U-M snubbed

This must be, as Tom Izzo likes to say, like Christmas and the Fourth of July for MSU fans. The same week ESPN votes MSU the No. 2 program of the past decade, it tabs Michigan as the most underachieving in the same span.

Can't say that I disagree, simply because the U-M name alone should be good for an NCAA bid every now and then. And it's not like the Wolverines haven't had any players. It is amazing, isn't it, that Jay Bilas didn't put Michigan in his top 10? The other four panelists have U-M No. 1 with a bullet, and he doesn't have it on his ballot. Hmm, wonder what that's about. (Not really, I'd say you're right on, Chris).

ESPN's five-day series wraps up tomorrow with a look at the 10 programs best poised for future success. I assume the Spartans will land somewhere in the poll.

In other news, this will be my last blog for at least a couple days, but not by choice. I essentially destroyed my left foot playing basketball yesterday. Thought it was a bad ankle sprain at first, but as it turns out it's a fracture of two, possibly three, bones in my foot. Also, my ankle might be fractured, the swelling is too bad right now to tell. Surgery, screws and all that, is possible. Sorry about the medical history (I had this bunion once and ... never mind) but I figured I should explain my absence.

Next step: gobbling painkillers. And painkillers and blogging don't mix, unless you're a certain,  unnamed colleague of mine who must be on something when he weaves his prose.

Comments

[TDP]

Joe,

Thanks for "playing through the pain." Sorry to hear about your injury and hopefully you'll be back on your feet (and computer) soon.

[Andy]

Joe - good luck with the foot.

How about guest bloggers while you take a break? Just a thought.

Your injury remind me of why I, as a more than avid golfer, hang up the high tops, ankle braces and knee brace by April 1 each year. Does that make the foot feel any better?! Seriously, get well...

[rg]

Bummer about the foot. It happened to me a bunch of years ago. The older I get, the more often it happens, too. Maybe that's why I now think of checkers and poker as major sports.

As for UM, who cares? As long as State fans continue to think that what happens at or to UM actually matters, they're going to continue letting UM be the standard to compare themselves against. State doesn't need to be bothered by what other people think about UM. Let UM compare itself to State instead.

State's good enough, smart enough, and, doggone it, everyone ought to like it!

[Cleavesrules]

I will miss you. And the grocieries.

[Marc]

Wait a minute - I'm sorry about the broken foot and all, but how does that stop you from blogging? Your foot hurts so bad you can't type? Suck it up dude.

[CT Mike]

Get well soon, Joe!

[Frosty]

Give me a break Joe! You'll be bored as hell sitting around with your ankle up in the air with ice on it half of the time- big deal! Might as well be at the computer at the same time- you never know- your Blogs might actually make more sense! Just kidding bro'! In all seriousness, happy healing and enjoy the vicadin!

If you want a guest blogger, let me know- I'll gladly put my thoughts on the board while your gone!

Frosty

[Michael Motta]

Joe's on the Writers' DL and Neil Koepke is writing about women's golf. . . what will happen next? Will Leslie J. Hurst join a commune?

Don't stay out too long Joe, we all know what happened to Wally Pipp. Get well, you've been on a roll. I think you're rivaling John Schneider already in terms of a cult following.

Which reminds me . . . I wonder if Schneider is this weaver of prose to whom you refer. Or maybe it's Derek Melot drinking some merlot. Those two can run a little bit of the weave (maybe not as well as Heathcote did though). That's a compliment by the way - they're both pretty good writers. I think the blogs allow you guys to "let your hair down" a little bit and that's good for everyone.

It is interesting that Jay "Duke Boy" Bilas didn't let his biases be shown in terms of the Blue Devils and the top ten programs of the last ten years, but he did in terms of Michigan/TA. After Michigan, the rest of the top 5 overall appear on the Bilas ballot. Maybe this is the biggest snub of all, irrelevance. Note that you won't find Liberty, Lipscomb, or Wofford on any of the ballots, so maybe Jay is lumping Michigan in with them :P

[Dr.J]

Hey, whatever happened to upcoming info on Ibok and Mojo?

[pops]

Sorry about injury, Joe. It is apparently your first warning regarding age appropriate activity. Getting old is not for the faint of heart.

[Mary Lou Heinig]

Sorry, Joe, about the ankle; I will be praying for you. I will also be praying for Arthur Ray, the young man from Cgo who has cancer. What a shock but at the same time a blessing it was found early. Was that because of the football medical check-ups?

I would also like to comment on the Grand Ledge Wrestling Coach who has been extremely successful for many years at GL High School! Thank you for the super job you have done and your great contribution to kids' lives in ways you will never know nor they until later in their own lives.

I am a former teacher about 6 years older than you. Yes, teaching has changed considerably. Society has. Enjoy your family. My grandparents were so important in my life.

