"And thanks Demar, I'll see you here shortly. No need to bring your crowbar."
Birkett can kiss it.
but I see our program take a kid like this, who has a troubled past, is from a tough area, etc. and give him a chance to play for the Michigan Wolverines, attend the University of Michigan, and enjoy the wonderful city of Ann Arbor and I feel a lot of pride for our program.
Keep your head up Demar, welcome to Ann Arbor.
and go f*** yourelf, Birkett.
Exactly. How different would life be for all of us if we could only be what we were/did in HS? How awful would that be? I don't think Birkett holds himself to that standard so why does he do it to Dorsey?
I might get bashed at by some people for saying this but I genuinely think a lot of the backlash to RR is due to the fact that a lot of his recruits are African-Americans from Florida who are different than former U of M recruits. I'm not saying one is better than the other but I think the more cocky attitude that comes with some players from Florida (the South in general) annoys old Midwestern types. I don't have a problem with it one way or another, unless you celebrate when you're down 30 points or do the first down sign every time, but I think some (older) U of M fans do.
I think the local media decided to cast Rich Rod as a villain before coming here, and any news that fits the storyline is going to be reported extensively.
We've had plenty of recruits in the past coming from bad areas/situations. This is all about Rich Rod.
About a year ago, a friend of mine who is related to a person of importance tied to the Athletic department (don't ask, won't say who it is, but I will say that they are tied to the previous admin) quoted his person of importance as saying (in response to his opinion and displeasure of RichRod)
"Too many kids named Martavious on this team"
So, yes, I would say that there's a little of that going on.
Sadly too many of those guys in my section...busy bitching at 18 year olds and going on about corn rows...
March 15th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
Wasn't our best offensive player in Michigan history (outside of Tom Harmon) Anthony Carter from Florida? We have always gotten many players from the South. The bigger issue is the new 24/7 media blitz that replays over and over any transgression, whereas in the past, things would go down the memory hole.
March 15th, 2010 at 11:41 PM ^
It's black kids with hair.
That makes no sense, but if you look, that's what it is. And it really irks me these kids get labeled like that. Funny, since this is the same school that made so many trends with five inner-city black kids, with black socks, black shoes, baggy shorts, bald heads...
It just doesn't make any sense.
Best of luck, Demar!! Welcome to AA:)
In fairness, these people may be consistent in their narrow-mindedness. A lot of alumni disliked (or at least were uncomfortable with) the Fab Five, too.
..."In fairness, these people may be consistent in their narrow-mindedness." In my experience, narrow minded people are certainly consistently narrow minded. Such consistency in attitude does nothing to ameliorate the narrow mindedness, however. It just makes them consistently wrong headed.
I mean "in fairness" only in the sense that they are being logically consistent (though I disagree with their logic).
...illogical, not logically consistent. I get that you're not being sympathetic to their views, but consistency in wrongheadedness is still wrong headed.
We're good, though.
I take exception to that. In fact, I see no difference between an attitude like that and what you are claiming might be the problem. I am more than happy, proud in fact, that Michigan is willing to take a chance on a young athlete. Note: I will be happier if quarterbacks break out in a cold sweat at the thought of throwing in his direction.
Edit; as to the so-called journalist, I just have no words. It is my sincere hope that his words haunt him for the remainder of his life.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:46 AM ^
Sorry, I laughed out loud when I read it and just couldn't help myself. I'll go back to my corner now.
Edit: hmmmm, getting this to show up as a reply to the right comment (Comment #2) would be a plus. Massive fail on my part.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
Couldn't have said it better.
Doesn't matter if he is joking or not. Guy shouldn't say that.
Birkett actually thinks what he said is funny. We need someone to go all Mike Gundy (I'm a MAN! I'm 40 years old!) on these newspaper guys. If they want to pick on someone to score a few cheap laughs, pick on a grown up.
This idiot really said that during a live chat. Can't listen to it till tonight, truly amazed how these so called grown up responsible people feel the need to continually bash youngsters that have made mistakes in their past. Lets start by digging into their pasts and making public their possible infidelities, minor or major crimes as juveniles, cheating on tests in college, etc... just make their lives a bit more uncomfortable and miserable like they do to our recruits! Better yet, put them on the front lines of Afghanistan or Iraq and do their reporting as the bullets whiz by their brains, that will truly make them feel like real men (and probably make them crap their pants) screw these journalists.
