"If you really don't like the Fab Five, don't wear baggy shorts," Rose said. "Don't call Ohio State's recruiting class the 'Thad Five' or 'the next Fab Five.'"
The above quotes are from a very interesting article that I read today written by Jemele Hill (ESPN.com's Page 2), regarding Jalen Rose putting up a billboard in homage to the 15 year anniversary of Michigan's Fab Five. Not only were they arguably one of the most talented and entertaining teams ever to step foot in College Basketball, but also the team that set trends still around today, and carried the swagger that you see on the court as well. They single handedly changed the culture of College Basketball...
The article goes deep into numerous topics such as college players getting paid, scandals at other colleges that went financially unpunished (No checks returned), and about the millions of dollars made by the NCAA and member schools on the backs of their players.
Think about it, even though Michigan Football has a long standing tradition of being both a Big Ten and National power, would the University have been as popular in the Urban Community if it weren't for the Fab Five? Would you have rocked a Michigan Starter Jacket if it weren't for the Fab Five? Would you have worn black socks and black shoes if it weren't for the Fab Five? How about the Bald head and Baggy shorts, or a Michigan Fitted hat? The answer is probably a loud NO... The crazy thing is, the school and the NCAA get paid for EVERY jersey, jacket, and hat sold. Not to mention the money they made and shoes they sold for Nike.
In the article, the writer and Jalen Rose have a very good discussion. Agreeing and disagreeing on numerous points. It made me think also. Why was Michigan punished so harshly when USC (Reggie Bush), Ohio State (Maurice Clarrett), UNLV (Jerry Tarkanian), etc. were all let go without a financial punishment or any affect to their record? UNLV's court at Thomas and Mack Center was renamed after Coach Tarkanian, and Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart are both just as welcome at USC as they were when in college (None of the accusations against them have been proven YET). I'm not saying anything bad about those Universities, or the players and coaches there either, I just find it weird that Michigan chose to disassociate itself with any and everything that had to do with the Fab Five. Michigan has basically wiped out the Fab Fives existence from virtually EVERYTHING.
Overall I was VERY impressed with the article, with the writers unbiased opinion, and with Jalen Rose's honesty and well thought quotes.
Below are a few very good excerpts from the article, quotes from Jalen Rose, as well as a direct link to the article itself...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/071019&sportCat=ncb
* For sure, Rose couldn't buy a billboard in Ann Arbor, where mention of the Fab Five still brings about frosty responses. The NCAA banned Webber from the Michigan program for 10 years. The university erased his name and the others involved with Martin from the media guides and programs.
* Still, it was a valid point. When college scandals happen, what the athletes received is always the focus, not the benefits the school gained. Who knows how much money Michigan made from selling the Fab Five's apparel, or how it translated into shoe sales for Nike, the Wolverines' sponsor at the time. If it's true Reggie Bush took more than $100,000 from marketing agents while at USC, who made more money while Bush was in college? USC or Bush?
* "What bothers me is that, at the end of the day, the checks that changed hands, from sponsors to everyone else, those were cashed," Rose said. "No checks were returned."
* "I'm not saying we were angels," Rose said. "We did a lot of things to ruffle feathers. But I felt Jimmy King and Ray Jackson deserved [to be acknowledged]. They didn't get a chance to play in the NBA and make millions of dollars, but millions of dollars were made off them."
* "If you came after the 1991-92 season," he said, "you have some of our DNA."
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