Well it happens now and then. On my way home from work today I was rear-ended by a pickup going about 30-35 MPH. It did a number on the Corolla, which is now in the shop awaiting inspection and estimates. It looks as though I won't need to pay my deductible, as it was not my fault. I was Eastbound on Leonard and had to slam on my brakes as the car in front of me did. Well, the Ford Ranger behind me didn't. He plowed me into the Impala in front of me.
The little beast's back bumper is messed way up, trunk a smashed and jammed in the up position. The exhaust pipeline is completely dislodged, and I have minor damage to the front of my car.
I am due to get my rental tommorow, then it'll be back to normal transportation-wise. I'm really hoping to not have to pay my deductible as I was a "victim" in the incident.
I haven't had an accident since may 2007 when my last car was totalled by a drunk driver. Thank God no one was in it at the time and it was simply parked. I was hoping to avoid a fun experience like this, but I doubt the little beast is totalled. *Crosses Fingers*
I'll keep you all informed as to what eventually happens here.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Oh Yee of Little Hockeytown Faith (I Now Eat Crow)
Well it's now April 8th and the playoff race in the NHL's Western Conference has been decided. I remember yakking on and on earlier in the season about the dubious nature of the Red Wings play before the Olympic break, and how the quiet, but building, undertone was of the playoff streak ending. Many sports writers stated that if any team needed the Olympic break to get healthy and get their heads together, it was Detroit. More profetic words have been spoken throughout history, but these were right on the money.
Since the return of the regular season at the start of March, the winged-wheel has become a machine once again. Reeling off win streak after win streak and becoming the hottest team in the league. Rookie stalward goalie Jimmy Howard has been lights out, and looks like the phenom of the year. The Red Wings offensive power has found it's traction again, and is hitting the net. A mistake prone and sloppy defense over the first several months of the season has began to gel. While Lidstrom won't get the Norris, nor will Datsyuk or Zetterburg get a scoring title, the Wings are back.
They've locked up their 19th consecutive playoff spot, a current record amongst ALL the four major league sports. At the moment they're tied with Nashville for the 5th seed in the West with 98 points. With two games on the regular season schedule remaining, it looks like they may retain the 5th seed and control some form of their destiny.
To me, the year is already a success. A Phoenix from the ashes of an abysmal first half from which I openly stated that they might very well miss the playoffs, or worse; finish sub .500. If we get swept in the first round, yeah it'll be very dissapointing. However, the alternative would have been even more embarrassing. We could have ended up like the Tigers of last year. Full of potential, only to fall a fingernail short, as close as close can get. But, not good enough.
Hockey fans in Michigan lets break out the octopi and face paint, and dig the trenches. We've gotten hot at the right time, let's hope they can hit that playoff gear and make a deep run. I will sit down to a big helping of crow all weekend and just enjoy the games.
Since the return of the regular season at the start of March, the winged-wheel has become a machine once again. Reeling off win streak after win streak and becoming the hottest team in the league. Rookie stalward goalie Jimmy Howard has been lights out, and looks like the phenom of the year. The Red Wings offensive power has found it's traction again, and is hitting the net. A mistake prone and sloppy defense over the first several months of the season has began to gel. While Lidstrom won't get the Norris, nor will Datsyuk or Zetterburg get a scoring title, the Wings are back.
They've locked up their 19th consecutive playoff spot, a current record amongst ALL the four major league sports. At the moment they're tied with Nashville for the 5th seed in the West with 98 points. With two games on the regular season schedule remaining, it looks like they may retain the 5th seed and control some form of their destiny.
To me, the year is already a success. A Phoenix from the ashes of an abysmal first half from which I openly stated that they might very well miss the playoffs, or worse; finish sub .500. If we get swept in the first round, yeah it'll be very dissapointing. However, the alternative would have been even more embarrassing. We could have ended up like the Tigers of last year. Full of potential, only to fall a fingernail short, as close as close can get. But, not good enough.
Hockey fans in Michigan lets break out the octopi and face paint, and dig the trenches. We've gotten hot at the right time, let's hope they can hit that playoff gear and make a deep run. I will sit down to a big helping of crow all weekend and just enjoy the games.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April and Spring Break (Plus Dr. Pete's Social Advice)
So it's now April, and I'm on spring break once again. It feels quite nice to get a week of "me" time even if it is not paid. How productive have I been? Laughably un-productive.
I do have lots of boring, boring junk to work on tonight, so that will keep me busy.
