Hate Mail and Tweets

Submitted by KSmooth on

The Detroit News is reporting that Devin Gardner and a lot of other players are getting hate mail and tweets:

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131113/SPORTS0201/311130089/Devin-Gardner-receiving-lot-hate-mail-tweets-from-passionate-Michigan-fans?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

This shouldn't have to be said -- folks, if you find yourself seriously tempted to send an angry message to a player, don't. It won't help them and it won't make you feel any better either. Enjoy the wins, let go of the losses.

If being a fan makes you miserable, you're allowed to just not be a fan for a while. Go ahead, leave the party. Just be discrete about it. If you can avoid making an idiot of yourself on the way out, we'll almost certainly let you back in when the team starts winning again.

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M-Wolverine

November 13th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^

Though the Bronx cheer that came after the 1st 1st down probably wasn't really distinguishable.  But players see coaches as part of the team, not a separate entity.  And they see fans as the guys who want to be their friend when they're winning but will turn on a dime and throw them under the bus as soon as things turn south.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

jmblue

November 13th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

To be fair, I would hope no one is booing the players themselves, but more so the play calling
I think the majority of the booing was for the playcalling, but there definitely were people in my section booing Gardner specifically. (Some avoided any ambiguity by shouting rude things at him in between boos.)

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102750

EnoughAlready

November 13th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^

Why doesn't mgoblog say some more nasty, mocking and disrespectful things about Borges and GERG and anyone else in the doghouse!

Yep.  This place is the model of civility!

Joined: 09/14/2011

MGoPoints: 1672

UMxWolverines

November 13th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^

''He goes to class, he's respectful to the media, he's respectful to the public, and he's a good kid. And he doesn't deserve to get treated like a professional athlete.'' -Mike Gundy

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65429

Section 1

November 13th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^

I've never seen any good evidence of any hate- speech directed at the individual members of the Fab Five. There was no Twitter; no Facebook. No blogs of any kind. There may have been paper snail-mail, presumably sent to 1000 South State Street. Has any reporter ever been given access to any such letters? Has anybody ever counted them? Identified the authors? The current kerfuffle is over hateful comments made (anonymously?!?) on Twitter. Has anyone sent user-identifiable email to Devin? I heard Michigan-dad Bernie Smilovitz mention "hate mail" and "threats" sent to Devin. Is that factual reporting? "Threats"?!? This is the umpteenth time I get to denounce Twitter as an asinine, juvenile cesspool of pseudo-communication, that is nothing but a nuisance in the world of college football administration. This is a comprehensively unserious story on about three different levels.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 16535

WolvinLA2

November 13th, 2013 at 7:40 PM ^

Did you watch the Fab Five documentary?  The letter were shown in the movie.  
 

As for your opinion of Twitter - just like any useful device, people can misuse and abuse it.  It's also incredibly useful when used properly.  Anything that provides information can be good and bad.  You could make the same claim about a phonebook.  "If it weren't for phonebooks, no one would be able to make prank phone calls."  

Just because something can be misused doesn't make it asinine.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

Section 1

November 13th, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^

And as I recall it, there was one letter seen; I think it was a kind of a re-creation. That part of the film was devoid of any specific reporting. I got the impression that a small handful of people wrote letters to the Athletic Department, not the players, in which the writers complained about the sort of image the Fab Five was presenting.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 16535

True Blue Grit

November 13th, 2013 at 2:46 PM ^

at any of the players.  It's classless and will only make things worse for everyone.  These kids work incredibly hard, are very competitive, and never want to fail or let anyone down.  It's a sad commentary on society that grown adults have let their irrational attachment to sporting event outcomes override their ability to act like decent human beings. 

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32362

LSAClassOf2000

November 13th, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

On many levels, that article is pretty depressing. It seems to me that when you are at a point where tweeting or mailing hateful things to a kid that is still in college and playing for the team that you cheer each weekend, then it might be time to pick up a good book and unplug the televisions and stay away from the stadium for a while. 

I did like what he said though, and it sounds like he's been a good leader of the team through all this:

"I just think like, 'Man, it (stinks) you feel this way,' but I really can't do anything about it," Gardner said. "I'm not going to get into a banter on the Internet."

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130610

davelewis21

November 13th, 2013 at 3:13 PM ^

DG has been a warrior the last few games, the thought of UM fans sending hate mail to him or any other players is sad.    We can be angry after loses and complain on Mgoblog but reaching out to players is unacceptable. 

Go Blue

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 645

MgoBlueprint

November 13th, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^

What's been said on twitter is nothing new, and is unfortunately to be expected. I know I'm in the minority on this, but as a lifelong die hard, I do take exception to Gardner's response. The team is losing games they shouldn't be and he's worried about twitter. This happens every day, and has for years. Albeit the methods have evolved with technology. The Fab 5 dealt with it, do did Roger Maris, and Hank Aaron. It comes with the territory. As the quarterback and leader of the team, you're the one who shoulders the burden when expectations are not met. There's one way to shut these idiots/ internet tough guys/ twitter haters up, and that's winning. Ultimately, I think the fan base is most disappointed with the product. Were all invested in the program in one way or another. We have not seen a return on our investment. There's a lot of lip service and company lines coming out of Ft. Schembechler, but no leadership or accountability. I think the tweets were fucked up, but I also think Gardner needs to get his priorities in order.

