Recruit earns praise despite size

MSU men's head basketball coach Tom Izzo secured his second verbal commitment from the top tier of the class of 2006 - Raymar Morgan, a versatile, 6-foot-7 forward from Canton, Ohio. Morgan is listed as the eighth best small forward and 28th best overall prospect in the nation by the recruiting service www.scout.com. "He's just a good, well-rounded player," said Chris Monter, Midwest region recruiting analyst for www.collegebasketballnews.com. "He does a lot of things around the hoop and he has a good mid-range game." Morgan had narrowed his options to MSU, Michigan and Ohio State.

'Cinderella' still heartwarming, but go old school with video version

At 20 years old, I popped open the old plastic carton of the "Cinderella" VHS for the first time in at least nine years and transported myself back to a childhood of footed pajamas, my favorite toys and watching movies with my family on Saturday nights. To celebrate today's DVD re-release of the 1950 Disney film, I watched the grainy tape with a sense of reality far from that of my youth.

MIPA unchanged by embezzlement charges

Some advisers, students and officials agreed that the thousands of dollars allegedly embezzled from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association haven't affected any programs, including the fall conference held at the Lansing Center on Monday. "It's upsetting, but it hasn't affected the program that I can see," said Gayle Martin, adviser for The Source, the student newspaper at Stoney Creek High School. Raye Grill, a former MSU employee, is charged with taking more than $20,000 from MIPA and between $1,000 and $20,000 from the MSU School of Journalism. Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, or MIPA, President Brian Wilson said the organization has been able to meet its budget every year. "When we were looking at the budget, we were essentially setting the budget based on money we had in the account," Wilson said.

Politics part of any justice nomination

Alex Nezich's letter, "Justice selection is about law, not politics" (SN 9/20) demonstrates a serious naiveté about the constitutional process of judicial appointments and the judicial branch as a whole.

Spartans' fast start was slowed by their rivals to the Southeast

They seemed invincible. Minus the criticism that came from the planting of a Spartans flag in the middle of Notre Dame Stadium, the act itself showed the Spartans making a statement.

Teams will keep fans interested during playoffs

The baseball playoffs are finally upon us after a long and grueling season that came down to the final day for four different teams. The Boston Red Sox knew they were going to have a shot at the playoffs; they just didn't know whether it would come after Sunday or after a one-game playoff against the Cleveland Indians today. But after the Chicago White Sox successfully knocked off the Indians early Sunday, the Red Sox knew they were in the playoffs and it didn't matter if they won their game or not. The Indians' loss guaranteed the Red Sox the wild card for the third straight season, the same wild card they won last year before winning the World Series. For the Indians, the season ends in disappointment.

Christian hell warning not form of terrorism

Etienne Fields went too far in the letter "Threat of being sent to hell is terrorism" (SN 9/23). Christians who try to share their faith (and thus, the belief that Jesus is the only way to heaven) are not terrorists.

News coverage of disasters bent to hit home, loses humanity

I'm ashamed to admit my first reaction after hearing about Hurricane Rita. "Oh, man," I said to a few friends as we sat around a bar table.

Morgan gives verbal commitment to MSU

Raymar Morgan, one of the premier basketball prospects in the class of 2006, verbally committed to play at MSU.

America needs leaders who care about world

What is being overlooked in the recent rash of hurricane activity and subsequent disasters in the Gulf Coast is not who is to blame now, but who is to blame in the past.

Wolverines kicker gets second chance and puts away Spartans

After Garrett Rivas let a 27-yard field goal sail wide right that would have given the Wolverines a late fourth-quarter lead, head coach Lloyd Carr asked him what he did. "He said, 'I just pushed it,' Carr said.

Monday musings

• Texas Tech has given Pat Knight, son of current men's basketball coach Bob Knight, a five-year contract to replace his dad once he retires. No word yet if MSU has made a similar promise to Tom Izzo's 5-year-old son, Steven. • You could say the Tigers limped to the finish line of another disappointing season this weekend.

Police briefs 10/03/05

Crime rate consistent with rivalry weekends

With 36 people in the East Lansing jail Sunday morning, officials from both the city and campus police are saying the game against the University of Michigan on Saturday was busy - as usual. "There was a lot of foot traffic, a lot of alcohol violations," East Lansing police Sgt.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Bush nominates Miers to Supreme Court

President Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers on Monday to take the place of retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. Because Miers never served as a judge, her political record is somewhat unclear.

Lack of kicking game looms large after loss to U-M

The Spartans looked far from an undefeated, No. 11-ranked team Saturday when they fell to Michigan, 34-31 in overtime, amid a number of mistakes that were absent in their previous four contests. The offense, defense, and special teams all played a rollercoaster of a game that sophomore linebacker Kaleb Thornhill called a "team loss". "The defense made mistakes, the offense made mistakes, we all made mistakes," Thornhill said.

Stunning loss

Everything seemed to be falling into place for the MSU community as Saturday's game against Michigan approached. The Spartans came in riding high, ranked No.

Civil War comes alive in Lansing

A Civil War camp came to the Lansing area on Sunday, as a group of battle reenactors gathered to participate in a "living history" event. An infantry group set up tents with weapons and uniforms from Civil War soldiers at the event, held at the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 W.

Without humor, 'documentary' is a flop

Mock documentary "Mail Order Wife" reinforces the worn-out stereotype that all men are sleazy and women are deceitful. The DVD will be released tomorrow to enlighten the citizens of the United States that it's not a clever plan to purchase a woman from some random Asian country to marry.

Man seen leaving shooting to face weapons charges

Mario Deshun Williams will face a felony weapons charge in Ingham County Circuit Court, a district court judge decided Friday. The 20-year-old Oak Park man was arrested after officers stopped the vehicle he was driving, which was noticed leaving the scene of a Sept.