Tom Izzo Meets with MSU Basketball Players: Friday, June 11
By Nick Kowalski
News trucks associated with Fox 2, Channel 4, and Channel 7 were ready to pounce - to be the first to speak with the coveted MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo as he emerged from the Breslin Center, the site of an impromptu meeting between school officials and players.
Since I knew a story could break at any moment, I camped out in the Breslin Center parking lot for about an hour. My goal was to be there if and when something news-worthy were to leak from the mouth of a key staff member or the horse himself. Dressed in a suit and tie, I figured my attire would help me blend in, if need be. Afterall, I am an independent news/blog writer.
Pen and paper in hand, I approached the entrance of the home of the Spartans' basketball team. I had heard that a 'vigil' was held on Izzo's behalf on Thursday; after noticing an array of flowers, burnt-out candles, and homemade signs reading "Just Say... NO to Cleveland" and "Please Stay, Izzo," I am convinced that a legitimate service was in fact held by concerned students and alumni for the feared-to-be-departing, god-like college basketball icon.
*PRIMARY SOURCE NEWS*
Upon arrival, I asked Fox 2 News sports reporter Jennifer "Hammer" Hammond, who was on-site awaiting news from the closed-door meeting, if the news conference had yet happened or if it were scheduled. "No word of a news conference. There's a player meeting right now inside. Did you know about that?" said Hammond, treating me like a fellow news reporter (and rightfully so!). I also chatted with Hammond's cameraman, who told me that there was "no news conference." Channel 4 sportscaster Katrina Handcock, along with a news reporter with Channel 7, rounded out the Detroit media trio.
A few minutes went by, and then a couple of players left the building, heading toward the parking lot. The two players appeared to be laughing with one another - not the mood typical of a somber gathering of coaches and players. Above all else, this stood out to me, potentially signaling that Izzo would remain in East Lansing. One of the players was sophomore center Derrick Nix, who walked out with another player that I did not recognize. From a distance, I heard Hammond say something to Nix, followed by a brief reply. As Nix was climbing into the passenger seat of what appeared to be a Hummer H2, I asked him what took place in the meeting. In response to a pressing inquiry, Nix told me that "nothing" was said regarding Izzo's future with the team. Nix said that the players "got [their] Big Ten rings," as the team earned a share of the conference title this past season, during the meeting - and that was that.
I spent some more time just outside of the Breslin, with the handful of Detroit network news reporters, cameramen, and personnel, hoping that Izzo or a representative from the school would issue a bombshell statement for better or worse. At one point, two MSU Police cars entered the parking lot, which led me to believe that something important was about to occur - but no dice. By the time 4:35 had rolled around, nothing new had happened, aside from a couple of gentleman who were dropped off and immediately entered the building, only expressing to the media that they "[could] not talk today." The vehicle that the two men arrived in took off with a player who left the Breslin - a two-for-one swap. I departed the vicinity shortly thereafter.
It has since been announced that Izzo will hold a news conference tomorrow, presumably to address his future at MSU and with the Cleveland Cavaliers
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