THE EAGLES ARE THE ONLY BAND IN THE MATRIX
Unverified Voracity Identifies Self By Name
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I noticed a few people in the comments helping others out with the program by recommending adblock, which is fine by me; I use adblock. Just one tiny ripple-of-guilt note: last I checked, about 20% of expected ad revenue gets eaten up by it. If you'd like to avoid that feeling of regret and horror currently racing through your body, you can either turn off adblock for this site or chuck ten or so dollars at the beveled guilt donation button.
WTKA-in'. My appearance on WTKA in one section thanks to Paul. John U Bacon is the host, as he often is, and the third guy in the booth is Wayne Drehs of ESPN.com, who's in town for the year on a Knight-Wallace fellowship. You should skip to six minutes in because the first caller goes forever.
Bonus: I'll be on WJR today at 5:15 with Mitch Albom.
I'm also scheduled for a Thursday appearance on WRIF, a Saturday morning appearance on WJR, and I will be rocking it at WCBN on a regular basis this fall.
For the record. You could attempt to deal with the specific points and accusations leveled by this here blog, or you could try to paint the author here as an anonymous internet nutjob and avoid any substantive discussion. The Free Press chooses Door Number B, link omitted for obvious reasons:
Twitter is also being used to pass links to the petition as well as share links to mgoblog.com, which has emerged as a go-to place for displaced U-M fans who have given up on the Free Press.
In a blog post on Monday, the site said traffic was temporarily crashing the server.
The Michigan fan blog has branded its coverage of the Free Press report as "Jihad the second," alluding to a holy war on the behalf of Islam.
Most of the posts are written by someone who identifies himself as Brian.
No contact information is given.
I don't know, guys… is the link that says "contact" on top of the blog too obscure? I know it's not huge and red and blinking. For the record, I identify myself as "Brian" because that is my name. My last name is Cook. I even have a bunch of biographical details up. My email address—which plenty of people seem able to find—is mgoblog@gmail.com. If you click the link, it will email me.
There's even a picture at right which was good enough to get into the second round, but no further, of some ridiculous good-lookin' blogger competition that turned into a total fiasco.
I hope this suffices to identify me. I have slightly less hair now, for the record. And I don't always give things a thumbs-up. Sometimes… eh… thumbs in the middle.
Dude… what? Carson Butler, what say you?
Detroit Lions rookie Carson Butler, who played at Michigan, said he didn't think players had to do a lot more work for Rodriguez last year when compared with previous seasons under Lloyd Carr.
"It was just a different structure," Butler said.
Butler said it didn't seem as if the players were forced to spend excessive time training and practicing.
"I don't know all of the exact rules, but I don't remember anything that seemed like it was too much," Butler said. "If the weight room was open, you went. If there was a run, you went. It's just what you do to be a better football player."
I… you… how? What? I can't comprehend this. If Carson Butler, who was basically told to enter the NFL draft because he was not welcome back, has Rodriguez's back here, I need to find anyone who will take bets on Michigan picking up a major violation and put the farm on "nay."
Guess who's pissed off? If you said the family of Je'ron Stokes, you win.
"My wife [Juanita] and I talk to Je'Ron every day. We follow him through the internet, by phone, and we've been up there on a couple of occasions," he said. "We spent an entire Thursday through Monday up there, and I'd see guys voluntarily go into that weight room on Sunday and Saturday and put in extra work.
"I know [the allegations] are not true, because I know how [strength coach] Mike Barwis cares for these kids. He's taken my son to bible study and to church. These are the kinds of things that impress us about the program and Rich Rod and his staff. They are good people, and I hate the fact that every negative thing put out there brings the wrong perception to the Michigan program.
When it rains it actually drops enormous anvils on your head. Rodriguez got served yesterday, and he didn't have a danceoff with Mike Cox:
University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez is being sued for defaulting on a real-estate loan to build high-end condominiums in the shadows of Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium.
Rodriguez's financial advisor says he's the "victim of a real-estate Ponzi scheme," FWIW.
Recycle. I'm sure Tim will cover this in Tuesday Recruitin' but it's worth a mention here, too: Devin Gardner's bounced up to the #53 player in the Rivals 100, which makes him the #1 QB in the country of any variety. This is where I remind you that MGoBlog got swank HD video of Gardner from Saturday's Inkster-Pioneer game. Yes, we are going to link this until everyone who reads this blog watches the video.
