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…

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…

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.

of my interview with Sam Webb, managing editor of GoBlueWolverine.com, WTKA 1050AM morning show host and Detroit News columnist.   

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.