The greatest live sporting event I have ever attended

It's 12:20 AM, Wednesday morning and I am still sky high after the Spartans' incredible 75-52 beat down of the Michigan Wolverines.

Where do I even start?

I don't go to a lot of MSU basketball games. I am not a season ticket holder. If I'm lucky, I make it to about three or four home games per year. Most of the games I attend are of the Texas Southern, Boise State non-conference variety. If I make it to a conference game, the opponent is usually a rank-and-file conference foe like Penn State or Minnesota. I rarely go to any games that have any great significance. That changed this evening.

Before tonight's game, the most lively I had ever seen Breslin in person was the Michigan game in 2007 (the only other Michigan basketball game I have ever attended) and Wisconsin in 2011. (By the way, both of those games were MSU wins).

Those games didn't ever come close to this game (and, of course, I know that most of that has to do with the sheer magnitude of this year's game against Michigan). The electricity in Breslin Center was absolutely off the charts from the second we stepped into the arena until the final horn. As I wrote on Facebook, I have never been more proud to be a Spartan than I was, and am, tonight.

This was a statement game for MSU. A resounding declaration of who is still king of basketball in the State of Michigan. You want to bet that Tom Izzo and the Spartans were tired of all the attention Michigan has received all season?  All the accolades bestowed upon the Maize and Blue? You bet they were, and they thoroughly thrashed the Wolverines.

What never fails to impress me is the family atmosphere at MSU, So many former players returned for this game: I saw Austin Thornton, Anthony Ianni, Mateen Cleaves, Tim Bograkos. It's amazing to see the love that the Lansing community expresses for MSU and the Spartans, and that Izzo's former players ALWAYS return to campus to support the program.

This was, easily, the greatest live sporting event I have attended in my life. Probably the only others that come remotely close are the 1997 football game against Penn State (49-14 MSU win), the 2011 Wisconsin basketball game (MSU win in overtime), and a 1997 Detroit Lions win over Indianapolis in which Barry Sanders rushed for over 200 yards. (It was the only time I saw Barry Sanders play football in a live setting, and it was one of his greatest single game performances. I feel privileged to have witnessed it).

I also feel privileged to have had the opportunity to attend this game. I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to my brother-in-law Michael for thinking of me.

Phew, my brain is now fried. I don't know how coherent this post is, but I had to get it down while it was still fresh in my mind.

Some pregame thoughts

I have attached a photo of the illustrious banners that hang from the rafters of Crisler Arena...oops, Center...honoring the storied tradition of Michigan basketball.

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With MSU's shortened bench, a lot of the Spartans' success will depend on how the officials call the game. If they call a lot of ticky tack fouls, it could be trouble for MSU. (And with that I'm sure I'm not saying anything the average MSU fan doesn't already know).

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Regardless of tonight's outcome, it's pretty much guaranteed I will get little sleep tonight and will probably be a zombie tomorrow at work.

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It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Michigan's basketball team has been good the last few years. The surprise is that it took them so long.

Brawl at the Bres!

I've been anticipating this MSU/UM matchup for weeks, and it's become even bigger than I could have imagined. Am I nervous? Hell yes, I'm nervous! (And I'm not even playing). Am I excited? Hell yes, I'm excited. I don't know how I will concentrate on work today. I need to calm down. After all, it's only a game. Right?

On the Red Cedar Message Board, someone started a thread with the title (and I'm paraphrasing): "Breslin will not be a place for children on Tuesday".  This is true. I suspect the atmosphere will be wild, crazy, or as the young people might say: "hype". It will not be the type of atmosphere appropriate for anyone under the age of 16.

Well, it's back to work for me. I need to calm my nerves. We still have almost 14 hours until game time!

Spartans in first place, and a day away from a big game

A few posts ago, near the beginning of the Big Ten season, I extolled the virtues of Michigan basketball and proclaimed them the team to beat for the conference title. As a Spartan fan, that was excruciating. I still maintain that Michigan is the team to beat, but a funny thing happened on the road to said conference crown, a few other teams decided that they should be in the discussion as well. Among them is Michigan State, who takes on Michigan tomorrow at Breslin Center.

I thought this year would be a rebuilding year for MSU, but once again Tom Izzo has cast his magic spell on the team and they currently sit atop the Big Ten (with Indiana) at 9-2 (20-4 overall). I thought it would be a long shot for the Spartans to contend for a conference championship. With the departure of Draymond Green, lack of depth, and countless nagging injuries, it's really astounding what this team has accomplished.

I realize it was only Purdue, but I thought MSU played one of their best games of the season Saturday night against the Boilermakers. How many times have the Spartans struggled mightily against weaker competition this season? This didn't happen on Saturday night. MSU was in control of that game from the opening tip. The team looks crisp offensively and has become much more physical. They are playing "IzzoBall" just in time for the stretch drive of the season.

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I am the incredibly lucky recipient of a ticket to tomorrow's Michigan game. It will be, by far, the biggest game I've ever attended in person. This is the first time EVER that MSU and Michigan are playing when both teams are ranked in the top 10. Being an eternal pessimist, I'm concerned that I may bring bad luck to the game by being there in person, but there's no way I can miss the opportunity to attend this game. I'll do everything I can to bring a little luck the Spartans' way tomorrow.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I like the way the Spartans have been playing in their last few games. They may not need my luck to win tomorrow night.