Back and forth. I never actually got around to addressing the ethics of the whole Rodriguez thing, instead choosing to focus on the potential penalties and overall picture, and now I don't have to because the WLA has a couple of articles on the thing that cover it. CFaller's is required reading:
Workouts are voluntary, but so is playing time” is not, in my e-pinion, a wink and a nod to the NCAA rules, but an actual credo embraced by most of these kids. The way I see it the coaches don’t say this as a way to force kids into “volunteering” for workout, but rather to remind them of the environment they are part of.
dex also has an extended post.
Etc.: Smart Football tackles the zone read and the scrape exchange.
I wasn't aware
Brian looked like Cat Stevens. Maybe all the Jihad posts should be submitted under the name Brosef Islam.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:51 PM
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Uh-oh
Wait, Barwis was taking these kids to Bible study?
Was this mandatory? Forget NCAA sanctions, we might have a Constitutional issue to worry about.
I'll expect the Freep story alleging violations of the separation of church and state in the morning...
wooo
DREW & MIKE! Don't answer any of Mikes questions. He knows nothing about football other than M$U is Michigans rival.
Freshman QB's stats
Interesting table on various past freshmen QB stats. I think I would be happy if Tate Forcier (I'm assuming he will get a decent amount of playing time) performed similar to Chad Henne in his freshman year. Although he could perform better since he is very polished and advanced at this point in his career.
AJ Bluefan
AJ Bluefan
FAQ from Brian
Just for kicks, I went to the mgoblog bio data/FAQ for Brian, per his suggested link. One FAQ was, more or less, "when will you do a rip job on X," and Brian answers that he generally avoids doing this. In this regard, however, I think that a rip-job should be up for discussion. Specifically, I'd like to hear more from you on one "Michael Rosenberg."
I also, BTW, understand that it was über-cool that Coach Carr knew and could quote Kipling, that he was literate, well-read, loyal, had a great and wicked and snarky sense of humor. Personally, I think that if I had to choose going out for dinner with Carr or RR, I would rather spend time with Carr. Seems a fascinating figure. But at the end of the day, we need a good Football Coach at Michigan. Whether or not the culture of Michigan loves who RR is or isn't, the real question is whether or not he is a good football coach.
One of my doctors is an ND grad reasonably close to the team. I love talking with him about football. But the reason I go to him is not because he's a nice guy who can talk intelligently about football. I go to him because he's a great doctor. It doesn't matter that much whether I like RR as a person. What I want is the following:
1) Someone who cares about his players, and doesn't treat them like dirt.
2) Someone who plays by the rules (and I believe RR is playing by the rules.)
3) Someone who wins games (and I believe that UM will win games under RR.)
All the other stuff I love about Carr . . . well, if the game has passed him by and he no longer has a consistently winning program, then we had to move on. None of this is new.
I've drank the koolaid, I'm all in, win or lose, with RR. Even with 4 or 5 straight losses in the Big 10.
Brian.....
Can we get un updated pic? Actually a pic with a different finger sticking up would be nice. I have visions of e-mailing it to Rosendouch once a day for about the next 5 years.
Just kidding, fellas. I'm not that much into cyber-stalking, really.
Also
Mitch Albom blows.
Just listened to the interview, is he really that clueless that he had never heard of mgoblog. He actually asked Brian what he did for a job.
What a freaking has been.
Boise/VaTech at justcoverblog.com
Br.....ian?
Who the fuck is Brian? I thought Tim and Paul ran the site?
Wait, this is Varsity Blue, isnt it?
Boise/VaTech at justcoverblog.com
"Most of the posts are
"Most of the posts are written by someone who identifies himself as Brian.
No contact information is given."
I CAN HAZ INTERWEBS? HAZ BUTTONS?
All beasts start out as cute little kits before they grow big, strong and vicious. Time to show the world how you've grown, Wolverines.
Is it just me?
Is it just me or is this whole thing blowing over very, very quickly. We have Herbstreit and Butler (WTF?) defending Rich Rod, WTKA was nothing this morning but player's parents calling in to, literally, call the story "B.S." and the Freep is reduced to taking obviously silly shots at Brian??? I mean, talk about the wheels falling off.
I heard both Mr. Stokes and Mr. Warren (separate calls) on WTKA this morning. Each was very, very clear on the whole voluntary thing. Each said their son was never forced to do anything during the summner, but did so to get better. Ditto extra work. Mr. Warren stated he had spent one or two weeks in Ann Arbor and had never seen anything like what was alleged. One of them, I think Mr. Warren, actually called the story "B.S." Mr. Stokes went on for a while about how much his son is enjoying his time as a Wolverine. He was very clear that his son was putting in extra work because . . . wait for it . . . he chose to use his time to get better and help the team win.
A very pleasant morning commute, indeed.
