Smoke Break

Is there such a thing as Midwestern cool? People in the entertainment world say Johnny Carson had it. He passed it off to David Letterman. Maybe it wasn’t the soup de jour for NBC --- northeastern hokey with the interview skills of Stuttering John suited their liking --- but the smiling, self-deprecating manner of this group superbly masks self-determination. The vestige of success doesn’t eliminate humility.

Look no further than East Lansing, Michigan. A good guy (Author’s Note: The author does not use the phrase “good guy” that often. In this instance he is borrowing the phrase from his Uncle Stan. The author thinks most people deserve to be pelted with road apples) has built a dominant basketball program at Michigan State.
This is not Duke where the aloof Polish guy from Chicago built a basketball monarchy and morphed from city guy with a long last name to scowling sideline nitwit after his team last won the national title in 2001.

Don’t confuse it with a Kentucky program where the only thing greater than a fan’s expectations for the basketball program is the number of incestuous relationships with first and second cousins.

The Spartan program is neither past its heyday nor saddled with insurmountable expectations thanks to Tom Izzo.

Izzo is New York City without the traffic and Milwaukee without the smell. He’s won and continued to win in his 14 years as the head basketball coach, five of the past twelve that have included Final Four appearances and one national title. Most of all, he is a good guy.

There’s that tag again. I hate to use it, but I find no faults with Izzo.
I admire the fact that he sometimes agrees with the refs instead of his own players when calls go against the Spartans. Kalin Lucas was called for an offensive foul in Michigan State’s Elite Eight game with Louisville. Lucas accepted the call like most players with a head full of steam would: complete denial and angst directed towards the officials. Lucas looked to Izzo who had witnessed the play up close. Izzo tilted his head and in a scene right out of “Analyze This,” told Lucas, “Yes you did. Yes you did.” He then shot a pillow with a semiautomatic weapon at halftime (ok, that didn’t happen).

Then there are the Midnight Madness events to kick off the basketball season. To begin the 2007-2008 season, Izzo dressed up as a Spartan and rode into the Breslin Center on a horse wearing a coat of arms and brandishing a sword. This year to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of Michigan State’s National Championship, Izzo donned a long-haired wig, bellbottom jeans and a tie-dye shirt. Some might view this as Izzo’s inner-urge to host a variety show screaming out. I like to think of it as a man so down to earth he’s not above clowning to the fans.

And oh yeah, the celebration of a national title team to kickoff the 2008-2009 season? Most coaches want to distance themselves completely from the past; god forbid the celebration puts pressure on the current headman to win. It’s important to separate the present from the past because the reminders of the past raise expectations of the here and now. One of the first people who congratulated Izzo on the court after the win on Sunday’s was Magic Johnson. He made the 30-year anniversary possible 30 years ago.

Will Izzo stay at Michigan State forever? No one knows. He’s flirted with the NBA once and his name pops up when anyone mentions the Arizona opening, but he’s done a remarkable job at Michigan State. Should he change jobs you best believe the same grounded person with Midwestern cool and violent mannerisms will stay true to form. A hell of a coach and a “good guy.” You're good you.