Destiny

If you are a mid-Michigan resident and have any inclination to follow sports than you were probably witness to the "Michigan State Spartans as Heroes to inspire Michigan's working class" theme that nearly every media outlet picked up on as soon as the final whistle blew Saturday evening and the Spartans claimed their place in the national championship game.

This was not a team that many expected to make it to the final game. They outlasted a scrappy USC squad that dripped with psuedo-cinderalla potential. There was a scare against last years champs, a very strong Kansas team. Followed by the upset of the team, Louisville, that most thought would be cutting down the nets in early April. This improbable road to the final 4 even went so far as to diminish the underdog status that MSU still held on to as it faced #1 seeded Uconn. Again, the team played strong and the media was aghast at yet another victory for sparty.

Believe me, I dont fault the news stations for picking up on the significance of a team from an economically collapsing state playing for the national championship in the fading remains of the car capitol of the world. The team even embodies the characteristics which the blue-collar residents of our great state like to see in themselves. No flash, all fundementals. This is a team that plays tough defense, fights for every rebound and loose ball, and grinds down opponents with physical play and mental toughness. If ever there was a team for this state to identify with, this would be it.

All this adds up to a perfect mixture of feel-good story and fate.

Michigan does need something to feel good about, but a National Championship would be akin to reattaching an arm with a few band-aids; simply a distraction from a bigger problem. I do not begrudge the Spartans anything in their run to the title game. Even though I hold an allegiance to the other university in Michigan I still found a lot to like about this team. They played well as a group, were led by some tough and talented players, and supported by a capable slew of role players and spark-plugs off the bench.

Perhaps this post should have been titled "Hype" (as I had originally planned). All the talk of destiny and all the adulation thrown at this team made a hard task that much harder. It already seemed like they would need a miricle to beat the team that had previously run them off the very same court in December. Pile on the weight of an entire state's worries and you have a recipie for disaster.

That seemed to be just what we witnessed last night. UNC played weightless, effortless, and focused on the task at hand. Their scorching offense looked unstoppable and their shots seemed to fall from any angle or distance. They forced miscues on defense and converted them into points at a blazing pace. Any talk of destiny had died 5 minutes into the game when UNC had pushed its lead past double digits. Unfortunately for MSU, the game was long from over.

The Spartans never looked comfortable. Shots that were normally automatic would fall short, a defense that was usually tenacious looked to be backed up on its heels, and even with three-quarters of Ford Field decked out in Spartan green the energy and momentum clearly donned baby blue from the opening tip.

Destiny is an oft used word in sports. Teams overcome great odds to win championships and our only explanation is destiny. Athletes conquer personal tragedy to accomplish great things against all odds and we write it off as fate. Whether destiny plays any role in sports or life doesnt seem to be important in the end. Many teams or players brave insurmountable odds and fail. Is that their destiny? If there is a feel good story to be found you can bet someone at ESPN will dig it up, no matter what team is playing.

The important thing is not to let destiny interfere with your pursuit of a goal. To believe you are owed a reward is to grow complacent, and complacency doesnt win championships. This years national championship game provides a good lesson to all the future "teams of destiny" out there. Dont believe too strongly in your own destiny, or you may realize that your destiny is different from what you expected.