This movie is already getting good buzz from the likes of EW, Salon, and yes... Fox News. Here's an excerpt from the Fox review:
Filmmaker Michael Moore's brilliant and uplifting new documentary, "Sicko," deals with the failings of the U.S. healthcare system, both real and perceived. But this time around, the controversial documentarian seems to be letting the subject matter do the talking, and in the process shows a new maturity.
Unlike many of his previous films ("Roger and Me," "Bowling for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9-11"), "Sicko" works because in this one there are no confrontations. Moore smartly lets very articulate average Americans tell their personal horror stories at the hands of insurance companies. The film never talks down or baits the audience.
Without even bothering to see it, I'm sure the mouth-breathers on the right will get their panties in a knot about this new film (heck, wannabe Presidential candidate Fred Thompson already has a head start), but if Fox News' critic can't find anything bad to say about the movie, Moore must've done something right.
Yes, this is a real website:
What's the McFLY 2015 project?
It's a grassroots movement to get Nike to make available to consumers the futuristic-looking sneakers seen in the movie Back to the Future Part II.
Do these shoes even exist?
Yes, Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) wears them during the year-2015 scene that takes place at the beginning of Back to the Future 2.
I want those sneakers too, what do I have to do?
Just sign up on the official website of the McFly 2015 project. It's on the Interweb at www.mcfly2015.com
Oh, you know I totally signed this petition.
Does anyone else feel sorry for this kid? I mean, he was probably going to struggle to make it in the NFL no matter who drafted him, but after being picked up by the hapless Lions in the second round of the draft, his pro career is already doomed.
Michael Rosenberg of the Free Press seems to agree, calling Stanton a "dud." Yikes. Anyone else taking bets on how long it takes for him to end up in the arena league with Jeff Smoker?
"Warmer Than Hell"
Here's the news on the Spinal Tap reunion (via my old man)...
Spinal Tap is back, and this time the band wants to help save the world from global warming.
The mock heavy metal group immortalized in the 1984 mockumentary, "This is Spinal Tap," will reunite for a performance at Wembley Stadium in London as part of the Live Earth concerts scheduled worldwide for July 7.
"They're not that environmentally conscious, but they've heard of global warming," said Reiner, whose other films include "When Harry Met Sally" and "Stand By Me." "Nigel thought it was just because he was wearing too much clothing — that if he just took his jacket off it would be cooler."
Spinal Tap has reunited several times since the film, but hasn't for a number of years. For the band — whose last album was 1992's "Break like the Wind" — the occasion warranted a new single: "Warmer Than Hell."
Reiner provided a sneak peak at the lyrics: "The devil went to Devon, it felt like the fourth degree/ He said, 'Is it hot in here, or is it only me?'"
Man, you gotta love the Tap...
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
See, this is why I love the internet. You can download all five songs over on this blog. Here are the tracks they have...
Beck - "MTV Makes Me Want To Smoke Crack" | (God Is My Wetsuit)
Beck - "To See That Woman Of Mine" | (God Is My Wetsuit)
Beck - "Satan Gave Me a Taco" | (Stereopathetic Soulmanure)
Beck - "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" (KCRW: Sounds Eclectic)
Beck - "Your Cheatin' Heart" (Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute)
Okay, I'll admit it. I like Star Trek. I can tell you what the "T" in James T. Kirk stands for*, what Captain Picard's favorite drink is**, and the name of Data's cat***.
So, whenever I see news stories like this, my heart always skips a beat:
"British scientists have announced their intent to build a Star Trek-style magnetic shielding system to help protect astronauts from radiation. 'There are a variety of risks facing future space explorers, not least of which is the cancer-causing radiation encountered when missions venture beyond the protective magnetic envelope, or magnetosphere, which shields the Earth against these energetic particles. The Earth's magnetosphere deflects many of these particles; others are largely absorbed by the atmosphere.'"
Okay, shields are pretty cool. Of course, I would much rather have access to a transporter or a replicator –– and don't even get me started on photon torpedoes –– but I guess we can only tackle one piece of Star Trek technology at a time.
*Tiberius | **Tea, Earl Grey, Hot | *** Spot
Bono is now officially a (Jedi) Knight:
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Irish rock star and global humanitarian Bono became a knight of the British empire Thursday -- and joked that his youngest son thought he was about to join the Jedi order instead.
"You have permission to call me anything you want -- except sir, all right? Lord of lords, your demigodness, that'll do," Bono, 46, told reporters after he was crowned a "Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire" in an informal, laugh-filled ceremony in the Dublin home of British Ambassador David Reddaway.
Bono -- who sported lapel pins for two of his previous European government awards, the Legion d'Honneur from France and the Order of Liberty from Portugal -- said such official accolades "really help me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through. And that's the truth; that's the way the world is."
Bono said he originally was not planning anything special for the day he received the knighthood. But he said Monday's surprise power-sharing deal in Northern Ireland between Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams had inspired him to throw a party at his billionaire's-row home in Killiney, south Dublin.
"I wasn't going to have even a bit of a do. I was going to slip in, keep it very quiet," he said. "But when I saw big Ian sitting down there with Gerry Adams I just thought: This is the end of an era but the beginning of a much better one."
What a badass.
When I was in 9th grade, someone thought it would be funny to nominate a kid in a wheelchair and a girl who was really into goth clothes to our homecoming court. What started off as a joke snowballed pretty quickly, and these kids actually ended up winning.
I think something similar is taking shape on a national scale right now.
It's pretty clear that the wheels are in motion for
Mark my words. It will happen.
Just like the kids from my 9th grade class at Holt, America seems to have a sick, sick sense of humor. I love it.
(image from BWE)
According to Jody Rosen, a critic for Entertainment Weekly and Slate, "consensus has formed" among rock critics that Arcade Fire has replaced U2 as the "World's Greatest Band," following the release of their new album "Neon Bible." Um, wha?
Okay, I'll admit I've only ever listened to one complete Arcade Fire song, "Wake Up," which, coincidentally, was used as the intro song during U2's Vertigo Tour. It's actually a really great song, and I had it on repeat on my iPod for about a month back in late 2005. But "World's Greatest Band"? Puh-lease.
I'll admit, I'm clearly unqualified to pass judgement on this band, but isn't it a little premature to hand off the "World's Greatest Band" crown to a group that has existed for less than four years, and only released two albums?
Does anyone else remember the ridiculous hype surrounding The Arctic Monkeys among the UK rock press last year? NME even went so far as to say their debut album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not," was the fifth-best British album of all-time... four notches above the highest-ranking Beatles album, "Revolver." Seriously... WTF?
Like I said, I'm not trying to dog Arcade Fire here – for all I know this new album really is great – but it seems like rock critics are a little too desperate to name the next "Greatest Band in the World."
Maybe rock music has just been in the toilet for so long – both in terms of quality and record sales – that people have lowered their expectations. I honestly don't know.
Arcade Fire may legitimately earn the title of "World's Greatest Band" someday. Someday. But, as a rule, I think five albums and/or ten years of existence should be a prerequisite.
Whaa? A Forrest Gump sequel? Without Tom Hanks? EW's Popwatch asks the perfect question: "Worst idea... or worst idea ever?"
I'm inclined to go with the latter.
1. Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
3. Michael Jackson: Thriller
4. Led Zeppelin: IV
5. U2: The Joshua Tree
6. Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street
7. Carole King: Tapestry
8. Bob Dylan: Highway '61 Revisited
9. Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
10. Nirvana: Nevermind
First off, I'm pretty proud of myself for owning all of these albums (except Highway '61, although I do have a pretty comprehensive Dylan Box Set). The only album on this list that I could really argue against is Nevermind. I mean, I understand Nirvana's significance in historical terms, but this album has not aged well, IMHO. When people come out with lists like these in another ten or twenty years, I doubt Nevermind will be ranked so high.
While it's hard to quibble with Sgt. Pepper, Dark Side of the Moon, or The Joshua Tree in terms of their cultural importance, I would argue that Revolver, The Wall, and Achtung Baby are all better albums from these respective bands, and could easily replace these choices in the same positions (all of them do appear higher on the list). Again, just my opinion.
A year ago I would've taken issue with Carole King's Tapestry being so high on a list like this, but I've actually been listening to this album a lot recently, thanks to Stefy (and my mom), and it's fantastic! Carole King is certainly one of the best songwriters of the 60s and 70s (a feat in and of itself), and I think a case could be made that she's the best female songwriter of all-time.
The rest of the top ten – Thriller, IV, Exile on Main Street, Highway '61, and Pet Sounds – are all near-perfect albums, and definitely deserve to be in the top-ten. No argument here.
Still, there are some oddball choices on the NARM's "Definitive 200." How about #13 Supernatural by Santana and #14 Metallica by Metallica ahead of #15 Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen? Um, I don't think so. Or what about #17 Back in Black by AC/DC and #21 Come on Over by Shania Twain... both ahead of Who's Next (#22), Songs in the Key of Life (#23) and Kind of Blue (#34)? Seriously, WTF?
Of course, these arbitrary lists are meant to stir the pot and get people talking about (and buying) albums again. In fact, the NY Daily News used this list to explain why song-by-song downloads are cannibalizing album sales nowadays. Personally, I still favor the notion of an album as a complete work. To me, downloading songs one at a time is like buying individual chapters of a book – you kinda miss out on the meat of the story if you don't read the whole thing. But hey, that's me.
What do you think? Are there albums that you think should've made the list? Ones that were ranked too low (or high)? Let me know...
Better enjoy it while it lasts, coach:
"It's not about me," Amaker said. "My status is what it is. We're coaching our team right now and I don't think it's appropriate to have discussions about my status. We still have an opportunity to do some good things with our team and our season. I think we've had a good season."
Amaker said he doesn't dwell on the possibility of being fired after this season.
"It's not even an issue that I think about (or) discuss (with the players)," Amaker said. "It never comes up unless it comes up (in talking to the media)."
Not an issue that you think about? Gee, that sounds like a great recruiting pitch. Man, I hope the folks at UM are dumb enough to keep this guy.
"What would Lenny Henry say? I think we know - imagine him going out of the door and Dawn French is going 'Where you going? You haven't done the washing up, you haven't put the rubbish out-' 'Do it yourself! I gotta go and save some Africans!'" –David Brent
Well, Bono is still trying to save all those Africans. This time, he's going to be editing the July issue of Vanity Fair in an attempt to "re-brand" Africa for rich people:
“We need to get better at storytelling,” Bono said, sitting in the 22nd floor of the office of Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair. “Bill Gates tells me this all the time. We’ve got to get better at telling the success stories of Africa in addition to the horror stories. And this magazine tells great stories.”
Vanity Fair does tell great stories and serious ones, but it sits atop the American magazine industry, in no small part because it takes as its preoccupations the needs and doings of the idle rich. The current Hollywood issue is its biggest ever, 500 pages jammed with glitz, celebrity and so many ads that the magazine could injure someone if it fell off the coffee table. Just outside Mr. Carter’s office, a framed to-do list with hundreds of items details Vanity Fair’s preparations for one of its past Oscar parties, which is a long way from Mogadishu.
“Bono will make a different issue about Africa than we would,” Mr. Carter said. “I think there isn’t one editor in the world who would not pay attention if Bono pulled up and said he wanted to edit a magazine.”
Being a fan of all-things Bono, I think this is pretty cool. Mr. Hewson did a great job of editing The Independent last May, so I would imagine his version of Vanity Fair will be just as good.
Sure, there's a certain amount of pandering involved here, but the Sally Struthers approach clearly hasn't worked for Africa. It's unfortunate that Americans – especially the rich and powerful, who actually have the power to make a difference – need to be "sold" on the idea of fighting AIDS, but you have to give Bono and his cohorts credit for making this stuff seem cool.
UPDATE: Hmm. Okay, so maybe the whole (RED) thing wasn't such a swell idea. Still, you can't fault the guy for trying.
wash your hands and cover your mouths!
Drew Neitzel looked and felt much better on Thursday afternoon as he practiced with his Michigan State teammates for the first time since last week.
But the illness that felled Neitzel for much of the week moved on to a different target – freshman forward Raymar Morgan, who missed practice that day. Morgan had been battling a cold for most of the week, but hadn’t felt too weak to practice or play until Thursday.
Center Drew Naymick has also been sick over the past week.
