Jalen; "Four of the Five gentlemen are confirmed for tonight."

Submitted by dinsdale613 on

Jalen Rose spoke to Mike and Mike on the radio this morning and said that 4 of the 5 members of the Fab 5 will be in attendance so far.  Webber is the only wild card.  Jalen pointed out that Webber lives in Atlanta and works for CBS sports so it would be very easy for him to be there.

Mike Greenberg also asked Jalen if Webber doesn't want to come because he doesn't want to talk about his Michigan career.  Jalen said that should not be the case because Webber is a member of the media now and also because his life has not really been adversely affected by it.  He is very succcesful and has nothing to lose at this point according to Jalen

coldnjl

April 8th, 2013 at 7:50 AM ^

If you are going to get the crew together, get all 5...otherwise, it may cast a slight pale on the evening....by slight, I mean microscopic...nevermind

MGoBrewMom

April 8th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^

No one should have to beg someone to show up. If he comes, he better be wearing gear similar to Jalen! That head was classic in the video, and he was genuinely fired up and proud about Michigan basketball! Come that way, or don't come!

Tonight is about this year, and anyone from the past who wants to celebrate and cheer on this team would be welcome!

Go Blue!

dinsdale613

April 8th, 2013 at 8:13 AM ^

You can go ahead and make one.  I am just reporting what Jalen Rose said.  Also, while we love that all those guys will be there, none of them is as polarizing figure as Chris Webber.  His possible attendance is a hugely significant event that will have huge reactions on all sides if it happens.

Danwillhor

April 8th, 2013 at 8:38 AM ^

No problem with thread but want to say something about the Webber comment: Webber is polarizing because he chooses to be, consciously or non. Like the other recent Jalen interview (posted in another thread) notioned, Webber may either just be too stubborn/incredulous to admit he did any wrong. He may truly have been traumatized by the timeout (and he shouldn't be!). If either are the case and he is conscious of that behavior I'm not sure he'll ever publicly connect himself to The University of Michigan in any way. Maybe a tweet here or there or a text with his old teammates here or there but nothing close to stepping on campus, admitting wrongs in regard to Ed Martin (on the fence about whether he has to on that as well) or showing up to watch the first Michigan BB team since THEM to play for a National Title. It could be shame or him simply being stubborn or neither? Webber is polarizing because in 20 years he has lived his life like he essentially went from HS to the NBA. If he shows (and circumstances couldn't make it easier for him to) I will be shocked. I'd bet against it and I'm not a betting man. Why? Because there is NO WAY he could reunite with the boys to watch, and Michigan win or lose, he not get bombarded with attention and media outlets trying to ask him questions. If he essentially doesn't even acknowledge his college career for 20 years there is no way he opens himself up to what could come at him while at THAT game with THOSE other guys. If he shows......I'd be stunned. Yet, I hope he does.

Danwillhor

April 8th, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^

Behavior. Very ill at the moment so if I typed confusingly.......eh? Yet, people can do or act in certain ways for reasons they aren't aware of. Kind of the backbone of the Psychology profession. "You're behaving in way X because you're mad, ashamed, embarrassed, etc at things Y & Z". People perform unconscious acts and behaviors all the time. Jalen mentioned he may be ashamed of the timeout and UNKNOWN TO HIM causing himself to distance himself from anything related to it.

Danwillhor

April 8th, 2013 at 9:08 AM ^

Maybe should say "subconscious" behavior but being so sick, it being my Bday and our team playing for a title today.....I can't really give a shit about grammar/mis-transfer of thought today. haha. 9am on my Bday and the Title Game along with a flu from Hell = Don't care. No offense taken from snark or grammar police! GO BLUE!!!!!

kdhoffma

April 8th, 2013 at 8:10 AM ^

and don't expect or need an apology from him.  But I do think he needs to finally own what he did and admit that it was wrong.  Until then, I have no desire to see him reassociated with Michigan.

kdhoffma

April 8th, 2013 at 8:37 AM ^

You think those are contradictory statements?  Admitting what you did was wrong is not the same as an apology.  The University (Fisher, assitant coaches) was just as culpable for the Ed Martin scandel by allowing Martin to go unchecked for years and granting him special access to the team.  Therefore I don't believe an apology of sorts is necessary... but Webber did lie to the University investigators and the grand jury, and has played the victim card ever since.  He needs to own what he did and admit it was wrong... I believe that would go a long way to mending the relationship between Michigan and Webber.  

IncrediblySTIFF

April 8th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^

Ha.  This reminds me of when I apologized to a girl for calling her a bitch by saying, "I'm sorry you were being a bitch."

Chris Webber: "I'm sorry people thought that I was wrong for taking money."

