Podcasts about coach izzo

Originally uploaded April 8th, updated June 6th. Chris Holman welcomes Phil Sklar, Co-Founder and CEO, National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, Milwaukee, WI. Welcome Phil, tell us about your Hall of Fame? So you release timely bobbleheads that celebrate the business of sports? Several of your released items have honored sports in Michigan,... this week for the Spartans and the NCAA tournament, and recently MSU Coach Izzo? Talk about the process, are you contacted by universities or does your team research stories deserving bobbleheads? How big a market is there for sports bobbleheads? For reference one of the recent bobbleheads released through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum: In celebration of Coach Tom Izzo breaking the Big Ten Conference win record, Michigan State's Big Ten Regular Season Title and March Madness, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition Coach Izzo Win Counter Bobblehead. The interactive bobblehead that includes two win counters that fans can use to track Coach Izzo's total wins and conference wins features Coach Izzo, who has led the Spartans for 30 years and recently became the all-time winningest coach in Big Ten Conference history. On Thursday night, Michigan State won the Big Ten regular season title by defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Spartans are currently ranked #8 in the AP Top 25 and #7 in the Coaches Poll ahead of the regular season finale against Michigan on Sunday before the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament begin. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of Michigan State University. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in August, are now available at this link. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to only 2,025. The bobbleheads are $40 each plus an $8 flat-rate shipping charge per order. Coach Izzo will be donating his portion of the proceeds to scholarships for his student managers. Standing on a block court-like base, the Tom Izzo Win Counter Bobblehead has his fist raised triumphantly in the air while holding a basketball adorned with the MSU logo. The front of the block base reads ‘COACH IZZO” and has a win counter that can be adjusted with each victory by the Spartans while the back of the base has a counter that tracks conference wins. On Saturday, February 15th, Izzo broke former Indiana coach Bob Knight's record with the Spartans' 79-65 victory over Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The win was the 354th Big Ten Conference victory for Izzo, passing Knight for the most conference wins in league history. “I just want to be thankful for the 148 players I coached,” Izzo said after the game. “Each one of them got a win, and those wins helped me. The presidents, the Ads, my assistant coaches. And over six million fans that watched this over those 354 wins, so that's who I want to thank.” With that victory, Izzo upped his career record to 727-300. He trails only seven other active coaches in the sport on the all-time wins list. A native of Iron Mountain, Michigan, the 70-year-old Izzo took over for Jud Heathcote in 1995 after 11 years as an assistant coach. He led the Spartans to their second national title in 2000 with an 89-76 victory over Florida. The Spartans also finished as the national runner-up in 2009. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,....

Thursday June 5th, Jeffrey Mosher was on the road, as the Lansing Economic Club event on Thursday, June 5, at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. This impactful program featured a powerful panel discussion with former MSU Assistant Coach and Champions of the Heart founder Michael Garland and MSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo, moderated by WILX News Anchor Ann Emmerich. This video conversation focused on Coach Garland's incredible story of survival after cardiac arrest in 2022, the founding of his nonprofit Champions of the Heart, and the leadership insights from his new book, AGOGE. Coach Izzo share his reflections on Garland's journey and their shared experience building Spartan excellence through resilience, purpose, and discipline, along with support of the Champions of the Heart project. The video occurred during a Media Availability that took place in the Red Cedar Room, just before the Econ Lunch event in Big Ten Room. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX… » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ Lansing Economic Club Host Panel with Coaches Michael Garland and Tom Izzo June 5 Event Features Powerful Conversation on Leadership, Survival, and Lifesaving Purpose LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce was proud to host a powerful panel discussion at the 2024-25 season finale of the June Lansing Economic Club, featuring former MSU Assistant Coach and Champions of the Heart founder Michael Garland and Michigan State University Men's Basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo. The event took place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center and was moderated by Ann Emmerich, Anchor at WILX News 10. This impactful conversation explored themes of leadership, adversity, and purpose. Garland shared his life-altering experience of surviving cardiac arrest in 2022, thanks to two brave passersby who administered CPR and helped save his life. That moment inspired him to launch Champions of the Heart, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding hands-only CPR training, access to CPR manikins, and AEDs throughout communities. Coach Tom Izzo joined the discussion to reflect on Garland's journey, their shared legacy at MSU, and the principles behind the Spartan training philosophy—a discipline explored in Garland's new book, AGOGE. Together, the coaches offered insights on high performance, resilience, and what it truly means to lead with heart. “This panel embodied what the Lansing Economic Club is all about—bringing people together to share stories that motivate and spark impact,” said Tim Daman, President & CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We were honored to host Champions of the Heart Founder Mike Garland and MSU Men's Basketball Coach Tom Izzo for what proved to be an emotional and unforgettable program.” “I wouldn't be here today without two people who knew CPR,” said Coach Michael Garland. “Now it's my mission to make sure every community is equipped to save lives. This conversation was a chance to spread that message and celebrate the power of preparation and purpose.” “Mike Garland is not just a survivor—he's a servant leader,” said Coach Tom Izzo. “What he's doing with Champions of the Heart is bigger than basketball. I was proud to sit beside him and help amplify this life-saving message.” Event Details: • Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025 • Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. • Location: Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI • Book Signing & Sales: Immediately following the program, Coach Garland's book AGOGE will be available for purchase and signing in Big Ten Room C

Hall of Fame Week presented by Kentuckiana Friends of V and 5Iron Golf welcomes HOF Head Coach of The Spartans, Tom Izzo. Coach Izzo talks about the current state of college hoops, what he looks for in recruiting, a Jimmy V story, and more. Tune in! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Izzo family has partnered with Playmakers to host this premium experience on the campus of Michigan State University. The mission is to connect alumni and the MSU and Mid-Michigan communities in a positive celebration of Coach Izzo's legacy. The events include a 5K run/walk, 5K roll, 1/2 K walk/roll, kids' races and a virtual 5K. All events will focus on fitness, fun, family, Spartan spirit and charitable giving.Proceeds from the 2025 Izzo Run/Walk/Roll will continue to support an endowment for The Izzo Legacy that will ensure charitable giving for years to come. Lupe Izzo and Marcy Gillespie Kinzer join me on this episode of MSU Today to discuss the history and mission of The Izzo Legacy and the details of the 2025 Izzo Run/Walk/Roll. Lupe is the founder and president of The Izzo Legacy, and Marcy is the Legacy's executive director.Conversation Highlights:(0:40) – Lupe, where does your ethos of community, altruism and giving back come from?(1:34) – What led you and Tom to create The Izzo Legacy?(4:52) – What is the mission of The Izzo Legacy?(5:22) – Marcy, what's your background, and what motivated you to become executive director of The Izzo Legacy?(6:59) – What are the details of the Izzo Run Walk and Roll potential participants should know?Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

CB and Clay discuss Michigan State basketball and what finally did the Spartans in this tournament run. What will next year look like for Coach Izzo? The Western Michigan Broncos hockey team is headed to the Frozen Four for the first time in school history.

