Unverified Voracity Plays Whack-A-Media Comment Count

Brian

Programming note: I am behind on UFR and will post it tomorrow. I have no excuse for this one other than severe lack of motivation.

Oh, uh, yeah. Article in the Daily on the new blog order interviews me. There is already a thread with jokes about my appearance if you need to get in on that action. This was the most interesting bit of the article to me:

With the day-to-day grind of beat reporting, that type of depth is almost impossible for newspapers to imitate. Here’s a typical workday for Snyder — on the Monday before the Northwestern football game, he attended a nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long press conference, filing a story right there. Snyder then stayed at the building, transcribing football quotes and working until the basketball presser took place at 3 p.m. After the press conference, Snyder attended basketball practice, finally leaving after nine hours and still needing to file a story about the basketball team. That’s time Cook can spend analyzing plays and breaking down each game, while relying on reporters like Snyder to uncover the day-to-day business of the team.

I've never had a problem with beat writers; they do their job and it's necessary. But, man, doesn't that explain a lot? You put yourself in this press-conference-file-story-press-conference-file-story routine, covering a thousand different items shallowly and spending large portions of your time either listening to or transcribing what someone else is thinking. Then you've got the columnists on basically the same schedule, writing three things a week about one of ten different pro or college teams. There's no focus.

This is apparently media-bash day on MGoBlog, so might as well get on with it:

Different. Mark Dantonio took over Cincinnati's football program and left for a bigger one after two mediocre years. The Free Press frames that decision like so*:

A man's word still means something.

Two years ago, the Spartans pursued Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio. But he rejected the overtures until the Bearcats' regular season was over.

Can you imagine anyone stretching the bounds of praiseworthy behavior in order to find something nice to say about Rich Rodriguez? No. This is the exact thing—leaving a job—that Rich Rodriguez has been killed for, and he stayed at West Virginia for seven years, turning it into a national power.

But Dantonio Keeps His Word.

Yep:

my head asplode

In fact. Hey, here's a nice thing about Rodriguez in a mainstream newspaper!

Harrison, the safety, was among them. Then last weekend on Senior Day, his parents were late getting to Michigan Stadium from Dayton because of traffic from an accident. So instead of having Harrison take the field unescorted, Rodriguez accompanied him.

"He didn't really need to do that," Harrison said. "I see him in a whole different way. I used to look at him as just my head coach. Now I look at him as if it's a different type of bond."

This is part of an article with extensive quotes from Harrison, Terrance Taylor, Don Dufek, and Rick Leach and an actual quote from someone who interacts with a large number of Michigan fans:

Jason McNamee is an employee at the Buckeye Wolverine Shop in Perrysburg, Ohio, near Toledo.

McNamee said most Wolverines customers understand the situation Rodriguez inherited and are willing to give him time.

"I'd say if we had 100 Michigan fans in here, only 5-10 would say he has to go now," McNamee said.

It's probably the most reasonable, best researched piece that's appeared in a newspaper this year. That newspaper?

The Columbus Dispatch.

Some day I would like to meet the people running the Free Press and News sports pages just so I can ask them "what makes you think annoying your core readership is a good idea?"

Don't take our Spielman away. Chris Spielman and Kirk Herbstreit orchestrated a much-publicized Michigan bashing session on Columbus talk radio recently. One of the more directly inflammatory  statements came from Spielman:

"I love seeing them beaten down, man. It's great," Spielman said.

Dr. Saturday says this should spell the end of Spielman broadcasting Michigan games:

And thus ends (or should end) Chris Spielman's license to call any Michigan game. I like Spielman, I like his transparent love for football, I like that he still seems more like a player than an announcer and that he obviously would rather be on the field colliding with people than in a suit and tie in a booth. I think he's one of the best color guys on the network. But unless ESPN's new strategy is to openly antagonize its viewers, it can't have a born, bred and admitted hater calling the team he hates.

One: yes, ESPN's strategy is to openly antagonize its viewers, something that has been made plain over the last decade. How many 15-minute Nick Lachey MNF interviews must we endure before this is plain?

Two: no. Spielman hates Michigan. Whatever. He's the only color guy working college football who would bother explaining that to stop a power run game like Michigan State the key player is the defensive end, who has to crash inside to eliminate the hole and disrupt the pulling offensive linemen, which will naturally cause the RB to bounce outside into the waiting arms of a linebacker.

Spielman does that. And he cloaks his disdain masterfully when called upon to do so. He can do Michigan games whenever he pleases. Don't leave us with Andre Ware, please.

