Mike Nally

I’m a rare breed. I’m a person that attended both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University in order to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, ehem, well, some years ago.

I bring this up because it is once again Michigan v Michigan State week in the world of college football. A week in which Michigan feels the pressure to win to maintain their perceived superiority over their cousins to the north and the pressure on Michigan State to prove to their cousins to the south that there is more to living a successful life than SAT scores and trust funds.

At least that’s what I think this is all about. For me, it’s never been quite that clear.

I attented the University of Michigan for two semesters. It was an amazing world that I was plunged into as a very young 18-year-old kid. A world full of other kids from all over the planet. World-class educators that both wanted to help me achieve but were also given the mandate to weed out the weak and make room for the next batch of young minds.

I remember two classes that I took during those 9-months at the University of Michigan so many years ago. Freshman English and Freshman German. The foreign language requirement was obviously a weeder class. Force the kids to study something complicated and see who has the dedication to learn something they know in their hearts will soon be useless to them. That class ate me alive and was one of the reasons my freshman year was my only year in Ann Arbor.

Freshman English, however, was something entirely different. I loved the instructor and I even managed to make a new friend. Her name has been lost to the ages but she was encouraging and supportive as I obviously struggled to remain and soon enough realize that I didn’t belong at the University of Michigan after all.

She helped me to realize that it was no sin to be qualified to be somewhere but to leave it anyway simply because it wasn’t for me. What I needed and what I wanted didn’t match up and it was time for me to back up and try again.

A few years later, and a few years wiser, I was awarded a degree from Michigan’s rival college Michigan State University. There I found not only an educational environment that fit my personality a little better but a circle of people that both supported and encouraged me to march forward even when I saw little reason to bother. My lovely wife being the primary leader in this effort by the way. Thank you Nancy.

Somewhere along the line, after years of pretending to care, I managed to put in just enough effort in just enough classes that MSU issued me a piece of paper that said, in essence, this man has done enough. Somebody figure out what to do with him next. We are done.

Not exactly what you would put at the top of your resume, but there it is anyway.

For years I hated the University of Michigan after having spent most of my youth idolizing the school, their sports teams, and those that had managed to earn their degrees from the institution. Living in Detroit, to be a Michigan man was to be a made man and it was what so many dreamed of being. I had been given my chance, failed, and thus somehow blamed the institution instead of myself. The truth is that I simply wasn’t mature enough to put in the time and effort to be successful at the University of Michigan. I even doubt that I have the mental tools to do so even today. I’m smart. My SAT and ACT scores were more than sufficient to earn my way into the program at the time. I’ve built on my intelligence throughout my life. Yet, I still doubt that I have the mental programming to put up with the bullshit that it takes to be successful at the University of Michigan or any other major college program for that matter.

The University of Michigan is a great school. It just wasn’t, and isn’t, for me.

And, so, for years I’ve worn the green and white of Michigan State with pride. I’ve cheered on their football and basketball teams no more so that when they face off against rival Michigan.

Why?

MSU was barely home to me over the years. I cannot remember the name of a single instructor I had while I attended the university. I’ve barely kept in touch with anyone I met while attending. Other than meeting the woman I now call my wife of 16-years, the time I spent at Michigan State University was wasted nearly as much as my time at Michigan. The experience was survived more than embraced.

Why the loyalty? Over a piece of paper? A piece of paper that has never, ever, gained me a single advantage in my life?

For the first time in nearly 20 years I have decided that this weekend, during the Michigan v Michigan State football game I will do the right thing and back the real institution that has powered the success in my life.

I’ll turn off the TV and write a few letters to my friends and family and tell them how much I’ve appreciated their help over the years. No university has ever done so much for me as they have.

Quote from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer:

“I’ll say that it is certainly clear that in the year 2009, the notion of operating systems being independent of internet access and internet ability to render important things in the internet is kind of not a sensible concept.”

What?

During a recent cross-state drive with my wife, she asked me a classic question that most of us have pondered: “If you could do anything with your life…”

A risky question to answer back to your life-partner to be sure, but I was in the mood and off we went.

After a few minutes of conversation it became clear that the inspiration for the question was the perceived notion that, somehow, national health care in the United States will allow many of us tied to jobs that provide, above everything else, access to decent health care solutions, foregiving the reality of pre-existing health conditions, the freedom to pursue that which we really love. Money would suddenly be the bottom line.

Once freed from the need to add value to an organization large enough to qualify for group health care insurance, what would I truly love to do in order to add not just financial value to my family but core value to my life? A heady question to be pondered while driving a vehicle at 70+ MPH in heavy traffic.

My first instict was to dismiss the question all together as a worthless pursuit of fantasy. I have little faith in the national government of the United States and its ability to provide a workable solution to a problem so ingrained into the culture and financial construct of our society. My family in particular is trapped in the cycle of pre-existing conditions and thus, a “no-questions asked” token from a new employer is our only solution to being able to afford the financial support we need to maintain the health of our family.

A solution from President Obama and friends? Maybe. A good solution? Doubtful.

Some debate and raw arguing led to my acceptance of the premise that “if” the federal government was able to provide for our family’s health care issues with little more than a minimal financial buy-in, what would I like to do with the rest of my life to provide the financial tools necessary to pay for everything else that we need?

At that point I put my cards on the table and told my lovely wife of 16+ years that I would like to be a nature photographer. You know, an Ansel Adams sort of guy. Finding beauty in nature and, frankly, selling the images I created to represent it to the people of the world? Honey???

I lost her.

Thus is the problem with telling people about your dreams. You’ve had every day of your adult life to develope and refine those dreams in your mind. You have a clear vision of what it is that you want to be, some sort of path that will lead you to your ultimate success, and a confidence that achieving this goal will feed your soul like little else will.

My wife thought I was nuts and fought with me for at least 30 miles of our trip. And so it went and we eventually arrived at our destination. Unfortunately for her, I was still out shooting pictures of the world in my mind for much of the afternoon.

Never let a rat trapped in a cage dream of freedom. He just might force you to pay the price of having him go for it.

Most sports commentators I’ve heard are actually favoring the Lions to win their first game since Week 16 of the 2007 season.

While my hopes are up as well seeing our first realistic chance at taking our first step forward we’re still talking about the Lions here. The more convinced you are that there is light ahead, the more likely it’s the headlight on a train waiting to plow you over.

Prediction:

Lions 17 – Redskins 24

Quote of the day about my Lions from Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski: I don’t know if they’re getting closer, or if teams are playing the Road Runner role, painting a fake tunnel on a mountain, waiting for the Lions to run smack into it.

Work to do. Go Lions!