reaction to RichRod "situation" (Freep)
In their own special way, the Freep covers the reaction to RichRod's "situation"...
(Sorry -- their print-only pages seem to have timed links.)
http://www.freep.com/article/20100807/SPORTS21/8070322/
Well, I've certainly been wanting to know what the Tuscaloosa News thinks about this. Why not put Morgantown's Dominion Post in there, too?
I'm sure Rittenberg's quote raised the article to their standards of fairness.
- - -
Edit: I'm sympathetic to the people who are tired of all the Freep postings. Really, I am. It might be worse than you think, though. I have (seriously) often had politely RichRod-positive comments to those types of articles deleted just a few minutes after posting them. If they were purely link whores they wouldn't bother doing that, right? No, I'm not making this up.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^
This is the worst boycott I've ever seen. Why post this? Is this relevant to our team when we walk out of the tunnel on September 4th? By posting this, all you're doing is giving the Freep more clicks (print version be damned), and furthering their message/agenda to a wider audience. This isn't necessarily directed at you, blueheron, but to everyone who still decides to read the Freep, and then who posts a link that has nothing to do with the game that is played on the field.
/rant
August 7th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
I have to agree with Chriz2z...the amount of freep posting around here is getting out of control. We all get it...the freep doesn't like UM. They are a Detroit newspaper and they cover UM. Therefore, there will be a lot of articles about UM that we don't like. Not every single article/link has to be scrutinized by the MGoCommunity. A peaceful, quiet boycott would serve all of us much better. Let's all agree to stop looking for trouble at the freep. If you want to read the freep, fine, but you really don't need to tell everyone you do and don't like it.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^
Worthless bunch of nonsense...nothing more to say
August 7th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
I obviously have no reason support the paper and I don't like them. And I honestly don't know what effect any boycott might have. It might be interesting to know if the MGoBlog community could actually hurt the Free Press by leading a "boycott." I'd like to think it possible, but I kind of doubt it.
My own view is that exposing and refuting the Free Press' campaign against Head Coach Rich Rodriguez is more impactful than ignoring it.
And that discussing the Freep's coverage here on this site does not constitute any breach of a boycott, if individuals wish to pursue such a boycott. The Freep gets nothing from us unless and until any single individual decides to supply it with income in the form of a paper purchased, or a click on a Freep.com link.
I see that the message thread preceding this one is about Chris Chelios, and the message thread following this one is about Isiah Thomas. I'd submit that what the Free Press is publishing about Michigan football is more directly relevant to this blog's mission and purpose, than Indiana Hoosier Isiah Thomas, or Wisconsin Badger Chris Chelios.
[Edit. - Looks like a moderator pulled the Isiah thread.]
August 7th, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
This shit is getting ridiculous. I am not going to scream at anyone for not boycotting that paper but if you are on this site I have to ask you why wouldn't you? The 60's missed me by about 20 years but I do admire how they had the guts to voice an opinion and stand up to what they felt was unjust.
Fast forward to now and we as a society have become so numb to being kicked in the nuts that we hardly even raise a fuss when receiving a swift one. Why do anything it's not like it will make a difference? Cell phone service, customer service, paying 2.50 to get your own money, BP, bank bail outs, and on and on it goes. The bar continues to be set lower and lower. What do we do? Shrug our shoulders and says fuck it, it is what it is. I respect anybody who doesn't accept the Freep's sorry excuse for a paper. You sir or maam have standards and if they are not met you let it be known. You are a rare breed and should be preserved.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
August 7th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
No, I didn't. I compared it to alot of things but not that. I am pretty sure they boycotted a lot of other things in the 60's. Where you derived Brian is Rosa Parks is beyond me.
Also this is my one and only Freep rant ever. I guess I got to the party a little late but hey I had to kick the dead horse one last time just to be sure.
protest movements were in the 60s? people didn't rail against a newspaper with an axe to grind, they railed against human injustice. bringing up the 60s as a comparison to how people should "stop taking it" and do something about it is ridiculous. the fact you even think the Freep situation is worth a blink of an eye is beyond me.
knowledgable people will see past a headline
ignorant people are probably people you won't want to talk to football about anyways
it's not like the freep is preventing you from any liberties in life.
