Chris Webber Honorary Captain Reaction

Submitted by bdneely4 on November 5th, 2018 at 10:33 AM

I wasn't at the game, so I was trying to find any video on how the crowd reacted with Chris Webber.  It sounds like he was welcomed with a loud ovation in which I would expect nothing less with the MGoCommunity.  Die Hard Sports had the below video that Chris Webber posted on his twitter.  You can feel and hear the appreciation Webber had after walking off the field.

http://www.diehardsport.com/college-football/chris-webber-shares-neat-video-with-harbaugh-during-return-to-ann-arbor/

I love this team, I love our coach, and man does it feel great to be a Michigan Wolverine right now.

Go Blue!

taistreetsmyhero

November 5th, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^

I said it in the last thread before the game...most mgobloggers have a strong opinion on Webber so they may have mixed feelings, but most average fans in attendance at the game only care that he’s a Michigan alum and would cheer accordingly.

mGrowOld

November 5th, 2018 at 10:43 AM ^

Good.  As mentioned by others it would've been a terrible look for all the recruits we had in attendance to hear boos for one of the most widely known Michigan athletic figures in our lifetime.

And FWIW - given what we now know about the depth of payola going on in college basketball across the country our little Ed Martin thing doesnt seem quite so horrific anymore to me anyways.  Let's stop with the hand-wringing and rendering of garments shall we?

Hang the banners!

Section 1.8

November 5th, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^

It was an interesting reaction.  It was quiet at first, and then grew slowly to a very big ovation.

I could hear it all very well since I was standing quietly and listening.

Somebody was on the field with Chris.  And older black gentleman who was not identified.  Was it Chris's father, Mayce?  That  would have been ironic, since Mayce was indicted along with Chris for lying to a federal grand jury.

 

You Only Live Twice

November 5th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^

It didn't strike me that way, that it started out quiet.  Nor did I hear a single boo.  He received a warm welcome and he seemed very heartened by it.  If there's a replay look at his smile.  The emotion on his face was very touching to witness.  Yes, I would like to see him own his mistakes but it is also time to let the past be past.  He didn't rape, assault or kill anyone.   

Section 1.8

November 5th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^

No, I didn't.  However, I would like to question you on whether there actually were any "letters in the Fab Five documentary"?

The documentary didn't quote or display any letters, did it?  Did the documentary give any numbers on letters?

I call bullshit on that story as being of any consequence.  Those days were pre-internet.  Occasionally, a crank or two would write a cranky letter or two.  I really want to know how many letters were there?  How many letter writers were there?  And what, exactly, did they write?

In the age of the internet, we wouldn't give a passing thought to a tiny number of cranks who wrote an email for, or against, a Colin Kaepernick or any other athlete involved in social activism.

The whole mythology surrounding the Fab Five needs to be examined closely.  We had the myth that Chris Webber couldn't afford a pizza.  And then the myth that large numbers of Michigan fans and even alums were writing racist protests in relation to the players.  Without a bit of hard evidence for either thing.

 

lilpenny1316

November 5th, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^

If it wasn't the Rose documentary, then it was a different one because we definitely saw the letters, including those signed by actual alumni.  Those letters are real and authentic and was known by those close to the program, including those who knew the guys back in Detroit.  That was before Mitch Albom's book and any documentary was published.

Section 1.8

November 5th, 2018 at 1:45 PM ^

I say again; how many letters?  By whom?  What are the exact terms?

The proponents of the Fab Five are trying to make the case that there was significant, widespread hatred/prejudice from some quarters.  I had season tickets in those days and spent quite a lot of time on campus, and I saw NOTHING LIKE THAT.  

I am being careful to not deny the existence of a few stray cranky letters.  And the Fab Five's defenders ought to be careful to not make too much, of a few stray cranky letters.

 

lhglrkwg

November 5th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^

Uh no. I was at the game (as were many others). The cheer was strong right off the bat. I was taken aback by how enthusiastic it was because I was thinking it might be a mixed or subdued reaction.

cant blame him for coming off the field all smiles. Im sure he was as nervous as any of us x100

ppToilet

November 5th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^

I thought he got a very warm reception and agree that he didn't seem to quite expect it at first. I didn't hear any boos in my section.

With that said, I didn't cheer. I cheered a lot for him when we were in school at the same time. I'm in the group that thinks he owes an apology. It doesn't have to be on his hands and knees. It doesn't matter that he was a kid; he's an adult now. There seems to be a pathologic aversion in our society currently to admitting that we made a mistake and then accepting responsibility for it. But I'm still old school in that you can only offer forgiveness to those who seek it. It wouldn't take much of an apology.

If he doesn't think he did anything wrong, then that's his business. I disagree and won't cheer for him. I don't care if others do, that's their business. And I'm not going to boo him either. I'm just disappointed that he doesn't man up for his role in that whole mess.

Zeke21

November 5th, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^

Good for M fans and good for C Webb.

Webber still needs to apologize to those that were affected,

and accept responsibility for his actions.  

bluebyyou

November 5th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^

That's a hell of a price to pay...you took money improperly, compromised yourself, your team and your university and your penance, according to you, is you get your ovation a few years later?  On top of that, he got tens of millions in compensation during his time in the NBA.

No apology, no forgiveness.

 

xtramelanin

November 5th, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^

he came to our tailgate and was warmly received.  my avatar got some pics with him and we talked for a few minutes.  he could not have been more gracious.  i made a point of telling him how welcome he was by michigan fans, and how long overdue his coming back was.  

confirming very nice ovation when he was intro'd on the field, did not hear a single nay-sayer, and i was listening for them.  

mGrowOld

November 5th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^

I'm very envious of you.  The closest I've gotten to Chris was an OSU buddy of mine who ran into him a few years ago in a bar when he was doing TV for the OSU game in the regional semi-finals in NYC.  

He sent me a cocktail napkin with "Go Blue Don" and signed it.

Do you know him or did he just walk by and you corralled him?  

xtramelanin

November 5th, 2018 at 12:00 PM ^

neither.  he was talking to one of my buddies at our tailgate and i told the twins who he was, and then fired them like missiles at him, telling them to cut through the crowd like they are playing football.  they did just that and introduced themselves and chatted him up.  i came up soon after and we talked for a bit and i took a couple of pics.  i actually texted the pic to robf as he was on his way to visit us also.  i would even share it here, but i can't navigate 3.0 like i could 2.0, so not going to happen. 

BoCanHam15

November 5th, 2018 at 11:13 AM ^

I yelled as loud as I could and everyone in my section and surrounding sections did the same.  Of course you’re gonna find an $&;&& in every crowd but for the most part the reunion was and is a success.  GO BLUE!

LabattsBleu

November 5th, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^

very nice to hear it... i figured that there might be people here and there that would boo, but mostly it would be a warm ovation... went better than i thought

and i love the fact that coach make it a point to tell Chris as he was leaving the field that the ovation Chris got was as loud the one for Tom Brady.

Love the fact that the coach wanted to ensure to Chris that he was being welcomed back wholeheartedly by the vast majority of Michigan fans

Synful

November 5th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^

It was very cool to see his reaction to the cheering from the masses.  You could tell he was moved by it.

Something that surprises me in that video is just how short Harbaugh is next to CWebb.  Figure there would be some difference but wow.