You have made your contribution to the public school system and kids. Now it is time for your own family and leaving your legacy there. They need you.

Let's not gloat over U-M. Let's just be happy about the status MSU was given! Let's take it from there!

Best to you Joe! We will be happy when you are back with us.

[John]

God's blessings upon you, Joe, and may He shine His face upon you. I love your blog. Go Green, Go White, and Go Jesus!

[Joe Rexrode]

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone, it's like you're electronically signing my cast. Ditto on prayers to the Ray family, hopefully the problem can be eliminated swiftly and permanently. Finally, for Dr. J -- the Ibok and MoJo news was in my Tuesday notebook on MSU hoops in the paper and online edition. It's nothing earth shattering. To recap, MoJo is home and will visit Vermont and Rhode Island. And Ibok is now less than two weeks away from getting back onto the court.

[kenny banya]

Get well, Joe! Not only was it interesting that Bilas omitted U-M from his list of underachievers, but he listed UCLA at #10. I understand that the expectations at UCLA are nothing less than a championship every year, but seriously Jay. They had two terrible years by anyone's standards, but they've finished with two 30+ win years in a row (which included a championship game and final four). If you put UCLA on this list, U-M has to be there too. Unless, like Michael mentioned, they're just so irrelevant to the conversation of college basketball that they never crossed his mind. I won't be surprised if he has Tommy Turtleneck's Harvard team on his top ten teams "poised for success" today though. Oh well, GO STATE!

[spartytom]

A broken foot? What happened - did Izzo put you on scholarship?

[BWhite]

ESPN (Pat Forde anyway) just snubbed MSU from the Top 10 of Hoops programs "poised for future success." He does have OSU and Indiana as part of the list, however... OK then... doesn't make much sense to me considering our coach and the recruits he has coming in over the next couple seasons, but OK?. Actually, Forde basically comments that Izzo has "wanderlust", hinting he's leaving soon? Huh? Yo, Forde, have you been watching the coaching carousels of the last few years, and how Izzo has gone no-where, despite being rumored for every top job as it opens!?! OK, I'll ignore this aspect of ESPN's past and present analysis this week... I guess I also need to remind myself that ESPN still plays to the nation, not just E.L., etc. FYI - The "Fan Poll" on ESPN has MSU #8 on Top 10 teams poised for future success... maybe Forde just has it out for MSU?

[John]

Izzo has made the Spartan Nation proud, and I say Nation, as I live in the Deep South of GA. The folks down here recognize MSU as a basketball program second to none, as their precious Bulldogs and Yellowjackets don't even come close. As for the next ten years, Izzo has us on track, certainly. I simply do not see him leaving to go elsewhere, as I imagine he has thought long and hard about it, prayed about it, and realized that the grass simply isn't greener anywhere else. The Pro level? Not a chance. Our next ten years are going to be even better. Go Green!

[Ron Sprayman]

Hey Joe,
" Say it ain't so Joe !!!" I heard about your unfortunate injury this morning on the Tim Staudt radio show. Take it easy and I hope you will be on the mend soon. Go Green/Go White !!!

[go blue]

This just in Michigan is predicted to be national champs by the year 2010....GO BLUE!!!!!!

[T-Bone]

call me crazy, but if we could just get our football team back on track with true success, can you imagine how great it'd be to be a Spartan fan?

Hockey: national championship (there's no better recruiting tool).....check.

Basketball: poised for greatness in the near future...not too shabby the past few years...check.

Football: this is the one gray area, but with a new coach who has left a positive impression thus far...who knows?

It's a great time to a Spartan fan in general...

And BY THE WAY, how awesome is it to be an all-around Detroit sports fan these days?!! I'm basically walking on air these days with the Tigers, Wings, Pistons...and even Lions draft SUCCESSES! Ahhhhh...gotta love it.

[outstate Spartan]

Ok Go Blue, but what you failed to mention was that it was for the dungeons and dragons competition.

[Michael Motta]

Leslie J. Hurst Snubbed (well sorta):

When in my previous post I jested about the remote possibility of now former LSJ Publisher Leslie J. Hurst running off and joining a commune, little did I know that the running off part would be announced the very next day!
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070511/NEWS01/705110351

I hope that makes your foot feel better Joe! :) I know it makes me feel better.

[Jud Heathcoat]

WE NEED VOTES SPARTAN NATION!!!

http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10177232

[Joe]

Hey Spartan Nation. In the cbs sportsline best mascot competition, we're a 1 seed up against the Wyoming Cowboys in the regional finals. Those Cowboys have a heck of a following, so we need to show the Spartan Pride. Go vote (again and again!, disable cookies from the site to vote till your heart is content!) at http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10177232

[Boo Radley]

Sprained ankle on the bball court?

Sounds like Geoff Kimmerly broke out that killer crossover.