Had a chance to roll up to The Palace to the see the Pistons face the Trailblazers who picked up former Fab Fiver Juwan Howard last fall. Howard’s the last of those guys playing and I was in school when Juwan first took the court at U-M back in 1991. He didn’t start but played most of the game in the 97-93 Blazers win. He didn’t do much in those minutes–he tallied a bucket, picked up a couple fouls and missed a few shots and free throws. But he was involved in a scuffle that migrated off the court in the second half, netting the Nook a technical foul [video here]. Piston Charlie Villanueva was the featured Piston bobble head for the fans, and he delivered the hard foul that started the fracas. Speaking of the Fab Five, part of their legacy is the baggy shorts and black socks and right now an eBay seller is offering baggy shorts that allegedly belonged to wingman and occasional M hoops local radio color man Jimmy King. Unwashed? Unknown. But they want $425 and here’s the photo: Authenticity? Tough to say, but the seller claims, “My older brother attended Michigan and his roommate was a team manager during the Fab Five time.” So there you go. Back to Juwan, here’s a few photos…
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Don’t Cross Bo
Stumbled upon this nugget this am from Business Insider. They asked litigator Dan Webb of Chicago powerhouse law firm Winston and Strawn about his most memorable courtroom moment. Webb recalled his defense of sports agent Lloyd Bloom back in 1989, who was (allegedly) involved in a bunch of shenanigans with amateur athletes including Michigan’s Garland Rivers. Several officials from various universities were asked to testify, and Webb explains the events of one memorable day: One of the marks of a great litigator, he said, is to know within a half-second what you want to do and do it flawlessly. One of those quick decisions was required in the sports agent’s case. At one point in the trial he had to cross examine the beloved Father Ted Hesburgh, the then-president of Notre Dame. Crossing Father Hesburgh was no trouble. "I didn’t mind or hesitate," Webb said. But soon enough legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler took the stand. Webb watched how the jury responded to him — they almost bowed, he said. What was Webb’s half-second decision? "I took one look at Bo Schembechler," Webb said, and thought, "I can cross a Roman Catholic priest, but not the greatest coach" in college football history. No questions, he told judge. While Bloom didn’t have the stones to talk to Bo, as you…
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More Forehead Coverage
HT: BiggieMunn, Uni Watch has a quick take on the proposed redesigned Spartan logo, along with a few good links. Check it out here. Paul’s $.02: Honestly: I’ve always thought the Spartans logo looked a bit amateurish, and the new one — if that’s what it is — is hardly an improvement in that regard. Given how virtually every new mark foisted upon us these days tends to feature gratuitous beveling, shading, outlining, etc., this new design seems remarkably restrained. That’s not to say it’s better than the old mark, mind you (I definitely don’t think it passes the “Is it good or is it stupid?” test), but it hardly seems like a disaster, and I find it hard to get worked up about it one way or the other. But that’s just me. Perhaps that new notch above the nose guard is to provide a little forehead coverage*: I was kind of hoping they’d look back and drop this gruffy fellow on the helmets: * Not that there’s anything wrong with dudes with giant foreheads.
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Sam Webb Interview Part II
of my interview with Sam Webb, managing editor of GoBlueWolverine.com, WTKA 1050AM morning show host and Detroit News columnist.
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Fielding H. Yost’s Bust (1927)
In the past couple of years, I’ve featured posts on Fielding Yost busting the Galloping Ghost and highlighted a program from the 1953 Football Bust which featured autographs from a few of the Yost’s finest players. Thanks to reader Craig B., this edition of eBay Watch takes a look at a statue bust of the old coach as presented in a wire photo: Along with the note, Craig asked an excellent question: So, what we know from this is that there was a bust of Yost in Yost Field House, but I have never, in my life, seen it. Do we know where it is today? Can we get it put back into Yost? Am I just missing it somewhere? Anyway, I shall eagerly await any potential news you have on this, in post or reply form. Thanks much! The photo is dated October 27, 1927 and if I had to guess at the blurry plaque below the bust, it reads “Fielding H. Yost – illegible – University of Michigan – then I think it might say, ‘University of Michigan Club of Chicago’ – 1927: As Craig points out, the auction description hints that this statue might have been associated with Yost Field House but given the date of the photo itself, it may have been presented to Yost…
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Michigan Spring Football – April 17, 2010
Flat-footed linebackers. Ugh. Via U-M Media Relations: Save the Date! Spring Football Game on April 17 at Michigan Stadium ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan football team will hold its annual spring game on Saturday, April 17, at Michigan Stadium. The final practice is open to the public and will be held at a time yet to be determined. Last year, Michigan set a spring game attendance record with an estimated 50,000 fans at the alumni flag football game and final team scrimmage. Michigan Stadium is in the final stages of a $226 million year-round renovation that will be completed prior to the start of the 2010 season.
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Interview with Sam Webb Part I
I’ve been trying to catch Sam Webb for an interview for quite a while now and recently I finally had the chance to sit down with him. Here is Part I
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Bing and Jalen
If you missed it, check out the outstanding piece by Mike Rosenberg in SI this week on former Piston and current Detroit mayor Dave Bing. Yes, there is tie to Michigan athletics with a portion touching on Bing’s relationship with Jalen, an excerpt: The Pistons roomed Jimmy and Dave together on the road, hoping Dave could reel him in a little, but that was like trying to net a pack of butterflies. Walker was traded to Houston in August 1972; five months later Jalen Anthony Rose was born in Detroit. Jimmy was Jalen’s biological father. Jimmy was a lot of kids’ biological father. "I hear that number is in the teens," Rose says. Jalen’s mother, Jeanne Rose, was a key puncher for Chrysler. His father was invisible; Jalen never saw him. But his father’s backcourtmate was around. Bing kept tabs on the kid, taught him what he could. "Like a godfather," Rose says. For years they talked about everything but Jimmy. "That was not something we heavily stressed," Rose says. "Or discussed. Or even acknowledged." Rose went on to be a star at Southwestern High. Jimmy was never there, but he was always with him. Rose chose number 42 because it was the reverse of the 24 that Jimmy wore with the Pistons. Jalen wanted to play like his father…