Fab Five Film Article Highlights (Freep content)

Submitted by M-Wolverine on

Anyone who doesn't want to click on the links (especially now that print only has ads I've read here), no problem, but some interesting quotes from Jalen, and insight on how the show will reveal new stuff, and not gloss over much. I guess the moral is- watch it.

But what I thought were some highlights, might be worth reading if it doesn't make you vomit, and links at the end for fair practice standards.

From Juwan Howard discussing his grandmother's death the day he signed his letter of intent, to Ray Jackson talking about being "the fifth wheel" and considering a transfer, to Jimmy King's brutal honesty about his disdain for Christian Laettner -- one part in which the soundtrack is certainly not for family ears, to Rose talking about the loitering ticket he got in the Detroit "crack house," almost everything is addressed.

And that's where current U-M athletic director Dave Brandon enters, pleading for a Webber apology to help the healing process but making no concessions to reraising the banners once Webber's association ban is lifted in 2013

The insanely racist letters sent to the school and players at that time are displayed fully -- complete with alums who had the gall to sign their name and graduation year to their bigotry. (Even Rose, who claims nothing fazes him, admitted he was stunned to see that people had actually signed them.)

 Rose said he took money from Martin, but not large sums...

Jalen:

On U-M athletic director Dave Brandon asking for a Webber apology: "(An apology) puts us in a great position with the university and with Dave Brandon. I wish he was a part of the situation when it went down. Also with (U-M president) Mary Sue Coleman, we're on the same page as moving forward."

Their listed highlights include:

  1. The Fire from the Michigan Players towards Duke.
  2. Rose discussing the art of trash talking.
  3. Their meeting with Muhammed Ali.
  4. The Europe Trip.
  5. Seeing how confused Chris Webber must have been when he called time-out.
  6. The rewriting of the Ed Martin saga.
  7. The outstanding video clips.

In any regard, look at what you want, but it sounds like the movie a week from tonight will not disappoint. (And I say movie, because it's supposed to have a 100 minute running time).  

Comments on stuff in the articles:

I never really blame Chris for the TO, because I thought he should call time out too, not knowing we didn't have any.

They seem to get on Michael Talley (who's one of the few, along with Webber, who's not in the movie...the upperclass back ups ARE in it) for clapping when he called timeout, but it sounds like no bigger an error than the one Webber made in the situation.

The undercurrent of racism in all the hate towards them at the time. While it still exists today, I'm sure it will seem even more foreign to some of the younger, college age kids who have grown up in an era where rap artists are the biggest things out there, and are much more culturally inclusive. If you thought "blue-hairs" are bad now....

Rose on trash talking should be interesting after yesterday....

Their hate of Duke birthed my hate of Duke. 

And even new news, from Jalen admitting he took a handout or two, to Brandon trying to get some healing going.  Should be very interesting.

 

(for propriety's sake)

http://www.freep.com/article/20110306/SPORTS06/103060503/Fab-Five-docum…

http://www.freep.com/article/20110306/SPORTS06/103060505

http://www.freep.com/article/20110306/SPORTS06/103060507/Standout-momen…

 

 

 

pfholland

March 6th, 2011 at 1:09 PM ^

I was already looking forward to seeing this next week, but this article makes it look like a true Event.  I remember the Fab Five well (I was in high school at the time), and had no idea about the blatant racism they had to deal with.

My DVR is already set, thanks for the reminder.

the_white_tiger

March 6th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^

and I wasn't even alive to see them won. ESPN should really be commended for these films, they have been exceedingly well done and this one looks like it could be the best of the bunch. I can't wait to learn more about the Fab Five.

And Mr. King, I'm going to hazard a guess that most people hold a lot of disdain for Christian Laettner. You're not alone.

Section 1

March 6th, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^

I only have a few simple thoughts about the Fab Five, and I can say that I was a season-ticket holder for every one of their seasons.

1.  I am very glad to see some of Jalen's comments, reminding everyone of the basic fact that Ed Martin was never a Michigan coach, or an alum, or a "booster" in anything other than a technical NCAA-speak sense of the term.  It is a shame that Ed Martin ever got close to the Michigan program, but his own involvement with Chris Webber and Jalen Rose and other Detroit schoolkids predated those kids' involvement with Michigan.  It was dirty, and it is a problem that Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher allowed Ed Martin the access that he got.

2.  Whenever I see the Free Press pontificating about the Fab Five, the absolute first thought that comes to mind is the fact that Mitch Albom practically lived with them for a short time, and after writing the book "Fab Five," Mitch Albom professedly never knew about any rules-violation activity.  That's a highly relevant fact, if anybody suggests that the Michigan Athletic Department was supposed to have known what was going on with Ed Martin.  When Mitch Albom, with his claimed special access, didn't know.

