Spartan Center Lauren Aitch Overcomes Injury, Tragedy
Demmer Center Offers Great Shots Sparty Turns 20 As MSU’s Symbol Fabian Williams Recalls Ring Glory
January 2010 $3.00 U.S.
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SPORT CONTENTS
10 improving the odds
COVER Photograph MSU Athletic Communications
Lansing Examines “The Life Of An Athlete” BY rita wieber
12 A SHOT OF ADRENALINE
Demmer Center Offers Something For Everyone BY Andrea nelson
18 Back Where He Belongs
Lansing’s Fabian Williams Switches Ring Roles BY Doug warren
26 20 years of spart y Cheers To MSU’s Famous Mascot
14
BY Jennifer orlando
The Aitch-ing Process Lauren Aitch Has Dealt With Triumphs, Tragedy BY jack ebling
06
EB-SERVATION
08
SPORTS AUTHORITY
Come Out And Play
22
March Magic Hoopfest An Interactive Experience
PSYCHOLOGY
That Special Something
Only A Handful Of Players Make Others Better
By BRENDAN DWYER
By Dr. John h. braccio
28
NEWS + NOTES
32
FINISH LINE
Memories Of Amo Spartan Hockey’s All-Time Scoring King By Tom Ross
24
FITNESS
The Joy Of Movement
Non-Traditional Nia Helps With Balanced Life By rita wieber
SPORT COMMUNITY
Contribute To SPORT Magazine
Send us your News + Notes, story ideas and Last Shot photographs. www.SportLansing.com
JANUARY 2010
3
Assists
SPORT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rita Wieber Rita has worked in the health and wellness arena in Greater Lansing for more than 20 years as an exercise physiologist, a nurse and a college instructor. A former newspaper columnist, she has been running for more than three decades to support her chocolate habit. Rita lives in DeWitt with her husband, David, and their four children.
Andrea Nelson Andrea is a sophomore at Michigan State University, studying journalism with an emphasis in sports and public relations. She is a member of the Honors College and Tower Guard and has a true passion for sports. Andrea helped Frankfort High win back-toback state titles in girls basketball in 2005-06. Today, she provides articles, audio and images for SpartanTailgate.com.
Jennifer Orlando A Michigan State senior, Jennifer is excited to be a journalist in the ever-changing world of media. She served on the MSU yearbook and newspaper staffs and currently works for University Relations and with “Ebling and You” on 1320 WILS. Jen is a member of the Student Alumni Foundation and the Italian American Club. She is a Spartan through and through. Naturally, she bleeds green.
Ceil Heller Ceil has been a nurse for 39 years and has worked in emergency medicine at Sparrow Hospital for the last 15. An avid cyclist, she has competed several Dalmac events. And she is the new president of the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association. She is also a terrific nature photographer.
SPORT, The Greater Lansing Sports Magazine is published monthly by NBB Publishing with offices at 1223 Turner St., Suite 300, Lansing, MI 48906. Postage is paid under USPS Permit #979. Subscriptions: One copy of SPORT, The Greater Lansing Sports Magazine, is mailed complimentary to qualified business addresses in the Greater Lansing metropolitan area. Residential, household, promotional, out-of-area and additional subscriptions are available for $18 per year, half of the shelf price of $3 per issue. Subscribe at: www.SportLansing.com Postmaster: Address changes should be sent to: SPORT Magazine, 1223 Turner St., Suite 300, Lansing, Michigan 48906. 4 JANUARY 2010
The Greater Lansing Sports Magazine
Volume #2 • Issue #4 January 2010
Publisher NBB Publishing Editor Jack Ebling Assistant EditorS Andy Flanagan Doug Warren Contributing Writers Dr. John H. Braccio Brendan Dwyer Jack Ebling Andrea Nelson Jennifer Orlando Tom Ross Doug Warren Rita Wieber PhotographY Greater Lansing Sports Authority Ceil Heller Lansing Community College MHSAA Archives MSU Athletic Communications MSU Student-Alumni Foundation Terri Shaver Doug Warren Rita Wieber Fabian Williams MAGAZINE Design & LAYOUT Traction Printing Millbrook Printing, Co. Mailer Aldinger’s, Inc. Editorial Office 1223 Turner St., Suite 300 Lansing, Michigan 48906 (517) 455-7810 www.SportLansing.com Copyright © 2010 NBB Publishing. All rights reserved.
SPORT EB-SERVATION
Our Toughest Challenge Cheers, Jeers For Greater Lansing’s Top 150 BY JACK EBLING
We’ve had our share of dumb ideas since SPORT debuted in September 2008. OK, maybe more than our share. But picking the 150 greatest athletes in Greater Lansing history? Nope. That wasn’t one of them. Nothing we’ve done in the past 17 months has produced more feedback than a special November/December double issue – our contribution to Lansing’s sesquicentennial. Some of the calls and letters gave us way too much credit. We didn’t win any championships. And we weren’t All-Americans, pro players or Olympians. All we tried to do was shine a spotlight on the best performers we could identify from Mid-Michigan. For the most part, we accomplished that with a ranking of the area’s Top 25 and an alphabetical listing of next 125. Even if it turned out to be one of the toughest challenges this magazine will ever face. Tougher than gaining awareness as a start-up venture. Tougher than selling ads in a troubled economy.
Even tougher than teaching the editor to tell time. But if nothing good comes easy, maybe that explains an outpouring of appreciation and gratitude for the issue. Not from everyone, mind you. We heard how stupid we were – and not from our spouses. Some of those complaints were wellfounded, I’m sorry to say. Some of the others? As they sing in the Broadway musical Wicked, “No good deed goes unpunished.” I can think of at least two athletes who belonged in the Top 150 and weren’t. We’ve made that clear to both of them and will do our best to salute them in other ways. The problem was never them. It was the idea that we could honor everyone who deserved to be included, given an arbitrary number. Actually, I wasn’t sure we’d get 150 deserving candidates. We got more than 200. A total of 270 athletes were nominated from the Greatest Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame, in-depth research of pros and international standouts, a star-studded selection committee and your calls and e-mails. That’s a legitimate 270, not a bunch of nominations from Uncle Harry for his nephews.
Jack Ebling SPORT EDITOR
Jack has covered sports and much more as a writer and broadcaster in Mid-Michigan since 1978. A three-time Michigan Sportswriter of the Year, he was a 2006 inductee into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame. He has written five books–four on Michigan State and one on the Detroit Tigers– and has contributed more than 125 pieces for national publications. The former English teacher and coach spent nearly a quarter-century as a beat writer and columnist for the Lansing State Journal and won 21 major writing awards. He became a sports radio host in 2002 and branched into news talk in 2006. Currently, he hosts “Ebling and You” weekday afternoons and co-hosts “The Jack and Tom Show” Saturdays on 1320 WILS in Lansing. A two-time graduate of MSU, he has lived in the area for 36 years and has helped to raise two remarkable young adults. 6 JANUARY 2010
Thus, 120 worthy candidates weren’t included in the list of 150, including more than 50 who made you say, “Why not?” That’s what happens when you have an embarrassment of riches, as we’ve been fortunate to have in Mid-Michigan. I remember a conversation with former Michigan State Director of Athletics Doug Weaver about exactly that subject. The topic was the creation of an MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, an institution we’ve come to accept as part of the Spartan landscape. But as Weaver said, the problem is never the people you honor. It’s the ones you don’t. Some lose out in the numbers game. Some just can’t accept the fact their greatness isn’t recognized by everyone. We’ll give some of those people a chance to be heard in our February issue when we’ll run a page of comments, much as you’d see after the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated. Thus, we’ll take your comments for a few more days. Go to www.sportlansing.com and let us know what you thought of the issue – good or bad. If you’re like most of our readers, you enjoyed what you saw and wished you’d seen more. Maybe you disagreed with the order of the Top 25. Guess what? I did, too. But that ranking was determined strictly by the votes of a terrific panel. I can live with that educated consensus. Maybe you didn’t agree with the geographic boundaries or the ground rules for consideration. If Mount Pleasant, Hastings and Jackson had been included, the list would’ve been different. They weren’t. And if you didn’t have to go to high school here, it’s a totally different game. My lone disappointment is that some outstanding athletes remain disappointed – and shouldn’t be bitter. If they were nominated, if they were among the 270 – and all but one of people in our negative feedback were – they were pretty special, too. If any Midwest region the size of Greater Lansing thinks it can come up with a clearly superior list of athletes to ours, I’d love to see it. I have a few complaints already.