I've been keeping myself quite busy with friends lately, which I am really proud of myself for doing. My recently expanded amount of "me" time has given me a golden opportunity to re-connect with some old friends and even make a few new ones. I'm quite thankful for this as it had been a while since I had done any real social-sphere expansion.
When one loses the bubble of comfort that a long-term relationship provides, you are then forced to make your own plans. It's not a given that you will have quality social interaction, which especially for people in long-distance relationships who don't get to see their signifigant other often, is paramount. One often doesn't grasp just how important the friendships you have are, and after a traumatic separation just how heavily you rely on these friends to give you emotional and social support in your recovery.
I would encourage anyone in a long-distance relationship to make time for your friends, real time. Not just lunch once a month or something. I know you need to see your signifigant other too and talk to them. I'm assuming you already do this rather easily so there's no need for change. However, how many evenings or weekends do you sit around kinda mopey? Nothing to do? Call someone, anyone. Make plans, even if it is just someone coming over to watch the game or a movie. You'll be a far more mentally healthy person, and it will actually help your relationship.
What if your signifigant other dislikes your friends or feels uncomfortable with your hanging out with members of the opposite sex not in their presence? What if they yell at you and use bully-ish tactics to dissuade you from going out? I've seen this way too often, and it really kills the victim. Yes, I refer to the person who's social life is being held hostage a victim. Now, maybe the "victim" in question is a habitual cheater? True, there are grey areas to this scenario. However, if the victim is this un-faithful that it makes the relationship such a hell, why are you dating him/her?! If you cannot trust your signifigant other around members of the opposite sex when you're not present, don't even think about marriage.
I've seen people go turtle who are in a long distance relationship and rarely ever talk to friends. Don't be the turtle, you have a responsibility to yourself and your mental health to have social contact. It will help all aspects of your life, from mood to your performance at work.
The doctor is now out.
I do have lots of boring, boring junk to work on tonight, so that will keep me busy.
I've been keeping myself quite busy with friends lately, which I am really proud of myself for doing. My recently expanded amount of "me" time has given me a golden opportunity to re-connect with some old friends and even make a few new ones. I'm quite thankful for this as it had been a while since I had done any real social-sphere expansion.
When one loses the bubble of comfort that a long-term relationship provides, you are then forced to make your own plans. It's not a given that you will have quality social interaction, which especially for people in long-distance relationships who don't get to see their signifigant other often, is paramount. One often doesn't grasp just how important the friendships you have are, and after a traumatic separation just how heavily you rely on these friends to give you emotional and social support in your recovery.
I would encourage anyone in a long-distance relationship to make time for your friends, real time. Not just lunch once a month or something. I know you need to see your signifigant other too and talk to them. I'm assuming you already do this rather easily so there's no need for change. However, how many evenings or weekends do you sit around kinda mopey? Nothing to do? Call someone, anyone. Make plans, even if it is just someone coming over to watch the game or a movie. You'll be a far more mentally healthy person, and it will actually help your relationship.
What if your signifigant other dislikes your friends or feels uncomfortable with your hanging out with members of the opposite sex not in their presence? What if they yell at you and use bully-ish tactics to dissuade you from going out? I've seen this way too often, and it really kills the victim. Yes, I refer to the person who's social life is being held hostage a victim. Now, maybe the "victim" in question is a habitual cheater? True, there are grey areas to this scenario. However, if the victim is this un-faithful that it makes the relationship such a hell, why are you dating him/her?! If you cannot trust your signifigant other around members of the opposite sex when you're not present, don't even think about marriage.
I've seen people go turtle who are in a long distance relationship and rarely ever talk to friends. Don't be the turtle, you have a responsibility to yourself and your mental health to have social contact. It will help all aspects of your life, from mood to your performance at work.
The doctor is now out.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Gary Bettman and the NHL's Fatal Southern Attraction. (Also Final Four Chatter)
As we know in the 1990's the National Hockey League went rather expansion crazy. This included moving a couple Canadian franchises to the states. One of those two were the Winnipeg Jets. They were taken out of a hockey crazy Manitoba and put into...Phoenix, Arizona. For a while, it seemed to work. In this most recent decade however the health of that franchise is on life support. It is clear the community doesn't get the sport and doesn't care. It's not exactly a place where people can relate to the game.
A couple years ago a major push was made by a Canadian businessman to purchase the stricken franchise and move them back to the homeland. Hamilton, Ontario was the goal, a far Southern "suburb" of Toronto with over a half-million people and highly succesful AHL organization. Truth be told, they would have sold the season out in 15 minutes. If you pay attention to the rhetoric from the NHL's propaganda, errr, public relations department you know the purchase was denied by the league, backed by the city of Phoenix.
