Frank Beckmann's Fab Five comments
I didn't learn about this until reading Brian's Beckmann-referencing post, but for those still not in the loop, Beckmann said this on his Facebook page Sunday:
"I got called off vacation to broadcast the Michigan hoops games in Charlotte...M/Duke should be great...This M team is the antithesis of the Fab 5, unselfish, always plays hard, no sense of entitlement, respects opponents, and no racists...We should thank Jalen Rose for reminding everyone why we never want another group like the Fab 5 at Michigan, or any other school!!!"
What is the general feeling on Beckmann as Michigan's play-by-play man after this? To me -- and I don't give a shit if anyone calls me out for being political -- it is just Beckmann revealing his true colors if you've ever listened to his radio show. For the program to be in business with an obviously slanted politcal pundit never made me feel easy. For him to publicly say this pathetic, obviously race-fueled drivel is enough to make me write a letter to the University about him.
The sooner he leaves his post at the microphone, the better.
(Letterman awkward collar thing)
Saw this was basically covered in an earlier front-page post today. Ignore this thread if you think its overkill.
I think all of this is hypocritical BS. First of all, I like Jalen Rose, but his comments were stupid. If he was saying what he felt like as a 18-19 year old kid, fine. They were stupid thoughts then, too, but at least I can understand a young man not being very wise. Were they racist? I would say they were more built on not understanding people who do not grow up like you grew up. He was essentially saying that the more affluent players like Grant Hill were somehow less black than he was. Stupid comments built on youth and ignorance. Beckmann calling him racist for it was likewise stupid. He, of course, is not 18 and should know better. His comments about not liking the fab five, though, could be based on their arrogance and feeling that they were more important than the university they represented. The University made money on the backs of the poor starving kid, blah blah blah, they still cheated (Webber the most obviously, but it is a little arrogant to think that none of them knew about him or were receiving anything themselves). Anyone who works is exploited by their company. My company makes a lot more off of my work than they pay me. College athletes more or less have a part time job which pays them 15 to 20 thousand dollars a year. Not too bad. It is not any different than what we all slam the OSU kids for. Play by the rules or go pro. Regardless, his comments were no more racist than Rose's were, and the quick jump to him being an old white racist by many of those here is ridiculous. Basically, many people are slamming a guy they don't like for slamming something he doesn't like. It is the same old "you don't think like me, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" attitude that is too prevelant today - from liberals and conservatives, btw. RR guys and Carr guys, too. Everything is too black and white. Why can't this guy just not like the fab five and leave it at that?
March 25th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^
Did you not watch the documentary, or have you not been reading Brian's posts on this blog, or are you having the same problem with past tense verb conjugation that anyone else who believes Jalen feels the same way today? Or was that just unfortunate word choice? Because it couldn't be more clear that this "if" is indeed the case. Not sure if that obviates the point of the rest of your post or not...
As for "I can understand a young man not being very wise" or "youthful and ignorant"....how about jealous and bitter, as Jalen admitted himself? My bet...you've not walked an inch in those shoes.
And as for "Why can't this guy just not like the fab five and leave it at that?" The answer is because he used a word that went beyond "not liking" the Fab Five. So in your view, both of their comments were stupid, and even though Beckmann's came from someone that wasn't a disadvantaged youth, he deserves the long defense of his point of view, but Jalen doesn't? Sorry...don't agree.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
Where did I say that Beckmann deserved anything that Jalen didn't? I said that it was wrong to call Jalen racist just like it was wrong to call Beckmann racist. And if by "walked and inch in his shoes" you mean growing up a poor black kid in a single parent family in inner city detroit then rising to national fame because of my basketball ability, then no, I have not. Have you?
Also, I read Brian's posts but although I respect his work with this blog and his enthusiasm as a Michigan fan, I don't blindly believe his analysis like many of the sycophants.
Finally, how is your choice of jealous and bitter somehow better than youthful and ignorant?
My point still stands. Both guys said stupid things, but one guy is lauded and protected and the other is hammered. I just find it hypocritical. I personally like both guys and would like to give them both the benefit of the doubt. If you want to dislike them both I can respect that, too. I just find it hard to swallow picking and choosing.
March 25th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^
You didn't "say that Beckmann deserved anything that Jalen didn't", you merely spent a long post defending what he said without similarly backing up Jalen's. Perhaps you were just evening up the ledger since you perceive there to be more defense of Jalen's side. If so, fair enough.
Have I? You're kind of creating a straw man by defining Jalen quite so narrowly (Detroit, national fame, basketball ability), but I can say that I grew up with enough adversity and relative disadvantage that I absolutely carried a chip on my shoulder that motivated me and continues to motivate me to achieve success in my chosen field.
As for Brian's "analysis"....how is the fact that every single verb Jimmy and Jalen used on the topic being in past tense considered "analysis"? That's pretty cut and dry, to me. And especially since Jalen has gone on to make it explicit in subsequent forums.
