"We are Spartans!"

Today's blog title is a little riff from Gerard Butler's rallying cry from the movie 300, but I like it.

So, I'm not the biggest of sports fans, but I do occassionaly pay attention - mainly to MSU basketball (hard for me to find in Pac 10 country) and hockey. Tonight, the MSU Spartans will play the UNC Tar Heels for the NCAA title and bragging rights. And we're supposed to be "underdogs." But after reading all the coverage in my local hometown papers, watching the broadcast on TV, and the slew of texts I exchanged with my sister during Saturday's game, I kind of think we already won. Because win or lose, my home state of Michigan has something it hasn't had in a while: hope.

There aren't too many times when people are excited to visit Detroit, or proud of something going on - it's been a rush of bad news, day after day. There are corrupt mayors, lost jobs, foreclosed homes & a major industry in the danger zone. So I love to hear all the good stories: the Spartan pride rallies, the air of excitement outside Ford Field, the Spartan green everywhere (including the Freep home page today)! I love every excited text and twitter and facebook posting too.

There are always Cinderella stories that come out of the Big Dance, and I think this year, everyone thought that was Villanova, because they beat a titan in Duke. But I disagree. I think it's these Spartans, who carry the hope and expectations of the entire state of Michigan as they jog onto the floor tonight. It's a welcome distraction from the daily grind. And I'm excited and proud to cheer on the Green and White of my alma mater tonight - Go Spartans!