“This is the most ridiculous I’ve ever seen it here,” said MSU coach Tom Izzo. “I’ve never seen guys going down for this length of time.”
If this is the same bug that got me a couple weeks ago (or something similar), I can't imagine how these guys will be able to function, let alone play basketball against the #2 team in the Big Ten tomorrow.
I guess we should blame the hockey team:
Apparently something is spreading around campus. Izzo said some members of the hockey team have missed games and practices because of illness and heard that some football players had also been too sick to participate in winter workouts.
Neitzel added that many of his friends on campus have also fallen ill recently and thinks the fluctuations in temperature have something to do with it.
Even Izzo has caught the bug. He was coughing during interviews on Thursday.
“It’s been a week and a half, and I never get sick,” Izzo said.
Hand sanitizer. Buy some. Use it.
Well, kudos to the Wolvereenies for winning last night's game. Sure, our best player was sick, but that's no excuse for the way we played. Suton definitely stepped up his game and kept us in it during the second half, but he wasn't getting much help offensively.
It would've been nice to have won that game, but even if we lose to Wisconsin on Saturday, I'm still pretty confident about our tournament prospects. Michigan, on the other hand, still has to win against #1 Ohio State on Saturday to have any chance of snagging a bid, and I just don't see that happening.
For now though, Tommy Amaker still has a job, and I suppose that's the best thing we can take away from yesterday's game. One can only hope that Michigan will be dumb enough to keep him onboard for another season.
• Freep: Wolverines' victory over Spartans a hollow one
• Freep: THE BUBBLE METER: Sparty's still Dancin'
• Bleeding Green: Go Blue!
• State News: Feeling blue
• State News: Harris leads desperate Wolverines
• LSJ: U-M gets jolt to NCAA bid, tops Spartans
• LSJ: MSU notebook: Don't Blame Drew's Illness
• LSJ: MSU vs. Michigan
Every Spartan basketball fan remembers the glory days of 1999-2001, when the Izzone consistently turned Crisler into "Breslin East" by gobbling up a huge block of seats at UM's decrepit basketball arena.
Well, the Wolverinies didn't like having MSU fans take over their home games too much, so they changed the ticket policy to keep it from happening year after year.
That worked for a while, but after reading this little tidbit, it looks like Spartan fans could be invading Crisler again for tomorrow's game:
Michigan is on spring break until March 5, however, and that might affect student turnout for Tuesday's game, and for Saturday's matchup against Ohio State.
"The timing is unfortunate," Amaker said Monday. "I know everyone is excited to get to some warm weather somewhere. But I think we'll have a great crowd, a great turnout with Michigan folks."
Earlier this year, MSU fans had a shot to buy tickets online for Tuesday's game. But many were turned away because Michigan's online system only allowed those with football season tickets to buy basketball tickets.
Those pesky Spartans, however, have found other ways to get into the building. There has been plenty of discussion on Internet message board about buying tickets from fellow fans, ticket brokers and online services such as stubhub.com.
Spring break, plus an arena full of apathetic old farts gives Spartan fans the perfect opportunity to take over Crisler Arena tomorrow.
Win or lose, we're probably a lock for the tournament at this point, but it would still be rewarding to burst UM's bubble on their home court, especially if we can manage to get a bunch of noisy Izzone kids in there to cheer for our guys. Should be fun to watch.
P.S. More on this one over on the Freep's site.
You could tell Drew Neitzel wasn't up to snuff in the first half, and not just because of his lack of scoring. The poor kid just looked exhausted coming up the floor (he has an upper-respiratory infection like I had, so I can empathize), and his ball-handlling was atrocious. Still, you gotta give Neitzel credit for scoring when we needed it most. Those three threes in the second half kept us in it, and gave the rest of the team the jolt they needed to eventually take the lead.
Unlike, say, the game against Purdue, when no one else was able to step up and fill the void when Drew wasn't scoring, Raymar Morgan has clearly become the second go-to guy on the team. I know everyone's been saying it all year, but Morgan is clearly going to be a star. In a lot of ways, I think his game is improving faster than Shannon Brown's did during his first year at State. Man, I can't wait to see what kind of a player he'll be in a year or two.
Now, it's on to Ann Arbor. I realize Michigan isn't the pushover they've been in year's past, but I feel a lot more comfortable heading into this game now after pocketing these wins against Wisconsin and Indiana. At this point, we're basically a lock for the tourney, and a win against UM would basically close the door on their hopes for snagging an NCAA invitation, which would be pretty satisfying. Who knows... this could be the last time we get to beat a UM team coached by Tommy Turtleneck!
• DNews: Under Morgan's influence, Spartans pull out big win
• DNews: Spartans continue roll, top Indiana
• Freep: See you at the Dance
• Indiana Daily Student: IU falls to Michigan State, 66-58
• State News: Spartans rally from 10-point halftime deficit to defeat IU
• LSJ: Morgan, Walton lead MSU charge back from 13 points down
• LSJ: 'GameDay' staff praises fans
Apr 03, 2007 at MSU Auditorium
Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Notes: TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 at 10:00am
Ben Folds has been entertaining college audiences around the world since his band Ben Folds Five debuted back in 1995. Since then, Ben has held his own with a very successful solo career that includes hit albums such as "Rockin the Suburbs" and "Songs for Silverman". Ben Folds now returns to East Lansing, this time bringing his unique piano experience to the MSU Concert Auditorium. Known worldwide for his fun concerts and crowd involvement, Ben Folds is a favorite among college audiences.
We are so there.
The X-Factor, obviously, is Drew Neitzel. When the game is on the line, the kid just has an uncanny ability to will his team to victory. I don't know he does it, but he clearly has a spark that was lacking in players like Hill, Anderson, Torbert, and Davis. Now, I realize those players were eventually able to get it together and bust out an amazing run to the Final Four in 2005, but for me, this is the most exciting team we've had since 2001. Sure, they're frustrating at times – looking back, I still can't figure out how we self-destructed against Purdue – but on any given night, if all the stars align, these kids can beat anybody. And last night, for the first time since Magic Johnson's team won the 1979 NCAA Championship, we beat the #1 team in the nation. WOW!
• LSJ: No. 1 for a night
• State News: Oh, what a Neit!
• State News: Underdog MSU did all the little things right
• State News: Men's basketball vs. Wisconsin Photo Gallery
• Bleeding Green: The (not-so) shocking victory
• Hey, Joe: What a win
• Freep Photo Gallery: MSU 64, Wisconsin 55
• Freep: Spartans shore up tournament bid by shutting down Badgers
• DetNews: THE BIG ONE: MSU upsets No. 1 Wisconsin
• DetNews: Spartans conjure a memory-maker
• DetNews Photo Gallery
• (Madison) Capital Times: Spartans offer rude introduction to new No. 1
• Badger Herald: Misfiring Badgers struggle, all Neitzel
Well, I think the opposite is true of basketball, in that we basically kill them a majority of the time. I mean, we've only lost to Michigan twice, and haven't lost to them at home, since something like 1997. I don't think you can call that a "rivalry" anymore.
Last night basically proved my point. It was a sloppy game, even though for maybe the first time in ten years, Michigan as a whole had more talented players than we did... but the result was the same. What's the difference? Coaching. Tom Izzo is a future hall-of-famer, and Tommy Turtleneck is a future junior high school coach.
Michigan's program hasn't improved at all – despite gathering a halfway decent roster of players for the first time this year – during Amaker's tenure. The situation is almost as pathetic as Michigan State's football program, but the difference is that, while we've had bad coaches in the past, at least we know when to can them.
If you want a good laugh, just check out some of these articles from this morning. It's still possible that UM could beat us on their own court and maybe squeak out a tournament appearance, but the university would be nuts to keep Amaker after this season:
• Rosenberg: Big game was sloppy, yet undeniably intriguing
• Wojo: Spartans' victory has no surprises
• Rexrode: Parting thought from MSU-Michigan Part I
• State News: Duo powers MSU past U-M
Oh, yes:
The group whetted fans' appetite for the expected trek on Sunday night, when they performed their breakthrough hit "Roxanne" at the opening of the Grammy Awards ceremony.
Sting, 55, guitarist Andy Summers, 64, and drummer Stewart Copeland, 54, will kick off the tour May 28 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Dates have so far been set for North America only; the band will play Europe in the autumn, and shows in Mexico, South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are also anticipated.
Ticket prices will range from $50 to $225, a spokesperson announced at a press conference at Los Angeles' Whiskey A Go Go nightclub. The group also played a few songs for the assembled, including "Message in a Bottle," "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around," "Can't Stand Losing You" and "Roxanne."
I am so there.
UPDATE: Tour dates, via my old man...
28 May GM Place, Vancouver BC
06 Jun Key Arena, Seattle WA
09 Jun Pepsi Center, Denver CO
15 Jun MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas, NV
16 Jun Bonnaroo Festival, Manchester, TN
18 Jun US Airways Arena, Phoenix, AZ
26 Jun American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
30 Jun New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
02 Jul Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO
22 Jul Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
25 Jul Bell Centre, Montreal, PQ
28 Jul Fenway Park, Boston, MA
01 Aug Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
03 Aug Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
These dates are subject to change, and more could (and I predict will) be added. This is The Police, after all, and both Chicago and Detroit aren't even on the list... yet.
Here's the bottom line: there's just not enough talent on this team. When Drew Neitzel isn't a scoring threat in a game, no one else can (or will) step up to pick up his points.
The offense was completely out of sync in the first half (against a weak Purdue defense), and when Drew didn't have one of his usual second half explosions, it was like everyone else on the team just gave up.
It was completely pathetic, and if these kids don't get it together right now (with four straight home games), there's no way we should expect the NCAA to invite us to the tournament this year. We haven't earned it.
Grrrrr.
Anyway, speaking of a lack of talent... it looks like a pretty mixed bag for Dantonio's first recruiting class. But, like I said yesterday, I am encouraged by his aggressiveness, and am cautiously optimistic for the future.
• State News: 'A complete meltdown'
• State News: An 'uphill battle' to finish with winning record
• Hey, Joe: Mackey mauling
• Hey, Joe: Signing day recap
• Grinz on Green: Dantonio's first recruit class rates C+
• Booth: Effort of MSU's new coaching regime pays off
• Hey, Joe: Signing day
This is probably the best news about MSU's football recruiting for 2007:
"I liked their aggressiveness, which bodes well for the future," said recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. "They were going after all the big names, including players who were already committed to other teams.
"I like that in a staff, especially when you just take over. You can't back down from Michigan, Ohio State or Notre Dame. You have to just take it to them."
We've almost always been a second (third, fourth, fifth...) choice for the most talented players in Michigan and Ohio, but we're never going to be able to pick off some of those kids if we don't go after them.
A new coach's first class is usually a hodgepodge anyway, so there's really no harm in being aggressive. Dantonio's efforts could start paying dividends by this time next year.
I know football recruiting is a lot different from basketball, but sometimes all you need is one player to turn a program around. Antonio Smith was able to convince a bunch of his buddies from Flint to come play for Tom Izzo back in the mid-90s, and look how far we've come since then.
While I don't think we picked up that one magic bullet recruit for the football team this year, I'm cautiously optimistic that Dantonio will be able to nab one (at some point – crossing fingers) if he can accomplish some good things on the field this season.
• EW: Nuclear Family
• TV Squad: 24: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
The writers of these two articles have very different opinions about the whole Jack Bauer family drama. Personally, I'm enjoying it so far. Part of what made season five so much fun was the dysfunctional marriage drama between President Logan and his wife. I mean, there's only so much the writers can do with the ticking bomb plot-line, and this narrative added some much-needed depth to the show. I'm really curious to see how all this stuff with Jack's dad, his sister-in-law, and his nephew (son?) plays out in the coming weeks.
Quick sidenote: whether he's good or not, James Cromwell is a total badass as Jack's dad. No surprise.
It was nice to see President Palmer finally grow a pair during this episode, but I agree with the TV Squad critique that this subplot could easily slide back into season two territory (with an overzealous Chief of Staff and Vice President nipping at David Palmer's heels). Still, I'm liking Palmer 2.0 more and more every week, and have high hopes that the guy will bust some heads before the end of the season.
What a tease. The weather report, from Punxsutawney Phil:
Phil did not see his shadow on Friday which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.
Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.