3.  I'm not obsessing over any banners.  The Fab Five were a wondrous event in college basketball.  I was enthralled with them at the time.  But they never won a Big Ten Championship and they never won an NCAA Championship.  I have honestly forgotten what the banners said; "NCAA Finalist"?  "Runner-Up"?  "Tournament Participation"?  "Miss Congeniality"? 

I think Chris Webber should say that he is very, very sorry.  I think Webber's parents should be very, very sorry for letting their kid get involved with a scumbag like Ed Martin.  They should all be sorry, no matter what.  Unconditional "sorry."  And it was all a very bad thing.  But it should always be put in the context that it was a colossally bad situation that was 98% developed between Martin and certain players before any of them ever went to Michigan, and entirely apart from those players' association with the University of Michigan.  Chris Webber took some money, it was illegal money, and he didn't report it or pay taxes on it.  He was barely more than a teenager at the time.  He did it all without the University's knowledge.

Bando Calrissian

March 6th, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^

I don't get the comparison, because I have never started a thread about it, I have never turned a completely unrelated thread into a discussion of Chris Webber, and have restricted my comments on it to any of the many threads created on this topic in the past month.  And there have been many.

If BRCE wants to follow me around and negbomb me, go right ahead.  I'll only stand by the fact that the Ed Martin/Chris Webber/Steve Fisher rehabilitation projects and kids who weren't even born when the events were happening calling for the banners to be rehung just don't match up with the negatives the Ed Martin scandal brought to the University.

M-Wolverine

March 6th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^

Positive, negative, neutral, you always find a way to work in your disdain for them. Are you planning on crusading on removing the Championship banner too? Because Rumeal has come out and said everyone was getting money at the time and deserved it, and has done far worse things since than any of the Fabbers have. Just wondering if you're consistent or it's just a personal thing against those guys.

M-Wolverine

March 6th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^

Bando accused me of crusading against Les Miles in a "Section 1" like crusade, and I assumed he didn't mean it as a compliment, and since he's taking every mention of the Fab 5 as an opportunity as a shot, I wondered if he still thought it was bad.

In reply to by M-Wolverine

Bando Calrissian

March 6th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^

Personally, I don't care what you think.  

I have my opinion on Chris Webber, Lou Bullock, Maurice Tayor, Robert Traylor, and everyone else named or implicated in this scandal.  They should never be allowed anywhere near this program again.  The other 4 members of the Fab Five were not implicated as receiving improper benefits (even if Jalen now says he was on the take).  Thus, if they want to associate with the program, they're more than welcome.

As for the banners, they're gone, they're not coming back, and it has just as much to do with Chris Webber as it does with Traylor and co. invalidating the 1998 Big 10 Tournament title.

I do have a problem with the common groupthink around here that all should be forgiven and swept under the rug, and the banners re-hung.  And when there's threads weekly attempting to push that line of thinking, of course I'm going to respond.  Because I have an opinion.

M-Wolverine

March 7th, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^

But you feel the need to voice yours in every single thread concerning them (not just one's rewriting history...this article points out the good and bad, and commends the movie for showing both). That's kind of pathological, no? Why should anyone care what you have to say again and again, when you don't care what others say? Kind of hypocritical too. (But then Les, Rumeal, etc., nothing new).
<br>
<br>And part of an interesting pieceof the article is Dave Brandon may not agree with you on the banners/healing. And he has a touch more say in it than you.

Eck Sentrik

March 6th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^

A guy that went to my HS, Jason Bossard played on that team. A friend has video of him draining shots from half court in our gym. He was good enough that he could have transfered and started just about anywhere else. A buddy ran into him a while back and asked him why he didnt. He replied "Are you kidding me? It was like touring with the Beatles."

Berman gave him a nickname on Senior night. Jason "shoot quick before they pull me" Bossard because he sank like six consecutive 3-pointers.

 

pfholland

March 6th, 2011 at 3:38 PM ^

My wife, who grew up in suburban Chicago, just told me that the Fab Five were the reason she first considered attending Michigan.  She was watching a game with her father, when he suddenly said to her, "Michigan's a good school, you should think about going there."  Though she had previously planned to go to Northwestern, she ended up choosing Michigan (where we met).

 

Do you think it's too late to send them all "Thank You" notes?

NateVolk

March 6th, 2011 at 3:49 PM ^

 Chris Webber needs to come clean on that apology. I believe it was not what he did that makes it hard for him. It was how he would prattle on to the media about how poor the players were, under the corrupt system that exploited them. He tried to come off as some boy genius version of like Dr. Harry Edwards or something.  The media ate up the storyline about how much of a deep thinker he was. All the while, it was total garbage and he was getting fat under the table.  