GREATER LANSING SPORTS AUTHORITY
Come Out And Play
March Magic Hoopfest An Interactive Experience By BrEndAn Dwyer
Fest-ive Setting Jenison Field House will be home to the second March Magic Hoopfest during the boys and girls state championships.
8 JANUARY 2010
For those who aren’t content to remain watchful fans of a great basketball game, there are events like March Magic Hoopfest. Now in its second year, the event was created in the same spirit as fan-fest experiences on the rise at major sports showcases like the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four. Michigan’s first shot at a similar event was nothing short of a slam dunk. The family-friendly festival welcomed more than 12,000 attendees into a lively Jenison Field House, a classic venue transformed for the weekend into 33,000 square feet of hoops, hops and high school highlights.
“Last year’s Hoopfest event was a great success,” said Mike Price, Manager of Sports Development for the Greater Lansing Sports Authority. “The GLSA, along with the Michigan High School Athletic Association, accomplished our goal of capitalizing on the excitement generated by the State Championships to create a hands-on event for basketball fans of all ages – one that really focuses on fun, community and fitness. We’re glad to be bringing Hoopfest back in 2010 and enlarging the event to also include the girls state championships as well.” For those who missed last year’s fun,
Photography GREATER LANSING SPORTS AUTHORITY
As much fun as it is to go to a Michigan high school state championship basketball game at Breslin Center, it can be a painful experience as well. Why do the participating teams get all the fun? It’s like being on a diet, getting a good smell of French fries, but not being able to taste even one.
here’s how it works: Anyone with a valid 2010 MHSAA Basketball Tournament ticket gets in free. All others are admitted for $2 each. Along with numerous activities and skill stations like the Three-Point ShootOut, Pass for Points and Driveway Knockout, attendees can stroll the Hall of History, showcasing championship games, life-size photos and display boards of ages past. Excited yet? That’s good, because the time is now to get involved as a sponsor or volunteer. Whether it’s high quality exposure of your organization to thousands of Michigan families or the fun and satisfaction that goes with helping at a community event, there is a lot to gain by getting involved. No one understands this better than former GLSA intern and current Sports Events Manager Meghan Carmody. “The sponsorship and volunteer support for last year’s event was tremendous,” Carmody said. “But with Hoopfest going on for two weekends this year, there are new opportunities. The need for volunteers is even greater. As a volunteer last year, I can attest it was a lot of fun and truly rewarding to see people of all ages participating in the activities and sharing stories of great high school state championships from years past.”
Along with the basketball skill stations and the MHSAA Hall of History, March Magic Hoopfest will offer great opportunities for youthful enthusiasts with the Learning from the Legends Clinic and the Jump-Ball Jamboree. Learning from the Legends clinic is a free skills clinic for up to 160 registrants per weekend, put on by coaching greats from the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. The Jump-Ball Jamboree gives youth teams from the area the rare opportunity to compete against others from the area at center court of the Jenison Field House. “The GLSA is very proud of Hoopfest, and I think it really adds to the whole state basketball tournament experience,” Price said. “It’s a great time to watch the games at Breslin. But when you can get in on the fun and play a little yourself, you’re reminded of the nuances of the game that are exclusive to the players. Our hope is that young and old can find that special feeling at this event and eventually include Hoopfest among their favorite parts of the magical month of March.” To register for events or learn more about the 2010 March Magic Hoopfest or the GLSA, call (517) 377-1411 or visit www.lansingsports. org or www.marchmagichoopfest.com.
Hoopfest at a Glance
JENISON FIELD HOUSE March 18-20 GIRLS TOURNAMENT Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
March 25-27 BOYS TOURNAMENT Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.marchmagichoopfest.com
SPORT QUICK HIT
Improving The Odds Lansing Examines “The Life Of An Athlete” By rita wieber
In the moments before the state championship game, the players sat quietly in the locker room, mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. They had practiced hard to get to this point. It was the game of a lifetime, the chance of a lifetime. They were ready.
Or so they thought. Little did they know that the celebratory partying of last week’s semi-final game would take their performance potential down by 11.4% before they even stepped on the field. That one night of drinking erased two weeks of training effect. They felt ready mentally. Physically, their muscles would fatigue quicker, and their reaction time would be slower. They won’t be able to catch their breath as quickly after each play. Their breathing would speed up. Their heart rate would be faster. And their muscles would eventually suffocate from the inability of their bodies to supply the oxygen they need to play the game. One night of drinking and the chance of a lifetime was at stake. 10 JANUARY 2010
Marijuana stays in the nervous system for 30 days. And levels increase with continued use. An athlete who uses marijuana can have motivational problems and difficulty in processing crucial information. Imagine a lacrosse athlete who smokes pot. His or her ability to make the quick, responsive decisions required in lacrosse – or other fast-moving team sports like soccer, football and basketball – is greatly reduced. Marijuana also affects visual tracking and depth perception. Catching a pass or blocking a shot requires the ability to tell how fast, near or far an object is located. This ability is diminished. Most athletes, when presented with the long list of the negative effects of drugs and alcohol on their athletic ability, are surprised by the long-term effects. “At our ‘Life of an Athlete’ workshop with John Underwood, we split the athletes into small groups after being presented with this information,” Bednarz said. “They saw brain scans that showed the effects of drugs and alcohol. It really hit home. After hear-
This scenario is, unfortunately, all too common among high school athletes in the United States. Approximately 58.5% of high school athletes use social drugs or alcohol. Social drug use is becoming normative. It is “just what they do.” With the help of grant funding through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (Alcohol Abuse Reduction Grant) and partnerships with the Ingham Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (Drug Free Communities grant) and the Prevention Network, the Lansing School District is on a mission. They want to reduce athlete drug and alcohol consumption and give their athletes a chance at being 100% ready every time they step on the playing field. “The Lansing School District is hoping to adopt a national substance abuse reduction program “Athletes use drugs as a function of called ‘The Life of an Athlete,’ the social group they are in,” developed by John Underwood, founder and president of the - Sara Lurie, Prevention Program Services Director American Athletic Institute,” said Pat Bednarz, project coordinator for the Alcohol Abuse Reduction Grant ing the information, many said they might for the Lansing School District. Last Novem- make different decisions.” ber, the Lansing community had the chance Alcohol and drug prevention programs to meet Underwood and hear more about a are nothing new. Many programs currently program the district plans to implement. exist, with the emphasis ranging from changUnderwood, a former NCAA All-American, ing traits and behaviors, education on the international distance runner and Olympic effects of drugs, dealing with social influcoach, has conducted the nation’s only ences and improving personal qualities. physiological case study of the residual Underwood’s prevention/intervention effects of alcohol on elite athletic perfor- program is mandatory for every school dismance. He concluded that alcohol is a meta- trict in the state of New York and is being bolic poison that affects the entire body and incorporated into many other school disall its systems, especially those that control tricts throughout the country. high performance. The program places emphasis on five Players who drink alcohol are twice as phases of implementation. It begins with likely to become injured. Their immune pre-season meetings for entry-level athsystem is compromised. Training hormones letes and parents to discuss conditions for are diminished for up to 96 hours following involvement and expectations. alcohol consumption. Phase 2 consists of creating athletic codes
of conduct and conditions for involvement in sports at the district. Schools are assisted in developing the code, from conceptualization to implementation and enforcement. “The Code of Conduct spells out expected behavior and clear consequences and is signed by both parents and athletes,” said Sara Lurie, prevention program services director at Eaton Intermediate School District.” The code is developed using state laws, establishing school drug-free zones, creating mandatory seasonal meetings, enforcing cooperation during investigations, and creating real consequences for chemical health violation. “Sitting out two games does not allow time to help athletes,” Lurie said. “There is a process for return to athletic privileges with an educational component.” “The Life of an Athlete” suggests a student-athlete assistance process be completed before the athlete is allowed to return to competition. The process is three-tiered. The first component of the student-athlete assistance process is education. The parent and student-athlete must see a qualified chemical health specialist and attend an informative intervention seminar on the implications of drug and alcohol use. The second component involves an understanding of the corrective measures necessary
