Unverified Voracity Explores Base 36 Comment Count

Brian

Harbaugh on Real Sports. Sounds like it's going to be interesting:

In HBO's upcoming episode of "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," reporter Andrea Kremer asks Harbaugh if it's true that he has a problem working with others at various jobs.

"It must be true," Harbaugh says. "Because I'd wear out my welcome.

"People just don't want to be around you after a while."

Harbaugh may be polarizing personally, but people one or more steps removed from him get to observe the chaos from safe distance. This would never have happened during the previous regime for a thousand reasons:

The program also shows glimpses of a mic'd up Harbaugh at practice, at one point taking a player (whose number is blurred out) aside and delivering him a stern and somewhat profane message: "I'm just telling you the right way to do it. If you want to look at me like with that look, then go (expletive) somewhere else."

I hope Michael Rosenberg hasn't suddenly come down with the vapors. Ten PM tomorrow if you've got the HBOs.

How do you give M0.0N dollars though? The annual EDSBS charity bash is on. It's been won by Michigan every year since its inception and has resulted in things like Spencer comes to the Penn State game and writes about it. This is your prize in 2015:

OKAY WHAT'S IN IT FOR US?

We will outfit the site in the colors of the school. We will devote an entire Hatin' Ass Spurrier to ripping on the rivals of the winner. We have random celebrity guest calls to big donors. For instance, last year we might have had a Heisman Trophy winner call a particularly generous donor. That might could be you! You'll never know until you give, and then give again, and then wisely take out a second mortgage all in the name of getting a sports parody site's highest honor. (Oh, and you'll be giving to a great, great charity, too.)

Also 30k overall equals tattoo. You can give here. Money goes to support refugee resettlement.

Figuring out what we've got in Moritz Wagner. Nobody really knows how big of a deal Wagner is because he's spent his career on the U18 Alba Berlin team with only occasional forays onto the big squad.

The occasional NBA scout has weighed in. Rivals's Eric Bossi flagged one down who said he was in the 20-40 range, which would be terrific. Scout talked to another gentleman who was more conservative, saying top 100—still not bad.

The Daily adds to our currently thin pile of Wagner material by talking to Alba Berlin's coach:

“I predict two years for him, to achieve even a good position in the NBA draft,” said Alba Berlin coach Saša Obradović following his team’s 78-74 win over the Phoenix Hagen on April 15. …“

He thinks he’s not ready for the professional life,” Obradović said. “He (could have) played here. I expect that he could be a good prospect and good player for our future. So I think (Michigan has acquired) a very good talent, and you will see this very, very fast.” …

“He is a versatile player. Just don’t put him on the ‘5,’ ” Obradović said. “He has good, soft hands, good first step. He still (has) to learn a lot, but (he’s) already on a certain level of skill.”

Mission accomplished as far as not putting him at center goes. It'll be interesting how quickly Wagner proves himself. A lot of people are speculating that he might redshirt given the roster's current state—packed—and his current physique—skinny. A two-and-done doesn't redshirt, though.

A day as king of media. Richard Detsch asked a bunch of sports media people what they'd change if they could wave a magic wand. Some of the responses are inane—"pay more attention to baseball"—says one guy. Others are interesting, although not necessarily on purpose. Amy Trask:

Amy Trask, CBS Sports NFL analyst

I would abolish coverage of and commentary on ephemeral matters.  Coverage of and commentary on matters that are transitory, fleeting and momentary is wasteful at best, and may be harmful, as it emphasizes the trivial instead of the important.

Amy Trask would ban sports media entirely.

Fran Frascilla wins:

In NBA and college basketball games, nothing slows a game down more than the incessant number of timeouts, TV And otherwise. Well-coached teams don't need to rely on all the in-games stoppages. That's what practices are supposed to be for.

I got a dollar for Fran.

image

Blake O'Neill pensively considering the third and long his team faces

Attention, ladies. If you would like more information on our new punter's modeling career, his profile can be found here. I foresee trouble if he keeps taking his shirt off during games.

HARBAUGH: O'Neill! In this country we play football without our shimmering torsos catching the afternoon sun in just that particular way that makes women weep.
O'NEILL: Sorry. It is the way of my people to frolic in the sun when the whim catches us.
HARBAUGH: Weber State sounds like damned weird place.

NHL on Werenski. He won't last past the first ten picks in all likelihood:

"He's such a cool, calm and collected player," NHL Central Scouting's Greg Rajanen said of Werenski. "He's the type of player you have to watch a little closely to realize how good he is. He's smart, always in the right spot, moves the puck and makes all the plays. But not in a 'wow' sort of way like Hanifin does. At the next level Werenski will be a really a good player who will produce points and be solid defensively."

