Not only because it’s fun to care deeply about something that doesn’t matter and you can get into a good argument about, but because sometimes there are Hallmark Moments like this one (click and listen). Mike Valenti of the Lansing, MI sports station, and obviously a Michigan State diehard, was so distraught over a blown loss to Notre Dame that it even made Sports Illustrated. And it wasn’t just a couple of sentences, he carried it all the way to the break.
My favorite lines, all ad-libbed:
It’s all been worth it, just to hear that. And it will live on forever, too. The MSU coaching staff will never live it down, either.
I didn’t hear that particular day, but I do hear Mike Valenti go on about stuff on an almost daily basis. As you see, sometime he can be quite amusing.
But about Michigan State…you just don’t understand. They have this uncanny knack. They can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory like no other entity I’ve ever seen, regardless of roster, year, or record. From as far back as I can remember in my life, I remember them getting evil, nasty, heart-wrenching losses. For the Sparty faithful, this is no new thing.
Now, if you’re a Spartan football fan AND a Lions fan, well. Oops. At Least I’ve got Michigan football to fall back on.
As an aside, the Lions are the second “best” team at being able to get their ass whooped like the Spartans when they’re about to win. It makes me wonder how either of them win.
I will now go set my eyeballs on fire.