before resuming practice or competition. A document is signed by the student-athlete and parent or guardian that clearly states changes that need to be made and further consequences if changes are not made. Finally, a restorative tier requires that the student-athlete address teammates and coaches to admit all violations, show remorse and re-sign their Code of Conduct in front of coaches and teammates. The third phase of “The Life of an Athlete” provides training to coaches at all levels, teaching them to understand and confront chemical health issues for today’s student-athlete. Phase 4 develops student leaders and teaches them to confront their peers with behaviors of concern. “Athletes use drugs as a function of the social group they are in,” Lurie said. “This program addresses the influence of the team on individual team members.” The final phase, and perhaps the most unique to this program, is Stakeholder Unity. All members of the community must take stake in eliminating drug and alcohol use. To make sure the message is received, stakeholders are empowered and there are coordinating efforts between the school and the community. In Greater Lansing, emphasis is placed
not only on collaboration between schools, athletes, and the community, but in obtaining support statewide. “We hope to enlist the support of the Michigan High School Athletic Association,” Lurie said. “With the program being mostly district driven, some districts may feel they are at a disadvantage in enforcing athlete suspensions when not all districts are on the same page.” Mandated or not, it is in the best interest of our student-athletes, our schools and our communities to support any and all efforts in reducing underage substance abuse. Whether you are a parent, coach, student, or community member, we are all stakeholders. For more information on the American Athletic Institute and “The Life of an Athlete” substance-abuse program, visit www.americanathleticinstitute.org.
5627/4-09/78149
JANUARY 2010
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A Shot Of Adrenaline Demmer Center Offers Something For Everyone
There aren’t many places where you can stand shoulder to shoulder and compete with an Olympian. Then again, Demmer Center isn’t your typical shooting facility. Demmer Center is a 24,000-square-foot shooting and training facility that opened in October 2009. It’s large enough to house shooting tournaments, events, banquets, dinners and expos. Owned by Michigan State University, it was built with donations from John Demmer, the Archery Trade Association and the Department of Natural Resources. Though it’s still in its infancy, the center has seen growing interest among the general public. “We’re finding a lot of families coming out here rather than going to the movies,” said Keith Hein, the shooting sports program 12 JANUARY 2010
director. “They come out here to try something different. That’s really, in my mind, the beauty of this facility.” That’s not its only beauty. With one indoor and three outdoor archery ranges as well as two indoor firearm ranges, the center’s manager, Michael Galella, said it’s the largest facility of its kind in the nation. The archery range adds a little entertainment with 3-D targets of carp, a mosquito and a dinosaur. According to Galella, the firearm ranges feature a state-of-the-art targeting system run by computers. They also have a circulation system that changes
the air every 90 seconds to remove any lead or contaminants from the air. It’s the family atmosphere that attracts the general public to Demmer Center, however. “A lot of time there’s some apprehension in going into a shooting facility,” Hein said. “You don’t necessarily know the person standing next to you with a firearm in their hand, and if you’re new to the sport that can be somewhat intimidating. We keep a very controlled environment so that everyone can be comfortable with the person next to them.” Demmer Center offers many classes, including beginner archery, basic pistol and basic rifle shooting. Hunter’s safety, 4-H and Junior Olympic Archery development clinics are also available. Galella said the public receives the same discounts to use
Photography CEIL HELLER
BY ANDREA NELSON
the facility that are offered to MSU students and faculty. And it’s not a problem if you don’t have your own equipment. Shooting gear can be rented for a small fee. Every member of the archery range staff at Demmer Center is at least a Level 1 instructor. Firearm staff are NRA-certified range safety officers, and many are NRAcertified instructors. Galella said some of their employees have been to a training center in Colorado and received Olympic instructor-type classes. There are also some ex-military personnel on staff. “The workers we have here are very passionate about what they do,” Galella said. “We have volunteers as well as temporary on-call paid employees. But they do it for their passion. They want to help children and youths and adults, and they follow our mission as far as what we’re all about here at Demmer Center.” In September, Demmer Center hosted the Fall Classic in archery, an Olympic qualifying event that attracted the bronze medal winner of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and other elite athletes. Hein said that the center’s collegiate team and several local juniors are able to compete with the USA National team, the Army Marksmanship Unit and other collegiate teams at different tournaments. Some of the junior shooters hadn’t picked up a rifle until two months ago and are already able to compete against some of the best shooters in the world. “Shooting is one of the only sports I know where a raw novice with a little bit of background can actually stand on the same playing field, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with a world champion and say they competed in a match with that world champion,” said Hein. But Demmer Center is concerned with more than how well its athletes compete. Galella stated that safety and hygiene are
On Target Gary Smith (Left) and the Group Therapy Pistol team hone their skills.
their No. 1 priorities. Right now, the center meets the safety requirements of a nursery day-care center. Galella described the facility as a safe, clean environment where people can learn the proper use of archery equipment and firearms. This way, they can learn in a controlled atmosphere rather than improperly on the street. “What we’re trying to accomplish is to teach firearm and archery safety,” Galella said. “We want to expand shooting sports and educate people and youths about what we’re doing. Out of that, we’re hoping to find the next Olympian champion.” Though the goal is to turn out Olympic shooters, Hein explained that the facility’s main focus is to educate those interested in shooting sports. He believes this is the factor that makes Demmer Center unique compared to other commercial ranges around the country. The facility was encouraged to focus on elite training, but Hein said they didn’t want to narrow their clientele and exclude the public. “Our focus is to bring folks who had never had that experience,” Hein said. “To bring them in and bring them that exposure to the sport and then facilitate their training to whatever level they choose to take it. That provides a much broader pool of perspective national and international champions.” That doesn’t mean he isn’t expecting to find some Olympic shooters. “Whether we turn out an Olympic athlete or not, that’s secondary,” Hein said. “That will happen. I have no question about that. We will turn out some of the top shooters in the country. From a center like this, you can’t not do that. All you have to do is open the doors and folks that want to shoot will be here.” Galella said Demmer Center plans to become an Olympic regional training center in the future. He agrees, though, that they must first concentrate on the public before setting their sights higher. “We just want to develop some history and make sure we offer the public the courses and classes that they’re looking for and fulfill that need out there,” Galella said. “We’re going to refine things accordingly as we go.” One of Hein’s goals is to see an NCAA rifle team brought to MSU. By first focusing on introductory training, he hopes to gradually build the facility into an elite program. “Hopefully that will happen in the next year or two so that we can capture this pool of Michigan shooters that are coming up through the 4-H programs and the local NRA programs,” Hein said. “If we could capture those shooters right now in the next year,
we would have a competitive NCAA team just with local Michigan shooters.” Hein describes his job at Demmer Center as a dream come true. He was a shooting trainer for 16 years and watched his son, Joseph, come up through 4-H programs to become a member of the Army Marksmanship Unit. Joseph won the Junior Olympics in 2002, multiple National Championships and a World Championship in 2002. An impressive history, but Hein said he has seen 4-H kids that are as good or better than his son was at that age. “I’ve seen where the sport can take young people,” Hein said. “This is kind of my effort to give back some of what I’ve seen benefit my family having been involved in the sport.”
