Mailing It In
Hey guys. I did not do the UFR this week, because I really did not want to do it. So I didn't. This is what I mean by mailing it in. I'm sorry, but not sorry enough to actually go do it. Obviously.
I will try to muster the courage to do so at some point in the future, because it is nice to have completeness. Right now you could hold a gun to my cat's head and threaten me and I would look on blankly until you cracked and started weeping and I told you It's Not Your Fault™. You're not actually going to kill a kitten about this, are you? Okay, okay, it's a cat, not a kitten. Put the gun down! It's Not Your Fault™! Unless you do something you're going to regr—
Hmm. Well, if you had to go at least it was before Saturday. We will put your MGoPoint total on your tombstone.
What's going on. I am going to go home and have a normal Thanksgiving like a normal person like I used to do before they moved the Ohio State game back a week for dubious reasons. I am not going to put up a UFR on the day itself, because I didn't do it. There will be a preview on Friday, though if I had to bet I'm assuming it will be light on useful analysis and heavy on gallows humor shirt-rending about how Ohio State has a good football team and Michigan does not have a good football team.
Then we are going to grit our teeth and get through Saturday, whereupon we will feel much better at the prospect of a weekend with nothing more horrifying in it than the prospect of Michigan State and Ohio State playing for the Big Ten Championship… godddammit. At least you don't have to watch that if you don't want.
You're free! FREEEEEEE. After Saturday. I'll see you Friday.
In conclusion. Butt.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
You really should just shut up
November 27th, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
Did I say I was pissed?
People come here for the content and the discussions on the board. The board has completely gone to shit, so the content is what keeps people spending their time here (which is not the same as spending money, but is still a limited resource and it gets Brian paid). If the content also goes down hill, that's not a good thing for any of us (the readers or Brian).
Of course Brian is entitled to a day off, just like my dry cleaner is entitled to closed on the day I need my clothes dry cleaned. But he certainly runs the risk of me finding a new dry cleaner.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 6:44 PM ^
I have posted a lot, because the site has been incredible for most of its history. But things have gotten worse, and readers have left. I'm not saying I'll stop reading, but my traffic has certainly slowed and will continue to do so if the quality trend continues.
And I disagree with your about finding another dry cleaner. I've never paid for a Rivals subscription because I felt MGoBlog was good enough that I didn't need to. As soon as I feel that's no longer the case, I'll happily pay $100 a year and Brian will lose my page views and purchases. A business owner would much rather his customers speak up before they leave rather than after.
November 27th, 2013 at 10:14 PM ^
Again, you are entitled to do what you want, and as a valued customer I'm sure Brian respects your opinion. But again, take your business somewhere else if this site has really become unbearable. Lord knows I've stopped posting at various sites when they became too preachy; hell, I stopped reading the comments at Patently-O around the time they started complaining about the America Invents Act for the 100th time. And I'm sure Rivals has some value that Brian may not be providing anymore (though $100 for a bunch of rumors and "insider info" seems steep to me), and you are entitled to make that decision. But I've bought all of the HTTV, added in the hockey/basketball one as well, bought some shirts, and have been overcome with beveled guilt before, and if this site turns to crap then I'll stop doing that.
But I'm not going to keep posting veiled threats about leaving in the hope (I guess) that Brian will take notice and stop being himself. These posts are his opinions about UM football, and if he isn't happy then they should reflect that. I'm happy he isn't trying to shine this turd of a second half and act like we are seeing anything great save for a defense coming together. You want a UFR that says the defense played well until it ran out of steam and the offense crapped the bed AGAIN, then re-read MSU/Nebraska/almost NW and just imagine black and gold uniforms. It's the same thing.
I wish everyone a happy holiday, and maybe a day or two off will be good for everyone.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:43 AM ^
Seriously, STFU.
November 29th, 2013 at 1:02 AM ^
is how bad the Boards have actually become. I don't know if it's lack of moderation, a change in readership or what? I also firmly believe that the general demeanor of the posts, which have become progressively more negative, at least in my opinon.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^
How much do you pay for your MGoBlog subscription? Oh yeah that's right. Zero. How about you start contributing say $200 a month to the site before even thinking about looking this gift horse in the mouth.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:25 PM ^
You act like because I don't pay, Brian is doing this out of charity. I am still a patron, someone's whose satisfaction affects his bottom line just like a customer in a coffee shop. Also, I've donated, purchased HTTVs every year, as well as MGoBlog t-shirts (plural). So yes, I'm a paying customer. I don't pay for the UFR, but it's all part of the package.
I promise that people who stop reading the blog are far less likely to donate or buy magazines or clothing. And that's not even taking the page hits into account. Brian doesn't have to give a shit what I think, but it certainly behooves him to take those sorts of things into account. I'm not exactly the only one who reads this stuff.
November 27th, 2013 at 9:57 PM ^
Anyway, I don't get why people are trying to give Brian advice on the business he us running. I'm sure he gets that he'll lose some people depending on his tact, and I trust he's considered it before making this decision. But all of this complaining about how he runs his ship reflects more on the concerned parties than Brian.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:32 PM ^
beyond ridiculous. i also don't pay google, yahoo mail, skype, facebook, washington post, etc...I suppose I shouldn't critique or question their end product. (disclosure, i have spent money on this site, however i rarely post or critique)
November 27th, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
Your sense of entitlement is the only ridiculous thing about this discussion.
November 27th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^
Critique doesn't mean there's entitlement. We may not be entitled to UFRs, but it's fair to criticize the ommission of it.
Going back to my dry cleaner example, I'm not entitled to my dry cleaner staying open until 7pm. But if he decides he wants to close at 5, it's fair for me to let him know I'm not in favor of that.
Businesses are allowed to ignore all customer complaints they want. But it's no one else's fault if they lose customers.
