RBUAS is back
September 16th, 2011 at 3:36 PM ^
"HOW IS THIS REAL? HOW DO WE EXIST? HOW DO WE AS RANDOM, INDEPENDENT PIECES WHO MAKE CARTOON VOICES AND TATTOO MUSTACHES ONTO OUR FINGERS ASSEMBLE TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT LEAVES A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE STANDING IN A GIANT CONCRETE CRATER STARING OFF INTO THE NOTHINGNESS? DO YOU REALIZE THAT? THAT THIS IS OUR LIVES? "
One of his better pieces making even better use of the photos than usual
September 16th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
September 16th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
Someday Johnny will write a book, and I will read it until the binding cracks, the pages bloat from age and humidity, and the print fades in the sun. Nobody writes like that. Nobody.
September 16th, 2011 at 3:53 PM ^
This is my favorite line:
"Denard Robinson does things that would be like trying to draw a sound."
September 16th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
The draw sound line is my fav too. I imagine that this is what grantland rice would write like were he alive today. Mitch albom, you are no johnny./p>
September 16th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^
Wow. That was awesome. Definitely worth the read.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:03 PM ^
Genius. Pure Genius.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
Chills!
September 16th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
I had the same reaction. That part, along with the whole essay, was so perfectly written and perfectly timed it sent a shutter down my spine.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
probably the only person outside of this community who genuinely loves Denard Robinson as much as I do. Try as I might, I can't seem to convince anyone else how great he is, because I can't accurately fit it into words.
There are Michigan fans, students, alum who just don't understand. RBUAS does. For that reason, I will always be a fan of his.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^
Other than the obvious reasons (speed, etc.), I think the reason that love Denard and what he does is that he seems so genuine. He plays the game like a "kid" in that he appears to genuinely love playing the game and appears to have fun doing it. To me, that flies in the face of the atmosphere of "professionalism" in college football today. The blood, sweat, tears, and time these kids put into playing the game is enough to take the fun away but Denard doesn't seem fazed.
He has effortlessly jumped to #1 0n my list of favorite Wolverines (ahead of Desmond and Woodson).
September 16th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^
If you took out "Denard" and typed in "Desmond" you would have described how I felt watching Desmond Howard in '91. He did mind-blowing things and smiled and laughed like it was all some big practical joke. In that regard, they play the game in very similar ways.
September 16th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
Not to knock Desmond, I love Desmond, but while he did that, he was still incredibly cocky. Denard does it all with a ridiculous amount of humility and love for his teammates/fans.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
How many words into it until he references Mike Hart.......
o/u 350 words.....
September 16th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
I've seen in while: about sports, about Michigan, about Denard. The entire thing put a smile on my face and reminded me of how proud I am to have the privilege of witnessing Denard Robindon play and the miracles he conjures out of nothing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to read this again and again until my jaw hurts.
September 16th, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
You read that entire post out loud?
September 16th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
Man, can that guy write or what.
He is superbly talented in painting a picture and the truthfulness behind it all. Fantastic read, thank you!
September 16th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
In his creative writing class. Seriously that was one of the better reads I've read in recent memory.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
I read it and I was so happy. It was an awesome piece of writing. I got to the end and kept scrolling down and saw that it has been a year and one day since his last post... after ND game last year. Then I remembered everything that has happened in that year and became sad again.
September 16th, 2011 at 4:57 PM ^
The pic of Lewan holding Denard by the ribcage up above his head with Denard spreadeagled is an instant classic.
GO BLUE!
September 16th, 2011 at 5:00 PM ^
I think my favorite is the one where Denard's laying on the ground. What I wouldn't give to know what tireswing Denard is thinking at that point.
September 16th, 2011 at 5:22 PM ^
I bet it would make an awesome desktop. Oh wait, it does.
September 16th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
It has been mine since Sunday!
September 16th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
I want it to be mine. Anyone know where to find a high-res?
September 16th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
and finally gave up and Google-imaged Denard Robinson + 77 and got several versions. Wasn't specifically looking for high-res, but that's a start.
September 16th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
One of the best out there...hope we don't have to wait 366 days for teh next one.
September 16th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
Great work Johnny!
September 16th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
Denard Robinson does things that would be like trying to draw a sound.
How does Johnny come up with stuff like this? Awesome.
September 16th, 2011 at 5:36 PM ^
As in Altered StatesI suspect drugs...
Great read!
September 16th, 2011 at 5:37 PM ^
He said the things that I have thought but didn't know how to say. Fabulous work! I like how he brings out Denard's oblivious nature. I'm convinced that is what makes him such a unique and dangerous football player.
September 16th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
he should have finished it with "He is, The most interesting QB in the world". Other than that it was brilliant.
September 16th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
He is far too creative and talented to write some corny espn.com bs like that.
September 16th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
that he's been apparently taking off from blogging for the last year--last post was from UConn. Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall in 2010 and went deep underground to repopulate the Earth after The Process played itself out?
September 16th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^
I am literally crying with joy right now. And when I say "literally" I mean both "literally" and "drunkenly."
Thank you, Johnny.
September 16th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
The guy never writes anymore unless there's a feel-good win. He disappears when, in his words, "it all becomes too much." And this guy supposedly writes as a profession?!
Such a coward.
September 16th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
"I play football and they let me keep playing football."
This to me is the most important line of the whole piece and mirrors how we want all of our athletes to feel/act about the sports they get paid (or schollied) to play. Denard does play with a child-like wonder and as if no one is watching. To me, it seems that when the games are over he's dissappointed that he can't play anymore, like mom is calling him in to wash his hands before dinner.
Awesome read and explains so much about why I love sports.
September 16th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
Exactly. That's why I so love his Pop Warner picture. It captures something he hasn't lost.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:08 PM ^
September 16th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
He'll disappear after the first loss.