Linking Laconically wonders how you celebrated Draymond Green Day

With as much as Draymond Green has meant to Michigan State's basketball program the last four years, it's easy to forget that before heading to East Lansing, Green had an even greater impact on the Saginaw High program. Last week, Saginaw honored Green at a ceremony. Hugh Bernreuter of the Saginaw News:

Green spoke less about beating the odds to become an All-American from Saginaw than he did about beating the odds to become a success story from Saginaw.

"I come back and I see you talking ‘East Side, East Side … H and R, H and R’ and talking about territory," Green said. "You’re fighting over territory, getting killed over territory that none of you own.

"My mom owns a house. My brother owns a house. They own that. I grew up on the North Side. I love the North Side to death. But putting your life in jeopardy for a piece of property you don’t own? Why? There is no explanation. It’s just stupidity."

Bernreuter also wrote about the tough love Green's mother Mary Babers showed him, which Green credits with helping him mature:

Draymond Green was all set to go to Las Vegas after his freshman year at Saginaw High School, a 15-year-old on his way to play basketball on AAU’s biggest stage in front of the top college coaches in the country.

His mom said, "No."

"The toughest thing I’ve ever done," Mary Babers said Wednesday during Draymond Green Day at Saginaw High. "But if I let him go to Vegas, what message would that send? That basketball is more important than school?

"It hurt to do it. My mom wouldn’t talk to me. My dad wouldn’t talk to me. My sister wouldn’t talk to me. It was so hard to do as a parent. It was the national tournament after his freshman year. That’s when you get your notoriety."

Both stories are well worth your time, as are the video reports from local TV networks ABC 12 and WNEM. More links after the jump.

Anderson nice surprise for Raptors | Basketball | Sports | Toronto Sun
Alan Anderson is making the most out of his second chance in the NBA: "While expectations of what he would provide were low, Anderson has given the Raptors strong defence and an unexpectedly deft shooting touch. Thanks to his 4-for-4 shooting from three-point range in Monday’s 103-98 loss to the Pacers, the swingman is up to 55.6% for the season from deep and is averaging 6.7 points in his 18.9 minutes in nine games."

NFL Videos: Jerel Worthy one-on-one
Michigan State DL Jerel Worthy sits down with Charley Casserly to talk about his recent team visits and more leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft.

Detroit Lions NFL Draft prospect: Michigan State safety Trenton Robinson | MLive.com
Could Trenton Robinson be a late round target of the Lions? MLive's Anwar Richardson thinks so.

Rich Saul, former Spartan and Los Angeles Ram, dies at 64, Michigan State reports | MLive.com
Sad news on a former Spartan: "Rich Saul, a former Michigan State defensive end turned Pro Bowl NFL center, died Sunday from Leukemia, according to the Spartan football program's Twitter page. He was 64."

Michigan State LB Darien Harris now thankful for redshirt year | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Darien Harris is OK with redshirting last season: "Last year taking that redshirt year was really helpful for me to get the speed of the game down, get the system together, and understand what it means really to be a Michigan State football player," Harris said after practice Thursday. "It was a true honor and true blessing."

Jon Gruden: Kirk Cousins has ‘bright future’ in the NFL - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel
Kirk Cousins took his turn in Jon Gruden's quarterback school: "I think he’s got a very bright future in the NFL because he’s all business, all the time," Gruden said. "He’s a meticulous preparation freak. I think he’s got very good athletic ability, and he’s got a lot of experience as a starting quarterback in the big arena. "He just reminds me of guys who play on Sundays for a living."

Michigan State aims to get Jeremy Langford on field - someplace | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Expect to see Jeremy Langford all over the place: "Enter Jeremy Langford. He's used to bouncing around. A running back from Westland John Glenn, Langford moved to cornerback last season. This spring, he's back at running back. The problem is he is No. 4 on the depth chart behind Le'Veon Bell, Larry Caper and Nick Hill. However, Langford also runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. That number piqued the interest of wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel. "When you're the fastest guy on the team or definitely one of them, the wide receiver guy is going to come look at you," Samuel said."