yes plz
Behold the newest "retro" Michigan Basketball wallpaper
Filed under:
A recent post about the lack of Michigan Basketball wallpapers prompted me to throw my hat in the ring. I too, am in serious need of a computer/iPad background change, so what better way than to help everyone else out at the same time?!
Full disclosure: I am in no way a graphic designer or Photoshop professional, so all you get are my basic skills. This is also my first foray into creating a wallpaper, so if anyone has tips or recommendations, feel free to share.
Have you ever wondered what our current Michigan basketball roster would look like as an old-school 1970s hoops squad? No? Me either. Until I ran across a gem of a photo in the Bentley Library archives...the 1978-79 team photo – complete with feathered hair, a wicked afro, short shorts and high socks.
It was then that I set out on a conquest to mold both that photo and our current player photos into an epic composite that makes me laugh every time I look at it.
After noting that the amount of players and coaches was almost exactly identical to this year's team, I knew I had to take a crack at it. Also, skin colors were almost perfect with the players that we currently have. There was only one extra body in the original that needed to be accounted for...the glorious man kneeling down on the right in the front row. And let's be honest – he just looks so cool that I had to leave him in.
After a few hours of work, below is the final product. I have multiple versions (desktop color/B&W, iPad) at the link below. I'd have to say that my favorite parts are Jordan Morgan with a sweet afro and Mitch McGary with blonde feathered hair. Also, Trey Burke looks really happy despite how tight his shorts are. I did not deal with jersey number changes because of all the shading and angles those entailed.
Special thanks to TheArtTheArtTheArt's football wallpaper for inspiring this piece.
Enjoy.
December 6th, 2012 at 2:18 PM | 
Yay,
Yay,
December 6th, 2012 at 2:21 PM |
So many jokes.
So many jokes.
So many jokes.
Michigan: 903–315–36 (Best in NCAA)
vs Ohio State: 58-44-6
vs Notre Dame: 23-16-1
vs MSU: 68-32-5
vs B1G: 522-197-24
vs SEC: 20-8-1
vs PAC 12: 48-24-1
vs Big 12: 10-5-1<
December 6th, 2012 at 7:44 PM |
Muahahaha.
Muahahaha.
Muahahaha.
December 7th, 2012 at 8:37 AM |
Butch Jones to Tennessee
Butch Jones to Tennessee
Sorry, but I can't figure out how to start a new thread.
December 6th, 2012 at 2:22 PM |
We need more Fro's on our
We need more Fro's on our
We need more Fro's on our team
If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?
December 6th, 2012 at 2:41 PM |
McGary's hair
McGary's hair
is spectacular.
Football is both an identity and a terminal illness. A rhythm and a chaos and an opiate for the mind all at once.
-Johnny Danbury (umichedme.blogspot.com)
December 6th, 2012 at 4:43 PM |
Morgan's is also
Morgan's is also
Morgan's is also spectacular.
Beilein and Vogrich look like they were in the original photo - they're a perfect fit.
December 6th, 2012 at 2:47 PM |
McGary
McGary
Has some mad flow. It's quite beautiful. Tweet that at one of the players. Lewan seemed to love the twosie thread
Bo' Money Bo' Problems
December 6th, 2012 at 3:01 PM |
I must say
I must say
Some of the heads are rather comically large.
December 6th, 2012 at 3:16 PM |
hahahahaha i love this
hahahahaha i love this
hahahahaha i love this
December 6th, 2012 at 4:20 PM |
This is saturated with
This is saturated with
This is saturated with awesomeness. I think we sould make that final member someone special. My vote is Novak - he helped rebuild the program more than anyone. Lloyd Brady would work. Shoelace would be approprate as well.
What say you?
Streaming UM games early Sunday morning from Korea, since 2007
December 6th, 2012 at 4:42 PM |
I'm open to suggestions if
I'm open to suggestions if
I'm open to suggestions if there's a consensus! I veto J.C. Mathis though.
"That's tremendous, Jim."
December 6th, 2012 at 4:35 PM |
The randow guy you left in there
The randow guy you left in there
Is that Danny from Caddyshack?
December 7th, 2012 at 8:16 PM |
Yes
Yes
Little known fact. He was an Evans Scholar at Michigan back in the 70s.
Great comment by the way. My first thought on seeing the original pic was "That guy looks like Danny from Caddyshack!"
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
December 9th, 2012 at 10:18 AM |
Danny
Danny
Close ... I was an All-Metro Detroit golfer in from Clarkston in '74 - '75, tried out for the M golf team in the fall of '75, until Fife, also from Clarkston called me and invited me to be a student manager of the bball team. Great memories!
Go Blue!
December 6th, 2012 at 4:40 PM |
Amazing.
BTW, the epic guy
Amazing.
BTW, the epic guy
Amazing.
BTW, the epic guy on the far right looks a lot like Jim Harbaugh (though it can't be - he was too young at that time).
December 6th, 2012 at 6:31 PM |
Trey Burke is tall now!
Trey Burke is tall now!
Trey Burke is tall now!
