Hello: Chris Webber
Chris Webber's 10-year required disassociation from Michigan is now officially over.
I think an even better example is Ohio St. Their NCAA violations with Jim O'Brien weren't as notorious because Boban Savović didn't lead a team with all freshmen starters to the Final Four, but they still fired their coach and had postseason ineligibility sanctions due to players receiving pay and academic fraud. But they barely missed a beat because they hired Thad Matta instead of Brian Ellerbe.
Chris Webber took money as a kid, and continued taking it after he was legally an adult. And as an adult, he perjured himself in front of a federal grand jury to cover it up.
Link?
I'm also admittedly saddened that my tenure as a UM student is now referred to as "those days". Sigh.
There isn't a shred of proof to support your assertion that Webber "lied to protect the university." He did no such thing. Webber's personal actions, by himself and without the direct involvement of anybody having any position with the university, put the university in terrible jeopardy. Webber concealed his wrongdoing from the university. Webber lied. He lied to a grand jury. He committed perjury. Not to protect the university. Webber's silence following his intial attempt at concealment did nothing but hurt the university.
I'd like to see Chris Webber repay a substantial part of what the university lost in legal fees and other costs associated with the NCAA investigation of the basketball scandal.
webber did not comply with the ncaa arrangement that the university, the coaches, the media the conference, etc could earn millions of dollars off of his athletic efforts and national fame and he could not be compensated beyond tuition, housing, etc.
clear violation of ncaa rules but not illegal.
he lied to a grand jury and was convicted of this crime and paid the price.
all of this occurred while he was very young- likely beginning in junior high or younger and ending by his sophmore year in college.
we can celebrate the great player he was and the great team he led (inspite of the fact that there are no official wins). ludicrous to not acknowledge the phenomenal athletic exploits we witnessed. this does not condone everything he did as a young man.
1. I was responding very specifically to the absurd claim that Webber lied "to protect the university." He did no such thing.
2. These threads routinely get started by people wanting to celebrate Webber. Michigan and its fans would do well to ignore Webber. I promise not to complain about Webber, or even mention him, if people will just STFU about Webber.
Welcome back Chris! No apology needed...
Webber will never step foot on the court to help Michigan win or lose a game ever again.
I'm nore interested in if Michigan lands Looney, Bluiett, or Booker.
as acknowledged by stauskas, the exploits of the fab 5 and rose's documentary are still influencing basketball players when considering committing to michigan.
I believe he said the Fab 5, not Chris Webber specifically. The Fab 5 still exists without all this focus on one individual.
Jeez, all these folks on this board who need to project so much pent-up hate, negativity, and anger onto another person. Try living without needing to make someone a target all the time.
Look back and realize: The sanctions weren't really that impactful. Ellerbe damaged the program way, way more simply by sucking. Mix him in with that whole Jamal Crawford mess and then Amaker stinking, and that's what threw Michigan hoops off the map.
Whatever. Get a clue.
*YAWN*
Ohio State could figure a way to get him eligible again, if he was one of theirs.
Why do I get the feeling that it's going to be all about Chris Webber and the "glorious past" and not about the present, clean version of Michigan basketball?