University of Michigan ice hockey is sponsored by the literal goddamn Pinkertons. How the fuck did this happen?
I’m so tired.
WHOSE BRILLIANT FUCKING IDEA WAS THIS?
The University of Michigan is a massive public institution with a $17 billion endowment. The athletic department, in many ways, functions as the school’s promotional division, whether the academic higher-ups like it or not.
Both the athletic department and the university as a whole have come under justifiable criticism for a damning run of scandals combined with self-inflicted public relations blunders. That’s included a series of clashes with various unions among the school’s labor groups.
Pinkerton, meanwhile, is the infamous detective and private law enforcement agency best known for union-busting, sometimes with lethal violence. They’ve rebranded as a consulting agency but are still on their same anti-labor bullshit. (When they’re not being humorless fucks about their portrayal as the baddies in a video game set in 1899, that is.)
The Pinkerton headquarters are now located in downtown Ann Arbor. Anything further I say about that will get me a visit from a different type of agent.
What could this possibly have to do with anything? Well, fuck me with a bowler hat:
I had a difficult time believing this could be true but there’s the logo on the goddamn boards!
Here’s a screenshot I took from Friday night’s broadcast:
I’d say this goes counter to the principles of the University of Michigan but I’m not a child. This is Michigan. I’m just pissed that they’re still this brazen about it.
If you find it appalling for U-M to promote one of the most odious institutions in America, this is the contact page for the regents. Two of them are up for reelection in a few weeks. Don’t bother with Ron Weiser, he probably loves this arrangement and wouldn’t do shit regardless.
IT TOOK THE GODDAMN PINKERTONS FOR ME TO NOT LEAD WITH THIS
Draymond Green sucker-punched Jordan Poole. Extremely cool!
Green may have actually, finally broken the trust Golden State’s organization held in him after years of testing their limits:
And Draymond, feeling every bit of the distress, conceded nothing he can say will matter as nearly as much as what he does.
“You apologize with words,” he said. “But, ultimately, your actions show your apologies. I’ve apologized with my words to my team and to Jordan. And now I will allow my actions to show my apology.”
Kerr’s body language all but shouted skepticism. When I asked Kerr if he felt trust had been compromised, he paused briefly before uttering two words heavy with implication: “No comment.”
Poole, an absolute prince, looked no worse for wear in Sunday night’s preseason game:
That Poole-Wiseman pick-and-roll combo could be the basis for a really fun second unit when Steph Curry hits the bench.
FROM THE MAIZE AND BLUE THINKING CHAIR
- Michigan remains fourth in SP+ and on a bit of an island between No. 3 Georgia and No. 5 Texas(!). Based on those numbers, they have a 23% chance of winning the Big Ten. I’ll take it.
- Hunter Dickinson is a unanimous preseason All-Big Ten selection in, quite rankly, a rather down year for top-end talent in the conference. ESPN’s final way-too-early top-25 (…okay) puts U-M in a group of five teams that just missed.
MICHIGAN-ADJACENT VIDEO OF THE DAY
It’s Penn State week, so there’s only one place to start: Judgment Day.