We kicked off the first hour talking with MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo so we could hear all about his team. He also talked with Huge about what this off-season has been like, talked about NIL, recruiting, and so much more. We were then joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jase Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. In our second hour we were joined by Dusty May who is the Michigan Men's Head Basketball Coach. He joined us to talk about his journey to this point, filled us in this years squad, told us what he's bringing to the table, and so much more. We were then joined by Drew Williamson who is an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development for Michigan Men's Basketball. He joined us to talk about year 1 under new Head Coach Dusty May. We were then joined by Matt Aldred who is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Michigan Men's Basketball. He told us about his journey to working with Coach May. In our final hour, we were joined in studio by Nolan Ziegler, who's played for Catholic Central, Notre Dame, and CMU. Nolan had a medical issue a couple years ago which took him away from the game of Football and any sense of normalcy. He told us about what he's had to overcome, talked about his journey from where he was to where he is today, told us of his plans of getting back into playing Football for Ferris State University, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kicked off the first hour talking with MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo so we could hear all about his team. He also talked with Huge about what this off-season has been like, talked about NIL, recruiting, and so much more. We were then joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jase Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from East Lansing as we're doing our Michigan State All Access show. Throughout the broadcast we were joined by some of the great Coaches and Players from Michigan State to talk about this team heading into the season. In our first hour we were joined by MSU Assistant Coach Doug Wojcik. He and Huge talked about this team heading into the season, and more. We were then joined by Saddi Washington so he could talk about coming to MSU from Coaching at Michigan, talked about what he's bringing to the table, and more. We were then joined by players Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Jaden Akins. They talked with Huge about what they bring to this team, talked about their growth since being at MSU, and more. We kicked off the second hour talking with MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo so we could hear all about his team. He also talked with Huge about what this off-season has been like, talked about NIL, recruiting, and so much more. We were then joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jase Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by Lomas Brown and Josh Garvey from Doeren Mayhew for our weekly Lions/NFL segment. Huge, Lomas, and Josh gave their thoughts on how the Lions looked against the Packers and they looked ahead to Sunday as the Lions are set to take on the Texans. They talked about where they feel confident with this team, as well as what concerns them heading into Sunday, talked about how the Texans and the Lions stack up, they gave their picks in the rest of the NFL games, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kicked off the second hour talking with MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo so we could hear all about his team. He also talked with Huge about what this off-season has been like, talked about NIL, recruiting, and so much more. We were then joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jase Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textWe go BIG TIME on the latest AND GREATEST Full Court Press : A College Basketball Coaches Show as we welcome Loyola Ramblers Head Coach Drew Valentine onto the FCP. This episode was LIVELY and entertaining as we talk Ramblers Basketball while talking about the A-10, Coach Izzo and Coaches Show Game. Also, this show was taped previously to the sudden passing of former guest USF Bulls Head Coach Amir Adbur Rahim. We love him and he will be missed. Prayers to his family, team and friends.Please Subscribe, Rate⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  and Review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Today we're broadcasting from East Lansing as we're doing our Michigan State All Access show. Throughout the broadcast we were joined by some of the great Coaches and Players from Michigan State to talk about this team heading into the season. In our first hour we were joined by MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo so we could hear all about his team. He also talked with Huge about what this off-season has been like, talked about NIL, recruiting, and so much more. We were then joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jase Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jace Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were joined by Jase Richardson so he could talk about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're broadcasting from East Lansing as we're doing our Michigan State All Access show. Throughout the broadcast we were joined by some of the great Coaches and Players from Michigan State to talk about this team heading into the season. In our first hour we were joined by MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo so we could hear all about his team. He also talked with Huge about what this off-season has been like, talked about NIL, recruiting, and so much more. We were then joined by Assistant Coaches Thomas Kelley and Austin Thornton. They talked with Huge about this year's squad, why they're different, and more. We wrapped up the hour with Jace Richardson talking about playing under Coach Izzo, and more. We kicked off the second hour talking with Assistant Coach Doug Wojcik. He and Huge talked about this team heading into the season, and more. We were then joined by Saddi Washington so he could talk about coming to MSU from Coaching at Michigan, talked about what he's bringing to the table, and more. We were then joined by players Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr, and Jaden Akins. They talked with Huge about what they bring to this team, talked about their growth since being at MSU, and more. In our final hour, we were joined by Lomas Brown and Josh Garvey from Doeren Mayhew for our weekly Lions/NFL segment. Huge and Lomas looked ahead to Sunday as the Lions are set to take on the Vikings. They talked about where they feel confident with this team, as well as what concerns them heading into Sunday, talked about how the Vikings and the Lions stack up, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan State Men's Head Basketball Coach, Tom Izzo joins Aaron Zeigler and Avery Zeigler to discuss Coach Izzo's message as part of the Zeigler Speaker Series.

CB and Clay had their Spartan ups and downs this past week. The MSU hockey team won the B1G Championship, and MSU gymnastics won their second straight B1G Championship. However, MSU men's and women's basketball teams were eliminated from March Madness. Coach Izzo made a strong promise, and we discuss what he meant by that. We took a look at the Men's and Women's March Madness brackets. The NFL has implemented a few new rules, and we have one we really like and one we absolutely can't stand.

Episode Notes: “Courtney's Courtside Chat with Coach Izzo”Segment Overview: In this episode of “JR Morning with Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds,” 760 WJR Senior Sports Analyst Steve Courtney catches up with the legendary Michigan State University Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo. They delve into a post-game analysis of the Spartans' recent victory and look ahead to an upcoming challenge on the court.Part 1: Spartan Guards Lead to VictoryThe segment kicks off with Steve Courtney recapping Michigan State's solid 77-67 win over Minnesota, a game that showcased the strength and resilience of the Spartan guards.Coach Izzo joins the conversation, praising his guards for stepping up, especially when faced with foul troubles that could have derailed their performance.The analysis touches upon the critical role that guard play will have as the team approaches the NCAA tournament. Izzo exudes confidence in his team's development and their potential to make a deep run in the tournament.Steve and Coach Izzo also discuss the importance of learning from every game and the adjustments that are continually made throughout the season.Part 2: Anticipating the RematchShifting gears, the segment moves forward to a preview of an upcoming game, where Michigan State seeks to avenge a previous six-point loss.Coach Izzo shares insights into the team's preparations and mindset as they gear up for the rematch. He emphasizes the lessons learned from the loss and how they have fueled the team's drive to improve.The conversation takes a personal turn as Steve and Coach Izzo chat about the coach's recent performance and how he's dealing with the high-stress environment of college basketball.Before wrapping up, Steve asks Coach Izzo about his Christmas gift preferences, leading to a light-hearted exchange between the two.Conclusion:The segment concludes with Steve Courtney expressing his best wishes to Coach Izzo and the Spartans as they continue their journey through the season.A friendly sign-off from Coach Izzo ends the interview, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating the team's next game and rooting for their success.Note to Listeners: Stay tuned to “JR Morning with Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds” for more insightful interviews and the latest in sports analysis with Steve Courtney. Don't miss a beat of the action as the Spartans march on toward the NCAA tournament.

