Monday, April 6, 2026

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

Team

SPORTS

Lugnuts to host Midwest All-Star game next summer

Visitors to the 2002 Midwest League All-Star game may be surprised by the crazy antics of Myron the Noodleman, a popular Lansing Lugnuts act.Myron and other acts will add some extra fun to the All-Star game, which will be hosted next summer by the Lansing Lugnuts.Lansing competed with the Kane County Cougars, a suburb of Chicago who hosted the game in 2000.The Lugnuts last hosted the game in 1999, and before that in 1997.“We’ve had great success in the past with All-Star games,” Lugnuts Marketing Manager David Proutsaid.Plans are in the works for attractions to liven up the events and sponsors are soon to be determined.Midwest League President George Spelius said that from past experience, Lansing was an ideal place for the occasion.“It was a top notch situation there, they do everything big-league,” he said, referring to the way the Lugnuts run their games.Fan support makes Lansing an attractive venue for the game, Spelius said.

SPORTS

Ballinger ready for tourney despite injury-filled season

Eric Mckinney
March 15, 2001

The most feared opponent in sports is the injury bug, and no one knows that better than Adam Ballinger.In three years at MSU, the redshirt sophomore has fractured his fibula, played an entire season with back pains and shattered the thumb on his shooting hand.“The years haven’t gotten off to the best start, but hopefully I’ve got it all behind me,” Ballinger said.As MSU heads into the NCAA Tournament, Ballinger is injury-free and hoping to help the Spartans defend their 2000 NCAA Championship.Despite only playing in 19 games and averaging a minuscule two points a game, Ballinger’s teammates are confident he can contribute.“We definitely need him to give solid minutes coming into the tournament,” senior forward Andre Hutson said.

SPORTS

Prosecution unlikely for those who gamble on NCAA Tournament via Internet

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Criminal justice sophomore Brad Collins said he enjoys betting on the NCAA Tournament because “it’s fun to be in a pool with a group of your buddies.” But Collins, who said the pools he enters normally have small entrance fees, admitted there should be red flags waved when betting on college athletes goes too far. “I see it being a problem because people are winning and losing money based on amateurs’ performances,” he said.

SPORTS

Spartans five wins from national title

James Jahnke
March 12, 2001

The top-ranked Spartans took the first step of what they hope will be a monthlong climb to a national championship this weekend at Munn Ice Arena.With the two-game sweep of Alaska-Fairbanks in the first round of the CCHA playoffs under its belt, MSU is likely five wins away from its first national title in 15 years.“We came out and needed to get on the board (in the playoffs) and we did,” MSU head coach Ron Mason said.

SPORTS

Its a great time to be a hoops junkie

Eric Lacy
March 12, 2001

I’ll never forget the first time I realized why - besides that first 60-degree day of spring semester when Spartan women start sunbathing on the banks of the Red Cedar - this is the most special time of the year.

SPORTS

Icers squeak out win in CCHA playoff series

James Jahnke
March 12, 2001

John Nail is glad the top-ranked Spartans had to play Alaska-Fairbanks in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.Not because the senior right wing and his teammates wanted a pushover to start their postseason run - as one might have expected from the 10th seed in the tournament - but because Nail wanted a challenging series right away.“On your way to the championships, there’s always going to be games like this,” Nail said.

SPORTS

Spartans sent packing early

Eric Mckinney
March 12, 2001

CHICAGO - Instead of providing a tune-up for the NCAA Tournament, the Big Ten Tournament served as a breakdown for the third-ranked Spartans.MSU (24-4, 13-3 Big Ten) went to Chicago hoping to capture its third-straight tournament title, but a 65-63 loss to Penn State (19-11, 7-9) in the Spartans’ first game Friday left players hanging their heads.During the post-game press conference, senior forward Andre Hutson had little to say with his shoulders slouched and a blank stare upon his face.“We just have to accept it,” Hutson said after a brief pause.

SPORTS

Guards struggle in loss to Lions

Eric Lacy
March 12, 2001

CHICAGO - Despite MSU’s lack of floor leadership in its 65-63 loss to Penn State Friday, there looks to be no changing of the guards for the squad’s upcoming first round game in the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

Senior night win could grab title

Eric Lacy
March 2, 2001

Even though Michigan (10-16 overall, 4-11 Big Ten) is having a down year - losing 10 of its last 13 games - MSU head coach Tom Izzo is convinced the struggling Wolverines will step up their play Saturday in an attempt to spoil No.

SPORTS

Big Ten could make or break grapplers

Keith Dunlap
March 2, 2001

For the MSU wrestling squad, its version of March Madness is about to begin. The Big Ten Wrestling Championships will take place this weekend in Evanston, Ill., while the NCAA Championships are March 15-17 in Iowa City, Iowa.

SPORTS

Team must win Big Ten tourney to get NCAA bid

Krista Latham
March 1, 2001

The MSU women’s basketball team has one hope of getting a berth in the women’s NCAA Tournament - it must win the Big Ten Tournament, which begins today at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.Ninth-seeded MSU plays in the first game of the tournament against eighth-seeded Ohio State at 4 p.m.

SPORTS

W-hoops seniors finishing strong

Krista Latham
March 1, 2001

For five MSU women’s basketball seniors, today marks the beginning of the end.Guards Christie Pung and Donita Johnson and center Erin Skelly will have at least one more chance to finalize their career totals and make a mark in Spartan history, as MSU begins Big Ten Tournament play today against Ohio State.But no matter what the outcome will be, all three, along with forward Becky Cummings, have ended their careers listed in the top 10 in at least one category.

SPORTS

Seniors to play last game at home

James Jahnke
March 1, 2001

The finality is starting to hit Sean Patchell.The senior left wing - and five of his classmates - will step on and off the ice at Munn Ice Arena for the last time tonight against arch-rival No.

SPORTS

Track stars earn Big Ten honors

Keith Dunlap
March 1, 2001

The team may have finished eighth out of 10 teams, but that didn’t stop junior Andy Lixey and senior Paul Terek from putting MSU at or near the top of the podium at the men’s track Big Ten Indoor Championships in State College, Pa.