The move of getting the Federal government to help you block the purchase was absolutely confusing in the utmost to the more knowledgeable hockey fan. It went to symbolize to a lot of REAL hockey fans the incompetant-ish nature of Gary Bettman's management of the league. He's not doing what is right for the game, rather, what is right for his (and his investors) pocket books. The downright outraged position the league offices took when plan for purchase was announced was sad. They gave Jim Balsillie, the proposed buyer of the bankrupt team, no shot from square one. They virtually refused to hear his arguement and had made up their mind before anything was even announced.
Well, what we have a year later is the complete proof of just how terrible a decision that was. There is nothing that can save this franchise, nothing. They have their own brand new arena, so the venue is not lacking. True, in the 2000's they had been quite dead on the ice, with not a lot to cheer for. Here, however, is the clincher.
This season the team was won it's division and already has over 100 points in the standings even before April! They are back and back big time. So one would expect Bettman to be able to gloat over the newly risen Phoenix (pun intended). Instead, the Coyotes are dead last in the league in attendance. They are averaging only a little over 11,700 a game, which to their home capacity puts them at about 67% of total seats. For a city that size with a team that good that is an absolute travesty. Canadian fans would be rioting in the streets over something that good!!
I can give you more examples of why a lot of Southern NHL teams need to be axed or moved the Canada. Nashville is very good this season, but only averages 14,900 a game, and is 26th of 30 teams in attendance. The Avalanche are well above .500 and looking to make the playoffs, they only draw 13,712 and are 27th. Atlanta is in the playoff hunt in the East and is 28th, drawing less than Colorado. Opposite those numbers, Toronto is DEAD LAST in the Eastern standings and operates at a 102.5% percent attendance margin EVERY NIGHT. Detroit is the worst economic situation in all the country and yet they STILL average almost 20,000 a night. Buffalo and Minn. also operate at nearly 100% capacity.
What's my point? The NHL made a serious mistake when appointing a former NBA guy their fuhrer. He's using NBA style marketing concepts with the NHL, and what works for one is not going to work for the other. NHL fans are different than NBA fans, there's a reason the Grizzlies never worked in Vancouver. You can further see it by his Idol-worship creation of Sydney Crosby. They pour all their marketing money into one player (well maybe a little Ovie too) and fans not wearing Penguins jerseys are starting to get tired of the charrade. Furthermore, fans and hockey knowledgeables are getting tired of the smell too. Gretzky bailed from Phoenix and Don Cherry rips Bettman every time he's on the air. It's time for Bettman and his ignorant plans to go.
Okay, the Final Four in Indianapolis next weekend is set, and my God they did it again! The Sparty party lives and has lived by the seat of it's pants all tournament long. In highly unlikley fashion green and white nation gets has again a shot at a title. They're underdogs to Butler this coming Saturday, but if they win, they're capable of anything. With or without Lucas.
On the same note is became apparent today that the University of Oregon and Nike want to lure Tom Izzo to Eugene to coach the Ducks. Their incentive is the largest contract ever offered to any college coach. What that will be is yet to be seen. I am truly hoping Izzo stays in Michigan, I simply can't see the man in any other shade of green after 15 seasons or so in East Lansing. He's a Michigan boy, so I'm leaning more that he'll stay, but one never knows.
All the best, and you stay classy Mitten State!
A couple years ago a major push was made by a Canadian businessman to purchase the stricken franchise and move them back to the homeland. Hamilton, Ontario was the goal, a far Southern "suburb" of Toronto with over a half-million people and highly succesful AHL organization. Truth be told, they would have sold the season out in 15 minutes. If you pay attention to the rhetoric from the NHL's propaganda, errr, public relations department you know the purchase was denied by the league, backed by the city of Phoenix.
The move of getting the Federal government to help you block the purchase was absolutely confusing in the utmost to the more knowledgeable hockey fan. It went to symbolize to a lot of REAL hockey fans the incompetant-ish nature of Gary Bettman's management of the league. He's not doing what is right for the game, rather, what is right for his (and his investors) pocket books. The downright outraged position the league offices took when plan for purchase was announced was sad. They gave Jim Balsillie, the proposed buyer of the bankrupt team, no shot from square one. They virtually refused to hear his arguement and had made up their mind before anything was even announced.
