Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | 1117

SPORTS

Magics All-Stars silence team

Dawn Klemish
November 4, 2002

Earvin Johnson showed fans at Breslin Center that even at 43, he still has some “Magic” left. Johnson netted his second triple-double against MSU in as many years while leading the Magic Johnson All-Stars to a 104-85 victory over the Spartans Friday. MSU was largely outplayed in its first exhibition game, leaving head coach Tom Izzo disheartened with the cagers’ lackluster performance. “We had some guys that just did not play anything like Michigan State basketball and that will change,” Izzo said.

SPORTS

HARDY:Doesnt get any worse for U

This football team is a dysfunctional bunch. Rumors of point shaving, gambling and drug use inside the Spartan football program run rampant during one of the most disappointing and embarrassing seasons in the land-grant university’s 147-year history. Although MSU head coach Bobby Williams says, “99 percent of the things you’re writing about are not true.” Well, if so, let the truth be told. The green limelight sours on the football program following a Spartan arrest during the weekend, a statement disclosing the star quarterback’s substance abuse problem and the team’s top athlete calling his teammates “embarrassed” following one of MSU’s worst losses to its rival school. And I hate to admit it, Dawan Moss finally ran over somebody this weekend.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Wrestlers set to get underway at Eastern The MSU wrestling team will open its 2002-03 season this Saturday at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti.

SPORTS

Round 2: Jackson vs. Rogers

Eric Mckinney
November 1, 2002

The Wolverines always have been known for defense. But any time a player draws comparisons to former Michigan great Charles Woodson, ears perk up a little more than usual.Woodson, who plays for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, was easily considered the best defensive player in all the land during his days in maize and blue.

SPORTS

Strike up the U-M band for a new tune

They’ve got to be feeling just blue, as the maize is tarnished by scandal after scandal. It’s been quite a year since the Spartans thumped the Wolverines in the Wood Shed. The athletic program in Ann Arbor has had quite a booster of support in light of C-Webb and the Flab Five. I’ve got a little tune for those of you feeling down with the maize and blues. Cough.

SPORTS

Both teams to prove toughness

Andrew Fifer
November 1, 2002

The MSU football team’s toughness has been in question during the last three weeks, but its intrastate rival has not escaped similar criticism. After getting overpowered in a 34-9 loss to Iowa last week, Michigan has had to answer more than its share of toughness questions. Wolverine offensive lineman Tony Pape admitted the front five weren’t physical enough against the Hawkeyes (8-1 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (6-2, 3-1) need to run the football against the Spartans (3-5, 1-3) when they meet at 12:05 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Magic brings familiar friends to Breslin for another showdown

Dawn Klemish
November 1, 2002

After weeks filled with intense practice the men’s basketball team finally will suit up for its first exhibition game today at Breslin Center. The Magic Johnson All-Stars, are a full professional squad from Australia, that also brings to the table three players who have won a National Championship at MSU - Earvin “Magic” Johnson (1979), David Thomas and Mike Chappelle (1999). Little is known about the rest of the team due in part to its orientation overseas, and as a result the Spartans will take the court sans a specific game plan. “You have no scouting report or anything, you really don’t know much about them,” senior forward Adam Ballinger said.

SPORTS

Greatest games in the rivalry

Eric Mckinney
November 1, 2002

Rivalry games are simply magical moments, and when MSU and Michigan take the field in opposition it’s no different. Saturday’s showdown in the Big House marks the 95th meeting between the Spartans (3-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) and the No.

SPORTS

Heisman watch

Andrew Fifer
November 1, 2002

The race for the Heisman Trophy continues to keep college football fans on their toes. Any given week, a candidate can come out of nowhere and step into the forefront or stumble back into the middle of the pack.

ICE HOCKEY

Versatility proves to be important

James Jahnke
October 31, 2002

Versatility has been the name of Jared Nightingale’s game so far this season. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound freshman is a defenseman by trade, but he has played half of MSU’s games as the fourth-line right wing this year. Where Nightingale lines up on a given night seems to depend on whether freshman defenseman Evan Shaw is playing or not.

SPORTS

Veterans lead team into battle

Dawn Klemish
October 31, 2002

“Let’s sign a brick you guys.”Field hockey head coach Michele Madison speaks to her team’s Leadership Group in the field hockey locker room with a smile on her face, beaming with pride over a perfect 10-0 season at the MSU Field Hockey Complex.“We have to sign a brick, we just went undefeated at home,” Madison said.Matching last year’s 16-6 overall record, Big Ten Championship and Elite Eight appearance is no small feat, but with the help of four women this year’s No.

SPORTS

Womens Crew dominates weekend of racing

With only two fall team meets this year the women’s crew team is feeling good. Last Sunday the team took first place in all five varsity events at The Head of the Elk in Elkhart, Ind.