Jake Myers and Johnny Noone recap the Spartans three game losing streak. How did this happen, and where do the Spartans go from here? With only two regular season games left, is Coach Izzo's tournament streak in jeopardy? We break it all down here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan. 26, 2024 ~ The Spartans are on the road tonight to face No. 13 Wisconsin, as head coach Tom Izzo is looking for his 700th career victory. Coach Izzo joins Lloyd, Jamie, and Steve to talk about the tough matchup against the Badgers, and Michigan State's continued hot-shooting stretch.

Jan. 15, 2024 ~ Tom Izzo was a proud father, and coach, on Sunday afternoon, as his son Steven scored his first career points in the Spartans win over Rutgers. Coach Izzo joins Guy, Jamie, and Steve to talk about the great moment, and the Lions win over the Rams. Photo: Nick King ~ USA Today Network

Jan. 12, 2024 ~ Michigan State Basketball Coach Tom Izzo discusses their game against Illinois.

Join Travis & Eric for today's show. On the show today the guys discuss the Illini holding on to Beat Michigan State, Coach Izzo always has his guys ready to play, Rodgers career point outburst, Illini not going deep in the bench could cost them later on according to Eric, local sports from last night and the schedule for tonight and this weekend, NFL Super Wild Card Weekend. Plus loaded overtime session with plenty more stuff to talk about!

Michigan State University alumnus and donor Mat Ishbia is the CEO and chairman of United Wholesale Mortgage, majority owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, and a member of the Spartans 2000 national champion basketball team. Ishbia talks about what attracted him to MSU coming out of high school and about how his time at MSU impacted him. He talks about his special relationship with Tom Izzo and shares his thoughts on the changing landscape of college athletics. He shares his motivation for giving back generously to MSU and talks about UWM's history and its evolving mission of positively impacting people's lives. Conversation Highlights: (1:08) – MSU “has been a huge part of my success.” (1:36) – “Coach Izzo is just a great guy all around. Besides being an amazing basketball coach, he's a great person and leader and a caring individual.” (2:25) – “The national championship was a big one that everyone will talk about, but that was more of an ending to a journey. Some of my favorite memories are just sitting around the locker room with the guys.” (3:50) – “College athletics are changing like everything in your life changes. You have to evolve with the changes.” (4:44) – “When someone helps you, whether it's a university or a person, and you have a way to thank them and give back, you do.” (5:40) – “I love basketball and I love business. And the NBA and WNBA ownership is really the merging of all the things I love together in one thing.”  (6:43) – “At UWM we're the largest mortgage company in America. We've built it together with great people for over 20 years…I like being able to contribute and make an impact on people's lives in a positive way…we've never laid anyone off in 35 years. My father believed in doing right by people.”  (9:18) – “I think the best thing for students is to find people who will help you. You don't have to do it alone.” (10:05) – “My biggest goals are to continue to help the brokers succeed. We've done great here at UWM. And we know that if the brokers succeed, it helps consumers. If consumers are helped, we feel really great about what we do every day.” (10:59) – “Impact is the word. How do I impact as many people in the most positive way. No one's going to remember how much money you had. No one's going to remember how many mortgages you closed. People will remember how you impacted them.” (11:41) – “Spartan Nation we're strong. We stay together in the good times and bad times. Stay strong together and stay positive.” Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

Connor Stalions has resigned from his post at UM, looming disciplinary action from the NCAA. We're still patiently waiting on the penalties, as an investigation is underway. With a few weeks left of the regular season, experts and analysts have been projecting CFP possibilities, with conference championships holding the most weight for CFP potential. Louisville continues to roll, with a likely bid for the ACC Championship, where they will face the Florida State Seminoles. College basketball is back, and the MSU Spartans take an early L against the James Madison University Dukes in OT at the Breslin. Not the start Coach Izzo was looking for. All this and much more in this episode of The GCP. Tune in.Remember, bet with your head, not with your heart; Always. -GCFollow us on Twitter! @ginpros#GSN #GCP #GINPROSLIVE STREAM SCHEDULE: VARIABLE: Follow Social Media Outlets!@gincollege@gincommish/IG/Twitter - John J. II@ginanalytics - Cody AlmasyFIND THE GIN & TONIC SERIES HERE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTAcezOkWmUotUyAK1CzE_QTRILLNESS AFFILIATES - https://dipwadic.webs.com/affiliates @ginsportsnetwork - Main@ginpros - Twitter@ginpromotions - Parent IG@gincollege - IGNational Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700www.linktr.ee/ginproswww.ginsportsnetwork.comwww.ginpros.orgwww.facebook.com/ginproswww.patreon.com/ginprosGIN PROS. 2023

Michigan State's Tom Izzo has a loaded team and is excited to get their first official practice under the belt. Are the Spartans built to get back to a Final Four for the ninth time under Coach Izzo? Why it's all about the chemistry. Which returning players will have the biggest jump in production this year? Discussing their talented Freshman class. Could they have up to a 12-player rotation? Thoughts on the Big Ten becoming a coast-to-coast league? And why hasn't the Big Ten done better in the in the NCAA Tournament? Plus, a report from Jon's road travels! How's Villanova and the Big East looking?

Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo reflects on the burden of finding success and falling into the same trap as media and fans - heightened expectations. Coach Izzo remembers a congratulatory meeting with coaching legend John Wooden after Michigan State won the national championship in 2000, plus how a reminder from Bill Walton quickly humbled an inflated ego.