That level of public hypocrisy is as embarrassing as it gets.  It leans towards sociopathic in a way. It is a huge blow to his ego to have to deal with any of this now, especially in a public way.  It will lift a huge burden from him though. Being straight up has that effect.

M-Wolverine

March 6th, 2011 at 5:32 PM ^

If he had just apologized at the time and came clean? Might have staved off a lot of situations. And healed a lot. But after complaining to Mitch that he couldn't afford a date, and telling everyone how exploited he was on Nightline, which rank false even at the time considering he was very middle class compared to some of his teammates, no matter how street he tried to be. Ego.

M-Wolverine

March 6th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^

I'm more of the concept that rewarding good content and punishing bad content is the way to go. And when I saw it (had to check on some post-game reaction), it was interesting. Some stuff even I didn't know real well. So I put some highlights, left enough to not steal it, and people could discover more if they want. But no one can say they weren't warned. :-)

Tater

March 6th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^

It could very easily be said that the Fab Five made it OK for black players to stop "acting white" for the cameras.  The whole episode reminds me of the Miles Davis album "Tribute to Jack Johnson."  Johnson's career was defined by his refusal to kiss ass and the public's fervent search for The Great White Hope. 

In the case of the Fab Five, everyone who played them temporarily became the GWH, at least symbolically. 

Back to Miles and Johnson, I don't have the exact quote from the liner notes, but it went something like this:

"He died as he lived: in a fast car with a white woman."

In Johnson's era, it was a death sentence.

In Miles' era, it was a radical concept.

In the Fab Five era, it was common, but there was still a lot of covert racism. 

Now, racists have been pushed even further into hiding, but they are still there.  I'm not a fan of rap because there isn't enough melody for me, and I'm not a fan of modern hip hop because I don't like all the added syllables that constitute "vocal styling." 

But I am very happy every time I see a white kid listening to either genre, because I know he or she will be less likely to judge anyone for the color of his or her skin.  Maybe in another twenty years or so, there won't be any more racism, or at least those who practice it will be in such a minority that they are neutralized.

Back to the Fab Five: they might not have defeated racism, but they certainly exposed it and got the conversation started.  Once the conversation is started, things can suck for awhile, but growth usually happens.  AFAIC, they brought a culture to mainstream America from which they had previously been insulated. 

Whether you like the culture of someone who is different than you or not, you are better for having been exposed to it, even if many of those exposed don't know it or wouldn't believe it.  The Fab Five may have pissed off a lot of people at first, but they changed the world in their own way, just by being themselves on a national platform. 

That is no small accomplishment, and it won't be forgotten anytime soon.

M-Wolverine

March 6th, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^

That you're a complete lunatic, you write something like this to prove me wrong. Magnificent.
<br>
<br>And while I won't claim they had close to the same impact, I look forward to seeing how they idolized Ali (and obviously tried to mimic his style).

MGlobules

March 6th, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^

I had just got out of Michigan and was teaching in Roxbury (Boston) when hiphop broke. There was an incredible wave of creative energy that followed. It has influenced the way the whole world dances and makes music, in ways both large and small, technical and cultural. Slum kids in Paris, London, Beirut, and Sri Lanka all took courage from it. Yes, bad rap deserves its bad rap--and don't think that at the very top there aren't lots of white guys heading home to white suburbs on the earnings, even now. But take care to separate hiphop from gangster rap.

Personally, I would rather listen to bad rap music than bad rock any day, but that's me.  

In the movie--reportedly--the Fab Five talk at length about their love for hiphop. 

CRISPed in the DIAG

March 7th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

Speaking of racism - particarly overt racism: Does anyone else remember the televised MBB game agaist MSU at Breslin in '93?  UM and MSU were often televised on the local Fox channels back then.  The TV announcer mics distictly picked up a lone nutcase that repeated yelled the "N" word.  Loudly. Seems like Albom talked about it in the book.

If memory serves me, this was also the game where our fellas celebrated at the middle of the court by squatting on the block S.

Maizeandbluekid

March 6th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^

As someone who was born in '93, not being alive to see this group's greatness, only knowing of them by watching C-Webb's timeout, the awesome highlights, and the scandal, this will truly be the first time I will really see the Fab Five. I can't wait!

baorao

March 6th, 2011 at 10:59 PM ^

how the alumni that wrote those letters and signed their names feel (assuming they are alive). I would guess they stand by the sentiment, but I would have to imagine that having their letters come to light 20 years later is going to be sad for them.

(It wasn't clear to me if they will be identifying specific letters but it sounds like they will)