Fab 5 reunion tomorrow? "Slight chance"

Submitted by bluebrains98 on

So, my interest was piqued, so I figured I'd share. During the halftime show for the Lakers-Clippers game, Magic congratulated Jalen on his alma mater's success. Some banter broke out, with the following dialog:

Question: Is there even a slight chance we'll see the Fab  in the stands tomorrow?

Jalen: There is a slight chance. I'm working the phones right now.

TWSWBC

April 7th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^

It's different for those guys to all want to show up to the championship game (especially Webber) opposed to other former players like Cazzie or Rice and the rest of the '89 team who were actually champions. To me it's a selfish move and adds unnecessary pressure on the current players. Just stay away until it's done.

cbs650

April 7th, 2013 at 5:25 PM ^

How is it selfish? Because Jalen happens to be on a sports analyst and was asked about and he game an answer? or because Jimmy and Ray have been asked by media outlets to do interview because they were members of one of the most memerable teams in college basketball history? or because Chris is still hated by the masses? They went to Michigan, played at Michigan and love Michigan basketball. If they want to attend just like any other fan so what. They maybe more well know then most fans but they are fans none the less.

jmblue

April 7th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^

I think you are reading too much into this.  They're former players wanting to cheer on their school.  I have no problem with that.  If CBS starts doing Kevin Ware-like look-ins on them every two minutes, OK, that'd be annoying, but I don't think they will.

 

 

ijohnb

April 7th, 2013 at 6:01 PM ^

you're wrong on that.  If the Fab Five, or four of them, are there watching the game tommorow they are going to get more air time than Katherine Webb.  I like that they want to come, and I like them, but I really do think it would be somewhat of a unwanted, well, "thing-a-majig" that I would rather not come up right now.  I don't want to hear about how this team is trying to erase the stain or any other mumbo jumbo right now.

jmblue

April 7th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^

I think they'll talk about that crap even if they aren't there.  With Jim Nantz, that's a given.

I'm just out of internet outrage at the moment.  Michigan is in the national championship game - I still can't believe it - and hey, anyone who can make it there to cheer them on ought to.

 

Brown Bear

April 7th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^

Well the good thing ijohnnb that if they so show up and are shown more than Katherine Webb is that the team won't be distracted by that because they are playing the game and not watching on tv. I think it would be great if all or even a few came to support and coratulate the team if they win.

Brown Bear

April 7th, 2013 at 6:56 PM ^

Also, all the talk of them being a distraction is ludicrous. They are playing for the national championship on the biggest stage and there are plenty of other notable athletes and celebrities at these games that would be a distraction to 18-20 yo kids nonetheless. Lets stop freaking out about nothing. The team is focused and the Fab 5 being there wouldn't be a distraction to them.

MGoSoftball

April 7th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^

anyone who took a class at M to be there.  Lets have a tailgate with 500,000+ alumni.  I dont understand why anyone would not want a former M student to attend the game?  Especially if they played basketball before.  

Come home C-Webb.  Its been long enough.  You are loved by many.

umumum

April 7th, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^

I'd hate to make Denard, Charles, Desmond and Zach go home cuz they are drawing attention away from the team, see, posts and many references to their attendance.  There are too many bitter ex-girlfriends below for my taste.  I say let everyone come and let there be a party come midnight.

Wolverine Devotee

April 7th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^

Who cares about them. Seriously. I love the Fab Five, but this is THIS teams moment. I'm sick of talking and hearing about them. It was 20 years ago.

In reply to by Wolverine Devotee

Maize Judicata

April 7th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^

If this team wins tomorrow, then and only then will they rise out of the Fab 5's shadow. It sucks, but that is the way of the media.

jmblue

April 7th, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^

I don't agree with that.  It's been 20 years.  A whole generation of fans (including the current Michigan students) has no memory of the Fab Five other than from an ESPN documentary.  The 2013 team is this generation's milestone team.

 

 

 

In reply to by Wolverine Devotee

HarmonHowardWoodson

April 7th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^

So you don't want to see guys like Zach Novak, Charles Woodson, Terry Mills, Glen Rice at the game either? It isn't about them, why should they be there to cheer on their school?

Can you give a single example of any of the fab 5 members making this about them? From everything that I have seen, they have consistently said that this team should stand alone, and accomplish things that they didn't.

readyourguard

April 7th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

What they say doesn't dictate what the media will do. If those 5 publicly announce they're attending, the media will make it a bigger circus than it'll already be.

And, oh, things didn't end all that well with that Webber guy. You don't think the media will salivate at the opportunity to make that a focal point? Do we really need THAT attention right now?