Etc.: Ohio State fans can't read. The WLA does hate week right;  apparently those of us with Fandom Endurance III badges can never leave a game again. McMcMcCabe is seriously pissed off you guys that the Army Bowl is (gasp!) picking guys who he didn't even name all state. Also he would like his cranberry juice. UMTailgate says that was yesterday.

*(Worst Columnist in America link that you are urged to not follow: .)

Comments

tikijoseph22

November 19th, 2008 at 3:48 PM ^

It's official as about an hour ago Artis Chambers' facebook status read: Artis Chambers
is officially not a wolverine anymore.

This shows what type of team we have where our players cannot even finish out the season. Especially with that game being the Ohio State game. This team has no heart as a whole. Yes, there are many with heart and I see it every game but their obviously is something very very wrong with this team. They have no will and some just flat out don't want to play. Suit me up I'll go get my skull cracked but at least i'll be out there trying

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 3:52 PM ^

Ah, the comfort that a veil of anonymity can give. These guys have no heart! They suck! They don't care! I'd try harder! Thank God no one can find me as "tikijoseph22" isn't in the phonebook!

Until you go through an ounce of what these players do in order to earn the right just to stand on the sidelines, you should shut your mouth. Especially when you, blanketed behind a meaningless screen-name, level uninformed, unsubstantiated attacks against people you have never met, for things you don't even know they've done.

I know of one thing you've done - write this utterly meaningless, inane comment. And thus, you are a fool.

gsimmons85

November 19th, 2008 at 4:07 PM ^

for the past few months you have given me many compliments, and i have yet to throw a good one your way...

i appologize for that, but i totally love this response man, way to go... i love your verbal tongue lashings.. kind of goes along with what i was trying to say over at my place... what did you think of it?

tikijoseph22

November 19th, 2008 at 4:14 PM ^

Yes you nailed it right on the head there chitownblue. (Hidden behind your own veil of anonymity) You're just like the reporters who wrote about Rich Rod's statements taking everything out of context. Making basic generalizations about my character. I've played college ball and not to the level these guys do but I understand the rigors of playing a college sport and never once (even with my ass on the bench) did I consider leaving my team. I'm glad your professional journalism has allowed you to properly quote someone even with the statement laid out right in front of your face. Did I say they suck? No actually I didn't. Did I say they don't care? No that statement wasn't said either.
Yet you are praised for your "tongue lashing" backed by nothing more than statements you've created.

What I said was this is what's wrong with Michigan football. This doesn't show heart. Totally disrespectful to the rest of the team and I say we are better off without him. But I guess you probably already understand this since you went through the same rigors as everyone out there and are our teams spokesmodel. RIGHT ON

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 4:17 PM ^

"They have no will and some just flat out don't want to play. Suit me up I'll go get my skull cracked but at least i'll be out there trying"

If you don't think that's saying they don't care, you're stupider than your first post makes you seem. If you want to denigrate the character of someone you don't know based on their decision not to play football for "your" team, do it somewhere else.

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 6:46 PM ^

Lets just pack it in and let them all transfer with smiles on our faces. Let Minor go, let odoms go. Screw Forcier lets see if we can get him to play for OSU next year. Lets let them all leave. Hell we should give them scholarships to other schools. IT DOES show the character of a player when he decides to quit before the last game of the season. HE QUIT. What do you do when the going gets tough just pack it in and say I'll just quit and find something else. I mean say your boss is on your ass what are you going to do just start looking for a new job. "Those who stay will be champions." That is the quote and obviously this guy didn't believe in the team or the coaches. So yes I will make comments about his character.

GO BLUE

Hannibal.

November 19th, 2008 at 3:50 PM ^

I agree Spielman is excellent. And I don't get the feeling that he hates Michigan -- his comments might have been tongue-in-cheek. I like Andre Ware most of the time too. His commentary during the Wisconsin game last year that Manningham might have goaded Mallett into throwing an interception was kind of interesting. I also like the guy who has been doing the games with Pam Ward. Maguire, on the other hand, is simply awful and I have no idea why ABC keeps him around.

cbuswolverine

November 19th, 2008 at 4:43 PM ^

He's great on the radio in Columbus, too. I listen to him year round. I think he's funny and genuine and an all-around really good guy. He's one of my favorite people on the radio. And from listening to him year round I know the respect that he has for the rivalry, the Michigan program, our coaches past and present, our players, and our fans. It comes up often.

When he does go off and make fun of all things Michigan it is, as you said, tongue-in-cheek. It's part of his schtick. It's just a little trash talk. So what.

jamiemac

November 19th, 2008 at 3:51 PM ^

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Coach Dantonio leave before the bowl game.....i think Brian Kelly actually coached the bowl game Cincy was in that year.

