LeBronedict

I don't care about the NBA, but anything that makes so many Ohioans so unhappy is alright in my book.

In my opinion, the sport is a baby step above professional wrestling in terms of actual competition. The LeBron-athon of the last week has been so nauseating, I am actually looking forward to watching the World Cup soccer final.

Thankfully, I had some old episodes of Two and a half Men on my DVR and missed the hour long ESPN "decision" special last night. From what I could gather, it was compelling television.

<---- Now the fun starts. Besides the incredible letter posted by Cavs owner (and Sparty grad) Dan Gilbert, the reaction to this circus has been simply awesome. The new material provided by scorned buckeye state fans will fill the gap until football season starts.

My favorite this morning is from James on WaitingForNextYear.com: Lebron, you are a worthless piece of crap. Enjoy being the second banana to Wade for the rest of your sorry career. Thanks for hosting an hour-long special to stick a knife in your hometown’s back. Thanks for quitting in the playoffs last year. Thanks for leaving, so the Cavs can get an actual superstar who will win on his own, and not hold the city and team hostage.

The front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer is nicely done. One thing I do know, LBJ had better brush up on his spanish.

Sleep well Cleveland.... Long live the King.

John Wooden 1910-2010

His life was gentle, and the elements

So mixed in him that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world, 'This was a man!'

~ William Shakeseare. Julius Ceasar

I was 9 years old when John Wooden retired from coaching. When I played junior high school basketball, we ran Wooden's UCLA offense. When I played high school basketball, we ran Wooden's UCLA offense. When I watch basketball today at all levels from YMCA rec ball to the NBA, they still run that offense. Rest in Peace Coach.

New Final Four logo

This evening, in celebration of both West Virginia and Michigan State getting to the Final Four, the NCAA released a new logo for the event.

Sparty On 2010

"It's not the Spartans that are rioting. Usually, it's others that come here."

Being Manny

The hits just keep on coming.

This morning Manny Harris officially confirmed what most Michigan fans already knew: He was leaving early for the professional ranks (note the choice of words, I did not say the NBA). He is hiring an agent. He will not be returning to Ann Arbor for his senior season. Ho hum.

"I will always appreciate the college game and what it has done for me, but playing professional basketball has always been a goal and I feel it is the best time to pursue that. I will always be a Michigan Wolverine at heart and bleed Maize and Blue forever."

Great. Thanks for the memories Manny. This is going to be viewed as sour grapes from a Michigan fan denied the opportunity to watch an improving senior led team next year. It is not. I don't watch basketball much anymore because of things like this. Don't get me wrong... from what I have witnessed, I generally like Manny Harris. I like his game. He is a pretty good basketball player. He was the best, by a wide margin, Michigan had on their team over the last 3 seasons. I recognize and admire his skills. I also acknowledge his dream and desire of playing and making millions in the NBA. But at some point, reality needs to set in for everyone. The real story is this: Manny Harris has decided to sit at the end of an NBA bench and/or tour Europe with a pro basketball team for the next 3 years.

I am no NBA scout, but someone has done this kid a disservice in telling him he is ready to guard Kobe or LeBron. In my uninformed opinion, the chances of Manny Harris becoming a productive NBA player are about the same as the Michigan basketball program sweeping aside Tom Izzo's grip on the state's hoop dream. Over the last decade I have seen waaaaaay too many above average college basketball players believe the NBA is their destiny. And now it looks like Manny Harris is one of them. NBA ready players carry their college teams deep into the NCAA tournament. NBA ready players win big games. NBA ready players beat their rivals consistently. NBA ready players finish the game before pounding on their chest in celebration. NBA players make their all conference first teams.

I am going to miss Manny Harris. I wish him well. I just hope he adjusts well to living and playing in europe.

Toledo Redo: Maybe the Women can win.....

The Women's Basketball team has advanced in the WNIT tournament, destroying Kent State 69-34 and will take on the University of Toledo in Ann Arbor SUNDAY at 2pm.