July 19, 2023: Famous MSU walk-on to starter, Tim Bograkos joined us to talk about what it was like playing for Coach Izzo back in the early 2000s. Tim became such an iconic player in Izzo's early career that the annual walk-on honor for MSU is named the Bograkos award. Bograkos is probably most famous for hitting the game winning 3 point shot against Kentucky in Rupp Arena where Izzo quipped he was "the sixth option on the floor" at the time. Although he was never a prolific scorer, Bograkos represented what it meant to be a Spartan; unbridled energy and grit, intense defender, and relentless after loose balls and rebounds. he epitomized the OKG (our kind of guy) profile for MSU basketball and also showed how Izzo gave everyone opportunities to make impacts during the game no matter where you began your recruiting journey. Are you looking for Spartan gear? There's only one place to go to get your MSU T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts — Nudge Printing. (https://www.nudgeprinting.com) Nudge is owned and operated by Gabe and Brittany, two MSU alums. The business is operated out of Michigan and screen prints super high quality products. They also have a large assortment of apparel for other schools as well as stickers for your wall, car, or computer. You can also buy our merchandise to sport around town where all the sales proceeds go to support the show. If you have a home in Michigan you know the importance of clearing water efficiently away from your home off the roof. Unfortunately, the outdoor beauty of Michigan means you have to deal with leaves and debris that pile up in your gutters. Sometimes, those gutters also can't keep up with the rain or leave puddles by your foundation.  If you live in the Grand Rapids area (Muskegon to Saugatuck to Rockford to Lowell) contact Kurt Stauffer at the Brothers that Just Do Gutters. (https://www.brothersgutters.com/grand-rapids-mi/). If you're anywhere in the metro Detroit area the Brothers have you covered too! (https://www.brothersgutters.com/metro-detroit-mi/). They are real professionals who will clean, repair, or replace your gutters and protect your home quickly and efficiently with friendly service. Mention Final Four to get 10% off your gutter work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 19, 2023: Famous MSU walk-on to starter, Tim Bograkos joined us to talk about what it was like playing for Coach Izzo back in the early 2000s. Tim became such an iconic player in Izzo's early career that the annual walk-on honor for MSU is named the Bograkos award. Bograkos is probably most famous for hitting the game winning 3 point shot against Kentucky in Rupp Arena where Izzo quipped he was "the sixth option on the floor" at the time. Although he was never a prolific scorer, Bograkos represented what it meant to be a Spartan; unbridled energy and grit, intense defender, and relentless after loose balls and rebounds. he epitomized the OKG (our kind of guy) profile for MSU basketball and also showed how Izzo gave everyone opportunities to make impacts during the game no matter where you began your recruiting journey. Are you looking for Spartan gear? There's only one place to go to get your MSU T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts — Nudge Printing. (https://www.nudgeprinting.com) Nudge is owned and operated by Gabe and Brittany, two MSU alums. The business is operated out of Michigan and screen prints super high quality products. They also have a large assortment of apparel for other schools as well as stickers for your wall, car, or computer. You can also buy our merchandise to sport around town where all the sales proceeds go to support the show. If you have a home in Michigan you know the importance of clearing water efficiently away from your home off the roof. Unfortunately, the outdoor beauty of Michigan means you have to deal with leaves and debris that pile up in your gutters. Sometimes, those gutters also can't keep up with the rain or leave puddles by your foundation.  If you live in the Grand Rapids area (Muskegon to Saugatuck to Rockford to Lowell) contact Kurt Stauffer at the Brothers that Just Do Gutters. (https://www.brothersgutters.com/grand-rapids-mi/). If you're anywhere in the metro Detroit area the Brothers have you covered too! (https://www.brothersgutters.com/metro-detroit-mi/). They are real professionals who will clean, repair, or replace your gutters and protect your home quickly and efficiently with friendly service. Mention Final Four to get 10% off your gutter work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our second hour, Dan Dakich from Outkick joined us to talk a little about the NBA Finals as well as College basketball. Dan gave us his thoughts on the Pistons hiring Monty Williams as Head Coach, talked about the NBA Finals, and much more. We were then joined by Jim Comparoni from SpartanMag.com to get an MSU football and basketball update. Huge asked Jim if he could ever hypothetically see Coach Izzo going to Coach for the Suns, talked about Mel Tucker and his squad, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, we're talking about the NBA Finals, Detroit Pistons, the Great Lakes Bay Invitational, College basketball, and much more as we were joined by some of our great guests. We kicked off the show with Scoop Jackson from ESPN Chicago talking about the Nuggets and the Heat in the Finals. They gave their thoughts on who will win the NBA Finals and in how many games. They also talked about Monty Williams being hired as the new Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons, and more. We were then joined by Suzanne Sanregret who is the VP of Athletics at Michigan Tech. It was just announced today that the Great Lakes Invitational and Van Andel have signed a 4 year extension. Suzanne filled us in on how all of this came to fruition, discussed what it does for these Colleges, the GR area, and more. In our second hour, Dan Dakich from Outkick joined us to talk a little about the NBA Finals as well as College basketball. Dan gave us his thoughts on the Pistons hiring Monty Williams as Head Coach, talked about the NBA Finals, and much more. We were then joined by Jim Comparoni from SpartanMag.com to get an MSU football and basketball update. Huge asked Jim if he could ever hypothetically see Coach Izzo going to Coach for the Suns, talked about Mel Tucker and his squad, and more. In our final hour, we were joined in studio by one of our NBA insiders, Anthony Clark Jr. He and Huge talked about Monty Williams being hired as the new Head Coach for our Detroit Pistons. They gave their thoughts on what he could bring to this team, and also talked about the short-term and long-term future of the Pistons. They talked about what an impact Draymond Green would make on this team, talked about other missing pieces, and so  much more. Anthony and Huge also talked about the Nuggets and Heat in the NBA Finals and gave their predictions on who will win, and more. We wrapped up the show with Tim McCullough from the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coach Izzo recaps the 2022-23 season & gives his thoughts on the upcoming Final Four

Al looks back at his MSU career and the impact of Coach Izzo

This week we replay a classic episode first aired October 24, 2022. Our guest this week has been Driving Basketball Vision at Michigan State University since he became head coach in 1995.  Coach Tom Izzo is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, has led the Spartans to eight final fours in the NCAA Tournament, which include a National Championship in 2000 and a runner-up finish in 2009.  He is the winningest basketball coach of all time in the Big Ten with an astounding 666 career wins.  Coach Izzo and his program have developed many players who have gone on to play and star in the NBA.  

