A pair of college basketball documentaries debuted over the weekend. One made me nostalgic and want to watch basketball.
The other just made me hate Jalen Rose.
ESPN’s 30- for 30 doc, “The Fab Five” was purportedly about how Michigan’s lauded 1992 and ’93 teams featuring Chris Webber, Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson changed college hoops because of their freshman impact, style of play and style. (Can’t argue with that last one. Everyone wears baggy shorts today.)
But, as Rick Chandler writes over at Out of Bounds, they should’ve called it “Why So Bitter?”
As you’d expect, Duke’s players took issue with the Wolverines’ assessment. Bobby Hurley told Dan Patrick that Rose might not have played if he had gone to Duke.
“He might have had a hard time hitting the floor, because he wouldn’t have taken my spot.”
Anyway, Chandler has more on the Duke players’ reactions, while Searching for Billy Edelin also caught up with Hurley. Check ‘em out.
HBO’s doc, “Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV” struck me as a solid, even look at a team that was every bit as divisive as the Fab Five. Yet, it managed to avoid the bitterness. Rose is compelling to watch, but comes off as unlikable and arrogant rather than what he should be remembered as: a good player.
You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.
-
- fullnelson3 - Mar 14, 2011 at 5:56 PM
-
Totally disagree with this assessment….IMHO, it was a fantastic documentary and Rose simply came off as a competitor who had respect for that Duke team but also a tremendous amount of contempt for the Duke way – as many people do! Great documentary with solid, honest feelings – No bullshit!
-
- wowssah - Mar 16, 2011 at 8:32 AM
-
Calling them bitter is just ignorant. You think Jalen Rose is being arrogant, but he’s just being himself. That’s the whole point of the documentary. They went to U of M and were just themselves; wore the shorts they wanted, wore the socks they wanted, and played the music from their own culture. They didn’t let others tell them who to be (like they felt other black players did who went to other schools).
It was all about them creating an image, and they did that very well. People don’t get it though, because they’re narrow-minded. Calling them bitter in this title honestly is stupid. Did you even get the point of the movie?
-
- mogogo1 - Mar 18, 2011 at 8:57 PM
-
The Fab 5 were fun, no doubt. Too bad they’re remembered as monumental underachievers because they never won anything–not even the Big 10–due to the fact they were more concerned about “being themselves” than winning basketball games. Two of them never even made it in the NBA because “being themselves” never included “developing their skills.” They did manage to get their school put on probation after the fact, though. Thanks for that, guys.
-
- rodwell2 - Mar 19, 2011 at 2:16 PM
-
You are right on the truth man
-
- avermaver - Mar 20, 2011 at 1:59 AM
-
disagree, Michigan only lost 2 games in their big ten season the second year, they just happened to be against the best team in the nation Indiana which would have won the title if Alan Henderson hadn’t been injured at the end of the season. The fab 5 made a great accomplishment making it to the title game twice in a row, great teams flop every year in the NCAA tournament and they made their runs, nothing to be ashamed of, speaking as someone who was an IU fan at the time. The college player of the year Calbert Cheaney didn’t make much of a mark in the NBA either, for Webber, Howard, and Rose to do so well is remarkable. If they cheated taking money or perks to play that’s unfortunate though hardly shocking considering the money in college sports
-
- rodwell2 - Mar 19, 2011 at 2:14 PM
-
Duke beat Michigan like a drum every time they played including a 20 point NCAA chamionship game. The fab five was and still is all mouth
