The Fab 5 on ESPN

• vball10set

  CinciX12;698972 wrote:For the better. Who wants to watch a bunch of white guys frolic around on a court saying things like 'excellent shot, sir' or 'fabulous fast break execution chap'.

  
  they play basketball in England? :rolleyes:
• centralbucksfan

  Tiger2003;698851 wrote:The Fab 5 changed basketball. If you're a fan of the game this is a must see. Who cares that it is Michigan. It will be very entertaining and us as the viewers will get to see the inside of the whole story.

  
  How exactly did they "change" basketball? Lets not go too far. Yes, they were one of the first to have this much frosh talent, and make it to the final four. But it would still have happened eventually. But "change" college basketball ? Maybe in terms of taking cheating to another level...yes.
  And NO, this sort of thing, at that level, doesn't go on everywhere IMO. Not to that extent. Thats why it is a story. If it happened everywhere, it would be one of many.
• vball10set

  it didn't change the game of basketball, but it did change the way it was perceived and the demographic who followed it...it appealed to hip-hop nation, and that alone put millions of dollars into apparel companies' coffers
• thedynasty1998

  

  They absolutely changed the culture of basketball, and no it was them solely, but they came around at an opportunistic time and took advantage of it with their swagger. I was around 10 when they were at Michigan, and my dad was/is a huge OSU fan (he was at the OSU vs. Michigan game in Kentucky, I believe it was). That was the age where I started to develop a love for basketball and they absolutely influenced they way I dressed and watched the game.
  
  They are very fascinating to me, and I can't wait to watch this.
• vball10set

  ^^that's a good way to put it--they changed the culture of the game...but to me, they were a bunch of arrogant punks, and I may watch it because I know how it ends--and that's worth the price of admission itself
• WebFire

  vball10set;699192 wrote:^^that's a good way to put it--they changed the culture of the game...but to me, they were a bunch of arrogant punks, and I may watch it because I know how it ends--and that's worth the price of admission itself

  
  Of course they were to an OSU fan. But seriously, they were arrogant punks; that was part of the fascination. I think it was Rose that described it as "swagger". But back then, no one used that term. Also, they weren't the only ones doing the baggy shorts thing. Black socks, maybe. But I think the "culture" was already changing, and they took it to the next level. They were definitely the most popular doing it at that time.
• thedynasty1998

  

  WebFire;699207 wrote:Of course they were to an OSU fan. But seriously, they were arrogant punks; that was part of the fascination. I think it was Rose that described it as "swagger". But back then, no one used that term. Also, they weren't the only ones doing the baggy shorts thing. Black socks, maybe. But I think the "culture" was already changing, and they took it to the next level. They were definitely the most popular doing it at that time.

  
  Good post about swagger. Yes, they had that confidence and walked around with their chest out, like they were the baddest dudes on the court. Kobe has it. Jordan had it. Lebron has it. But they really brought it to the college ranks.
  
  And swagger is the best term for them. Yea, it can be called arrogance or them being egomaniac, but regardless they had a swagger to them that no one else did.
• wkfan

  vball10set;699165 wrote:it didn't change the game of basketball, but it did change the way it was perceived and the demographic who followed it...it appealed to hip-hop nation, and that alone put millions of dollars into apparel companies' coffers

  thedynasty1998;699188 wrote:They absolutely changed the culture of basketball, and no it was them solely, but they came around at an opportunistic time and took advantage of it with their swagger. I was around 10 when they were at Michigan, and my dad was/is a huge OSU fan (he was at the OSU vs. Michigan game in Kentucky, I believe it was). That was the age where I started to develop a love for basketball and they absolutely influenced they way I dressed and watched the game.
  
  They are very fascinating to me, and I can't wait to watch this.

  
  Honestly, I do not view these as good things.
  
