Kawakami eats crow (FANTASTIC article!)

Submitted by Decatur Jack on

Not sure if this has already been discussed, but I am sure Brian will link to it in his Searchbits update Sunday. Tim Kawakami, the guy who refused to believe Harbaugh to Michigan was even possible, now acknowledges that it's happened. And it's beautiful.

Here's a small sample:

Two months or two weeks ago did I think Jim Harbaugh would jump from the 49ers to Ann Arbor, Michigan? No, I did not. Anybody who reads me knows I did not think that.

But credit to Michigan for landing Harbaugh--as multiple reports are now chiming in, very, very credible reports from CSN’s Dave Feldman (a high school friend of Harbaugh’s) and earlier Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole and Michigan-based John Bacon.

First reaction: Wow, the Big Ten is in for a jolt as Harbaugh attacks this project with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, as I imagine he’ll put it. He was a whirlwind at Stanford and I believe he’ll provide the same electricity at Michigan, in the shadow of Bo.

The rest of his crow-eating is well worth the read. (He still thinks Harbaugh will eventually return to the NFL, as all NFL type people do, but even Sam Webb has said that.) I know some may be inclined not to give him clicks, but I thoroughly enjoyed every word.

GO BLUE

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Jinxed

December 28th, 2014 at 3:42 AM ^

lol..

He's not the only one who should eat a heaping plate of crow. Some of the people who are now giddy with excitement over Harbaugh coming home had written him off a few years ago. This list actually includes Brian. 

I know I'll get negged but it's the truth and it's hilarious. Search the forum for "Harbaugh Hart" or "Harbaugh Schwartz" or "Harbaugh academics." Winning cures everything I guess. 

Joined: 09/15/2009

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acs236

December 28th, 2014 at 7:02 AM ^

Schlissel is an academic.  He had essentially no big time sports experience before coming to Michigan.  Harbuagh was a student athlete at Michigan and a head coach at other schools.  He knew what goes on at big time athletic programs, and knew that Michigan, at worst, was in line with that (in fact, I believe Michigan does more academically for student athletes than most schools).  Yet, he chose to kick his alma matta while it was down.  So, I think there is a bit of a difference.

But some time passed, and it can be put in perspective. And I can move on.  I'm still not happy with the comments, but they are quite different than what Schlissel said.

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drjaws

December 28th, 2014 at 3:43 AM ^

We CAN have nice things. Well, the players won't. JMFH will push them and challenge them. He'll make them miserable, but the strong will love it, and those who stay . . .

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TruBluMich

December 28th, 2014 at 3:45 AM ^

Ya, he clearly ate crow... This may be the dumbest thing I've read from him.

"But he’s doing it. He might be back in the NFL, but not right away. He was run off, to some extent, by peers who were better than he was."

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RobM_24

December 28th, 2014 at 4:00 AM ^

This "surrender flag" of an article is good enough for me. No reason to bombard him on Twitter and so forth. He took a stance, held firm, went down with the ship, and had to write this article. We got Harbaugh, and he lost credibility ... no need to pee on his grave. Farewell, Kawakami.

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SteveE

December 28th, 2014 at 4:43 AM ^

All right.  Who actually finished the article? Because Kawakami is still making lame excuses:

 

"Second reaction: This is everything… EVERYTHING… the 49ers could’ve wanted from this situation, and it does surprise me that Harbaugh would  hand it over to them just like that.

Jed York and Trent Baalke wanted no part of Harbaugh after Sunday, and undercut him all season, but now, because he’s leaving on his own to go to college… instead of firing him the 49ers…

Don’t have to pay Harbaugh the $5M he has left on his contract or even worry about trying to trade him;

Won’t see him in the NFL–and especially the Raiders–for at least a few years;

Can even spin it that they wanted to keep him but he left them for a monster deal from his alma mater."

 

 

Yeah, who wouldn't believe that?

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Jinxed

December 28th, 2014 at 5:59 AM ^

Well, his observation is correct. If York and Baalke wanted to get rid of Harbaugh, worst case scenario was them having to fire him and him sitting out next season while getting paid 5 million for his troubles.

Absolute best case was probably trading him to the Jets or Bears but that probably wasn't happening and the risk of him finding immidiate success at another franchise can't be understated. How do you explain that to your fanbase?

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CoverZero

December 28th, 2014 at 4:47 AM ^

At least Kawasaki does his job and works hard.

Greg Garber is the one that has been the bigger Douche to Michigan fans all along. 

