A Guide For Former Players Speaking In Public
YOU TOO CAN OPEN YOUR MOUTH IN PUBLIC WITHOUT GETTING PEOPLE MAD
NOT YOU
Don't. This is the easiest and best way to go about it. What does everyone think of David Baas? Exactly. We think David Baas won the Rimington award. We do not think he has some weird grudge against his younger doppleganger or is Joe Morgan.
If you have to, do not say anything about Denard. Nothing you can say about Denard will meet the standards of the Michigan fanbase, which thinks he is made of rainbows and sweetness and light and will brook not even the slightest criticism. For instance, saying…
You looked fantastic for five games against nobody. That's what you did.
…as a way to "blast college athletes' sense of entitlement" is taking a cheapshot at a guy playing opposite the worst defense in the history of man. Many people will make the internet annoying for a day until the next outrage.
More importantly, it's inane because Denard is the least entitled athlete at Michigan in a very long time. We get it: you hated Rich Rodriguez to the point where you'll roll your eyes at Denard Robinson. You can stop it now.
If you do say something about Denard, at least own up to it. Desmond Howard's response to this was to claim his comment was about "fans and the media," and while the fuller context of the quote does soften it somewhat it mostly emphasizes how bizarrely inappropriate it is to grab Denard Robinson of all people as a "perfect example" of entitled kids.
I mean, it's not like there's anyone else in Michigan's recent past that fits that bill slightly better—
If you have successfully piloted your speaking away from Denard, don't imply the kids currently on the team are lazy and soft. This is called "projection," a malady that often befalls middle-aged men past their glory days. The people on the team have worked very hard for little reward because there are a lot of people who aren't on the team for various reasons. So when you say the effort was "lacking" or Michigan "toughness" is back you are telling Ryan Van Bergen, who can stuff your desk-job-having ass in a can, that he's failing you.
This isn't very nice. Also, the opposite is in fact the case.
If you have managed to not talk crap about the players, you are most of the way home. Congratulations! Now you've only got three topics left:
- Rich Rodriguez is the devil. Accurate! So very accurate. But also played out. Everyone in the room will be envisioning you beating on a dead man. How did that go in the last season of The Wire? You didn't watch The Wire? You only read Rudyard Kipling books? Well, let me tell you: not so good. Also it was biting dead people but telling you that is pointless until David Simon writes a book of illustrated allegories featuring animals. How hard would I buy this book? So, so hard. I digress.
- Shuffling the fullback so you can run a power play at a defense that knows what's coming but is powerless to stop you is the only way to play football. Also very, very true but so obvious in the aftermath of Rodriguez being the devil that it hardly bears mentioning. You are trying to bring the Wisdom Of The Michigan Program to the public, but the public already knows that part in its bones. Fooling people is for communists. The wages of spread are turnovers.
- Brady Hoke is a cuddly bear-god who you, 6'9" high school tackle Zach Banner, should definitely play for. Now we are talking. This is a matter that the public is uncertain about—just look around here a few months ago—and Zach Banner is definitely uncertain about, being one of the few high school players in the country who has not leapt to play for our magic-poopin' cuddly bear-god. This is a topic of major interest amongst laymen and scholars and may result in honorary degrees from prestigious institutions if expounded upon at sufficiently withering, recruit-ensnaring length. Bonus points(!) awarded for pointed contrasts with Jim Tressel.
Escuche y repita. Like last year's Ohio State season, the last three years never happened. They are the Godfather III, the lying-newspaper-guy plot from The Wire, the Brian Ellerbe era… right… forgot. Kipling. Forget this bit.
Remember: the last three years never happened and therefore cannot be commented on BRADY HOKE MAGIC POOPING BEAR GOD SAY IT DO IT NOTHING ELSE
SPECIAL BO-ERA DUDE ADDENDUM: it is not racist that Corwin Brown was not hired by Michigan and you should stop saying that because it's not helping Corwin Brown any.
When Denard first started to break out, I quickly got the sense from his on-air comments that Desmond worried he would be eclipsed -- that Denard's exploits (e.g., the 500 yard game, the Heisman pose that wasn't planned against Notre Dame, the longest run in ND stadium, etc.) would overtake Desmond in future Michigan highlight reels for the upcoming decades. This incident reminds me of that.
As if anything could replace the catch against ND and hello heisman. His legend is secure, now and forever. Envy should be the last thing he worries about.
I'll tell you what will replace all the great memories I have of these former players that I have saved in my UM vault for so long...The stupid shit they say in the public is what will take their place.
As has been stated in this thread already, people (anyone) have the right to say what they want, but when they do it in public they have to stand for and answer for what they say. If Desmond was truly worried about Denard taking his place in the memories of the fans (I'm not saying he was, but I am responding to your post) athe quickest way to do that is to start making an ass of yourself in the public eye.
I don't know that any of my favorite UM players (and all the memories I have of them) could ever be overtaken by anyone. I would just make room for more memories. When some of my favorite players from the past start coming out and making comments like this though...that is what erases some of the great things they did in my mind, and replaces them with these foolish qoutes and soundbites.
Nailed it.
Thanks, Brian.