As for jealous and bitter vs. youthful and arrogant...I'll concede the point that I was putting meaning on to your words that perhaps you didn't mean. I would say the difference is that I ascribe justification to Jalen's point of view...I understand where he's coming from and so I put them into a context and "forgive" him (for lack of a better word...it implies a right to pass judgment from me on to Jalen that I don't intend).
Anyway, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I just think people that think Jalen was wrong for his point of view as an 18 year old aren't comprehending his circumstances.
March 25th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
...on the "have I?" topic...that I also appreciate my relative *advantages* well enough that I respect those that reach maturity and success without them, as well.
I agree with Brian's reference to the moron Beck and would be happy to see this guy get canned. His play by play is pretty good but his obsequious byplay is obnoxious. Find a good Michigan "homer" who feels the same way that we do about Michigan football with no political subtext.
... I actually never knew he did politics until today, because of my general preference to avoid the field entirely.
I've always thought of him as a good radio guy, but those comments should not be tolerated for the home team announcer. First, his comments were ignorant and if not racist, then damn close. Second, he's supposed to be the Michigan broadcast guy. It seems like he'd be better suited for a school like, ummm, well... Duke.
I will be writing a letter, as well.
Just an awful radio play-by-play guy. Living in OH I often catch bites of tOSU's call man Paul Keels. If you can stomach the images, here's a bite of how good he is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1dFu6zV8M
Having Beckmann compared to Keels, almost makes us look amateurish.
Radio guys should paint the picture by loading your ears with facts and being as descriptive and quick as possible. Beckmann has none of this. If you listen carefully, he is usually a good three seconds behind the roar of the crowd or stammering to figure out the best way to describe what just happened.
The guy should be fired because he sucks.
I don't normally like to slam people for their opinions but you really have to be a moron if you think that Beckmann is "amateurish" or just not very good at radio play-by-play. I don't know about that aOSU announcer and don't really care because I've heard a lot of radio play-by-play voices and Beckmann's has to be up there as one of the best as far as excitement goes. Also he's done this for almost thirty years
March 25th, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
Beckmann sucks, he just does
March 25th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
Others who must be great because they have done something for 30+ years:
1. Jim Nantz
2. Wayne Newton
3. Gadaffi
4. The U.S. Postal Service
I have to agree with you on this one. I've always thought he was overrated. If this is what gets him fired so they can bring in someone better then it will be worth it.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^
I thought Beckmann's call of the bball game was awful. He's good at football, but just isn't a good bball guy. On the other hand, I really really like Matt Sheppard for bball and think he's far superior. Shep just seems to understand bball better and give a better picture of what's going on. Beckmann just wasn't quick enough, imo. With fball, you can be a bit slower and have a big verbal burst in conjunction with the occassional big play. However, with bball, you've got to be quicker and more on your toes. Bball just has a higher baseline announcing intensity than fball does.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
who I remember growing up listening to. That being said, that Buckeye guy blows him away.
Keels used to do U-M games in the 80's, if I'm not mistaken.
I like Beckmanns voice for football. If I have to work on a saturday and miss the game, his voice is what I want to hear. He does a great job describing the games. His politics is not of my concern unless he runs for office which is not going to happen. This was made on facebook, and not even to the general public. Plus who exactly is a fan of the Frank Beckmann show Facebook page?
You know what they say: when people want to keep a thought to themselves, they put it on Facebook.
at a time when the U is making a careful rapprochement with the Fab 5. Pity the fool didn't watch the documentary because if he spouts such drivel after seeing how much hate those kids had to play through at the time then if he still comes out with this. . .
his comments make me suspect he is well aware of the hate thrown at those kids when they were there.
he's a pathetic, narrow-minded moron who's incapable of understanding what the Fab Five represented. More importantly, this statement is the antithesis of what this University is all about and why this University is so uniquely great....See ya....
I remember 760 as this bastion of informative interesting radio that actually provided a service to the entire state of Michigan as well as most of the country on good nights. It's sad to know that it is simply cheap political hackery anymore. I don't know that firing Beckmann is the best idea but making him apologize and discuss why his statement was so wrong would at least get his "fans" to hear a message and not go all conspiracy theory.
i don't see how comments on the Fab 5 can translate to being 'political.' i tend to agree with 'some' of Beckmann's political views, yet i in no way share ANY of his moronic and misinformed opinions on the Fab 5.
i still say fire him though...
And I'm all
amirite!?
I might be in the minority, but I've never been a big fan of our play by play tandem (even before his Facebook comments). I find them both to be somewhat obnoxious. And I'm one of the most obnoxious guys I know.
I think the "OUTRAGE!!!!!11!!!!!" over Frank Beckmann's comments is kind of funny. You know it's the offseason when people begin calling the Michigan play-by-play guy a racist for comments that are nowhere near being racist.
Those who play the "racist" card first are fair game.
I didn't have huge problems with his comments until he got to the part about racism. On behalf of Whitey, it is very, very dicey territory to start calling a bunch of poor urban black 19-year-old kids racist.
