Bleeding Green

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Blair White, Brett Swenson land with Indianapolis Colts

The next Brandon Stokley? One would like to think so after former Spartan wide receiver Blair White signed a free-agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts after failing to find a team via the NFL draft. 

I felt terrible for Blair after I didn't hear his name called through three days and seven rounds of drafting, but this is an ideal situation for him in Indianapolis. Blair's main appeal is as a slot receiver who can catch practically anything in traffic, and that's exactly what the Colts want. It's not like Peyton Manning won't be able to find him if he's open. 

Now we just have to wait and see if he makes the final roster ... which includes the likes of Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie (tough crowd). 

Also, former MSU kicker Brett Swenson signed a free-agent contract with the Colts as well. The Colts have relied on four-time super bowl champ Adam Vinatieri in the past as their kicker, but injuries kept him off the field for most of the 2009 season. Vinatieri also failed to connect from beyond 50 yards last season. Veteran Matt Stover was Vinatieri's replacement last season, but he is currently a free agent and facing possible retirement. 

Former Spartan cornerback Ross Weaver also signed with the Miami Dolphins. 

It's nice to see these former Spartans find a home (for now) after seeing just one (cornerback Jeremy Ware) drafted this off-season.

Look who's in first! Spartan Baseball team atop Big Ten standings

The Spartan Baseball team doesn't get much love around a university that seems to go to a final four every other year and has reached a bowl game in three straight football seasons. It also doesn't help that in the past 15 seasons the Spartan baseball team has a total of just four winning seasons. 

Throw in the fact that the last Big Ten championship came 31 years ago in 1979, and you can see why everyone may not have jumped on the Spartan 'band-wagon' just yet. 

But as of today the Spartans are in a three-way tie atop the Big Ten standing with a record of 22-6 (4-2 in the Big Ten). To put that into perspective the Spartans had just 23 total wins last season alone. 

This weekend the Spartans host a three-game series against a fellow first place team, the Ohio State Buckeyes (19-19, 4-2). With the football team currently batting on the practice field and the basketball team healing for another run at a championship for next season, I suggest you make your way out to the beautiful McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field for some quality Spartan baseball. 

Games:

04/16/10	vs. Ohio State *	East Lansing, Mich.	3:05 p.m. ET
04/17/10	vs. Ohio State * (BTN)	East Lansing, Mich.	1:05 p.m. ET
04/18/10	vs. Ohio State *	East Lansing, Mich.	1:05 p.m. ET

Tickets: 

Adult	$5
Youth/Senior (9-18/55+)	$3
Children (8 & under)	Free
MSU Students	Free

The crosstown showdown may have been postponed, but there is plenty of exciting baseball available right here in East Lansing. Come root on your first place Spartans, who have a chance at history this year. 

LIVE CHAT during MSU vs. Butler Final Four showdown!

Alright everyone, I'm settled in at Trippers in East Lansing.

The internet connection here is a little iffy, but I think everything will be alright.

I'll be going live right around 5:30 p.m. (about 15 minutes from now).

Bring on the Bulldogs!

Cory Smith -

SLIDESHOW - Road to the Final Four

With just a little more than 12 hours remaining before the Spartans face off against Butler, I thought I'd put together another tribute in the form of a slideshow ...

In case you may have forgotten how the Spartans actually made it to the Final Four, here's a nice little recap for you ... 

This time, featuring a familiar voice ... the voice of Will Tieman, the play-by-play radio announcer for the Spartan basketball team! Watch as more than 50 photos fade in and out as Tieman calls the last play from all four games leading up to the Final Four!

As always, enjoy!

(P.S. - I'll be live-chatting again during tonight's game. If you haven't joined either of my two previous sessions, you don't know what you're missing! Come hang out in the virtual world while watching the game and throw in your 'two-cents' from time to time about the current happenings of the game! - just return to this blog around 5:30 p.m to enter!)

In Spirit of Kalin Lucas

Alright folks, after popular demand, here is a desktop wallpaper of Kalin Lucas lifted up by his teammates after having just cut down the net. It is a pretty powerful photo indeed ... enjoy!

Remember, you can download any of our wallpapers straight from this blog, just look for the 'Green & White Computer Wallpaper' widget toward the bottom right corner of this page.

I'm still working on a few more, just looking for those especially good photos from our staff photographer, Rod Sanford. 

 

New 'Green & White' Desktop Wallpapers

If you'd like to turn your computer desktop into a Spartan Basketball utopia, download one of my new desktop backgrounds created for the greenandwhite.com webpage. 

