With all this talk of whether this is or is not the "biggest" game in the history of the Breslin Center, I had a bit of a realization about the true nature of this rivalry. I think that it actually explains a huge part of why the interactions between the two schools is the way that it is. Here goes:
First, it occurred to me that would could define the "bigness" of a game as follows:
"Bigness" = The happiness you would feel with a win (minus) The pain that you would feel with a loss.
By this measure, I think that it might not just be the biggest game in Breslin, but perhaps the biggest Big Ten game for MSU... maybe ever. I think that the gap between potential joy and pain might just be that large.
However, there are certainly other games in the recent past that were "bigger" for MSU. The example that immediately comes to mind in the 2009 Title game. The upside for that game was clearly bigger. A National Title trumps just about everything. But, the pain of losing that game was was not as big as the pain would be losing tonight, I think.
However, for some MSU fans, the pain of a potential loss tonight might be big enough to make the "gap" pretty close to that game in 2009. This is why we continue to see those stupid articles and polls about "would MSU fans trade a win again UofM for a Big Ten Title?" This is simply an emotional gap assessment, and each fan is going to vary on that dimension.
But, when it comes to Michigan fans, this type of analysis, at least when it comes to MSU creates serious cognitive dissonance. Because, as we all know, it is essentially a core principle of their institution that they are the "leaders and best" and they don't care about MSU or anyone other than "that school down south" and even then only in football. They basically cannot admit that they feel the same pain that we would feel in the case of a loss (whether that is true in reality or not).
As I have stated in the past, much of this is related to the concept that as a collective, the UofM community acts like that have narcissistic personality disorder ("Symptoms include an excessive need for admiration, disregard for others' feelings, an inability to handle any criticism, and a sense of entitlement." Sound familiar?)
So, that's it. Just some deep thoughts as we get ready for tip.
First, it occurred to me that would could define the "bigness" of a game as follows:
"Bigness" = The happiness you would feel with a win (minus) The pain that you would feel with a loss.
By this measure, I think that it might not just be the biggest game in Breslin, but perhaps the biggest Big Ten game for MSU... maybe ever. I think that the gap between potential joy and pain might just be that large.
However, there are certainly other games in the recent past that were "bigger" for MSU. The example that immediately comes to mind in the 2009 Title game. The upside for that game was clearly bigger. A National Title trumps just about everything. But, the pain of losing that game was was not as big as the pain would be losing tonight, I think.
However, for some MSU fans, the pain of a potential loss tonight might be big enough to make the "gap" pretty close to that game in 2009. This is why we continue to see those stupid articles and polls about "would MSU fans trade a win again UofM for a Big Ten Title?" This is simply an emotional gap assessment, and each fan is going to vary on that dimension.
But, when it comes to Michigan fans, this type of analysis, at least when it comes to MSU creates serious cognitive dissonance. Because, as we all know, it is essentially a core principle of their institution that they are the "leaders and best" and they don't care about MSU or anyone other than "that school down south" and even then only in football. They basically cannot admit that they feel the same pain that we would feel in the case of a loss (whether that is true in reality or not).
As I have stated in the past, much of this is related to the concept that as a collective, the UofM community acts like that have narcissistic personality disorder ("Symptoms include an excessive need for admiration, disregard for others' feelings, an inability to handle any criticism, and a sense of entitlement." Sound familiar?)
So, that's it. Just some deep thoughts as we get ready for tip.
