Michigan State Basketball

I watched the MSU-Miami(FL) basketball game and a few things became very evident by the end of the night.

1. They have a difficult time defending the 3 point line.  Miami was 9 for 16 for the game (56%).  You aren't going to beat many teams guarding like that.  MSU struggles with the pick and roll as well.  Teams pick and roll them to death.  They either score or go to the free throw line at an alarmingly high rate.

2. Russell Byrd and Brandan Kearney aren't gonna be much help this season.  Byrd was brought in to make shots and he just isn't doing it.  Kearney looks confused most of the time.  He can shoot it but its as if he forgets what is going on so he takes off running to a different spot on the floor.  I think many fans were extremely happy to see Travis Trice and Gary Harris back in the lineup.  I am not a big fan of Trice playing point as he doesn't have the vision of a good point guard.  Case in point last night was when he got a steal on the sideline and weaved his way across the court.  He had Appling on his left and Harris on his right but he decided to drop it off to Adreian Payne.  Mind you, Payne can make jump shots but not from 4 feet beyond the 3 point line.  That killed a fast break opportunity and State didn't score on that possession.  They recruited him to play point guard but I just don't see it working.

3. Branden Dawson hasn't figured it out yet.  He is extremely athletic and talented but the light bulb has yet to go on for him.  Some times it takes a few years for the game to come easily and for a talented player to go out and just play the game without pressing.  Izzo and Spartan fans were hoping that he would be a big time player this season and I just don't think it is gonna happen.  He has an NBA body but doesn't have the ability to attack the rim on a consistent basis and has absolutely no jump shot.  Once he develops those aspects of his game, the sky is the limit.  Another thing I noticed about him was that when he made a mistake, he sulked.  He needed to put his head down and sprint back on defense.  Multiple times Miami had a 3 on 1 or 2 on 1 break because he jogged back.

4. They looked fatigued both physically and mentally.  They got behind and just didn't have the look of a team that could make a run.  MSU teams of the past always had a run in them.  Maybe they didn't win but they didn't let the other team handle them with ease.

5. Miami is a pretty good team that has experience and skill on their side.  They also have a very good coach in Jim Larranaga.  They have solid bigs, a go to scorer and they played with energy. That combination can take you places.

I think that they will improve as the year moves forward.  Guys will figure out their roles and become impact players if only for a few minutes.  The Big Ten is loaded and arguably the best conference in the nation so if they don't figure it out, it could be a long, tough year.

Also, Coach Izzo, I love the fact that you are willing to play anyone, anywhere.  It makes your team tougher in the long run.  But maybe you could schedule a few more off days in between.

My Favorite Athlete Nicknames

Recently ESPN ran a Top 10 list for the greatest nicknames of all time.  I thought about the nicknames over the years that I really like and that were creative and this is the list I came up with.  I should qualify it though.  To make my list, the nickname has to have some sort of meaning.  For example, Chris Paul of the Clippers has the nickname of CP3.  I like the name but but it is terribly uncreative as it is his initials and jersey number.  Same goes for RGIII.  Dwight Howard has been called Superman and I don't think that is creative and is unjust because he has no jumpshot and cannot make a free throw.  Superman could surely make a free throw.  So here is my list.

10. Never Nervous Pervis - Pervis Ellison
I love this because no matter what the situation was, Ellison always looked cool under pressure and you knew that if he had the ball, something good was gonna happen.

9.  RIP - Richard Hamilton
Hamilton was such a pure shooter that he rarely hit the rim on his shots (in his prime).  He had the greatest mid range jumper in the game and the RIP sound was the ball going through the net.

8.  Mr. Perfect - Curt Hennig
He was the excellence of execution.  He became Intercontinental Champion due to is "flawless" execution and tactical moves in the ring.  Everything he did was "simply perfect".

7.  The Big Hurt - Frank Thomas
Thomas is a big man and every time he hit the ball, he put a "hurt" on it.  Hence the nickname.  He seemed to always hit the ball squarely on the bat when he did that, you didn't want to be in its path.  And if he was rounding third and looking to score, opposing catchers prayed that the play wouldn't be close because they didn't want to be on the tracks when that train was coming.

6.  The Real Deal - Evander Holyfield
This is probably the nickname that needs the least commentary.  Holyfield was the real deal.  Enough said.