...juvenile CIL. I guess a2.com is all in for this internet thing, eh?
In all seriousness, that's really not how guys who fancy themselves journalists should conduct themselves.
You can also thank Birkett for running the story about Tate's injury unauthorized by both Tate and the University.
Tate won't talk to anyone about certain things now, and the University (media dept. in particular) is pissed at Birkett.
The direct quote from one of the media relations people, "Ethics in journalism is dead."
it is.
Tough way for Mr. Forcier to learn this lesson, but probably necessary at this rate.
Whoever said that clearly hasn't met TomVH or Brian.
That's what you get when you hire a spartan to cover UofM athletics. Does anybody remember this douche bag writing for the Oakland Press? He's as big a sparty slappy as they come.
people get fired for saying/writing crap like that.
who writes for a former newspaper (online only).
Pitiful. No class. In my opinion, he is worse than a kid trying to rebuild his life.
Hey Birkett, maybe Demar should be writing articles slamming your journalistic ethics. They would obviously, somehow invoke the "No Fly Zone".
I guess this just means one more media personality to boycott.
after his press conference antics on signing day. Its amazing how many "journalists" are out to get this program. Carty seems like a distant memory...
that the press conference thing might have been an isolated incident so I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but he's officially on my personal blacklist now.
Outside of the internet I'm basically down to Sam & Ira and Angelique for any kind of decent M coverage,
I'm pretty sure Birkett was the moron last year who asked RR why he was getting emotional at the presser after the Freep hitpiece about practicegate.
But I agree, there are only a handful of MSM people worth anything today. Sad.
We have entered the "No Journalist Zone"
[cue twilight zone music]
Maybe he is auditioning for the Freep?
It looks like he's responding to a Demar Dorsey handle jack which went unpublished, but must have read something like "Comment from Demar Dorsey: I'll bring my crowbar over and we'll do some improvements, Dave."
Probably shouldn't have responded to the handlejack, and it's a little indelicate. But it's not like this joke hasn't been made a hundred times on the Ticket and the Huge Show anyway, fellers.
I had the same thought that you did; the only way that Birkett could hope to explain himself is if he were responding (stupidly) to a "Demar Dorsey" chat-name.
If that is the case, Birkett is merely run-of-the-mill stupid.
If, however, this was unprovoked in the fashion we have now hypothesized, then Birkett deserves the worst sort of abuse that the blogosphere can supply.
He must be responding to "DemDors." There's a post from him that made it through at 10:52.
10:52 [Comment From DemDorsDemDors: ] HEY you think the bball team at umich needs more thugs? I know where to get some Monday March 15, 2010 10:52 Dave Birkett 10:52 Michael Rothstein: I know. Dem, you play hoops? Monday March 15, 2010 10:52 Michael Rothstein 10:52 Michael Rothstein: Ha.
Can't believe they would allow that comment in the first place.
Classless.
Later in the chat Birkett mentions that he is not able to post the submissions of the readers. This does not appear to be an uncalled for shot at Dorsey.
...that the comment was called for? Is Birkett calling the shots now or is he calling his shot? I think what really happened is that Birkett shot his mouth off while trying to show he's witty and clever and instead, produced massive, epic journalism fail.
I don't know if it was out of bounds or not. It was probably in poor taste to respond to any comment from any variation of Demar Dorsey's name with something that could make light of his prior legal issues. That said, I would like to see the post to which he was responding before I call for his head.
Thanks Dave. No need to bring your cunning wit.
because he isn't in possession of a wit, cunning or otherwise.
This guys an idiot. Crowbars are soooo outdated. It's all about the nunchucks these days...
"This guys an idiot. Crowbars are soooo outdated. It's all about the nunchucks and ski masks these days..." There, fixed it for you.
That's messed up.
That was an easy call.
Well, Birkett can't blame anyone but himself when he completely loses access to the football program.
goes epic Mike Gundy on him.