Taking Aim Chloe Knop works on her shooting at the Demmer Center
Their biggest accomplishment would be to introduce people to the different aspects of shooting sports. Hein said he recognizes the stigma that accompanies shooting sports, but hopes Demmer Center can change that negative image. “We hope to educate members of the public as well as the shooting population as to how important our image and keeping true to the roots of precision and safety and focus and the things that are learned through the sport,” he said. “If we can achieve that and introduce new people in a family environment, then we’ve achieved.” The staff at Demmer Center has many plans, goals and dreams for its future. But what makes Galella happiest is the sheer joy he sees in the eyes of those who have never experienced what the facility has to offer. “My favorite part is just watching people coming in for the first time in the center not really knowing what we’re all about or what we do and walking away with a big smile or grin on their face,” said Galella. “That’s really neat. I just close my eyes and I see little boys with crew cuts and little girls with ponytails shooting. It’s just the sweetest thing you can see.” JANUARY 2010
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The Aitch-ing Process Lauren Aitch Has Dealt With Triumphs, Tragedy BY JACK EBLING
14 JANUARY 2010
Long before she began graduate school at Michigan State, Lauren Aitch learned an important lesson from her favorite teacher. A much as she loves the game, basketball is what she does, not who she is. “My dad always wanted me to know that basketball didn’t define me as a person,” she said of Matthew Aitch, a star center for the Spartans in the mid-1960s. “He said, ‘There has to be more to you than basketball.’ And that’s not what my life is about.” It’s about being the best she can be – as a player, a student and, most importantly, a person. “My dad always told me to treat people the way I wanted to be treated,” Aitch said. “I try to live by that. It’s such a simple idea. But it means so much. Even if you just smile at someone, it helps them get through when times get tough.” It hasn’t always been easy for Aitch, despite a state basketball championship at Waverly High in 2004, a bachelor’s degree in advertising at MSU last spring and a solid, if unspectacular, college career in the sport she chose. The toughest parts were a torn ACL in her second season, at the time she needed to be her healthiest, and the death of her dad on April 2, 2007, when his throat closed after an adverse reaction to medication. “I actually threw up after the injury happened,” Aitch said. “We were doing pickand-rolls, and I went to shoot a right-handed layup. I came down on one leg, and my knee popped. I couldn’t believe it happened. I cried a lot. It was a real dark time.” Not as dark as a day less than a year later. Knees heal. Holes in the heart don’t. “It was the most devastating thing she and I ever went through,” Aitch’s mom, Karen, said of the loss of the family’s anchor. “Lauren says I’m always a district manager. But from the time she was 2, her dad was her confidante and friend. When he died, it was hard for her to get back to the Lauren I knew.” The Matthew everyone knew was a giver. He was a freshman coach at MSU. He helped so many minority students get jobs. And he was a supervisor at a Meijer warehouse for 15 years.
He also helped a young coaching candidate when his knee buckled in basketball class. When I told the story of how I was carried off the court in her dad’s huge arms, a great, gap-toothed smile returned. “My dad was such a great man,” Aitch said. “I’ve heard so many stories like yours since he passed away. I love hearing them. The story you told just makes my day.” From the day she switched from No. 5 to her dad’s 45, Aitch has looked a little bit more like the player who came from Moberly (Mo.) Junior College in 1965 and became a Spartan co-captain and a second-team AllBig Ten pick two years later.
The Graduate Now pursuing a master’s degree, Lauren Aitch has become one of Suzy Merchant’s most trusted leaders.
JANUARY 2010
15
The Aitch-ing Process
Like Dad, Like Daughter Lauren Aitch’s basketball roots stem from her father, Matthew, an MSU standout in the mid-1960s.
“Five years from now, I hope I’ll still be playing somewhere,” Aitch said. “I’ll play overseas or in the WNBA as long as I can. But I’ll finish my master’s degree in public relations by the end of the summer. Maybe I’ll find something with Nike. Who knows?” Aitch has always played something. Her mom taught her to golf. She played softball and was one of the world’s tallest 16 JANUARY 2010
gymnasts. Finally, she went to her dad and said, “I really want to learn basketball.” It was time. “I have to say, even in grade school, she was a fun-loving kid,” her mother said. “But she always wanted to take care of her friends. She was everybody’s mom. If there was a problem, Lauren would take care of it. There were times I wanted to send her to Siberia. She was a typical teenager.” Not quite. Very few teenagers get to help pick their high school coaches, as Aitch did with the Warriors’ Frank Trotter. “He was a coach who really wanted to win, an X’s-and-O’s man,” Aitch said. “He had that more than the coaching dynamics. But I started out playing for men and working with my father. Men coach more with reason than emotion.” If Aitch wanted to win a state title, logic – and many of her friends – said she’d be better off at Lansing Everett. And she nearly transferred there. Her parents even said they’d move. “I played with a lot of the Everett girls,” Aitch said. “Everyone said we’d never win at Waverly. I said we would. And we did, even if it was a low-scoring game.” Aitch averaged 19.1 points and 11.1 rebounds for the Warriors as a junior allstater, then welcomed more help on a 26-1 state champ. She averaged 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds to finish fifth in Michigan’s Miss Basketball voting. When MSU coach Joanne P. McCallie came calling, it was a natural fit. McCallie said Aitch had the best post moves in the country. And Aitch liked what McCallie offered, coming off an NCAA runner-up finish. “She really knew how to handle things,” Aitch said. “She had a reason for everything she did, even if you didn’t see it all the time. She was a coach I really respected.” After a learning year, Aitch was set to compete with freshman Allyssa DeHaan for major minutes. When she blew out a knee, she lost her chance to start for the Spartans. “I was playing the best I’d ever played,” Aitch said. “Everything was falling. I knew that was the year I had to come on. We were playing for spots. That’s what was so devastating.” McCallie did everything she could to keep an injured player involved with the program. She even instituted a hustle award, had Aitch keep the stats for it and gave the winner a special dessert on the next road trip – served on a plate with Aitch’s face on it.
Sixth Player Extraordinaire Lauren AItch has given the Spartans a lift off the bench for most of her college career.
