Thank you Spartans

(DETROIT - April 6, 2009) - The state of Michigan was in need of a pick-me-up. We have been suffering with recession longer than the rest of the country...almost two years longer. The industrial pride of the Great Lake State has been hemorrhaging. GM, Chrysler, Ford...we have taken our share of hits...some may even say more than our share. We have been needing a feel good story for quite awhile.

Then, came the spring of 2009 and the NCCA Basketball Tournament. MSU made it in, as well as U of M (their first time in several years languishing after the Fab 5 scandal). But there was something there that we didn't notice at the start of the tournament...a determination of the Spartans to get it done.

This being the 30th anniversary of MSU's first NCAA Basketball Championship, there seemed a special feel going in. Celebrating Magic and Bird in 1979. And MSU made it into the Sweet 16. Then the fever began to rise. Could the Spartans do it this year? Taking a championship on the 30th anniversary of their first championship? Doing it in virtually in their own back yard at Ford Field in Detroit?

The Spartans seemed on a mission...playing and defeating 2 #1 seeds to get to the championship game tonight. The third #1 to get past was UNC. And many Spartan faithful were rooting for an upset that seemed monumental. And it was.

I have been reminded several times this evening why UNC was selected #1 in the pre-season polls. To be honest, I had them in my bracket wining the whole thing. But the MSU Spartans gave it a good fight.

The State of Michigan should be proud for the accomplishment that MSU made to get to the finals tonight. They clearly weren't favored. Much like our state isn't favored much to survive the current economic funk. But, I have well been aware for a long time that Michiganians are hearty, strong and resiliant. We face adversity, and we triumph over it...time and time again.

The MSU Spartans were resiliant. They proved hearty and strong against #1 seeds Louisville and UConn, and beat both of them to get to tonight's game. They faced adversity, and triumphed.

My hats off to UNC. They clearly deserved to win the championship. But MSU has my hat off to them as well.

Thank you, MSU, for a great season. You have made us Michiganians proud.