Historic bad calls by refs involving Michigan.

The whole Rich Rodriguez contract buy-out fiasco is firmly in the rearview mirror but I thought this was interesting.  Most of these contracts have buy-outs that work both ways: one if the coach terminates the contract early, another if it’s the decision of the school. For whatever reason Kentucky hoops coach Billy Gillispie never worked out the details and failed to sign a formal contract.  He was terminated today and he’d be wise to do the same with his agent and lawyers.  From Rivals/Yahoo: Gillispie signed a memorandum of understanding in [athletic directory Mitch] Barnhart’s house following a whirlwind courtship that lasted less than a day. Yet he never signed a formal contract as his lawyer and the university fought over the wording. In the end, that decision may end up costing him millions. Barnhart said the university did not plan to pay Gillispie a $6 million buyout that was to be part of his seven-year deal that remains unsigned. “Suffice it to say it will be less than that,” Barnhart said. Brutal.  Tom Izzo has been mentioned as a candidate which is nothing that a few more “Thank You, Tom” billboards can’t fix. 

The pain!  Michigan hockey is done, upset by Air Force 2-0.   From WCBN’s live blog late in the third period: Even with multiple man advantages, it just seems to be one of those night[s] where nothing goes Michigan’s way. More later.  It sounded like a lethal combination of coming out a little flat, a hot goaltender, tough bounces and some questionable calls. 

Mitch Albom and guest Charles Eisendrath, director of Michigan’s Knight-Wallace Fellows, discussed the Ann Arbor News situation on WJR.  Audio from earlier this week: [display_podcast] Eisendrath: “I think we’re going into the Final Four.   The big ones will be The New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post probably.” Interesting, Eisendrath is “wildy optimistic” about the future of local journalism. After Eisendrath hangs up Albom admits (go to about 10 minutes in) he doesn’t agree with “90%” of what Eisendrath said.   I agree that it’s a stretch to project that the future of online news will be pay-subscriber based.  But then host starts to lose me. First, Mitch gives zero credit to you, the reader: “You can’t tell me that the average person, who already has got the attention span of a gnat, can distinguish between whether they’re reading a blogger or [an accredited journalist].” Sure, it’s the wild west out there but give some credit to the consumer.  It’s natural selection.  How many times can a blogger write garbage or cry wolf on a bogus rumor before you don’t go back?  And it’s not like word/reputation doesn’t travel quickly on the internet. Then he argues that a newspaper is more portable than online media and that readers don’t want to go to “14 different…

Yesterday the official U-M site mgoblue.com announced the election of former Michigan baseball coach Branch Rickey to the college baseball Hall of Fame.  Rickey is best known for his role in breaking baseball’s color barrier by bringing Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers while he was the team’s general manager.  From mgoblue: Rickey, who coached the Wolverines from 1910-1913 while attending the Michigan Law School and compiled a 68-32-4 record, is the Hall of Fame Vintage-Era inductee. The Vintage-Era designation is for those who played or coached prior to 1947. Rickey’s college experience influenced his role in promoting Jackie Robinson to break the color barrier years later as general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey is also known for the development of the farm system and the introduction of the batting helmet. Rickey’s professional career saw him lead the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1920s and 1930s, the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1950s. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967 as a Pioneer and Executive. Due to his role in this historic event and his place in Cooperstown, Rickey memorabilia is quite valuable and you’ll find it constantly being peddled on eBay.   One interesting item up right now (with a steep asking price of $1,995) is a program from a…

A few new panoramic photos of the stadium construction via mgoblue.com.

Check out this auction of an ash tray dating back to the 1930s or 1940s.  The outside is carved out of wood.  The inside contains a raised carving of Michigan stadium along with the likeness of a Wolverine.  Check it out