Webber Takes Shot at Rose Over Fab Five Doc
He's writing a book (which includes a significant portion on Izzo interestingly enough, and credits him for recruiting his brother and used the word "love" to describe him) but this definitely shifts the focus off of Webber and on to Rose if you take him at his word. Also states Izzo is one of the best men he knows. Was asked if he had a do-over he refused to answer due to the lack of interest in "answering honestly in the mood he's in." Sounds like Webber may even have regrets going Blue.
This could be a big topic moving forward
That was certainly his peak time. It just seems odd to speak of an "incredibly short prime" for a guy who averaged 20 and 10 over 15 years.
I suppose you are right that he was a 20 and 10 player from the time he entered the league until the knee inury in 2003. I guess I just think of it the context of whether he will be a hall of famer or considered an all time great. 99-2003 were the only years where he was truly elite (i.e. all NBA). If he had played the way he played those years for a few more years, he would be considered without question amongst the greatest ever at his position.
Considering he only played for the Warriors for one year, I would estimate you are probably right on that point. I know nothing about you but maybe you are in a bit of a Michigan or Midwest bubble because I can garruntee if you asked basketball fans in Los Angeles who Chris Webber is, they would say the all star power forward for the Sacramento Kings.
I live in Los Angeles which is practically in a different state than Sacremento. People here, for the most, part have zero interest in the Sacramento Kings outside of the years Webber was there. I have also lived in Philly and I would say the basketball fans there also knew Webber from the NBA rather than Michigan (although he did play there for a year not long before I lived there so that could be the explanation). I could possibly be in a bit of a "Places Webber's NBA career was most relevent" bubble but either way my point is that he would definitely still be remembered as a significant basketball figure regardless of whether he was a part of the Fab Five and i think the rings true in many places even if it doesn't in Michigan.
His legacy is hugely linked with M but he'd most certainly be remembered without us.
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Dont forget about his amazing rap career!!!!
And just to add to this point, that stat line reflected a style of play that was unique at the time. Webber was memorable in his ability to see the court as a passing big man, stretch the floor, rebound and play inside. Those Kings teams are so fondly remembered not only because of their success and the way they got screwed in the famous Lakers series, but because they played in a different way than almost any other team at the time. In what was probably the height of NBA iso/2-man ball, the ball moved on the Kings like with no other team at the time. This was largely due to Webber's unique skill set (and to a lesser degree, Vlade's).
In many ways, he was an early version of the skilled big men, who can play in or out of the post, that have reshaped the way that basketball is played.
You're putting the cart before the horse when you say: "Let's face it, if Webber isn't a part of The Fab Five no one remembers him and he has no legacy."
You have it backwards. Without Webber, there is no Fab Five.
Without Rose, there is no Fab Five.
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Pretty sure the two committed at the same time - both the day of their state title games.
Also Michigan won the National title a couple years (maybe even one?) before the Fab Five arrived so Michigan didn't need to "solidify the National Brand" as much as you might think.
but please just go away Fab 5. Thank you for your service....that is all
Now, on to Jim Harbaugh
Yeah you're right. Please go away the most recogizeable UM team of all time, bar none. Please go away team, the five members of which can be named probably 10 times more from memory by any sports fan than the Duke and NC teams that beat them in the NC games.
The Fab 5 is not what caused the sanctions to hit Michigan. Those five players didn't cause Ed Martin to start financially supporting inner-city kids with basketball potential. Martin initiated that himself, and if it hadn't been Webber or Rose, it would've eventually been some other 16-17 year old kids recruited to be on Michigan's team who also didn't see the harm in getting his support.
Ed Martin's involvement would have hurt the program one way or another. To me, the Fab 5 was one of the greatest things that ever happened to Michigan basketball and if not for the scandal, would have been the greatest without question. As frosh/sophomores, they reached the finals twice in a row in an era when most great players didn't "one and done" but stuck around well into their junior and senior years. Thus the relative quality of opponents was far higher. Add their social and media impact even without those finals, and anyone saying "go away Fab 5" just clowns himself no question.
