Chris Webber's ongoing beef with Jalen Rose

Submitted by Blue Balls Afire on April 7th, 2019 at 4:29 AM

SB Nation has produced a deep dive into the feud between Webber and Rose that is still simmering. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4FE3tWuecM

Warning: some painful memories are rehashed.

To this day, I've still not been able to rewatch the Time Out game even though YouTube throws it up on my feed every once in a while, and it was only in the last two days that I was able to bring myself to rewatch any Fab Five game on YouTube.  

Eng1980

April 7th, 2019 at 8:18 AM ^

I am regularly frustrated by articles about Martin and Michigan that don't mention that he appeared to have sent money to at least two players from Detroit that went to Missouri (not counting Albert White) and at least one that went to Illinois.  The man ran a business that left him with bales of cash and an opportunity to invest in young men with NBA futures.  If Fisher hadn't arranged for Martin to get BB tickets some years later there would have been no reason to declare Martin a Michigan booster.  This scandal was so close to being a non-event for Michigan.

Mr Miggle

April 7th, 2019 at 9:03 AM ^

You might want to read this from the Michigan Daily.

https://www.michigandaily.com/content/ed-martin-revealed-his-long-and-infamous-road-michigan-basketball-history

You're far off the mark about Martin's ties to Michigan. They were numerous, long standing and sometimes very questionable. He was absolutely a booster by any reasonable definition, let alone the NCAA's very broad interpretation. That fact that Martin did things for his own perceived benefit is what throws people off. Booster doesn't just mean a fan that throws around money and even that kind of booster expects to get something out of it.

Fisher arranging the tickets for Martin was only notable because Fisher forged Perry Watson's initials on the request. That sealed his fate with Michigan.

cobra14

April 7th, 2019 at 9:09 AM ^

He was a booster for anyone in the city that might make it. He was trying to latch on to another payday. He then decided to take it a step further and give to players after being enrolled. 

I’ve read the article before. I also know what I’ve been told through circles beyond the Michigan daily. Michigan itself was dumb with how they handled the whole thing especially with the self imposed sanctions. 

Mr Miggle

April 7th, 2019 at 9:44 AM ^

Martin started that way. Over time he became more and more connected to the Michigan basketball program. That's why you have Bullock involved and players bringing an out of town recruit to visit him. If that incident with Mateen Cleaves happened anywhere else Michigan fans would have been screaming bloody murder.

 

UMxWolverines

April 7th, 2019 at 5:37 PM ^

Yeah but Mateen taking a few hundred bucks (according to Robert Traylor) is different than what Traylor, Taylor, Bullock, and Webber took. Also Mateen was most likely not going to come to Michigan. I believe the other two guys from Flint had already committed to MSU and Mateen was just taking a free recruiting trip. 

Eng1980

April 7th, 2019 at 9:39 AM ^

It appears that I am precisely on the mark.  There is nothing in the article that conflicts with my statements.  

NCAA treatment of the University of Michigan has been inconsistent at best.  Other people more informed than myself have stated that without the BB tickets (and the process that delivered them) then Martin does not qualify as a booster for NCAA purposes.   "That sealed his fate with Michigan."  I doubt it is that simple.  I wish more people were thrown off by Martin's self interest.

Alumnus93

April 7th, 2019 at 4:04 PM ^

Magic Johnson the bisexual, is MSUs golden boy . The second most important to the program history? CHRIS WEBBER.   Yep..it's he who got us to self fall on our own sword, which opened the door for them...they filled the void that we left.... Without Webber and MSU is a middling Big Ten team.  Theyd have never gotten guys like Draymond green, cleaves, etc...  Don't forget that M basketball was a giant, and they we're insignificant....

 

UMxWolverines

April 7th, 2019 at 6:03 PM ^

I wouldn't go that far. The other Flintstones were already committed to MSU before Cleaves. It was thought that Cleaves would eventually commit. Izzo was gonna be better than Heathcote. Being on probation after the Flintstones were gone definitely helped them, but they had the better facilities and coach by far. 

ommeethatsees

April 7th, 2019 at 8:21 AM ^

That whole bit is sad. I think that Jalen is speaking the truth and that Chris is in the wrong. Chris always was about him and him alone. However, I would welcome Chris back with open arms. I think they need to hang the Final Four banners and that Chris should be there. 

MichiganStan

April 7th, 2019 at 8:29 AM ^

Wasn't old enough to remember the Fab 5 but I'm beyond sick of this feud. Happened so long ago these guys need to drop it. Articles about this stupid feud pop up every single year now

I'mTheStig

April 7th, 2019 at 2:41 PM ^

Happened so long ago these guys need to drop it

This is a really odd take.  So Webber being dishonest has a shelf life?

