Bonds, icons and causes
From the struggling MSU basketball team to the bowl-prepping MSU football team, our attention turns. One of the keys to a title may have been secret workouts that are now coming to light. David Harns actually took some pictures of the guys throwing it around.
To close up shop for a couple days here, I was recently invited to participate in a media contest to predict the Big Ten Network's top eight icons in what has been a very interesting series this fall. You can see Icons 9-50 here. The winner of the contest gets $5,000 to contribute to his or her charity of choice.
After much deliberation, here's my guess for the top eight:
1. Jesse Owens
2. Earvin "Magic" Johnson
3. Red Grange
4. Archie Griffin
5. Dick Butkus
6. Jerry Lucas
7. Nile Kinnick
8. Eddie George
I feel great about the top six. Not exactly sure on the order, but I can't imagine how those six athletes would not be there. I feel good about Kinnick, a Heisman winner and Iowa's No. 1 icon. I'm iffy on George, if only because he would mean four Buckeyes in the top eight, and I have to think stuff like that is considered. But how is he not in the top 50? Then again, how is Michigan's Tom Harmon not in the top 50? (And by the way, Mateen Cleaves?) At first, I had Tony Dungy and Gerald Ford in there, but this is supposed to be based on Big Ten career -- but then, how is John Wooden so high if post-Big Ten career isn't considered?!
Should be fun to watch it unfold. Feel free to pick your own eight, for blog bragging rights. My charity of choice is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This year, cancer took my grandpa, is threatening his son, threatened one college friend and gave a scare to another. It's threatening my friend Jack Ebling, too, but he's in the process of kicking the mess out of it. But those people all have been able to do some living. Children with cancer ... I can't wrap my head around it. Just can't do it. I don't think I'll encounter another story more painful and inspiring at once than this one.
The other day I was interviewing Jim Rouse, father of Josh Rouse (trivia: Which MSU football father actually played college football against Mark Dantonio?), for a story to run Monday (have to get a plug in). He asked me if I have kids, I said I did, and he said: "Just make sure you love them and hug them all you can." So I'm stealing that message and giving it to you. Kids, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, spouses, significant others, friends and imaginary friends. Give them everything you've got this weekend. I know I will. Merry Christmas.