  While they were college players, the 'changes' that they brought about can be seen more in the NBA than in college. Due to changes like this, the NBA is mostly unwatchable, IMO.
• Laley23

  

  bucks36;699073 wrote:2012 Indiana class?

  
  lol, I highly doubt it
• centralbucksfan

  thedynasty1998;699220 wrote:Good post about swagger. Yes, they had that confidence and walked around with their chest out, like they were the baddest dudes on the court. Kobe has it. Jordan had it. Lebron has it. But they really brought it to the college ranks.
  
  And swagger is the best term for them. Yea, it can be called arrogance or them being egomaniac, but regardless they had a swagger to them that no one else did.

  
  Sorry, but if you guys believe all of this, then you were just too young to remember other players, teams doing the similar. The only intrigueing thing that made the Fab Five stand out, was that they were all freshman. The swagger, the "culture crap" was already changing during this era in the late 80's, 90's. One team that stands out in comparison was UNLV teams from 89-91. They had the swagger, arrogance, the "culture" as well as the cheating going on before the Fab Five showed up. They were a circus act...a very talented one at that.
• thedynasty1998

  

  wkfan;699252 wrote:Honestly, I do not view these as good things.
  
  While they were college players, the 'changes' that they brought about can be seen more in the NBA than in college. Due to changes like this, the NBA is mostly unwatchable, IMO.

  That's a matter of opinion, and I agree that not all changes were for the good.
  

  centralbucksfan;699302 wrote:One team that stands out in comparison was UNLV teams from 89-91. They had the swagger, arrogance, the "culture" as well as the cheating going on before the Fab Five showed up. They were a circus act...a very talented one at that.

  
  Good point, however I do not remember the UNLV teams. I can only speak for myself, and I was about 10 when the Fab 5 was playing and they were the first team that I remember watching that really changed how I viewed the culture of basketball. Someone 5 years older than I could probably better relate to the UNLV teams.
• Tiger2003

  

  I remember both the UNLV team and the Fab 5. Yes the UNLV team had tons of swagger. But the Fab 5 really changed the way I watched basketball. Like someone else said they brought out the long shorts the black socks with the shoes and the way they played the game. They were cocky and for good reason. Yes they did take money and did cheat or whatever you want to say but who hasn't. They just got caught. As a Buckeye fan I remember when they beat us in the Regional Finals. But i enjoyed watching the Fab 5 play as a basketball fan.
• killer_ewok

  

  For better or worse, they changed the culture of college hoops. At the time, I was 14/15 years old and I LOVED their attitude, style, "us vs. the world" mentality as a young squad. I'm 33 now and I probably wouldn't care for them if they just came on the scene because I don't like trash talk, showboating, etc. much in my older age. But back then, they were the shit to me and many other kids. I hated Duke back then but I respect them a ton now. Age at the time probably is a factor in regards to how much one appreciates who they were and what they did.
  
  FWIW, I'm happy that I was a teenager when the Fab Five were playing. Even if I'm not currently a fan of those antics....I get nostalgic when talking about them and remember how much I enjoyed watching them play.
• vball10set

  WebFire;699207 wrote:Of course they were to an OSU fan. But seriously, they were arrogant punks; that was part of the fascination. I think it was Rose that described it as "swagger". But back then, no one used that term. Also, they weren't the only ones doing the baggy shorts thing. Black socks, maybe. But I think the "culture" was already changing, and they took it to the next level. They were definitely the most popular doing it at that time.

  
  LOL--ya' think that might have had something to do with it? guilty as charged
• karen lotz

  

  Really interested in watching this. I read Mitch Albom's book on the Fab Five when I was in 6th grade and I couldn't believe I was allowed to do so with the trash talk that was included. They absolutely had an impact on changing college basketball.
• WebFire

  centralbucksfan;699302 wrote:Sorry, but if you guys believe all of this, then you were just too young to remember other players, teams doing the similar. The only intrigueing thing that made the Fab Five stand out, was that they were all freshman. The swagger, the "culture crap" was already changing during this era in the late 80's, 90's. One team that stands out in comparison was UNLV teams from 89-91. They had the swagger, arrogance, the "culture" as well as the cheating going on before the Fab Five showed up. They were a circus act...a very talented one at that.

