Friday, March 29, 2024

A year to remember

Every year, The State News Editorial Board selects its winners and losers of the past 12 months. 2000 was one of the most remarkable 12 months for news in a long time. But, after an exhaustive search, the following people and events made the biggest impression.

  • The MSU men’s basketball team - Especially head coach Tom Izzo and former player Mateen Cleaves - and the student body that positively celebrated its NCAA championship last March. Cleaves not only chose to delay his rise to the pros to remain at MSU, but also stepped up throughout the season as the team’s leader, taking the role of both a coach and a star player. Izzo again demonstrated loyalty and dedication to MSU by turning down a contract with the Atlanta Hawks, and his recruiting efforts will fuel the basketball program for years to come.

    MSU students also should be commended for making an effort to correct their reputation after last year’s riot. The positive celebrations that took place after the win proved MSU students know how to party without tipping over vehicles.

  • Sen.-elect Debbie Stabenow - Stabenow, a Democratic U.S. representative from Lansing, seized a place in the Senate despite being outspent by her opponent, U.S. Sen. Spence Abraham, R-Auburn Hills, two to one.

  • The anonymous $2 million donor - The donor’s generous contribution made the McPherson Professorship lecture series possible. It brought prestigious members of the science community to MSU, allowing students to be exposed to pertinent scientific issues.

    n Eddie Davis - Davis, an engineering sophomore, and friend Beau Bacevicius became the first Americans to hike the entire length of the 1,800-mile Great Wall of China. Davis and Bacevicius demonstrated dedication and tenacity that disprove stereotypes of Generation Y.

  • Ron Mason - Mason is the winningest coach in college hockey. He has put the hockey team in the No. 1 spot in the country and just had the CCHA championship trophy named in his honor.

  • The presidential election which, in turn, spawned a host of losers, including:

    n Texas Gov. George W. Bush - While Bush may take office, he would become the first president in more than a century who did not win the popular vote.

  • Vice President Al Gore - Gore might have taken the nation’s popular vote, but it looks like he won’t take his place in the White House. His refusal to accept the inevitable will forever characterize him as a sore loser.

  • The electoral process - The closeness of this year’s presidential race showed many discrepancies in the election process that critically damaged the nation’s confidence in the way America’s leaders are chosen.

  • Green Party candidate Ralph Nader - Not only did Nader not receive the 5 percent of the vote necessary to gain federal matching funds for his party in the next presidential election, he will be forever remembered as the man who cost Gore the election.

  • East Lansing - The city’s disorganization caused voters to be turned away from the polls, mirroring the controversies that took place in Florida.

  • Y2K fanatics - The people around the world who stocked up on jugs of water and canned goods for the new year faced a major letdown when they awoke to a world no different than it was when they fell asleep.

  • The 2000 entertainment industry - The country faced an artistic drought during this year of lackluster films and the continued reign of meaningless pop music. MTV continued to betray its roots in music videos, offering little more than The Real World, Celebrity Deathmatch, Carson Daly and bikini-clad women dancing around during Spring Break.

  • The Red Cedar River - The campus landmark suffered from E. coli levels so high that few dared to venture near its banks.

  • Anyone who had to use oil - The unbelievably high oil prices forced everyone to turn down their thermostats and beg their friends for rides.

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