I expect to catch some flak for this, but before you start thinking my very last functional neuron finally gave up the ghost -- bear with me.
First, I attended neither UM nor MSU, so I play no favorites there. I graduated from Oakland University in Rochester. Second, this is in no way meant to ignore all the other fine schools in Michigan, and the myriad of sports programs they offer, but I'm going to keep this about UM/MSU football and basketball. I'll get to the Lions later.
MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo has built a program to be highly admired. They have a national championship, 6 Final Four appearances, are perennially a Top Ten ranked team, consistently recruit blue-chip prep hoopsters from all over the country, and, well, success breeds more success. In the meantime, UM has gone through scandals, a few head coaches that didn't work out, and dismal records. But honestly ask yourself -- if Michigan's program ever returns to prominence -- who do you think will get the spotlight?
Look at football. Under Mark Dantonio, MSU has beat UM 4 times in a row. MSU went to the Big "Ten" conference title game this year. After the disastrous RichRod era, Michigan hired a new coach, Brady Hoke, who made them at least respectable. But they only came in 3rd in the conference, while suffering yet another defeat at the hands of the Spartans. Yet.when all was said and done, UM got to play in a higher tier bowl game than MSU. More money, more exposure, more everything. I'm not saying it's right -- I'm just saying it's real. Many scribes have said UM is on it's way to reclaiming its "rightful place" at the top of the heap. So what's so righteous about UM and non-righteous about MSU? Beats me, but sometimes it seems like that's just the way it is.
Academics? Both have a lot to offer. At that, what could be more important than health? UM has a first-class teaching hospital, with a burn center likely second to none. You've likely seen many TV commercials where they boast of their prowess in specialized fields, particularly pediatric care. On the flip side -- if you just need a regular doctor for an office call, good luck finding one that came from UM.
MSU offers something different. People that love their pets will take them to a veterinarian for routine check-ups, vaccinations, heart-worm pills, etc. Unless a vet came from another state and somehow transferred their license to practice, all those people in this state went to MSU. There's lots of law schools, med schools, this schools, and that schools, but, to my knowledge, there's only one veterinary school in Michigan. (On that note, I would highly recommend Dr. Richard Hirr, his associates and staff at the Waterford Veterinary Hospital, to take good care of your 4-legged kids.)
It all depends on what you want or need.
On the pro-level, it would seem absurd to say the Lions rule the state. They haven't won anything since -- what -- the Eisenhower administration? But stop and think about it.
The Pistons won back to back championships in the late 80s, and another one in 2004. We celebrated all of those. The Tigers haven't won a World Series since 1984, but as Ernie Harwell used to say, hope springs eternal every year. Maybe it's because there's nothing much else to watch in the summertime, but the Tigers' faithful will always be there. Recently, they're at least competitive every year. The Red Wings have won a few Stanley Cups in the not so distant past, had parades, and it's pretty well taken for granted they will make the playoffs every year. After that, it's a crap shoot, as hockey fans know.
But the Lions rule. They always have. Even though they've been mocked and ridiculed for many years, and for many reasons, including the Ford ownership, Matt Millen, various head coaches, draft picks that were busts, and a win-loss record that approached the Washington Nationals' against the Harlem Globetrotters' only a few years ago -- the fan base has always been there simmering barely underneath the surface, year after year, like a volcano that's just trying to find a way to erupt. And look at what's happened.
In only one year, they've gone from joke to merely respectable. Fans have found their fissure to finally just let all that pent up energy, heat, and in the case of some local scribes -- gas -- go. The Lions haven't even won a single playoff game in 20 years, but people from executives on down to bar flies are talking about the Super Bowl. Maybe it will happen. I hope so, for their sake. Then again, maybe Donald Trump will stop by my house tomorrow and hand me a million dollars because he really likes this blog -- but I wouldn't bet on it.
Let's put it this way. It's highly unlikely, but if in the same sports year, the Pistons were to win the NBA championship, the Tigers the World Series, the Red Wings the Stanley Cup, and the Lions went to the Super Bowl, but got beat -- even hammered -- which do you think would inspire the most passion amongst sports fans in Michigan?
These days, sports bars are chock full of Lions' fans that will pay big bucks for drinks, and will jump up and scream at the big screen when it comes to a questionable call against their beloved team. Last year, those same people would probably have been home watching them on TV, while mumbling and grabbing another beer out of a 12 pack.
But they watched. They always watched. They always WILL watch.
It's a passion.
The Lions rule.
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