w -w IV r- - -- -W -W I 8B > The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 2, 2008 LEGACY From PAGE 7B "I just thought it was the most unfitting way for the Fab Five run to end," Wojnowski said. "It was the opposite of brashness and defi- ance." That was the end of the Fab Five at Michigan. Webber left for the NBA after that season, and even though the team reached the Elite Eight the next season, the Fab Five era closed in 1993 with that loss to North Carolina in New Orleans. A SOILED MEMORY In 1996, Mateen Cleaves was a coveted basketball recruit. Some recruiting services had him as one of the top 10 players in the country. After he along with Michigan players, got in a car accident on the night of his recruiting visit, Duderstadt went over to Cleaves' parents at the Michigan-Indiana game the next day. "I went up and apologized to his parents for the accident that had happened and hoped there hadn't been any harm," Duder- stadt said. In many ways,-that recruiting visit shifted the balance of power in college basketball in the state of Michigan for more than a decade. Cleaves went on to a prolific career at Michigan State, leading the Spartans to the 2000 NCAA Championship. Michigan State is now one of the premier programs in the country. For Michigan, the weekend also marked the beginning of a slippery slope into uncovering a scandal-ridden era in Wolverine basketball. The late-nightcar accident on M- 14 launched newspaper and NCAA investigations into why the players were out that late, why the recruit was so far away from campus and to whom the car belonged. The paper trail led back to bas- ketball booster Ed Martin, who attached himself to talented high school basketball players, giving them favors, money and even cakes in hopes that they would remember him when they made it big. He also ran a numbers racket out of the Ford Rouge plant. Six years later, Martin was charged with money launder- ing. The report said he gave over $616,000 to Michigan basketball recruits, including Webber. As part of its self-punishment in 2002, the University erased records from all games the implicated ath- letes played at Michigan and sev- ered contact with Webber until 2013. A common misconception among college basketball fans is that the entire Fab Five received money from Ed Martin. It was just Web- ber. That notion has tarnished the legacy of Rose, Howard, Jackson and King. "It is unfair to them," Duderstadt said. He likes to tell the story of how the University had to receive spe- cial dispensation from the NCAA to purchase Howard a winter jacket because he couldn't afford it on his own. Even though those four were not implicated in the scandal, the University has done little to make amends with them. "They really do, to a certain degree, short-change the fans," Wojnowski said. "Because that was a memorable time for Michi- gan basketball fans, one of the few memorable times they've had in 15 years." Recently,the Universityhad tried to reconnect with those players. Jimmy King has starting doing commentary on the radio broad- cast of Michigan basketball, the program celebrated Jalen Rose Day to honor his contributions to the Detroit community he grew up in, and Howard's son attended the Michigan basketball camp. But it took nearly 15 years for this to happen. THE LONGED-FOR REUNION When Rose returned in February for Jalen Rose Day, he addressed the crowd at halftime. "Every time you see the black shoes, black socks and baggy shorts, the Fab Five lives," Rose said. But every time you look up at the empty Crisler Arena rafters, fairly or unfairly, the Fab Five also lives on. The last time the Fab Five were on a basketball court at the same time was when they walked off the floor in New Orleans in the 1993 Championships game. But King plans to be on the Crisler Arena court again with his teammates, the same court where they revolutionized the sport, redefined the role of freshmen and shaped their legacy. "So, eventually, whenever the sanction is lifted or it's over, we'll all be back," King said. "What- ever that day is. If it's not that day, the next event or even if it isn't an event, we'll make an event to come back that day." %w RANDOLPH COURT APARTMENTS 1 6 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes ~ Ground Floor Ranch Style! Private Entrance! Patio! Spacious Kitchen! Air Conditioning! Laundry Facilities! 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance! Pets Welcome! And much, much more! Call today to reserve your new address! 734-97-2828 Equal Housing Opportunity FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORES, AND JUNIORS... Ce Midiigan ailt ONLINE is HIRING Account Executives for 2008-2009! We are searching for friendly, dedicated, and hardworking students who have an interest in advertising and sales. Working for The Michigan Daily's Online Advertising Department will help you to: . Expand your resume " Impress future employers with your knowledge and experience . Improve your networking connections - Further develop your communication and business skills " Make moneyl!l For more information you can come pick up an Application at The Daily, 420 Maynard Street, call us at 734-615-0135, or E-mail us at tmdonline@gmail.com S.\For More Information Call (734) 615-6449 6 wjjj -e-harey .c om