Bill Martin inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame
Anyone reading that headline would naturally assume that it came from The Onion, Waterford Whispers News or for us old timers, Mad Magazine. NOPE!
Per Mlive, in what can only be described as the one of most ironical of dong punches ever delivered, Martin was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame on Sept. 24 during ceremonies hosted by the New York Yacht Club.
According to the NSHOF, Martin has a lengthy sailing resume that includes representing the United States in the 1981 Admiral's Cup and a national title at the 2008 Rolex US-IRC National Championship. Martin, who was the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, also served as president of the United States Sailing Association, the national governing body of the sport, from 1988-91. According to the NSHOF, Martin took on the same role with the United States Olympic Committee from 2003 to 2004, at a time when that organization faced an ethics crisis and its programs were in dire need of restructuring. "We all have our sailing memories," Martin said in a news release. "All the wins, the near wins, the night races. But I think, for all of us, it's the new the people you meet, and the opportunity to sail with your family and with your friends. That's what sailing means to me. It's the people you work with on behalf of the sport. My life in sailing has been enriched by those experiences."
I really haven't been able to properly assess this information but my first emotional, quick draw thought is W in T literal F? My second thought, WHAT IN THE LITERAL FUCK!!!!!
Please tell me the emcees for this "event" were Kirk Herbstreit and Les Miles.
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2017/09/former_michigan_a…
September 26th, 2017 at 5:56 PM ^
Too many headlines read like The Onion nowadays. This is chief among them.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:25 PM ^
Did NSHOF try to call him to inform him about being inducted, only to learn that he was out on his boat and was unreachable? THAT would have been ironic.
September 27th, 2017 at 6:35 AM ^
I have no problem with this, as long as it's not the Athletic Directors Hall of Fame.
September 27th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
Meh, his final stab at stewardship (hiring RR) failed terribly, which was somewhat** predictable. But prior to that, he was kind of a godsend. I wonder how many Michigan fans know how deeply the AD was in the red before Martin arrived. Many, but far from all. We take dollars for granted around here these days.
**("somewhat," because predicting the "you talk funny and don't belong here" reaction to RR by the media, players, alumni and boosters was not easily predicted. It's also one of the most shameful things I can think of, that Michigan facilitated, in the last 10 years. And while (in retrospect) Martin didn't do enough to manage post-retirement Lloyd, I'm not sure any of his mistakes were obvious and avoidable)
September 26th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^
I'm guessing Les Miles is not likely to extend a warm congrats to Bill on this accomplishment.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:02 PM ^
That would make it easier to believe.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^
With his phone off we might have had Les Miles instead of Richrod and we could have transitioned from him to Harbaugh. All those painful seasons could have been avoided. Excuse me if I don't give a damn about Martin and his elitist bull shit boat trophy.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
I think OP agrees with you.
Hell, I know I do. Instead, Mr. Martin then took us to get rejected by Greg Schiano, before hiring RR... I know it's been nearly 10 years now but damnit that was painful and could have been avoided, but for Bill's sailing trip.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:44 PM ^
I hope the sarcasm reflected those feelings.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:08 PM ^
I'm not disappointed that we missed on Schiano. Not at all...
September 26th, 2017 at 10:49 PM ^
OTOH, we'd probably still have Les now and the timing for Jim might have never been right.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:33 PM ^
Les made way more money just because of the rumor of him going to Michigan. He's fine.
September 26th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^
Hey, everybody is good at something. Too bad Bill undertook other roles at Michigan.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
He was also very good at avoiding phone calls he didn't want to take.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
EVENTUALLY turned out it was for the best. But man, that was an awful desert we wandered through for what seemed like ever.
September 26th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^
If he makes a decision on Miles, in either direction, one side of the fanbase is pissed off at the machinations of the other. This way everyone's pissed at Martin and his "incompetence" and it's eventually possible to heal the rift.