The weather report, from real meteorologists:
Cleaves was, without a doubt, the greatest Spartan to wear the green and white during my lifetime. His number deserves to hang in the rafters next to the likes of Magic Johnson, Johnny Green, Skott Skiles, Greg Kelser, Steve Smith, Shawn Respert, and Jay Vincent.
Mateen was something special. Just look at this resume:
• Three-time Captain of the team
• 12th on the MSU career scoring list with 1,541 points
• MSU had a 104-32 record during his career
• Three-time All-American
• Led the team to three straight Big Ten Championships
• Led the team to two straight Big Ten Tournament Championships
• School & Big Ten single-season record for assists: 274
• School & Big Ten single-game assist record: 20 (vs. Michigan)
• All-time Big Ten assists leader with 816
• Led MSU to Final Four appearances in 1999 and 2000
• National Championship in 2000
• MVP of the Final Four in 2000
Ah, yes. That game against Michigan in 2000 where Mateen racked up 20 assists was a thing of beauty. Final score: 114-63. The 51-point margin of victory was the largest in Michigan State (and Michigan's) history. And it clinched a share of our third-straight Big Ten Championship. No Spartan fan could ever imagine a more glorious way to finish the regular season. Oh yeah, and we also went on to win the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA championship that year. (Sigh)
They picked one hell of a game to retire Cleaves' number at – our re-match with Ohio State. You know Breslin is gonna be rockin' on Saturday! Man, what I wouldn't give to be there. (Drool)
Anyway, congratulations to my favorite Spartan, Mateen Cleaves!
Go right through for M-S-U...
If you didn't watch last night's episode yet, don't click on these links:
• EW: In His Father's Footsteps
• TV Squad: 24: 11:00am - 12:00pm
• TV Squad: WSJ writer applauds 24's 'moral tone'
Last night's episode dragged a bit at times, but I have a feeling the writers were laying the groundwork for some big plot twists in the coming weeks. The stuff with Jack's dad was great though. I have a feeling James Cromwell is going to be a fun character this season.
The nominees for best picture are "The Departed," "Babel," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Little Miss Sunshine" and "The Queen."
The nominees for best actor are Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland"), Leonardo DiCaprio ("Blood Diamond"), Ryan Gosling ("Half Nelson"), Peter O'Toole ("Venus") and Will Smith ("The Pursuit of Happyness").
The nominees for best actress are Helen Mirren ("The Queen"), Judi Dench ("Notes on a Scandal"), Penelope Cruz ("Volver"), Meryl Streep ("The Devil Wears Prada") and Kate Winslet ("Little Children").
The nominees for best supporting actor are Eddie Murphy ("Dreamgirls"), Alan Arkin ("Little Miss Sunshine"), Jackie Earle Haley ("Little Children"), Djimon Hounsou ("Blood Diamond") and Mark Wahlberg ("The Departed").
The nominees for best supporting actress are Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls"), Adriana Barraza ("Babel"), Cate Blanchett ("Notes on a Scandal"), Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") and Rinko Kikuchi ("Babel").
The nominees for best director are Martin Scorsese ("The Departed"), Clint Eastwood ("Letters From Iwo Jima"), Stephen Frears ("The Queen"), Paul Greengrass ("United 93") and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Babel").
FWIW: I'm glad Dreamgirls didn't get a Best Picture nod. It was a decent movie with some memorable performances, but on the whole it was kind of blah. I still think The Departed was the best film of the year, but considering Marty's track record, it's probably a safe bet that he won't win (again).
Also, I'm glad Will Smith got nominated. Dude's come a looooong way since the Fresh Prince, and he was great in Pursuit of Happyness.
Sparty is nation’s top mascot
Sparty, MSU’s beloved mascot, earned the title of the nation’s top collegiate mascot last weekend in Orlando, Fla. He won the honor at the Universal Cheer Association’s national competition at Walt Disney World.
MSU also was represented at the event by the MSU cheerleading and dance teams, along with other fans that came along for the fun. The competition was held at Disney’s MGM studios, where there was a sea of colors representing many universities.
Sparty is the only Big Ten mascot to claim the title. He won back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005. He placed third last year. He was in second place after judges reviewed videos that each mascot submitted.
Hey, the football team might suck, but our mascot is a badass.
Dropping fifteen grand on a kick-ass home theater doesn't sound too unreasonable, does it? No, not if the end result looks like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise!
Personally, I'd prefer the Next Generation model, but beggars can't be choosers.
"I saw some dark parts of America, an ugly side of America, a side of America that rarely sees the light of day. I refer, of course, to the anus and testicles of my costar, Ken Davitian ... And then when my 300-pound costar decided to sit on my face and squeeze the oxygen from my lungs, I was faced with a choice: death, or to breathe in the air that had been trapped in a small pocket between his buttocks for 30 years. Kenneth, if it was not for that rancid bubble, I would not be here today."
This is pretty depressing...
Those are two haunting names for Michigan State football fans. When Nick Saban won the national title with LSU in 2004, MSU fans revisited the pain of losing him four years earlier -- for what turned out to be petty financial issues. And when Urban Meyer won it two days ago, they must have been wondering how he didn't get an interview when the MSU job was open in 2002.
I would warn fellow spartan fans to read the rest of Joe Rexrode's post in a safe place that doesn't have any sharp objects around. The thought that we could've kept Nick Saban and could've hired Urban Meyer instead of John L. Smith is pretty soul-crushing.
Even if Dantonio doesn't turn out to be a national championship-type coach, all I hope is that none of the candidates we didn't hire last year (English, Kelley, etc.) don't go on to win titles of their own somewhere down the line.
"Shave off your body hair and put on your bike shorts, you just grabbed the yellow jersey in the Tour de Truth! This is The Colbert Report!"
Oh, it's on. Bill and Stephen will be appearing on each other's programs on January 18. This might be the only time in my entire life that I actually make a point of watching "The Factor."
Photos from macrumorslive.com
OMG - OMG - OMG - OMG - OMG - OMG - OMG - OMG ! ! !
I think I peed my pants.
As cool as this thing is -- it does calls, music, movies, texts, email, internet, photos, widgets -- the big bummer is that it costs a whopping $500 for the smaller version, and it's only on Cingular! Boooooo!
If I hadn't just bought a new car, my ass would be canceling my T-Mobile contract in June and buying one of these bad boys.
(swoon, drool, wolf whistle, sigh)
"I think you'd have to declare us not a very good basketball team right now," said MSU coach Tom Izzo. "We're definitely struggling."
This team is clearly going to have a tough time during the Big Ten season, but that's basically what all of us expected going in this year. To me, the things I wanted to see happen with this team are already happening:
• Drew Neitzel is proving he can score and take over a game
• Gray, Ibok, Suton and Naymick are starting to gel in the middle
• Morgan, Joseph, and Dahlman are getting valuable experience
It's still possible that we could blow enough Big Ten games to miss the NCAA tournament (especially if Joseph and Morgan don't get enough time to heal), but I think Tom will find a way to make it work. He always does.
To me, anything good that comes out of this season is just a preview of what's to come. If we had to bring back the exact same lineup next year, I know we'd be a much better team than we are now, but that's the great thing... we are bring back the same crew in 2007, and we'll have all these hotshot freshman coming in as reserves.
This is why I love MSU basketball. Even during one of our "down" years, there's always something to look forward to.
One of the unseemly things about college basketball is that sometimes a traditional powerhouse will stack its home schedule with patsies. I suspect this is why UCLA is playing Michigan.
Zzzzzzing! It only gets worse from there.
"Well, coming in to the year, everyone was talking about how our schedule was difficult because of teams that were previously in the NCAA tournament," Amaker said.
No. Everyone was not talking about that. Michigan was talking about that.
Whaaat? Someone from Michigan diluting themselves into believing something about their team that clearly doesn't represent reality? Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Amaker's Wolverines are 17-37 on the road. Have they really been as bad as the numbers? One could argue that they have been worse.
Michigan's 17 road wins include five over Penn State, which fields a team only for tax purposes. And another two over Northwestern, which never has made the NCAA tournament.
And then there were the road wins that only look good with parenthetical assistance: over (South) Florida and Boston (University, not College). And one over a Minnesota team that finished 10th in the Big Ten. And one over Butler.
Amaker has coached Michigan for six years, tied for the fourth-longest tenure in the Big Ten. For some perspective: He has been here as long as Matt Millen.
Ouch!
That's the ultimate insult, isn't it? Comparing someone to Matt Millen?
He says, "We're one of two teams that have won a true road game in our conference," but that win was a squeaker over Miami (Ohio), which also lost at home to Wright State.
He says, "We finished the year last year 4-1 in postseason, and we're starting this year 11-1, and we had 22 wins last year," and ... well, we have several objections, your honor.
First of all: No matter how many times Amaker refers to the NIT as "the postseason" or "a national tournament," it is still the Leftover Invitational. By Amaker's definition, summer TV reruns are "the postseason."
MSU had a rough tournament last year, losing to a #11 seed in the first round. Of course, that #11 seed, George Mason, became the cinderella team of the tournament, and went all the way to the Final Four. Even though we lost in the first round and Michigan won four "postseason" games in the NIT, MSU still made more money out of the deal.
I'll take that arrangement any day.
Look, I get where a lot of Michigan basketball fans are coming from. It's hard to watch your team struggle year after year, and not really make any meaningful progress. What do you think MSU fans have been doing with our football team for the past seven years? But all this talk of UM having an up-and-coming basketball team is clearly a load of crap, and will remain a load of crap until they step up and actually do something like knock off a UCLA on the road (and hey, it could happen).
Thankfully, we have sports writers like Michael Rosenberg to put them in their place every now and then.
I've scaled back on my consumption of Coke (and pop in general) considerably since my freshman year at Michigan State -- I used to drink two full glasses, twice a day at the cafeteria. I'm not a coffee drinker, so Coke was always my mid-to-late day caffeine fix. If I ever missed a day or two, I would get headaches and really, really drowsy in the middle of the day. After my ISB student teacher from my sophomore year told us that a glass of pop a day for a year puts 10-15lbs on the average American, I decided it was probably time to scale back.
Nowadays, the only time I ever drink pop is when I'm at a restaurant, but after reading this article, I think it might be prudent to make a permanent switch to water:
Have you ever wondered why Coke comes with a smile? It’s because it gets you high. They took the cocaine out almost a hundred years ago. You know why? It was redundant.
• In The First 10 minutes: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor allowing you to keep it down.
• 20 minutes: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get it’s hands on into fat. (There’s plenty of that at this particular moment)
• 40 minutes: Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dialate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.
• 45 minutes: Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.
• >60 minutes: The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.
• >60 Minutes: The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.
• >60 minutes: As the rave inside of you dies down you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You’ve also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like even having the ability to hydrate your system or build strong bones and teeth.
Now, of course, if Coke could develop an alternative that didn't totally f#ck up my body (and no, Diet Coke and Coke Zero don't count), you can bet I'd be all over that shit. Until then, I'll probably stick to milk, water, and juice.
EAST LANSING -- Antonio Smith insists he hasn't given up the pro dreams, but he is returning to Michigan State to complete his degree and serve as a student assistant.
"I really encouraged him to come back and get his degree," coach Tom Izzo said. "Either here or somewhere else, we'll get him a job. He's destined to be a very, very good coach."
Smith, 30, helped pave the way for Michigan State's success with his tenacity during Izzo's first four years as coach, including a trip to the 1999 Final Four.
"He's the guy who started this whole thing," Izzo said. "Even though the (Mateen) Cleaves recruiting class gets the most credit, Antonio probably dragged everybody here.
"He's truly the blue-collar guy. I love having him around the guys."
Antonio Smith was never the best player on the team, but the guy brought an intensity to the floor that rubbed off on everyone else. He made everyone play a little tougher. Smith is the guy who helped talk all the other Flintstones into coming to MSU in the first place. It's safe to say that the last decade would've been a lot different for our basketball team if Antonio Smith had never come to East Lansing. So you can understand why I'm so excited that he's coming back to help out as a student assistant. As you may recall, that's how Tom Izzo got started at Michigan State.
Smith played in Italy last season, but is coming off his third ankle surgery last summer. He practiced with the team Monday and will begin classes in January.
He plans to finish his teaching degree by the fall.
"It's a time in my life where I have to do it," Smith said. "I have to buckle down and get back to school work."
