Introspection: Why am I bitter and not better?

Submitted by StuckinCO2 on January 14th, 2024 at 4:18 PM

Now nearly a week out from the NC game, and I still cringe every time I see the folks in the media that punked Michigan for so many weeks in November and December.

Saw Rece Davis present the trophy to JH, and I texted a friend that he needed to be punched in the face. My friend replied "Does it really matter any more?" He's almost certainly right, yet the feeling remains. Later I see Rece buddying up to JH in an "exclusive interview" like he's this straight-arrow journalist who never looked into the camera on GameDay and said "cheaters and best" and "those who stay will be cheaters." Fuck him, says my inner voice.

Then there is Nicole Auerbach, our own Michigan Daily alum, who herself was sucked into the vortex of reporting the juicy stuff without substance. She, too, tweeted nice things about JH recently after all that crap she reported without ever noting her level of speculation. I'm thinking she can also jump into Lake Michigan.

There are numerous other examples of talking heads (Finebaum, Stephen A, etc) who said the most vile crap and have since tried to make nice after the NC was won. Try as I might, I can't give them a pass.

So yes, dear MGoBloggers, I am bitter. Please counsel me to be better.

PS - Thamel's a dick, and always will be a dick, so I don't need help with that.

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Bo Harbaugh

January 14th, 2024 at 5:04 PM ^

LOL...

"avoiding the consequences of their action"

Yeah, I think they already collected on the "consequence of their actions"

3x B1G champions

3 straight vs. OSU

National Champs

Meanwhile, Born on 3rd trying to build a super team and recruiting the avengers. The stacked roster will fall apart in the playoff next year, against a UGA or (insert tough team here) and he'll still be a pathetic soft pussy.

Joined: 08/03/2019

MGoPoints: 38615

GoBlue1530

January 14th, 2024 at 5:32 PM ^

"People forget how this has been key to the UM turnaround. They took the constant losing so badly that they really doubled down and tried to level up in all aspects."

 

Dang you got us, trying to hire elite coordinators. Maybe Ryan Day should try it (or not, I'd be better off not). 

Joined: 12/31/2018

MGoPoints: 3134

Larry Z

January 14th, 2024 at 8:49 PM ^

It makes me nauseous every time I go to the website and read their comments. I think to myself "what is wrong with these vile people?" They act exactly what you would expect a spoiled child would act like when someone tells them "no" for the first time in their lives.

Joined: 01/22/2017

MGoPoints: 355

FrankMurphy

January 14th, 2024 at 4:36 PM ^

This. Take a break from Michigan Football for a week or a month or until spring practice, go spend some time with your family, go rediscover some of your other passions. If you're still feeling bitter after WE WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, then you probably need to take some time to recalibrate.

Just look at one of the examples you cited: if Harbaugh himself--whose integrity was questioned, who was called a cheater and a liar, whose name was used as fodder for clickbait negative headlines--can put aside his own feelings and sit down for an interview with Rece Davis, then why should we remain bitter?

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 31969

Maizinator

January 14th, 2024 at 4:25 PM ^

It bothers you because what they did is wrong.

Take solace in the fact that the team did the one thing they could do to fight back...   they won the whole fucking thing.

15-0 is ultimately what will be remembered about this season.

Joined: 12/11/2013

MGoPoints: 98414

M-Dog

January 14th, 2024 at 4:36 PM ^

It is a very distinct possibility that we do not win the National Championship without all the negative focus on the team, and the way it galvanized them.

Michigan versus Everybody was not just a slogan.  It was a powerful motivation.

I would not change a thing, it all worked out to our advantage.

So, thanks for that assholes.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257507

mgoblue78

January 14th, 2024 at 4:26 PM ^

What? Every silver lining has a cloud?

You're suffering from the exact opposite of schadenfreude. Instead of taking pleasure in the misfortune of others, you're taking dismay in your own good fortune.