Well, what we have a year later is the complete proof of just how terrible a decision that was. There is nothing that can save this franchise, nothing. They have their own brand new arena, so the venue is not lacking. True, in the 2000's they had been quite dead on the ice, with not a lot to cheer for. Here, however, is the clincher.
This season the team was won it's division and already has over 100 points in the standings even before April! They are back and back big time. So one would expect Bettman to be able to gloat over the newly risen Phoenix (pun intended). Instead, the Coyotes are dead last in the league in attendance. They are averaging only a little over 11,700 a game, which to their home capacity puts them at about 67% of total seats. For a city that size with a team that good that is an absolute travesty. Canadian fans would be rioting in the streets over something that good!!
I can give you more examples of why a lot of Southern NHL teams need to be axed or moved the Canada. Nashville is very good this season, but only averages 14,900 a game, and is 26th of 30 teams in attendance. The Avalanche are well above .500 and looking to make the playoffs, they only draw 13,712 and are 27th. Atlanta is in the playoff hunt in the East and is 28th, drawing less than Colorado. Opposite those numbers, Toronto is DEAD LAST in the Eastern standings and operates at a 102.5% percent attendance margin EVERY NIGHT. Detroit is the worst economic situation in all the country and yet they STILL average almost 20,000 a night. Buffalo and Minn. also operate at nearly 100% capacity.
What's my point? The NHL made a serious mistake when appointing a former NBA guy their fuhrer. He's using NBA style marketing concepts with the NHL, and what works for one is not going to work for the other. NHL fans are different than NBA fans, there's a reason the Grizzlies never worked in Vancouver. You can further see it by his Idol-worship creation of Sydney Crosby. They pour all their marketing money into one player (well maybe a little Ovie too) and fans not wearing Penguins jerseys are starting to get tired of the charrade. Furthermore, fans and hockey knowledgeables are getting tired of the smell too. Gretzky bailed from Phoenix and Don Cherry rips Bettman every time he's on the air. It's time for Bettman and his ignorant plans to go.
Okay, the Final Four in Indianapolis next weekend is set, and my God they did it again! The Sparty party lives and has lived by the seat of it's pants all tournament long. In highly unlikley fashion green and white nation gets has again a shot at a title. They're underdogs to Butler this coming Saturday, but if they win, they're capable of anything. With or without Lucas.
On the same note is became apparent today that the University of Oregon and Nike want to lure Tom Izzo to Eugene to coach the Ducks. Their incentive is the largest contract ever offered to any college coach. What that will be is yet to be seen. I am truly hoping Izzo stays in Michigan, I simply can't see the man in any other shade of green after 15 seasons or so in East Lansing. He's a Michigan boy, so I'm leaning more that he'll stay, but one never knows.
All the best, and you stay classy Mitten State!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Beer Review: Bell's Special Double Cream Stout
Good evening peoples of the interwebs! Time for another review. Got a six pack of this last week before they stopped making it for the year. Bell's Special Double Cream Stout is always a favorite, and rather price competitive as well if you find a good store. It's a basic milk/sweet stout, kicked up a little on the flavor note.
A- Pours an old oil black, with a thick tan head that rises a whole inch. This one certainly looks inviting. The head eventually falls to a thin 1/4 inch layer, but leaves nice lacing all the way down.
S- Deep roastiness comes through, heavy, dark malts and cocoa. There is a mocha quality to it, as well as espresso. This one is very chocolatey, it smells a little like a Hersey bar still in the packaging, but more pronounced. It's a smell you really can't get enough of. Definitly very sweet, no roughness to be found anywhere or harsh bitter aromatics.
T- A deep, smooth, roasted cocoa flavor is simply, utterly undeniable. It cannot and will not be held back. Lots of dark roasted malts and earthiness. Chocolate, a little coffee...mocha...etc. There is no hop bitterness anywhere, even on the finish. They call this a milk stout for a reason. Very balanced however and certainly not overpowering. It's like a big hug!
M- Mouthcoating most certainly. It has consistency, but it's not too chewey or resiny. This one has some carbonation, but it's balanced enough so that you still know your drinking a thick stout, not a bombed-out hop-rocket.
D- This guy is awesome. To me, it's a Bell's Kalamazoo Stout with the flavor tweeked and turned up, which is just perfect. If you can find this one, it's certainly a session beer. It'll make a cold, wet March evening more enjoyable and bearable.
A- Pours an old oil black, with a thick tan head that rises a whole inch. This one certainly looks inviting. The head eventually falls to a thin 1/4 inch layer, but leaves nice lacing all the way down.
