Unverified Voracity Plays Whack-A-Media
Programming note: I am behind on UFR and will post it tomorrow. I have no excuse for this one other than severe lack of motivation.
Oh, uh, yeah. Article in the Daily on the new blog order interviews me. There is already a thread with jokes about my appearance if you need to get in on that action. This was the most interesting bit of the article to me:
With the day-to-day grind of beat reporting, that type of depth is almost impossible for newspapers to imitate. Here’s a typical workday for Snyder — on the Monday before the Northwestern football game, he attended a nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long press conference, filing a story right there. Snyder then stayed at the building, transcribing football quotes and working until the basketball presser took place at 3 p.m. After the press conference, Snyder attended basketball practice, finally leaving after nine hours and still needing to file a story about the basketball team. That’s time Cook can spend analyzing plays and breaking down each game, while relying on reporters like Snyder to uncover the day-to-day business of the team.
I've never had a problem with beat writers; they do their job and it's necessary. But, man, doesn't that explain a lot? You put yourself in this press-conference-file-story-press-conference-file-story routine, covering a thousand different items shallowly and spending large portions of your time either listening to or transcribing what someone else is thinking. Then you've got the columnists on basically the same schedule, writing three things a week about one of ten different pro or college teams. There's no focus.
This is apparently media-bash day on MGoBlog, so might as well get on with it:
Different. Mark Dantonio took over Cincinnati's football program and left for a bigger one after two mediocre years. The Free Press frames that decision like so*:
A man's word still means something.
Two years ago, the Spartans pursued Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio. But he rejected the overtures until the Bearcats' regular season was over.
Can you imagine anyone stretching the bounds of praiseworthy behavior in order to find something nice to say about Rich Rodriguez? No. This is the exact thing—leaving a job—that Rich Rodriguez has been killed for, and he stayed at West Virginia for seven years, turning it into a national power.
But Dantonio Keeps His Word.
Yep:
In fact. Hey, here's a nice thing about Rodriguez in a mainstream newspaper!
Harrison, the safety, was among them. Then last weekend on Senior Day, his parents were late getting to Michigan Stadium from Dayton because of traffic from an accident. So instead of having Harrison take the field unescorted, Rodriguez accompanied him.
"He didn't really need to do that," Harrison said. "I see him in a whole different way. I used to look at him as just my head coach. Now I look at him as if it's a different type of bond."
This is part of an article with extensive quotes from Harrison, Terrance Taylor, Don Dufek, and Rick Leach and an actual quote from someone who interacts with a large number of Michigan fans:
Jason McNamee is an employee at the Buckeye Wolverine Shop in Perrysburg, Ohio, near Toledo.
McNamee said most Wolverines customers understand the situation Rodriguez inherited and are willing to give him time.
"I'd say if we had 100 Michigan fans in here, only 5-10 would say he has to go now," McNamee said.
It's probably the most reasonable, best researched piece that's appeared in a newspaper this year. That newspaper?
Some day I would like to meet the people running the Free Press and News sports pages just so I can ask them "what makes you think annoying your core readership is a good idea?"
Don't take our Spielman away. Chris Spielman and Kirk Herbstreit orchestrated a much-publicized Michigan bashing session on Columbus talk radio recently. One of the more directly inflammatory statements came from Spielman:
"I love seeing them beaten down, man. It's great," Spielman said.
Dr. Saturday says this should spell the end of Spielman broadcasting Michigan games:
And thus ends (or should end) Chris Spielman's license to call any Michigan game. I like Spielman, I like his transparent love for football, I like that he still seems more like a player than an announcer and that he obviously would rather be on the field colliding with people than in a suit and tie in a booth. I think he's one of the best color guys on the network. But unless ESPN's new strategy is to openly antagonize its viewers, it can't have a born, bred and admitted hater calling the team he hates.
One: yes, ESPN's strategy is to openly antagonize its viewers, something that has been made plain over the last decade. How many 15-minute Nick Lachey MNF interviews must we endure before this is plain?
