Chris Webber included in Crisler Center intro video

Submitted by DISCUSS Man on

interesting. first sighting of him inside the arena since the ban.

UNCWolverine

October 28th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^

that's great. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In HS our team went to Albion College team camp before my senior year summer of 1992. Jalen was scheduled to come talk to the camp. For some reason he didn't make it, but Webber did in his stead. So he shows up and sits up above watching three courts play at once. Everyone knew he was there and of course when he would watch your game for a minute or two everyone would pick it up a notch. When he started watching our game we were playing a good team, Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Our PG was one of my best friends. Even though he was a rabid ND fan, and ultimately played there leading his team to the finals of Bookstore Basketball tourney, he was as big a Fab Five fan as me. There was a fast break when Webber was watching where he dished me the ball and I went up to dunk it. i got fouled and swung on the rim so I didn't fall. When I came down he yelled, "how do you like me now?!?" and kicked me in the ass, just like Webber did to Rose(?) at some point on their amazing freshman run. We looked up and Chris just loved it. We assumed he knew we were imitating him. Go Blue.

UNCWolverine

October 29th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^

Ha, well I'm 41 now and haven't tried since I was 39. I think I still can. Probably tough to see but my avatar pic was taken was I was about 6'3" the summer before my senior year in hs, basically when my story about Webber took place. I ended up 6'5" somehow, ha.

LSAClassOf2000

October 28th, 2015 at 9:13 PM ^

I tend to think of this more in terms of, "The folks at Discount Tire have seen your shorts and measured the gap left in the imprint and would like to speak to you about some new tires if you have a moment." It seems like the sort of cruel joke Adidas might play on us or any other team really. 

Wolverine Devotee

October 28th, 2015 at 9:15 PM ^

It's one crappy design that will be worn one year, that no one will buy because they'll all be saving up for the Jordan uniforms next year.

I'm sure many departments would kill to have one dumb looking uniform be worn one season for Basketball if it meant getting our Nike contract.

Mr. Yost

October 28th, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^

Then just use what you had the year before.

There's no point in changing it at all. We would've been fine with the same design we've had for past 2-3 years or however long its been. Even if it's old technology. Whatever.

Mr. Yost

October 28th, 2015 at 9:43 PM ^

I really don't think Jalen cares. If he does...he needs to get a life.

All he wants is for Chris to be truthful in his eyes...whatever, it's two grown men, nothing to do with us.

As for the video, how do we know there's not a clip of Walton as Jalen? Maybe he can be yelling and hyping Wilson or Chatman or Dawkins and immitating...this:

Mr. Yost

October 28th, 2015 at 9:56 PM ^

This doesn't sound like a dude who's all pissed off compared to some of there back and fourth 3-4 years ago.

DEITSCH: “There’s an interest in your relationship I think because how big the Fab Five was. Do you have any reaction when you found out about that interview and the fact that Chris even refuses to address it in a public forum?”

ROSE: “Yes. We were doing the Jalen and Jacoby radio show around 5:30 Pacific when the clip eventually got sent around, and so I got a chance to watch it. It’s really just unfortunate because, as I’ve said and I’ll say until I’m blue in the face, that’s my brother, I love him, we’ve been friends since we were 12-and-under AAU. We decided we were gonna go to college in the same living room. We played at the University of Michigan together and created a brotherhood that will never be broken. But it’s really unfortunate to see your favorite groups break up. Like, I didn’t want to see New Edition break up. I hated Johnny Gibb because he took Bobby Brown’s place and I never even met him. I didn’t like when EPMD broke up, I didn’t like when the Jackson 5 broke up. So the public doesn’t like to see one of their favorite groups break up, in theory. But we’re not broken up. The term “former members of The Fab Five” — we are The Fab Five. We’re not “former.” And I do think, however, the faction that takes place not only with me, but the four other members: Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, Ray Jackson. When I speak, it’s not just about my personal relationship with [Chris Webber], I’m talking for people who are no longer here anymore like, Ed Martin. People who’re no longer at Michigan anymore like Steve Fisher. People who never played an NBA game like Ray Jackson. I do think we will see eye-to-eye and be on the same page one day. I truly hope so because we deserve it as brothers. We’re not just former teammates, we’re brothers, and you can’t break up with family.”

DEITSCH: “You know, Chris has become, I think, a really terrific broadcaster. I like watching him both on a game and in the studio. Did you see that at all when you were in college? Could you have envisioned him going into broadcasting as you did?”

ROSE: “Yes I did. He was always articulate. He was always first. He always had the ability to function in any situation — the city or the suburbs — and going to Detroit Country Day was probably the best decision he (and his mom) has ever made in his life because it’s a wonderful school. So I saw it for him, but I’m sure the world didn’t see it for me. My plan was whatever they saw in him, I wanted to be a person that people believed in also. There were rumors when we came to Michigan. “Chris came from Detroit Country Day. Jalen, are you actually going to compete academically at Michigan? What position was he gonna play?” He was always polished and disciplined. He was the number one pick in the draft, he was the team’s best player, has a great smile — I agree with you, he’s killing it on TV. That’s why I don’t see why he doesn’t choose to let go of past transgressions for the greater good of the group. Yes, he’s gone on and is doing amazing things, but doesn’t Ray Jackson deserve an opportunity to take his kids back to Ann Arbor and see the fruits of his labor in the rafters? And if all you gotta do is say you’re sorry? Even if you don’t mean it? I’m the person that would do it.