S- Deep roastiness comes through, heavy, dark malts and cocoa. There is a mocha quality to it, as well as espresso. This one is very chocolatey, it smells a little like a Hersey bar still in the packaging, but more pronounced. It's a smell you really can't get enough of. Definitly very sweet, no roughness to be found anywhere or harsh bitter aromatics.
T- A deep, smooth, roasted cocoa flavor is simply, utterly undeniable. It cannot and will not be held back. Lots of dark roasted malts and earthiness. Chocolate, a little coffee...mocha...etc. There is no hop bitterness anywhere, even on the finish. They call this a milk stout for a reason. Very balanced however and certainly not overpowering. It's like a big hug!
M- Mouthcoating most certainly. It has consistency, but it's not too chewey or resiny. This one has some carbonation, but it's balanced enough so that you still know your drinking a thick stout, not a bombed-out hop-rocket.
D- This guy is awesome. To me, it's a Bell's Kalamazoo Stout with the flavor tweeked and turned up, which is just perfect. If you can find this one, it's certainly a session beer. It'll make a cold, wet March evening more enjoyable and bearable.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Beer Review: Founders Nemesis (2009)
So I grabbed a single of this at my local tonight. I've needed to try this one and have anticipated it's release. It's a bourbon barrel aged wheat wine, weighing in at 12% abv. Very cool label artwork as always from Founders, so let's get this one cracked and explore!
A- Pours a gorgous, deep golden amber. Almost like thick, moderately dark honey. Very hazy, love the haze. Small bubbles float inside the glass, and it looks like a rare gem in my wine glass. No head has formed at all, but the color makes up for that!
S- Wow, bourbon right off the first whiff. I'm getting a lot of barelywine scents mixed in there. I can faintly smell what resembles the nose of a Dirty Bastard! The second swirl pulls out the ethel alcohol and wow, I realize how bad this dogs bite is going to be! Oh Schnapp's, here we go! Dried fruits in the nose? Mmmmmm
T- My first sip reveal a lot, but the beer is still quite chilled. It's very complex, and the alcohol warms as it goes down. I get a very malty base coming in, just like a barelywine but more pronounced. I taste dried fruits...apricot? Man, the twang on the alcohol really comes through everything. There is hop presence...I'm really digging to detect it through the ethel alcohol barage. A little less alcohol on the pallet and the hops would be delicious. I've never had a wheat wine before, and there are some differences I notice between it and a barelywine, although I can't put my finger on them. Is it a texture thing? Okay, third sip now.
Oookay, there's the bourbon! Mmmm, Knob Creek...Wild Turkey! I get it now, I'll be slowly sipping for a while.
M- Mouthfeel is rather dry, yet viscous. There is a resinous mesh that covers the pallet like any super ipa or barleywine. The hops remain on your pallet even long after your swallow, like an ipa. The alcohol does too, same as sipping a fine, neat bourbon or scotch.
D- Umm, this beer is for those who really have a pallet to enjoy it. The resources and efforts put into this creation would be wasted by someone who would simply spit out the first sip and commence drainpour. It is quite intense, hence the sip and savor. One will do you all night long.
Overall, I am rather impressed! I need to let it warm a little to pull out all the nuances, but they've done a good job balancing this one! Cheers to Founders!
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/55900
A- Pours a gorgous, deep golden amber. Almost like thick, moderately dark honey. Very hazy, love the haze. Small bubbles float inside the glass, and it looks like a rare gem in my wine glass. No head has formed at all, but the color makes up for that!
S- Wow, bourbon right off the first whiff. I'm getting a lot of barelywine scents mixed in there. I can faintly smell what resembles the nose of a Dirty Bastard! The second swirl pulls out the ethel alcohol and wow, I realize how bad this dogs bite is going to be! Oh Schnapp's, here we go! Dried fruits in the nose? Mmmmmm
T- My first sip reveal a lot, but the beer is still quite chilled. It's very complex, and the alcohol warms as it goes down. I get a very malty base coming in, just like a barelywine but more pronounced. I taste dried fruits...apricot? Man, the twang on the alcohol really comes through everything. There is hop presence...I'm really digging to detect it through the ethel alcohol barage. A little less alcohol on the pallet and the hops would be delicious. I've never had a wheat wine before, and there are some differences I notice between it and a barelywine, although I can't put my finger on them. Is it a texture thing? Okay, third sip now.
Oookay, there's the bourbon! Mmmm, Knob Creek...Wild Turkey! I get it now, I'll be slowly sipping for a while.