Two: no. Spielman hates Michigan. Whatever. He's the only color guy working college football who would bother explaining that to stop a power run game like Michigan State the key player is the defensive end, who has to crash inside to eliminate the hole and disrupt the pulling offensive linemen, which will naturally cause the RB to bounce outside into the waiting arms of a linebacker.
Spielman does that. And he cloaks his disdain masterfully when called upon to do so. He can do Michigan games whenever he pleases. Don't leave us with Andre Ware, please.
Etc.: Ohio State fans can't read. The WLA does hate week right; apparently those of us with Fandom Endurance III badges can never leave a game again. McMcMcCabe is seriously pissed off you guys that the Army Bowl is (gasp!) picking guys who he didn't even name all state. Also he would like his cranberry juice. UMTailgate says that was yesterday.
*(Worst Columnist in America link that you are urged to not follow: .)
I am pretty much forced to listen to "The Big Show" living down here in He... er, Columbus (other sports radio stations either don't exist here or just suck) and I can honestly say I hated Spielman and "Herbie" when I started listening.
I still hate Herbstreit (thankfully he's not on that often) but Spielman, despite that comment which I missed, has grown on me. He definitely has a love of the game of football vs. the entertainment of football. I actually even find most of his comments about Michigan to be pretty fair and even rather than petty and bitter (like Herbstreit's often are). He has often displayed his respect for Michigan as an opponent and a reverence for the rivalry. I'd have to hear the context in which those words were uttered to fully believe they came from him in the spirit they're portrayed.
I think we've had more posts in this thread on Chambers than he had snaps on defense during his UM career.
The Winter Olympics at www.justcoverblog.com
God Bless Your Cotton Pickin' Maize & Blue Hearts
Since he's transferring....this might be the last time I can point this out:
But, that long catch and run on Utah's first drive, I still think was Chambers fault and not everybody's favorite whipping boy Stevie Brown.....notice, how little Chambers played after that game.
I will now wait for Gsimms to come by and whistle stop me for my continued harping on that play....of course, Gsimms, when you stop by and I will have a beer waiting and that play on my DVR cue so we can look it at together.
The Winter Olympics at www.justcoverblog.com
God Bless Your Cotton Pickin' Maize & Blue Hearts
by and large, I suspect these base commenters are of the same ilk as the dolts consumed with road rage, psychobabble, and so forth. I'm all ears for ideas/thoughts in terms of how to approach a problem and solve it. bashing for the sake of bashing is easy, apathetic and serves little in the way of meaningful thought/discussion. I wouldn't purport to be an apologist for our coaches/players but these are events(rebuilding, transfers, et al) which happen to every program. we're not immune. we've endured an historical season. let's put a varsity effort out on the field in columbus, lay it on the line for four quarters, get back to ann arbor and reboot this program.
go blue
From the words of a smart man "Get a life."
After 18 comments on your part, you're telling someone else in this thread to get a life? I don't care if it's directed at me or anyone else, that's just ... wow.
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
"Kiss your ass goodbye."
Give it a rest....ok this site isn't about who has the biggest genitalia it is who can make the most smart ass remarks. I make a comment about someones character and you attack my character. Does this put you all above me? Who is right and who is wrong doesn't matter at this point. What matters is that you all constantly want to criticize and put each other down. Aren't we all rooting for the same team here? What is the point of all this? Is there going to be a winner of this pathetic contest? Give it a rest. I came onto this site reporting information and speaking my mind not attacking anyone in particular. I said this team has no heart and it has been stated by other UofM alums. Im not the only one who pointed this out. Ex-players have said the same. We are on the same team here. Thanks again for the warm welcome and for me simply reporting the news I heard. Thanks for the verbal attacks. I hope you all sleep better at night knowing this fan base can be divided so easily on trivial issues. I'm not the enemy here...the men in scarlet and grey are. Fight them don't fight me...Thanks for pointing out the fact I had two screen names. With my low IQ i couldn't figure out the simple subtleties of signing up for this site. So again, here I am putting myself out there for constant ridicule. Take your shots but that doesn't put you above me.