Instead of staying down or transferring, Aitch got back in shape and dropped 40 pounds with Jenny Craig. She also decided to be the best player she could be, whatever the role. Along the way, her world was turned on its ear again. In a span of a week, her dad was gone, and so was the coach who recruited her. “Losing Coach P. was nothing compared to what I’d just been through,” Aitch said of a sudden departure to Duke. “I really respected her. She was one of the big reasons I came here. She had to do what she had to do.” Suddenly, Aitch had to impress someone else, new MSU coach Suzy Merchant. “She was nothing like Coach P.,” Aitch said. “I was in Minnesota with my mother
Photography MSU Athletic communications
After averaging 16.3 points and 9.2 rebounds as a 6-foot-7, 230-pound senior, Matt Aitch was a 13th-round draft choice of the Detroit Pistons. But his professional career was 45 games for the Indiana Pacers of the old ABA. Now, his daughter faces a similar challenge – undersized for her position but determined to prove she’s a pro.
when she was hired. But I tried to keep an open mind. She’s a really nice lady. All the kinks are worked out now. It helps to have a coach who knows a lot about basketball.” Merchant knew enough to give Aitch the Spartans’ Sixth Player of the Year Award as a sophomore and junior. If that happens again, as it easily could, it may be time to rename the honor. “Everyone wants to start,” Aitch said of splitting time with DeHaan. “I had to come to grips with it. She’s the only girl in the NCAA who’s 6-foot-9. Finally, I said, ‘She can start, but I’m just as good.’” When she’s playing as well as she can, Aitch is excellent. She had a career-high 25 points in 21 minutes against Niagara. She hit a game-winning jumper from the elbow of the key with 1.8 seconds left against Purdue last Senior Day. And she had 15 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes to help beat Duke and a familiar coach last season. “That was definitely a bright spot,” Aitch
said of an NCAA second-round stunner. “There were so many different emotions that day. It was eerie looking down at Coach P. But I love watching that game. I do it all the time.” Aitch still doesn’t get the time she wants on the court. In a disappointing, up-and-down season as a fifth-year senior, she’s averaging 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.6 minutes. Double those numbers as a starter and she’s just about where her dad was. “She has had a lot of personal adversity,” Merchant said. “The first year I was here was a real challenge for her. But watching her explode as a leader has been a bright spot. To see her go from someone who didn’t work as hard as she could to become one of our best leaders and someone I trust is a real tribute to Lauren. She’s a success story.” Her mom has moved to Chicago, where she works in management for Office Depot. But she sees almost every Sunday game and tries to get to as many mid-week matchups as
she can. There must be something genetic about time management. “I didn’t realize how hard that was till I got here,” Karen’s youngest daughter said. “With basketball, school and a social life, it’s really hard to do all three well.” Somehow, she has managed to do that more often than not. “I also love to watch movies,” Aitch said. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Avatar are two of my favorites. I guess I got that from my dad, too. He liked to watch old westerns.” Aitch likes to draw almost as much as she likes to sleep. And be forewarned, if she doesn’t get her required eight hours, a normally happy person gets cranky. “I’ve designed some logos and talked with clothing reps a little bit,” Aitch said. “Ultimately, I want to have my own line – athletic wear and other things for tall women. My brand will be the letter ‘H’.” Maybe that stands for more than her name. Maybe it also stands for “heritage”. Aitch – or “H” – couldn’t be prouder. JANUARY 2010
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Lansing’s Fabian Williams Switches Ring Roles BY DOUG WARREN
18 JANUARY 2010
Lansing’s Champ Fabian Williams has the belts to prove it.
Photography LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE/fabian Williams
Among Lansing’s 150 greatest athletes are multiple NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA and Olympic champions. But only one of the 150 has ever won a professional title in the sweet science of boxing. Fabian Williams wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life after graduating from Lansing Eastern in 1981 – part of a starstudded student body with fellow 150 members Kevin Jackson, Sam Vincent, Kelly Miller, Robert Henderson, Kelly Miller and Sam Vincent. An average wrestler and student in high school, he rejected an offer from Olivet College to grapple in the MIAA. He thought for awhile about joining the Marines. But his father, a U.S. Army and General Motors veteran, advised him against that path. Finally, after a few months of soul searching, he found himself in the tiny Michigan Avenue garage/boxing gym of Bob Bonet. Williams was drawn to the sport immediately. But his mother was resistant. “She said, ‘I don’t want you to box,’” Williams said. “So I thought, ‘Oh, man, what am I going to do now?’” That’s where some miscommunication between mom and dad helped create a champion. “My mom said, ‘If you keep boxing, I’m going to tell your father!’” Williams remembered. “My dad worked at GM from 6:30 to 2:30. One day, he came home and she said, ‘Richard, that boy wants to box. Tell him he can’t box.’” But his father, maybe sensing that his son needed direction, said, “Oh, let the boy box.” After his father’s blessing, Williams went into the sport full-bore. With exceptional punching power, Williams worked under Bonet and later, Gary Layman. When both men became too busy to train Williams, Bonet placed a call to Bob Every, who directed the Crown Boxing Club. Every liked what he saw from the young Williams and agreed to become his new trainer. It was the beginning of a partnership that would propel Williams to the top of the amateur boxing world.
“I could see right away that Fabian had natural ability,” Every said. “He was one of the hardest punchers I’ve ever worked with. You could see even in sparring sessions how Fabian had the ability to make an opponent’s knees buckle. On top of that he was such a good kid. He was really someone that all the fighters, be they 25 or 15 years old, looked up to. He worked his butt off and really appreciated the opportunity that was given to him.” Williams and Arkansas native Roger Turner would become Every’s prized pupils at Crown Boxing during the 1980s. Both fighters climbed the ranks of the AAU and Golden Gloves circuit. Williams won 13 amateur boxing titles under Every’s tutelage, including three Michigan Golden Gloves titles, two Golden Gloves Regional crowns and two Michigan AAU championships. Williams’ greatest feat as an amateur came in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1987, when he defeated John Scully for the National Golden Gloves middleweight title. It was a moment Every will never forget. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Every said. “When Fabian sat down in the corner at the end of round two, I knelt down in front of him and pressed my forehead against his until the back of his head was pressing against the turnbuckle. You tend to be pretty emotional in those situations. It was like our heads were locked together. I looked him right in the eye and tried to push him to focus and finish the fight. And Fabian, of course, responded by going out there in the third round and really taking it to Scully to win the championship.” After that achievement, Williams was invited by USA Boxing to train at their state-of-the-art facility in Colorado Springs, Colo. During his time with Team USA, he had the chance to travel to Havana to take JANUARY 2010
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Fabian’s Forte Fabian Williams works with Lansing’s Nekhai Hong, 22, as she prepares for an upcoming fight.
part in a USA-Cuba boxing showdown and make friends with teammates like future pros Michael Carbajal and Todd Foster. Soon after returning from Colorado, Williams would leave Crown Boxing with an amateur record of 89-16. He began his professional career at Detroit’s renowned Kronk Boxing Club under the care of legendary trainer Emanuel Steward. “I had just won the 1987 National Golden Gloves, and when I walked into Kronk for the first time I kept hearing calls of ‘New meat! New meat!’” Williams said. “I started looking around to see who they were talking about. Then, I realized they were talking about me. “But I really developed a killer instinct at Kronk. I got a chance to spar every day with everyone from 106 pounders to the heavyweights.”