M- Mouthfeel is rather dry, yet viscous. There is a resinous mesh that covers the pallet like any super ipa or barleywine. The hops remain on your pallet even long after your swallow, like an ipa. The alcohol does too, same as sipping a fine, neat bourbon or scotch.
D- Umm, this beer is for those who really have a pallet to enjoy it. The resources and efforts put into this creation would be wasted by someone who would simply spit out the first sip and commence drainpour. It is quite intense, hence the sip and savor. One will do you all night long.
Overall, I am rather impressed! I need to let it warm a little to pull out all the nuances, but they've done a good job balancing this one! Cheers to Founders!
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/55900
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Another Weekend and Sparty Madness
So last week was the start of the tourney. Eveery year, crazy games happens and we all lose our heads over it. This year however, I somehow neglected to fill out a bracket (sacriligous right!?). I was hoping to have a bracket breakdown update at this point in the tournament tonight, but I guess this will be a much shorter post.
Friday night Michigan State survived a late surge from New Mexico State to advance to the second round of the field. Today, they faced off against the 4th seeded Terps from Maryland. It's odd for MSU to be the "underdog" this early in the tournament, but that's how I viewed the matchup going in. Sparty had been just too inconsistant.
Well, throughout the game the big green machine held a good lead. With two minutes to go in the game however, Maryland decided it would not go quietly into the night. They pulled ahead by one with under a minute to go, 81-80. A quick jumper got MSU back into the lead 82-81 with just under :30 to play. With only 7 seconds to go, Maryland took an 83-82 lead and all of Terp-nation was going nuts. It wouldn't be out of the norm for MSU to blow a late lead and lose, but not tonight. For the second game in a row, fate favored Tom Izzo's squad. The Spartans ran the length of the floor and as the clock hit :00 and the buzzer sounded, Korie Lucious's three point shot sunk through the net. Elation for one, heart break another. So close, so far. On to St. Louis, on to the Sweet Sixteen!
With star Kalin Lucas out, the Spartans now face an even tougher battle this coming Friday against ninth seeded Northern Iowa. The Panthers upset overall number one ranked Kansas, a team many had picked to win it all in Indianapolis, in a stunning and powerful fashion. This will be no scrimmage. Northern Iowa can now taste what lies ahead. The only problem for them may be a let down. If MSU can pull off a win, it will be by 6 points or less. This team is gassing and beat to hell. It's been a long, rough ride for them. After the dissapointments of February, a share of the Big Ten regular season title and a Sweet Sixteen appearance are something not to be ashamed of if the run ends this Friday.
Enjoy the moment folks, for those who are Spartan fans anyway. Of the hundreds of schools with a Division I basketball program, only sixteen got to this point. Once again, we get to enjoy the priviledge. Don't take it for granted.
Friday night Michigan State survived a late surge from New Mexico State to advance to the second round of the field. Today, they faced off against the 4th seeded Terps from Maryland. It's odd for MSU to be the "underdog" this early in the tournament, but that's how I viewed the matchup going in. Sparty had been just too inconsistant.
Well, throughout the game the big green machine held a good lead. With two minutes to go in the game however, Maryland decided it would not go quietly into the night. They pulled ahead by one with under a minute to go, 81-80. A quick jumper got MSU back into the lead 82-81 with just under :30 to play. With only 7 seconds to go, Maryland took an 83-82 lead and all of Terp-nation was going nuts. It wouldn't be out of the norm for MSU to blow a late lead and lose, but not tonight. For the second game in a row, fate favored Tom Izzo's squad. The Spartans ran the length of the floor and as the clock hit :00 and the buzzer sounded, Korie Lucious's three point shot sunk through the net. Elation for one, heart break another. So close, so far. On to St. Louis, on to the Sweet Sixteen!
With star Kalin Lucas out, the Spartans now face an even tougher battle this coming Friday against ninth seeded Northern Iowa. The Panthers upset overall number one ranked Kansas, a team many had picked to win it all in Indianapolis, in a stunning and powerful fashion. This will be no scrimmage. Northern Iowa can now taste what lies ahead. The only problem for them may be a let down. If MSU can pull off a win, it will be by 6 points or less. This team is gassing and beat to hell. It's been a long, rough ride for them. After the dissapointments of February, a share of the Big Ten regular season title and a Sweet Sixteen appearance are something not to be ashamed of if the run ends this Friday.
Enjoy the moment folks, for those who are Spartan fans anyway. Of the hundreds of schools with a Division I basketball program, only sixteen got to this point. Once again, we get to enjoy the priviledge. Don't take it for granted.
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