So, yeah, Brian that just furthers your point that what the MSU coach did when switching jobs is exactly the same thing as what the UM coach did to switch jobs.

Dont give me this Dantonio kept his word crap....gee, I wonder who wrote that?

Asshat!!!!

ShockFX

November 19th, 2008 at 3:53 PM ^

"A man's word still means something.

Two years ago, the Spartans pursued Cincinnati coach Mark Dantonio. But he rejected the overtures until the Bearcats' regular season was over."

HOLY SHIT. So MSU pursued him DURING THE REGULAR SEASON!? Then he left before the bowl game?

Michigan, on the other hand, didn't contact RR until HIS regular season was over, then he also left before the bowl game.

This quote make MSU look like bigger douchbags than anything else.

J. Lichty

November 19th, 2008 at 4:00 PM ^

I will certainly have a high degree of shadenfreudian satisfaction if we lose to OSU and Sparty beats PSU.

Dantonio is hands down the biggest D-bag in the conference, and maybe even in college football.

The whineyness; the false bravado that reeks of insecurity; the sanctimoniousness.

I didn't think that there could be a bigger d-bag than Bret Bielimia, but I was wrong.

Michael

November 19th, 2008 at 4:02 PM ^

It's good to see that there are others who appreciate Spielman. By definition, he is still a low-life, but atleast it hasn't precluded him from offering good analysis of the games he calls. If you listen to his comments during the Penn State game, it's clear that he has a lot of respect for Michigan; most OSU players, current and former, do.

Also, did anyone catch the Desmond Howard interview on WTKA?

caup

November 19th, 2008 at 4:06 PM ^

You see? It's the thousand little observations that Brian makes that are spot on that make him so frickin' MONEY. The fact that he realizes Spielman, despite his occasional "woof!" or spazzy reaction after a good hit, is actually one of the few color guys on the air who makes intelligent X's ansd O's comments about what is currently occurring on the field, why it's working, and what the other team should do to stop it. That's the most important part of a color guy's job. I don't give a shit if he didn't know why the hell Sheridan was put into the PSU game because I'll find out the real reaosn in like 2 seconds on the intertubes anyway. But when Spielman can point out something IMMEDIATELY (like Brian notes above) that I might not notice as quikly? That's cash dollars.

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 4:10 PM ^

I would also think that the large intersection between Lions fans and Michigan fans would earn Spielman a little slack.

tikijoseph22

November 19th, 2008 at 4:27 PM ^

If you read my post in its entirety instead of getting your vagina all wet for the chance to make someone feel stupider than before you would've taken my whole statement into consideration. "This team has no heart as a whole. Yes, there are many with heart and I see it every game but their obviously is something very very wrong with this team." So, with chambers transferring and others on board you're telling me the whole team was playing with 100% heart. It only takes a little cancer before it starts to spread. You're right these players who are transferring don't care. They didn't care before and they are showing it with their actions. I know Steven Threet personally and you can hang my balls from a noose if I ever say he doesn't have any heart. Please read the whole statement before trying to belittle someone just to show your superior intellect.

Other Chris

November 19th, 2008 at 5:18 PM ^

No one's vagina gets wet reading your turgid prose. In fact, those of us who are female on this board would probably rather go gay than hook up with guys as braindead as you appear to be.

And woo! You know Threet personally!! I'm so impressed.

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 6:35 PM ^

What does me being braindead and youd rather go gay than hook up with me have to do with anything? Morons on these blogs. Someone makes a legitimate statement and some arrogant ass hole wants to start talking smack. That statement I made was not directed at you. Yet, you feel inclined to try and put someone down. Does that make you feel better? Your IQ is higher than mine. Would you like a lollipop for that fact. Go find something useful to do with yourself. And when you respond, please respond with a legitimate statement cause I feel a yo momma joke coming on next.

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 6:48 PM ^

No Tiki, you, as an observer, decided to call out a bunch of people you know not a thing about. If you think that saying that aren't trying isn't doing that, you're wrong. That's a shitty thing to do, and something extremely easy for someone who doesn't have to put up with the shit they do to say. Do I know what they do? No. But I played a D-I college sport, so I sort of have an idea. For you to judge someone you don't know for making a decision you don't understand is shitty, plain and simple.

How would you feel if, the day you decided to quit for job, there were hundreds of judgmental little assholes you've never seen in your life calling you a quitter?