C'mon...Godfather III wasn't that bad...
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Godfather III was nominated for best picture. This Godfather III sucked meme is played out. That movie was better than 90% of the crap spewing out of hollywood today.
It was just scarred by Wionna Ryder dropping out at the last minute, and Coppola sticking his daughter in the role. She's a fine director, but couldn't act a lick, and since so much of the film revolves around her, it hurt it big time. Andy Garcia was awesome in it though. So yeah, it's a bit overstated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_Part_III
Julia Roberts was originally cast as Mary, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Madonna wanted to play the role, but Coppola felt she was too old for the part. Rebecca Schaeffer was set to audition, but she was murdered. Winona Ryder dropped out of the film at the last minute (supposedly due to illness, though other reports state that she was committed to Edward Scissorhands). Ultimately Sofia Coppola, the director's daughter, was given the role of Michael Corleone's daughter. Her much-criticized performance resulted in her father being accused of nepotism, a charge Coppola bitterly refutes in the commentary track, asserting, in his opinion, that critics, "beginning with an article in Vanity Fair," were "using [my] daughter to attack me," something he finds ironic in light of the film's denouement when the Mary character pays the ultimate price for her father's sins.
douching it. Is this some kind of penis envy for the guy who has probably come closest to your magic since you left? WTFish. P.S. You will never have Shoelace's personality, Heisman or no. Go into a bar and see who gets offered more drinks. Exactly.
I think Woodson may or may not have been in there somewhere between 1991 and 2011.
....striking a "Heisman Pose" after a TD is not "bigger than the program," yet a player who hands the ball to the official and kneels down for a prayer is "bigger than the program?"
I always liked Derrick Alexander better anyway.
"I always liked Derrick Alexander better anyway."
This is EXACTLY what I was thinking when Desmond was scoring all those TDs against ND and OSU.
HALOL.
Comments like these make it blatantly obvious that you are a young Michigan fan. Which is 100% ok. It's just interesting the different opinions Michigan fans have that tend to correlate generationally.
...didn't.
Don't even get me started on Yale VanDyne.
Simple, easy to understand guidebook for those too stupid to follow rule #1: say nothing.
And yet, it will be less than a week until somebody breaks the rules.
Although reading the article again, I can see Desmond's point about the media and fans freaking out about one player. There can be a sense of entitlement with players: remember the three Florida five star freshman who sat out of practice because they didn't like how they were being treated and referred to themselves as the Big Three?
Desmond is completely off on his analysis of Denard. As a previous poster mentioned, his stats speak to his talent. His committment to the team is spoken to by his work effort, vouched all las season by other players, and his continual efforts this season, despite numerous injuries.
Denard is awesome: I remember walking past Bells Pizza at 2 in the morning last year after the Notre Dame victory. Lo and behold Denard and Vincent Smith were standing outside. Noticing them I yelled as I walked by great game. Realizing more needed to be said, I walked back and high-fived both just telling how awesome they played and how much they mean to the university (particularly Denard). He tried to deflect the praise to Smith and even tried to convince me Smith was actually Denard. He was full of gratitude and both told me to take it easy and have a good night. Nothing less than I would expect from the Leaders and the Best.
Also, if Desmond is entitled to his opinion, then Brian is entitled to criticize it and request that people stop making ridiculous comments.
the reason that I first loved football. I used to hate football as a kid because we had 1 tv and I wanted to play my Nintendo and my dad would fall asleep in front of football all Saturday and all Sunday. I had a serious grudge agaisnt football as a rule, but when Desmond was playing for MIchigan I just couldn't be mad anymore. I've loved football and MIchigan ever since. That said, he needs to mind his words and maybe stay off of Twitter. Denard Robinson is a role model in the making. Telling Michigan fans that he's not the greatest player ever is like telling fans when they say "we're number one!" that "you know you're not REALLY number one right? I mean your team is in like 4th place in your conference. Just look at your stats on pass defense. Where do you get off?!" Seriously. I was at the game when Desmond signed for the Lions mid season and ran a kick back for a touchdown and was freaking out like a little kid, but COME ON man.
With all due respect, this is a blogger telling former Michigan football players what they're entitled to say about their former program. I can imagine how dismissively my eyes would roll if I had played at Michigan.
With a few exceptions (mostly related to basic decency), players can say what they want and we can say what we want about their comments. We have no right to tell them not to speak their minds just like they have no right to tell us not to respond.
Brian isn't actually talking about banning former players from speaking, right? He's saying "if you say these things, you will sound like an idiot, so you should not say them."
And yes, when Desmond freaking Howard, whose most famous moment is the time he struck the heisman pose after scoring a touchdown (which, for the record, was awesome) calls out Denard Robinson for being entitled, he sounds like a complete idiot.
This is probably a silly distinction that I'm making, but I think it's:
(1) reasonable to say that Desmond came off as an ass (I think he did); and
(2) unreasonable to issue guidelines in advance that would have prevented him from saying it.
I totally agree with you on Desmond. I'm just not a fan of discouraging comments ahead of time -- especially when that discouragement comes from a source without any real claim for doing so.
I understand your point, though, and almost made this case in my original comment.