Werenski started coming into his own with the puck on his stick about halfway through the year but still struggled with the physicality of the college game. That's not much of a surprise since a lot of the guys he was going up against were five, six, or even seven years older than him. He should take a major leap forward. If they got a Trouba-level year out of him that would paper over a lot of problems.

Another horse for the goalie mill. Michigan goes back to the NAHL well for a goalie:

Catt put up a flashy .937 in 2013-14 and had a .918 this year, splitting time between Aberdeen and the Soo. He's old: already 21. He is also an in-state player who was headed to D-III, so I'm guessing he's not getting a lot of scholarship money. (Hockey can split scholarships.) He'll give Michigan another option next year.

Etc.: I think I've figured out what Kentucky promised Devin Booker to get his commitment. Via user Karpodiem, the latest shot in the unbundling wars.

Comments

Njia

April 20th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^

A totally made up (but entirely plausible) upcoming expose by Michael Rosenberg:

 

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a veteran player from the Hoke era said, "We were used to cookies and milk after each practice. Now, only those players who 'won' the scrimmage got to eat steak. Everyone else had to eat hot dogs! THIS ISN'T MICHIGAN!"

 

west2

April 20th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^

apparent Kentucky students licking the car door of a recruit, 2 things came to mind.  Are these really students doing this or ?   Also, if that was my daughter in one of those pictures I would be so proud that I spent 30 k a year sending her to such a high class institution. 

DonAZ

April 20th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^

"I'm just telling you the right way to do it. If you want to look at me like with that look, then go (expletive) somewhere else."

Wow.  I wonder what the "look" was -- angry look, or worse ... a dismissive eye-roll look?

Either way ... not smart. 

Speculation starts now on what (expletive) was. :-)

 

mGrowOld

April 20th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^

My guess is they forgot the word "play" because then the bleeped out word "fucking" fits perfectly.

FWIW the fact that we have a head coach that won't stand and clap and say "that's ok" when players can't or won't take instructions is music to my 55 year old ears.  I absolutely LOVE that he holds players accountable and my guess is the players are getting a heaping helping of accountability like they've NEVER seen at Michigan before.

And what was the gesture that sent him off?  I'd bet heavily on the eye roll.  That's the participation trophy generations go-to look when they feel someone in authority is telling them something they really don't want to hear.

DonAZ

April 20th, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^

I'd bet heavily on the eye roll.

That was my thought as well ... and I can fully appreciate Harbaugh's response to that.

If a young players is going to act like they know what's best, then they damn well better play like they are the best.  One mistake and they deserve all the retribution that comes to them.

MGoBrewMom

April 20th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^

I know the look I'm thinking it is.. it's the "not really an eye roll". where the eyes don't actually roll... they just stare at you as the entire rest of the face is silently screaming "blah blah blah"... their eyes are rolling in their mind and you can absolutely tell.

JeepinBen

April 20th, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^

I think that a truly great coach coaches each player individually. Some players will respond well to Harbaugh yelling, others would fold. Let's not forget that Hoke's "it's OK" was extremly lauded after Hagerup's big mistake. That was probably exactly what the kid needed at that time.

That said, Brady may have been too far of an "it's OK" coach. I hope Harbaugh's results are better. He sure seems to know when to have a chat and when to have a yell. Hopefully he gets the best out of the players.

(As an aside, I owe you beer. I don't remember if our bet invovled another D. Rose knee surgery or Lebron going to Miami for "Therapy" that definitely didn't involve "showing up out of shape" or "potential alleged steroids*". Howeva, I'll pick a Goose Island 6 pack and get them your way somehow. A bet is a bet. And here's to a great 2nd round that the Bulls win. Found the original thread. I said D Rose would be healthy and you said that LeBron would have crap teammates - that trade was huge. That said, I'll still pay up.

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/ot-kevin-love-cavs)

 

 

*I made this up

JeepinBen

April 20th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^

But he didn't fumble the next snap either. If we're talking on-field coaching, I think there needs to be balance. Many on here loved Hoke's cool demeanor - especially contrasted to spittle-flying-purple-Brian-Kelly. There are some players who will respond well to screaming, some who will fold, etc. Knowing how to coach everyone to get the best of their abilities is a valuable skill.

mGrowOld

April 20th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^

I had completely forgotten that bet.  Seeing that it involved two parts (one of which I've won - one is yet to be determined) why dont we wait a couple of weeks to settle up?