Izzo is hoping Smith's toughness wears off on his players.
"As a coach, you can't grab guys, you can't verbally abuse them," said Izzo, who then snapped his fingers. " 'Hey, Tone.'
"That will work wonders."
All those final four teams were a blast to watch, but I still think the most surprising and exciting team that Tom Izzo put together was the squad that went to the Sweet Sixteen in 1998. No one expected us to do that well in the tournament, and it was our best showing in about seven years. Those guys really laid the groundwork for our final four appearances in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
This year's team reminds me of that 1998 squad in a lot of ways, and I think Antonio Smith is the perfect guy to take us back to the old-school, hard-nosed kind of basketball that brought us all this success in the first place. Welcome home, Tone!
P.S. There's more in this AP story.
Great news from the AP (via DNews):
NEW YORK -- McCartney, Jagger and now Prince.
For the third year in a row, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act will headline the Super Bowl halftime entertainment. This time it's Prince.
The Purple One, winner of six Grammy Awards and nominated for five more this year, will play at the game in Miami on Feb. 4.
The Super Bowl, which will be televised by CBS, is annually television's highest rated show. An estimated 141 million people watched last year's game between Pittsburgh and Seattle.
Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life
Electric word life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell u
There's something else...
The Super Bowl!
COLUMBUS, OH—In what many BCS officials are citing as "proof that their flawless system indeed works," no Division 1-A college football team was found to possess the sheer excellence required to face Ohio State, the No. 1 ranked team since the season began, in this year's BCS Championship game.
"The main job of the BCS is to place the best football players in the nation in a single game in order to decide the national champion," said BCS chairman Mike Coleman. "This year, our computer took hours to process the polls' relevant data—by which I mean the opinions of the nation's finest sportscasters, sports-radio hosts, coaches, color commentators, and ESPN The Magazine contributors—and determined that no championship game is necessary. No team in America deserves to even step on the same field as Ohio State, let alone actually play in a game against them."
"It's good to know that, after the Harris and the USA Today polls carefully and painstakingly take care of the fallible, emotional, potentially biased human element of the ranking through old-fashioned voting, the BCS then takes that human element and subjects it to its own infallible rigid mathematical formulas," Coleman continued. "It's a confidence-inspiring system that has never failed us before."
"Although I'll be the first to admit that previous years have usually featured some sort of game," Coleman added.
There. Problem solved.
The LSJ's Bleeding Green blog basically nails the sentiments of everyone outside of Washtenaw and Oakland Counties... we're all kinda glad to see you guys get hosed:
Ha Ha Ha! Being a Spartan fan, I take a lot of personal satisfaction in the fact that the boys in blue will not get a rematch with Ohio State in the National Championship. Sorry Wolvie, you had your chance and you lost. You don't deserve a shot at the crown unless you win your conference title - flat out.
Let me clarify that I think U-M is a very good team, they would probably beat Fla. and will likely knock off USC in the Rose Bowl. But I stand by my conviction that the Wolverines didn't deserve a to play in the NC and its time to quit crying about it.
Agreed. Leave it to the Wolverines to complain about playing in the Rose Bowl. Play your game against USC, and move on with your lives.
Yes, the BCS stinks and until there is a plus-1 system in place, we are going to have arguments like this just about every year. However, the Gators (who also disgust me to no end) won their confernce title game and played the toughest schedule in the country (exception in beating up on that tough high school team from Western Carolina a couple weeks ago).
The Big Ten confernce can also be held soemwhat accountable for UM missing out on a championship opportunity. By choosing to end the conference season earlier than any other conference in the country and having no designated league championship game, Big Ten schools are missing out on the exposure and momentum that can be gained (or lost) in the polls during the final two weeks.
I think the idea of a Big Ten championship game sounds nice, but the season is already too damn long. Sure, the added exposure helped Florida last week, but I really don't think UM would've benefited from a Big Ten title game, since they probably would've lost to OSU again anyway.
Look, what's done is done. My fellow Spartans and I are content to sit back and watch all the other Big Ten bowl games, and be happy with our lives. Plus, it doesn't hurt that our school is getting a fat check for $2 million, just for being in the same league as all these other schools that get to play in the post-season.
Gee, what can we do with that money? Hmmm. Well, it could be used to pay off about half of what we owe John L. Smith, about a third of our new coach's salary, or we can put it towards our nice, new $19.5 million parking structure. Man, sometimes it pays to lose.
Sure, an OSU-UM rematch would've been interesting (and yes, OSU would've beaten them again), but it wasn't meant to be. Wolverine fans everywhere will shed a few tears over it. Boo hoo.
As much as I love to seeing Michigan fans piss and moan about not getting to play for a national championship, I am glad that this little controversy (if you can call it that -- Forida is a good team, and yes, they'll lose to OSU too) is forcing more people to openly question the highly-flawed BCS system.
Remind me again why we don't have a playoff system? Look, there's a reason why March Madness is a million times more exciting than the college football title game -- because any team that makes the tournament at least has a shot at winning a national championship. Sure, a #64 seed will never win the whole thing, but it's theoretically possible.
In college football an entire season can rest on a single game, which is completely insane. For Michigan, that game was the one they lost to OSU. Are they still probably the second best team in the country? In my head, yeah, they probably are, and deserve a chance for a rematch. But the way the system works today, that ain't gonna happen, and until the NCAA pulls its head out of its ass and completely overhauls the way the post-season is set up, we'll keep having stupid hiccups like this.
• Wojo: MSU playbook: Back to basics with Dantonio
• LSJ: Ex-quarterback a fan of new coach
• LSJ: ESPN analyst says Dantonio will bring class
• LSJ: Cincy players on losing coach: 'It stinks, but it’s reality'
• LSJ: Ohio State coach likes MSU's pick
• LSJ: Dantonio’s deal ranks in bottom half of Big Ten
• Drew Sharp: Spartans land right man for tough job
• Freep: Dantonio known as a tough competitor and well-liked, too
• Freep: No fear of commitment: That's new coach Dantonio's vow to MSU
• State News: MSU football's new deal
• State News: Coaching decision good call for MSU
I still think Wojo is a bit of a blowhard (not to mention a major league Michigan freak), but I still think he basically nails it with that first article. Overall this pick seems to be getting a pretty warm reception.
I do feel bad for the Cincy players who are losing their coach right before a bowl game... just like Saban did to us. Considering how Dantonio left Cincinnati (not to mention that he was one of Nick "the carpetbagger" Saban's assistants), it does make me wonder if he'll turn around and screw us down the line in a few years if he does a good job of turning around this program. I hate to be cynical, but let's face it, I'm a Spartan fan... I'm used to getting hosed by football coaches.
On a more positive note...
To me the biggest selling points for Dantonio were his two stints under Jim Tressel, and his two national championships (at OSU and Youngstown State). I don't care if he earned that last ring at OSU, I want our new coach to wear that rock into the home of every kid he goes out to recruit. This guy's been there, and he might (finally?!) be the man who can take MSU to the promised land. I mean, you gotta love this:
"I didn't come here to be dragged into the graveyard. I came here to win, to win championships. I know, I've been around football long enough, how to do that. I feel very, very confident because I know that our players will play. I know that we'll recruit to the level that we have to be successful here as well. ...
"You know, history is the best indicator of the future. It's been done before. There's tremendous love for Michigan State University. I know the state is split right down the middle -- if it really were to be known, it's probably a lot more green, and getting a lot more greener today than it was yesterday."
Damn, right! 1-2-3 (CLAP!) First Down, Bitch!
• It's a 5-year contract
• "Performance-based"
• He gets a $200k signing bonus
• $600k/yr base salary
• Up to $500k/yr in incentives
• Incentives are "for on-field performance and academic accomplishments"
• It's a rolling contract, which means it is renewed each year
If I understand this correctly, it sounds like he'll get a little more than half of his salary for just showing up, but has to earn the extra $500k a year. Right off the bat, I'm really pleased with this deal. I think it gives Dantonio extra motivation to prove himself and actually get results on and off the field.
John L. Smith had a plumb contract where he could oversee the demise of the program and still make big bucks. We'll be paying for that mistake for two more years.
With Dantonio's contract, if players keep flunking classes and getting arrested, or if the team still sucks after a year or two, then the coach won't get as much money. On the other hand, if the guy works miracles and we start landing big recruits, winning key games, and make it to important bowl games, then he'll get some extra scratch. Seems like a square deal to me. Even if Dantonio sucks and winds up being another coaching mistake for MSU, at least it won't be as expensive as the last one.
UPDATE: This Detroit News article has a few more interesting nuggets:
• The buyout for this contract is $600k. (Much cheaper than John L.)
• The base contract puts him in the bottom half of Big 10 coaches...
• ...but Simon is ready to give him a raise if he's successful on the field
• He was Tressel's first choice when he was hired at OSU
• Tom Izzo likes him, says he's "dying to be here"
• Dantonio had more Detroit players at Cinn. than MSU did this year
The more I read about this guy, the more I like him. Not trying to kid myself or get my hopes up too high, but I'm pretty pleased with this selection.
• DNews: MSU set to hire Dantonio today
• Freep: MSU to hire Dantonio as coach
• DNews: Did MSU just get it right?
If you only read one of those articles, read the last one first. Here's what I like about this guy: he's been a head coach and had some success, he's a hard-nosed defensive guy, he was an assistant under Saban and Williams (so he's familiar with MSU and Michigan recruiting), he already has a foothold in Ohio and could steal some recruits from OSU, and perhaps most importantly, he crafted the defenses that took MSU to the Citrus Bowl in 2000 and won OSU a National Championship in 2002.
To be honest, I had never heard of Mark Dantonio before Friday, but of the names that had been thrown around for the coaching job, none of their resumes really impressed me. This guy's does. Don't get me wrong, he'll definitely have his work cut out for him in East Lansing, and this could still be a two or three-year turnaround (sigh), but I am cautiously optimistic that we made the right decision this time. Of course, I'll be interested to learn more about what kind of contract we give him, but I'm looking forward to seeing what Dantonio can do for us during the recruiting season... which starts this week.
Time to get to work.
Lynn Henning nails it this morning in the Detroit News:
For Izzo and any of his fan base to entertain, even whimsically, the notion that a Big Ten basketball coach could sashay over to the Duffy Daugherty Football Building and introduce a competent culture is to suggest the psychedelic '60s are back in vogue in East Lansing.
MSU has been looking for a football messiah for so long that the Izzo-for-coach sentiment is, pathetically, understandable. Spartans fans tend to act like a modern-day version of Diogenes, holding their lanterns as they search for a single capable football coach, never realizing that lots of good football coaches with all kinds of ability to harness MSU's attributes always have been there for the hiring.
Thus, the Izzo-for-football-coach thought can take root within a fan community that knows Izzo as the one person who has represented MSU's enduring sports potential.
MSU's executives -- I think -- are clear-headed enough to have dismissed such a transfer as being the craziest idea since George Perles wanted to be both football coach and athletic director (oops, that actually happened).
Izzo, likewise, might have thought a few seconds more about his Monday words and come to regret dreaming out loud.
Then, again, I'm not sure.
Asked what kind of defense he would deploy as Spartans head coach, he responded: "3-4. I like the linebackers. I want to kill somebody."
I know just how he feels.
Me too.
• DNews: Is Izzo interested in MSU football job?
• Freep: Could Izzo's name be in mix for MSU football job?
Could it happen? Gee whiz, COULD it???
Well, any human with half a brain would say no, but Tom had to open his yap and say this today:
"I don't think I'm a candidate," Izzo said Monday during his weekly news conference at the Breslin Center, where his basketball team plays Vermont Tuesday night.
"If somebody asks me, 'Do you have an interest in football?' Yeah, I have an interest football. 'Would you have an interest in the football job?' I would have to say no, but I'd probably deep down have to say yeah, I would.
Tom has zero football coaching experience, and thus has zero credibility for a job like this. Izzo knows this ain't gonna happen, so why the hell did he have to say something anything at all? He must've known that the morons (not all, but most) who cover sports would be on this (non-)story like white on rice. And guess what? They are.
Can you tell how desperate we are for a good coach to take over Michigan State's football team? People are actually getting excited about the long-shot prospect of having our basketball coach take over the program. That's just nuts to me. Come on, Spartans! Pull your heads out of your asses, and let's get back to more rampant speculation about candidates who actually have a snowball's chance in hell of landing this job.