Today's Best Of Features:  (0:00-16:29) – The head coach of Michigan State Spartans Tom Izzo stops by to take us through the team's season to this point. Plus, Coach Izzo shares some of his favorite memories when playing against Indiana. Later, Coach Izzo previews Michigan State's trip to Indiana this weekend and give us his thoughts on IU star Trayce Jackson-Davis.   (16:30-31:21) – Ball State men's basketball head coach Michael Lewis joins the show to take us through the Cardinals strong start to the season. Coach Lewis also preview tonight's massive MACTION tilt with Kent State tonight. Then fellow Hoosiers Dane and Michael share some stories from their adventures over the years. Later, Coach Lewis talks on what he's learned over the course of his journey to be a head coach and who he most tries to emulate. (31:22-53:50) – The Fan's own Kevin Bowen of Kevin and Query joins the program to give us the latest on the Colts head coaching search, including some of the names the Colts have interviewed over the last few days. Kevin also dives through the list of candidates and shares how he feels are the best players for the job. Plus, we discuss the number of candidates they have interviewed and if they have reached out to too many.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  (00:00-25:49) – Friday's show begins with Charlie and Dane dissect the Hoosiers dominant performance over the Fighting Illini of Illinois yesterday. Plus, Charlie and Dane recap the dominant performance by the Purdue Boilermakers last night at Minnesota. Later, Dane talks on Mike Brey deciding to step down at the end of the year as the head coach of Notre Dame and shares a story about Coach Brey. (25:50-46:18) – The head coach of Michigan State Spartans Tom Izzo stops by to take us through the team's season to this point. Plus, Coach Izzo shares some of his favorite memories when playing against Indiana. Later, Coach Izzo previews Michigan State's trip to Indiana this weekend and give us his thoughts on IU star Trayce Jackson-Davis.   (46:19-49:13) – Hour number one ends quickly with Charlie going rapid fire in a two minute drill with Dane. (49:14-1:14:47) – The second hour of the show opens with Charlie updating us on the Colts head coaching search and providing an update on the injury status of Tyrese Haliburton. Later, Dane speaks on his current relationship with the Indiana Hoosiers, his relationship with Michigan State and what he's doing right now. Plus, Dane gives us his take on the Hoosiers following back to back impressive wins over Wisconsin and Illinois.   (1:14:48-1:31:03) – Ball State men's basketball head coach Michael Lewis joins the show to take us through the Cardinals strong start to the season. Coach Lewis also preview tonight's massive MACTION tilt with Kent State tonight. Then fellow Hoosiers Dane and Michael share some stories from their adventures over the years. Later, Coach Lewis talks on what he's learned over the course of his journey to be a head coach and who he most tries to emulate. (1:31:04-1:37:42) – Hour number two closes with Charlie and Scot talking further on the Pacers and discussing the Hoosiers with some audio from IU head coach Mike Woodson. (1:37:43-2:05:04) – The Fan's own Kevin Bowen of Kevin and Query joins the program to give us the latest on the Colts head coaching search, including some of the names the Colts have interviewed over the last few days. Kevin also dives through the list of candidates and shares how he feels are the best players for the job. Plus, we discuss the number of candidates they have interviewed and if they reached too many.      (2:05:05-2:19:57) – The icon Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune joins the program to take us through breaking the news that the winningest head coach in Notre Dame basketball Mike Brey will retire at the end of the season. Tom reflects on the career of Coach Brey and shares what was said at the official press conference today. Tom also takes us through what the mood at the press conference was like and why Brey didn't always get the recognition he deserved nationally over his 23 years at the helm. (2:19:58-2:25:49) – Friday's show ends with Charlie and Dane asking Jimmy Cook for the JCook Plays of the Day. Plus, Charlie and Dane give final thoughts on the Colts head coaching search, a massive slate of college hoops and the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newcomer Connor Matlock joins the GCP as the crew discusses the bowl games we've seen so far. We're balls deep into bowl season, and we couldn't be happier. In light of these bowl games, the transfer portal is more active than ever. Several transfers have been confirmed, while many players have entered the portal without a confirmed destination. The panel makes the interesting comparison between the transfer portal (CFB) to free agency (NFL). Juwan Howard makes headlines again after he was caught on camera attempting to fight a referee while shooing his own players away after they attempted to control him. Tom Izzo also gets a tech during the Spartans' latest contest against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. The important aspect to note here is that Coach Izzo was sporting an elf sweater. After all this, we must keep our eyes open for the looming CFP games on the 31st. From all of us at GSN, we'd like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday as we head into the new year. Tune in.Follow us on Twitter! @ginpros#GSN #GCP #GINPROSLIVE STREAM SCHEDULE: VARIABLE: Follow Social Media Outlets!@gincollege@gincommish - John J. IICody Almasy - College Sports InsiderSam Vitale - CFB Senior ColumnistConnor Matlock - GSN CFB/CBB ContributorFIND THE GIN & TONIC SERIES HERE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTAcezOkWmUotUyAK1CzE_QTRILLNESS AFFILIATES - https://dipwadic.webs.com/affiliates @ginsportsnetwork - Main@ginpros - Twitter@ginpromotions - Parent IG@gincollege - IGNational Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700www.linktr.ee/ginpros www.ginsportsnetwork.comwww.ginpros.orgwww.facebook.com/ginproswww.patreon.com/ginpros GIN PROS. 2022