I was going to make a more detailed response, but decided against it. WolvinLA covers much of it already. I’ll just say that your accusations towards members of this blog either reside only in your head or you are guilty of the same.
With that said, in retrospect I wonder if I should have just responded with the quote below. It’s from an episode of Ren & Stimpy entitled Mad Dog Höek, where they are tag team wrestlers, and Ren is responding to the other wrestlers’ shouted speech, which was meant to intimidate the duo. It’s something that came to mind after seeing one too many UM fans pontificate on the integrity of the players, recruits, coaches or about how “unacceptable” this season has been. It’s what I think of every time I read something similar, because the comments simply boil down to loud words that don't make much sense. That, and it brings a smile to my face:
“I wanna holler the loud funny words!
I like Darren, he is my friend! I like you AND him. He likes me and I like him!! He likes you, I HOOOOPE! I like his autograph!!! It is a nice picture!!!!! HE IS NIIIIICCEE!!!”
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
The MGoBlog readership is not representative of the Michigan fan base as a whole. There are a lot of really stupid Michigan fans, many of whom get plenty of ridicule from the MGoBlog regulars. Unfortunately, tiki, you appear (I did not say you are) as one of those stupid M fans, and you're gonna take some heat. It's not that anyone is trying to split up the fan base, but irrational supporters can be a major problem.
Creating dissent when none is warranted is a problem, and has happened a lot this year. Please don't add to the problem.
I like the "Departed" reference, saying McCabe is on his period. Did anyone else catch that?
I know that some of the past M players have been greatly disappointed with the apparent lack of heart that some of the guys are displaying out on the field this year. Not enough fire and tenacity, many of them say.
I mean, how many times has RR said "You gotta go hard, every practice, every down, every game."
And now there's a bunch of guys quitting the team during Ohio State Week??? Do you have any idea of the Special Place In Hell that Lloyd or Bo would've wanted these guys to go to for this kind of timing???
Yeah, there are some guys that need to leave this program. I'm not going to castigate them specifically, but I also will never defend the really, really shitty timing of their quitting. It's borderline sabotage.
Go Blue
If the "McGuffie is a pussy" shit has taught anyone, anything, it's that we probably shouldn't judge kids while we, personally know absolutely nothing about their motivations. Do you know why Chambers quit? I don't. I can guess, but it doesn't make it right. Say it's because he doesn't like his spot on the depth chart - the kid came to school to play football, if he doens't think he'll be able to do that, why would he stay?
Look at you putting words in people's mouths again. No one mentioned that McGuffie was a pussy. Thats the difference between winners and losers. Losers face a lil adversity and quit or transfer. Losers don't bust their tails to earn that spot. Losers don't even believe in time that hard work will pay off and they can earn that starting spot. Losers all want a free ticket. I'd have nothing to say if he played the last game. HE QUIT on this team. HE QUIT. One game left and he basically told the team to f*ck off and good luck you're on your own I hope you can win without me. That is poor poor character. Stick it out at least.
You've been watching too much Little Miss Sunshine. This is like word for word from Greg Kinnear's character, right?
I tried to be nice before, but now you've gone too far. Yes, someone did say that McGuffie was a pussy, he was referring to a quote from earlier. And you have NO IDEA why Artis Chambers left. If a guy goes to a school to play football and realizes that in all likelihood that this dream isn't going to happen, I see no problem with transferring. Again, we don't even know if that's the reason. I also truely doubt that any of the players think that Chambers is quitting on them when he hasn't seen a meaningful snap all season. There are good and bad reasons to leave any organization, not all of them fall under the heading "QUIT." Go back to posting under the free press articles.
