Now since the onset of Champagne Athletics I have made it a point to not swing too hard one way or another between the biggest rivalry in the State of Michigan- Michigan State vs the University of Michigan. This was done intentionally, I was trying to get my following off the ground and I didn’t want newcomers to immediately head for the hills when they found out I was so devoutly on one side of the fence. And, in addition, that wasn’t the mission of the site. The mission was to celebrate Detroit PROFESSIONAL sports past, present, and everything that comes with it. It’s intended to create a platform for Detroit sports fans- no matter what era-  to take pride in, wallow in shame, cheer, cry, bitch, or moan about their favorite Detroit teams.

All of that still holds true. Scouts honor.

But, as many reading this probably know- I am a Sparty. And in addition to being a Sparty I’m also (spoiler) a giant sports fan. So to think my MSU passion would not bleed into my Detroit-sports-based blog at some point in time is just ignorant thinking on my own part. And for better or for worse- that time has come. Today is that day. It was a never a secret that I was an MSU fan, but now I’m drawing the line in the sand and I have to confess a few things to my (small but powerful) following.

First, and most importantly- there is no team in the world, in any sport, in any setting, that I enjoy seeing lose more than the University of Michigan. It’s a fact. I could sit here and say I hate the Penguins, Blackhawks, and Avalanche more than the Michigan Wolverines, but it just wouldn’t be true. When U of M got the living shit kicked out of them by OSU in football this year, I wanted to jump for joy. I loved every second of it. In fact, I can’t stand Michigan sports to the point that I actually can relate to OSU fans due to our shared hatred of the school from Ann Arbor. Now as I can feel every Wolverine from Detroit to Toledo bashing their unfollow button, I will not apologize for my allegiance. I’ll always keep it as honest and as real as I can on here and as we grow in this weird, blog, Instagram, relationship, I don’t want Michigan follows to feel like I’ve tricked them in any sense. I’ll be fair and reasonable, but I am always going to lean green.

Secondly- I grew up hating MSU. Like a ton. MSU was up there for my most hated school in the world. Now every Michigan grad reading this is saying “ha this idiot grew up a Michigan fan, didn’t get in, and settled for Michigan State.” A tale as old as time, right? And it’s honestly a logical thought process, but that’s not the case. I grew up a Notre Dame fan. Huge Fightin’ Irish guy. HUGE. I had like three jerseys, a billion shirts, and would travel down to South Bend every fall to catch a football game. I worshipped Brady Quinn and seriously wanted to get Play Like A Champion Today tattooed on my body “when I grew up.” I would argue that I was as big of a Notre Dame fan as I was a Red Wings fan (!!!!). My dad attended undergrad there, it was my upbringing, I loved it. I loved ND until the day they sent me a denial letter saying I was too stupid to attend and to go fuck off elsewhere. I still have the (tear stained) denial letter at my parents house. I will dig it up for you one day. Denied from ND, waitlisted at U of M, accepted to MSU. After some mental wrestling matches, I would attend MSU in the fall of 2009. From 2009-2013 I would be a part of some of the most exciting football and basketball runs in recent memory- fake field goals, heart attacks, Final Fours, Rose Bowls, Hail Mary’s, Big Ten Championships, All-American’s, buzzer beaters, and a 3-1 football record vs our Ann Arbor rival. It was easy to fall in love. And I couldn’t be happier with how everything worked out.

Lastly- now that you know all of that, it is probably easy to understand why I am coming out and telling you this now. This MSU Final Four run has been one of the most inspiring sports-stretches in my realm of fandom in quite some time. The Red Wings are in a full rebuild, the Pistons are fledging to stay relevant in the very mediocre Eastern Conference, the Tigers will be bottom feeders for the next few years, and the Lions…well they are the same old Lions. With Michigan State football being touch and go for the last few years, and MSU hoops looking like Izzo had lost his fastball- there wasn’t much to celebrate in the area I find the most joy in…sports. But then this happened.

We beat Duke. Yes, WE beat Duke. Not MSU. This is my team, my alma mater, and right now, in this moment- my favorite team in the world. WE beat Duke. This odd collection of misfit toys doing things they have zero business doing. An unathletic-looking, sluggish, point guard who looks like he’s always sitting on half a Xan is being toted as the best player still active in the tournament. Freshman who weren’t expected to play meaningful minutes are now marked as the “X” factor. Walk-ons are hitting three pointers to put the best team in the country to sleep. A dorky looking white guy is tomahawk slamming on guys with 10 times more talent than him. And no matter how intensely first year players are getting yelled at, they are matching that intensity will championship-type performances.

It’s fucking exhilarating. I love every second of it. And I want the world to know.

The Final Four sucks for TV ratings. There’s no Zion’s, blue bloods, or super teams of 5-star freshman recruited by bagmen. But there is Tom Izzo and Michigan State…and that’s enough to make me want to run through a wall.

Go green. Forever. 🍾

– Frank