Copying straight from my friend's homework...here is the 2008 KYF for Toledo

Tickets are on sale at the door for like six bucks (or less for the kids)

Fill the house ! If we have big numbers and win, we can host the next round too
Go Blue !!!

Mercifully, It ends

As if this nightmare could have ended with any more of a painful conclusion. The basketball season is over. Sigh.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Evan Turner drained a 37-footer at the buzzer to give Ohio State (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) a 69-68 win over Michigan on Friday in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.

Turner took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt and pulled up barely past halfcourt. The Big Ten player of the year left his arm in the air after the release, confident the long shot would fall.

His attempt was so close to the buzzer that the play was reviewed. When officials signaled the shot was good, the red-clad section of the crowd erupted.

Turner finished with 18 points and eight assists for the Buckeyes (25-7), who advanced to play the winner between Illinois and Wisconsin (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 13 AP).

Michigan's Manny Harris hit a jumper from 11 feet with 2.2 seconds left to give Michigan a 68-66 lead. Harris led the Wolverines (15-17) with 26 points.

MAKE THE BAD MAN STOP!!!

The nightmare that is the 2009-2010 sports calendar marches on. I honestly believe in my heart that eventually we won't stink in every sport that anyone cares about. This faith keeps me going. But for now, it really fucking sucks.

We will try again with Ice Hockey against Sparty this weekend. I am not confident in anything other than pain is inevitable. Until then I will watch this on a continous loop.

HT: NYWolverine via MGoBlog. Wow.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner: WBB to play Sparty

Michigan, the seventh seed in the B10 Tourney, tallied a 67-54 victory today over #10 seed Northwestern.



And the recap from mgoblue.com

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team raced out to a 38-16 halftime lead and weathered an 18-2 Northwestern run in the second half to earn a 67-54 win over the Wildcats in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday (March 4) inside Conseco Fieldhouse.

All eight Wolverines that saw floor time scored, with five reaching double figures. Sophomore Courtney Boylan (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) led the way off the bench with 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Carmen Reynolds (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard) scored 13 points with seven rebounds, while junior Veronica Hicks (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood) chipped in 12 and senior Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate) had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman Jenny Ryan (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) also stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, eight boards, four assists, two steals and a block in 40 minutes of action.

U-M scored the first four points out of halftime to take a 42-16 lead before Northwestern made its run, an 18-2 spurt over eight minutes that cut the lead to 44-34. A pair of Boylan free throws with 8:47 remaining ended a 7:45 scoring drought for the Wolverines, pushing the lead back to 12. Back-to-back three-pointers from Hicks and Reynolds on the ensuing possessions allowed Michigan to regain the momentum and keep the lead in double digits throughout the rest of the half.

After coming up empty on the first two possessions to open the contest, the Wolverines took control early with an 8-0 run in a span of 1:17, courtesy of three-point baskets from Phillips and Reynolds along with a shot-clock beating 18-footer from Ryan. The Wolverine lead increased to 25-9 with 6:38 remaining in the half when Hicks banked in a three-pointer from the left lane line to beat the shot clock.

The Maize and Blue closed the first half on an 11-2 run to take a 38-16 lead into the locker room. U-M shot 46.9 percent (15-for-32) from the field in the first half, hitting six three-point baskets, while Northwestern managed only a 25-percent (6-for-24) clip. The Wolverines took advantage of a 25-11 rebounding edge, leading to 12 second-chance points. Ryan and Phillips led the way, both scoring eight, while Hicks and Boylan chipped in six apiece.

The Wolverines advance to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament and will take on No. 2 seed Michigan State on Friday (March 5) at 11:30 am.

Sparty Hoops

Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals

~ James Naismith

The Michigan State Spartan basketball team invades Crisler Arena tonight. I have very low expectations, but stranger things have happened.

Go Blue !

