OT: Sparty Basketball is now "Sparty Presented by Rocket Mortgage"
Sparty now has a corporate sponsor that is even more absurd than the official naming of our football coaches
March 11th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
March 11th, 2021 at 12:15 PM ^
This is the appropriate response.
I bet Eugene Jetts is not happy....
Today’s blowout loss to the #8 seed, brought to you by Rocket Mortgage.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:06 PM ^
Mel Tucker's insane salary had to come from somewhere that wasn't earmarked for Nassar victims settlements. Not surprised.
It's like that time in Major League 2 (if anyone bothered to watch) Where Dorn overpays for the Indians and had to advertise the shit out of everything.. . .
March 11th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
I was going to make a comment making fun of Rocket Watts but he kind of just torched us so Im going to hold off on that.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:28 PM ^
His new nickname has to be "Mortgage".
He didn't last Thursday - when we were full strength.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
A sign of things to come? Wouldn't be surprised if Warde Manual is attempting to line up a corporate sponsor form one or more our top programs. It might not come for a year or so.
Maybe Rocket Mortgage will buy into renaming the FB stadium "Rocket Mortgage" stadium in EL.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
We're now blaming Warde for hypotheticals?
March 11th, 2021 at 12:17 PM ^
It’s like ppl think Warde is an extension of Dave Brandon lmao.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
Not blaming Warde but if there is money to be made, well, think about the huge monetary losses Michigan had during the football season. It's our biggest revenue sport by far and they money lost may not ever be made up.
I didn't mean to be negative about Warde but was thinking in terms of just doing business.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:46 PM ^
In his five years on the job, has Manuel (note the spelling) ever gone for such a tacky cash grab?
It's just interesting that for a portion of our fanbase, Warde is forever guilty until proven innocent. Apparently we must assume incompetence and/or underhandedness on his part in all situations.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
Belfor on our basketball floor next to our god damn name. I wouldn't put it past Warde to pimp out the big house for ad space.
This really ins't a hill you want to die on. Even with Belfor, the variable message board, Meijer on the baskets, M's amount of advertising in facilities is waaaaaaaaaaaay less than the average university out there by way of comparison.
I don't have to die on the hill to tell you that it sucks and Manuel could have sold them some space elsewhere.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
The AD two guys before Warde tried to monetize the entire athletic department and didn't turn out well so hopefully Warde et al. learned their lessons and we don't have to go back to the "buy a Coke and get 2 tickets" days.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
Found our sponsor...
Love me some Dragon’s Milk!
Also, Sparty’s loss today will rocket them to the NIT!
Something along those lines already happened, briefly, with a different athletic director. You know the one I mean. There was a hockey game at Yost during some point in his tenure where the unfortunate PA announcer was forced to declare that--I swear I am not making this up--"this game was made possible by 5th third..."
Which is ridiculous on its face; the game was "possible" whether or not 5th third gave any money at all to the athletic department, and I was amazed that they would have the audacity to make the implication that the hockey program might fold without the generosity of 5th third.
That was the beginning of the end of my hockey season ticket run that started in the early 90’s.
ps. I’ve been to 4 Frozen Fours.
I just hope this doesn't become a trend that every athletic department will feel pressure to follow in order to alleviate their budget woes.
There was a time when stadium/arena naming rights wasn't a thing. I'm glad the Pistons moved back to Detroit, but I used to take pride in the fact that they were one of a dwindling number of NBA teams whose arena didn't bear the name of a corporate sponsor. Now, I think Madison Square Garden is the only NBA arena left that isn't named for a corporate sponsor.
March 12th, 2021 at 12:14 AM ^
How about:
Ross Dress for Less Football Stadium
March 11th, 2021 at 12:19 PM ^
Next thing you know, they're going to write all of their starting lineups in Comic Sans font.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:34 PM ^
This will be an underrated comment...
March 11th, 2021 at 12:19 PM ^
I would have thought "Brawndo, the Thirst Mutilator" would have been the obvious choice for MSU's official sponsor?
March 11th, 2021 at 12:23 PM ^
Brawndo is a national brand. They'll sponsor a far better program than Sparty. Now Tarrylton's.. that has Sparty written all over it.
that's an alpha brand; the shirtless, masturbating spokes-himbo staring at all of those helpless drivers. Astonishing. I would buy this product.....more out of fear anything.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^
I guarantee you this was done as a "fuck you" to Mat Ishbia and United Wholesale Mortgage. The mortgage wars in Michigan are raging...
March 11th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
Funny how those Sparty alum are fighting with each other. They should settle this on RCMB.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
Didn't Ishbia just give like $30M to MSU athletics? Seems like a weird choice to pick a side
It goes beyond MSU sports. UWM and Rocket have been sniping at each other for a while. Mat Ishbia just told UWM's mortgage broker partners that UWM won't work with them if they also do business with Rocket's wholesale business.
Not only are Dan Gilbert and Mat Ishbia MSU alums, Gilbert's heir apparent Jay Farner is also a Sparty.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:31 PM ^
Such an appropriate sponsor for a financially ravaged institution: "Rocket Mortgage - we will give you the money you need to stay in your home because without us, foreclosure is the only option."
March 11th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^
A questionable mortgage lending service absolutely feels like the type of sponsor you want for MSU sports.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
I remember when one of the coaches (Harbaugh?) was having a press conference once and it read something like “The Ira and Bill Brasky University of Michigan Football Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Giving A Press Conference At The Jung Family Champions Center”
I was amazed out what people sponsor. I think this site should start a go fund me for naming the microphone and lectern.
March 11th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
Too bad they don't get a giant noodle to display at the arena. Fuck Dave Brandon for many things, but this in particular!
March 11th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
If you are Gilbert, why? Is there anyone nationwide that is not aware of your company and will this pay off for the millions of dollars you had to throw down for it? If you want to stroke your ego by doing this just have a building bear your last name or something instead of this Adam Silver mickey mouse bullshit.
Maybe he wanted to get there before Mat Ishbia and United Wholesale Mortgage. A quick google search reveals the beginnings of some bad blood between the two.
I hope that asshole's stupid fucking logo is off the Wings helmets in a year or two.
Assuming Gilbert pulled the trigger? Not so sure about that as I saw him on CNBC when Rocket went public and he was obviously a shell of his former self.
Does this mean we can use twitter to mock Izzo as 'little rocket man' now?
I know this currently has 8 up-votes, but deserves so many more.
I see a t-shirt with a pic of him yelling at a ref and Kim Jong Un looking at a bomb detonation that says "Little Rocket Men" on the bottom...man that would be something
Lowly Maryland is stuffing Sparty into a dumpster - kind of fun to watch
So next year, if college athletes can make money off their images, will Rocket Watts get paid to change his middle name to Mortgage?
I guess they must be too busy and want to slow down sales
It's still StAEE to me.
And Rocket Mortgage not liking that investment anymore.
I know Dan Gilbert is a Sparty, but I have to believe this pisses off Mat Ishbia of United Wholesale Mortgage.
HA HA!!!