis State" and he looked at me like he was going to eat my heart before he thanked me. Saban used to curse out George Blaha for jumping his cue and making them start over.

Ron Mason was nice enough but he spent most of his time flirting with the women on the staff and telling us why he thought Sergei Fedorov was a bum.

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 236

BlueHills

October 14th, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^

My wife was a Spartan for two years but transferred to M to finish her degree. I kind of like her.

I have a brother who was also a Spartan, but later became a Hawkeye. I know, inexplicable.

Joined: 10/31/2010

MGoPoints: 7468

ST3

October 15th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^

I grew up in East Lansing. One summer I went to MSU's basketball camp. Jud was very involved with the day-to-day operations of the camp. The next year I went to UofM's basketball camp. Frieder let Fisher do all the work. I just appreciate Jud's approach more than Frieder.

Plus, he was rockin' the Spike flow decades before Albrecht first picked up a comb.

EDIT: another thing about Heathcote is that he coached before college coaches were paid millions. He lived in a very middle-class neighborhood near some of my friends. He was just a regular guy with a bad hairstyle and poor taste in clothes.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52428

Rupertus

October 14th, 2015 at 6:03 PM ^

I did meet George Perles at a 4th of July parade up north when I was a little kid, so I'd have to say him. I don't really remember it other than shaking his hand. At the time, he was the most famous person I'd met.

Joined: 07/02/2015

MGoPoints: 1018

BLHoke

October 14th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^

I'll go with "respected their play" instead. Magic (top 5 player ever) Mateen (great leader and floor general) MoPete (fellow lefty, nice all around game) Gibby (Tiger) Rogers (Didn't like til Lions drafted him, hated after he bust) Abdelkader (Wing) Draymond (hated at MSU, love at GS) Z-Bo (one of the few I've liked from start to finish) Payne (see extracurriculars) LeVeon Bell (fantasy football purposes only) Plax (helped beet Brady in a SB. Hate it, but I respect it.) Steve Smith (2nd greatest Spartan ever in bball? Probably deserve a spot on Hawks all-time team) Scott Skiles (everything Aaron Craft wishes he was) Darqueeze Dennard (earned the right to call it a no fly zone) I used to respect Izzo a lot, dare I say even like... Until JB came along. It seems as if he were a much more gracious winner. Imagine that.

Joined: 08/17/2011

MGoPoints: 5018

EGD

October 14th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^

I was a pretty big fan of the Flintstones.  I also liked Andre Rison.

I thought Derek Mason was a bad ass, even though the Spartan teams he played on weren't very good.

I grew up in Saginaw, so I've followed a lot of the Saginaw players over the years (Jason Richardson, Draymond Green, Charles Rodgers, Marvin Wright, et. al.).  

I was a big fan of Gibson when he was with the Tigers, but his football days were before my time.

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

joeyb

October 14th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^

Chris Baker. Went to my high school. The first year I played fantasy football, I drafted him to my team and I won about $400 that year. He was my good luck charm.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 16845

931 S State

October 14th, 2015 at 6:22 PM ^

John Smoltz. Never played for State but he's a fan and clearly could/would have if he had played college baseball. He is to MSU what Jeter is to UM. Favorite pitcher of the 90s and seems like a genuinely good dude.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 1964