Williams soon showed he was more than just another tomato can. As he climbed the pro ranks, he became a respected sparring partner, too. Williams helped Thomas Hearns prepare for his epic second bout with Sugar Ray Leonard in 1989. In just 22 months as a pro, Williams amassed a 10-2 record and a got a shot at his first title. He made the most of the chance on Sept. 27, 1990, defeating Kevin Watts with a third-round TKO at The Palace of Auburn Hills to capture the North American Boxing Federation championship. “I was in the best shape of my life, and it was the best moment of my life,” Williams said. His father wasn’t there to see it, however. A three-pack-a-day smoker, Richard Williams died of cancer in 1988. “When I won that title, the first thing I did in the ring was look up at the ceiling and say to myself, ‘I hope my dad is looking down on me,’” a grateful son said. But just as Williams achieved his dream of a winning a pro title, things began to sour at Kronk. Normally, a mid-level champion looks to defend his title every three months, not only to stay in top condition for a world title shot, but to keep the paydays coming. After fighting Ismael Negron to a draw in November 1991, Williams had to wait seven months before his next bout. The layoff put a strain on his relationship with Steward and caused Williams to lose the physical and mental edge he had worked so hard to attain before winning the title. “I was in the gym, but my mind wasn’t,” Williams said. A rematch with Negron was finally set for the Lansing Center on July 16, 1991, just blocks from where Williams first strapped on the gloves a decade earlier. The only problem was Williams didn’t want to be there. The stress and distractions from the
seven-month layoff were apparent. Williams fought an uninspired fight. Despite knocking down Negron in the first round, he would struggle all night before succumbing in the 10th round. “I knew when I knocked Negron down that I needed to end the fight early,” Williams said. “I wasn’t in the best of shape. But he was consistent and in shape, and I got tired.” After the loss, Williams immediately went to Detroit, gathered his belongings and left Kronk for good. Soon, he would leave the sport he loved too. With his career and professional dreams over, Williams found himself back in 1981 again. He became just another working Joe, moving from job to job with no real direction. Finally, in 2002, he took a job as a driver with Lansing Tool and Engineering. The job brought a steady paycheck and a firm 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. work schedule. Boxing remained far from his mind. “I couldn’t stand boxing,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t even watch it on TV.” While his mind may have forgotten, there was something inside Williams that refused to let go. And as the years slowly healed the bitterness of a career cut short, Williams found himself wanting to get back into the gym in some way. For the past year, Williams has been mentoring young boxers on a daily basis at Big House Boxing and MMA. Located on May Street on Lansing’s North Side, owner Carl Hatley has been in business for four years and is very happy to have someone of Williams’ stature at his gym. “He shows up nearly every day after work to help the kids here,” Hatley said. “He goes out of his way to be there when we go on the road for tournaments and bigger bouts out of town. The kids really seem to appreciate him and look up to him.”
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Back Where He Belongs
Williams was mature and respectful beyond his years as a young fighter. Now, he’s a trainer and mentor with nearly three decades of boxing wisdom. Williams is finally at peace with his past, working and mentoring a new generation of fighters with the hopes and dreams he once had. Meanwhile, Williams’ NABF championship belt is in Every’s possession. He received the belt as a gift from Williams a few years ago. Why would Williams give up such a prized possession? “I went a lot of places during my career,” Williams said. “And I realized I probably wouldn’t have gone to those places if it wasn’t for Bob.” “I still have the belt, too,” Every said proudly. “Fabian has always been like a son to me. I am so proud to have been a part of his life and been able to see him accomplish what he did during his career.” Lansing has had many great sporting champions in its 150-year history. While it may be difficult for most of us to meet and learn directly from Magic Johnson and John Smoltz, there is a champion you can find nearly every afternoon in a noisy little gym tucked away on May Street, ready to help anyone seeking to learn about the sport he was born to be part of.
Excused Absence After separating himself from the sport, Fabian Williams enjoys helping young fighters like Nekhai Hong.
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21
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
That Special Something Only A Handful Of Players Make Others Better
Why is it a select few athletes have an ability to make the big play at the right time and carry a team with them? Over the past five-and-a-half decades of MSU basketball, you can count those special athletes on one hand. They are Johnny Green, Magic Johnson, Scott Skiles and Mateen Cleaves. Other great ones have come close. At this moment, it appears Draymond Green may wind up being one of those athletes. But this group had something extra that those who saw them can never forget. I’m happy to say I’m one of those people.
What do these athletes have in common? They start with an indefatigable passion for the game. That leads to an ability to focus and channel all their energy into great performances. More importantly, they also make everyone around them better. Their performance, dedication and all-out effort lead others to achieve beyond their normal ability. They also have charisma. That’s defined as “a rare personal quality attributed to leadership, arousing fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm.” The charismatic person has great charm and personal magnetism. Included is a rare ability to motivate and lead others. That trait is something these special
athletes have in common and in abundance. It allows them to stand with and over teammates and lead them to peak performance. Who can forget Skiles’ clenched-fist salute to all Spartans after at great win over Michigan in 1986, when Antoine Joubert had promised a U-M victory? Who can forget the energy that erupted when Magic limped out of the locker room on a bum ankle and led MSU to a victory over OSU in 1979? Who can forget the eruption of passion generated when Cleaves hobbled back to the court after being injured in the National Championship game in 2000? Draymond Green could be the next member of this special human species.
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As a sophomore, the coaches made him a team captain in the middle of the season. He seems to be everywhere on the court, leading, encouraging, cajoling and making the big play. In the Minnesota game on Jan. 13, Green blocked a shot, caught it and sealed a game that hung in the balance. After the Illinois game three days later, Illinois coach Bruce Weber said of Green: “He might be the key to their team. He plays his butt off and understands the game.” One might ask, “Aren’t these players more talented than everyone else?” I feel very safe in saying “No”. In a highly competitive environment, being a top-notch performer with great skill is critical. The key in taking the final step to the absolute peak in sports requires incredible dedication, commitment, focus, passion, study, learning and sport IQ. Let’s take another look at Draymond Green, a pied piper even as a freshman and a direct conduit to his coach. It’s hard to argue that Kalin Lucas, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, is not
the best talent on the team. For that matter, could one comfortably say Green has more physical ability than Durrell Summers, Delvon Roe, Raymar Morgan or Chris Allen? They all do great things and are elite athletes. But at this point, Green appears to be the one with the potential to join the ranks of the previous greats at MSU, the leader every elite team so desperately needs. For each of you athletes, the odds of becoming one of the rare group of players who makes everyone better are incredibly small. Yet, anyone can develop his or her skills to the highest level possible. Each of you can become the best athlete you can be with great positive influence on your team. You may not be the next Magic Johnson. But why not try? The worst you can do is be the best you can be.
Born Leader MSU sophomore Draymond Green makes plays at both ends of the court and makes his teammates better.
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23
SPORT FITNESS
The Joy Of Movement Non-Traditional Nia Helps With Balanced Life By rita wieber
A lack of movement was never the problem. As a water exercise instructor and experienced scuba diver, Winalee Zeeb was moving all of the time. Yet, she refers to those years between 1981 and 1991 as a “stuck zone.” She was moving unconsciously, not listening to her body. She was “going for the burn” but burning out. Then, she found the joy of movement and her life was changed forever. Welcome to the world of nia – short for neuromuscular interactive action. And welcome to the Heartdance Studio at 1806 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing, where Zeeb is now a first-degree black belt nia instructor and trainer. She also owns the business. Zeeb’s transformation from traditional exercise to nia is a fascinating tale. Her expertise takes her across the country and around the world as she speaks of reclaiming
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the heart, the joy of movement and living a balanced life. “In 1991 I attended a fitness conference in Las Vegas,” Zeeb said. “They offered a two-hour workshop with the co-founder of nia, Debbie Rosas. As I watched her, I instantly wanted what she had. By the end of the workshop I was crying with joy and pleasure, not pain! A few months later I was training to be a Nia instructor. I’ve been hooked ever since.” Nia is more than exercise. It’s a philosophy.