First off sorry I didn't know someone called McGuffie a pussy. I understand his situation with the concussion he suffered and all the big hits he has taken. If he feels he needs to drop down a level then that's his decision. He didn't quit on this team though. If he didn't have a death in the family I bet he'd be out there. You all make me want to be an OSU fan. It seems like everyone here is just a bunch of pushovers. Where is the passion for this team. HE QUIT. He is not playing in the last game. He's not hurt, he doesn't have a death in the family. If he does then f*ck me im wrong. He left the family and I guarantee you that many players see this as quitting. You are only as strong as your weakest link. And in football there is no job bigger than the other. It is a team. If he didn't have any significant snaps he still played a roll in practice, in the locker room, and on special teams. Like i said earlier if there is cancer it will spread and right now it is spreading like a wildfire with all the decommits and transfers this year. And dreams my friend are made with hard work.
didnt mean to post twice
Out of curiousity, did your friend Steven Threet "quit" on Georgia Tech?
In my eyes he did. Even tho he still stuck it out the whole season. What's your thought on Boren? Did he quit on the wolverines?
Threet didn't stick it out the whole season. Threet left a few days before the first game. So, is he quitter? Why are you tolerant of him, and not Chambers?
If Boren left because his brother didn't get a scholly, that's shitty.
If Boren left because he was going to be stuck for 3 years playing football for a coach he disliked, I don't blame him.
So youre just going to quit every job you get if you don't like your boss? Newsflash wise guy there are a lot of ass hole bosses out there and people who are going to be above you that you don't like. So just pack it in and quit huh? Request a transfer?
Quite frankly, those are some pretty big, legitimate reasons for people quitting: career stagnation and poor supervision.
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
There doesn't seem to be a single backbone in this group. Soft is what Rodriguez said about the team and soft is what our fan base is as well. Everybody has to be smarter than the next huh? Who's d1ck is the biggest?
You keep saying that Rodriguez said this team was soft. I'd like to see you produce a single quote of him actually saying this.
Would you care to explain to me the point at which I turned this into a contest? And please lay off the genitalia references. Your argument lacks credibility when you go down that road.
Would you also care to explain why we are soft for not castigating a player that’s leaving for reasons that we don’t know? And correct me if I’m wrong, but RR’s comment about the team being soft was made earlier in the season after the Illinois loss, and not in response to Chambers leaving. It was also made with respect to the team, not with respect to Chambers.
I strongly recommend that you not question the passion of any UM fan on this blog, even if you happen to disagree with them. I will not do the same to you, unless you demonstrate otherwise. And contrary to your point about backbone, I think the number of people and the frequency of the comments in response to you demonstrates a very strong backbone among the readers of this blog who are standing up for someone who cannot presently defend himself. Stick around awhile, and maybe you’ll see it.
[Edit] And did you really have to create a new account just to respond to Other Chris' comment and continue your line of argument (tikijoseph22 vs. tikijoey22)?
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
Looks like someone reiterated the statement I made earlier. Is he in need of a tongue lashing for pointing these facts out? Shouldn't you remind him that he doesn't have a helmet and isn't on the sidelines so he has no idea what it's like being a Michigan player. I mean he is hiding behind his veil of anonymity. We should throw him under the bus as well. Right? Please your thoughts chitownblue.
Caup’s first statement referred to statements made my others (i.e., “some of the past M players”), followed by a quote from RR. Caup proceeded to comment not about the players’ collective or individual hearts or will as you originally did, but to comment on the timing of the decision. Caup makes a specific point to say “I'm not going to castigate them specifically,” whereas you proceeded to do just that with Chambers.
I don’t know what Caup’s feelings are on the players’ mental or emotional states, but that’s not the subject of the post. I don’t agree with the sabotage reference, but that’s also beside the point. But the comment is different from your original post.
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
Dantonio coached at Cinci for three years, not two. He took them from the C-USA to the Big East.
I can't believe the number of Michigan fans obsessing over lil bro's coach. IT IS OHIO STATE WEEK.
Go Blue.
I know Stewart Mandel isn't the most favorite writer for many people here. I don't mind him that much, and when I was reading his weekly mailbag today, the subject of the UM-OSU game came up. At the end of the piece he wrote this:
"Incidentally, there's a great joke floating around cyberspace this week, though you need to know your Michigan/Ohio geography to get it. Apparently, this year's Ohio State-Michigan game has been cancelled. It seems the Wolverines will be unable to make the trip to Columbus because they can't get past Toledo."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/11/19/cfb.m...