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 7:14 PM ^

Is Artis Chambers on this blog? Did I personally call him up and call him a quitter. If a 100 little judgemental assholes (in this case there are only several calling artis one) calling me a quitter what could I say? They'd be right. Rich Rod said himself and other former M players have reiterated the statement that these guys haven't been playing with passion. Why don't you get on Rich Rod now and call him a moron. Why are you defending these people? They left the Wolverine family. Turned their back on the team and you want to pat them on the butt and say good luck. Obviously you have never played on a competetive sports team on a serious level. It's the same anywhere and everywhere. You quit f*ck them.

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 7:14 PM ^

I played a Varsity Sport at Michigan.

Which is EXACTLY why I have perspective on this matter. Because these people don't make any decision on where they go or why they go for you, or for any fan. They are doing what they believe to be the best for their future. Are they right? Maybe, maybe not. But leaving the University of Michigan does not, de facto, make you a bad person.

You said you know Steven Threet, and you would never call him a pussy. Guess what? STEVEN THREET DID EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE FLIPPING YOUR SHIT ABOUT. But, in your words, "you want to pat them on the butt and say good luck?".

As I said, you're an idiot.

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 7:48 PM ^

I didn't say he was a bad person, as in he will become a serial criminal, but it does speak about his character. Wow I'm so impressed you played a varsity sport at Michigan. Steven Threet was redshirted and yes he was there for the WHOLE SEASON. You are a moron

WolvinLA

November 19th, 2008 at 6:50 PM ^

Joey, it sounds like you're new here, so here's the deal: First of all, you were the one who decided to bring up vaginas becoming wet. Under no circumstance is that a good idea; it only sets you up for ridicule. Secondly, this is an intelligent blog. You don't need to be a Rhodes Scholar to post, but if you make a bold claim like "this team has no heart" you need to be ready to back that up intelligently or you're going to get torn apart. That's the way it works. Either refrain from the posts that are bound to get people all wound up, or be prepared when it's your shit hitting the fan.

CPS

November 19th, 2008 at 7:19 PM ^

You might want to refrain from complaints about putting others down so shortly after referring to “morons on these blogs.” And your reference to female genitalia when responding to someone borders on sexism, so don’t be so surprised to see one of the female members of the blog get a little offended.

With that said, and with reference to your original comments, you were called out on your status as a player, and you responded that you, in fact, used to play. Fine. You also personally know Steven Threet and can attest to his heart and will to play. Fine. But the original comment was not about Threet. It was about Chambers, and you proceeded to attack his character saying he (and others) have no heart, no will and just doesn’t want to play. You basically called him a quitter, not in the sense of someone who just stops what he is doing, but in the sense of someone who gives up too easily.

Presumably, you do not know Chambers or have any personal knowledge about him, or you would have mentioned this fact in the same breath as Threet. Consequently, it displays an arrogance on your part to presume to know what any other person (Michigan football player or not) feels, absent personal knowledge about that person or a statement from that person explaining the reasons for his action. That’s the point that you don’t seem to understand.

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 7:54 PM ^

Let me put this in a way that you would understand since none of you seem to have any knowledge of team unity. Scenario: If you are in college and your teacher assigns you a group project. One that is due at the end of the semester. You assign everyone their roles and what part they will have in the project. Then three days before that huge project is due, one that can make or break your grade, one of your partners decides he is transferring to a new school and will have a clean slate on his GPA so he doesn't show up for the presentation and doesn't turn in the rest
of his work. Would you be pissed or would you just sit back and say oh well he's transferring we'll pick up the slack for him. No big deal. I bet you would have a judgement about the guys or girls character. I apologize for the personal attack about the female's genitalia but I was attacked from the first post I had on here. You people are very welcoming. I'm glad the wolverine fan base can stand united. Fighting with ourselves as fans this is juvenile. You never see this type of bickering on elevenwarriors, which makes me think maybe we are a bunch of arrogant ass holes who think we are better than the rest.

CPS

November 19th, 2008 at 7:57 PM ^

Except the discussion is not about what the other players feel in response to Chambers leaving. It's about the assumptions being made about the person's character.

But to refer to your analogy, I have been in those situations in school, in sports and at work. And I will admit that it's frustrating and that I have been angry. But without knowing the person's reasons for leaving, I will not make assumptions about his/her character.

It's worth continuing your analogy to point out that if someone not directly involved in the project and without knowledge of the person's reasons for transferring were to take umbrage, I would consider that person to be out of line. That hypothetical person is us, the fans.

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 7:58 PM ^

The problem with this analogy is that you are telling us what the person's motivation is. We have no idea what Chambers' motivation or reasons are. Which is why it's best to keep our mouths shut.