5.  Dr. J - Julius Erving & Earvin "Magic" Johnson
I put these two together because they both made miracles happen.  Magic with his brilliant passing and Erving with his ability to diagnose and solve the mystery that other defenses presented.  Both could, and did, carve up opposing teams with ease.

4.  Blade Runner - Oscar Pistorius
This nickname is very cool (in my opinion).  Pistorius is the Greek sprinter who is a double leg amputee.  He wears two prosthetic limbs designed for running and he is incredibly fast and even qualified for the olympics.

3.  The Matrix - Shawn Marion
Marion doesn't specialize in any one area on the basketball court.  He isn't a great shooter or a great ball handler but he does do everything really well.  He can make open shots.  He can attack the rim and finish.  He typically is asked to guard the opposing teams best player.  He is truly a phenomenal athlete and is deserving of his nickname.  

2.  Prime Time - Deoin Sanders
Sanders is one of my favorite football players of all time.  When the bright lights were on him, he was the absolute best in the sport.  He could electrify the crowd with his shutdown ability at cornerback.  When he was returning punts, you always expected him to take it to the house.  You wanted him to score just so you could see him dance in the endzone.  He was a polarizing figure in the NFL and brought an aura of excellence at his position that was unheard of at the time.

1.  Megatron - Calvin Johnson
He is big.  He is bad.  No one can cover him one on one and when he wants to be great, you can't stop him. When he plays angry, he cannot be denied.  So far, the NFL does not have an Optimus Prime to contain him.  He is a physical specimen never seen before at the wide receiver position.  He scares opposing players, coaches and fans all around the league.

Special Mention...
The Worm - Dennis Rodman, Mr. Big Shot - Chauncey Billups, The Truth - Paul Pierce, George "The Ice Man" Gervin, Dick "Night Train" Lane, "Iron" Mike Tyson, The Human Highlight Reel -Dominique Wilkins, Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, Shaq "Diesel", Ken "Opie" Root and Michael "Air" Jordan.

MSU Football

It has been frustrating season for the Michigan State football program.  Coming into the season there were lofty expectations for them as a whole and the defense was thought to be of national championship caliber.  Here are a few things driving me crazy about this years squad.

1. The defense is really good and they have fantastic play makers ..however...they have failed to get a stop at the end of a game when they have absolutely needed it.  They have had leads at the end of the Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska games and couldn't seal the deal.  They also needed a stop at the end of the Ohio State game to give the ball back to the offense for a chance at the win but just couldn't get off the field.  Granted the offense hasn't helped them a lot this season but when the strongest part of your team is your defense, they have to produce.

2. Why can't the wide receivers hold on to the ball.  Andrew Maxwell hasn't been a great quarterback.  But he has been good enough to win games and has thrown some great balls.  I have seen them play Ohio State and Nebraska in person and he has thrown some pinpoint accurate passes that the guys have flat out dropped.  It frustrates me as a fan but I can only imagine how Maxwell feels.  Standing strong in the pocket, getting hit as he throws, dropping a dime and...wait...another drop.  AAAAGGGHHHH!

3. The latest collapse is more on the defense, and particularly Johnny Adams, than the officials.  Sure the pass interference call was not a good one and I am not sure why they spotted the ball at the 5 when it should have been half the distance to the goal (putting it at the 10).  No one on the MSU sideline seemed to notice or say anything.  Maybe I just don't know the correct rule.  Johnny Adams though...oh my goodness...why on earth would you even go near a guy who is 40 yards away from the ball on a interception.  You blindside him, and cost MSU a touchdown, essentially costing them the game because I have seen Nebraska play from way behind and it isn't pretty.  For all intensive purposes, the football game is over right there and the pass interference call late in the game doesn't matter.  Good defenses find a way to overcome those mistakes but time after time, this defense fails late. 

4. This season I have seen read option quarterbacks Denard Robinson and Braxton Miller play and I think Taylor Martinez is faster and more elusive than both.  Denard tries to run away from you and Miller tries to run over you. However, Martinez can do both.  He gave State fits all day with his shiftiness and next gear that Denard and Miller just don't have.  The defense looked confused at times on how to handle him and it showed by his long runs.

The season still has 2 games to go and they need another win to be bowl eligible.  That is definitely not what fans expected but hopefully the team will persevere and finish with 2 more wins.  Neither will be easy but we expect them to rise up and meet the challenge.