Webber was at the very center of the Ed Martin scandal and Martin's involvement with Michigan grew exponentially during the Fab Five era. Then Webber refused to cooperate which caused the stain of the investigation to last years longer then it would have otherwise. Oh and then of course, Webber committed a felony by lying about it all. Don't act like Webber did not tarnish the university in a major major way.
The Fab5 was awesome back in the day. It became one thing to look back on and be proud of for a very long dark period in the history of Michigan basktball.
But people need to remember that Michigan won the National Championship just two years prior to the Fab5.
More importatntly there is a more recent team which became National Runners Up.
The dark periodd is over. Hooray for quality basketball again!
Exactly, the fab five were great for what they were, but 89 and Glen willing us to the championship will always be a much better memory than the fab five. Nuff said
The feud, the sanctions and the bad blood just make me sad. I was only 4-5 years old when they were in school, but I wish it was possible to sit back and reflect on how great of a team they were instead of all the other trash that has come along since they left.
I doubt Webber regrets going to Michigan. Yes, he regrets how things turned out. But from that comment, it sounds like he's still bitter and when asked if had a "do-over", he would still pick Michigan, but doesn't want to say that because it would require him to answer "honestly in the mood he's in" Just one way to look at it.
Chris Webber is still a Wolverine. As fans, we need to still embrace that fact. Yes, there were some questionable things that transpired during that time, but that was over 20 years ago; it's time to let it go. It's time that all of our former players are treated as royalty by the Michigan Athletic department and fans. These guys belong to us and we should treat them with respect for all the joy and memories they provided. Yes, the Fab Five legacy is tainted, but they still were a force. Embrace it.
Honestly, I sort of agree with Webber here. He just wants to move on from something negitive that he did over 20 years ago. A lot has happened since and he doesn't want to focus on something stupid he did that long ago. Jalen seems to want to constantly dwell on it and get sympathy or something. I think Webber could probably be a little more open and less bitter about it when it's brought up but I understand where he is coming from. I still like seeing both of them cover the NBA and love to see them still rooting for the good guys but they have both accomplished so much since the Fab Five and it just seems like Jalen can't move on.
Chris Webber is writing a "Life of Chris Webber" book, not a Fab Five book. Self important? Certainly. Can't move on from the Fab Five? That seems to be Jalen's thing. The Fab Five will obviously be a part of the book as it is a part of his story but I doubt it will be the primary focus of the book.
He just wants the banners back up and Webber to be his friend again. Whether Chris does or doesn't ever truly extend an olive branch is in his court, but it has always hurt Jalen that he lost what he considered a brother.
He is not writing a Fab Five book. He is writing a Chris Webber book. His 2 years at Michigan will surely be included but writing and autobiography is not the same thing as writing a Fab Five book and not moving on.
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You can always count on a few downvotes on this site for defending Webber.
Chris is all about himself, to the point where he refuses to admit he did any wrong. He also took a jab at Fisher indirectly by saying that he loves Izzo. He is the one writing a god damn book, he is the one that thinks he is self important.
Can you explain your reasoning behind saying he loves Izzo being a jab at Fisher? I don't know if you are making an unreasonable leap or if I am missing something.
He implies that he would have rather played for Izzo, but other factors caused him to go to Michigan.Was one of those factors Jud Heathcote, and not Tom Izzo, being the head coach at MSU during the time he played his college ball?
Facts have a very anti-Webber bias.
But there is a certain truthiness to it....
Izzo was still an assistant back then. Again, I'm not hearing any praise of Fisher out of Webber's mouth, so it might as well be an insult.
Dan Patrick loves Izzo and asked Izzo during the Final Four about any recruits that he regretted getting away. Izzo brought up Webber, hece the question about Izzo.
Oh ok. So it was just an unreasonable leap.
Chris wanted really bad to have this tough, inner city look, when all he was a gifted kid who got special treatment like being able to go to Country Day. Webber is starting to get on my nerves. Rose has gained respect in my eyes, whereas Webber just cant stop doing the wrong thing... Ex Lying to a grand jury.. Own up to it Webber. Its been over 20 yrs. If Martin didnt die we would be talking about a Felon!
"This could be a big topic moving forward"
I highly doubt that.
Maybe next time, don't like to a grand jury, mkay?
Fuck Webber - fuck that asshole.
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