Michaels thinks we need to get thicker skin

[Sir Lawrence]

http://www.620wtmj.com/sports/billmichaels/38998677.html

Marquette Fans, A Little Too Thin Skinned
By Bill Michaels

Story Created: Feb 4, 2009

Story Updated: Feb 4, 2009

For all of you Marquette fans who I seem to have touched in some antagonizing way, you need to stop the myopic view and broaden your senses.

In my blog on Monday I was critical of Buzz Williams for his verbal altercation with Jim McIlvane. It was unwarranted and overly emotional for such a mundane question. I was also critical of Buzz for the comment stating that somehow because Jim works for the Marquette flagship radio station, McIlvane should be gilded towards positive spin regarding Marquette . When you've got a quality communications / journalism department like Marquette, a department that teaches unbiased reporting, as the head coach of any team within that institution you shouldn't expect your broadcasters to then be biased. I respect any team or institution who allows their people to "tell it like it is". Later in the day (Monday), I applauded Buzz for making an apology, on the air, to McIlvane and for his willingness to be humble and admit that he had made a mistake in the manner in which he spoke. That's a truly class-filled individual. When a coach preaches accountability it's nice to see, and even easier to respect, a coach that practices that same philosophy.

Now regarding Tom Crean; the ONLY thing that I criticized Crean for was the length of time in which he took to get to his post-game pressers. MLB, NFL, NBA...all major sports require their coaches to be available within 10 to 20 minutes following a game. The college ranks do NOT require this. Yes, I understand that there's a post-game "coaches' comments" on the radio broadcast segment but that's 5 to 10 minutes at the most. During the Packers post-game show, Mike McCarthy speaks to Larry McCarren within 10 to 15 minutes after the final gun and still makes it into the media auditorium within 20 minutes after that game. When I stated that I quit going to Marquette post-game pressers and that I had better things to do with my time I was stating, and maybe I should have clarified, that I prefer to get comments from the players. They give you more open answers than the clichés that, more often than not, you would receive from the coach.

What Crean did for Marquette , I have praised time and again. I enjoyed Tom both personally and professionally. His arrogance and confidence were taken in different manners by many in the media if you truly didn't understand Crean. Honestly, I think I enjoyed talking to Tom more away from basketball. You can't say enough the incredibly positive effect that Crean put into Marquette, the athletic program, and Marquette, the educational institution. He and his family were community leaders and really great people, I can't express that enough.

Lastly, I have NEVER stated that we quit covering Marquette games. Where you came up with that idea I have no idea. We have someone reporting at almost every game. I, myself, go as a fan quite a bit.

In the future, listen to and read the verbiage as is.

[NavinRJohnson]

This guy is a blow hole, and always has been. Who cares?

[AlumKCof93]

I don't know who Michaels is, but I have problem with anything here.  I think Buzz should have been blasted for the McIllvaine thing, both for his rant and his contention that McIllvaine should be more protective of MU.  He also commended Buzz for his apology, that's also fair.
If this Michaels guy had a problem with Crean and his postgame delays or abscences, that's also fair.  Crean took forever to show up for this and sometimes didn't show up at all - just sending an asst coach out there for him.  I was frustrated by it as well.

[Marquette_g]

Quite simply the worst sports radio host in the city of Milwaukee and that is saying something.  This has nothing to do with his Buzz comments, as I could care less what he thinks of MU.  He is a blathering douche who toes the company line whenever it comes to one of TMJ's teams, but acts tough on anyone else. 

Aside from Packer post-games where I am essentially forced to hear his worthless ramblings, I would never choose to listen to this loser.

[ecompt]

was Michaels' story an issue until he made it one with this entry? There's nothing here.

[Badgerhater]

Michaels is not a relavent sports guy anymore.   Sure he is on the largest AM station in town, but his show (which is quite bad even for a sports show) is prempted all summer for the Brewers and a whole much of times during the rest of the year for bucks and badger games.

He has a cushy gig and thinks he is something special.  Everyone else knows he isn't.

[LON]

Michaels is not a relavent sports guy anymore.   Sure he is on the largest AM station in town, but his show (which is quite bad even for a sports show) is prempted all summer for the Brewers and a whole much of times during the rest of the year for bucks and badger games.

He has a cushy gig and thinks he is something special.  Everyone else knows he isn't.

What, you don't think he's amazing on the Dennis Krause Roundtable Sports show?

[4thAndState]

I think the larger question is his (and WTMJ's) own double standard when it comes to UW vs. MU "coverage." Because they are the "flagship of the Badgers," most of their on-air sports folks continue to give deference to UW at almost every turn. Despite the bad season UW is having, there has been little meaningful discussion, analysis, etc. of the fall of UW in '09. MU's stellar season (so far) is a mere after thought on WTMJ and the focus seems to be on the far less important (and the one insignificant bit of negative news) -- Buzz's one emotional tirade after one game.
And, he dares to mention journalistic "fairness"!!

[Muhoops85]

I wonder who actually wrote that for him. 

[Marquette_g]

I'm not sure why, but this bozo just really sticks in my craw.  He is the most pompous tool around.  I have seen him at various events and each time he likes to think he is the coolest guy.  I refuse to call him a journalist, he is a the worst blend of wanting to be a shock jock and knowing nothing about the topics he covers.  

I do not know him personally, but as an outside observer he ranks as one of my most loathed members of the media in Milwaukee.

My dislike for him has nothing to do with the most recent two blog entries, they simply provided a reminder to me of why he is so bad.

[HoopsMalone]

Pundits get paid to be critical. It's more interesting and more likely to be read.  But, that guy sounded like he was talking to Marquette fans like we are little children.

It's not knew to be winning the way we are winning.  We have had great seasons before this.  We have won a national title.  To anyone outside of Wisconsin, Marquette is clearly the best program in the state.  I know its different within the state, though. 

Even though he gets paid to be critical of sports teams in order to generate interest, that was a little offensive to me. 

[15thst939]

What, you don't think he's amazing on the Dennis Krause Roundtable Sports show?

you said it, Nut, Michaels was awful on that show!

on the opposite side of the spectrum.... I REALLY enjoy Dennis Krause.  I watch his show with Buzz Williams, Roundtable, and his one-on-one interviews with players or coaches or owners is always well researched, informative and insightful.

[LastWarrior]

Who is Bill Michaels??

[sailwi]

I have seen him on the Dennis Kruase show and he adds nothing intellignet to the discussion, his moniker is big unit not sure if that is because he is an overweight middle age wanna be or somthing else.

Having lived in Milwaukee for 25 years I have given up on balanced reporting by either the Farm Journal or WTMJ regarding UW and MU.  Having grown up in Michigan I just can't get my mind around the love affair the media has with UW, guess when you only have only one D1 football team it skews all the reporting on the college scene to the one school. 

I also don't get the fan infatuation with UW from every graduate of every Wisconsin directional school, most grads of Eastern Michaigan hate UM. etc.

Enjoy the ride, this year is special and we shouldn't let little people like this dampen our enjoyment.

[Badgerhater920]

i have always thought "the big unit" was a big idiot. this is the same guy who said that a .340 On base percentage was "very good" back when Scotty-Po led off for the Brewers 4 years ago. I HATE this guy. I can't even express in words how much I despise this man. He is unbearable.

[MarquetteDano]

Who is Bill Michaels??

  I was thinking this same thing.  For those alumn and other fans outside of Milwaukee, which I imagine may be about 50%, this is a non-issue because no one knows who he is even outside of Southeastern Wisconsin let alone outside the state.