Jalen Rose Gives Back
A great Michigan man! He's starting a school for innercity youth:
Dr. Charles P. Muncatchy, the former Mount Clemens Community Schools superintendent who was chosen to develop and lead the academy, said Rose's involvement with the project comes down to unfinished business.
"He had his wonderful career at U-M, a wonderful professional athletic career. And right now he has a wonderful career as an analyst (for ESPN). But in his heart of hearts, he wants to make a difference for kids in the heart of Detroit. He simply wants to do his part. He's an atypical kind of man. A lot of people say this and say that, but Jalen Rose is a man of action, and he wants something very special to happen. I wish there were thousands of people who have done well in life who want to give back like he has."
For Rose, the academy, which will begin with 120 students, and add a like number for the next three years, might be just the start.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022811aad.html
February 28th, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^
Always nice to see former Wolverines giving back to the community. Was always a fan of him, this puts him a few notches higher on my list.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
I never was old enough to watch the Fab Five play (sad as that is), so my only feelings towards that period of Michigan basketball are negatively affected by what transpired after they left. That being said, Jalen Rose is a Michigan Man in every sense of the word, and everything I've seen from him has been overwhelmingly positive (this, following him on twitter, the Jalen Rose Foundation, etc.). He's a great representative of the University, and more importantly, a great human being.
I just wish that I could've seen him play.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
Someday, spend a few hours on youtube watching the Fab Five play if you haven't yet, it was like nothing else. They changed the game, and they were really, really good.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
Will do, as soon as the season's over. Unfortunately, most of what I've seen has been Chris Webber and that ill-advised timeout.
February 28th, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^
...but I am still pissed at Webber for being the first to take Ed Martin's money and making it "cool" for subsequent players to do the same. Webber's parents did pretty well for themselves; they weren't rich but they certainly weren't poor. it's not like Webber needed the money.
The other four did Michigan proud, especially Jalen. Webber was a force, but Jalen was the "glue" and the guy who came through in the clutch. When they needed a shot badly, they could depend on Jalen. I'm not the least bit surprised that he is successful off the court, either.
Give him a break. Webber was in eighth grade when that money started exchanging hands. His parents may have had a little something to do with it. "Made it cool"? Wow.
A lot of people don't understand that the Ed Martin story has as much to do with money laundering as it does sports boosterism, which is why the FBI was involved (they normally don't give a shit that college athletes are getting some side action).
If I were Webber, I'd be pissed about the Cam Newton case. It's okay for Newton's dad to take money from an Auburn booster right before his son chose a school, but not okay for the Webbers to take money from a guy who, at the time, had no connection to U-M - four years before he chose a college?
I was born in 91 so I also missed the Fab Five. I read the book Fab Five: Basketball, Trash Talk, the American Dream by Mitch Albom a couple years ago and would strongly recommend reading it if you are interested in learning more about that team.
February 28th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
And while they get a lot of bad pub from there time at UM (prolly deservedly so), they are all pretty stand up guys. Especially Jalen.
February 28th, 2011 at 11:02 PM ^
Didn't even know about the Rose Garden. He sets an example not only for the kids he's helping, but for others in his position to do the same.
Somebody needs to get to Crisler Arena. They have an announcement about the Rose Garden every game.
And 5 in college. Jalen is my favorite M hooper of all time.
Jalen Rose should have his number retired. As should Juwan Howard.
i still love chris webber :$ too. Gah. After the Layola Marmount team of 1990, the fab 5 are my fav team in the college. michigan basketball is getting there tho, this has been a great season even if we do get snubbed of an NCAA bid u can see where the team is going! :)
The Hank Gathers story?
The left handed free throws?
The knocking Michigan out of the Tourney?
I was a Freshman at Michigan that year, and perhaps not as sensitive as I should have been, but we *HATED* those guys.
We had a drinking game for the next round LM played in the tournament where you had to drink every time the announcers said Hank Gathers and had to down your beer every time they showed or explained the left handed free-throw.
Hell, we started a drinking game in the second half of OUR game where we had to drink every time they scored. In that game we scored 115 (!!!!!) points...and LOST -- going away. 149-115? Seriously?
We were a pretty decent team, even without Glenn Rice, and ran into the emotional buzz-saw of a team that happened to hit every shot they took. LM made it to the round of 8 when they lost to eventual national champion UNLV.
While at uni I worked p/t at a home for severely mentally and physically disabled boys. The boys were given passes to a UM's women's BB game and were allowed early access to the stadium. We went real early and were able to walk around. We caught the very end of the Men's BB practice. We were in the locker room tunnel as the men's team exited the court. My boys, all dressed up in UM gear, did the double row high five as the men ran through. Four guys - Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, Chris Weber and Ray Jackson - didn't run through. Instead they stayed and talked to these boys. Chris Weber left quickly but was very polite about it.
These boys were about as visibly disabled as any you have ever seen. Most people were very uncomfortable even looking at them. They had no social skills, couldn't ask proper questions, and often wore helmets and body braces of all kinds.
And there were Rose, King and Ray just chatting it up for several minutes to the boys, asking if they had any questions. Jimmy King even went back on the court and dunked for them when asked (Jimmy had no idea what the boy was asking - I had to translate that question for him). They then told us to go out and everyone take a shot.
As amazing as this was to me, the thing that stood out clearest was the eye contact. Truth be told, Ray made little eye contact, and Jimmy's varied. I will always respect them for staying and taking time with these kids... but Jalen Rose steadily looked each kid in the eye. I knew very few people who were able to to this - it was far too uncomfortable.
But Jalen did. He made the kids feel both normal and special.
The Fab Five scandal broke a couple years later. There was a lot of news in the media about selfish players and stories really trashing the quality of people they were. I never bought into it. The scandal was what it was, and big business college basketball was what it was. But as young men, I respected those guys, and none more than Jalen Rose. He's been my favortie player since that day. I'm proud of what he's done for himslef and how he's represented the university.
My only memories of the Fab Five are from my mom, specifically the story on which my dad was supposed to be "watching me" (I was a baby c'mon, how much watching is involved?) but UM was in a tight game in the tourney and they won so he was jumping up and down/hootin' hollerin and she walked in the door and promptly gave him a arse chewing b/c I was asleep.
...Guess that explains why I also get so jacked up @ UM events