Bill Frieder returning to Crisler
February 5th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
As a very little kid, I remember him as the first real person unto which it was acceptable to place disdain and vitriol. I'll always love him for that.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
Back in elementary school, I remember telling people that it is wrong to say the 'F' word.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^
Yeah, agreed. My parents have a picture of Frieder holding me as a 5-year old kid with a little towel on my shoulder in the Union bookstore.
I think I may have to break that out and see if I can get him to sign that tomorrow. It might be my only chance...
February 5th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
God I love those blues with the maize block M and the "ICHIGAN" in smaller block white lettering with the offset maize and white numbers. Those are some of my favorite jerseys of all time, and while I respect the maize jerseys the Fab 5 made famous, the 80's ones are the classics.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
Also, Nike issued those as throwback jerseys and shooting shirts a few years ago; I picked up one of the latter. You might be able to dig one up on eBay.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
I still have my original Glen Rice one from 1988-9. Doesn't fit me anymore as I was 11 years old, but still I have an original.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
They were the *best* unis. BTW, we won the national championship wearing those unis.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
Frieder was at Crisler in 2005 for a function and I spoke with him for a few minutes. Granted it wasn't basketball related but he was indeed there.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^
Chuck DeGlopper, Gary Grant, Antoine Joubert, Leslie Rockymore, Steve Stoyko, Garde Thompson and Butch Wade
Likely not attending: Tarpley, Richard Rellford, Robert Henderson, Garde Thompson
Judge, Judge, Judge!
Loved that team...
February 5th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
and I remember playing a pickup game on Central campus and Antoine Joubert was on the other team. He had a gut already and just went up and down the court between the keys....lazy is an understatement. Sad to see such a waste of talent....
On the bright note, I grew up in GR and used to play ball with Loy Vaugt's younger brother at the YMCA. Loy came down and played once with his brother and I got to throw him an ally opp dunk while we were playing...now that was sweet....
February 5th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
So I suppose you guys won't be booing him?
February 5th, 2010 at 1:01 PM ^
Boo? Nah, but maybe a chant of "Michigan Man" directed at Beilein or Rodriguez :)
February 5th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
A Michigan Man will coach Michigan.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:09 PM ^
The bad:
Ruined Antoine Joubert.
Ignored Tarpley's drug use.
More-talented often underachieved because they were playing "tight."
Staff at local restaurants celebrated when he moved because they didn't have to wait on his wife anymore.
Worst two-face I have ever seen.
Extremely petty.
Looking for another job that was only a lateral move.
The good:
Great recruiter.
Very good at making less-talented teams overachieve.
Second most wins in UM basketball history.
Good TV presence.
One of his worst teams upset then-#2 OSU at Crisler.
As much as I disliked a lot of what Frieder did, he did do a lot of great things at Michigan. Some of the best times I have had in my life involved watching his teams and cheering for them. I would hope that it is time to "bury the hatchet." I have no problem with the program letting go of the negativity and welcoming him back to Crisler.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
After his last home game at Crisler Arena? It was something to the effect of "If I had it to do all over I'd probably go to UCLA or some place warm".........then he cracked up and said he was kidding.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
at the Plaza in Vegas a few years ago. He was sitting at a blackjack table playing 3rd base wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt drinking water from those tiny little casino/airline plastic bottles.
I said to my friend "Hey! That's Bill Frieder!"
To which he replied "Who?"
I gave my friend a quick run-down of '89 and one of the most ill-timed moves in coaching history and walked on over to Bill's table. The seat next to him was open.
When I got to the table, I said "Bill! This seat taken?"
Perhaps I spoke too loudly or Frieder was lost in thought or maybe he couldn't believe anyone would know who the hell he was, but he jumped in his seat, arms twitching, water bottle flying... right into the dealer's card shoe.
Needless to say, the rest of the table was unhappy. The dealer had to get the pit-boss to bring him new decks to replace the sodden ones, dry out the shoe and start mixing and shuffling.
I was trying not to laugh, but I felt bad for Bill. I said "Sorry about that Bill. Didn't mean to make you jump... whoa! $10 minimum bet? This table's too rich for me!"
And I left.
I was a little buzzed.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:19 PM ^
It is pretty well known that Frieder has card counting skills which may explain why he jumped like a scared cat when someone he didn't know called him by his first name. Casino security keeps an eye out for people like him.