November 27th, 2013 at 7:35 PM ^
Is your dry cleaner open tomorrow?
November 27th, 2013 at 7:54 PM ^
I don't think anyone here is suggesting Brian should work on Thanksgiving, but I think most of us were under the impression that most of the UFR work was not actually done on Thursday.
That said, my company makes the same weekly requirements for me regardless of whether or not the week contains a holiday. That means I had to do 5 days worth of work in 3 days this week.
November 27th, 2013 at 8:25 PM ^
Brian doesn't work for us.
I strongly recommend you read Matty Blue's quote below from Bill James.
(And FWIW, from my understanding Brian usually does a lot of the work on most content the day it is posted, including the UFRs)
November 27th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
Not to pick on your point, but I'm still working all week despite my office being closed; I have to get a new product ready by Monday, and that's what the boss wants. But Brian is his own boss, and if he doesn't want to do a UFR he can do that if he so chooses. And as noted below, I always figured most of the content was done day-of, hence the sometimes-late posting when I can only imagine he is still typing up his notes.
November 27th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^
Critiquing =/= Bitching. The person I responded to is doing the latter, not the former.
November 27th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^
I agree with your first sentence, but that line can be blurry at times. The only real difference is tone, not content.
November 29th, 2013 at 12:53 AM ^
but perhaps Brian had to get out and do some early Black Friday shopping. I hear Walmart had a nice sale on Kitty Kollars tonight.
November 27th, 2013 at 4:10 PM ^
The UFRs are the best feature on this blog so I hope you do eventually get to them. And there are still two games left this season so I hope this doesn't mean you're mailing in those too. Anyway happy Thanksgiving.
November 27th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
This is the first time we're looking at the possibility of him skipping three.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:32 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
I'm dubious. He's neglected them in the past and OSU is shaping up to be an epic beatdown..
November 27th, 2013 at 6:59 PM ^
He's skipped OSU in the past, from what I recall - I think it was 2007 or 2008. He or one of the other mods have also shut down the live blog early at least once.
November 27th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
UFR's are the most data driven objective piece of analysis on here, a true coaches view of what's going on. That's why I was disappointed, especially after the "fickle rant." Would have been a nice break from all the bitching...of which I am a huge contributor these days
November 27th, 2013 at 6:37 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
how horrible the offense plays against OSU. It could get really ugly, so ugly that most of may stop watching the game. Soooo, I doubt Brian will create a UFR for something so ugly!
November 27th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^
As a relative noob to this place and as I have not been able to ferret out a FAQ sheet, can someone give me a primer to the various abbreviations such as "UFR" that are commonly used here?
November 27th, 2013 at 4:16 PM ^
Upon Further Review, this blogs Wednesday Thursday feature
November 27th, 2013 at 4:19 PM ^
Thanks. Just as I hit post, I discovered a link to said abbreviations, but I appreciate your help and your restraint in not hazing me for the noob that I am. ;-)
November 27th, 2013 at 4:46 PM ^
Now, take out the trash and get us some Chinese food to tide us over until tomorrow.
Also, Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^
but reading them has just been too damn depressing after so many bad performances. We've played what, 3 games this year where afterwards you could feel positive about things?
I don't blame Brian one bit, enjoy the holiday, suck it up and take it Saturday because the rivalry turns it always turns.
November 27th, 2013 at 4:21 PM ^
I'm actually kinda glad there's no UFR this week. I really don't want to relive that game at all. In fact, after the Charlotte game, I was very happy to realize that there wouldn't be any more sports until hockey on Friday, with the sole exception of the Thanksgiving Day game, and as a Lions fan, lol. It sucks to have this happen on hate week, but we all needed a little break, I think.
November 27th, 2013 at 4:26 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 7:22 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^
shall pass. Hopefully Saturday Al will follow this sage advice.
Happy Thanksgiving to all creators and readers of MGoBlog...
November 27th, 2013 at 4:37 PM ^
Because what we really need are two bye weeks instead of finishing the season before the last day of freaking November. I hate this.
November 27th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
Its depressing knowing we have ZERO chance of winning saturday..yeah Ill watch but I know its going to be ugly and thats what really pisses me off...
November 27th, 2013 at 4:42 PM ^
reading these posts are getting as bad as watching the team lose. this blog is an incredible accomplishment, being able to create a career by doing what you're passionate about. but i guess there's always corporate america now, where you would actually have to DO your job, even when you have the blues...
November 27th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
like all of us in corporate America who spend all our time on this site while "doing our jobs."
November 27th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
Oh yes, because corporate life is full of examples of people persevering and producing top-notch work despite their personal desires not to. Guy wants a vacation; he's allowed to take one. Unlike corporate America, he doesn't get paid when he doesn't put content up.
November 27th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^
i have no issues with anyone taking a vacation. what I've always enjoyed from Brian's posts are his wit, obscure references, and clear passion for everything Michigan. but this constant negativity is taking the joy out of reading the blog. i'm sure, unlike Borges, all writers on this site are willing to take some critisism.
November 27th, 2013 at 6:33 PM ^
November 27th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
I was unaware that everyone in corporate America continues to work as usual on Thanksgiving. Or that the rules of your imaginary corporate America applied to someone that is self employed.
November 27th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^
didn't realize he wrote this post, or the imaginary UFR, on thanksgiving, thanks for clearing that up. oh, btw plenty of people do have to work on the holidays, but maybe that's also imaginary.
November 28th, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
Nothing like 60 year olds trying to force their mindless worker bee drone values on people. Brian makes money with clicks and traffic, not by showing up and punching a time card. It's 2013. Deal with it. When he posts on this site at 11:30 at night, trying to clear up comment and site content errors, is that working hard enough for you?
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