WKTA Roundtable--why is Brian always so rude to Ira?
January 5th, 2018 at 11:16 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
Yeah, maybe he was but at this point I think he's just legitimately sick of arguing the same things over and over with the same result. He has his current opinion on the state of things, which is well documented and it hasn't changed, so going to battle with a guy who wants to pick apart Don Brown isn't something attractive to him. He's also said he's sick of the constant overreaction to things with little in the way of perspective on the whole situation. He's not like us where he pops in once or twice a day and reads this stuff, chimes in and goes back to his other job. He has to deal with this insufferable fanbase all day, every day. I can understand how that gets exhausting.
January 5th, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
Every fan base has whack jobs. It seems to me that ours are spreading like Gremlins
So... stop feeding the fucking Mogwai after Midnight!!!
January 5th, 2018 at 12:34 PM ^
i believe it's spelled "mgowai"
(there's probably a better joke there, but i can't seem to find it)
January 5th, 2018 at 12:27 PM ^
This is where someone jumps in to note that Harbaugh has been here 3 years, and has finished with the AP #12 and #10 teams in the country his first two. That's fantastic.
Then you say "third in the division"
Then I sigh, and say "yes that's what happens when you have a division where two other teams finish higher in the top 10 than you did"
Then you say "rivals record"
Then I say "should be 2-1 vs. MSU, could easily be 2-1 vs. OSU"
Then you say "but wasn't, results are only things matters"
Then I say "true if you're a coach, if you're an analyst assessing the job, then no"
And you say "this year sucked"
And I say "yes I agree"
Then you say "if we go 8-5 for the next two years, what happens"
And I say "that seems like an unreasonable hypothetical given actual results. More approriate would be 'if we finish top 10 two out of 3 years and have a legitimate shot to go to a playoff in one of those years (decided by the spot of a football), what happens'"
And a bunch of other things. We end up with you saying "Unacceptable" and me saying "they're probably going to be really good next year, he's a great coach". No need to have this debate endlessly.
January 5th, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
That's what has aways confused me. Harbaugh IS 1-2 against MSU. Yes, bad, though one was on fluke, but still. And this year was a legit loss. When you have 5 TOs you deserve to lose.
But let's see ... since Harbaugh has been here, U-M is 28-11 and MSU is 25-14. MSU is pretty much back to it's mean. They should be winning about 8 or 9 games a year. Michigan should be a bit better.
Yeah, this season sucked. Yeah, the bowl game sucked. Yeah, I whined and complained after the bowl game (not on MGoBlog). But the results are there. Under Harbaugh UM is better than MSU. And probably always will be.
January 5th, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 6:47 PM ^
Counting your wins and losses is literally a record of your accomplishments.
January 5th, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 3:32 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 10:47 PM ^
You need to unclench your sphinctre. We lost to MSU. Your dork friends gave you guff. There are many more important things in the world. Your anger is petty and ultimately futile. The fanbase is not the thing against Harbaugh because we're not lunatics. But Unacceptable if helps you cope
January 5th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 6:19 PM ^
Well evidently it is because people are visiting his blog and listening to his podcast, not yours or mine. As for season previews- he was pretty damn close this year. I think he had them at 9-3 before knowing the starting QB would be hurt and the #1 receiever would be hurt. I think he's usually bashed for being to pessimistic in his previews as well, which would lead me to believe he's been right the last few years.
The fanbase is somewhat toxic. ALl fanbases can be somewhat toxic. Are they heavily influencing the program? Not right now but they influenced the program when Rich Rod was hired and a powerful portion didn't like it. Then they influenced the hiring of Hoke which was a relative disaster. You're right that the reality has not meant the hype but that doesn't justify idiocy like asking if Don Brown is good or not.
At the end of the day, after the USC game, there isn't anything left to add. That game didn't change the season no matter what some hearts seem to feel. It sucks that they didn't win but winning 35-10 didn't change that there was a need for change on offense even though a lot of the fanbase would have felt better.
The main point is that Brian, who I disagree with a lot, doesn't owe you, me or anyone else anything. He isn't a fanbase elected official who owes people answers. He's a guy that runs a blog and does radio shows and it's provate business. If he doesn't want to re-write the same stuff over and over, he doesn't have to.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:35 AM ^
It just sounded like Brian needs a vacation. I think he's just been hearing dumb take after dumb take, and he probably just needs a week sitting somewhere warm, reading a book to clear his pallet. Any man would go insane after hearing "Don Brown Sux" and "Harbaugh can't coach" for the 10,000th time.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
...from the hot take express. i think that would behoove most of us.
January 5th, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
Exist for a reason. Would have been the perfect time to use one.
January 5th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 6:11 PM ^
I think you're right. But I still upvoted the OP because it sort of applies to your amused contempt of Ed Feng or others. It's your thing, and it's WTKA's best show. Your occasionally dick-i-ness is part of that show. And so it goes.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
I find Brian dismissive toward Ed. No idea why. Guessing that Brian likes to think he's the authority on all things UM and though he does have a deep understanding, his is not the only POV that has merit. It's really a very noticeable chink in his armor.
Plus, the guy lives and breathes UM athletics, so it's not hard to understand his frustration.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
Yeah, I was really shocked when he told Ira he looked like Bea Arthur's butthole. Just rude!
January 5th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 1:41 PM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^
I didn't get any bad treatment in my listen. The whole thing seems like a pretty collegial environment where they all kind of zing each other, but no real offense is meant.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
you've ever said. I wish I could have been drinking something when I read it so I could spit, as is the custom.
January 5th, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
So very well put!!
January 5th, 2018 at 11:18 AM ^
That said, I did notice Brian being short with him regarding the BBall team yesterday. Ira seemed to be doing the Sam-thing — repeating a talking-point or theme of the day or week - positing that the OSU loss last year was a low-point/springboard and possibly this year’s loss could represent the same. Brian clearly believes the Illini loss and the “soft” comment was that point last year and tried to shut him down a bit.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
Yes, the Michigan Insider is available in Podcast form daily.
January 5th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
I'm upset that it's the first time I'm seeing it.
Speaking of underused gifs, this one needs to be in at least one thread per week despite it not conveying a specific message:
January 5th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
Would love to see Craig Ross start contributing to Mgoblog with a weekly column or something.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:28 AM ^
January 5th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
Yeah he calls in from Hawaii during the winter. I find his analysis is always pretty sharp, both basketball and football. Brian seems to agree with him most of the time.
January 5th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
If you're interested in his angle on M football, he's published two books:
https://www.amazon.com/Obscene-Diaries-Michigan-Craig-Ross/dp/0978507533
https://www.amazon.com/Search-Unified-Theory-Football-Version/dp/149487…