The Ghost of Rob Parker

Remember his One Ma Crusade against the Lions coach, which finally erupted in the "wish your daughter married a better defensive coordinator" comment? Well, hop in the car and come for a ride down Conspiracy Boulevard here. I'll make it short and snappy, and have you back home in time for your milk and cookies. Rosenberg. One week before the season. He had his "tidbits" from the anonymnous sources. Goes poking around fan day to find a couple players to chat up about the practices. Why? Cuz if he can snag a couple current players, he can put names and faces. He gets 'em--the "story" is ago. Couple days later--BOOM Rosie'd again! Magically, the story about the relationship with the Clemson Crook hits. Who has it? Rosenberg again, as if all the sudden he's a one-man Dateline NBC. Right. UM wins two big games--especially the Notre Dame game. BOOM! Another story out of nowhere--this time it's the OTHER white meat--the Detroit News! Think these "stories" are just finding their way out of these reporters' typewriters just now? Mmkay. What we nowhave is BOTH Detroit papers involved. No longer can UM fans just lambast the Freep as one paper with a couple rogue reporters with an agenda! Somehow, the Detroit News found this stuff all by themselves just like magic! It's now a two-pronged attack. One wonders how long it will be before some Detroit TV station "breaks" some story about Rich Rodriguez? What a coincidence that will be, right? What seems to be happening is the so-called Conspirators (that's French for "assholes") are releasing this stuff (in the words of a Scout poster GASP! Thanks, BTW. Good one) like a "time-release vitamin." But the Big One was released first, to draw attention. Now the follow ups are getting weaker and weaker--but you know, the hitsjust keep on coming. "It's a non story. Yawn. Geeves, would you please go fetch my Gauloises and a snifter of cognac for me? Thanks in advance" But folks, it's not just another non-story. All this shit will add up to something sooner or later, and it seems to me some are hoping it adds up sooner. And unless the Bank Story is the end of it, it won't stop. Stuff will keep coming out--and yes, each new "story" seems to get pettier and pettier--but something's gotta give one way or the other. I have been guilty of a negative post or two or diary or two on Rich Rodriguez, but this stuff makes me mad. Why? Well, let me say this: I can say my wife is fat. I can say my wife is ugly. I can make jokes about our sex life. But you can't. I don't know what we can do, other than to write letters and emails supporting Rodriguez and Martin. I've been around the block. Lived all over the country (maybe not by choice every time. Sometimes I avoid post offices where I live--but nevermind that). And I have never seen anything like this in my life. It may not rank up there with Monica Lewinsky and cigars for an orchestrated attempt to take down a public figure, but this thing is real, and the attacks are undeserved. Rich Rodriguez IS a great coach, and this smear campaign needs to be met with the full force of a united fan base. One last point: I haven't heard BLEEP from Rick Leach and Mike Kenn in 20 years. All the sudden they are speaking out. To me, that says former players are part of it, and they are speaking out to them as much as anybody else. Well, have fun with this. Call me crazy, tell me to settle down and back away from the ledge or up my Prozac if you want. And if you have any extra Prozac yourself, go ahead and send it to me.