If I was lucky enough to have you reading my blog during basketball season, you will know that I bleed green. And now you should also know how worried I was about Izzo leaving us to take a high paying NBA job. I pretty much shed a few tears of joy when he announced yesterday he'd be with us...for life! There was no choice but to devote this week's Words for Wednesday to Izzo. Great day to be a Spartan. See ya'll on the baskteball court :)
I know, I know...it's Thursday and I need to get with the program...but busy day at work yesterday and also a little crazed with tickets...Sister and I bought tickets to the Final Four yesterday!!! We are so pumped! We have tickers for all games but probably won't be staying for the Monday night game, but we sure as heck will be there Saturday to see the boys in all their glory :)
In the past few basketball-filled months I don't think I've ever sang the fight song so much in my life. At the MSU bars in chicago (and there are lots of them!!) they play the fight songs at half time or when we win the game or even at random commercial breaks! The whole place gets pretty into it and we're all usually clapping along and singing, it's pretty cool. Feels like I'm right back in East Lansing again. Without further ado, the words for Wednesday Thursday....
How have I not blogged about this yet?? I think I just yesterday came down from this crazy euphoric high I was on because of -- yeah, that's right, Basketball! Who have I become?! Ha. I knew I had officially lost it when after our insane win on Sunday my first reaction was to actually start crying. Tears of um, joy... Wow. I've always known I bleed green, but I have taken this to a new level. And I like it. :)
Izzo told the team with about four or five minutes left to go, that if we won this game it would go down as one of the greatest games in Michigan State basketball history. He is a smart man. We won, and not only was it one of the best games of that entire March Madness weekend, it is definitely in the record books as one to remember (unless of course you hail from Maryland...).
Everyone has probably seen the replay of this, but you HAVE got to check out the last 38 seconds of the game. We were up for the most of the game, but with our best player newly injured and sitting it out Maryland started to catch up. Watch the miracle unfold. No idea how our big boy, non-ball handler-but still amazing, Green manages to dribble the ball all the way down the court, hear Lucious calling his name, pass him the ball (as amazingly Roe knows to duck out of the way) and then watch Lucious sink the shot for the win. I could watch this a hundred times. Oh wait, I probably already have...
Did you see the whole team pile at the end there?! Love it. And did you see Kalin (our injured best player) hugging Izzo? Here's an excerpt from an article on espn.com:
Lucas was the only player not in the massive pile of Spartans that squashed Lucious at the opposite end of the court following the sophomore fill-in's winning shot. Lucas hopped over to coach Tom Izzo near midcourt instead. "I told Coach Iz I loved him," Lucas said with a small smile. "He said the same back to me.
See you in St. Louis Spartans! Sweet Sixteen here we come!!!! I think you know what I'll be doing tomorrow night at 8:37 PM :)
P.S. Yesterday as the Spartans departed for St. Louis from the Lansing, MI airport the fight song played over the airport PA. So cool!!
Alright, this is the point where I go from aboslutely loving Michigan State basketball to becoming obsessed! We play our first tournament game tomorrow at 7:20 EST. I'll be rushing home from work to head straight to a State bar to watch the boys. I'm a little nervous to see how we'll do, but I'm trusting that Izzo has whipped them into shape for the game. We play New Mexico State, a 12 seed. GO GREEN!
In preparation for "the dance," a little homage to my man Raymar Morgan. I sure am going to miss him next year. He's a senior so this is it for him at MSU. Really enjoyed this article from Detroit News writer Eric Lacy.
An excerpt: With possibly one game left in the senior's career, Morgan said Monday he realizes time is running out to leave a mark on the program.
"I think everybody just has to look themselves in the mirror at one point in time and just has to accept if they like the man that they're looking at," Morgan said. "I've done that. I've finally accepted who I see in the mirror."
Morgan has been on a tear lately with drives to the hoop and solid defense. I got a feeling he might make New Mexico State pay on Friday night with the same kind of approach.
#1 and #2 ...
It's a tradition for the seniors to kiss the S in the middle of the floor during their last home game.
Raymar waving to the fans, walking off the Breslin court for the last time.
I love this one. Really pulls at the heartstrings. When Raymar walked off the court for the last time, he hugged Izzo and Izzo got all teared up. It was enough to make this girl shed a few tears!
Good game. My boys pulled out a win over our rival (although unranked) Michigan Wolverines last night. The boys in green looked pretty good (Hellooooo Raymar). Just in case you're not keeping track, we're now 8-0, undefeated in the big ten!! Oh and ranked 5 in the country, no big deal. :) I love college basketball season.
Lucas celebrating the win, he made a shot with 3.5 seconds left to give us the lead.
Raymar Morgan, my favorite and the other star of the night. He had 20 points, only missing one of his shots all night!
Good weekend. Enjoyed some bubbly with friends this weekend before heading out on the town. This is my favorite sparkling wine and it hails from Suttons Bay, MI. I visited the vineyard a few summers ago and I've been hooked ever since. The only wines they create at L. Mawby are sparkling! Bring on the bubbles. Pleasantly surprised to find they sell a variety of this at the Whole Foods in Chicago. Visit the vineyards website here.
Good food. Tried my first Pioneer Women recipe on Monday. Turned out pretty good, although I should have halfed it, I have enough enchiladas for a small army! I made this after work and then after grocery shopping for the ingredients, so I apparently lost my energy to take a nice shot of the enchiladas all served up with a dallop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro. Sigh. But, here they are a bakin' in the oven.
Headed to one of the many State bars in Chicago to cheer on my Spartans. In case you forgot, we lost to UNC in the championship game last year. Here's to the rematch...
The Spartans pulled off a pretty good win last night! It was a real nail biter though! And just in case you forgot, we're ranked 2 right now!! Loving the start of basketball season.