“Its philosophy is ‘Through movement we find health,’” Zeeb said. “It’s ageless and limitless. It’s for everyone from athletes and dancers to children and the elderly. It is for any age, any level of fitness, any size, any
“Watch out – this can change your life!” - Carlos Rosas, Nia co-founder
shape. It’s a physical workout but much, much more. There is an educational component that you can take out into your day. There are 13 principles of nia that are all focused on the joy of movement. It’s about lifestyle as well as fitness.” It’s a blend of different movements from
martial arts, including tai chi, taekwondo and aikido, along with dance arts like jazz and modern dance and healing arts. “It’s practiced barefoot and to music,” Zeeb said. “The physical aspect of the class is a blend of nine different movement forms done using an eight-beat counting system to organize your free-form movement. It’s a release of energy and emotion. It’s fun and playful. You don’t have to do anything that is uncomfortable. With Nia, you become aware that every movement in life is a dance and can be used to self-heal.” It’s not unusual to hear the quote “Nia has changed my life.” That happens by paying attention to your body’s voice. “Pain is the body’s language, telling you what is good and not good for you,” Zeeb said. “I was at a point years ago of being able to numb out pain. My knees were both injured to the point of needing surgery from years of pounding from exercise. With nia, I finally listened, adjusted what
I did and healed my tendons and muscles. The all-around physical, mental and emotional balance nia teaches gives you personal power that can change your life.” Nia is taught to nearly 100,000 students by over 2,000 certified instructors in 37 countries. Locally, classes are offered at a variety of clubs and studios, including Heartdance, Creative Wellness, Lansing Community College, the Michigan Athletic Club and in several community education programs. “In January 2008, my husband Ron and I sold our ZZ Underwater World Scuba business and converted our space into the Heartdance Studio,” Zeeb said. “Our vision was for the studio to be a ‘heart center’ for the community. We offer yoga chi, classic nia, powerful precision nia and meditation classes. The studio is also used for events and workshops. It can be rented by the hour or day, as well.” Websites – including nianow.com – and
promotional clips and videos demonstrate nia in action. “There are two paths for nia exploration,” Zeeb said. “The personal growth path and the professional growth path for current or aspiring fitness or wellness professionals. Everyone begins with white belt, then progresses through green, blue, brown and finally black belt. It’s fashioned after the martial arts. And there’s a lot more information on training on my website at www. winaleezeeb.com.”
Winalee Zeeb Nia Instructor Owner, Heartdance Studio 1806 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 485-4971
SPORT QUICK HIT
20 Years Of Sparty Cheers To MSU’s Famous Mascot BY JENNIFER ORLANDO
Instead of celebrating someone else’s accomplishments, Sparty was the one celebrated at his 20th birthday party.
Big Man On Campus Sparty has carried the flag for MSU teams for two decades, rain or shine, and remains undefeated.
26 JANUARY 2010
Salute To Spartan Spirit Sparty mascots for the past two decades gathered at Michigan State last fall to celebrate a 20th birthday.
secrecy that surrounds the current Sparty. No one can know who he or she is. “It’s pretty hard to keep the secret,” Thompson said. “Once you graduate, you can tell people you were Sparty. But there are still secrets of the trade.” While those secrets won’t be divulged, Sparty’s effect on MSU, the surrounding communities and even the nation are felt every day. The first Sparty, Dave Russell, remembered the 1989 Aloha Bowl for more than a 33-13 win over Hawaii. He and some MSU coaches, including head coach George Perles, visited the U.S. Naval Hospital in Honolulu. “To this day, I get a tear in my eye,” Russell said. “It was pretty touching. That was the most memorable half-day there.” Russell got his start when then assistant athletic director, Kathy Lindahl, asked him to be Sparty. He was already working for the athletic department when she asked. “I didn’t even have to try out,” he said. Lindahl, now the assistant vice president for finance and operations at MSU, said Russell fit the height requirements of the new costume and had a good personality. “I said, ‘Hey Dave, how about being Sparty?’” she remembered.
Russell agreed and was sent to mascot camp. Lindahl said it was in 1987 when the idea for the new Sparty suit occurred. The old, paper mache Sparty head had become cumbersome and would fall off the people wearing it, she said. From there, MSU teamed up with a company that made Disney character costumes to help design the full-body suit. Two years later, with various billboards around the area teasing his arrival, the new mascot debuted. “It was a proud moment for MSU to have a new mascot that everybody accepted and loved,” Lindahl said. That doesn’t mean there weren’t any kinks to iron out before Sparty grew in acceptance. “As I recall, the first Sparty we had here did have trouble keeping the skirt on,” Lindahl said. Russell said the first time he was in the suit was a football game against Miami of Ohio. “We drove out to the middle of the field and (MSU Marching Band Director) John Madden created a new song for us,” he said. There are other experiences Russell
Photography MSU STUDENT-ALUMNI FOUNDATION
All 42 of him (and her). Most of the men – and one woman – who have portrayed the famous Michigan State mascot were in attendance at the weekend extravaganza commemorating 20 years of Sparty Oct. 23-24. The weekend party culminated with recognition of the individuals on the field during the Iowa football game. Earlier in the day, the Spartys had a brunch at Kellogg Center complete with a green-andwhite birthday cake, singing and an appearance by the current Sparty. “I feel like the new kid on the block” said Mike Thompson, Sparty from 2007-09. “A lot of people did it 10 years before, but they still treat me like a brother. We’ve got something in common that’s pretty special.” The public display of former Spartys was a complete departure from the shroud of
won’t soon forgot – like what it felt to be in the costume. “I was the only one in the costume that year,” Russell said. “I did it all. The good thing is you don’t have someone else’s sweat on you.” Now, whenever Russell thinks of Sparty, he said he thinks of the joy children get when they see him. “Whenever I saw a kid, I went to them, and that’s what they love,” Russell said. The same is true for his own children, ages 3 and 5. “They say, ‘Give Sparty a hug and kiss for me. Tell Sparty hi for me,’” Russell said. Another person with a unique Sparty experience is Erin Bormes, the only woman to occupy the suit. She was Sparty in 1997-98. “I was a mascot in high school, and my
mom challenged me to do it in college,” she said. “I was surprised to get to be Sparty.” Bormes said one of the best parts of being Sparty was getting to be a totally different person. “It’s a fun legacy and a great thing for your resume,” she said. “It’s a great thing to share when you meet people.” Sparty’s accomplishments include winning three National Mascot Championships in four years (2004, 2005 and 2007), being named the “Buffest Mascot” by Muscle and Fitness Magazine in 2005 and becoming the first mascot to be featured on the cover of an EA sports video game, NCAA Football 2009. But Ben Hatala, director of the Sparty Mascot Program, said it’s more than the accolades. “Sparty is making people’s days,” he said.
The Gun Show Sparty flexes his muscles for the fans as America’s “Buffest Mascot.”
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SPORT NEWS + NOTES
Greater Lansing Notables By JENNIFER ORLANDO & SPORT CONTRIBUTORS
EAST LANSING
East Lansing High senior Matt Hoshal again earned All-State honors by placing sixth at the Division 2 State Cross Country Meet. Hoshal finished with a time of 16:10 and improved his place from eighth at last year’s final. Hoshal qualified by placing third in the Regional and also won the CAAC Blue individual title this year.