You can download them straight from this blog, just look for the 'Green & White Computer Wallpaper' widget toward the bottom right corner of this page.

I'm working on more and will continue to update you as I post them ... 

I will also create a few more as the Spartans progress throughout the Final Four ...

Enjoy!

 Sample: Tom Izzo celebrates after defeating Tennessee

Izzo to Oregon? Don't bet on it

By now I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors that the University of Oregon plans to pitch a very lucrative deal to Tom Izzo, intending to lure him out of Spartan country and into the land of the Duck. 

My advice to you as a Spartan fan?

Don’t read too into it.

 Tom Izzo watches as highlights from the Tennessee game are displayed on the jumbotron

Spartan Final Four Pep Rally tonight at Breslin Center

Just wanted to let everyone know/remind that the pep rally for the Final Four bound Spartans begins tonight at 9:00 at the Breslin Center. The event is open to the public. 

If you can't make it, check back here at the Bleeding Green blog tomorrow as I will have video posted of the event. 

Well, I'm off for the Breslin Center ... this should be a great video. I'm really looking forward to filming the team holding up that regional trophy ...

Live chat during MSU NCAA Elite Eight tournament game against Tennessee!

Let's chat it up today starting at 2:00 p.m. as the Spartans look to make their 6th final four in 12 years taking on the Tennessee Volunteers! 

The MSU NCAA Sweet 16 'Fan-Chat' is Live NOW!

I'm settled in at the Spartan Hall of Fame Cafe ... laptop is up and running, as well as the chat! Come join me and fellow Spartan fans as we root for a Sweet 16 victory over Northern Iowa!

 --- THIS WAY TO LIVE CHAT ---

Live 'fan-chat' during MSU NCAA Sweet 16 tournament game!

I Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be hosting a live chat tomorrow during the MSU vs. NIU basketball game. I myself will not be at the game, but rather, like you, will be enjoying it as it is displayed on TV (or radio). 

--- CHAT GOES LIVE @ 9:30 p.m. - ENTER HERE ---

If you want a place to share your thoughts, or vent about the refs, I encourage you to check back here  moments before the game starts tomorrow ... I will be attempting to emulate the perfect fan atmosphere ... which more than likely will result in hosting the chat from the comforts of an East Lansing bar, chomping down on a burger or two. 

I know everyone has A LOT to say about the game, so why not chat it up LIVE with EACH OTHER?

What better place to talk about the game than in a live chat where Spartan fans can gather during the game?

I hope to see you there tomorrow!

(and any suggestions on what restaurant to broadcast from would be appreciated ... I still haven't made up my mind). 

GO GREEN!

Want to be in the ultimate 'Spartan Fan Slideshow?'

Do you consider yourself a pretty faithful Spartan fan?

When the Spartans take the court Friday night, will you be decked out in the most fashionable fan attire you own?

Well I want to see it! And I want to share it with everyone!

For those of you who enjoyed my last slideshow, I plan on making another … but this time I want to dedicate it to YOU, the FANS!

This could be YOU!

A 'Sweet' Little Tribute

After all the excitement following Sunday's thriller against Maryland, I decided to put together a little slide-show to the tune of a song you just might recognize ...

I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything that happened in that last thirty seconds of action yesterday afternoon. Thanks to Northern Iowa, I'm now going to have to create a new bracket as MSU can't run through Kansas anymore ... (oh darn ...). And to those of you who doubted my prediction, all I can say is, my final four is still very much intact ... how is your bracket doing?

Obviously Kalin didn't shine against Maryland as I had hoped (in fact, through some horrid bit of a coincidence, the worst of the imaginable came true) but I still believe this team has the mindset and determination to pull off a run to the Final Four ... even with Kalin rooting from the bench. What better way could Korey Lucious have stepped into Kalin's shoes than to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders and send them into the Sweet 16 as time expired?

Something tells me Lucious is more than ready to take this team into St. Louis ... confidence-wise, that is. 

We shall see come Friday ...

In the meantime, enjoy the slide-show below ... !

And here is the youtube video version of the slideshow below! The only downside is that I was not able to include the pan and zooms that were featured in the original slideshow, but the picture and audio quality match the original perfectly! Enjoy! (you can now share this video directly on a social networking site such as Facebook, as some of you have requested! The URL for the video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR12cmAfaXk)

This Bracket Bleeds GREEN

A fair warning about this 'Bleeding Green' tournament bracket ... it absolutely Oozes Green …