Don't know if anyone else has seen this joke. I'm trying to keep a sense of perspective and humor about this season, so I actually found it amusing.
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
If you read my post in its entirety instead of getting your vagina all wet for the chance to make someone feel stupider than before you would've taken my whole statement into consideration. "This team has no heart as a whole. Yes, there are many with heart and I see it every game but their obviously is something very very wrong with this team." So, with chambers transferring and others on board you're telling me the whole team was playing with 100% heart. It only takes a little cancer before it starts to spread. You're right these players who are transferring don't care. They didn't care before and they are showing it with their actions. I know Steven Threet personally and you can hang my balls from a noose if I ever say he doesn't have any heart. Please read the whole statement before trying to belittle someone just to show your superior intellect.
No one's vagina gets wet reading your turgid prose. In fact, those of us who are female on this board would probably rather go gay than hook up with guys as braindead as you appear to be.
And woo! You know Threet personally!! I'm so impressed.
What does me being braindead and youd rather go gay than hook up with me have to do with anything? Morons on these blogs. Someone makes a legitimate statement and some arrogant ass hole wants to start talking smack. That statement I made was not directed at you. Yet, you feel inclined to try and put someone down. Does that make you feel better? Your IQ is higher than mine. Would you like a lollipop for that fact. Go find something useful to do with yourself. And when you respond, please respond with a legitimate statement cause I feel a yo momma joke coming on next.
You might want to refrain from complaints about putting others down so shortly after referring to “morons on these blogs.” And your reference to female genitalia when responding to someone borders on sexism, so don’t be so surprised to see one of the female members of the blog get a little offended.
With that said, and with reference to your original comments, you were called out on your status as a player, and you responded that you, in fact, used to play. Fine. You also personally know Steven Threet and can attest to his heart and will to play. Fine. But the original comment was not about Threet. It was about Chambers, and you proceeded to attack his character saying he (and others) have no heart, no will and just doesn’t want to play. You basically called him a quitter, not in the sense of someone who just stops what he is doing, but in the sense of someone who gives up too easily.
Presumably, you do not know Chambers or have any personal knowledge about him, or you would have mentioned this fact in the same breath as Threet. Consequently, it displays an arrogance on your part to presume to know what any other person (Michigan football player or not) feels, absent personal knowledge about that person or a statement from that person explaining the reasons for his action. That’s the point that you don’t seem to understand.
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
Let me put this in a way that you would understand since none of you seem to have any knowledge of team unity. Scenario: If you are in college and your teacher assigns you a group project. One that is due at the end of the semester. You assign everyone their roles and what part they will have in the project. Then three days before that huge project is due, one that can make or break your grade, one of your partners decides he is transferring to a new school and will have a clean slate on his GPA so he doesn't show up for the presentation and doesn't turn in the rest
of his work. Would you be pissed or would you just sit back and say oh well he's transferring we'll pick up the slack for him. No big deal. I bet you would have a judgement about the guys or girls character. I apologize for the personal attack about the female's genitalia but I was attacked from the first post I had on here. You people are very welcoming. I'm glad the wolverine fan base can stand united. Fighting with ourselves as fans this is juvenile. You never see this type of bickering on elevenwarriors, which makes me think maybe we are a bunch of arrogant ass holes who think we are better than the rest.
The problem with this analogy is that you are telling us what the person's motivation is. We have no idea what Chambers' motivation or reasons are. Which is why it's best to keep our mouths shut.
you're just an asshole. Sometimes, you have to let the people have a go at you, and just calmly explain your position instead of, say, bringing vaginal moisture into the equation.
I personally don't think that any suggestion that Chambers might be acting selfishly is just the stupidest thing anyone ever said. However, it all depends on the reasons he is leaving, which we don't know at this point. If he's just pissy about playing time and doesn't feel like going through another week of practice, then I'd say that reflects on his character poorly. If he's having serious personal issues of some sort, like McGuffie seems to be, then clearly he needs to take care of those.