I was an undergrad during the Fab 5.  There a couple of things lost upon the next generation:

1.  There were pictures of Ed Martin posted in the department with a caption that said do not associate with this man.

2.  All we're looking for is Webber to apologize.  He knowingly took the money.  It put Michigan basketball back 15-20 years.  This would all be dropped -- as you say, if Webber simply apologized for being on the take.  That's all man.  That's why this won't die.

I'mTheStig

April 8th, 2019 at 3:15 PM ^

> If Fisher hadn't let Martin stick around he wouldn't have been fired, it's that simple

Again, there were freaking pictures of Ed Martin, posted all over the athletic facilities, with a freaking note of do not associate with this person on them.

> Then we hired a turd in Elerbe and a mediocre Amaker. A

If... if... if... if... always an excuse.  if Webber wasn't a self-centered, selfish, ahole, none of this happens to the degree it did.  It's that simple.

jmblue

April 8th, 2019 at 3:40 PM ^

1.  There were pictures of Ed Martin posted in the department with a caption that said do not associate with this man.

That was only from 1997 onward.  It was not the case during the Fab Five's tenure, when Fisher was comping Martin tickets.  In fact, Martin only became an official booster during the '92 Final Four.

SeattleWolverine

April 7th, 2019 at 3:31 PM ^

Yeah, I didn't go to the other 4 final fours that we've been to since I've been an M fan/student/alumni but I did go to the 1993 final 4. Quite an event being in New Orleans and all. There were certainly plenty of other fantastic games over the years and I had season tickets at Crisler for 11 years, but that Kentucky game is the best college basketball game I have ever seen in person. Unbelievably high level play and atmosphere.

UM Fan from Sydney

April 7th, 2019 at 8:54 AM ^

Anyone else just not care about the fab five anymore? This happened in the early-90s. It’s 2019.

Alumnus93

April 7th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^

I was there... Almost front row seats every game....nothing has hit the college game close to them, except maybe Kentucky one year ..the Fab Five were like having five Zions of all different sizes..that I'd the only way I can explain their athleticism...   They were bigger, faster, better, than anything I have seen collectively, since....  It was like watching an NBA team having a scrimmage with a good college team... That is how big the chasm was....

Alumnus93

April 7th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^

I was there... Almost front row seats every game....nothing has hit the college game close to them, except maybe Kentucky one year ..the Fab Five were like having five Zions of all different sizes..that I'd the only way I can explain their athleticism...   They were bigger, faster, better, than anything I have seen collectively, since....  It was like watching an NBA team having a scrimmage with a good college team... That is how big the chasm was....

mgoblu88

April 7th, 2019 at 9:06 AM ^

Just watched it. Well done. 

I was in shock after the “TO” and the minutes, days, weeks that followed.

Living now in NC, I’m reminded of it by Chapel Thrill friends after 25+ years.

All in all, regardless of our ages, we preach and teach to our kids, grand kids, friends and family ... “own it.”

Mr. Webber. You are one of the best big men to play the college game. IMHO only, he is the best. But just, own it.

Right?

Don

April 7th, 2019 at 9:26 AM ^

I’ve never been a Webber fan but it’s ridiculous that Rose hasn’t put this behind him by now. It was over 25 years ago for fuck’s sake. 

waliwiz1

April 7th, 2019 at 9:36 AM ^

I've always been more concerned with the tarnishing to the UM that has occurred about this.The personal feud is senseless at this stage of the game. The Martin affair has always been the sorest spot in UM athletic history IMO so why keep bringing it up.

Jasper

April 7th, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^

I just watched the video.

The feud seems to be getting worse. There are two big egos involved. One could obviously also argue that both guys benefit from the PR in their current positions.

NittanyFan

April 7th, 2019 at 11:19 AM ^

Amen.

I'm of a certain age - I LOVED those Fab 5 teams.

As I got older, I thought Webber was the one at fault for the Webber/Rose feud.

But now I'm thinking Jalen's acting worse.  Holding a decades-long grudge and chirping from his media outlet isn't healthy either.

Sit the hell down and talk it over in private, like the middle-age adults they now are.

Zeke21

April 7th, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^

You are better off not any fab five games.

Watch M uva regional final in 89 that was recently on here or the 2017 Tex am game at staples last year regional.  Both quality high M wins that shows The M difference.

Ibow

April 7th, 2019 at 3:48 PM ^

I think everyone except Weber & Rose are long past the feud. It would be nice to get them all together again and see them have a great time but at this point, for me, it’s over. If it happens, great. If not, whatever.

We’ve got a pretty good “era” going now which makes this feud look ridiculously silly & petty.