Today's Best of Features: (0:00-19:38) – The hall of famer and head coach of the Michigan State Spartans Tom Izzo joins the show to give us a preview of the 2022-23 Spartans. Plus, Coach talks on teams building through the transfer portal and the chemistry aspect of it that sometimes gets lost. Also, Coach Izzo and Dan discuss changes they would make with college hoops. Later, Coach Izzo talks about why he's happy with his team.     (19:39-35:24) – The head coach of Illinois basketball Brad Underwood stops by to look ahead to the start of the college hoops season and where expectations are for the Illini this season. Plus, Dan and Brad discuss NIL and joke if they would have made any NIL money during their college days. (35:25-56:06) – The great Jason Benetti stops by to give his thoughts on the World Series and the Phillies 2-1 series lead over the Astros. Also, Benetti talks some college hoops and how he feels about the White Sox managerial rumor/report. Later, Dan and Jason talk about a movie that scared Benetti as a teenager.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(00:00-23:32) – Wednesday's show begins with Dan reacting to the Colts decision to trade away Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills at yesterday's trade deadline. Plus, Dan takes in the news that Frank Reich will assume the role of Offensive Coordinator after the firing of Marcus Brady.      (23:33-43:11) – The hall of famer and head coach of the Michigan State Spartans Tom Izzo joins the show to give us a preview of the 2022-23 Spartans. Plus, Coach talks on teams building through the transfer portal and the chemistry aspect of it that sometimes gets lost. Also, Coach Izzo and Dan discuss changes they would make with college hoops. Later, Coach Izzo talks about why he's happy with his team.     (43:12-45:34) – Hour number one ends with Dan talking on the Colts trading of Nyheim Hines at the trade deadline and what the outlook is for the team this season. (45:35-1:08:02) – The head coach of Illinois basketball Brad Underwood stops by to look ahead to the start of the college hoops season and where expectations are for the Illini this season. Plus, Dan and Brad discuss NIL and joke if they would have made any NIL money during their college days. Later, we take some phone calls from fans on the Colts and the Pacers.    (1:08:03-1:23:30) – Dan reacts to the way the media continues to pamper the Colts, including member of the coaching staff who they feel is a rising star. Plus, Dan shares why he's frustrated with the direction of the Colts.     (1:23:31-1:30:19) – The second hour closes with Dan talking more on the state of the Colts and looking ahead to the rest of today's show. (1:30:20-1:51:20) – The great Jason Benetti stops by to give his thoughts on the World Series and the Phillies 2-1 series lead over the Astros. Also, Benetti talks some college hoops and how he feels about the White Sox managerial rumor/report. Later, Dan and Jason talk about a movie that scared Benetti as a teenager.       (1:51:21-2:03:54) – Dan continues to talk on the idea of the Colts have rising star along their coaching staff. Plus, we take some phone calls from Colts fans that are frustrated with the direction of the Colts.             (2:03:55-2:10:57) – Wednesday's show ends with Dan sharing the results from the Horseshoe Indianapolis Race of the Day. Plus, Dan asks show producer Jimmy Cook for the JCook Plays of the Day. Plus, Dan talks on the World Series and who he feels wins Game 4 tonight. Also, Dan talks on Kansas suspending Bill Self for the first four games of the season.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest this week has been Driving Basketball Vision at Michigan State University since he became head coach in 1995.  Coach Tom Izzo is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, has led the Spartans to eight final fours in the NCAA Tournament, which include a National Championship in 2000 and a runner-up finish in 2009.  He is the winningest basketball coach of all time in the Big Ten with an astounding 666 career wins.  Coach Izzo and his program have developed many players who have gone on to play and star in the NBA.  

Mateen Cleaves is a retired NBA basketball player and a National Champion with the 2000 Michigan State men's basketball team under head coach Tom Izzo.In my chat with Mateen, we chart his rise as a highly successful player at Michigan State University and the story of the 2000 National Title team under Tom Izzo. Mateen shares the important lessons he learned from his parents, coaches, and teachers that enabled him to reach the NBA. Mateen also shares what inspired the pivot he made out of pro basketball and into his current position at United Wholesale Mortgage, and the philosophies that apply to both of these spheres. Tune in to hear it all.Key Points From This Episode:Mateen shares some thoughts on his prioritization of selflessness.The lasting influence from Mateen's parents and the effect of this on his self-confidence. Reflecting on what a special person Mateen's mother was.Fond memories from growing up and playing sports in Flint, Michigan.Deciding on Michigan State University, and Mateen's familial connection to the teams. The passion that Mateen has for fatherhood and how he balances accountability and love.The process of turning a team into championship contenders. Mateen talks about Coach Izzo's philosophy and approach to hard work.Thoughts on the 'will-to-win' ethos that made the difference at Michigan.Mateen walks us through his memories of a very special Draft night.Our guests' favorite opponents of all time and what made them stand out.Commitment and competition; the mindset that served Mateen throughout his career. Mateen shares the story of how he confronted being left out of a team for the first time. Thoughts on what has made United Wholesale Mortgage such a powerful company.Requirements to work at UWM; their focus on personality, hard work, and a team mentality. Mateen's vision for UWM and his role there for the next five years. Advice from Mateen for aspiring young professionals to make the biggest impact.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Sport of KingsMateen Cleaves on TwitterMateen Cleaves on Instagram Tom IzzoMichigan State UniversityMat IshbiaManuel Amezcua on LinkedInPodium Risk ManagementAt The Podium with Manuel Amezcua on InstagramAt The Podium with Manuel Amezcua on SpotifyAt The Podium with Manuel Amezcua on Apple Podcasts——————————————————————————————-NEW TO THE PODCAST?At The Podium with Manuel Amezcua features interviews with the most innovative minds in business, sports, and entertainment to uncover the habits, disciplines, and mindsets that lead to success.

Ledman and Casey discuss Nebraska coming to town. Are the Cornhuskers still cooked with a new coach? The boy swill give their predictions on score and Charlie Jone's catch total. There's also Coach Izzo whining and so the boys dig into that to start. Hear what the old coach has to complain about now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coach Manny Dosanjh,In this episode, you'll hear from Coach Manny Dosanjh. Coach Manny is currently an assistant coach for Dwayne Stephens at Western Michigan University. Coach Stephens was recently hired as the new head coach at WMU. Coach Manny comes to WMU after 2 years as a Graduate Assistant Coach for Coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State University. At MSU, Coach Manny worked side-by-side with Coach Stephens. Coach Stephens was one of the top assistant coaches in all college basketball. Before coming to the Spartans, Coach Manny coached at Orangeville Prep in Ontario, Canada. In the 2019-20 season, Manny served as the associate head coach for an Orangeville Prep team which sent seven players to NCAA DI programs and won an Ontario Championship. Coach Manny is from Brampton, Ontario. If you are currently a Graduate Assistant Coach, this is truly the podcast for you. Coach Manny shares his advice on how to approach the GA job. The level of respect he has for Coach Stephens, Coach Izzo, and the MSU Basketball staff resonates throughout this entire podcast. And, wait until you hear how Coach izzo instilled a sense of belief in Coach Manny that he could be a Division I assistant coach. In addition, Coach Manny shares his thoughts on networking. Quite simply, it is a must-listen for young coaches. At 47 years of age, I was taking notes from this 27-year-old assistant coach. Finally, it is refreshing to hear the mindset of a 1st-year college assistant coach. The respect that Coach Manny has for his co-workers is simply spectacular. Follow Coach Manny Dosanjh @CoachMannyDFollow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDroWeiss AdviceLearning from the Best in Real Estate, Business, and Beyond. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyJersey Mike's Jamaica Classic MTE Basketball Tournaments in Jamaica, St Pete's, and Soon for Women's Basketball Programs Moneyball Sportswear Moneyball, The Only Way To Ball! Great Sports Wear and Basketball Uniforms! Michigan Made! DEEP - The Life of Rob Murphy DEEP - The Life of Rob Murphy DEEP chronicles Murphy's remarkable journey. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

