Fab Five

[rsmit84]

Anyone watching this doc on espn? They come off as sympathetic in parts but also pretty unlikeable in others. I was too young to remember much from that time but maybe others can fill me in on how they were seen at the time.

[Buesch N Chips]

Anyone watching this doc on espn? They come off as sympathetic in parts but also pretty unlikeable in others. I was too young to remember much from that time but maybe others can fill me in on how they were seen at the time.

They were just as they seemed there. Unlikable, but a pretty neat situation. I was in Chambana during that time. Hated playing them, liked when they lost, but you knew it was historic.

And FYI, the Flyin Illini wore baggy shorts before the Fab Five.

[Jack Bauer]

Not that we care what Jim Nantz thinks, but he kind of laid into them during the Michigan-OSU game the other day. I actually thought it was pretty good what he said about affecting the program for nearly 20 years and why they shouldn't be glorified. I tend to agree.

[it's boogie time]

It would have been a lot better if Chris Webber would have talked. He was the most interesting and most talented out of the bunch.

[TylerDurden]

Not that we care what Jim Nantz thinks, but he kind of laid into them during the Michigan-OSU game the other day. I actually thought it was pretty good what he said about affecting the program for nearly 20 years and why they shouldn't be glorified. I tend to agree.

The corruption at Michigan did not start or end with the Fab Five. They were just the most talented players and, thus, are the ones who are "blamed" for the problem.

In fact, I don't think anyone other than Webber was actually charged with taking money from the booster.

I didn't hear what Nantz said, but I'm sure he left out that part.

I'm not suggesting the players don't have some culpability (they certainly do), but this booster (Ed Martin) was the person responsible for Michigan's downfall more than the players. They simply didn't monitor his activity or ignored it.

[tornado]

...
In fact, I don't think anyone other than Webber was actually charged with taking money from the booster.
...

not true...
here's a quote directly from the NCAA findings.....

"This case centered on violations of NCAA bylaws governing extra benefits provided by a representative of athletics interests and amateurism in the
men's basketball program. The violations themselves centered on the provision of more than $600,000 in cash and other benefits to at least four
men's basketball student-athletes by a now-deceased representative of athletics interests.

Specifically, the Division I Committee on Infractions found that from spring 1992 through spring 1999, the representative of athletics interests provided
recruiting inducements and extra benefits in the form of cash, clothing, jewelry, transportation, lodging, meals and other like benefits totaling about
$616,000 to at least four student-athletes.

Student-athlete A and his family received a total of $280,000 in extra benefits from the representative between 1988 and 1993.

Student-athlete B and his family received a total of $160,000 in inducements and extra benefits from the athletics representative between 1994 and 1998.

Student-athlete C and his family received a total of $105,000 in extra benefits from the athletics representative between 1995 and 1998.

Student-athlete D and his family received a total of $71,000 in extra benefits from the athletics representative between 1995 and 1999."


As you know -- as soon as the NCAA handed down penalties, the University of Michigan appealed and got the penalties CUT IN HALF and got only ONE year of scholarship reductions and post-season play ban.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/2003/Division+I/infractions+appeal_+university+of+michigan+-+10-13-03.html

...now, does anyone actually believe these were the only four Michigan athletes who illegally got money?
Obviously the NCAA doesn't as they also nailed Michigan other times for tens of thousands of dollars of extra benefits..

[TylerDurden]

not true...
here's a quote directly from the NCAA findings.....

"This case centered on violations of NCAA bylaws governing extra benefits provided by a representative of athletics interests and amateurism in the
men's basketball program. The violations themselves centered on the provision of more than $600,000 in cash and other benefits to at least four
men's basketball student-athletes by a now-deceased representative of athletics interests.

Specifically, the Division I Committee on Infractions found that from spring 1992 through spring 1999, the representative of athletics interests provided
recruiting inducements and extra benefits in the form of cash, clothing, jewelry, transportation, lodging, meals and other like benefits totaling about
$616,000 to at least four student-athletes.

Student-athlete A and his family received a total of $280,000 in extra benefits from the representative between 1988 and 1993.

Student-athlete B and his family received a total of $160,000 in inducements and extra benefits from the athletics representative between 1994 and 1998.

Student-athlete C and his family received a total of $105,000 in extra benefits from the athletics representative between 1995 and 1998.

Student-athlete D and his family received a total of $71,000 in extra benefits from the athletics representative between 1995 and 1999."


As you know -- as soon as the NCAA handed down penalties, the University of Michigan appealed and got the penalties CUT IN HALF and got only ONE year of scholarship reductions and post-season play ban.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/2003/Division+I/infractions+appeal_+university+of+michigan+-+10-13-03.html

...now, does anyone actually believe these were the only four Michigan athletes who illegally got money?
Obviously the NCAA doesn't as they also nailed Michigan other times for tens of thousands of dollars of extra benefits..

I was referring to the Fab Five - there were other players after that time. Those are the ones you mentioned.

[Jack Bauer]

Nantz's point was that they shouldn't be celebrated. I happen to agree.

[bigjimmy]

I thought this was a very intriguing look back at the Fab 5. What I thought was even more interesting was the fact that only 4 of the Fab 5 participated in it as Chris Webber declined to be involved. I'm sure it had to do with the Ed Martin situation, which was discussed, as well possibly Webber not being able to be involved with anything to do with Michigan until 2013. The fact that Michigan got of with so little penalties is a croc. While they never won a championship they did finish 2nd twice, not too bad. They also had 4 of the Fab 5 make it to the NBA, with Webber, Rose and Howard, who is playing for the Miami Heat, having pretty good NBA careers. Again not too bad. The main thing I'm going to remember about this special was the opening and closing pictures of the 2 final four banners that were wrapped up and sitting on a shelf in a warehouse. Whether they got punished enough or not I would think that punishment certainly fit that crime.