If you are a couch potato like I am, and haven’t touched that remote control since 9:45 p.m. last Friday, you are not alone.

Once in a while, when I cut myself during morning shaving, such as yesterday and today, the bandage on my chin would have a green stain in the middle after a few minutes.

Because I bleed green.

I have a job in Ann Arbor. Trading jabs with the dominant force of University of Michigan graduates at the water cooler and cafeteria is the unofficial requirement of my job. With Brian Ellerbe’s help, I thought until next November, I had a knock-out punch in my pocket whenever I saw a maize tie or a blue sweater.

In my cubicle is a Spartan Basketball schedule. To watch the games, I have rescheduled three medical appointments, declined two party invitations and just didn’t show up for my boss’ baby shower.

Of course, MSU basketball doesn’t isolate me from this world and my friends. On the contrary, it bonds us closer.

I do keep in touch with my Spartan friends all over the country, especially after every dunk by Jason Richardson, despite my wife’s monthly yelling at me for the outrageous long-distance phone bills.

Being devoted to MSU hoops doesn’t make me a shallow person, either. One of my fellow Spartans recently became the proud father of a baby girl. After analyzing the game he saw on his satellite TV, he began to tell me his unfathomable fear for coping with the loneliness after the newborn marries somebody some day. Although childless, I can fully appreciate his feeling. That’s the same fear I have when watching the fabulous underclassmen hoopsters. Their early departure to the NBA has been the biggest fear in my life since last November.

For the first time in a long time, I felt the weekend was longer than I wanted. To kill the time, I even had the tax forms done.

Don’t worry about me if Tom Izzo’s squad takes an early exit from the NCAA tournament. I will be fine. My employer does offer on-site counseling.

Bing Ren
1997 MSU graduate
Ann Arbor resident