Honorary Captain C-Webb on RES (11/5/18) {Hint: he likes us}
Chris Webber was on the Rich Eisen show yesterday. He spoke about his experience as the honorary captain, the fans, and how appreciative he was for his time on campus this past weekend. I think this is a good first step in reconciliation. Disappointed there was no basketball meetings, but maybe in the future. Good listen, if you care to hear it. 0:00-9:05
November 6th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
And any Blue bleeding Michigan fan should like him, too.
I’m happy for the man.
November 6th, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^
Not sure why there seems to be so much gnashing of teeth around here cause C-Webb didnt meet with Beilein while he was here. Chris is an ex-student invited by the football team to be their honorary captain - the basketball program had nothing to do with this one way or the other.
This is a great first step to a lot of future positive things IMO, not the least of which will probably include reconciliation with the basketball team at some point and HOPEFULLY the re-hanging of the 91-92 & 92-93 banners.
Give it a little time.
November 6th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
The banners will never go back up.
(ducks)
November 6th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
Unpopular opinion: I don't think they should be put back up.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
That's where I am.
I've come to the conclusion, though, that the fanbase has pretty much bailed on any kind of moral high ground when it comes to the Ed Martin scandal. Leaders and Best in all other regards, but because other people have cheated worse, regression to the mean is just fine here. It's baffling.
November 6th, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^
I can't speak for anyone else but there was nothing specific to Michigan with the Ed Martin scandal as he was giving money to players that went to other schools as well. Its not a matter of other people cheating worse its a matter of other people engaging in the exact same cheating in the exact same way at the exact same time. The non-banner punishments that Michigan accepted to help the NCAA save face is sufficient in my book, since again, they did the NCAA and any other school involved a solid.
November 6th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
I guess I have an issue with seeing it as "cheating". There is no indication that the money factored in Webber's decision to go to Michigan. As noted, Martin's only criteria seemed to be your prospects of being able to pay him back. He was laundering money.
That is certainly a crime and certainly worthy of criticism, but it's not "cheating" by Michigan to gain an advantage in basketball. Webber was a #1 pick waiting to happen from the time he was 14, if not earlier. The deal made sense for Martin no matter where Webber went to school.
November 6th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
I see your point, but putting it all into context, teams have been doing far worse for a lot longer and gone completely unpunished. I know, strive to be better. The point is, the program was punished adequately and suffered for some time. Im not asking to look the other way. Im just asking, why is it fine that the other institutions all get slaps on the wrists and banners to hang and we get a scandal that lasts ten years and no banners?
November 6th, 2018 at 9:53 PM ^
Part of the penance was vacating the wins. You can't hang banners for wins that didn't happen. And, no, the "Michigan was regional champions, and the sanctions start with the Final Four" isn't a good argument.
November 6th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
What reconciliation needs to happen, though? He took money, was busted for it, lied about it to the FBI and then acted like UofM wronged HIM!!! Why the fuck do we need to do anything for this guy? If he's pissed at us, so be it! UofM didn't make him take cash or lie to the FBI so I'm not sure what we have to apologize for....I'm listening if someone can tell me what I'm missing.
November 6th, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^
Nice to hear Chris speaking about his experience during his visit over the weekend...
really touching stuff imo.
November 6th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
On the topic of the banners I've always been amazed in looking comparatively at a school like UCLA. They hang all their banners proudly, even when the benefits provided by Sam Gilbert and others are openly known. The argument was made in an article I read a while back "Sam Gilbert made UCLA's teams ineligible, but not better." The F5 won those banners on the court, throw a big ole asterisk on em if you want, but they earned them on the court.
November 6th, 2018 at 6:08 PM ^
“Chris Webber just signed off ‘Go Blue’ that just happened”
Cool interview. I was at the tailgate he showed up at and was inches away from being in that pic (I know many of the people who are).
I had a brief conversation with him and can completely tell he is 100% geniuinely glad to be back.
I don’t think the banners are gonna ever go back up, and I don’t think they should. HOWEVER, I think that this is a great start to a huge rebuilding process with him, the university, and the undeniable legacy of the Fab Five. They will be reunited at Crisler soon enough and honored like they deserve to be honored, and it will be a fantastic moment.
We should take some time to realize how golden of a time it is to be a Michigan Wolverine. The fact that we have the likes of Harbaugh, Beilein, Pearson, Hutchins, etc. leading great athletes and great students to win and graduate, along with rebuilding relationships and harnessing what is so special about this place we love is beyond fantastic.
We’ve come a long long way from 2014.