Oh, and to all ex-college athletes who think that they are the only ones qualified to talk about athletes here: maybe you should start your own exclusive blog where you can talk about the glory days and thrown your weight around there. Drawing on Tiki's analogy of group work in college, most of us are smart enough to understand something about team commitment and sacrifice to a greater whole, even if we haven't done wind sprints until we've puked.
Finally, Chitown: did you really not realize that you, too, were posting behind a veil of internet anonymity? Or did your parents give you the coolest name ever?
I wasn't the one ascribing my own made-up motivations to other people.
Haha you are hopeless. Rodriguez said this team is soft. Attack him right? I said this team has no passion and some don't care. It is black and white. Plain and simple right there in front of your nose. HE LEFT THE TEAM BEFORE THE GAME FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL REASONS. IT SAYS HE IS SELFISH AND PUT HIMSELF BEFORE THE TEAM. Jeez.....
Except the discussion is not about what the other players feel in response to Chambers leaving. It's about the assumptions being made about the person's character.
But to refer to your analogy, I have been in those situations in school, in sports and at work. And I will admit that it's frustrating and that I have been angry. But without knowing the person's reasons for leaving, I will not make assumptions about his/her character.
It's worth continuing your analogy to point out that if someone not directly involved in the project and without knowledge of the person's reasons for transferring were to take umbrage, I would consider that person to be out of line. That hypothetical person is us, the fans.
Recent recipient of the First Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence
Yes, you said it more calmly than me, but yes.
Joey, it sounds like you're new here, so here's the deal: First of all, you were the one who decided to bring up vaginas becoming wet. Under no circumstance is that a good idea; it only sets you up for ridicule. Secondly, this is an intelligent blog. You don't need to be a Rhodes Scholar to post, but if you make a bold claim like "this team has no heart" you need to be ready to back that up intelligently or you're going to get torn apart. That's the way it works. Either refrain from the posts that are bound to get people all wound up, or be prepared when it's your shit hitting the fan.
No Tiki, you, as an observer, decided to call out a bunch of people you know not a thing about. If you think that saying that aren't trying isn't doing that, you're wrong. That's a shitty thing to do, and something extremely easy for someone who doesn't have to put up with the shit they do to say. Do I know what they do? No. But I played a D-I college sport, so I sort of have an idea. For you to judge someone you don't know for making a decision you don't understand is shitty, plain and simple.
How would you feel if, the day you decided to quit for job, there were hundreds of judgmental little assholes you've never seen in your life calling you a quitter?
Is Artis Chambers on this blog? Did I personally call him up and call him a quitter. If a 100 little judgemental assholes (in this case there are only several calling artis one) calling me a quitter what could I say? They'd be right. Rich Rod said himself and other former M players have reiterated the statement that these guys haven't been playing with passion. Why don't you get on Rich Rod now and call him a moron. Why are you defending these people? They left the Wolverine family. Turned their back on the team and you want to pat them on the butt and say good luck. Obviously you have never played on a competetive sports team on a serious level. It's the same anywhere and everywhere. You quit f*ck them.
I played a Varsity Sport at Michigan.
Which is EXACTLY why I have perspective on this matter. Because these people don't make any decision on where they go or why they go for you, or for any fan. They are doing what they believe to be the best for their future. Are they right? Maybe, maybe not. But leaving the University of Michigan does not, de facto, make you a bad person.
You said you know Steven Threet, and you would never call him a pussy. Guess what? STEVEN THREET DID EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE FLIPPING YOUR SHIT ABOUT. But, in your words, "you want to pat them on the butt and say good luck?".
As I said, you're an idiot.
I didn't say he was a bad person, as in he will become a serial criminal, but it does speak about his character. Wow I'm so impressed you played a varsity sport at Michigan. Steven Threet was redshirted and yes he was there for the WHOLE SEASON. You are a moron
I have a foot long c*ck.
I think I'll go critique some porn, since I have perspective on the matter.
Internet pissing contests are the best!
Go Blue.
I only mentioned due to this:
"Obviously you have never played on a competetive sports team on a serious level."
I would also think that the large intersection between Lions fans and Michigan fans would earn Spielman a little slack.