:mateen:

As he should be.

When will the Pistons do likewise? Maybe a dual ceremony is in order?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/ncaa/01/30/bc.bkc.michiganst.cleav.ap/


Michigan St. to retire Cleaves' No. 12

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan State's basketball program said Tuesday it will retire the jersey of former All-American Mateen Cleaves.

Cleaves wore No. 12 as he helped lead the Spartans to the 2000 National Championship, for which he earned MVP honors. His jersey will be retired Saturday when the Spartans host No. 4 Ohio State.

The Flint native is the all-time assists leader in Big Ten history with 816, and is Michigan State's only three-time All-American.

"I know this is hard to believe, but I'm almost at a loss for words," Cleaves said in a statement. "This is one of the happiest moments in my life."

The rafters at the Breslin Center house the jerseys of eight former Michigan State stars, including Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Steve Smith and Scott Skiles.

Cleaves, a three-time captain, ranks 12th on Michigan State's career scoring list with 1,541 points. During his four-year career, the Spartans had a 104-32 record.

"Mateen Cleaves took a chance on me and this program before we were established," coach Tom Izzo said. "Michigan State basketball would not be what it is today without him."

Cleaves was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft. During his six seasons in the NBA he had stints with Detroit, Sacramento, Cleveland and Seattle.

I always forget that he was great in college and just really shitty for the Pistons.

Smart move to do it against tO$U as this would be a big home win that could jump start the Sparties.

First 10,000 fans will receive official Mateen Cleaves 13th Man Towels to waive in his honor . . .

Wow, a giffman sighting. Was your holiday season a little longer than most?

Wow, a giffman sighting. Was your holiday season a little longer than most?

Yup. Kinda like my pecker.

Mateen Cleaves will forever be my favorite Spartan in any sport and my favorite athlete of all time. There is nothing any future recruit could do to top him.

-3 Time All American
-1st AA high schooler to take a chance on Izzo
-3 Time All Big Ten
-3 Straight Big Ten Championships
-Back to Back Final Fours
-Big Ten All Time Assist Leader
-Big Ten Single Game Assist Leader
-National Champion

Those are just "some" of his accomplishments. His last game in the Breslin was a 52 pt victory over Michigan to win the Big Ten Championship, did so while setting the Big Ten Assist record, recorded 21 assists in that game, and finished it off by kissing the "S" at center court.

Finished his career by torching the Florida Gators in the National Championship game. Badly sprained his ankle in the second half only to return to the court with a standing ovation after believing to have broke his ankle. Warrior.

Does it get any better than that?! The thing about Mateen is that he not only was an amazing player, but he was one of the best leaders in the history of college basketball. 50 years from now, I'll still remember every single moment of Cleaves' career and I'll still have his memorabilia hanging in my crib.

Simply a LEGEND.
http://www.hoopville.net/challenge/2000/images/cleaves2.jpg

Steve Smith was and always be my favorite spartan.

Steve Smith was and always be my favorite spartan.
greg kelser >>>>>> Mateen. this shit is a joke and as a college program MSU has accomplished enough to set a higher standard for who gets this. atleast in basketball they have.

Steve Smith was and always be my favorite spartan.

Steve Smith was so fun to watch. The dude had swagger coming out of his ears. Loved to watch him too.

greg kelser >>>>>> Mateen. this shit is a joke and as a college program MSU has accomplished enough to set a higher standard for who gets this. atleast in basketball they have.

Who was around to watch Kelser on here? I was born the year he won it all with Magic.

greg kelser >>>>>> Mateen. this shit is a joke and as a college program MSU has accomplished enough to set a higher standard for who gets this. atleast in basketball they have.

Either you are joking or you're still pissed about the lashings he put on your school. Questioning Mateen having his jersey retired at MSU? yikes. You'd be hard pressed to name 5 guys who accomplished more in college basketball.
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/ncb/2000/0326/photo/a_ncb5.jpg

Didn't Izzo name his kid after Mateen?

I think his son's middle name is Mateen.

I shit you not.

I don't question Mateen having his jersey retired, I question this thread being stickied

Yup, Izzo's son's middle name is Mateen. Talk about a great player-coach relationship.

