Michigan Wolverines: Is it in the Genes?

From left, Josh Bartelstein, the son of a sports agent, represents the next generation of basketball at Michigan along with Tim Hardaway Jr., Jon Horford and Jordan Dumars, whose fathers played in the NBA

Last night I was able to watch the University of Michigan (U-M) play Clemson and it conjured up sweet memories of the first time I watched a U-M team play.  Back in the early '90s, I was introduced to Michigan on a Saturday afternoon, while sitting on the edge of my bed and channel surfing on my white 13" TV/VCR combo.  I was immediately hooked because I was watching something I'd never seen before.  Five Black young men, later known as the Fab Five, were running the court for the same team at the same time; on national TV for a D-1 college basketball program.  This was huge!  I was equally intrigued and shocked by what I witnessed.  Who are they?  Where did they come from?  Does anyone else know this is happening?  Or, is this old news and am I the last to discover this oddity? 

The following week I recall flipping through each and every channel trying to find them again.  If they re-appeared on TV then it would prove that what took place the week before wasn't a fluke.  I continuously traveled up and down the dial, but felt completely defeated because I was unsuccessful.  I didn't find them that week, but every weekend I watched college basketball with hope that I'd see them again.  Some weeks I did.  Some weeks I didn't.

However, they quickly won me over and I became an instant fan of the Fab Five.  I talked about them to anyone that would listen.  The imprint they lift in my psyche was unbelievable.  So much so, I declared that I would be attending the University of Michigan for college.  I was 12 years old, hadn't yet selected a high school, but I had college all figured out.  My Dad appreciated my obsession with and admiration for this team, but politely informed me that they wouldn't be there when it was time for me to enroll. 

Pause. 

What?  Oh.  I guess I hadn't thought about that.  Well, I didn't care.  That minor detail was irrelevant.  What mattered was that I was hopelessly in love with the Fab Five.  I totally immersed myself into everything they represented.  I read and hoarded every article about them, wore Michigan gear, or anything with navy blue, and argued with countless Duke fans in my jr. high classes.  I also patted myself on the back because for the first time in my life, I formed a sports allegiance independent of my father or brother.  And not only that, but the Fab Five were good!  They captured the attention of the entire country.  Not just little ol' me.  I was so proud of myself.  But shortly after the Fab Five disbanded and moved on from U-M, the hype surrounding their basketball program started to fade.  And since then, they haven't given their fans much reason to cheer for them. 

Well, it's possible things are starting to look up for U-M's basketball program.  They've been in the press recently because they have a trio of players with fathers that played in the NBA, not to mention another player who is the son of an NBA/NFL agent.  Yes, Tim Hardaway Jr. (guard, son of Tim Hardaway Sr.), Jordan Dumars (forward, son of Joe Dumars), Jon Horford (forward, son of Tito Horford and brother of Al Horford), and Josh Bartelstein (guard, son of Mark Bartelstein) are following in their father's footsteps and continuing the family's sports legacy.

Sharing similar backgrounds, the sons admit that they were not pressured into this by their fathers.  They are, however, excited about the opportunity to live out their dreams, while their fathers support them 100%.

Per the New York Times:

I’ve tried to shield my son from my business because there’s a lot I don’t think he should be exposed to,” Mark Bartelstein said. “It was his dream to play college basketball, and he’s now living it at Michigan. That’s all I can ask for. I am here to cheer him on.

In Dumars' case, he grew up hanging around practices and games, getting to know players. He's been a fixture at Pistons practices for years, playing pickup against Chauncey Billups and having Rasheed Wallace show him how to dunk. But again, it was his love for the game that attracted him to basketball, not the pressure from his dad.

Meanwhile Jon is fortunate to have his father and older brother advise him.  Al's successful college career came to an end after winning back-to-back NCAA titles at Florida.  And, his success has continued in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.  But even with all of that, Jon is still doing his best to create his own identity and legacy on the court.

While they're thankful to have the support of their family, they do acknowledge that they don't expect any handouts along the way and recognize that they are targets who may be recipients of harsh criticism due to their family ties.  Upon witnessing how the Big Ten taunted Michael Jordan's son, Jeff, during his Illinois days, the Hardaway's have an idea of what awaits them.  “The world is cruel,” Tim Hardaway Sr. told the New York Times. “If we were back in the day, playing in college, and we knew that your father played in the N.B.A, we would try to destroy you.  Joe and I tried to prepare our kids for this: the up and downs, the mistakes you make."  Most importantly, all fathers have advised their sons to live in the moment and have fun.
 
Tim Hardaway Jr., freshman, seems to have the most promising future.  Right now, he's the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 12 ppg, 1.5 apg, 3.3 rpg.  And although Jon Horford, also a freshman, gets minutes, he's making less of an impact with 1.7 ppg, 0.0 apg, 2.2 rpg.  Jordan Dumars, a sophomore, is sitting out until the winter semester because he transferred from South Florida.  Josh Bartelstein, from Highland Park, Ill., is a sophomore reserve.

Are they being hailed as saviors of the U of M basketball program?  Not exactly.  But they have created a buzz that hasn't existed for a while.  People are interested in seeing how this class of celebuspawn will perform.  Will they be able to live up to the legacies of their fathers?  Only time will tell.  Coming off of last night's win, they're off to a 4-2 start after gaining their first road victory of the season and their first win in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge since 1999.  That's progress, certainly giving Michigan basketball fans a reason to cheer again! Go Blue!