BGs Sunday

1) Wake up
2) Get some breakfast
3) Head down to Crisler
4) Pick up a Silver football trophy
5) Watch Michigan upset UConn

6) Work out to get ready for the NFL draft

Wallpaper Wednesday: DeShawn Sims

For obvious reasons... we have neglected the Michigan basketball team this season. To be honest, they just have not played very well and I am sick of watching Michigan (insert sport) teams lose games. I am sure the Free Press and News will find a way to blame Rich Rodriguez, but the basketball team slept through the non-conference season with exactly zero wins against decent teams. We lost to Marquette, Alabama, Boston College, Utah, and Kansas before opening the B11 season losing at Indiana. Yes the same Indiana team that won only one conference game while finishing in last place last year.

For better or worse, all that changed this weekend when the basketball Wolverines beat #15 ranked Ohio State. Call me skeptical, but this game is more of an illusion than anything. Ohio State was playing without their star player Evan Turner. Put #21 on the court for the Bucks and this game is a different story. As it stands, Michigan "improved" it's record against Thad Matta to 2-9.

As a Blue Loyalist I am obligated to holding onto the slim hope that DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris can deliver some more wins and impress enough people during the rest of the conference season to make the tourney.

Challenge complete

Congrats to the rest of the Big Ten Conference basketball teams (at least the 6 teams that won) for finally getting over the hump and winning the annoying ACC/B10 Challenge. Big Ten 6 ACC 5. Yippie !

Wisconsin beat Duke and Ohio State beat Florida State last night to secure the win for the conference. This was the first time in the 11 year history of "the challenge" that Duke lost.

This was the sixth time there was a one-victory difference. The ACC won 5-4 in 1999, 2000 and 2002, and it won 6-5 in 2005 and 2008.

Fake Jordans and 10 pounds of Pot

This story must somehow involve the NBA...

According the the Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Police Department has seized 500 pairs of counterfeit Air Jordans from the Halsted Indoor Mall after Nike complained. In addition to the fake sneakers, they also grabbed 10 pounds of marijuana. One of the men arrested was the store's owner, Nate Driggers, former Boston Celtic (he played 15 games during the 1996-1997 season). Counterfeit Air Jordans cost a customer $35 a pair, versus the $150 an authentic pair of the shoes costs.

No charges have been filed yet in connection with the marijuana found in the store.

A Rose by any other name.......

would take the SAT just as well?????
NBA Rookie of the Year for 2008-9 and former Memphis B-ball player Derrick Rose has been accused of finding someone else to take his SATs for him. Brilliant....
Memphis is trying to figure out how to keep their wins, and their appearance in the 2008 NCAA Championship Game....since after all, it's not THEIR fault he cheated.

W
T
F

Makes me kinda proud of Bill Martin and President Mary Sue Coleman, even if it meant taking the banners down......
integrity.

Maybe they should change the name to the M League ?

Former Michigan Wolverine basketball players Courtney Sims and Brent Petway collected some new hardware this week to go along next to their 2004 NIT rings.

Sims was named the NBA Developmental League Most Valuable player. Sims played 32 games with the Iowa Energy this past season averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds per game. He was also a starter and won the co-MVP of the 2009 D League All Star game. Since leaving Michigan Sims has played three games with the Indiana Pacers. He has also had training camp and summer league stints with Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats. He is playing on a 10 day contract with the New York Knicks.

Petway was named the NBA Developmental League Defensive Player of the Year. Petway appeared in all 45 games for the Idaho Stampede. He was second in the league with 2.1 blocks per game and was the key stopper on the D League's best defensive team. He was also a starter in the D League All Star game. "Air Georgia" is well known as the best dunker in the D League and has actually challenged NBA dunk champ Dwight Howard in a dunk-off. Michigan fans will remember him for the great winged-helmet haircut he wore during the 2007 Ohio State game. He has played for the Portland Trailblazers and Toronto Raptors training camp and summer league teams.

