<P> Journalists include NBC reporter Chris Hansen, AP White House correspondent Nedra Pickler and NPR Washington correspondent Don Gonyea . Novelist Michael Kimball graduated in 1990 . Novelist and true crime author R. Barri Flowers, who in 1977 earned a bachelor's degree and in 1980 a master's degree in criminal justice, was inducted in 2006 into the MSU Criminal Justice Wall of Fame . Author Erik Qualman graduated with honors in 1994 and was also Academic Big - Ten in basketball . Susan K. Avery, the first woman president and director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, received an MSU bachelor's degree in physics . In addition, two of the Little Rock Nine attended Michigan State, including Ernest Green, the first black student to graduate from Little Rock Central High School, and Carlotta Walls LaNier . The University awarded an honorary degree to Robert Mugabe in 1990, but revoked it in 2008 . </P> <P> Spartans have made their mark in all major American sports . MSU alumni formerly or currently in the NBA include point guard and three - time MVP Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Greg Kelser, Jay Vincent, Steve Smith, Scott Skiles, Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph, Johnny Green, Draymond Green, Gary Harris, Denzel Valentine and Deyonta Davis . </P> <P> In the National Football League, MSU alumni include Carl Banks, who was a member of the Giants teams that won Super Bowls XXI and XXV and a member of the NFL's 1980's All - Decade Team; twenty - one year veteran quarterback Earl Morrall, defensive end and actor Bubba Smith, former Detroit Lions head coach Wayne Fontes, NFL games - played leader Morten Andersen, Plaxico Burress, Andre Rison, Derrick Mason, Muhsin Muhammad, T.J. Duckett, Flozell Adams, Julian Peterson, Charles Rogers, and Jim Miller . </P> <P> The American Football League's All - Time Team includes tight - end Fred Arbanas and safety George Saimes . </P>

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