Chris Webber’s order to disassociate himself with Michigan ended last year, and the former Wolverines star forward took the big step of attending the school’s championship game against Louisville.
Despite Webber’s efforts, former Fab Five teammate Jalen Rose still feels like Webber needs to apologize to the school.
The Fab Five reached the NCAA championship game in each of their first two seasons (1992 and 1993). They were forced to vacate their Final Four appearances and wins after it was discovered that some of their players accepted money from booster Ed Martin, who died in 2003. Webber took over $200,000 from Martin and was the highest-profile player called to testify before a grand jury. Webber initially lied to the grand jury and was later convicted of perjury.
In an interview published by HoopsHype on Monday, Rose reiterated his belief that it’s time for Webber to apologize to the school.
Q: When was the last time you spoke with Chris Webber?
JR: I heard through mutual friends that he’s upset that I said that I feel like he should have come out and apologize for some transgressions that happened at the University of Michigan. But I still stand behind that. Also I’m disappointed how the relationship with [Michigan booster] Ed Martin ended. Ed, unfortunately, in my opinion basically died of a broken heart. So while we’re still brothers and I hope that we’re going to make amends… One of the great things of being teammates and friends is we should be able to speak openly and honestly. And hopefully he finds a way to realize and apologize about what happened in Michigan. It ain’t just about you. It’s about the players, it’s about the coach. Steve Fisher coached in three finals and won a championship in Michigan. You go in that campus, his name is nowhere. So it’s bigger than just him. And the fans deserve it, the history of the University of Michigan deserves it. And all he had to do is say two words. It’s not brain surgery. They are ‘I’m sorry.”
The interview is a good one and features Rose’s thoughts on the Cavs, LeBron and Kevin Love, and much more, so we suggest you read it.
Webber wiped out a lot of bad blood with Michigan by attending the championship game, but an apology would go a long way towards restoring his and the Fab Five’s name with the school, just like Rose says.
Rose said earlier this year that Webber disassociates himself with the Fab Five. Last year, Rose talked on Grantland about how Webber ignored him at the 2013 NBA Finals:
Rose has expressed many strong opinions on this subject. He was responsible for the utterly awesome “The Fab Five” documentary produced by ’30 for 30′ and says Webber, despite initially agreeing to participate, backed out out of the film. Last April, he implored Webber to come to the national championship game (and says Webber did not like the public request). Rose also expressed anger in 2012 over the Fab Five’s banners being pulled down by the school.
The Fab Five may be associated with the scandal that rocked the basketball program, but they also brought remarkable success, identity and accolades to the school. All of the positive deserves equal recognition as the negative.