Green until you die

It was a quiet night in East Lansing as only 15 people were arrested following MSU’s loss to North Carolina in the basketball championship game. The majority of those arrests were for disorderly conduct. Some people were arrested on arson-related charges (cop-speak for burning couches).

The Lansing State Journal spent last night and early Tuesday morning documenting the events as they happened at the epicenter of the Sparty riot volcano. Some brilliant quotes I wanted to share:

8:00 PM MSU police “Traditionally a win is much easier for us.”

9:08 PM after MSU took an early 3-2 lead “It’s over”

10:40 PM "We're Spartans, We're green until we die. It's not over until it's over."

11:10 AM “It’s just 4,000 people looking at five people, throwing beers."

1:05 AM "Win or lose, this is East Lansing, We're in the national spotlight, That increases the value of my degree. There were millions of people watching my team get whopped by the best team in the nation"

"It's a legitimate excuse not to go to class."

1:40 AM when the police started breaking up the crowd "It's not right, Nobody got hurt. Everybody was having a good time. When somebody fell down, we picked them up and kept on going.”

East Lansing: Brace yourselves

I fell in to a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.
~ Johnny Cash

Tonight is the night. Couches, sofas, and ottomans throughout the state capital area brace themselves for the title game tonight. I guess either way these innocent pieces of furniture are screwed. Spartans win: things will burn. Spartans lose: things will burn.

East Lansing Police claim they are prepared. They are going to have 230 officers on duty tonight. As if that will make any difference. Following Sunday's win East Lansing Police Chief Tom Wilbert remarked "We had a peaceful celebration of a great MSU win, I am proud that our students celebrated with class, and I am proud of the way that our officers handled this situation."

Yes, really classy. According to the same article East Lansing Police arrested about 60 people that night. A normal East Lansing night yeilds 10 to 15 arrests. Celebrating Sparty fans were arrested for a variety of offenses, including throwing objects, indecent exposure, attempted arson and assault. Several couches were set on fire shortly after MSU's win, but according to police, they were quickly extinguished and placed back into their homes for tonights game.

You stay classy East Lansing.

Sparty Party: Game Day Open Thread

Remember when your mom made you go to your sister's piano recital on a Saturday night?

And wear a tie????
Yeah.
Exactly.
Sparty at the Final Four Dance in Detroit.

Great.

Can I bring a book????

Spawn Bracket Update

Wanted to post a quick update to the Spawn Bracket Challenge. We have some pretty good scores out there led by Wolverines_220 1 and Kozzie 13 1, both who have over a 99% score. Each of them has three of the Final Four teams. I don't recognize either as a regular Spawn poster -- if either one of you is out there please identify yourselves so we can applaud you. I am rooting for Wolverines to win our challenge, since Kozzie picked Sparty.

I think it is also important to point out T9 and I are tied in 17th place. I have one team in the final four (UNC) and T9 has none. Because I picked the Tarheels to lose in the semis -- neither one of us has any hope of any more points. I have only ever had brothers... so I guess if I had to "kiss my sister" -- T9 would be the most logical and obvious choice.

I am also currently ahead of my son, but he has UConn winning it all -- so he just might overtake me. And yes... Big Ass Hammm is eating my dust.

Caption Contest: Sparty Final Four

(Deep breath) Congrats to the Spartans of Michigan State University for making it to Ford Field and the Final Four. I wish I could say that I will be cheering for you (and the Big Ten) -- but my mother told me to never lie. May your basketball season meet the same fate as Sparta's own King Leonidas at Thermopylae.

Thanks to our very own ohio_guy for pointing out this incredible image of Sparty basketball coach Tom Izzo. There really was no other choice than to host a Detroit / Final Four caption contest once we saw it. There are 64 Spawn Points on the line for the winning entry, as decided by T9.

My entry: Damnit Magic !!! I said get off of the court. Your time is up.