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MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown on April 27, 2016, 10:48:15 AM

Title: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown on April 27, 2016, 10:48:15 AM
For no good reason I found myself reading a bit about Milton Friedman, and came across the following on his wikipedia page:

In 1940, Friedman accepted a position at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, but left because of differences with faculty regarding United States involvement in World War II.

Friedman later joined the University of Chicago, and established them as a bastion of Economics. He and his mentees at UofC have earned (to-date) 8 nobel prizes in Economics, which alone are more than any other institution globally.

This reminded me a of the Bobby Knight situation, where he was hired, in principle, after his last season at Army.

Of course, Knight instead went to IU where he won 662 games, 24 tourney appearances, and three titles.

This might not be interesting to anyone else, but I find it amusing when an organization has two absolutely legendary talents fall into their laps, then somehow (the institution's culture) drives them off.

Can you imagine the insufferability of Badger fans if UW actually was elite (Friedman & Knight tradition)?

Are there other examples of this?
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: GGGG on April 27, 2016, 04:35:27 PM
Bo Schembechler was the runner up for the Wisconsin football job in 1967.  They decided to hire John Coatta from within, even though Milt Bruhn's final years as UW coach saw them slipping.  Coatta promptly went 3-26-1 in his three seasons.  In 1969, Bo took over at Michigan.

Another one in the opposite direction, the Packers almost hired Iowa's football coach Forest Evashevski.  They decided to hire Vince Lombardi instead.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: Pakuni on April 27, 2016, 05:29:16 PM
Al Pacino was nearly cast as Han Solo.
And James Cameron explored casting OJ Simpson as the Terminator instead of Ahnold.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: GooooMarquette on April 27, 2016, 09:42:37 PM
The Packers almost drafted Tony Mandarich instead of Barry Sanders!

Oh, wait....
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: warriorchick on April 27, 2016, 10:09:44 PM
The Packers almost drafted Tony Mandarich instead of Barry Sanders!

Oh, wait....

If they had picked Sanders, they probably would have never wound up with Favre. Or Rodgers.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: rocket surgeon on April 27, 2016, 10:13:30 PM
                    portland took sam bowie #2 ahead of MJ(#3) and after hakeem at #1

many better players taken in that draft turned out to be far better than bowie
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown on April 27, 2016, 11:30:45 PM
Bo Schembechler was the runner up for the Wisconsin football job in 1967.  They decided to hire John Coatta from within, even though Milt Bruhn's final years as UW coach saw them slipping.  Coatta promptly went 3-26-1 in his three seasons.  In 1969, Bo took over at Michigan.

Another one in the opposite direction, the Packers almost hired Iowa's football coach Forest Evashevski.  They decided to hire Vince Lombardi instead.
Never heard that about Schembechler.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on April 28, 2016, 06:27:34 AM
DePaul inked Imari Sawyer over Dwyane Wade, which they have never recovered from this century.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: GGGG on April 28, 2016, 07:40:05 AM
If they had picked Sanders, they probably would have never wound up with Favre. Or Rodgers.


Yep.  Blessing in disguise.

Even more intriguing.  Had they lost the last game of the season that year at Phoenix, the Packers would have had the #1 pick in the draft and would have taken Troy Aikman.   How different would the Packers have been with Aikman?  Does Harlan blow up the organization?  Does Ron Wolf ever come to Green Bay?  Would Aikman have been as successful?
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: warriorchick on April 28, 2016, 08:22:32 AM

Yep.  Blessing in disguise.



Yep. Sometimes bad decisions change the trajectory of events that end up being better in the long run.

Was my decision to come to Marquette primarily because of my high school boyfriend a stupid one?  Of course it was.  But then, I would have never met Glow, had the two amazing kids I have now, and missed out on this wonderful life of mine.   :)
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: mu03eng on April 28, 2016, 08:30:04 AM
Yep. Sometimes bad decisions change the trajectory of events that end up being better in the long run.

Was my decision to come to Marquette primarily because of my high school boyfriend a stupid one?  Of course it was.  But then, I would have never met Glow, had the two amazing kids I have now, and missed out on this wonderful life of mine.   :)

(http://cdn.meme.am/instances/46003748.jpg)
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: ZiggysFryBoy on April 28, 2016, 08:39:51 AM
Yep. Sometimes bad decisions change the trajectory of events that end up being better in the long run.

Was my decision to come to Marquette primarily because of my high school boyfriend a stupid one?  Of course it was.  But then, I would have never met Glow, had the two amazing kids I have now, and missed out on this wonderful life of mine.   :)

Plus, you get to hang out with all of us a$$holes.....
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: warriorchick on April 28, 2016, 09:18:24 AM
Plus, you get to hang out with all of us a$$holes.....

Yep, there's that......
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: Skitch on April 28, 2016, 11:59:32 AM
Al Pacino was nearly cast as Han Solo.
And James Cameron explored casting OJ Simpson as the Terminator instead of Ahnold.

The story, whether true or not, is that they didn't think Simpson could be believable as a killing machine.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: GooooMarquette on April 29, 2016, 10:13:17 PM
The story, whether true or not, is that they didn't think Simpson could be believable as a killing machine.

So maybe the whole double-murder thing was just OJ's way of proving Cameron wrong.
Title: Re: UW Madison Whiffs of Greatness: Friedman & Knight
Post by: Skitch on April 29, 2016, 10:25:28 PM
So maybe the whole double-murder thing was just OJ's way of proving Cameron wrong.

Auditioning for the sequel