Said linebacker Boss Bailey: "We 2-8. We losing. We win a game, then we lose two or three. Are we getting better? You tell me."
I was a bit confused by the fuzzy math, but the way my dad explained it to me, the Lions only have to lose one more game for it to be mathematically impossible for another team to get the 1st pick of the draft. Of course, as my old man reminded me, Matt Millen will probably select another Charles Rogers-type receiver, and blow it again.
Man, and we thought MSU's football team was bad...
"It says Michigan is No. 2, but don’t be deceived," said Palm, who runs the collegebcs.com Web site. "Michigan’s position is decorative at the moment; they are an honorary No. 2."
Southern California, Palm said, is the real No. 2.
Palm said if USC beats Notre Dame this week and UCLA on Dec. 2, the Trojans will be OSU’s opponent in Glendale, Ariz.
"If (USC) wins out, they will be the highest-rated one-loss team in the computers," Palm said. "And with the poll margins the way they are, Michigan has no chance."
Florida is the third and final team with a realistic chance to meet the Buckeyes, Palm said.
By clinching a Pacific-10 champion- ship with a win over California on Saturday, Southern Cal (9-1) jumped one spot to second in both the USA Today and Harris Interactive polls, leapfrogging the Wolverines (11-1).
Michigan stayed No. 2 in the BCS by claiming second among computer rankings. But the margins are slim.
Personally, I think a re-match in the title game would be kinda cool, but I won't shed any tears if it doesn't happen. If USC wins out, then they obviously deserve to play for a national championship over Michigan.
Man, that was one hell of a game on Saturday. I gotta give props to the Wolverines for making it interesting, but the Buckeyes just had an edge, and his name is Troy Smith. Sigh. Maybe someday Michigan State will get there, but I won't hold my breath.
Anyway, congratulations to Ohio State!
Cue the world's smallest violin. John L. Smith is gone! Oh, happy day!
"This is the first time that we haven't been able to (succeed)," Smith said. "So you have to feel bad. How bad? On a scale? I don't know. I don't know what it's like, having never been there before.
"But yeah, that hurts."
Then he walked away from the microphone.
Happy trails, to you!
Didya see that finish last night? Hoo boy! Drew Neitzel is the best skinheaded shrimp to run the floor for Michigan State since Scott Skiles. Man, I was really skeptical about what we might accomplish this season, but I have a newfound optimism after yeseterday's performance against Texas. Maryland won't be a cakewalk tonight after they dismantled St. Johns, but that win against the Horns was a huge step forward for this team.
GO GREEN!!
This exchange between a Buckeye and a Wolverine on Slate is hysterical. If you have some time, go give the whole thing a read. Here are some of my favorite excerpts:
Aaron (the Michigan fan): In many ways we are alike, but we are different in one critical respect: Ohio State fans are insane hooligans. Not all of them, of course. Not even most. But enough of them.
So, the interesting sociological question is: Why are Buckeye fans so insane?
I have two theories. The first is that the Michigan-Ohio State game is more important to Ohio State. Michigan has secondary rivalries with Notre Dame and Michigan State, and these drain some of the focus that Ohio State fans reserve entirely for Michigan. OSU players get a special gold trinket if they beat Michigan. The team has a sign asking, "What Have You Done to Beat Michigan Today?" in its weight room, year-round. One of OSU's most popular school songs is titled "We Don't Give a Damn for the Whole State of Michigan." When a Buckeye coach is fired, it is generally for failing to beat Michigan, regardless of how well he has done overall. I don't think any of these things have a parallel in Ann Arbor.
My second theory is that OSU, unlike most campuses, is located in a major city, one lacking in professional sports teams. Therefore, the whole city is wrapped up in Ohio State football, and you get a working-class fan base that's absent in most college towns. Professional sports fans tend to be angrier and drunker than college ones. (In my youth, I took many trips to watch the Detroit Tigers, and for a $4 bleacher seat you could watch not only the game but shirtless, mullet-wearing ruffians hurling racial insults at the other team's outfielders and, occasionally, beating the crap out of each other.)
The irony is that most Michigan fans respect Ohio State more than any other rival. Most of us root for OSU to win all its games leading up to The Game and consider our southern neighbors a worthy foe. And indeed, most Buckeye fans I've met are nonviolent, sober, and generally act nothing like a protest mob in Damascus. So, why do you think your side has such a sizeable crazed fringe? Can't we all get along?
Jonathan (the OSU fan): No, we can't. I might be inclined to believe what you're saying about the mental state of Ohio State fans, except for the fact that I've personally attended the Ohio State-Michigan game in Ann Arbor three times. In 2003, I sat in the Michigan student section dressed entirely in OSU garb and was subject to vivid, profanity-laced tirades. I was also physically threatened enough times that I felt I would surely experience the end of the game from the inside of an ambulance.
You are right about one thing: Ohio State fans care more about The Game than Michigan fans. The gold pants, the song, the "What Have You Done to Beat Michigan Today" sign—guilty on all counts. What you fail to recognize is that this is completely rational. First, Ohioans care more about football than people anywhere else in the known football universe. (Sit down, Texas.) There are small towns here where your eternal worth is defined by how well your high-school team did your senior year. Plus, there are no other big-time college-football programs in Ohio. As a consequence, there are tons of Buckeye fans across the state who didn't go to OSU. (I went to Ohio University in Athens, for example, but as a Columbus native, I consider the third Saturday in November a high holiday.) The lack of worthy state schools also means that we have to look across the border to find a legitimate rival. Do you know how hard it is to get up for games against Cincinnati and Toledo?
I also don't think that the working-class roots of the Ohio State fan base has anything to do with the bitterness of the rivalry. It's more about geography and history. We hate Michigan because they wanted to fight in 1835 over a sliver of turf that the Michigan Territory and the state of Ohio had competing claims on. No shots were fired in the Toledo War, but Michigan and Ohio militias did get close enough to lob insults back and forth for several days. And then there is the more recent history of near-misses for Ohio State in Michigan games where we had everything on the line. Buckeye DB Shawn Springs falls down one year. Michigan running back Tim Biakabutuka runs for 313 yards against our vaunted defense. Kiss two national titles bye-bye.
I agree that the 10 Year War between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler made this rivalry larger than life, but I don't think it really had that much to do with that Buckeye castoff Bo. Woody gave this rivalry its real passion—tearing up yard-line markers one year, refusing to let the almost-out-of-gas team bus stop in Michigan. And then there's the time Woody went for a two-point conversion in 1968 when Ohio State was up 48-14. When someone asked why he did it, Hayes said, "Because I couldn't go for three." Ohio State fans whisper that to their first-born sons when they place them in their cribs at night.
That last little bit about Woody is priceless. "Because I couldn't go for three." Man, that's hatred.
This article was a lot of fun to read, but it also makes me feel kinda left out. Aside from a few blips on the radar at the end of the 80s and 90s, the MSU football program has been at the bottom of the heap for most of the last four decades. The "rivalry" with Michigan is still near and dear to every Spartans' heart, but let's be honest, it hasn't been competitive for well over a decade. When it comes to basketball, the opposite is true -- MSU has been dominant for the last twelve years (in reality, it's even longer, since the successes of the "fab five" have been stricken from the record books). Hockey is really the only major sport where both teams are still pretty evenly matched, but as a game, hockey isn't nearly as prominent as it was even ten years ago.
It's painfully obvious that our rivalry with Michigan doesn't carry the same weight that it once did.
I guess my point is that the massive buildup to this monumental game on Saturday just reminds me that it's not my team playing. Sure, I have an emotional investment in this one, since I would love to see the Buckeyes deliver a painful beating to the Wolverines, but it's pretty pathetic that this tragic season of ours will be ending in the shadow of such an historic match-up between Ohio State and Michigan.
But hey, there's always next year, Spartan fans...
(hangs head)
Okay, I'm officially excited about seeing this movie after reading Own Gleiberman's review in Entertainment Weekly:
In many ways, though, the attitude of Bond, the internal quality that makes him tick, has long been reduced to just another trapping. The moment, really, that Sean Connery left the series, Bond became a jokey superhero in a dinner jacket, a guy who never flinches because he knows that he's sure to come out in his favorite position: on top.
Casino Royale, which is based on the first of Ian Fleming's British spy novels (it was published in 1953), relaunches the series by doing something I wouldn't have thought possible: It turns Bond into a human being again — a gruffly charming yet volatile chap who may be the swank king stud of the Western world, but who still has room for rage, fear, vulnerability, love. Daniel Craig, the superb British actor who has taken over the role, has small, wounded-looking eyes of coldest android blue, ears that stick out, and a mouth that puckers into a scowl. With his blondish hair trimmed to a thatchy bristle, Craig is handsome, and buff as hell, but not necessarily the most handsome guy around — he looks like a dyspeptic Steve McQueen. The fact that he isn't tall adds to the sense that he's always working a bit harder, that he's a badass with too much eating away at him to bother playing pretty-boy games. Craig's 007 has an itchy trigger finger, he treats M (Judi Dench) like a meddlesome aunt, and he growls at a bartender who asks if he wants his martini shaken or stirred, ''Do I look like I give a damn?''
I basically quit caring about James Bond movies after Tomorrow Never Dies came out. The whole series just seemed to get more and more preposterous with all the crazy, over-the-top shit they had Pierce Brosnan doing. These movies just felt like they were trying way too hard to one-up themselves.
In many ways, the franchise had become a parody of itself, almost like an Austin Powers spoof. While I really hate the idea of re-starting a franchise from scratch, since the whole point of a big movie series like this is to build a mythology, not tear it down, I think this might've been the only way to salvage the James Bond brand. As much as Daniel Craig deviates from the traditional notion of Bond, the dude's clearly a badass, and it sounds like he does a great job of re-introducing such an immortal character.
So yeah, I'm pretty excited about seeing Casino Royale now.
Lovely party. Pity I wasn't invited...
I would expect this kind of crap from A.C. Slater, but you have the most rushing yards in NFL history. You don't see O.J. Simpson pulling shameless stunts on television just to get extra attention, do you? Oh, wait a minute...
In case you needed another reason to hate Fox News and/or O.J. Simpson, well, here you go. The Juice's new book "If I did it" goes on sale in a couple weeks, and Fox News will airing a two-part interview with Mr. Murder on November 27 and 29.
I'm sure Geraldo is getting massive wood over this.
No one seems to know what O.J. is getting paid for either the book or the interview, but somehow I doubt any of that money will find its way back to the family of Ron Goldman.
Seriously, is this a joke? Sad thing is, I'm sure this will get huge ratings. Oh, what a world we live in!
The article also points out that Mariucci has talked with the university about the job. Supposedly he's not interested... just offering some advice.
Okay, I don't know anything about this Todd Grantham, but what worries me is that we seem to be hearing a lot of coordinator and position coaches getting mentioned for this job. Why aren't we attracting more big-name talent, ya know, guys who have at least been a head coach at some level?
I'm glad that Mooch has taken himself out of the running, but why do we need his help? If he's not a good fit for the job himself, then it's for a reason. Why are we taking his advice? The board of trustees might as well get Matt Millen's $.02 on our coaching situation while they're at it.
Come on, State. Don't screw this up.
MSU is continuing its search for a new football head coach, but no front-runners have been announced.
Officials have remained tight-lipped about the hiring process, despite rumors the university has interviewed three coaches for the position.
On Nov. 1, university administrators announced MSU football head coach John L. Smith would not return next season.
The Detroit News reported Friday that MSU's selection committee interviewed Central Michigan football head coach Brian Kelly, Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and Louisiana State defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.
On Saturday, Kelly denied being interviewed for the position at MSU, adding he had not even been contacted by the university, The Detroit News reported.
Steve Orlando, a spokesman for the University of Florida, said Strong also had not been interviewed by MSU, although he could not confirm if he had been contacted by the university. Louisiana State officials could not be reached Sunday.
MSU officials said they would not confirm, deny or react to any rumors about football head coach candidates.
I've read lots of these rumors about the coaching situation, but nobody seems to know anything definitive yet. It's pretty much wild speculation at this point. I suppose it's possible that the university has asked the candidates it has already interviewed to keep a lid on things, but if that's the case, then this process clearly hasn't been as "open" as we were promised. Hopefully they start talking soon. The longer they keep fans in the dark, the more antsy we'll get.