They are nowhere near being racist? Wow, fuck you buddy.
He said he was glad to see "no racists" on this current team unlike the Fab Five -- I don't need to even go into that one.
He said, with absolutely no basis, that the Fab Five didn't play hard, were selfish (both completely untrue) and had a sense of entitlement. Gee, you don't think these are all cliche talking points among racist sports fans about black athletes vs. white athletes (which UM basketball has more of now than it did then)? I'm surprised he didn't mention the word "GRIT!" but only without a hint of sarcasm.
"They are nowhere near being racist? Wow, fuck you buddy."
Whoa! Apparently someone has struck a nerve with you! A wise man once told me, once the other man begins hurling personal insults in a debate, he's lost the argument.
It might be time for you to grow the fuck up, and start looking at the reality of a situation. The Fab Five were entitled and generally whiny(at the time). Just because "entitlement" happens to be "racially charged buzz-word" for the whiny liberal sect of our population, doesn't mean that there are no entitlement minded black people anymore. In fact, after living with many blacks and interacting with them on a daily basis, it's quite the opposite(in many cases).
So calling someone racist makes you racist? I don't follow your logic. Also, should people really be fired because you don't agree with their politics? Seems a tad fascist to me.
EDIT: btw Bo was outspokenly political, and I doubt his opinions were similar to yours. You think he should have been fired for it?
I don't agree with Beckmann's politics AT ALL, and his columns in the DetNews are really poorly written and reasoned.
But the man is entilted to his views. I don't see how this should affect his standing as a play-by-play man.
I don't think calling someone a racist necessarily makes you a racist. However, I'm sure there have been racists who in fact called others racist, so it's not logically impossible.
I think a rich old white suburban dude like Beckmann calling a poor young black kid from Detroit "racist" doesn't make him (Beckmann) racist. It makes him a fucking idiot who doesn't know how to deploy the English language properly.
I think the more subtly bigoted thing about Beckmann's comments was the whole "antithesis" argument. Much of that was code language for uncouth inner city negroes. Which, to me, fine. If you're a fat old rich white dude from the suburbs, you probably do find poor black kids from Detroit abhorrent. I personally will stand with the latter and tell Beckmann to STFU.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^
Just to play a bit of devil's advocate.......
Isn't use of the phrase "Uncle Tom" inherently racist towards white people?
March 25th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
towards white people?
March 25th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
It's a term used when one black person wants to accuse another of "acting white" or "assimilating into white culture".........as if all white people are one single homogenous group where one person doesn't deviate from another.
...and that people who do so aren't really black.
I'm not sure that I am following beckman's logic in calling the fab five racist....
However, old white men judging young black men, and praising our current white dominated basketball team while hoping that we never have an all black basketball team again seems very racist...so do comments by other old white men saying "I'm so glad that you said this" and "finally someone said it," and other things like that.
His comments were clearly alluding to somethimg more than what was written, and I think what the OP assumes that something is a general annimostity toward outgoing african american players that became bigger than Michigan that aren't going to behave as old white men would want them to. In my opinion, he definitely comes across as racist, though I am sure that he doesn't believe that he is.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
I was in the band in 2004 when Bo came and talked to us. He had just come from a George W. Bush rally, where he was one of the speakers. That's proof that he was a tough guy that he could survive AA as a conservative. I absolutely love Frank Beckmann as he is part of the Michigan tradition for me. I grew up listening to him calling Michigan games. My question is, why are we all obligated to love the Fab 5? I loved them at the time, but watching that documentary was more like watching Titanic for me.
Who lives and dies with this team and puts more out there than anyone on this little anonymous blog. His comments were stupid. What, you've never said anything stupid?
Publicly while I'm a public figure? No.
The comments are racist like my Grandma's subtle racism when she refers to those of African-american decent as colored people. Not really racist, but just a bit.
i doubt your grandmother has a 50,000 watt radio station or a facebook page, nor does she represent a university with a $5 billion endowment that has recently been through some issues with affirmative action.
i suggest that anymore beckmann discussion happen on his talk show's facebook page.
I have always liked Frank as an announcer, but he has made the decision to be a Political pundit, and in my mind, that disqualifies him as a UM announcer.
While I don't think he "needs" to be fired for his comments, I think they should give Frank a reason to consider if he's still up for the job. His bosses should consider the same.
First, he made a stupid post on Facebook. Hey Frank, keep private thoughts private, especially when they rip of former Michigan players. Second, it reveals that he does not grasp the notion of "past tense". Where is the praise for a guy (Jalen) who corrected beliefs he held ages ago? Doesn't Frank want people to learn and grow as they mature? Frank has had plenty of time to mature, but it doesn't seem like he's learned all that much.
I also do not see how this is political. Is it the use of the word entitlement? Regardless, it sucks and there should at least be a good semi-sincere apology issued. Personally, I would MUCH rather see Brando retire.
I'll defend to the death the right to be an asshole.