An unexpected display of sportsmanship and camaraderie is taking place in Breslin Center’s section 109 just above the two team benches as Michigan State men’s basketball faces off against a tough Illinois squad on Sunday.
Spartans superfan Janet Alleman, a retired MSU professor infamous for her dancing often seen on the Jumbotron during home basketball games, is sitting next to Ceasar Perez, aka Mr. Blue Hands, a Fighting Illini superfan with his head covered in orange and blue body paint and his hands sporting oversized blue fists.
Perez, a former Marine and Illinois graduate from Champaign, has been cheering for the Fighting Illini for 20 years.
Their allegiances to their teams are well-documented. Their proximity to each other in the Breslin Center stands is no accident.
Alleman invited Mr. Blue Hands into the belly of the green and white beast.
“Janet is great! It’s so cool to see a game here in East Lansing. I’m loving the arena,” said Perez as he entered a Breslin Center bathroom to put the finishing touches on his makeup before the game.
“I’m glad we’re playing Michigan State earlier in the year because the later the year, the better Izzo has the team prepared,” Perez added.
Alleman said she recently met Perez at an event where the two hit it off because they share the same passion of cheering for their teams.
When Alleman learned Perez had never been to the Breslin Center, she invited him to join her for Sunday’s game. She’s also hoping Mr. Blue Hands’ presence agitates the Spartan faithful.
“My motivation is to rile up our crowd,” she said.
Alleman feels some good-natured pressure bringing an enemy into her cheering section.
“He’s very boisterous,” she said. “He’s very animated and loud. He’s muscular. He wouldn’t be afraid of the devil. I just have to out do him. I don’t have any tricks up my sleeves. Maybe bring some props?”
Alleman said she plans to take Perez to dinner after the game as an end to their friendly outing. She hopes she’ll be celebrating another Spartan victory.
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