Know you are right that was the only one without a doubt. Like I said that was my one and only rant and I feel better now. In order to understand this statement you will need to get past the civil rights/Freep comparison that you have going on. Again, my point was you don't have to accept shit if you don't want to. If you do then here is a spoon full.
Every man has his breaking point and that article was mine. I will go back to paying them no mind. If only I hadn't clicked on that damn link. My hypocrisy knows no bounds.
If you think the Civil Rights movement was the only protest movement of the '60s, you need to bone up on your history.
It was sarcasm
I missed the '60s myself, not that I feel like I missed very much, but Rosa Parks and Montgomery were way old news by then, having been a thing of the '50s.
Well hate to tell you that I didn't miss the 60's and if you don't think you missed anything, you need to start reading. At least in the 60's we felt that there was a chance to really, really make a difference. We had Woodstock and a ton of amazing music, protests that were effective, babes baring it all and most important, we had hope.
I am a little biased, but so far, I haven't seen a decade that has come close.
As far as the Freep and their agenda-based reporting goes, I generally don't read their drivel. but sure as hell don't condemn anyone who does. Their choice.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^
...and this is not directed at just you.
I am sick and tired of people who consider comparisons and similarities as equalities. Can we not see similarities in situations without putting them on the same level or accusing people of it?
When a boy or girl can jump up and touch the rim of a regulation basketball hoop for the first time, there is a sense of euphoria, just as there was a sense of euphoria when man first landed on the moon. Are they anywhere near the same level? No. Do they both elicit a sense of euphoria? Yes.
Let's be able to compare and contrast well, folks.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:16 PM ^
Listen Ricky Bobby that is kind of what I was getting at. My comparison was primarily based on getting kicked in the nuts. The other things I listed, were for me, like getting kicked in the nuts or to be more clear, things I don't like. Are they one and the same? No. It was a sample list of things I dislike. Seems like a decent job of comparing and contrasting. The Rosa Parks thing, not so much.
...and you'll see my post was a reply to Geaux Blue, not you. I'm on your side, dude.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
That explains it. I thought you were disagreeing with me but your post seemed to agree. A few people reply to a post and things get out of whack.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
I have often bristled at someone's inability to grasp a comparison in form or dynamics. What to say to them when they accuse you of making a comparison of degree?
I think you did a good job.
.. can't we all just get along?
.
has, ehr......jumped the shark ;)
August 7th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
why don't you sit this one out champ
August 7th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
Terry Foster and D McCarty on the ticket on Friday rip on Michigan for an hour, allowing "Michigan" fans to call in with their hatred of RR, I have finally made a decision. In addition to my Freep ban (just mine, everyone else can do as they please) I have decided to bury my head in the sand until after Sept 4th. I will only come to MGoBlog, Adam Rittenberg, and Stewart Mandell for my football news and shall avoid all comments sections. I'm circling the bandwagon and am going to laugh at those who try to get on this fall. Winning will cure all our wounds, and hopefully open some nice deep fresh ones in our opponents and detractors.
Michigan's return to the top will mirror Mealer leading the team out of the tunnel against UConn. Many said he wouldn't walk again, just as they say Michigan can't return to glory this year, Mealer plans on proving the doubters wrong, just as the team plans to do this fall. Michigan football will mirror the Big House renovation, as the hole Yost built was partially torn down, only to be rebuilt even bigger and more impressive than before. Our return to the top will be glorious, and I can't wait.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
Dude, take off the tin foil hat. I was listening to DMac and Foster yesterday too. They mentioned that RR had an autograph signing and as a prompt to the callers asked "What would you say to RR if you had the chance?"
Most callers were positive. They let a current student on the air that strongly supported RR. They prodded the cattle a bit - DMac had a couple "But this is legendary Michigan?!" comments. The most negative thing from Foster/DMac was that they completely shot down the idea of RR getting 5 years. Which, like, ok, that's your opinion dude. If RR isn't competeing for BCS bowls in 2012, then I'd probably agree with Foster that he's out.
Finally, there was one guy that called in and said he would ask RR if "he could sleep at night" for ruining the program. Foster immediately laughed him off the air.
