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Tom Crean’s postgame dustup with Jeff Meyer is a good thing for all of us

Indiana v Michigan

ANN ARBOR, MI - MARCH 10: Head coach Tom Crean of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a 72-71 victory over the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on March 10, 2013 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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We see it time and time again: in the age of social media and youtube and viral videos, it’s common to see a relatively unimportant occurrence blow up into a full-blown ‘scandal’, with judgements and reactions dominating Facebook newsfeeds and twitter timelines.

Sometimes it’s funny, as evidenced by the great responses to Deandre Jordan’s brutal posterization of Brandon Knight last night.

Other times, it’s more a nuisance and unnecessary, which is precisely what this tweet from Dan Wetzel generated. Tom Crean and Michigan assistant Jeff Meyer got into a bit of a yelling match after last night’s game, and after Wetzel tweeted about it, the twitterosphere’s eyes turned towards the video of the confrontation. Crean was asked about it in his press conference after the game. He was also asked about it on today’s Big Ten conference call, as was Michigan head coach John Beilein.

Crean tried to downplay it, saying that he apologized to Meyer before getting on his flight home. Beilein was less than thrilled to have to comment on it.

“Jeff and I discussed it afterwards,” Beilein said. “I’m not going to comment on another coach or another university. I will say Michigan is always going to win with class and lose with class,” he said. “I am really proud of the way Jeff showed great poise in the aftermath of that loss.”

Frankly, everyone is making a big deal out of nothing. The two coaching staffs don’t like each other? Good! That should make for some intense, entertaining games in the future. It will make for must-see TV moments, like the handshake line in Michigan beats Indiana in the Big Ten tournament. It will create intrigue and drama. There will be a buzz of twitter and the folks on Sportscenter will be talking about it. More attention on what could turn into one of the great rivalries in our sport of the next decade is a good thing.

What’s more, it’s almost a breath of fresh air. Too often, the interaction between public figures in sports and the media is all about political correctness, keeping true feelings hidden. Michigan and Indiana compete for everything in hoops: Big Ten titles, Final Fours, McDonalds All-Americans. They go head-to-head quite often. No one wants to lose.

Crean and Meyer shouldn’t have to pretend to like each other if they don’t.

Crean and Beilein have to pretend to like each other if they don’t.

They’re human beings. Competitive, intense human beings. They don’t like each other, and they’re going to react.

In fact, the only reason that I think Crean made a mistake here is that it has deflected the attention of Indiana’s achievement away from the players. Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo should be splashed across the headlines for their play last night. Jordy Hulls and Christian Watford should be getting praised for turning the Indiana program back around. I shouldn’t be writing my second post of the day about a screaming match between two grown men that don’t like each other.

You can wring your hands from atop your soapbox all you want.

I’m going to hope that Michigan and Indiana will play in the Big Ten semis.

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.