HASLETT
Tiffany Oricchio finished her four-year career at Haslett High by capturing the Division 3 200-Yard Freestyle Championship. She also placed second in the 500yard freestyle and was part of a 200-yard freestyle relay that placed 13th. Orrichio also helped Haslett capture the CAAC Gold Meet by winning the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly and being on the winning 200-yard and 400-yard relays.
IONIA
Ionia junior Alison Bauer placed eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke and competed in the 200-yard individual medley at the Division 3 Girls Swimming and Diving Finals. Bauer also won both titles at the CAAC Gold Meet. Ionia placed 25th in the state and fourth in the CAAC Gold.
LANSING
Senior Sara Wielenga of Lansing Christian was a Class D Second-Team All-State selection in volleyball. Wielenga broke records for assists in a season and career assists for Lansing Christian. She also leads Michigan volleyball athletes in assists and ranks among the top 30 nationally.
MICHIGAN STATE
Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, MSU’s women’s golf coach, was named the Midseason Coach of the Year by Golf World. After the fall portion of the season, Golfweek ratings and the Golf World/National Golf Coaches Association poll have the Spartans ranked No. 5. Jim Pivarnik, an MSU kinesiology professor and director of MSU’s Center of Physical Activity and Health and president of the American College of Sports Medicine, carried the Olympic torch in mid-January in Calgary en route to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. He was one of 20 people chosen to represent Coca-Cola’s encouragement of positive living. Flint native Mark Ingram Jr. was recently named the 2009 Heisman Trophy Award winner and the MVP of the BCS Championship Game. While he chose Alabama over MSU two years ago, the son of former Spartan flanker Mark Ingram still has ties to East Lansing. The Crimson Tide are led by exMSU head coach Nick Saban. His staff in Tuscaloosa includes former Spartan head coach Bobby Williams (tight ends and special teams), assistant coaches Joe Pendry (offensive line), Sal Sunseri (linebackers) and Jim McElwain (offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks), director of operations Mike Vollmar (same role) and star running back Sedrick Irvin (intern). Irvin has already moved on to become an assistant coach at Memphis. MSU field hockey senior Floor Rijpma was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Rolf van de Kerkhof was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. The 2009 Spartans won the school’s first outright conference regular-season title in field hockey.
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Okemos High student Carly Edwards contributed to this report. 28 JANUARY 2010
Kyndra Abron, a former Miss Volleyball in the state of Michigan, became just the third sophomore in MSU history to be named to First-Team All-Big Ten. Abron finished third in blocks, points and kills for the Spartans who went 17-16 in the regular season and lost to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State-bound linebacker Max Bullough helped lead Traverse City St. Francis High to its second consecutive Michigan High School State Football Championship with a 42-8 victory over Hudson at Ford Field in Detroit. Bullough had 11 tackles and an interception on defense and added a touchdown catch as a tight end in his school’s 26th straight victory. The grandson of 1950s Spartan lineman and longtime coach Henry Bullough and the son of 1980s linebacker Shane Bullough will participate in spring practice after enrolling at the semester break.
OKEMOS
The Okemos High girls swim team made a big splash this season. It earned two state individual titles, placed three relays among the top eight finishers in the Division 2 State Meet and won the CAAC Blue Division title for the ninth straight season. Senior Amelia Marsh swam the 200 freestyle in a state-record time of 1:50.55. Marsh recently signed to swim at Minnesota, while another senior, Lauren Dudley, signed with the University of Michigan to play water polo.
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SPORT LAST SHOT
30 JANUARY 2010
Upsetting Experience HILLSDALE’S JOE STEMPIEN SACKS GRAND VALLEY STATE QUARTERBACK BRAD ICIEK IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE CHARGER’S UPSET WIN OVER THE #1 LAKERS 10/10/2009
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW HAWLEY
JANUARY 2010 31
SPORT FINISH LINE
Memories Of Amo
From Spartan Hockey’s All-Time Scoring King
With high school graduation in sight, I wasn’t quite sure where I would play hockey or attend school that fall. Little did I know, just around the corner I would be offered the greatest experience of a lifetime. Coach Amo Bessone contacted my parents and offered me that opportunity at Michigan State. The rest is history. But there are a few things you should know about Amo, who passed away on Jan. 9.
Amo had the ability to climb all over someone in practice. Once you left the ice, it was business as usual. He could turn it on and off that quick. Amo gave every player the chance to succeed in the classroom, as well as in hockey. He left his imprint on each of us and helped us prepare for the rest of our lives. Amo once told me, “Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.” He helped teach us the lessons of life through his actions and coaching. No question, Amo was Spartan Hockey. Even in retirement, he continued to help people. I used to visit Amo in Englewood, Fla., and he was never alone. He always had people down to stay for the week, month or winter. Once, I visited in the summer, and he had victims of a recent hurricane staying with him. He didn’t know them. But I know they felt they were at home as I watched them play dominos, a favorite game of Amo’s. Another time I was in Englewood and didn’t have a car. He told me to take his and go visit my grandmother in Tampa. I asked, “Amo, when do you need it back?” “Whenever it gets here,” he said. I can only speak about the things he did for me. But I can Great Days Remembered MSU all-time scoring king Tom Ross ruled imagine all the other people he assisted and the rink in the mid-1970’s, with help from beloved coach Amo Bessone. befriended. I would call him every month Amo was a strong-willed person who and talk about old times. The conversabelieved no one player was above the tion always ended with Amo saying, “Tom, team. He demanded respect and respected thanks for calling. I really appreciate your his players. There were rules. But he call.” Heck, he stole my line! What would you do if you were sitting would give you the shirt off his back. Amo did a lot for a lot of people. He was in a nice restaurant having a pregame meal instrumental in making college hockey and your coach smashed a pie in your face? It was his birthday, and I asked the team if what is today. 32 JANUARY 2010
I should do that to Amo. The answer was no. He asked them if he should do it to me, and there was a positive cheer. That was all he needed. That spring at the annual team picnic, highlighted by Amo’s award-winning spaghetti, I got my turn to smash a whipped cream pie in his face. But I think he enjoyed the whip cream. The one he smashed was the real thing, and it burned my nose. I was the last man out of the locker room a few days before Christmas and heard the shower on as I walked past his office. I stepped inside and asked Amo if he liked the Christmas present that I got him. He says he never received anything. With that I opened the shower door, threw a cold glass of water on him and said, “Merry Christmas!” I could still hear his screams at the top of the steps of the arena. Paybacks are murder. I was the last one out of the shower the next day. While rinsing shampoo out of my hair, I open my eyes to Amo and trainer Gayle Robinson with a five-gallon bucket of ice water. I think my screams were heard in the football stadium. On a return trip from Madison, I sat in a restaurant in Milwaukee and ordered toast and hot water. The hot water was for a bag of instant oatmeal, and Amo somehow knew it. He arranged with the waitress to get me charged one dollar for the hot water. When I received the bill my mouth dropped to the floor, until I saw him over in another booth laughing. A real prankster he was! Being from Detroit area I always needed extra tickets for all the games. One of his favorite lines to me was, “Roscoe, stay out of the ticket business!” Upon my arrival, I asked Amo about Dem Hall. He said, “Tom, it’s the only rink in the league that guarantees everyone a bad seat.” I have a great idea to honor my favorite coach. There is a road two hockey rinks long that separates Dem Hall and Munn Ice Arena. Amo spent so much time at both rinks it would be deserving to rename that stretch “Amo Bessone Way.” By the way, he’ll be missed by many.
Photography MSU Athletic communications
By TOM ROSS
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