So yeah, I guess my point is not everyone is out to get us. Just chill and try to consider things objectively.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
we were listening at different times. When I was listening they kept saying that Michigan was not the right place for RR and were mearly reitterating every bullet point that every ill informed talking head has been spouting off for a while. Only one caller I heard, said that he liked RR and when he tried to defend RR by stating that the defense was light, Terry hung up on him and started yelling out recruiting class rankings. Anyone who read Mispogen's decimated defense understands the numbers. Anyone who can do any little research can see that we only had 18 players on defense last year. I don't have a tinfoil hat on. My time on here has raised my expectations for sports writers and commentators. I don't think most are out to get us, but don't take any time to do research and find out anything substantial.
I did not instruct or recommend others to do as I am doing. I am only stating my position on this. Maybe you should take your tin foil hat off if you think what I say is going to affect you.
This.
The only thing that really bugs me about the freep inquisition is that bandwagoners like to instantly believe the loudest thing shouted at them. So I start a conversation with someone about Michigan football and get some knee-jerk reaction like "LOL DICKROD IS A CROOK" and have to strongly fight the urge to slap the person in question. While I guess it separates the bandwagoners and misinformed fans from true Michigan fans (which isn't a bad thing). I can only suffer so many fools a day.
Darren McCarty is on 97.1 now? You have to be freaking kidding me.
Valenti is on vacation. He was sitting in.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
we win where will those haters be at then? What will be their next big story? I say who cares we can all talk about it here. I hate said newspaper just because they allow a riot type atmosphere on their message boards, and its cheap journalism at its best. Lets keep up the good shit we got going here in the MGoBlog Community. The interest here are best served by the individuals commited to Big Blue.
Your point is well-taken but judging by the negs you're receiving, I think you should ask your uncle if he ever played for "Big Blue."
I had no idea that IBM owned a football team.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
Just like a dung beetle's gonna dive into a big pile of poop and roll a ball of it away. That's what they do. Foster and Valenti & Co. are going to rip on Michigan, just like my dog will lick his arse. That's what they do. I can't summon much outrage any longer. I just ignore them.
Unless my dog starts licking his ass while I'm eating dinner—that's a no-no.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
My dog's more of a ball licker during dinner. It's still a no-no but at least more understandable.
That makes perfect sense. I would if I could.
Not that I've tried...
FREEPERS GONNA FREEP
August 7th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
earlier posts. If you like pain keep talking about the same stuff over and over. I ignore our local media and won't comment when take their usual negative tone. Set youself free. I will say, all these negatives should translate into a motivating smackdwon come Sept 4. I feel sorry for UConn. Go Blue!!!
August 7th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
Their opinions are always going to be crap regarding Michigan ... Would you expect any different ???
August 7th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
Next
August 7th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
I refuse to expend any energy getting worked up about what newspaper X or sports talk radio host Y has to say about Michigan football. I simply don't care anymore. It's not worth it. All that matters is what happens on the field starting September 4.
It would be nice to be able to read MGoBlog without having to wade through about a metric ton of drivel from the tin foil hat brigade every time someone in the media says something they don't like about Michigan. If you're going to boycott the Free Press, boycott the Free Press, and quit posting every little thing from it.
Look, we all know the score here, we all know the pressure Rich Rodriguez is under to actually deliver a team consistent with the legacy of Michigan Football. We can't pretend that doesn't exist, and getting all worked up because some acknowledge it more than others is simply ridiculous. 3-9 and 5-7 aren't what we expect at Michigan. It has to be better this year, or else we're going to have to go in a different direction. Obviously we all know the media is going to prey on that. There's no reason to wring our hands here and think somehow the MGoUniverse is going to change it. Let them do it, and let the results on the field do the talking.
I don't know if the "tin foil hat brigade" comment was aimed at me. I sort of expect it wasn't. I don't deserve it, if it was.
For my part, I stand by my position that I think it is better, for Michigan football and for Coach Rodriguez, if MoGoBlog stands as an online platform to carefully expose and refute the Free Press, rather than ignoring it.
I suspect that there are many, many more "OT" posts, about things like Korean girlfriends, YouTube videos of guys making 3-point shots, and NFL videogames, than there are Free Press threads. I sort liked the Korean girlfriend posts personally, but that's just me. In any event, the Free Press threads have the one advantage of being, at their core, about Michigan football and Head Coach Rodriguez.