LSA '11
App State to Miss State
December 7th, 2012 at 11:48 AM |
So Gloriously
So Gloriously
So Gloriously
December 7th, 2012 at 12:22 PM |
Ahh, memories of my youth. I
Ahh, memories of my youth. I
Ahh, memories of my youth. I tried to recognize as many players and coaches on the 78-79 team as possible. I believe I spot 35 Phil Hubbard, 40 Mike McGee, 35 Dave Baxter, 45 Thad Garner, 25 Keith Smith, Head Coach Johnny Orr and Assistant Coach Bill Frieder.
Michigan is and will always be every BIG schools' measuring stick.
December 8th, 2012 at 12:28 AM |
This is the 1977-78 team
This is the 1977-78 team
That was the last year for Joel Thompson, Dave Baxter, Tom Bergen and Len Lillard, all of whom are pictured.
Top row l-r - Frieder, Orr, Joel Thompson (with a much sm aller 'fro than earlier in his career), ?, Len Lillard, Phil Hubbard, Tom Bergen, Paul Heuerman, Alan Hardy, Jim Boyce, Dan Fife (Dugan and Dane's father).
Bottom row l-r Mitch Kaufman (student manager), either Mark or Marty Bodnar, Mark Lozier, ?, Johnny Johnson, Mike McGee, Dave Baxter, Tom Staton, either Mark or Marty Bodnar, ?,?.
I graduated the year before.
From looking at the historical stats on mgoblue, there were two walk-ons on the team that were not on the team while I was there. They are Mike Robinson and Cornel Williams. One of them is number 45 and the other 41. I have no idea which is which.
Thad Garner and Keith Smith didn't join the team til the next year. I assume the two guys on the far right of the front row are also student managers.
December 9th, 2012 at 10:40 AM |
'77-'78 team photo
'77-'78 team photo
Top row l-r: Frieder, Orr, Joel, Mike Robinson (John Robinson's ('77) brother), Lillard, Hub, Bergen, Heuerman, Hardy, Boyce, Fife
Bottom row l-r: Mitch, Marty B, Lozier, Cornell Williams, JJ, McGee, Baxter, Staton, Mark B, Tom Kempf (grad asst), John Anderson (student mgr / me)
Unfortunately, we didn't have Hub at his best that season, as he injured his knee in the World Games that summer. He would have certainly been a top candidate for player of the year coming off the 2 prior seasons - NCAA finals vs. IU in '76 and #1 ranked team '77 (we lost to UNC-Charlotte (Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell) in Regional Finals @ Rupp Arena.
Go Blue!
December 7th, 2012 at 1:52 PM |
This image fills me with
This image fills me with
This image fills me with great joy. Thanks for spending a few hours of your time to spread happiness on the interwebz.
December 7th, 2012 at 2:00 PM |
Awesome
Awesome
Instant classic...very nice work! Honestly, all seem to be spot on except for Burke. Have you tried to switch Burke and Eso (I believe that's Eso...#41)?
One of my favorites is Bacari...just fits perfectly.
December 7th, 2012 at 2:21 PM |
The double-breasted suit
The double-breasted suit
The double-breasted suit (second row, second from right) is a great detail! Nice work!
Abort, Retry, Fail?
December 7th, 2012 at 8:30 PM |
Legacy jerseys?
Legacy jerseys?
It would be awesome to send the team out in short shorts, knee high striped socks, and maybe some headbands for the MSU game in March.
This would be so much more original than the clown uniforms from last year's football game in East Lansing.
"[The University of Michigan] was, in short, the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs and my ignorance, and it helped to lay out the boundaries of my life."--Arthur Miller
December 8th, 2012 at 1:54 AM |
I would buy one of those
I would buy one of those
I would buy one of those jerseys.
December 7th, 2012 at 9:16 PM |
Suggestion: Brian. Still
Suggestion: Brian. Still
Suggestion: Brian. Still Novak.
Streaming UM games early Sunday morning from Korea, since 2007
December 9th, 2012 at 12:46 PM |
'76 - '77 Big Ten Championship team
'76 - '77 Big Ten Championship team
My profile picture at left is of the '76 - '77 team (Couldn't figure out how to post it). It hangs in the Crisler Center display cases.
top row l-r: Bill Frieder, Johnny Orr, Mark Lozier, Dave Baxter, Rickey Green, Dave Stavale, Tom Staton, Bill Lelich, Jim Boyce, Dan Fife.
bottom row l-r: Mitch Kauffman, Len Lillard, Alan Hardy, Phil Hubbard, Steve Grote, John Robinson, Tom Bergen, Joel Thompson, Bobby Jones, John Anderson
This team was ranked #1 by the AP & UPI the entire year only to lose in the NCAA Regional Semifinals to UNC-Charlotte.
Go Blue!
February 4th, 2013 at 12:47 AM |
Mike and Johnny Robinson
Mike and Johnny Robinson
I worked at the old IM building in the 70's and recall Johnny Robinson and his brother Mike often playing pickup games. I was trying to convince "Punt" that Robinson's brother was on the team at one point and he doubted me - now I have found this thread to prove him wrong (which gives me great pleasure).
Does anyone recall if they were twins?
I know Johnny passed away recently.
a.k.a "Counterpunt"
so good. You have supplanted my daughter on my desktop, not an easy feat.