Joined: 12/15/2008

MGoPoints: 11516

M-Wolverine

November 13th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^

The players work ridiculous hours, all while going to school, get the hell beat out of them on a weekly basis, get abused by total strangers, and dedicate their lives to the game...but because you buy a ticket for $75 (or more likely, flip your tv channel for 3.5 hours), it's YOU who is invested in the program enough to expect a return on your "investment."

Whose priorities are out of order?

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

MgoBlueprint

November 13th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^

I'm familiar with both the sacrifice and benefits that come with being a college athlete. He was not forced to play college football at this level. His priorities are clear cut, school then football. He's in grad school. By all accounts he's taking care of things on that end. On the gridiron, not so much. I'd be a fool to think that the offensive woes are all on him. Do I think, he's done everything possible off the field to be the best quarterback he possibly could be? Hell no. I'm sure that some of that twitter or tinder time would have been better spent in the film room.

Joined: 12/15/2008

MGoPoints: 11516

BigBlue02

November 13th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^

How dare he use his free time to do anything other than what I have deemed appropriate?!?!?! And while we're at it, I don't think he should be able to watch TV, play video games, or actually live the life of a normal human being. Dance for my amusement!

Oh, and you are a fucking tool.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: -1003

The FannMan

November 13th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^

I am sorry, but that is crazy.  I don't have twitter, so I don't  tweet or whatever you call it.  However, I think that sending or reading a tweet takes about 30 seconds.  I also know that they come to your phone whether you what them or not.

Are you really taking the position that he needs to get rid of his cell phone and focus on being the best quarterback he possible can be?  Can he watch TV, listen to the radio and go on dates too, or is that off limits?  If he doesn't, does that mean that he deserves the hate mail he gets?

I have, from time to time, made a post or two that I though was reasonable at first, only to realize that it made no darn sense at all.  I think that may have happened to you.  Generally, those who say, "Yeah, sorry.  That made no damn sense, forget it" are quickly forgiven.

Joined: 11/25/2008

MGoPoints: 14816

Nosce Te Ipsum

November 13th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^

Devin hasn't dealt with this even though it has been going on for a long time. It's new to him since, you know, he isn't remembering his former life as Jackie Robinson. It's a normal response to be upset from this stuff. He might be the QB but he is still human and even if he didn't respond to this stuff publicly he'd be dealing with it in private. Does it really matter which one he does? His priorities are that he needs to go to school, which I believe he's in grad school now (WTG!), and work hard on his craft. Nobody deserves this shit when they aren't getting paid (yeah, yeah. Free education and all. Whatthefuckever).

Joined: 03/12/2010

MGoPoints: 6396

might and main

November 13th, 2013 at 3:42 PM ^

Did you read the article?  Gardner is handling this hate mail perfectly as far as I can tell: understanding "its nothing new" (which seems to be your main point) and then ignoring it.  How are his priorities out of order?  You must believe he's working as hard as he can to get wins for Michigan, yes?  So that's his priority.  Maybe also representing Michigan with class, which he seems to be doing a great job at. 

Joined: 11/18/2008

MGoPoints: 2734

Wee-Bey Brice

November 13th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^

With all due respect, this comment "aint worth a damn" in the words of my good friend Ricky Bobby. Playing college sports on this level is a job. They work hard and whether it produces wins or not, they deserve leisure time as well. He has a life outside of his job just like you do. I dont know about you but I work 11-12 long hours a day and i'll be damned if somebody is telling me how to spend my leisure time after I get off. Win or lose, they aren't machines. 

Joined: 05/23/2013

MGoPoints: 7413

alwaystrueblue

November 13th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^

that people would say this stuff to a player.

 

But its just as appalling for people to do it to coaches. Those coaches are trying just as hard as the players are.   Those coaches are also someones husband...father....brother...grand-father etc. etc.

 

Why do some on here take offense at the players being treated like this but seemingly approve of it as long as its a coach?

And dont give me the old "he is an adult and making tons of money" crap either. Thats no excuse to treat another person in a way that you would not want your own son to be treated.

 

Either you have class or you dont.   There is no in between.

 

Joined: 08/09/2010

MGoPoints: 80

Nosce Te Ipsum

November 13th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^

Man, this is seriously gross. I understand the need to get involved in something to take away from your day to day life. Life sucks a lot of the time for most people. Crappy jobs, crappy bosses, crappy spouses. Taking your real life frustrations out on something that you 1. have no control over and 2. couldn't make a significant difference if you were involved in it just doesn't make any sense. It's cool to get upset about the losses. I am upset but why the need to spread those feelings of anger towards the players?

 

I'll never really get it. I have family who are like this and when we talk Michigan they talk about wanting Dave Brandon and everyone below him fired. I just zone out during those times and then make up an excuse to get off the phone. Get to the root of your problem, people who are doing this. Your life is fucking miserable and instead of taking it out on people who play a game it's time to hunker down and figure out how to make your life a happy one. People who are happy with their lives wouldn't posses the ability to do this shit. This will always happen, though. Really pathetic. Really pathetic. 

Joined: 03/12/2010

MGoPoints: 6396

Sllepy81

November 13th, 2013 at 3:30 PM ^

students first, leave them alone. once the game is over they are students. Get mad at there personal coaches or coordinators not the student athletes.

Joined: 01/02/2013

MGoPoints: 7976