So it's down to the final two. With the hopes of an entire state in desperate need of something to cheer about riding on the shoulders of that 2nd half wonder worker from Iron Mountain. With a forecast for 6 inches of fresh white stuff by tip off can the Spartys provide some warmth and sunshine to melt away the cold realities of looming Big 3 bankruptcies, a dismal real estate market, a mayor fresh from the slammer, etc. etc? Can they do this at FORD Field? Can they win one for those carrying pink slips out of the factories? Is this the Hickory Huskies vs. South Bend Central? Do you believe in destiny?
Okay, now that I've sufficiently gotten Jeff (wipe eyes) all in a tizzy with a lot of sentiment, let me get to the real match up. The ESPN Tournament Challenge has come down to the final two as well and it's NORM vs WES. Tar Heels put another hurt on the Spartans and Wes takes the crown. The Spartans pull off the hat trick and knock off their 3rd #1 team in the last week and Norm rides off into retirement adding this win to an already amazing career. Could it get any more poetic? Norm, the sentimental favorite whose legacy is already secure but is looking for the icing on the cake as he wraps up a 33 year career with the whistle and clipboard. Norm, who gets mad props for being the ONLY one to pick both teams in the final game. Norm, who is the only one to believe in the underdogs from E.L., who rubbed shoulders with the starting 5 and Lupe Izzo. Norm, who will surely be donning his throwback 33 jersey worn by none other that the one who took down the "Hick from French Lick" back in the 1979 finals.
NORM vs WES. This isn't MSU vs. UNC. This is Michigan vs. Indiana. I'll let Jeff throw down the smack on Wes who I know would like nothing better than to steal this one shining moment with a torturous MSU defeat. Rumor is he's had it out for the Green and White for years and will have Cash dressed for the game in Carolina blue. Will Indiana gets its revenge or will there be celebration and revelry (beware all couches in E.L...you may want to bathe in fire retardant)? Will cheers be heard from the Carolina blue house on Curdes Ave in the Fort, or from the late night shift on the assembly line watching the final seconds tick off in the break room?
Good luck to both of you. I'll be wearing my Spartan b-ball t-shirt sitting right next to my dad firmly planted on the bandwagon! Go State!
3 comments:
JAke, this isn't the first time I have to wipe tears...thanks anyway. Little early, oh well. No, How about the EMIMEN "Love letter to Detroit" pregame CBS special and then Spartans tribute to Detroit right after. I know what Wes means when Sports tugs a heart string. Caramba!
We're headed up to Orlando today to meet my parents. MY POPS and I will be all GREEN at Disney's ESPN Zone tonight. He was there last night and said it was crazy MArch Madness and a ton of State fans! Steph and I watched Saturday's game and couldn't help think back to 9 years ago and the eve of the game. We're sO PUMPED!
As for any fan still caring about the ESPN tourney challenge. Get over it. My Dad didn't even have a clue he was winning. Seriously, I heard Lloyd Carr and Belein both say this week, "Go State!" Like Jake said, "Go State" means so much more than just the university............ and although a bball game pails in comparison to the challenge that our Mitten faces ahead, there's still something to it.
Don't call me during the game. We'll be at the Zone around 7. PRegame, is fine, and post game. I just can't wait to see Normy 2 deep rubbin shoulders with IZZO aficionados. Ha! GO Norm! GO Green!
I'll lay aside my stakes in both the family contest and our church contest(if NC wins I win them both). I had MSU going to the Finals and then in a last minute switch thought "that's too good to be true". Norm got it right and hopefully the Spartans come through for him tonight. Go Green! (did i just say that?)
Just beautiful!
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