Since I received my acceptance letter from this university a year ago, I have bled Duke Blue.
But for the 18 years prior to that day, I bled maize and blue.
So you can probably see that tonight's National Championship game between North Carolina and Michigan State is the ultimate lose-lose situation for a fan like me (save possibly a North Carolina-Ohio State matchup). Hatred for one of these teams has consumed my life for the past year, while the other was my inner-state rival during my entire childhood.
So what's a fan like me to do? Well, tonight's game will certainly test the theory that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." But for the first time in my life, after a childhood filled with Big House memories (anyone remember this epic performance by Braylon Edwards in 2004?), legendary Wolverine players (speaking of, did you know Charles Woodson can jump 15 feet in the air?), and too many Sparty jokes to remember, I will be rooting for Michigan State tonight (apparently not unlike many of my kindred spirits).
But I won't like it.
True, a Michigan State victory in Detroit would be a huge psychological boost for my home state, even if its economy continues to experience a slow and painful death. A Spartan victory would not magically bring back jobs to those who have lost them, or solve the crime and corruption rampant in the Motor City, but it would give Michiganians (or is it Michiganders? I can never remember) a reason to celebrate.
That is not the reason I'll be rooting for Michigan State tonight, though. No, the only reason that I will stomach rooting for a Spartan victory is the fact that new enemies trump old ones (especially after two months in a tent carefully crafting my argument as to why Tyler Hansbrough has no soul), not to mention the fact that my friends would run me out of town if I said I would be actually rooting for the hated Tar Heels.
There is one scenario that could turn this situation into a positive, though. Envision this: Goran Suton elbows Hansbrough in the nose midway through the first half, bringing forth a torrent of blood and expletives from the North Carolina star. A fracas ensues after Hansbrough takes a swing at Suton, but accidentally knocks out Spartan point guard Kalin Lucas instead. Evoking memories of the infamous "Malice at the Palace" a few miles away, the game is called, and for the first time in the history of the NCAA Tournament no national championship is awarded.
Alas, unless this pipe-dream becomes a reality, I will be, albeit reluctantly, rooting for the Spartans tonight. Go (gulp) Green.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.