Anyone got any dirt? Share in the comments...
Check out this article in the NYT (gracias, dad).
Hey, Vegas might be a place where Celine Dion, Barry Mannilow, and Carrot Top went to die, but not the Purple One. Prince can do whatever the hell he wants, and make it cool. The guy wears heels for cryin' out loud. As far as I'm concerned, Prince is now the King of Vegas. I just hope he keeps his shop at the Rio open long enough for me to see him there sometime.
MSU loses again. I had multiple people try to offer me tickets. Glad I didn't go sit out in the cold, wet weather for this clunker. Gah. Now all that's left to do is go lose at Penn State. Yippee!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
I told you this would happen:
Perles, the former coach and athletic director, still wields tremendous influence among the "Old Greens" who still contribute plenty of "old green" to the university coffers. He told me he wanted input in the candidate dragnet, but he only would provide counsel at the request of president Lou Anna Simon.
And, right now, that offer appears unlikely.
Perles' candidacy for the Board of Trustees added another layer of melodrama to the soap opera that historically becomes an MSU coaching search. Would he steer one of his own choices -- maybe someone like Eagles quarterback coach Pat Shurmur, a former Spartan -- to the top of the short list?
"I don't take my seat on the board until January," Perles said, "so there isn't really much that I can do right now. But I definitely have some thoughts as to what I think we should be looking for in the next Michigan State coach."
Honest to f-ing God, why hasn't the MSU Chemistry department come up with some sort of George Perles kryptonite yet? Can't somebody distract him with a bucket full of Whoppers until we pick a new coach? This is still the same guy who sued MSU and Peter McPherson after he got fired. I don't give a damn who he thinks the next coach should be, keep him the hell away from campus for the time being.
Grrrrrroan. God help Michigan State.
I'll admit, I actually enjoy watching Sex and the City, but few people are as obsessed with this show as Stefy. I guess it's like the girl equivalent of Star Trek. Anyway, I just ran across this today, and thought any SATC fans might get a kick out of it:
Although this project has been up in the air for the longest time, the girls of New York seem to have gotten everything squared away and are finally on track for a film. OK! Magazine exclusively reported that, as of now, things were a go. It's just a matter of ironing out contract issues and finding the perfect timing. So get ready. And as Carrie would say -- "Can you handle it?"
To be honest, I don't know how the hell they would make a feature film out of this show. I mean, they pretty much tied up all the loose ends with the characters when it went off the air a few years ago, so I don't know where they could go from there. Whatever they come up with for a story though, I'm sure Kim Cattrall's tits will make at least a few cameos in the movie.
This whole thing got me thinking though. Are there any TV shows that are no longer on the air, that you think deserve a feature-length film? A few ideas come to mind...
First off, I think a Sopranos movie would be amazing. The show is basically just a series of hour-long movies anyway, so it wouldn't be hard to do. Granted, I still haven't seen the fifth or sixth seasons so I'm not up-to-date with everything that's been happening on the show, but I think it's doable. David Chase is supposedly going to wrap up the storylines in this last mini-season, but this is a powerful franchise that could go off in a dozen different directions, if they wanted to keep it going.
I really enjoyed the X-Files movie when it came out in the late 90s, but it basically killed the last few years of the series. Still, I think it's possible that another film could be made without totally sucking. I mean, what the hell are David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson doing these days anyway?
There's obviously a soft spot in my heart for Star Trek, and now that there aren't any spinoffs on TV for the first time in about 20 years, I think it could be time for another movie (or at least a new show). "Nemesis" was supposedly going to be the final Next Generation movie, but it was probably the worst ST film ever made. They can't leave us hanging like that... Capt. Picard and the crew of the Enterprise deserve a better sendoff!
Mission: Impossible was a great idea for a TV to movie conversion, but after a great start this franchise just kept turning out bigger and bigger clunkers. If Tom Cruise could ever de-crazy himself -- or hand this off to an entirely different creative team -- I still think Mission: Impossible has some life left.
The only TV comedy that I could ever see being made into a feature film is Arrested Development. Just think about all the movies that have been made in the last five years about wacky, dysfunctional families: Royal Tenenbaums, The Squid and the Whale, Running With Scissors, to name a few. The Bluth family could easily fill two hours of film, and since Fox pulled the plug on this Emmy-winning show way too early, I definitely think there's a lot to work with here.
Am I forgetting anything? Are there any shows you miss that you wish they would turn into a movie?
R.E.M.? Who are they? Well, this Slate article got me thinking about the band again for the first time in forever. I grew up in the 90s, so I do actually remember R.E.M. at the tail end of their "good" years, but let's be honest... it's been a while since they really mattered.
It's been said that you're either a U2 person or an R.E.M. person. Well, the boys from Dublin are obviously my favorite band, but I don't really have anything against R.E.M., per se. They made a lot of great music over the years, and come on, no could ever really replicate the oddly intriguing personality of Michael Stipe. Guys like him just don't come around that often. Is R.E.M. one of my favorites? No, not really. But I can admit that they're a great band; I never really understood this pseudo-rivalry between R.E.M. and U2.
Of course, I don't think it's a stretch to say that R.E.M. fans have a certain disdain for U2's latter-day resurgence. I can understand them feeling nostalgic for the days when R.E.M. was just as big as U2, but come on, that was a long time ago. It's fair to say that both bands had rough patches during the 90s and released a handful of "blah" albums, but the difference to me is that U2 eventually realized they were slipping into irrelevance. Before making "All That You Can't Leave Behind" in 2000, they made a conscious decision to get back to their roots, and start making the kind of music that made them so popular in the first place. R.E.M. never really had a moment like that. As a result, U2 is bigger than ever, and their only real competition for the title of "biggest band in the world" is also the oldest, The Rolling Stones.
So what about R.E.M.? Well, they're releasing a collection of songs from 1982 to 1987. Like their fans, R.E.M. seems nostalgic for the days when they were still making important music, instead of actually making... important music. That's the difference. That's why R.E.M. will never be as big as they were in the 80s again. And like it or not, that's why U2 is still the biggest band in the world.
"It's a tough day for a coach. I wasn't really fired up tonight, myself. I was at the press conference. First of all, (Smith) is a great guy. It's been a tough situation for him, but he's a great person. He's battled his way through, and I still think he's a very good football coach. Sometimes, things are out of our hands, and sometimes, part of it is in our hands. Second thing, I thought our president handled this thing extremely well. I feel comfortable that we are in good hands. I think it was said at that meeting that we made some mistakes. And I don't mean who we picked, but maybe how we've done it. And I think that our university is going to make a concerted effort to get everybody on the same page — the board, president, athletic director — and we do have a lot to sell. It's a great place, and we're going to get a great football coach. And who that is is up to the powers that be, and I hope that I have some input only in helping find that right person. I've not talked to Mariucci. He's actually out of the country, but he's pretty set on pro ball. He was hoping that John L. would make it. In all honesty, he's been fired twice. He knows that side of the coin. … I'm sure I'll talk to him, but I think they're going to do a good job with who they pick. Our president, right now, is on a mission with the other people, and we're going to get all on the same page, and we're going to get it done and get back to a BCS game, and I'll be on that 50-yard line, happy as 10 men, when we do."
Mariucci is pretty set on pro ball. I sure hope that's true.
If Steve is out of the running, then I say we definitely need to include Tom Izzo in the search process. His presence could help mediate between Simon, Mason, and the board, and hopefully it will yield the best possible selection (which was certainly not the case when Mason conducted the search for Williams' replacement behind closed doors).
Pah-riiiiiince Shooooooow!
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Prince fans, fire up that Little Red Corvette and head for Las Vegas: the purple one will be performing there every weekend starting Nov. 10.
The diminutive rocker will play Friday- and Saturday-night shows at 3121, a nightclub inside the Rio hotel, according to a Wednesday news release by P R Plus, a Vegas firm representing the club.
Tickets for the 21-and-over shows cost $125 and will be available beginning Nov. 2.
You sexy motha f#cka.
If it were anyone else, I would normally make a joke now about how washed-up has-beens go out to Las Vegas to end their careers (see: Celine Dion, Carrot Top, the list goes on.) But no. This is Prince. The Purple one. One of the coolest dudes on planet earth. I can't wait to see this show next time I'm in Vegas.
• LSJ: Smith sacked
• LSJ: Simon, Mason to lead search
• LSJ: Simon was decisive in making the right move
• Freep: 'L' IS FOR LAME DUCK
• Freep: Izzo should play key role in search
• DNews: WHO REPLACES JOHN L. SMITH?
• SNews: Smith fired but will remain coach until end of season
• SNews: Players 'taken by surprise'
• SN: Replacement search not yet started; candidates on radar
Here are my thoughts. First off, it sounds like Lou Anna Simon was the one who pulled the trigger. Big props to her for sticking to her guns after sending out an email last year talking about how she expected the team to compete for championships. Of course, this raises the question: if the president of the university had to make the final call, where was Ron Mason in all this? Was he just a bystander, and if so, why the hell is he still getting paid to be our Athletic Director?
Look, Ron Mason was a brilliant hockey coach, but let's face it, he boned it big time when he picked John L. Smith to lead our football team. Frankly, I don't want Ron to be significantly involved with picking a new coach since we can't afford (literally, since it'll cost us $4.3 million to pay off Smith) another screw up.
I'm not sure I want to get Izzo involved either. We all know who he'll recommend. Mariucci is a nice guy, but he was supposed to be a turnaround man when he came to Detroit, and he couldn't get the job done there. He now has a reputation of failure in this state. Kids who grew up watching him shake his head during Lions games won't want to come play for a guy like Steve Mariucci. Recruiting is too important in the college game to take a risk on a guy like that.
The timing of this decision was a bit surprising (I never thought the administration would fire Smith before the end of the year), but I think it's very smart. First, we pulled the trigger before the election, which means we can start searching for a coach before George Perles gets on the board. Second, it sends a message to the fans that the administration is serious about getting the program in position to compete for titles -- even if we end up making it to a bowl game this year, it's still not good enough. Third, it puts the word out in a very big way that MSU is looking for a head coach starting today. We immediately become one of the most tempting destinations for a whole slew of coaching candidates, which means we'll have a more talented pool to choose from.
There's another thing to consider. Every Spartan fan has friends and relatives who happen to root for that other university in Ann Arbor. I'm sure they'll tell you who they think we should hire. Here's a bit of advice: don't listen to them. One of the names on the short list of candidates will be Ron English, Michigan's defensive coordinator. The Wolverine fans will mule and puke and say there's no way he would leave Ann Arbor. Maybe he won't. Hell, I'm not even sure if he's one of the best people to consider hiring, but we need to be selfish here. I want a coach who will turn this program around and get us back into a position to win championships, and if we happen to steal a key member from our arch rival's coaching staff, that's just icing on the cake.
Look, aside from a short spurt of success in the late 90s, Michigan State football has been sputtering since we won the Rose Bowl in 1988. I've been a loyal Spartan fan all along, but I'll admit that the team is approaching Lions territory for me, where I pretty much quit caring all together. I don't think I watched an entire game all year -- and yes, I'm including the Michigan game that I went to (we left after the 3rd quarter). Pathetic. It's time to get on the right track and quit screwing around. Spartan fans deserve better.
I think this is a great idea. From the LSJ's Bleeding Green blog:
As the list of available coaches is being assembled I though of something that we may want to instate for the future football coach at MSU. I suggest the next hire is signed on a pay per win bases. Lets say that each win equals $150,000. Course they should get a base salary of say $100,000 incase a win isn’t found in a given season. I mean the family still has gotta eat. If they make a bowl game, and win, the next coach would get $250,000. Even if the coach won all regular season games and lost the bowl game they would pull in $1,900,000. If they did that for six years the future coach would still come in just about a million over what John L. got for his six years signed.
What kind of coach would take this sort of gamble? I guess a coach that thinks he has what it takes to produce consistent winning teams.
I'm not sure what coach would actually agree to something like this, but the next contract definitely needs to incentive-based.
Wins, bowls = big bonuses.
At the beginning of the season I made a bold prediction: John L. Smith would either be fired midseason or at the end of the season. Well, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong... John L. Smith was fired today at precisely the three-quarter mark in the season. Nostradamus I ain't.
