Linking Laconically is wondering whether it's worth ponying up the three bucks

OR "One soul crushing football loss plus one spirit lifting basketball commitment means no links post until Friday at midnight."

• Spartans Open Exhibition Play Against Northwood - MICHIGAN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
  4:00 Sunday, in case you haven't been paying attention.  Streaming video on BTN . . . for $2.99?
• Q & A: John Gasaway of Basketball Prospectus (Part One) | Inside the Hall | An Indiana Hoosiers basketball blog
  Pronounces Purdue the favorite, Ohio State the sleeper.
• Boilers picked second; Hummel makes All-Big Ten team | jconline.com | Journal and Courier
  Tom Izzo not disagreeing: ""We won the Big Ten by four games because of Robbie Hummel's back injury.  Our big men are completely unproven, and Purdue has everybody back."
• Boilers, Spartans becoming top rivals | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.
  Keaton Grant: "At the same time, it’s even more exciting to play at Michigan State, being surrounded by (student) fans. Who has that in the country?"
• Big Ten media day blog: Round-robin schedule doesn’t draw a lot of positive response John Bohnenkamp Blog:
  Bruce Weber thinks it's coming down the road; Izzo not sold.
• Naismith Trophy preseason list announced - Beyond the Arc - msnbc.com
  Lucas and the other preseason all-Big Ten guys all the make the cut.
• Michigan State men's hoops team's No. 2 preseason AP ranking is highest ever | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
  #3 in both 1999-2000 and 2000-01 preseason polls, in case you were wondering.
• Maya Moore, UConn top women's college basketball top 25 - NCAA Basketball - SI.com
  Meanwhile the lady Spartans check in at #10.
• Welcome Again " "Battle Does It Again"
  Downside of including a player's name in your blog title; Crispin and Cream at a new location.
• Lighty’s Return | Eleven Warriors
  OSU going man-to-man this year with Lighty as the stopper?
• Michigan State practices hook-and-ladder used against Iowa every week | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
  The almost most epic play ever.
• The slant concept: Iowa’s game winner | Smart Football
  For any masochists out there.
• Spartans QB Keith Nichol declared ready to resume regular role | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
  Define "regular."
• Lining Up the Stars Versus Michigan State - The Daily Gopher
  Brilliant commenter: "MSU’s four top players (Cousins/White/Anderson/Jones) only had a total of 8 stars between them as incoming recruits."
• Joking aside, Greg Jones calls decision to transfer to Michigan State a 'blessing' | MSU Spartans - - MLive.com
  Greg Jones likes hangin' at the mall.