On the 89th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is again joined by VegasInsider's Stephanie Otey, who will be contributing to the podcast over the next few months as the NFL offseason continues to roll along! This week, Morten and Stephanie are joined by legendary Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo (13:42 – 55:20).Off the top of the show, Morten, Stephanie and TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll) react to the NFL schedule release, and talk about their favorite games on the 2022 slate. Stephanie previews Bills at Bengals (04:08), Morten previews Saints at Falcons (06:40), and FreezePops previews Packers at Buccaneers (09:59).We then move to our interview with Tom Izzo, where he discusses a wide range of topics: eating sausage sandwiches on college football Saturdays (15:20); Stephanie proclaiming her MSU hoops allegiance to Coach Izzo, and asking if that makes her a bad Ohio State fan (16:48); importance of having alumni around the program with the introduction of “Grind Week” (18:24); Morten says he can kick a basketball in the hoop from halfcourt for some halftime entertainment (21:10); some of Coach Izzo's favorite Midnight Madness moments (21:40); why Coach Izzo is not in favor of a “super conference” in college sports, and why he thinks the Big Ten is already too big (23:29); what would have happened if the 2020 March Madness Tournament hadn't been cancelled, and what he told his team when it happened (26:22); on watching his peers retire, and why the NIL and new transfer rules have him thinking about life after coaching more than his friends retiring (28:58); why Coach Izzo believes with no salary caps or contracts, the transfer rules are allowing too much player freedom, which will ultimately hurt the athletes in the long run (31:44); his thoughts on a possible move to the NBA (34:00); why new standards at the college level “hurt” (35:01); why Coach Izzo believes college basketball is always a better option than playing pro ball before entering the NBA (36:45); his favorite ex-Spartans, and a great story about Draymond Green (39:45); why Coach Izzo would want to pursue a job coaching football after he's done coaching college hoops (43:45); who he's putting his money on to win this year's Western Conference Finals in the NBA (46:15); and remembering the late Adreian Payne (48:00). We close things out with “Quiz Time with TommyFreezePops,” with this week's topic being Michigan State and Ohio State trivia. Which host knows the most about their favorite college football squad? Will Stephanie FINALLY get her first win? Will Morten's winning streak come to an end? (55:40)

Good afternoon! Go Green! President Stanley, Provost Woodruff, and the Board of Trustees:  Thank you for inviting me back home. To the administration, faculty, and staff — to the proud families and friends who traveled here to celebrate your loved ones —  to my forever dorm-mates from Wonders Hall — and to each and every one of you in the resilient, inspiring Class of 2022: I am so proud to be your fellow Michigan State alum. Congratulations! I am deeply honored that you have let me be a part of your special day. And I am so grateful for this honorary degree. We all came to Michigan State for different reasons. I came for two: Magic Johnson, and my mama, Clara Bell Smith.  I wanted to be on this campus because I wanted to stay close to family. By the time I graduated, the people I met here had become family. To this day, they still are.  They're my closest friends. They were my groomsmen. They're the people who call me when things are going well and who show up for me when the going gets tough. Above all else, graduates, I hope that many years from now, you will still feel as close to one another as you do today.  Even through the long, lonely months that kept so many of us apart, you went through this once-in-a-lifetime chapter together. And these Spartans will always be there for you. *** Now, maybe you didn't choose Michigan State because of Magic or because of your mama. But in coming here, you chose to surround yourselves with good and giving people: your roommates and friends, your classmates and teammates, your professors and T.A.s.  You've chosen to surround yourself with smart and supportive Spartans.  Spartans who stand up for what's right and who speak out against what's wrong.  Spartans who are courageous and effective, and who deserve credit for pushing the school to be more multicultural and more inclusive — and to take nice words about diversity in a strategic plan and make sure they're made real. And as you walk together this weekend — in the same way that you've stuck by each other through an extraordinary and exhausting experience — you are fulfilling my favorite proverb: “They who walk with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.”  In choosing to come to this campus, you chose to walk with the wise. When you cross the stage and take hold of your diplomas, you'll be doing it one more time. And when you stay in each other's lives in the years ahead, you'll grow even wiser thanks to one another. But once you go out into the wider world, how can you make sure you're still surrounding yourself with good, giving, grounded people? How do you even figure out who is wise — and who to walk with? Here's one thing I know for sure: you can't tell that by someone's age, race, or gender. You can't tell it by their degrees, their title, or the car that they drive. You certainly can't tell it by the number of followers they have. One thing I know for sure is that while it sometimes feels easier to walk with people who look and think like you, that's not the wisest way. The equity and inclusion we value has many dimensions: race, nationality, gender, wealth, education. At its heart, it's about giving everyone an opportunity. Everyone. So as you leave Michigan State and go on to great things, I hope you'll find a way to give an opportunity to someone who doesn't look like you. Another thing I've come to realize about the people I want to be around — and the person I want to be — is something I learned from my coaches, including Johnny Goston, Jud Heathcote, and Coach Izzo, who made me his first recruit 35 years ago. It's something that I found myself learning all over again from the kids I've coached, covered, and cheered for, including my sons. And it's what I want to talk with you about today. *** President Stanley[1] was kind enough to recall that when I graduated, I held Michigan State's all-time scoring record.  I can remember the intensity growing as I got closer and closer to that number. A teammate told me how many points I'd need to average my senior year. Reporters noticed when I was 200 points away, and then 100, and then when I was in striking distance. And then the big moment came. [pause] Usually, this would be the part of the story where I tell you about the feeling of breaking the record. How it felt to charge down the lane, lose my defender with a half-spin move, and see the ball swish through the net. But here's the honest truth:  To this day, I don't know if it was a free throw, a floater, or a three from downtown. I don't know if it happened in the first half or the second. I truly don't remember the shot. And maybe that sounds surprising. But here's what I do remember: My mind immediately flashed back to playing in my backyard on Detroit's East Side. My dad Donald Smith, had poured concrete behind our house and put up a hoop. On that little court, I learned to dunk by jumping off milk crates and learned how to pivot and dribble around the cracks in the concrete. That's where my mind went at the end: it went to the beginning. To my fifth-grade championship at Courville Elementary. To the pickup games, the Hawthorne Rec Center scrimmages, the high school tournaments playing for Pershing, and to the practice drills. All of those baskets were part of this record — even if they weren't recorded anywhere but in my heart. People like to celebrate the shots you make in the last game of a season, or the closing seconds of a game, or in the final moment as you mark a milestone. But what I remember, more than those last shots, are the thousands upon thousands I took at the start. The reason, I think, is this: there's a difference between achievement and fulfillment. People like to collect accolades and polish trophies. And yes, gold medals might be valuable. But that's not what makes them meaningful. The work is what makes the achievement feel fulfilling. And loving the journey is what makes us happy. The truth is, I wasn't ever trying to break anyone's record. I was only pushing myself to see how high I could climb while doing what I love. So when I think about walking with the wise, I think about walking with people who know these two truths: First: the joy is in the journey — not in the result.  And second: you should only compete against yourself — not against anyone else. *** Watching people who love their work, respect the process, and find joy in the journey is one of the reasons I love covering college basketball as a broadcaster and coaching youth teams.  A few weeks ago I was covering March Madness – and I noticed a certain look in so many of the players' eyes. Some of them knew they were playing in their last game ever. They were playing for the pure joy of it. Years ago, when I coached my sons Brayden and Davis's teams, I saw the same look.  Kids who were living in the now and giving it their all — not in pursuit of any trophy or title, just enjoying the journey of getting better. As I watched them learn what they were capable of, I learned something, too — and it's this lesson: The thing about most achievements is that someone else created them, and someone else is doing the counting. So if you're asking, “Who is the best at this?” or “Who is the most successful at that?” you also have to ask, “Who decides what those measures even mean?” When we define ourselves by someone else's goals, we might miss out on the experiences that matter the most to us as individuals. But when we write our own definition of success and compete against our own limits, we can't lose. We can only grow. What stuck with me most about breaking the scoring record wasn't the experience of getting to the top — it was the experience of going to the top. And the moment I broke it, I started thinking about what I could top next. Not because I wanted another achievement, but because I needed a new journey. *** The reality is that anyone can work really hard at something and still not reach the top.  You might study really hard, research really hard, practice really hard — and still not be the best, fastest, or greatest. In fact, by definition, only one of us will be the best at something.  So how do you still find the drive to push yourself? How do you still sustain excellence? That's the second trait I've found in the people I consider wise: They make sure that the person they're competing against the hardest is themselves. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them that in the NBA, practice was harder than games. That's because it was just about the work, the work, the work. There's no score, no fans, no cameras. It was just us versus us.  I tried to keep that mentality when it mattered.  One year, in the NBA playoffs, I was matched up against Michael Jordan for an entire series. Sports Illustrated called it my “week of hell.” But that's not how I felt about it. The only way I could play my best against Michael was to not think of it as competing against him at all. The competition was to see if I could be the best I could be. Every night, I walked out onto the court and said, “Today, I'm better.” And on the nights when Michael got the best of me, I didn't let that change my mind. No matter what, I always said to myself: This is the year, this is the day, this is the game, this is the play, this is the moment. And thanks to that competition with myself, I did have my moments – it's just that Michael had a few more. I used Michael to push me. But I didn't let him define me.  You can set high standards and use them to motivate you, too. But they're only useful if they focusyou, not if they distract you. *** It's good to set goals.  But Class of 2022, I'm asking you to remember that it's more fulfilling to find purpose in the process — and in that process, to know that you are your most important competitor. There are a lot of mountaintops we won't reach.  We can strive to be selfless, but we can always do more. We can dream of being a perfect person, but we will always find flaws. We can fight for a more equal society, but we will always have more work to do. Perfection isn't a realistic goal.  But growth? Growth is always a worthy one. Achievements shouldn't be our only measures of success.  But fulfillment? Fulfillment is undefeated. When you find fulfillment, you're more likely to find wisdom — and, in the end, you'll be the kind of person who others want to walk with, too. Congratulations, graduates, and good luck! 

