Of all the places in the world, of all the grass masters of the universe, the 2004 Olympic Games chose MSU professors and graduate students to grow their turf in Athens, Greece.

MSU has once again stepped up to the plate to bat out another beautiful grass stadium.

MSU affiliates developed the grass at the Silverdome for the World Cup 10 years ago. The head groundskeeper at Comerica Park is an MSU alumna; and we proudly admit to helping the University of Michigan grow its grass; on the football field, that is.

Now, Spartans will help aid in the development of this year's Olympic soccer and field events arena.

Wow. Finally MSU is involved with something worldly that hath no fear for controversy or protest (thank you, President M. Peter McPherson, for wooing Condoleezza Rice to speak at last spring's commencement ceremony and stirring the masses).

There is slim to no chance that MSU will be receiving hate letters for our ability to grow some serious, kick-butt grass.

This green, spiky plant is underrated in the eyes of the average college student. From the ranges of Kentucky bluegrass, to the mystery of Bermuda grass, few realize that MSU turfgrass is quite high on the list of MSU expertise.

MSU's Turfgrass Information Center (TIC) has more than 95,000 records in its primary database (TGIF-the Turfgrass Information File), and a unit is dedicated entirely for the TIC Advisory Council at MSU Libraries. We love grass, though not necessarily the same way Tommy Chong does.

The MSU grass Olympic team: Professors Trey Rogers and James Crum, and graduate students Matt Anderson and Tim VanLoo, will stand among the world's best turfgrass growers. We give this foursome the gold medal for their commitment and knowledge to this wonderfully complex green carpet.