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megaswami

December 28th, 2014 at 4:50 AM ^

I think it's WAY to early to speculate JH returning to the pros. If you have been watching all the videos on JH that have been posted here and on other sites, it's pretty obvious that his schtick is much more suited to college kids. Not saying he couldn't adapt, but this guy is a NATURAL motivator and belongs in the college game.



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UMChick77

December 28th, 2014 at 6:43 AM ^

Earlier yesterday I made the comment to him on twitter asking how he likes to eat his crow. He actually responded without blocking me and tried to down play is naysaying. Whatever, lol

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LSAClassOf2000

December 28th, 2014 at 7:54 AM ^

On many levels, that was a refreshing read and kudos to him for going face first into a nice, full plate of crow. I am sure the three people that he hasn't blocked as a result of being challenged for the quality of his reporting on Twitter will be impressed as well when they finally wake up and face the morning in Kirkutsk, Siberia. 

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michelin

December 28th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^

It would uproot the children again.  The family would need to separate again from the grandparents of the kids, who appear to be moving to AA themselves.  For those reasons and others, Jim has said he is in it for the long haul.

The "Jim-will-go-back-to-the-NFL-soon" mantra is only the latest talking point spread by Ohio talking heads and embarassed NFL bloggers (because they can no longer chant the "Jim-would-never-leave-the-NFL" slogan).

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Mmmm Hmmm

December 28th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^

In similar news, ProFootballTalk is also reporting Harbaugh likely to Michigan, but Mike Florio's rear apparently still is sore. For the record, I have read and enjoyed that site for almost 10 years (back when PFT was independent), but Florio is a huge WV fan and he was not pleased about Bill Martin raiding the WV athletic department. Florio has been getting snide comments about Michigan since then.

During the search, Florio was insistent that Harbaugh was using Michigan for leverage. Now, he is saying Harbaugh won't stay at Michigan (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/28/how-long-will-harbaugh-…).

As much as I like that website, somebody hand Florio the A&D ointment...



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maizenblueband

December 28th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^

this comment, made me pause.....

 

"He might be back in the NFL, but not right away. He was run off, to some extent, by peers who were better than he was."

I'd be interested to hear him explain/clarify that statement.

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M-Dog

December 28th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^

It never ceases to amaze me how people can be so blatantly wrong and still find a way to spin it . . .

"I wasn't really wrong, things changed" . . . "I was only wrong for a moment, and only for something minor.  Look how right I am now" . . . "I was a little wrong, but look how much more wrong these other guys were."

Here, let me show you how it is done:

I, M-Dog, thought no way, no how, we would ever get Jim Harbaugh - three NFC Championship Game and Superbowl appearance Jim Harbaugh - to leave the NFL and go coach 5-7 Michigan.  And even if for some reason he wanted to come, there was no way that Preident "Ivy League sports" Schlissel and an interim AD would be able to make it happen, or even allow it to happen.  Just. No. Way.

I was 100%, no qualifications wrong.

 

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State Street

December 28th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^

Here's what I don't get about Kawakami: if Harbaugh really "prefers the NFL," as he STILL parrots, why would he take a CFB job when he has his pick of the litter in the league?

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goblue_jb

December 28th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^

FWIW - he updated his article this morning... i really dont care what he has to say, but happened to click on the link this afternoon out of curiosity - thought some here might be interested to read his latest. he has backtracked a bit

* 8:29 a.m. Sunday UPDATE: Told ya it was going to get weird.

There are now multiple reports that while Jim Harbaugh has Michigan believing he’s coming to Ann Arbor, he hasn’t signed anything yet, hasn’t told friends directly that he’s going to Michigan (according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), and may listen to what an NFL team–like the Raiders–has to say tonight, tomorrow or who knows how much longer into the coming days.

Based on yesterday’s reports, I still believe that Harbaugh is very close to a deal with Michigan and is likeliest to end up there, but with Harbaugh, you do never know until there’s ink on the contract. He has worked with two agents in the past (simultaneously), he does a lot of stuff on his own, and you never know sometimes if there are multiple negotiations going on at once.

In 2011, Harbaugh finished up his bowl game with Stanford, then got very close to a deal with the 49ers immediately, then took some time to think, then interviewed with the Dolphins, notified Denver he might interview there, then got  into serious negotiations to stay in Stanford… before circling back and taking a sweetened deal with the 49ers.

That’s precedence for Harbaugh to scan the offers one more time–I was very surprised word was coming out about a deal last night, before NFL teams could really get in line–and probably end up back at Michigan. Still by far the likeliest outcome. He can’t sign a deal with Michigan, anyway, until after he finishes out with the 49ers, and that’s through today’s season finale.

But it’s weird, no doubt. Always.

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