Get Over it; Eric Lacy of the Detroit News Gets it Right!

Get Over it; Eric Lacy of the Detroit News Gets it Right! ÂOne part of the Spartan Nation that never ceases to amaze me is how so many in it eat their own. Why

Get Over it; Eric Lacy of the Detroit News Gets it Right!

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One part of the Spartan Nation that never ceases to amaze me is how so many in it eat their own. Why do I ask now? Spartan Alum and my good friend Eric Lacy, is the UM basketball beat writer for the Detroit News and many Spartans need to get off of his back.

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Based upon the voluminous amount of email I get about him, many of you don’t like that. Now, I understand the percentage of people that actually email is not nearly as high as the actual amount in the fan base. I also sadly understand that it is those who email or communicate that have their opinions heard. Unfortunately, their opinions (because they are heard) actually are weighted more than what often times is accurate.

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I am proud of Eric and the job he does at the News. I am not, as you know, the biggest UM fan in the world, but when I need info I certainly have an ear bent in his direction. He is thorough, he is an excellent writer, and he does his job well.

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It seems, however, that any time someone inside the Spartan Nation writes or says something that can be construed as positive about anyone from Ann Arbor, out come the piranhas. I have said it, and so has Eric. John Beilein is a good man. You can, from a rivalry sense, not like UM, but why would you tear up a good man?

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I don’t agree with everything that Lacy has written. For example, read this doozy from his April 18 blog as he talks about UM embracing scandalous Fab Five era team: “Given the lack of success the basketball program has had in recent years, there's no better way to get support back than to honor an incredible era of basketball and hope there's some cash that comes along with it…Martin realizes that and knows UM must honor that tradition in some way during, even if it isn't until 2013, when Chris Webber's "ban" from the program is lifted. During Monday's basketball awards dinner, Martin talked about a Fab Five reunion and it generated cheers.”Â
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That made me want to vomit, but that is what I love about Eric. He writes what he feels. I am sick of people in my profession that write based upon public thoughts and ideas. Leading by focus group has hurt America at its highest leadership levels before and frankly among journalists. Eric doesn’t do that and I respect that.

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When I told Izzo that we had decided to air the story about him wanting to be football coach, we laughed then knowing this would get me criticism. I didn’t expect the death threats that I got, but I knew that it would get some heat. It didn’t make the story any less true so I did the right thing and reported it. Here we are so long after and numerous media and influential people have come out and supported my story as accurate, but today I had over 30 emails from people asking me if Izzo takes the Bulls job do I think Dantonio will take over basketball. It is Lacy’s job and the job of anyone in the media to report the facts and when it calls for opinion, be truthful. I respect Eric because he does that all the time.

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He loves MSU as much as me and any other member of the Spartan Nation. He also has great respect for UM. Listen MSU fans, do you want him to end every article with a “UM SUCKS” byline or a “BLUE IS BAD” mantra? Get over it. He is too professional to do that and he isn’t so blinded by his love of MSU to be unfair covering his assignment.

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You don’t have to like everything he writes. You don’t even have to know him like I do. You do need to respect one of your own for doing a great job and succeeding. I am not one of those mental midgets that can’t stand other’s success. I embrace and I love to see Spartans succeed. More importantly, I like to see good people succeed. To quote a phrase I learned down south that I can attribute to Lacy, “He is good people.” Even if he is stuck covering those weasels for a living.

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Eric is a great husband and a great friend. I am proud of him, even when he does write crap like I quoted above from time to time. I could care less, and I can assure you he could care less if you don’t like something he has written.  The fact remains that people need to get off of his back and stop the stupid personal attacks. He doesn’t deserve it and most of you should be more intelligent than that. Unless you are a UM graduate!

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