Seriously though, John L. Smith is gone, and I couldn't be happier. The guy was a cancer on the MSU football program, and now that this rootin' tootin' shit-for-brains coach is gone, I hope and pray that we can bring in someone new and start moving in the right direction.
I do have one humble request as MSU's leaders search for a replacement: DON'T HIRE STEVE MARIUCCI! Just because he's buddies with Tom doesn't mean it's a good idea. Whatever Ron Mason and the board decide, for the love of God, they need to make their choice before George Perles gets on the board of trustees. Otherwise, we're really screwed.
UPDATE: Stories from the LSJ here and here. State News here. Rampant speculation about Smith's replacement can be found here.
From @U2:
U2's Vertigo Tour may soon create a real sense of vertigo among moviegoers as the band is planning to release its first 3-D concert film next year.
The untitled feature is being directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington. In conjunction with the film's anticipated mid- to late-2007 debut, U2 also might take part in the first live 3-D performance projected in theaters nationwide.
3ality Digital Entertainment, the project's producer, put together of the largest assemblages of 3-D camera technology ever used for a single project. A representative for the band called it "the first-ever 3-D multicamera live shoot."
The feature is being edited in New York by Olivier Wiki and readied for a summer or fall release. Discussions are under way with several major studio distributors. It is expected that the film screen nationwide using the Real D technology in place by theaters screening the digital 3-D release of "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas."
Glad to see my favorite band isn't keeping a low profile. It would be nice to get a one-two punch of this 3D concert film and a new album next year. Of course, I'll admit that the Vertigo DVD from Chicago was a little disappointing. The director must've had a nose full of blow when he edited that thing, because he never holds a shot for longer than three seconds -- it's almost painful to watch. Here's hoping this project takes on a more Rattle and Hum-ish feel.
• SN: No comeback this time
• SN: Spartans Stalled
• SN: Comeback was fool's gold — it's time for Smith to go
• SN: Compare MSU with Indiana? What an insult to Hoosiers
• SN: Coach Smith making lazy mistakes during games
• LSJ: MSU needs to win out or make change
• LSJ: Rock bottom
• LSJ: Offense flops after first drive
Somebody put us out of our misery.
COLBERT, GA—Country vocalist Kenny Rogers repeatedly and vehemently denied rumors that he engaged in cheatin' behavior during Game 2 of the World Series Sunday night, which he maintains he watched on TV at his friend Randy's house across town despite anonymous eyewitnesses placing him at the Lincoln Park Motor Inn with an unknown red-haired woman. "C'mon, honey, you have to believe in me, here," Rogers said from the front lawn of his estate while dodging clothing and personal possessions thrown at him from the second-floor windows of his house by Wanda Miller, his wife of nine years. "I had a few beers and, you know, decided to take my time getting home, is all. Honey?" Suspicion initially settled on Rogers when a visual inspection seemed to reveal a "tacky" stain on the multiple-Grammy-award winner's hands.
Wait. I'm confused. You mean they're not the same dude?
Need a sign that the Tigers are going to win the World Series? Patrick Stewart may be a harbinger of good things to come. Stewart, who’s in Ann Arbor to perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company Tuesday through Nov. 12, recalls the last time he was in Detroit.
“I was here with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre for a season…It was 1968.”
Booya! Don't f#ck with Jean-Luc Picard!
Best known for playing Capt. Jean Luc Picard on “Star Trek The Next Generation,” Stewart was intrigued by the recent sale of “Star Trek” artificats.
“I knew it was coming up and I went online and looked at the catalogue and then I’d forgotten it had happened.
“Idly waiting to be driven over here” Sunday morning “from Detroit airport, I went online and looked up Sotheby’s..and got the result of all that sale…I think the entire sale made over $7 million..(laughs) for bits of stuff to do with a television series--bits of set, bits of costume, props…I’m particularly interested in what my costumes went for.”
Hey, don't laugh. I would sell a lung to own one of Captain Picard's uniforms. But wait, what's this?
One thing you may never have imagined you were missing is the sight of Stewart conducting the U-M marching band playing “Hail To The Victors.” That is scheduled to take place Nov. 4 during halftime at the U-M-Ball State game.
Stewart has been taking conducting lessons. “I didn’t want to make a complete fool of myself. I expect to make a modest fool of myself.”
Patrick, don't you get it? U of M is like the Borg! Capt. Picard got kidnapped by the Borg, and it totally screwed him up for the rest of his life. Resistance is NOT futile! Set phasers to stun and beam your ass the hell out of Ann Arbor. Energize!
Instead of rolling over, the Spartans fought back. And when freshman kicker Brett Swenson hit a 28-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the game, the comeback was official.
But not just any comeback. MSU had engineered the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history to beat Northwestern, 41-38, on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.
"We saved our season," senior center Kyle Cook said. "We really should've come out and done that right away. We shouldn't have let it get to what it was. But it showed a lot of character in our team."
"We really shouldn't have let it get to what it was." Gee, no shit.
Smith gets no credit for this win. None. Zero. Zilch. His ass is still on the line, as far as I'm concerned. Sorry, but even if we make a bowl at 6-6, it's still not good enough. This team still has a long way to go...
Yep, the tattooed freak Jeffrey won Project Runway last night.
I know people hate him, but this is almost like Richard Hatch winning Survivor in the first season. The biggest asshole on the show takes the whole thing. Okay, okay, like everyone else I wanted Michael to win, but he blew it at the end there. Weird last-minute surprises like this are what make the show so fun to watch. Well, that and Tim Gunn.
Seriously, when is the Gunn going to get his own show? Bravo could call it "Make it Work," and have a big tie-in with the next season of Runway. Somebody get the Weinsteins on the phone...
LOS ANGELES - Picasso’s famed “Dream” painting turned into a nightmare for Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn when he accidentally gave the multimillion dollar canvas an elbow.
Wynn had just finalized a $139 million sale to another collector of his painting, called “Le Reve” (The Dream), when he poked a finger-sized hole in the artwork while showing it to friends at his Las Vegas office a couple of weeks ago.
“At that moment, his elbow crashed backward right through the canvas. There was a terrible noise,” Ephron wrote, noting that Wynn has retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that damages peripheral vision.
“Smack in the middle ... was a black hole the size of a silver dollar. ’Oh s---,’ he said. ’Look what I’ve done. Thank goodness it was me.’”
Wynn’s office on Tuesday confirmed the story, an account of which also appeared in this week’s The New Yorker. Both accounts said Wynn had decided to release the buyer from the sale agreement and to repair and keep the painting himself.
"Thank goodness it was me..." because I would've killed anyone else right on the spot with my bare hands!
Yoooooooow! He poked a hole in a $139 million painting? Ouch.
Is it just me, or does this remind anyone else of the scene in "Bean" when he accidentally sneezes on the painting of Whistler's mother?
Hello, I'm Dr. Bean. Apparently. And my job is to sit and look at paintings. So, what have I learned that I can say about this painting? Well, firstly, it's quite big, which is excellent. If it were very small, microscopic, then hardly anyone would be able to see it. Which would be a shame. Secondly, and I'm getting quite near the end of this... analysis, secondly, why was it worth this man spending fifty million of your American dollars? And the answer to that is, that it's a picture of Whistler's mother. And as I've learned, staying with my best friend David Langley and his family, families are very important. Even though Mr. Whistler was obviously aware that his mother was a hideous old bat who looked like she'd had a cactus lodged up her backside, he stuck with her, and even took the time to paint this amazing picture of her. And that's marvellous. It's not just a painting. It's a picture of a mad old cow who he thought the world of. Well that's what I think.
As my dad would say, a lot of Spartan fans came to the game on Saturday disguised as empty seats. About a quarter of the ones who did show up weren't wearing green and white. Todd Shulz nails it:
Even so, it was stunning to see roughly a quarter of the 73,498 seats (paid attendance) occupied by fans in Ohio State gear at the outset of the game. Three hours later, they had plenty of elbow room to celebrate their team's 14th straight win. Most of the green was gone and you could have squeezed the city of Columbus into the southeast corner.
Afterward, embattled MSU coach John L. Smith claimed not to have noticed. But you can bet President Lou Anna Simon, athletic director Ron Mason and MSU trustees did.
When it comes to big-time college football, nothing gets the attention of the decision makers like gaping tracts of aluminum. It's a rare sight at Spartan Stadium, where the loyalty of the legions is legendary, especially when compared to the results they've received in return.
MSU fans haven't seen a conference title since 1990. They haven't seen a Rose Bowl team since the 1987 season. Heck, they haven't seen a winning team since 2003. They've suffered mightily, swallowing disappointment, ticket increases and the introduction of seat license fees along the way.
And yet, year after year, game after game, they've shown up. Until Saturday.
If it was a statement on the state of the program, or the fate of Smith, it was a powerful one. If there's a decision to make about the coach, the fans have more to say about it with their pocketbooks than Simon or Mason, who, by the way, have plenty of good luxury suites and club seats available. Maybe MSU fans finally realized their collective clout.
This is the one thing Lions fans haven't done: quit going to the games. Fans are fed up, and they're protesting with their asses by staying home.
The Spartans (3-4 overall, 0-3 Big Ten Conference) have five games left, starting with next week's trip to Northwestern. All five are winnable, if Smith and his banged up crew can keep their wits about them on the road and out-duel mediocre Minnesota and Purdue teams at home.
"I'll never give up," junior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said. "I know my teammates will never give up. I know coach will never give up. We're not quitting on each other. I'm with my teammates and coaches no matter what."
Still, one must wonder whether Spartan fans have finally had enough. Has their seemingly infinite patience been exhausted? Has their stoic suffering reached its breaking point?
It sure looked that way Saturday. If so, you can dot the first "i" in "finished" for Smith.
One can only hope. Here's some more links:
• SN: Sea of red
• SN: MSU squanders opportunities
• SN: MSU might not win again this season
Extras: Where the elite meet to self-depre-keet. (It works with a British accent. Really.) Ricky Gervais, who launched his scathing HBO showbiz satire with cameos by an imperious Ben Stiller and a slatternly Kate Winslet, has now handed the bloody scourge to rock stars. In these previews, Coldplay's Chris Martin plays Coldplay's Chris Martin as a dead-eyed opportunist hawking his greatest hits album at a charity shoot for third-world poverty. ''Let's get on with it,'' snaps Martin (pictured, right, with a bewigged Gervais), ''I've got AIDS and Alzheimer's after this, and Gwyneth’s making drumsticks.''
But that's but sauce to the goose -- the goose, in this case, being David Bowie, Rock Star Cameo extraordinaire. A conversation with Gervais' sad-sack writer/actor, Andy Millman, launches Bowie into reverie. He turns to a Simpsons-convenient piano and begins composing a song called ''Little Fat Man,'' which soon expands into a giant singalong.
Of course, I don't get HBO anymore, so I'll have to wait for it to come out on DVD, but I can't wait to see the second season!
Here's the YouTube preview:
"'The pitching was fantastic, the offense was timely, the defense was flawless… Frankly, it made me sick,' Steinbrenner added."
Freep: MSU down and nearly out
This just in... MSU football still sucks.
Rick Lambert, an East Lansing resident and software salesman, told the State Journal that his son and a friend - both MSU students - were attacked and beaten Friday morning by four football players. He said both of the students' families have informed police that they will be pressing charges.
The alleged altercation took place near Capstone Commons Apartments in East Lansing, both Johnstone and Lambert confirmed.
Lambert said his son was knocked temporarily unconscious and that the face of his son's friend "looked like a women's basketball, it was so puffed up," after Lambert arrived on the scene about 3 a.m. Friday.
The son's friend received treatment at a local hospital the next day and was released, Lambert said.
"(MSU coach) John L. (Smith) has called both families several times since then," Lambert said. "He has been very nice about the whole thing."
Gee, I'm glad coach Smith has been so nice about the whole thing. Maybe if he had a leash on his players, we wouldn't be reading stories like this. Doesn't anybody remember what happened to Bobby Smith? Methinks the wheels are starting to come off the wagon for John L. Smith.
Michigan State embarrassed itself four years ago by letting the news leak that it was hiring Smith from U of L on the day the Cardinals played Marshall at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
All MSU administrators had to do was wait one more day to make the change. Instead, the story leaked its way into the ESPN telecast, and U of L players on the sideline started asking media members if their coach had told Michigan State something he had hidden from them.
