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The Craziest Moments In Detroit Sports History

By Colton Wesley

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) dives into the end zone for a game winning touchdown as the clock runs out in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) dives into the end zone for a game winning touchdown as the clock runs out in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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“He called a timeout and Michigan doesn’t have any!”

In 1992 and 1993, Michigan basketball was headlined by one of the best teams ever assembled in Detroit sports history. Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson made up the “Fab Five,” a unit of five top recruits—four of whom were McDonald’s All-Americans—who attracted national attention on and off the court with their flamboyant and entertaining style.

After reaching the NCAA Tournament final in 1992, the Wolverines returned to the title game once again in 1993 and faced North Carolina at the Superdome. Trailing 73-71, Webber grabbed a defensive rebound off a missed free throw with 19 seconds remaining, giving the Wolverines a chance to tie the game or take the lead.

Webber hesitated for a second and nearly traveled before bringing the ball across midcourt. He ran into the corner in front of the Michigan bench and after quickly being double-teamed, he gestured for a timeout to the official standing nearby. The official blew his whistle, but instead of a timeout he awarded Webber with a technical foul, as Webber had attempted to call a timeout Michigan did not have.

The rest of the Fab Five stayed at Michigan in 1993-94, reaching the Elite Eight where they lost to Arkansas.

The foul gave North Carolina two free throws and an extra possession, which they cashed in on to take a 77-71 lead to the 1993 national championship.

After the 1993 season, Webber was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1993 draft and traded to the Golden State Warriors. He was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1994 and was named an NBA All-Star five times during his 16-year career.

The rest of the Fab Five stayed at Michigan in 1993-94, reaching the Elite Eight where they lost to Arkansas. Only Jackson and King stayed on for the 1994-95 season, which saw Michigan eliminated from the tournament by Western Kentucky in the first round.

In 2002, after it was revealed that Webber, among other Michigan basketball players, had received money from a booster, all of the Fab Five’s wins in 1992 and 1993, including their Final Four appearances, were vacated and Webber was formally disassociated from the university until 2013. He attended the 2013 NCAA Tournament championship game, the first for the Wolverines since the 1993 game.

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