Danwillhor

October 29th, 2015 at 9:27 AM ^

is why you can't just fake an apology 25 years later. Is he concerned it will hurt his career in the present? It won't. Just give one of those "I'm giving the tossing-off miming motion in my head right now" apologies. Who believed Pryor was actually sorry? Posey? Reggie Bush (if he admitted to anything)? They took what they felt they deserved and got caught - period. Getting caught doesn't change it so just give a half-assed apology and move on. I understand principles but you're not alone in the punishment. It's the sports equivalent of The West Memphis Three. The one guy only took that deal to set him free because he had to to free the other two, they all had to and one was on death row. So, say you did it even if you know you didn't (and nobody thinks you did/doesn't care) and gtfo of prison lol. It's why I think Webber is burying personal shit more than cheating. I don't think he accepts the reality of what happened on the court.

kingsyzd614

October 29th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^

but I don't apologize for something I'm actually not sorry for doing.  Amateur athletics is a joke and kids are getting money under the table all day every day, he just happened to get caught doing it.  Of all the guys you named, do you think they are the only ones that got paid?  Really?  Nobody is asking all these guys to stand up and admit what they did and apologize.  Chris Webber made millions of dollars for UM, and the Fab 5 cultural and economic impact may be in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, and you're mad a Chris for 300k?  Sounds extremely pety and IMHO if you don't stand behind any of these kids you aren't a real UM fan.

Danwillhor

October 29th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^

I couldn't list everyone that took something and neither could you. To also assume what I think about him taking anything is irrational and misses the point. It has been so long that nobody cares and everyone knows he'd be apologizing just to get it over with. I grew up on UM and I was in love with the Fab5 but just say what you have to for the sake of each other, ffs. He's been so stubborn that it would be a major story if he apologized, if anything. I said I understand principles but everyone knows he took something even if it had nothing to do directly with UM. You shouldn't hold history hostage because you can't say "I was young, my bad". Teammates can't see their own banners because you refuse to acknowledge 2 years of your life? It's crazy. Sorry but it's crazy. It's why I think it has more to do with the court than taking anything.

2manylincs

October 29th, 2015 at 3:51 AM ^

Wd, thank you for the email info and the super books and for all of your passion for everything michigan.. But, on anything fab five, you need to stop. You were not even alive. The current nba culture, good or bad in ones opinion, was formed by the fab 5, jordan, and iverson. At the time they were a cultural phenomenon. You do nothing but argue that the beatles are crap bc the rolling stones still tour. I really dont care if a banner is in the rafters, or if webber goes to a game. Yes the 2013 team was good, but in 20 years, nobody will remember them, and people everywhere will still talk about the fab 5. I understand that you didnt live thru it, so you dont appreciate it for what it was. There is going to be no 30 for 30 for the 2013 team. The closest i can come to the experience is actually 1980s and 90s miami football. So what if any of them got paid? They deserve any penny that they got.

ScruffyTheJanitor

October 29th, 2015 at 8:28 AM ^

Just because one's time line doesn't happen to run concurrent to an event doesn't mean you can't have an opinion about that event. Though most of his career took place before I was old enough to appreciate it, I still think Billie Dee Williams was cool. 

 Was anything that WD said wrong? The dude lied. He tarnished the legacy of the very thing you are calling a "culteral phenomenon". I know the circumstances, and I don't have a problem with it, but just tell the truth.

WD's flaw is that he takes it too personally; it's sports. That happens. 

Mr. Yost

October 29th, 2015 at 8:42 AM ^

You both are correct and you both are wrong.

Yes WD needs to stop piling it on about something he never experienced and truly only knows what he's read or seen on TV.

But he was 29...so people like you should stop making excuses for an adult just because you have fond memories of a childhood or young adulthood era of basketball. Weber is in his 40's now. I agree that he made "mistakes" as a kid or a young adult, but he's also had plenty of time to man up or own up to them as an adult. Especially knowing that nothing he currently has will be lost.

For what you guys are saying...they can be both.  The truth probably lies in the middle of your view and WD's.

Your post was warranted, IMO, it was just attacking/responding to the wrong post, IMO.

But that's just my opinion. My other opinion is that I just wish we could move past it...clearly the team has if they're doing things like this for infro videos. They're not throwing "FAB 5 is BACK" in anyone's face...but they're acknowledging part of their history. Which is cool.

charblue.

October 29th, 2015 at 11:59 AM ^

The current NBA culture was driven by the Fab Five? Hardly. Those guys were still in college when Magic and Bird got the NBA off the mat and then Jordan entered the league and redefined it.  NBA basketball was at its zenith on TV during Jordan's run, not the Fab Five, who were making their name at the top of the college basketball world as the 90's began.