Valenti and Foster saying Manny going pro

Submitted by toasterhands on

I DIDN'T listen to their show today but did get a message from someone who did saying Manny will hire an agent and go pro (according to Valenti and Foster it's a done deal).

Anybody else hear about this/confirm that this was on the show today?

Sommy

March 15th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^

I listen to Valenti everyday, but I try to steer clear of BS talking head conjecture. Let's not forget that he also said for three months straight that Devin Gardner was a lock to decommit and head elsewhere, and that JT Turner did not qualify and would not join UM.

VectorVictor05

March 16th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^

Maybe it annoys you because you don't get the joke...

The rule you cite applies to someone who was on scholarship and played a college sport their freshman year (think Greg Paulus or Kelvin Grady). The rule does not apply to someone who never played a college sport (think Chris Wienke).

My dad is 54 years-old, far removed from his Freshman year of college, however he still has 4 years of eligibility left to play basketball for UofM if they would have him.

jmblue

March 16th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^

The rule applies to anyone who has attended a college class. Once you've attended your first class, your five-year window starts up. In Weinke's case, he disenrolled from FSU the first time around just days before the school year started. In the NCAA's eyes, he was never a college student then, which is why he was able to come back at age 26 and be a student-athlete.

If your father attended college, he has no eligibility remaining. Trust me, if it were possible for people who simply didn't play sports to come back after they'd graduated and play, you'd see it happening all the time. College football programs would love to throw a late-blooming 25-year-old out there if they could.

Beavis

March 15th, 2010 at 8:45 PM ^

Dude he turned into the smoke monster against OSU.

My thoughts (regardless if this is true):

- He's boys with Peedi and they always planned to leave together
- He's had some rifts with Beilein
- His draft stock slipped a lot this year
- He could always make $$$ playing in Europe if the NBA doesn't work

So we'll see. If he does go, I hope that means we get Zeigler. If we're missing both of those guys next year - it will be rough. Very rough.

The Other Brian

March 15th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^

Why in god's name do people continue to listen to these two uninformed dumbasses? How many times do they have to be completely wrong with their rumor-mongering before Michigan fans stop paying attention to them? Seriously, the same thing as reading Drew Sharp - you're feeding the beast by giving them attention that they don't deserve.

If I want news about UM athletics and players, Mike "PUCKER PUCKER PUCKER" Valenti is pretty close to the last person on the planet I'm going to go to.

Wolverine Incognito

March 15th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

When I lived in the Detroit area, they were the only game in town for sports talk radio. I don't know if that is still the case, but that is sort of a reason. Although after I figured out that Terry is almost as big a douche as Foster, I couldn't take it any more and I just listened to nothing while I walked my dogs.

Tim

March 15th, 2010 at 8:52 PM ^

Regardless of whether Manny stays or goes (I think conventional wisdom has him probably leaving at this point), Valenti and Foster are just guessing, not speaking from knowledge.

Pea-Tear Gryphon

March 15th, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^

- The world will end in December 2012
- MSU is closing the gap with UM in football due to their in-state recruiting superiority
- The Pistons are not trading Billups
- Lost isn't ending this year
- The New England Patriots are better without Brady
- Their radio show will go on forever
- Valenti has no problem picking up chicks
- RR will be fired before/during/after ______ season

All/None of those may have been predicted. I don't listen as much as I used to. But I guess they accomplished what they were going for. We are talking about them.

iloveyellow

March 15th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^

he'd break glen rice's 2442 points record for a 4-year career. now, i'm sure that means very little to him, but potentially witnessing that next march would be pretty cool.

1972cuda440

March 15th, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^

I remember when Pope John Paul II died. Mike Valenti said "I'm glad he's dead" live on the radio. Ever since then I have no respect for him. True story

TomW09

March 16th, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^

I'm just going to go out on a limb here, but I'm guessing you're taking this out of context.

I know it's pretty much an MGoLaw to hate on Valenti and Foster, but some people make some pretty ridiculous claims.

A quick "mike valenti pope comment" google search turned up nothing, so I find this a little hard to believe (at least in the context you're presenting).

TomW09

March 16th, 2010 at 12:48 AM ^

I believe him (maybe not the 'good authority' part).

Manny has nothing to gain by staying. Any progression in his game that he can make at the college level he could do in the NBDL under the supervision of his future employers while making a decent paycheck.

He has very little reason, from a career standpoint, to stay.

Now, if he wants to return to finish his degree and play another year of college hoops because he loves it, good for him. I just hope he makes the best decision for him.

TomW09

March 16th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^

And if he's in the league, he'll make the league minimum of $300,000. Even if he goes back and forth between the two, he's making money and gaining valuable experience.

He'll make no money at school and probably won't gain the same type of experience.

jmblue

March 16th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^

Only if he makes an opening-day roster. If he's called up in midseason he gets a prorated amount, and if he's on a 10-day contract he gets basically another NBDL salary.

True, whatever he'd make is still more than he would at U-M, but having to go through the NBDL route isn't for everyone. From what I've read, it's a pretty lousy experience. Europe might be another option, but that brings its own set of challenges (cultural isolation, coaches who are generally far stricter than their American counterparts, teams that don't always pay their players when scheduled, etc.). If he thinks Beilein is tough, wait 'till he finds out what a European team will expect of him.

aaamichfan

March 15th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^

The funniest thing was how earlier in the hockey season, it was such a big deal that Michigan lost to MSU. Now, all of a sudden "it is a secondary sport" or "we don't care about college hockey".

It will sure be nice when Michigan wins in football this year.