  
  If you reread my post, I said I thought the culture was already changing. UNLV comes to mind.
• Rebel_ I.N.S.

  

  killer_ewok;699104 wrote:And the HBO Documentary on Tarkanian's UNLV team (Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony, Stacy Augmon, etc.) the the night before. A great way to end championship week and begin NCAA tourney week.

  
  I can't wait to watch this one. Should be great IMO that UNLV team was one of the best I've ever seen.
• Rebel_ I.N.S.

  

  killer_ewok;699401 wrote:For better or worse, they changed the culture of college hoops. At the time, I was 14/15 years old and I LOVED their attitude, style, "us vs. the world" mentality as a young squad. I'm 33 now and I probably wouldn't care for them if they just came on the scene because I don't like trash talk, showboating, etc. much in my older age. But back then, they were the shit to me and many other kids. I hated Duke back then but I respect them a ton now. Age at the time probably is a factor in regards to how much one appreciates who they were and what they did.
  
  FWIW, I'm happy that I was a teenager when the Fab Five were playing. Even if I'm not currently a fan of those antics....I get nostalgic when talking about them and remember how much I enjoyed watching them play.

  
  I patterned my game after the Fab 5 lol. I still wear the baggy shorts & shave me head & use to talk a load of shit on the court. Man those were great times to be a college hoops fan.
  
  
  Totally agree with Ewok I wouldn't go for their antic now that I'm older & wiser.
• centralbucksfan

  killer_ewok;699401 wrote:For better or worse, they changed the culture of college hoops. .

  
  No, they really didn't. They may have influenced you, at your age...just like many athletes have an impact on kids at a certain age. I grew up in the Bird / Magic, Kareem and Dr. J. era. Everyone has a time in their life when they are involved with sports, that are very impressionable. It doesn't mean they changed a "culture". Bird and Magic had a MUCH MUCH bigger impact on college basketball then the Fab 5..not even close.
• killer_ewok

  

  centralbucksfan;699817 wrote:No, they really didn't. They may have influenced you, at your age...just like many athletes have an impact on kids at a certain age. I grew up in the Bird / Magic, Kareem and Dr. J. era. Everyone has a time in their life when they are involved with sports, that are very impressionable. It doesn't mean they changed a "culture". Bird and Magic had a MUCH MUCH bigger impact on college basketball then the Fab 5..not even close.

  
  They absolutely changed the culture of college hoops and their impact has stood the test of time.
  
  You can question and criticize a lot about the Fab Five, but not that. They influenced a helluva lot more people than just me.
  
  Also, this isn't a debate about who had more of an impact on the game. Rather, it's just some stating that the Fab Five had an impact, and a lasting one at that, on the culture of college hoops.
• CinciX12

  

  cbf is really taking to heart the never admit Michigan was ever good at even the simplest task agenda lol.
• queencitybuckeye

  CinciX12;699839 wrote:cbf is really taking to heart the never admit Michigan was ever good at even the simplest task agenda lol.

  
  The thing to remember is that they won absolutely nothing. Without that, they're a sideshow, nothing more.
• CinciX12

  

  queencitybuckeye;699875 wrote:The thing to remember is that they won absolutely nothing. Without that, they're a sideshow, nothing more.

  
  I realize that. But to not admit that they changed basketball is a little ridiculous.
• killer_ewok

  

  CinciX12;699881 wrote:I realize that. But to not admit that they changed basketball is a little ridiculous.

  
  Co-sign.
• WebFire

  queencitybuckeye;699875 wrote:The thing to remember is that they won absolutely nothing. Without that, they're a sideshow, nothing more.

  
  Which is too bad, but when you consider they were 5 true freshmen, then 5 true sophomores...what they did was spectacular.