I'm sure that there's a 17 syllable word in German or Russian for it.

Joined: 12/15/2011

MGoPoints: 6645

Blinkin

January 14th, 2024 at 4:27 PM ^

Haters gonna hate. It's understandable to demand universal approbation, especially when it's categorically warranted as it is in this case. It's understandable to demand justice for the falsely accused. But you just aren't going to get it. That's not how people work. You have to accept Rece's groveling for the implied apology and mea culpa that it is. He's not going to look into a camera and say "I was wrong and I'm sorry," regardless of how much he should. 

This is something I've struggled with a lot in my own life, in sports, at work, and elsewhere. Injustice sucks and it's sadly common. And lack of accountability for the doers of injustice is unfortunately the rule rather than the exception. Often the best you can hope for is to shut the bad guys up. You can't make them admit they're wrong and you can't make them go away forever. Silencing them is the win. 

Joined: 08/17/2022

MGoPoints: 28225

Wolverine 73

January 14th, 2024 at 4:29 PM ^

Seems it is possible to feel exhilarated by the championship and still detest the people who tried to ruin the season for us.  Wait until we see the information about how the whole thing got started and you can stoke your hatred for those people again.

Joined: 08/03/2009

MGoPoints: 27239

smotheringD

January 14th, 2024 at 4:31 PM ^

Had similar thoughts listening to Feldman on Eisen's show.  He's had to change his tune since the NCAA came out and said we won fair and square.

And with Coach Jim's suspensions, it's like we did it with one arm tied behind our backs.

Some on this blog had some pretty clever descriptions of Feldman.  I was trying to remember them.  Weasel?  Then I pretty much moved on.  Gotta do some work, clean up the house for the game tonight.

Joined: 09/15/2010

MGoPoints: 7586

Nickel

January 14th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^

I mean sports-media is basically built around everyone giving their 'takes-of-the-day' (or even the hour depending on how fast news is coming out). They're not lawyers in a criminal courtroom, they're just giving takes, much of it intentionally meant to be tongue-in-cheek like cheaters in best because they know it'll rankle some of the thin-skinned fans out there and get them angrily clicking and sharing.

And big picture, college football matters to US, but it's a one day of the week story (during the season) for the sports-world. I'm guessing you live in Michigan? And therefore take in a lot of Michigan centric stuff compared to the rest of the country? There's no grand conspiracy against Michigan, we just make a good target because we do tend to play the holier-than-thou card in the way we like to think our program is run, our men are coached, our degree is superior, etc.

It's just business mixed with sports bar trash talking, it's nothing personal to get upset about.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2740

swn

January 14th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^

Rece, Fowler, etc. declared themselves to the world as bitches. So that's what they are.

But's that just how the world is. No need to be bitter about it. 

Joined: 08/29/2017

MGoPoints: 8105

Solecismic

January 14th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^

Harbaugh's record speaks for itself. I think all of this became a lot easier at least a decade ago when I decided to watch sports with the sound off and not read ESPN and the other major sports sites except to get box scores.

For fun or justification, you can compare Harbaugh's record to other coaches. For example, in nine years he has fewer conference losses and more national championships than RichRod had in three years (and ten times the conference wins).

Or 61-52-6 since 1897, including three in a row.

Or MIV-CCCLIII-XXXVI.

The talking heads are there to stir people up, get clicks, get viewers. They have no other purpose.

Joined: 11/27/2016

MGoPoints: 7124

Z

January 14th, 2024 at 4:34 PM ^

You don't have to "give them a pass".  You also don't have to let anything they do twist you up.  Personally, I divorced myself from everything ESPN related (except actual game coverage) and I just ignore any people on "the list".

Move on.  Focus on better things.  That's how to stop being bitter.  They're not worth your brain power

Joined: 01/18/2010

MGoPoints: 2144

ca_prophet

January 14th, 2024 at 4:36 PM ^

This is an occasion where taking the high road and inviting them to Die Mad feels just as sweet to me, as rubbing the schadenfruede in their faces.

