“I am excited about this new opportunity at Michigan,” Beilein said. “I wouldn’t go there if I didn’t think they could win a national championship.”

- April 3, 2007

Trey Burke gets a “good game” from Keith Appling after stealing the ball from Michigan State a 2nd time to secure a victory for the Wolverines

Keith Apples knows it.  The entire MSU bench knows it.  Trey Jonathan Burke has the “E-Touch”.

8-17 from the floor,  5-6 from the line, 21 points, 8 assist, 2 turnovers and 5 steals in 38 minutes.

Not even Thomas Izzo knew what to do.

Izzo at his calmest moment of the game.

Izzo gave Michigan all it had.  Especially a thing called “toughness”, which is what makes Izzo’s teams go so far into the tournament according to 97.1 the Ticket.  But this Sunday, I think Michigan out-”toughed” the toughest bunch of tough guys in the toughest conference this side of the Toughassippi River.

On a day where Michigan went 0-12 from the 3 point line, where they “live and die by the 3″, they ended up beating the Spartans at their own game, points in the paint.

Points in the paint: MSU 26 – MICH 44

For all the Spartan Fans who say “We only lost by 1″ as some kind of qualifier to having a better team, sure, go ahead.  Just remember that a 3 star FWD recruit from U of D made your 5 star, 6’11 Center (Payne) and 4 Star 6’10 Center (Nix) look out of breath and fat.  Maybe Izzo was right when he told us all Payne has baby lungs?

MICH MICHGary taking a triple beating from some Spartans. Jordan Morgan was called for the foul.

Here’s to  hoping MICH will get to play MSU again.  A best out of 3 would be a blast.  Especially with a healthy Stauskas.  Maybe…

MICH!

That time of year is back again.  The battle for Washtenaw County is upon us.  It’s MICH vs. CAW! week.  MICH may have a slight edge (favored by 25) but CAW! (Eastern) has a massive chip on their shoulder, the spirit of Earl Jonathan Boykins and pungent memories of a dominating win over fellow B1G team (47-44), Purdue.  Sure, CAW! may have just lost by 26 to UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago?), but their minds were focused on defending and destroying MICHIGAN.

Don’t think that MICH has not been focused on this moment at every turn.  They bleed this rivalry with such passion that they have built massive structures purposely visible from the CAW! water tower as a “hey, nice sports complexes, loosers lol.”  MICH point guard Trey Burke has even gone as far as tattooing wings on himself as a reminder that the CAW! Eagles will always be up in his face!

This is it.  Don’t get scared now.

Be sure to tune in for this monumental event.  These are games in which students paint numbers of days since the opponents last victory on their stomach, or print out giant cardboard faces of Dick Vitale.  This is our chance to watch a little pre-march madness.  This will be a bloodbath.  A Pistons-Bulls 1990′s type match up.  Set your DVR’s or your Tebows, you will want your grand-kids to see this one.

May the best Washtenaw County team win!

With one of the best defenses in the country, I don’t think we need to worry much about it.  Both options at QB have multiple up sides and with the performance Devin displayed last week, we should feel confident MICH will pull out another win vs. NW.

If you don’t understand this photo, see the following: 1 & 2.  It’s a rather excellent album.

Do we have bigger shorts?

MICH basketball is upon us and I’m tired of looking at that ‘BARRASSING Tigers photo, so let’s talk some HOOPS!

I went to the WLA faithful fans to get some questions in regards to this years basketball squadron, schedule and opponents.  Here are a few of thousands we received.

QUESTION: “I see that the season Opener is vs. Slippery Rock, who is Slippery Rock and do they have a basketball team?”

ANSWER: Slippery Rock is a public University in Slippery Rock, PA.  Yes, they have both Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.  Enrollment is about 8,000.  Most notable alumni is Chuck Aber, Mr. Rogers Neighbor, named “Neighbor Aber.”  I have no idea if they are good at Basketball or sports in general, my computer at work won’t allow access to sports websites (funny how I can come here, eh? eh.)
QUESTION: “Has the Crisler Arena renovation raised the Beilein “ceiling”?”

ANSWER: I have gone through the blueprints, engineering reports and costs related to the renovations and have indeed found that the Beilein ceiling has been raised 12 feet.  Which is pretty nice.  Makes the room feel bigger.

QUESTION: “Does any one team in the B1G pose a major threat to Michigan this year?  Who is dangerous?”

ANSWER: Excellent question, yes.  MSU does, but not for the reasons you think… 

QUESTION: “I SEE THAT STUPID BEILEIN IS ALREADY IN THE NIT TOURNAMENT THIS NOVEMBER WHAT A LOOSER!”

ANSWER: That is a tournament.  Michigan and many other teams play in them every season early in the schedule.  It’s not the NIT of March.  So relax.

QUESTION: “Which Freshman will produce the most this year and why?”

ANSWER: Based on what we saw against Northern MICH and Saginaw Valley State, I would assume Glenn Robinson III to be the most effective.  He has scored very easily in short time and he can fill in at multiple positions on the floor (2,3,4).  He and Timmy up there with the big shorts will likely get rest from Nik Stauskas and VoGRIT.  MICH McGary will probably be 2nd in production for the freshman.  He has been great off the glass so far but Morgans experience may outweigh that when it comes to tougher opponents.  Spike Albrecht is a rad mo-fo who will give Burke some rest.  Look for him to be a pain in the ass for the opponents.  Kid can shoot.

QUESTION: “Where can I watch the first game?”

ANSWER: BTN.com  #dealwithit

QUESTION: “I see we play Purdue twice this year, who will guard Robbie Hummel?”

ANSWER: I assume Tim Hardaway or GRIII will be on him.

Thanks for your questions and GO BLUE!

NOT TERRIBLE:
Series is coming back to Detroit, where the Tigers are dominating during the post season.  Sanchez, Scherzer, Verlander.  Saturday, Sunday, Monday.  Fister would start Wednesday if the Tigers win two or three of those.  No need to panic, but we can all agree that currently, everything HAS BEEN terrible.

FIRE UP TIGERS

The MVP, the reigning MVP, four aces, and Phil “Lockdown” Coke.
Two World Series trips in 6 years. Bless you boys.

GJ; GE

Y’all haven’t even seen our strikeout guy yet.