Look who's blushing now.
Louisville has better players, better coaching, better discipline and a better grip on the top 10 than it had under Smith. Michigan State, meanwhile, blew a jumbo second-half lead against Notre Dame. Then the Spartans melted down and out against Illinois, prompting Smith to wonder if he had lost the attention of his players.
That contract Michigan State couldn't wait one day for Smith to sign?
I believe it has two years and $3.2 million remaining.
A quick check of the NCAA polls shows that Louisville is #7 across the board. MSU? We're number "who gives a shit?"
This article just puts things into perspective that much more for me.
MSU lost Nick Saban to LSU, where he went on to help the Tigers win a National Championship. A few years later we hired what we thought was an up-and-coming coach, John L. Smith. Turns out we got the expensive figurehead of an up-and-coming program. Louisville continued to improve post-Smith (which proves that there was more to their success than his coaching), while Michigan State has arguably gotten worse.
What do we have to show for hiring John L. Smith? NOTHING.
I know that having $3.2 million left on his contract looks like a lot, but it's time to admit we made a mistake and move on. Yes, it's an expensive mistake, and no, we can't afford to keep making them, but paying off a $3.2 million contract is better than letting the team stagnate for two more seasons. The university will have a hard time paying off that $60 million renovation of Spartan Stadium if fans quit showing up for the games.
There's one last bit of salt to rub salt in the wound, and I might as well throw it out there while I'm at it. My dad and I were talking about MSU's football woes last week, and he gave me Earle Robinson's take on the coaching dilemma. There's a very good chance that George Perles could be an MSU Trustee following next month's election, and one might assume that the board would turn to George to help hand pick Smith's replacement after the season. Do we really want George 'Run Lorenzo White up the middle 100 times a game' Perles choosing our next coach? It's time to start making decisions about John L. Smith now before this thing gets even worse. And yes, it could get a lot worse if George Perles gets involved.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's and women's basketball teams will hold their annual midnight madness event on Friday night, Oct. 13, in conjunction with the opening of the 2006-07 season. This year's event will be titled "Fright Night," with different events of the evening featuring a Halloween theme. Fans are encouraged to join in the spirit of the event by dressing in their own costumes. Prizes will be awarded for some costumes. Doors to the Breslin Center will open at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Fans will have the opportunity to get autographs from their favorite men's and women's basketball players along with the coaches beginning at 9 p.m. The evening will also include the introduction of the men's and women's basketball teams, along with scrimmages by both teams. There will also be several promotional giveaways, along with performances by the Spartan Marching Band, Michigan State cheerleaders, MSU dance team and Sparty.
If you're in town, go check it out. Midnight Madness is always a lot of fun.
Go GREEN!
The new Beck album, "The Information," came out last week. Go read the AV Club's interview with Beck here and then check out their review here. For the record, I still haven't met a Beck CD I didn't like. Some are definitely better than others, but he's been on a roll lately, and I can't wait to check out this latest album.
MEMO TO MY FAVORITE MUSICIANS: Take a page out of Beck's book and put out more CDs, more often, please. Gracias.
iBZP looks like a mess in Internet Explorer (thanks to the photo javascript code in the sidebar), and I've given up trying to make it look pretty for IE users. Microsoft's web browser sucks for a million different reasons that I won't bore you with. But please, PLEASE take a moment to go download Mozilla's Firefox. It's free, it works great, and you won't have any obnoxious ads/viruses/spyware killing your computer if you use it.
Thanks!
EAST LANSING -- Quarterback Drew Stanton energized his teammates during Tuesday's practice with a pointed speech about Michigan State's futility against Michigan over the past four seasons.
Players said Stanton asked how many of them could say they had beaten Michigan, and the ensuing silence provided the answer.
Quarterbacks coach Dan Enos is one of the few who could have answered "yes." He was MSU's quarterback on the 1990 team, the last group to beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, the site of Saturday's game. And technically, receiver Matt Trannon could have raised his hand -- he has beaten Michigan quite a few times in basketball.
"It's a feeling you can't describe," Trannon said. "I've told the guys how it feels and the satisfaction of it. ... That's what we're trying to do this Saturday."
MSU's last victory over Michigan came in 2001, and that disappoints players like linebacker Kaleb Thornhill, who grew up in a Spartans home.
Father Charlie "Mad Dog" Thornhill played on the 1965 and 1966 national championship teams and older brother Josh played in East Lansing in 1998-2001.
"I remember when I used to watch the games when my brother played," Thornhill said. "Just to see the (Michigan) fans and what they said after the game ... how arrogant they are ... man, it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth and makes you want to go out there and stick it to 'em."
Sigh. Where do I begin?
We haven't beat Michigan in the last four tries. There isn't a single player on the football team that's had the thrill of defeating Ann Arbor Community College, let alone on their home turf. We haven't done that since 1990 (and boy, as a Spartan fan, that was a great one).
It was unbelievably depressing to read Matt Trannon remarks about how satisfying it is to beat U of M... in basketball. It just cuts that much deeper for some reason, since all he's doing is reminding us how pathetic this football program has been over the past six seasons.
And reading about Charlie Thornhill and the glorious teams from 1965 and 1966 just sticks the shiv in a little deeper. Michigan State hasn't won a national championship in 40 years. LBJ was the president back then, fer cryin' out loud!
Here's my dad's prediction for tomorrow:
Well, my usual prediction: MSU 270, Ann Arbor Community College 0
My REAL prediction for tomorrow: AACC 56, MSU 9
I don't know how real I mean that to be, but I do expect to suffer a butt-whippin'. (the nine points is based on FINALLY having a kicker who can make a dang field goal).
Sigh. This whole thing just puts me in such a sour mood. Stef and I are actually going to the game in Ann Arbor tomorrow. It'll be the second MSU-UM football game I've ever attended, and my first time at the Big House. And as disgusting as it is to say... I don't really care if we win or lose. Don't get me wrong, I'll wear my green and white and I'll cheer on the Spartans, but even if we win it doesn't really change anything. We'll still be a mediocre team (at best) with a bleak outlook for the rest of the season if we walk out of there with a victory tomorrow.
And get this... next year's schedule is going to be tougher than this year's. Assuming John L. Smith somehow survives the 2006 season, he's going to have an even tougher time surviving the last year on his contract, which means... we're already talking about the 2008 season before we really have any hope of "turning the corner" again with another new coach. MSU football has been turning corners for 40 years.
We were close to a breakthrough after the exciting 2000 season when we beat Florida in the Citrus Bowl, but the coach who got us there, Nick Saban, ditched us before the bowl game to go to LSU... where he won a National Championship.
Normally this is when I would rhetorically ask when basketball season starts, but even the MSU basketball program will be young and inexperienced this year. Of course, Spartan fans know to never underestimate Tom Izzo, but that's the problem... John L. Smith ain't Tom Izzo.
Oh, the plight of the Spartan fan.
Now watch us go out there and win the damn thing tomorrow.
Don't f#ck with Star Trek:
Scientists in Copenhagen took one more step toward the Star Trek transporter, figuring out how to teleport groups of billions of atoms from one place to another using light, quantum mechanics, magnetism and a concept they call "entanglement." Professor Eugene Polzik and his team managed to move an object about 18 inches, using an excruciatingly complicated process that amounts to some serious magic.
Energize, baby!
Next thing I want: photon torpedos. Let's get on that.
Despite two straight disappointing losses and rising fan criticism, university officials remain confident in football head coach John L. Smith and say his job is not in jeopardy.
MSU followed a fourth-quarter collapse against Notre Dame two weeks ago with a 23-20 Homecoming loss to Illinois on Saturday, after which Smith admitted he didn't fully prepare his team to play. The team sits at 3-2 with its next two games against Top 10 teams.
"A lot of coaches have lost two games," MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson said. "We lost one game by three points and another by three points. He's an excellent coach."
Athletics Director Ron Mason did not return a phone call Monday and was out of the office Tuesday. Mason told his staff that mid-season evaluations would not be made, said John Lewandowski, MSU's associate athletics director for communication.
Ron, there's more than Smith's legacy on the line here. Your ass is in this too. I know Mason will never publically slag off the guy he handpicked for the job, but sooner or later ya gotta cut your losses.
Regardless of how the season plays out, university officials maintain Smith's job is secure at least through the season.
"We got a lot of games ahead of us, and it seems to me that we all need to focus on the season in front of us," Trustee David Porteous said.
"That's where my focus is, and I hope where everybody's focus is."
A call to Simon's office was directed to university spokesman Terry Denbow, who supported Porteous' statement.
"You don't evaluate personnel in the middle of their activities," he said. "You evaluate programs after seasons. You don't evaluate coaches after games."
Normally I'd agree, but anyone who thinks the situation will improve in any major way by the end of the season is utterly delusional.
When asked about Bobby Williams, Smith's predecessor who was fired with three games remaining in the 2002 season, Denbow said: "We've talked about the reasons why (Williams was fired). I will never comment on comparisons between personnel, ever."
Lewandowski said comparing the situations was "comparing apples to oranges."
Williams had a career record of 16-17; Smith's record at MSU is 21-20.
Gee, great improvement on the record. Say what you will about Bobby Williams -- and believe me, I'm the last person to defend him as a coach -- but the guy was one hell of a recruiter. Has John L. Smith recruited a single great player? No. Things are getting worse, not better in East Lansing.
At Monday's press conference, Smith elaborated on his post-game comments and laughed when the comparison to Williams was brought up.
"We have the answers," he said. "I wasn't able to get them to focus on the correct answers at the time."
Because you're a shitty coach, that's why you couldn't get them to "focus."
We're screwed. MSU football is in the middle of its Lions-esque slide into total oblivion.
See you in Ann Arbor on Saturday. I'll bring the Asprin.
The Onion: Nation Sickened By Sight Of Happy Young Couple
OAK PARK, IL—Though sharply divided on the war on terror and domestic controversies such as abortion, drugs, and gay marriage, Americans are in almost unanimous agreement over one issue: that Oak Park, IL couple Dave Petrun and Julie DeSimone are totally sickening.
"It's like they think they're the first couple to ever fall in love in the history of space and time," said Boston resident Allison Clark, one of millions of people who say they want to shoot themselves in the face after observing the tender relationship between Petrun, 28, and DeSimone, 25, evolve over the last four months.
According to an ABC News–Washington Post poll released Monday, a significant majority of Americans believe the couple's persistent displays of affection, which include almost constant hand-holding, mutual giggling, and insufferably coy little kisses, were "fucking ridiculous." An overwhelming eight out of 10 polled said they wished the couple would die, preferably in a fiery automobile accident.
My schmoopy and I apologize for being so cute.
"But the only thing shown at Spartan Stadium was that our young kids played too hard for a coach who exemplifies the word coward." Ouch.
Get rid of Smith, bring in Mariucci to end agony
I'm with ya on the fire John L. front, buddy. But Mooch? Puh-lease. Man, this guy really must be a Spartan fan if he's thinking that Mariucci would be an improvement. Talk about low expectations.
Freep: Tigers' ascension a lesson for Lions
Drew Sharp rips the Fords (another) new one. Will they listen? Nope.
Freep: Yzerman becomes a Red Wings VP
Very cool. But have they started building the statue yet?
Freep: MSU isn't in a slaphappy mood
We did some dumb things on Saturday, but slapping Charlie Weis wasn't one of them. But even if one of our guys had slapped that massive mellon of his... would he even feel it?
Let me tell you, Spartan fans, this guy is a legend in the making. Here's John L. Smith in today's State News discussing Jehuu Caulcrick:
"Should we probably have used Jehuu more? Yeah," Smith said. "But at that point in time, there's nine (Notre Dame defenders) in there, and they're coming with pressure, and we're not totally convinced we're going to run the ball downhill."
Once Notre Dame brought more defenders to the line, Smith said the team opted to run the ball more on the outside, where the quicker Ringer is preferred.
They couldn't stop Caulcrick in the first three quarters -- so DUH -- John L. made the brilliant call to stop utilizing his most effective running back at the most critical point of the game. It makes perfect sense, if you ask me.
Can we have our national championship now, please?
BTW: The fire John L. letters have started. Here's one and here's another.