Perhaps taking three deep breaths, and summoning into your mind your favorite image from the 2023 National Champion Michigan Wolverines would help?  There are, after all, so, so many …

Moore’s post-PSU speech …

Blake Corum PSU TD.  Or his OSU TD and flashing 65 for Zinter.  Or his OT Alabama TD.  Or his Washington 59yd run.  Or his NC-sealing TD.

Sanristil’s Washington INT and runback.  Or one of his pick-6s.  Or both, why choose?

Edwards PSU TD.  Or either Washington TD.  Or again, why choose?

Or Johnson’s INT against OSU.  Or his INT against Washington.

Or …

——-

It might be trite, but I will always remember all the  magnificent moments on the field.  Those plays and this team are what I choose to take forward.  Anyone who gripes gets a sweet smile and a Go Blue, Team 144 National Champions!

 

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7079

J. Redux

January 14th, 2024 at 6:17 PM ^

Kenneth Grant chasing down Kaytron Allen.

JJ’s incredible touchdown pass right past Cal Haladay’s head.

Jalen Milroe running straight into the teeth of the Michigan defense.

Blake Corum’s toy drive that drew so many donations they had to find extra charities to accept some of them.

but, my favorite moment of the 2023 season is the smile on Jacob, Jr.’s face.  For the Indiana game, I sat a few rows behind the Michigan bench, next to Jacob and his dad.  Jacob was about 8 and having the time of his life cheering for his Wolverines.  Jaydon Hood’s mom was sitting in the row behind us — the kids on this team come from some great families, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several of them — and at one point I pointed her out to Jacob: “this is #34’s mom.”  His eyes got big as saucers — one of his heroes’ moms?  This was toward the end of the game, and Mrs. Hood mentioned that Jaydon always came up to see her after the game.  Jacob said “I’d like to meet him” — love the precocious kids :) — and the next time I saw him, he had Jaydon Hood’s gloves and a smile that could have split his face in two.

We focus on the big picture, but for me, that smile tells the tale of the season.  Team 144 brought so much joy to so many people, in ways large and small.  That’s what I’ll always remember.

Joined: 10/15/2020

MGoPoints: 21468

ChuckieWoodson

January 14th, 2024 at 4:37 PM ^

Never thought I'd say anything remotely positive about Finebaum, but out of anybody listed above, he manned up. Said he was never more wrong. You know what? In this day and age, that's refreshing AF.

Joined: 01/13/2012

MGoPoints: 26175

LabattsBleu

January 14th, 2024 at 5:12 PM ^

agree with this. Never liked Finnebaum, but he at least came out and admitted he was wrong.

not only that, he's gone on record saying that Michigan's run at the end of the year proved that they won this fairly and that the signals didn't affect anything about Michigan's title run

I doubt we hear that from some of these other 'reporters'

Nevermind the fact, the NCAA put forward a motion 2 or 3 years ago that tried to ELIMINATE the rule of advanced scouting because it provided 'no significant advantage' and the only reason it's a rule is because not every school can afford advanced in person scouting, so their solution is to eliminate it for everyone...instead of what the NFL does with is headsets.

This is part of the historical record. Did any of these so called reporters point of this fact?

No they did not. They ran with a story that would generate the most clicks.

Disgusting behaviour, ESPECIALLY for Auerbach - she should hand in her Michigan degree imo.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 16413

Sam1863

January 14th, 2024 at 6:32 PM ^

Whereas I take the opposite view, which is "Fuck Finebaum" now and forever. His one instance of trying to make nice was because he'd look like a complete partisan tool if he didn't. It doesn't make up for the last years and countless examples of him shitting on Michigan in general and Harbaugh in particular.

He's a mud-slinging idiot, and an idiot's opinion, whether pro or con, really doesn't mean a damn thing.

Joined: 04/27/2014

MGoPoints: 28880