Of course if he'd been more decisive a year earlier the whole thing probably could have been avoided. And Brandon wasn't inevitable. But as far as that one week goes, he probably played it as well as he could have.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^
You can't make this stuff up...
September 26th, 2017 at 7:16 PM ^
He almost brought pimp Pittino to Michigan. A better AD might have closed that deal. Lets thank the baby Jesus that idiot was the AD at that time instead of Hackett.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:10 PM ^
Not sure Hackett would have considered Pitino. Hackett is a standup guy and believes in standup people. Pitino is no standup guy...
September 26th, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^
"Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free..."
September 27th, 2017 at 5:48 AM ^
for remembering a forgotten year.
we are so old....
September 26th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^
I would try to make a sailing joke here, but that would tacky...
September 26th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^
Don't diss us like that.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
When your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat. But the man worthwhile, is the man that can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat.
September 26th, 2017 at 9:37 PM ^
Mary Sue Coleman christening in the Rich Rod era she and Bill cooked up ?
September 26th, 2017 at 10:35 PM ^
Spalding get your foot off the boat!!
September 26th, 2017 at 8:29 PM ^
Are you taking a jibe at sailing? That's hard-a-lee funny.
September 26th, 2017 at 8:43 PM ^
It wasn't very funny. My jokes have become rudderless...
September 26th, 2017 at 8:54 PM ^
Well, maybe if you were less stern...
September 27th, 2017 at 4:04 AM ^
Good port! I mean point, good point.
September 27th, 2017 at 5:50 AM ^
on words.
September 27th, 2017 at 7:14 AM ^
And I'm going to keel over.
September 27th, 2017 at 5:56 AM ^
I thought that one was pretty good.
Take a bow.
September 27th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
That would be like sticking a dagger into this board.
We all appreciate you keeping an even keel on this topic.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see.
Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be....
September 26th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^
This is actually totally legit. Martin has been a huge participant and supporter of the sport for decades, and continues to run Stripes (his Santa Cruz 70, a fabulous boat) in a bunch of races. He graciously spoke to me for some time after his finished the Trans Superior race a couple of years ago.
The upshot is that I'm convinced that his decision to be on board and out of reach was deliberate. He has guys qualified to skipper the boat if he can't make it and he could have ways to be in touch.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:28 PM ^
Probably even before.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
http://www.knowyourmobile.com/nokia/nokia-3310/19848/history-mobile-pho…
That doesn't even account for ship to shore radios, Morse code, signal flares, etc...
September 26th, 2017 at 7:14 PM ^
One toll for Las, two tolls for no Les.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:38 PM ^
I was one of those "rock stars." Sleds were the queens of the great lakes yachting community, the open ocean racing maxis were too heavy and tail heavy at that. I still get invited to race now and then. As with aviation/skydiving I do it for the "visuals" - the things I've seen are truly remarkable and breathtaking. I can't blame Billy for liking the waterways, and he is good at it. Just wish it had translated into what Michigan needs for leadership.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^
Seems appropriate...
September 26th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
Is Les giving the induction introduction?
Oh, and +1 for use of the phrase 'dong punch'.
September 27th, 2017 at 10:29 AM ^
it's pretty obvious that he was a better sailor than AD.
September 26th, 2017 at 6:45 PM ^
At a key moment when Bill Martin should have been available will always stick with me as one of the greatest fumbles by anyone in the Athletic Department.
September 26th, 2017 at 7:24 PM ^
time!
September 26th, 2017 at 7:57 PM ^
"Uhhhhh.... he's not here, he's on his other boat. This is his... cousin, Bob Martin. Sure, I'll tell him Les called."
September 26th, 2017 at 9:32 PM ^
Bill Martin great at navigating sailboats but a bum at steering the great ship of Michigan football into the rocks of the RR era.
September 26th, 2017 at 10:01 PM ^
Worst ten years in the history of Michigan football were this fuck's fault