Detroit — Over the past two weeks, I've gained a new appreciation for MSU's rivalry with Michigan.
This baby is intense.
In general, I am a fan of all teams in any sport I watch. There are very few teams that I just plain do not like. In the past two weeks, U-M managed to join the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Wisconsin Badgers and Indiana Pacers on my personal hate list.
U-M is a great institution, but there's just something about the teams, the players that play for it and, mostly, the fans, that rub me the wrong way.
One of the things I love most about MSU fans is that they, you know, actually have some connection with this place — and some actually went to school here!
Despite having some irrational fans ("Fire Comley," "Fire John L. Smith" people, I'm looking at you), it's tough to find a fan base that is more passionate and knowledgeable about its sports than MSU's.
On the other hand, you have the majority of U-M fans (and I'm not talking about those who actually attended the school). We all know who they are. We've seen them at events around the state.
I love these fans, I really do. They're the ones who, when I'm walking around Comerica Park in an MSU shirt, just yell out, "Go Blue!" at me. This happened at least four times to me at a single game last season. The best part is that I knew what I would see even before I turned around to laugh in their faces. Oh yes, these are the fans that couldn't find the University of Michigan if it walked right up and slapped them in the face.
Of course, there are exceptions, but I've found the majority of U-M's non-graduate/student fanbase to be like this.
Another reason for my disdain for the Wolverines is pretty much aimed at one man: Jack Johnson.
The young defenseman for U-M's hockey team has to be my most-hated player since Claude Lemieux.
The thing is, though, I doubt even U-M fans can like this guy anymore. I have never seen one player take dumb penalty after dumb penalty like this one.
Johnson has somehow managed to rack up an astonishing 110 penalty minutes in 23 games. Folks, I did the math and that's an average of 4.78 per game.
Not to mention his unnecessary hit in the final minute on MSU junior defenseman Tyler Howells on Jan. 17 which drew him a five-minute major and a game disqualification.
He's got talent. You're not the third overall pick in the NHL draft if you don't have any, but sometimes I wonder if this guy's got anything inside his head.
Despite Johnson's play, MSU has been the strongest in its rivalry with U-M because of the hockey team. The Spartans are 1-0-3 on the ice against the Wolverines, frustrating them at every turn.
The teams have tied five times in the last six games played. Now that, my friends, is competition. And excitement.
Then there's that whole fiasco from the men's basketball game last Wednesday. Honestly, if any U-M fans think they won that game fair and square, they are delusional. If basketball employed the "Three Stars" system like hockey does, there is no doubt that referee Phil Bova would be the No. 1 star of that game.
Let's also not forget about the clearly flagrant elbow delivered by U-M's Brent Petway to the face of senior guard Maurice Ager after he threw down a monster alley-oop. Inexcusable play. And, of course, Petway showed zero remorse for knocking out Ager.
Thankfully, because the hockey team has pulled its weight at every turn, MSU hasn't been totally shut out in this thing.
Then again, my advice for U-M, just wait until Feb. 18 at Breslin Center. It's is going to be a long day for Tommy Amaker's squad.
Matt Bishop can be reached at bishop20@msu.edu.