FYI my email address is [email protected].   Send me an email and we can figure out the details.

BTW - I was at the game yesterday.  El Crappo seats but I was in the building.  Actually not that different of seats that I had back in 1989 when I got to see THIS in person....

BayWolves

April 20th, 2015 at 1:59 PM ^

Leaders don't have the time or patience to cater to every individual's hang ups and personalities, You fold to their command and get with the program or gtfo. Harbaugh is not a fan of the millennial way of doing things. He was born in the 60s and has that old school mentality. This is why he will win.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

notetoself

April 20th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^

"ok ladies, to keep these basketball recruits here, i'm going to need to you to be willing to put your tongues on their c..." (phone cuts out)

"cars? he was probably going to say 'cars' "

befuggled

April 20th, 2015 at 12:20 PM ^

Let me list a few of the things I regard as ephemeral that I never want to hear about again:

  • Whether or not Marshawn Lynch talks to the media
  • Whether or not Bill Belichek is cheating by letting Tom Brady micromanage football pressure like every other QB in the league seems to do
  • Whether or not the spread can work in the B1G or anywhere else for that matter
  • Anything related to Tim Tebow unless he actually plays in another regular season game

charblue.

April 20th, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^

a game for him after being a few minutes late for your first team meeting, you think that our current coach would have a oroblem telling a guy he want to consider another school if he was unwilling to accept coaching criticism for failure to communitcate more effectively. I think not.

Jimmy is competitive, he is demanding, and he is quirky. And he is old school. And that's why we love him. Because we know where his heart is and what he will bring with a true Michigan spirit about the team, the team, the team.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

April 20th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

Joe Buck's idea is the stupidest piece of shit idea known to mankind.  If baseball broadcasts started having interviews with the hitter in the hole, I'd watch so much less baseball it's not even funny.  I want to watch a fucking baseball game, not a bunch of dipshit interviews or some guy warming up in a batting cage.  Coaches' interviews at halftime are already a waste of everyone's time.  Batters' interviews would be 10,000 variations on "well I'm just gonna look for my pitch and see what happens."

I'm sick of the media trying to interject themselves into every single goddamn moment that ever takes place.  I don't want "access," I want to watch a fucking ballgame and I want the announcers to shut the goddamn hell up for five fucking seconds every now and again.  Ernie Harwell knew to shut his piehole every so often and that's part of what made him so unbelievably great and he was on the damn radio.  And on the instances I do want to hear what's going on, I want the unscripted version, not some bubbly blonde jagoff asking shitty questions like "tell me how this makes you feel."  It's assholes like Joe Buck who think I'm here to watch them that make TV broadcasts insufferable.

rob f

April 20th, 2015 at 10:03 PM ^

I'd upvote you 1000 times if it could be done!

You are so right with that entire rant---Joe Buck and so many others in the media have somehow lost sight of why they have jobs:  to bring the game to us.  Instead, in their misguided efforts to "entertain" us, they overestimate their own importance in the whole scheme of things.  Not much different than the thinking of Dave Brandon and his "Wow! Factor" way of thinking.

UMQuadz05

April 20th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

From the media column:

 

J.A. Adande:  let players do interviews during travel/downtime, instead of right after the game.

Buccigross:  (basically) fix golf on TV.  It's 2015!  Tiger's last round wasn't completely televised because...reasons!

UMQuadz05

April 20th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

From the media column:

 

J.A. Adande:  let players do interviews during travel/downtime, instead of right after the game.

Buccigross:  (basically) fix golf on TV.  It's 2015!  Tiger's last round wasn't completely televised because...reasons!

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

April 20th, 2015 at 2:45 PM ^

My personal favorite (as might be guessed from the above) was:

I would go on a needless clutter rampage and eliminate excessive verbiage, overanalysis, space consuming and irrelevant graphics, mindless replays, and other elements that get between a viewer and the event.

So right.

The worst replay trend these days is the super-slo-mo high fives.  That just screams "way too much dead air."  Broadcasts could cut way down on media timeouts and between-innings time without losing a cent of revenue if they just cut immediately to commercial without all the lame attempts at winning an Emmy and trying to turn a two-second celebration into an EPIC DISPLAY OF EMOTION.

jmblue

April 20th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^

Funny how almost all of the media reponses to the "What would you change about sports?" question involve giving themselves greater access to players.  Not self-serving in the least.

I did like Alexi Lalas's proposal to have referees go in front of the media, though.