Then, all the Michigan fans can be united in loving him.

kdhoffma

April 8th, 2013 at 10:53 AM ^

Fair enough... I would much rather be celebrating this current team then rehashing the past.  I love Jalen, love the Fab Five and want nothing more than for every Michigan alum/fan to be celebrating a long overdue NC late into the night.  Go blue!

Wolverine Devotee

April 8th, 2013 at 8:24 AM ^

If the blocker at work didn't get to youtube, I'd post "Apologize" by Timbaland.

Jalen should take the tweet Chris made to heart. "It's your time now!" with a picture of Trey Burke, GRIII and THJ.

Blue in Yarmouth

April 8th, 2013 at 8:41 AM ^

You aren't the only one who has posted things like this so it isn't directed entirely at you, but have you guys who aremaking these comments about the fab five attending being a negative thing actually watched any of the tournament? Almost all the big schools have had their famous alumni attending the games (Syracuse especially). I don't think it is much (if any) of a distraction and in fact I think it is the opposite. 

Look at football games as well. In the big games the former big time players often come out to support the teams. The idea that this would be a distraction or take something away from the current team is beyond laughable. I mean, they already reference the fab five every five minutes anyway. 

Also, what about THS and GRII...is their presence a distraction or taking something away from the team, because you can bet every broadcast shows and speaks about them at least 20 times. 

I just think this whole thing is ridiculous. The fab five are probably the most well known alumni from UM and if they want to attend a game to show some support for their university then let them do it. Trust me, the current players would have no issue with it, so why should we? If anything, I would think it would provide extra motivation knowing some alumni are in the house cheering you on.

Edit: I just want to be clear that I wasn't the one who negg'd you though, I just disagree with you, but don't think you were trolling necessarily.

Wolverine Devotee

April 8th, 2013 at 8:44 AM ^

It would create a media circus if Webber showed up. 

Come next year during a game or something. Like Boston did with Bill Buckner. They didn't invite him back/he didn't show up for the World Series.

Needs

April 8th, 2013 at 9:11 AM ^

The only people said media circus would bother are people caught up in the Fab 5: good or evil? storyline. It won't have any impact on the game, unless you think THJ's going to be plaintively looking into the stands to see if CWebb came to see him play. 

If he does come, though, we may not see any of the game, with the broadcast switching back and forth between reaction shots from Kevin Ware and CWebb.

pfholland

April 8th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^

If Webber shows up that will be what the media talks about. If he doesn't show up they'll talk about why he didn't. It'll be a story either way.



I think the difference is that if he shows up the story is over after tonight. If not it will continue to be something the media focuses on in subsequent years.



Personally, I think it would have been much better if he would have gone to, say, the Florida game. Then this wouldn't be a distraction now.

readyourguard

April 8th, 2013 at 9:16 AM ^

Almost all the big schools have had their famous alumni attending the games (Syracuse especially). I don't think it is much (if any) of a distraction and in fact I think it is the opposite

Why is everyone who makes this sort of statement ignoring the fact that Chris Webber was the focal point of NCAA Violations that led to vacated Final 4s, probation, and utterly embarrassed our university? Yes other teams have famous alumni attend their tournament games. How many of them were responsible for their schools sanctions?

 

Hell, why not furlough Rumeal Robinson and get him a courtside seat next to Vaught, Pelinka, and Rice?  At least his crimes didn't lead to vacated wins.

Blue in Yarmouth

April 8th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^

it is only the select group of UM fans that still give a damn about that 20 years later. I mean honestly...do you think just because the fab five haven't attended a game that the announcers haven't mentioned them? I have watched all the games and believe me, they have been brought up. How many times do you think they mentioned the sanctions? The final four banners being taken down? All of the other crap you STILL hold against Webber after 20 YEARS? 

See, most everyone else on the planet that once cared about the fact that Chris Webber took some money from a guy 20 years ago has moved past it, why can't you (and the others who continue to hold onto that). This isn't a murderer, a rapist or child abuser...it's a guy who made a mistake 20 years ago by taking something that was offered to him (and decided to lie to cover his tracks). Was what he did the right thing to do? No, but it also isn't something that people should be holding against him 20 years later either. 

 

gutnedawg

April 8th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^

Perhaps you're taking the distraction caused by their presence too literally. The Fab Five change college basketball and until there is someone better I believe most college teams will be in their shadow. Now we could look at them being there as passing the torch but I feel Webber may believe that the Fab Five will take away from what THIS team is doing and it's their turn per his tweet.

Blue in Yarmouth

April 8th, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^

That's a little too deep for my little brain. 

Listen...I played sports at a pretty high level my whole life and when we had players of past teams come to cheer us on it was anything but a distraction. It instilled a motivation in us to live up to the expectation that they helped to build during their time with the team. Did it always work and propel us to a win...not always, but it never distracted us from the task at hand, nor did it take away from the attention we received as current players by shifting the limelight to those of past years. 