Wizzle, you might be right. This is a Michigan forum though and he was one of the all time greats in this state. So I guess that's why the sticky was due.

Mateen was a great college PG, and definitely deservers his jersey retired at MSU, but how can you suck that bad in the NBA? I know dude had a whack ass J, but how was he able to knock it down in college (shot about 80% vs. Michigan) but not the "L"?

And by the way Tre, I think that victory over Michigan was 51 points. It wasn't as bad as you say.

Mateen was a great college PG, and definitely deservers his jersey retired at MSU, but how can you suck that bad in the NBA? I know dude had a whack ass J, but how was he able to knock it down in college (shot about 80% vs. Michigan) but not the "L"?

And by the way Tre, I think that victory over Michigan was 51 points. It wasn't as bad as you say.

I knew you'd have to find a way to hate on him. There is no way you'd just give props to Cleaves and leave it at that.

I think Mateen got very little opportunity in the NBA. Basically got one year as a Piston, on a sucky team, then got shipped off to places with starting PG's already. I watched him play for Cleveland and watched him place for Seattle and he did a real nice job every time I saw him play.

With that being said, this isn't about his NBA career or lack of. Lots of guys just don't have the right game for the next level. Mateen Cleaves was an amazing college basketball player and I'm not going to let Michigan fans that are still sour turn the topic.

Just keep him the fuck away from The Palace.

LOL @ Unics

http://www.greenandwhite.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/GW0201/702020339/1026/gw0201


Cleaves' eyes still on NBA

Ex-Spartan star back to 'make another push'

By Joe Rexrode
Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING - Mateen Cleaves is back home from Russia for good, with another crack at the NBA in his sights.

Cleaves, a Flint native and former Michigan State All-American who led the Spartans to the 2000 national title, will be have his No. 12 jersey retired Saturday before MSU's game against No. 4 Ohio State at Breslin Center. He said in a Thursday teleconference that he got out of his contract with the Kazan Unics last week, and that his agent has received some interest from NBA teams.

"I'm gonna try to make another push for the NBA," said Cleaves, a 6-foot-3 point guard who spent six seasons in the NBA before heading overseas in the fall. "I'm definitely healthy and probably in the best shape I've been in. My weight's 196 pounds, I haven't been under 200 in I don't know how long."

After winning it all as a senior at MSU, Cleaves was a first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons (No. 14 overall) in the 2000 draft. Things did not work out as planned there, and he was shipped to Sacramento in 2001. Cleaves also had stints with Boston, Cleveland and Seattle, but he couldn't stick, and a series of what he called "knick-knack injuries" to both feet didn't help.

Sacramento traded Cleaves to Cleveland in 2002, but he had a stress fracture and failed the physical, so the Cavs rescinded the trade. A chance to start and get major playing time was lost.

"It was definitely a great opportunity because I know would have had an opportunity to play," Cleaves said. "But like I said it didn't work out - ain't no need to sulk and cry and worry about it. It is what it is."

Former college standouts such as Trajan Langdon, Louis Bullock and Omar Cook played in the same league as Cleaves in Russia. He said reduced playing time for him resulted in fewer wins for the team and his push to get out and revisit the NBA.

"If I don't get a call in a week or so, I'll play in the minor leagues," Cleaves said.

BEFORE AND DURING: Cleaves' jersey will be raised about 3:45 p.m., 15 minutes before tipoff. MSU also is planning some Cleaves-related activities for halftime, coach Tom Izzo said, but the pre-game ceremony will allow the current Spartans to take in the moment.

"This place should be cranking," MSU sophomore guard Travis Walton said.

I knew Cleaves left some pretty big wounds in the hearts of Michigan fans. I've never mentioned his name in the presence of a UM fan without them trying to find something to rip him for. I guess I just didn't know how deep those scars went. I guess if somebody embarrassed my team and did so repeatedly in a very vocal manner, I probably would still despise the guy too. I still remember him running down the court in Cristler laughing and then yelling at the Michigan crowd with every additional dunk and three by the Spartans. I guess I understand.