"Integrity can only get you so far." - My little brother, the State grad.
Freep apparently wants to war with the entire Michigan community
"Over at PetitionSpot.com, an online petition has been started against the Free Press called "Do your research Freep!"
The petition, started early Monday, has 200 supporters out of its goal of 1,000.
The Web site allows users to post topics of concern and users can sign the petition electronically.
Other popular petitions on the site include one to bring back NBC's "Chuck" for a third season (41,058 signatures) and another trying to get comedian Kathy Griffin's new book selected by Oprah Winfrey for her book club (36,743 signatures)."
Nice snide comment d-bags. Let's review kids.
Brian = internet war with Alabama = 0.000004% of his readers
Freep = internet war with Meechigan = 50%(?) of its former readers
I had adblock disabled for
I had adblock disabled for MGoBlog until the malicious ads hit; now that those ads are dead, I'll be disabling adblock here again. Seeing a few ads is an easy way to support a worthwhile site.
Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!
"Someone who identifies himself as Brian"
Oh, Free Press, can you slant things any more?
I'm going to start referring to Michael Rosenberg as "a journalist who has not, to the best of my knowledge, ever killed a baby."
"That's horrible."
"Terrible is what it is."
Well....
Well...through my crack investigative techniques I have located several former or current Free Press employees who will, anonymously of course, swear that he HAS killed a baby or at least stepped on some ants.
That said, he [Denard] is like Zeus with a thunderbolt in his hand when he rolls out on a naked bootleg. -- Meeechingan Dan
Or you could call him
Or you could call him "someone who identifies himself as wrong."
Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!
I thought the
Jihad the second thing was the second one because the coaching search articles entitled "West f'ing Jihad: Day (insert #)" was the first one.
Michigan Wolverines: 874 wins, .740 winning percentage, 42 Big Ten Titles, 11 National Titles, 3 Heisman winners, and 150 consensus All-Americans
Jihad what?
I love that they have to explain what a jihad is.
That is also why I love this blog. Instead of assuming that the readership is composed of a bunch of morons, Brian assumes that we have functioning brains and can make logical conclusions from data.
I wonder what...
Brian uses on his hair to keep it so shiny and full of body.
Give 'em Hell, Mr. Cook!
caw caw!
Time wounds all heels. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGXMryTbwE
The Freep is so
lazy/ biased that they won't put in Brian's contact information and make it sound like he is some 3rd rate ignorant fan.'
Good job, preserving your integrity Freep. Good job!
Boycott the Detroit Free Press! Do not click on any link to that paper.
Brian,
Interesting to see the
Brian,
Interesting to see the Freep, per your capture, suggesting your pieces titled "Jihad the second" imply holy war by you against them. I understand these posts as your attempt to expose a holy war by the Freep against RR. Which is correct? Also, what would bin Laden do?
Contact information
They seem to have put as much investigative power into finding the Contact link as they did their article.
The update is comical. Yes, thanks to readers for providing contact info for the mysterious Mr. Cook, whose site we have never, ever heard of. Really. Trust us. What?
the freep get's it all wrong
The Michigan fan blog has branded its coverage of the Free Press report as "Jihad the second," alluding to a holy war on the behalf of Islam.
they cannot possibly be serious. 'jihad the second' isn't a holy war as the inflammatory freep alludes. that's silly.
it's the yet-to-be-released second song (ergo jihad the second) of thrashmetalband Slayer's hit Jihad. more importantly, it's a power ballad.
Freep = Mess
I haven't lived in the AA area since I was too young to even read. But, the more I find out about the Detroit Free Press the more they look like a big sack of animal excrement. I hope that wasn't too big of a word for them to understand.
Nobody home...
more like "deliberate insult" than "fail"
Most of the posts are written by someone who identifies himself as Brian.
They aren't familiar with mgoblog and this Brian Cook character who writes it? Sounds implausible.
I don't have a strong opinion on the merits of the original freep story, but their condescension towards a legitimate, well-informed critic is pitiful.
[inhabiting a 1k negnuke crater since 11/19/09]
AdBlock and options
I did the "disable AdBlock for this site" thing the last time the ad revenue came up, and it's a good way to support what you love.
Brian, I don't know if this is possible in Drupal, but a while back I noticed on Slashdot a box on the upper-right that said "Disable Advertising (box) As our way of thanking you for your positive contributions to Slashdot, you are eligible to disable advertising." I could see applying this option in relation to points, or donations, or both. EDIT: Yeah, I see you can already do that for donating. The points/positive contributions is thusly a second option for removal. *sigh*
JME.
