Bleeding Green

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.