Detroit Free Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- It wasn't the way he chewed gum as he jogged out of the tunnel, nor the ease with which he carried the ball in his first lay-up drill, one-handed, effortless, as if putting a glass on a shelf. No. What convinced you the guy was back for real were those familiar beads of sweat glistening on his smoothly shaved head, exerting himself again, in basketball, after nearly two years away. His number was already retired and a statue erected in his honor. Now he stripped off his warm-ups to the familiar red-and-black uniform. The crowd exploded.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Well, it's official. America is down to six radio stations. Six. Total. I say this because, ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- There were tears all over the locker room floor, mixing with the dirt and the soiled, wet towels. Jud Heathcote had cried, and Shawn Respert had cried. Eric Snow sat motionless in a chair as reporters moved through and camera lights blinded the already stunned Spartans players. Someone leaned down, patted Snow on the shoulder, mumbled "Sorry," and that was it, the floodgates opened, he began to sob, unable to catch his breath. He was every kid after every big game that didn't go right. This is what they don't show you on ESPN SportsCenter.

DAYTON, Ohio -- The hamburgers are on the grill, and the margaritas are flowing like small green waterfalls."GO JAYHAWKS!" someone slurps."GO HILLTOPPERS!" screams another."Pardon me," I mumble. "'Scuse me. . . . Pardon me. . . . "I make my way through the tailgating parties like a police officer assigned to Beach Blanket Bingo. A van full of students is booming rock music and singing along. Suddenly, in the middle of the song, someone stops and yells "HOW ABOUT THEM HOGS?""WHOOOEEE!" they answer. "HOGS, HOGS, HOGS, HOG--"

DAYTON, Ohio -- The heads were shaved and the color of the socks matched the color of the shoes, a serious shade ...

Ray and Sam would fool around in the dorm rooms late at night. Sam claimed he knew all the words to a rap song, a ...

EAST LANSING -- No need to speak. No need to look. The great pairs just know each other's moves. Shawn Respert brings the Swizzlers. Eric Snow brings the Gummi Bears. So much for the snacks.And in the hotel room, Respert watches cartoons, until the soap operas come on and Snow gets the remote control. And when it's time for the team meetings? Snow wears the watch -- so Respert doesn't have to."If he wore it," Snow says, laughing, "we'd be late for everything."Side by side by Spartan.

EAST LANSING -- Twice a year, rain or shine, frozen cold or unseasonably warm, twice a year, for all these years, ...