Again, maybe this is just too deep for a lowly person like me to understand, but I can't see the issue. 

readyourguard

April 8th, 2013 at 2:30 PM ^

I too played football at a high level, and I'd like to think I am being consistent with the opinion my esteemed former football coach/AD would have taken.  A lot of people consider this old coach one of the best ever, and many of his former players refer to him as a father figure.

My old coach, we'll call him "Bo" would remain steadfast until the offending player came to him directly and apologized.  Then the old coach would likely have marched that player into a conference room so he could apologize to the assistant coaches and AD.  He'd also probably stand that player up in front of the current team and have him apologize to them.  

Finally, in quintessential Bo fashion, he would stand by that player's side as he addressed the media and gave a public apololgy.

HOWEVER, I am confident this old coach would NOT do any that on game day, be it the 1997 Rose Bowl, the 2006 "Game", or the night of the National Championship for Basketball.

Ernis

April 8th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^

This isn't about the fab five attending. The issue is that Jalen is making their attendance into a big deal. It isn't ; it wouldn't be; it shouldn't be. They are not relevant to this team's accomplishments ; in fact, this team got where they are despite the fab five. But that's another story.

I would expect members of the fab five, and other successful teams to attend this and other games. Why wait until the Final? Why conjure media drama beforehand? Unnecessary. Irrelevant.

Come to the game. Wave to the camera when it's on you during a time out. Let the kids have their spotlight.

kyeblue

April 8th, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^

If everyone else of the Fab 5 are celebrating with the team after the game and Chris Webber has to stay away because of the 10-year ban. 

exmtroj

April 8th, 2013 at 9:21 AM ^

What would actually happen if he celebrated with the team?  Am I to believe that the NCAA would actually do anything?  I'm pretty sure if a video surfaced on youtube of C Webb strolling through the post-game locker room in a maize pimp suit handing out wads of cash to players, the NCAA would launch a 6 year investigation and then claim that there isn't enough evidence to punish the program.

Baloo_Dance

April 8th, 2013 at 8:52 AM ^

You know when parents try to make a wedding all about them instead of the bride and groom?  And it's really sad and annoying?  

 

That's what this is.  This isn't about the Fab Five, this is about the current team.  If they had been around the program for years, I would have no problem with this.  But since this would be a first time thing, they need to step out of the foreground.

Dutch Ferbert

April 8th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^

That can do a lot more for M basketball than a reunion of the fab 5.

I believe in redemption and hope and believe Webber can become part of the M family again. However, his attendance at the game isn't going to fix anything that this year's team cannot fix with a win, other than some personal relationships.

Go Blue! Beat Louisville!

ijohnb

April 8th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^

exactly what people were objecting to in the "Fab Five Reunion" thread yesterday.  I love the Fab Five but this is not about them.  Why is this the top story on my MSN browser right now.  Jalen: come to the game and have fun, that is all you have to do.  Enough with this stuff from him.  I love Jalen but he is turning into an attention whore about this.

BolognaFadeOut

April 8th, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^

The Fab5 are absolutely not making it about them.  Take what you feel about this run, as a fan, then multiply it by 100.  That is what I imagine ex-players, who were so close to the finish feel.  What did CWEbb tweet the other day?  Something to the effect of "It's Your Time."  Doesn't sound selfish to me.  They have every right to be there, and I think it would be more of a snub if they weren't there.

Also, considering the parallels between the two teams, and the timing of the ban expiring and whatnot, how could you possibly be surprised it is a top story on MSN or any other news outlet?

BolognaFadeOut

April 8th, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^

Jalen?  He can totally just go, but there is no way around the hundreds of interview requests during this last week.  Like it or not, it's a story.

 

Edit:  From the bits I've read, it seems the Fab5 are doing a good job of deflecting the attention back to the team.

Raback Omaba

April 8th, 2013 at 9:00 AM ^

But I could really care less if Webber is in the stands, and I am getting annoyed by Jalen pushing the issue. I love Jalen and think he's a decent (Decent..not great) ambassador for our University, but I would prefer if the Fab Five not be a huge story tonight.

I care much more about guys like Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Manny Harris, CJ Lee etc. being in the stands than I do Webber.

Either way it's about the 5+ guys on the court wearing maize tonight.

IncrediblySTIFF

April 8th, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^

1st) It is Jalen's job to push the issue.  It is what he gets paid to do.  Especially being part of the group.  I wonder if he would be employed in the same position if he had never been a part of the Fab 5.

2nd) The Fab Five is a huge story, at least for the media to focus on.  Michigan hasn't been to Final Four since the Fab Five.  If, in football, we were going to the national championship game, they would undoubtedly talk about the 1997 National Championship team at Michigan.

3rd) I don't care who is in the stands.  If you don't want it to be a big deal that the Fab 5 is there, how can you let it matter if other past players are there.

4th) Correct, it is about THE TEAM.  Everything else is just media hype, and expected.