Remember this about the Free Press, Bando; they don't have a football team, and they will never play against Michigan. Their weaponry is "publication." Which also happens to be MGoBlog's weaponry. I think it is not only fair, but important; if the Free Press seeks to turn public opinion against Rich Rodriguez to the point that his job is threatened, then there needs to be some pushback. If the Free Press runs false information, they should be called out. If the Free Press has agenda, that agenda ought to be exposed and published. And when the Free Press causes our football program to have to slog through an NCAA investigation, we should make sure that no one ever says "NCAA" and "Michigan" in the same sentence without also saying "Free Press" and, as our University has pointed out, the magic words, "greatly exagerated if not flatly incorrect."
Again, I ask, why do you care so much?
Because it's our Michigan.
I suspect that there are many, many more "OT" posts, about things like Korean girlfriends, YouTube videos of guys making 3-point shots, and NFL videogames, than there are Free Press threads.Though, really, I don't care if people post on the Freep, or Chelios or Isiah (which I think was taken down because there already was an Isiah thread), or Korean girlfriends (really, who wasn't left wanting more), or youtube videos, or whatever. One, it's the off-season, and not really pushing anything truly important off anywhere. And second, it's the best democracy...if people are interested, they'll post. If they're not, they won't, and it'll die a quiet death. I've had posts go every which way. Some you think WOW, this is SO cool and topical...3 posts... Others, eh, I'll put it up for the 3 guys who'll appreciate it...and it explodes. Who knows what tickles a funny bone on any given day? I say, MGoBloggers, post your Freep articles, post your Korean Girlfriend stories, post the pro sports news... I went to Michigan. I learned how to not click, and not read, what doesn't interest me. And I feel no need to berate someone if I have an inability to do so...cause that's on me. There are limits....after a big game day Saturday, unless it's something to cheer us up....there are probably more interesting things to talk about (though who am I to say...? I mean, 20 posts on...OMG, that game yay/damnit...that could all be in one too...). And as a personal choice, I've curtailed my Freep posting, because I think Brian doesn't like it, so I've saved it for stuff I thought was really important...which truthfully, hasn't been much. But I don't begrudge anyone from doing it, because I don't think Brian's suggestion is a hard board policy yet either. I see the value in watching what your enemies say (I saw the OP Freep headline, and though it was another shitty act by the Freep). And really, you'd think for the anti-clickers, this would be a benefit to them, because people are telling you what they're saying, so you DON'T have to click. Everyone hear who reads it can get the knowledge without having to give them revenue. And if you really don't want to know ANYTHING about what's going on in there, the "they are dead to me head in the sand approach"...that's cool too. Skip over the topics that say Freep.
". . . if the Free Press seeks to turn public opinion against Rich Rodriguez to the point that his job is threatened . . "
His job is threatened by going 8-16 (4-12 in the Big Ten) over the past two years.
The Free Press is virtually irrelevant to Rodriguez' tenure at Michigan. If he wins games he's going to coach in Ann Arbor for a long while. If he doesn't, he won't. It's really that simple.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:15 PM ^
Yeah, I mean, I can just see David Brandon sitting in Weidenbach Hall reading a copy of the Free Press over his morning cup of coffee and exclaiming "Well, Snyder says we're doomed! Someone get me Jim Harbaugh's phone number!" What the press says about this team is completely and totally irrelevant to the people making the decisions. It means about umpteen times more to the MGoNation than anybody whose opinion actually matters here.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
It really is laughable, the notion that David Brandon is reading Michael Rosenberg, or listening to sportstalk radio. Of course, try to make that point when you've got a spare moment to call in to 97.1... "Uh, guys; you know that the people in leadership at the University and in Michigan's Athletic Department don't know who you guys are, and don't care, and care even less about how you think they should be doing their jobs."
But then again, we have that tidbit from the Demetrius Hart family, indicating that they really were concerned about what might be going on at Michigan; concerns that were all erased by actually being here.
gets tough...the tough get going. When the German's bombed Pearl Harbor we didn't put up with that did we? Did we?"
Who's with me? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
This could be the best season of our life but you want to make make it the worst. Not me...not now...not after all of this.
Rosenberg? He's irrelevent. Snyder? He's a puss. The Freep? It doesn't exist.
Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
uh......the German's didn't bomb Pearl Harbor