HarmonHowardWoodson

April 7th, 2013 at 5:43 PM ^

Maybe it is just me, but I don't see the talking heads giving more attention than they already are. I have seen tv time with 3/5 of the fab five. Juwan is playing/practicing, and Chris has been silent for years, but I don't see that increasing just because they are at the game. People are going to talk about the fab 5, simply because Michigan is in the Finals. I don't see how them skipping the game is going to change that.

If they do attend the game, does anyone really believe that there will be more than 2-3 minutes of pre-game devoted to talking about them? They might get shown once or twice during the game, but so do Tim Hardaway and Glenn Robinson.

I guess, the impression I get is that people are worried that there will be a 30 minute fab-5 reunion show on during the pre-game, and I think that is far from the case. I would put the over/under at 2 minutes of total screen time for fab-5 members, if they do show up.

readyourguard

April 7th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^

I see CBS going out of their way to interview the 5 as much as they can, including half time.

Then, if things don't go as well as we all hope, or God forbid a set of unfortunate circumstances, those cameras will be squarely on Webber and all the negative connotations that go with it.

Like I said, if they want to support the team, fine. Buy tickets and watch from their seats. But there's no way CBS doesn't take full advantage of their presence.

jmblue

April 7th, 2013 at 6:28 PM ^

If those 5 publicly announce they're attending, the media will make it a bigger circus than it'll already be.
At some point, a circus is just a circus. The team is playing on a basketball court in front of 75,000 people attending live and millions more watching on TV. I don't really think that having these five people in attendance instead of five others is going to affect the team. I'm pretty sure that all five of them have attended Michigan games at some point in the past few years (I recall Webber being at some neutral-site game a couple years back), so it's not that big of a deal to them.

Captain

April 7th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^

For years, our football program had to suffer through wails of "why don't former players want to come back/show their support/get more involved?"  Now when the Fab Five shows ostensible love to a remarkable basketball team, too many people respond with "who cares?" "that was so long ago" or "GTFO," and not always because of some harbored grudge for what they did to harm the program. Embrace the Fab Five; for the most part they bleed maize and blue and share our same passion.

TXWolverine44

April 7th, 2013 at 7:41 PM ^

Will they be clothed? I feel that this is an important question.... nttawwt

In all seriousness, as much as I am conflicted about the Chris Webber and Ed Martin Scandal (I was only born in 1990 so I was not aware of anything really) I think with the sanctions being lifted next month and so much time that has passed, I think its about time that they reunite (not necessarily for CWebb to say anything about the scandal although I'm in the same boat as many where I would like for him to acknowledge he made a mistake and apologize). 

 

Geez, let's go BLUE WE'RE IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!!

sdogg1m

April 7th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

But I get the funny feeling in the pit of my stomach when we are announcing the arrival of the players who lost two National Championship games in a row to a Michigan National Championship game.

Let them show up after we have won one. :D

readyourguard

April 7th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^

Man I hate that this topic is reaching a crescendo right now.

This isn't about the Fab 5. This is about the 2013 basketball team. If the Fab 4 and Webber want to support this team AND attend, they should quietly rent a suite and attract as little attention before the game as possible.

BlockM

April 7th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^

I just want everyone to imagine this team winning the national championship and having the entire Fab 5 out on the court afterwards celebrating with them. Tell me that wouldn't bring a tear to your eye. It would be absolutely unbelievable. Sports perfection.

JamesBondHerpesMeds

April 7th, 2013 at 6:06 PM ^

Throughout the past few decades, there's one other Michigan team I've been just as proud of and would likely get dusty about seeing up there:

Daniel Horton and the 2004 NIT championship team.  

I care not for the Fab Five, despite their place in Michigan lore.  Bring up the guys that played through a world of shit and mediocre coaches/resources and have them celebrate.

gwkrlghl

April 7th, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^

for all the crap the fab fivers have been through, everything I've seen and heard of them is screaming "Michigan Men". I never, ever get the impression that they're looking for attention for themselves and I've only ever heard of them reflect fondly on their time in Ann Arbor. I think it would be a huge sign of support for them to be there and I would be totally pumped to see it

How classic would it be to be able to attach a 5 minute sequel to the fab five documentary where the fab five finally reunite 20 years later to see the new guard be changed in. Would be epic

MidnightBlue

April 7th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^

Oh F that reunion... Itd be stealing spotlight from the current team. I was there in the fabs two years as a student and was in NO to see the game... If there is a public reunion they better defer to the current team and wish them as well as they can....

BlockM

April 7th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^

You think this team would have a problem with the Fab 5 getting a little attention? You think the Fab 5 would have any trouble deferring to the current team and giving them all the love they deserve? I think you're highly underestimating both parties. Everyone has handled the entire situation with grace thus far, no idea what makes you think that would change if the group showed up at the game tomorrow.