Michigan, you have a reason to push your chest out show a little pride. I've learned a lot in the last six months about my new home, Maryland, and my former home, Michigan. While I love living here, I'm looking forward to coming home next week.
If you're a sports fan, Michigan is a great state. Consider this current week. Central Michigan University is marching to yet another appearance in the Mid-American Conference title game and their quarterback, Dan LeFevour, set the MAC all-time passing record last night on national television. He won't get mention for the award but LeFevour is having a Heisman Trophy-worthy season and the Chippewas have proved themselves worthy of a Top 25 ranking.
Did I forget to mention second-ranked Michigan State's gritty 75-71 win over No. 22 Gonzaga in men's basketball Tuesday evening on national television? Sorry. That was a great game and the Breslin Center was in mid-season form.
The state's high school football semifinals are playing this weekend. Last year Lake Orion trounced Dearborn Fordson at Troy Athens. This weekend Sterling Heights Stevenson locks down with Clarkston, Birmingham Brother Rice battles Lowell's Red Arrows and four Detroit Catholic League teams are playing in the state semifinals. One of the subtleties of the various MHSAA championships is none are truly heads and tails above any others -- they all carry their own prestige and cache -- and that makes a state title in Michigan special no matter the sport or gender.
Oh yes, did I mention Michigan hosts hated Ohio State while Michigan State prepares for a heady task in welcoming Joe Paterno's Penn Staters to Spartan Stadium? Both schools will play in front of sell-out crowds. The Lions will host the Browns and say what you will about this toilet bowl of a game, there will be 50,000 fans in Ford Field for the worst game of the week and possibly the entire year in the NFL.
And lest I forget to mention, the always-vaunted Detroit Red Wings are still those vaunted Red Wings and the Pistons are introducing a new brand of basketball. Eastern Michigan looks much improved and Michigan is certain to challenge more this season in college hoops.
I'm not saying Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic isn't a great place to live -- it is. But last week the Virginia Tech Hokies visited Bryd Stadium to battle Maryland while Navy hosted Delaware at Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium. The state football playoffs are under way and Maryland and Navy are both kicking off their respective men's and women's basketball seasons. All of it was met with little more than a collective but subdued cheer. To be fair, we're not talking about North Carolina or Duke visiting the Terrapins on the hardwood and this is a pro football stronghold in the fall, where the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens have little difficulty selling out, and hockey's Capitals have become a tough ticket top procure.
The point is Michigan is a great place to cultivate and continue the sporting passion. Be proud of that fact, Michigan. Be proud.
Regards...
T.C. Cameron's 2nd book, Metro Detroit's High School Basketball Rivalries, is on sale now at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and retailers nationwide.
The Lions will be lucky to have 25,000 there tomorrow. A chance (small, but still a chance) that the MHSAA will have more fans for the Division 1 championship than the Lions/Browns game.
Posted by: Mike | November 21, 2009 at 10:00