With the Freep Film Festival in full swing, Carlos and Shawn talk about the Apple TV+ documentary, "They Call me Magic" with Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. The fellas and Coach Izzo discuss the legacy of Magic Johnson and how he never forgot where he came from, even as his star rose in Los Angeles. And with the 2022 NFL draft beginning April 28, Matt Verderame from FanSided.com joins the fellas to break down the possible options for the Detroit Lions and their two first-round picks.

Over 20 years after winning their first national championship with Magic Johnson, Mateen Cleaves and the rest of the Flintstones delivered Coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans their second trophy in 2000. A battle tested group, MSU charged through the Big 10 that year before ultimately beating Wisconsin and Florida in the Final Four in Indy. In this Episode, Mateen discusses his storied career with Michigan State, the championship season and his special bond with Coach Izzo. This Episode is produced by Truth + Media and preseted by 19Nine. Visit them at 19nine.com.

Coach Chris Fowler. In this episode, you'll hear from Coach Chris Fowler. Coach Fowler is currently an assistant coach for Coach Shane Burcar at Northern Arizona University. Chris was hired at Northern Arizona in the Summer of 2020. And, as you soon will hear, Chris is an extremely talented young assistant coach. I was beyond impressed with him in our conversation. At 27 years of age, Coach Fowler, not me, sounds like the 20-year veteran coach. However, I should not be really that surprised. Chris Fowler was a terrific player for Coach Keno Davis at Central Michigan University. A four-year team captain at CMU, Coach Fowler finished his career at CMU as: the all-time assist leader, all-time leader in free throws made, all-time leader in free throws attempted, third all-time in steals, and fifth all-time in points. As an opposing coach against Chris for four seasons, I can say he was truly one of the most incredible players that I have ever coached against. Quite simple, he was the ultimate floor general. It is super cool to hear how his dad molded this amazing attribute at the age of six. After Coach Chris played overseas, Chris embarked on his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant for Coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. With the Spartans, Coach Fowler was part of back-to-back Big 10 Championships and a 2019 Final Four appearance. As multiple guests on the podcast, the insight that Coach Chris shares about Coach Izzo and his staff is so fascinating. And for younger coaches, wait to hear how Coach Fowler was hired by Coach Shane at NAU. You'll also hear Coach Fowler touch on his version of guard play, how he has conversations with his players, his scouting approach, how he gives suggestions, collaboration with the staff, and some key characteristics that he looks for on the recruiting trail. The admiration that he shares for his college head coach and staff and AAU coaches who paved the way for him is first class. I can't say it enough, this is a first class young coach who is destined to be a head coach very soon!  Follow Coach Chris Fowler @CoachCfowlerFollow Tell Me Your Story Coach Simpsons is Greater ThanA podcast about the impact of The Simpsons. Plus, interviews with people from the show.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Smart Passive Income PodcastWeekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your online business the smart way.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyDEEP - The Life of Rob Murphy DEEP - The Life of Rob Murphy DEEP chronicles Murphy's remarkable journey. NABC Championship Basketball Clinics Attend a NABC Basketball Clinic this SpringBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEMoneyball Sportswear Moneyball, The Only Way To Ball! Great Sports Wear and Basketball Uniforms! Michigan Made! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

The Coaches go heavy into the college game this week.   Michigan State brings a style, and Coach Izzo is the reason.  Speaking of being competitive, the Terps had Greivis.   No more Hoya Nation, at least not to what we knew.  Multiple top college jobs need to be filled, starting soon.   NBA talk and what's up with the rift between the Lakers and Jerry West.