That Brian's "guidelines" carry no weight with any of these players right?
Because he has no control over their lives?
Exactly, these guidelines are heavy in irony and humor.
maybe you'd prefer them from the current head coach, who doesn't think too highly of internal criticism of Michigan players or coaches.
I think everyone on this board is, or should be in agreement that Desmond should not have made those comments about Denard. That said, the fact that some people are talking some pretty hefty trash about Desmond is absurd.
I don't think that ANYONE will defend what Desmond said. Why would you call out the LEAST entitled player I have ever watched? The guy has ZERO ego, is all about the team and is a true class act.
The point that Desmond was trying to make was about the media and the fans' attitude about a potential Denard exit (read the full context, it is pretty obvious). But, you can certainly make that point without adding the gratuitous part about Denard only having 5 good cames against crap competition.
That said, perhaps the guy is a Michigan legend, and the amount of sensitivity of some of our fanbase is over the top. Stupid comment by a guy that should have known better - and he has had the decency to try to clear it up. Move on, let it go.
maybe not the dumbest...the "they can come look at the heisman in my living room" comment after his 50 yards of offense in another rose bowl asskicking was probably dumber.
wasn't Brian on board with the racism thing? wasn't he also complaining that we didn't have enough black assistant coaches?
I don't think he explicitly blamed racism, but he definitely complained about a lack of young black assistants and suggested that it might hurt our ability to relate to recruits, at least until we hired Montgomery.
Naturally, it's been an oldish white guy (Mattison) that's actually turned out to be key in recruiting thus far.
and used a bad example. His point was let's not annoint a sophomore THE BEST THING EVER. He said the questions this offseason weren't about Michigan, but it was all about "What's Denard doing? will he stay???" And Desmond thought the focus should be more on the program.
That's my positive spin take, and I don't think Desmond said what he meant. Or was quoted pseudo incorrectly. at least I hope
Which is a more polite way of saying he stuck his foot in his mouth. Politicians do it all the time, and occasionally disaster follows. Disaster won't—and shouldn't—attend Desmond on this, but he needs to be a bit wiser about how he phrases some things.
Somewhere, right now, Denard is smiling. That makes me smile!
The newspaper plot as a whole, yes. The jackass inventing stories? Not so much. Gus Johnson quickly became one of my favorite characters in the series, but every time I saw that Templeton guy on the screen I just wanted to hit him.
than a post instructing sports fans how not to overreact on the internet. That would solve the vast majority of kerfuffles surrounding former players -- including this one.
and wish it would hurry up and come on.
for my tastes, there have been too many axes to grind on the main page lately and way too much sniping between fellow michigan fans on the boards.
Is your post sarcastic or is it ironic?
was that if Denard put up those numbers all year and beat OSU and MSU and won a BCS Bowl game and the Heisman and maybe struck a pose, THEN he would be able to be feel "entitled"? Desmond contradicted himself. I don't think Bo qualified the statement "no one is bigger than the Michigan program" with any performance exemptions.
In fact if anyone is acting the big-shot, it's Desmond Howard. It just blows my mind he can throw out Denard Robinson's name as an example of what's wrong with college football. Denard is all about what is RIGHT with college football.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-05-27/brandon-envi…
i can't start forums but this was interesting - would be fun! pleaseee former players, don't demean this idea i'd love to see it
Did Desmond use a good example to prove his point? No. Does anyone think that Denard is crying like Brian and his army? No. I love all of the insight that this blog provides, but it appears, more and more to come only from Tim and Tom VH, in between is Brian's endless whining (which probably is good for debate, flame wars and CTR). Brian, it seems like it might be time to take a few personal days.
p.s. Last year's team wasn't tough. Proof = UMass.
In response to accusing someone of starting flame wars, you decide to include comments labeled as "proof" that you know will start arguments because there is no way to actually prove what you have chosen as evidence.
Hopefully I've outed your ridiculousness and this can end right now.
As to toughness, I'll let Mattison and Hoke be my guide and not a pack of face-painters.
Proof = UMASS. You juggle burro balls in your mouth. Proof = Your post.
Proof=
Denard playing injured.
Vincent Smith returning 6 months of an ACL tear.
Mouton making a game winning sack after one of the worst defensive performances of all time.
Martin playing after two cheap shots from Wisco and MSU.
The team was still young and poorly defensively coached: proof=Umass.
Brian does provide insight and quality material. Yes, he is frustrated but he is still the one putting in the effort everyday to make this blog work for us.
You=ungrateful idiot.
Wow. 4 players over the course of an entire season = toughness to you? Again, Mattison and Hoke are better judges of toughness than you. If they felt the team had been "tough", they wouldn't be making a repeated effort to instill toughness in the team.
Just curious.
Probably because I choose not to be one of the sheep carrying a failed coach on my shoudlers.
By the way, as I'm typing this, I notice the "Bo" shirt in the Mgoblogstore in the ad to the right of the page. How come there isn't a RichRod shirt in the store? I think it would probably sell well. Oh wait, it wouldn't...because when you boil it down to dollars, no one is stupid enough to try to sell such a thing.
Comments