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On Campus — Favorite MSU Alumni

By: Jacob Carpenter Posted: 12/02/08 6:32pm

For every 500 MSU athletes who graduate with honor and class, there’s one Plaxico Burress.

When the New York Giants wide receiver recently shot himself in the leg and was arrested on felony gun charges, I saw some variation of this headline in local papers: “Ex-MSU star shoots self!”

Now you and I both know that most, if not all, Spartans alumni are smart enough not to shoot themselves. It’s news like Burress’ quick trigger that gives East Lansing a little bit of a black eye — not to mention fellow MSU wide receivers Andre “Bad Moon” Rison (unpaid child support), Mark Ingram (bank fraud and money laundering) and wide receiver Charles Rogers (effort fraud and failed marijuana laundering).

But for all the negative press surrounding the former MSU star, this is a happy place for Spartans.

So for today’s list, Plaxico is put in the past. Here are my favorite Spartans athletics alumni who graduated from MSU, based both on athletic performance and personal character:

1. Basketball guard Steve Smith — The NBA player and Spartan from the late 1980s was a solid pro player, but Smith has made his name in what he has given back to MSU. An academic building is named after Smith’s mother and he has given millions to the university.

2. Football defensive end Bubba Smith — Maybe it’s the surname “Smith” that makes you a successful MSU athlete and one of my favorites. Or maybe it’s that you had your own chant of “Kill, Bubba, Kill!” and acted in “Police Academy” movies.

3. Hockey goaltender Ryan Miller — Although he was only the second member of the Miller family to win the Hobey Baker Award (cousin Kip snagged it in 1990), Ryan has obtained the biggest contract ($30 million), started a foundation for families with cancer patients and founded a clothing store in East Lansing. Take that, Kip.

4. Football wide receiver/baseball outfielder Kirk Gibson — Gibby has been an MSU alum and Michigan native through-and-through. Although he only played one season of baseball in a Spartans uniform, Gibson is one of the program’s most notable products in the Majors and has returned to the Tigers in many capacities.

5. Basketball forward Greg Kelser — “Special K” won a national title at MSU (with a little bit of Magic) and had a serviceable NBA career before getting behind the microphone. There, Kelser has become a basketball staple, mixing a classy tone, solid game analysis and an occasional spark of personality (need I remind you?) to become one of the profession’s best.

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Commentary:

okemos chief

12/02/08 10:40pm

6. Matt Steigenga: Played for a minute in the NBA, got a championship ring, divorced a knockout periodontist, shacks up with college girls half his age, and regularly supports the East Lansing bar scene like he is a junior in college at age 40.

This could be fun we could keep the list going…

funny

12/02/08 10:47pm

7. Somebody pleeeeease do Jeff Smoker – what is he up to?

David

12/03/08 2:27am

Tony “juicy juice” Mandrich, George “give me another drink” Perles are a couple of winners that come to mind.

JoshNC

12/03/08 9:32am

A certain Magic Johnson comes to mind

Southern Spartan

12/03/08 9:32am

How is Magic Johnson not on this list?

Sparty

12/03/08 1:53pm

What about James Caan??? he is the man, and won a NC at STATE for football!! or the writer of “TOP GUN,” considered by many to be the best date movie of all time. Or the guy who wrote “Legends of the Fall??” I could go on forever. Or Eric Snow, his wife is on the “real housewives of Atlanta??”

Forget Magic

12/03/08 3:27pm

Magic hasn’t done anything for MSU or for the city of Lansing? He shows up when people pay him to show up at events in Lansing. Also he only supports MSU during big games when he knows the country will see his face on TV. Maybe if he gave back instead of constantly taking he might make a list. Don’t forget he cancelled an event early this week in East Lansing because of a lack of interest (meaning no one would buy whatever item he was selling so he didn’t bother showing up).

am i crazy

12/03/08 4:05pm

who is matt steegenga?

el bouncer

12/03/08 4:17pm

He is the tall old dude at Dublin Square every night hitting on college chicks. I’ve heard his girlfriend is a college student who was a cart girl at Walnut Hills or something. He played ball for like 4 years in the late 80’s.

DC Spartan

12/04/08 12:37pm

Also, Magic isn’t an alumni of MSU, he left after two seasons

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK:More reprints »
Josh Radtke / The State News

Senior linebacker Brandon Denson holds up the Paul Bunyan Trophy after the Spartans defeated Michigan in overtime 26-20 Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.

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