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 8:08 PM ^

Haha you are hopeless. Rodriguez said this team is soft. Attack him right? I said this team has no passion and some don't care. It is black and white. Plain and simple right there in front of your nose. HE LEFT THE TEAM BEFORE THE GAME FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL REASONS. IT SAYS HE IS SELFISH AND PUT HIMSELF BEFORE THE TEAM. Jeez.....

STW P. Brabbs

November 19th, 2008 at 8:48 PM ^

you're just an asshole. Sometimes, you have to let the people have a go at you, and just calmly explain your position instead of, say, bringing vaginal moisture into the equation.

I personally don't think that any suggestion that Chambers might be acting selfishly is just the stupidest thing anyone ever said. However, it all depends on the reasons he is leaving, which we don't know at this point. If he's just pissy about playing time and doesn't feel like going through another week of practice, then I'd say that reflects on his character poorly. If he's having serious personal issues of some sort, like McGuffie seems to be, then clearly he needs to take care of those.

Oh, and to all ex-college athletes who think that they are the only ones qualified to talk about athletes here: maybe you should start your own exclusive blog where you can talk about the glory days and thrown your weight around there. Drawing on Tiki's analogy of group work in college, most of us are smart enough to understand something about team commitment and sacrifice to a greater whole, even if we haven't done wind sprints until we've puked.

Finally, Chitown: did you really not realize that you, too, were posting behind a veil of internet anonymity? Or did your parents give you the coolest name ever?

CPS

November 19th, 2008 at 4:44 PM ^

I know Stewart Mandel isn't the most favorite writer for many people here. I don't mind him that much, and when I was reading his weekly mailbag today, the subject of the UM-OSU game came up. At the end of the piece he wrote this:

"Incidentally, there's a great joke floating around cyberspace this week, though you need to know your Michigan/Ohio geography to get it. Apparently, this year's Ohio State-Michigan game has been cancelled. It seems the Wolverines will be unable to make the trip to Columbus because they can't get past Toledo."
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/stewart_mandel/11/19/cfb…

Don't know if anyone else has seen this joke. I'm trying to keep a sense of perspective and humor about this season, so I actually found it amusing.

TheMichiganDif…

November 19th, 2008 at 4:50 PM ^

Dantonio coached at Cinci for three years, not two. He took them from the C-USA to the Big East.

I can't believe the number of Michigan fans obsessing over lil bro's coach. IT IS OHIO STATE WEEK.

caup

November 19th, 2008 at 5:04 PM ^

I know that some of the past M players have been greatly disappointed with the apparent lack of heart that some of the guys are displaying out on the field this year. Not enough fire and tenacity, many of them say.
I mean, how many times has RR said "You gotta go hard, every practice, every down, every game."
And now there's a bunch of guys quitting the team during Ohio State Week??? Do you have any idea of the Special Place In Hell that Lloyd or Bo would've wanted these guys to go to for this kind of timing???

Yeah, there are some guys that need to leave this program. I'm not going to castigate them specifically, but I also will never defend the really, really shitty timing of their quitting. It's borderline sabotage.

tikijoey22

November 19th, 2008 at 6:38 PM ^

Looks like someone reiterated the statement I made earlier. Is he in need of a tongue lashing for pointing these facts out? Shouldn't you remind him that he doesn't have a helmet and isn't on the sidelines so he has no idea what it's like being a Michigan player. I mean he is hiding behind his veil of anonymity. We should throw him under the bus as well. Right? Please your thoughts chitownblue.

CPS

November 19th, 2008 at 7:46 PM ^

Caup’s first statement referred to statements made my others (i.e., “some of the past M players”), followed by a quote from RR. Caup proceeded to comment not about the players’ collective or individual hearts or will as you originally did, but to comment on the timing of the decision. Caup makes a specific point to say “I'm not going to castigate them specifically,” whereas you proceeded to do just that with Chambers.

I don’t know what Caup’s feelings are on the players’ mental or emotional states, but that’s not the subject of the post. I don’t agree with the sabotage reference, but that’s also beside the point. But the comment is different from your original post.

chitownblue (not verified)

November 19th, 2008 at 6:51 PM ^

If the "McGuffie is a pussy" shit has taught anyone, anything, it's that we probably shouldn't judge kids while we, personally know absolutely nothing about their motivations. Do you know why Chambers quit? I don't. I can guess, but it doesn't make it right. Say it's because he doesn't like his spot on the depth chart - the kid came to school to play football, if he doens't think he'll be able to do that, why would he stay?