5 More Spartans arraigned, attorney formally uses "but Juwannn" defense.
Five Michigan State players were arraigned Friday on misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an altercation in the Michigan Stadium tunnel following the Michigan-Michigan State game in late October.
The players, redshirt sophomore Itayvion Brown, junior Angelo Grose, redshirt junior Justin White, senior Brandon Wright and freshman Zion Young all received $10,000 personal-recognizance bonds, and are scheduled to appear for a pretrial Dec. 15 before Karen Quinlan Valvo, chief judge of the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor.
The players and their lawyers appeared virtually before Judge Tamara Garwood of 15th Judicial District Court.
Garwood ordered that the players could have contact with each other only for football purposes. Outside of football purposes, they must have their lawyers present. Garwood also ordered that the players have no contact with the Michigan football team, Michigan football coaches or the University of Michigan, an order that didn't sit well with defense lawyers, calling it essentially a ban from visiting Ann Arbor.
"I don't remember coach Juwan Howard being prevented from contacting the University of Wisconsin. I'm just a little troubled by the heavy-handedness of it, Judge. But that is your right."
Howard, Michigan's basketball coach, was suspended for the final five games of last regular season following an incident in which he slapped a Wisconsin coach following a game in Madison.
Howard did not face legal charges.
"Juwan Howard did not come in front of me," Garwood said in response to Fink. "Had he come in front of me, had that happened here and he was in front of me, he likely would've ended up with similar conditions."
Pay wall
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:20 PM ^
Even their attorney listens to Valenti.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
Guy is a damn joke, and Rico is right there with him. Just when you think he couldnt be more of a homer and say something completely stupid... just wait until next week.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:27 PM ^
Mike Valenti and his poodle Rico Beard are whiners. Not grown men.
Grow the fuck up.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:21 PM ^
The players need a better lawyer.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
Incredibly weak legal argument... and comes off as a temper tantrum.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
"I'm just a little troubled by the heavy-handedness of it, Judge. But that is your right."
You can hear the petulance even just reading the words.
December 2nd, 2022 at 6:37 PM ^
And risks pissing off the judge and/or prosecutor as if they can't be objective because of a perceived bias towards UM.Defense will need them both in pursuit of their subsequent deal, and also for the judge to be ok going along with whatever deal they reach with the prosecution. Shirking accountability doesn't help. *Bangs gavel
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
I think he might be a regular poster on RCMB judging by his mental gymnastics
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^
and from the paste crusted in the corners of his mouth
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:00 PM ^
Yeah. This Lionel Hutz bullshit isn't going to cut it.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:18 PM ^
Hey, now, Fishbulb, you of all people should know — Lionel Hutz was an outstanding attorney. Sure, his methods were a little unorthodox, but he won every case. A regular Perry Mason!
(Works on commission? No, money down!)
December 2nd, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
He was moving for a "bad court thingy" but unfortunately Judge Garwood is the judge and he is just "the law-talking guy".
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:21 PM ^
They better call Saul.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
No, money down!
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:06 PM ^
Am I the only one that cannot understand the whataboutism being played by their attorneys? They're mad about perceived unfair treatment as it relates to Juwan - Okay, that took place in an entirely different state so Washtenaw County had nothing to do with it. And if they are that mad about it, why don't they call the Dane County prosecutor and complain instead of bitching to a judge in Washtenaw County that couldn't even prosecute Juwan even if the incident took place in Ann Arbor?
December 2nd, 2022 at 3:09 PM ^
The judge shows pretty big-time restraint here IMO. This argument doesn't even make any sense whatsoever.
December 2nd, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
Good to hear from you Henne. It has been a minute!
December 2nd, 2022 at 6:30 PM ^
Sounds to me like he just wanted to get it out there and on record. MSU knows (at least, I'm going to be generous and assume and hope they know) they have no legal basis for such an argument, this is 100% a court of public opinion thing for them at this point.
December 2nd, 2022 at 10:38 PM ^
This attorney is grandstanding on behalf of the greater Sparty community. These bond conditions are boiler plate from the municipal to the federal level. I actually think it is pretty obvious that the attorney is representing MSU more than the kids he’s supposed to be representing.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
Nah, those players got the exact shitty lawyer they deserve
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
Amen to that. You would think they want to be on the good side of the judge. Fueling the animosity towards UM is not the best defense. Attorney needs to be the adult in the room. Where do they get these people. They should have called Joseph A Simon or whoever that lawyer that shows up on Sam's show. LOL.
December 2nd, 2022 at 3:07 PM ^
First of all, Juwan didn't slap anyone. He swung in a grabbing motion and I don't believe he even made contact. He immediately apologized, took his suspension like a man and it was over.
Second, I don't believe the Judge was being heavy handed. The Judge was probably attempting to protect the rights of each of the accused because they might have different legal liability as well as defenses. Their Attorney's probably advised them not to talk to players or other defendants because what they say could come back to bite them.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
Death, taxes and everyone involved with MSU trying to correlate everything to Michigan. The literal most butthurt fanbase of all time.
December 2nd, 2022 at 9:11 PM ^
That is one program and fanbase that I have zero respect for. The tunnel assault was bad enough, but seeing their fans try to justify, excuse, downplay, finger-point, what-about, and engage in the most ridiculous mental gymnastics possible to avoid looking in the mirror is a spectacle in and of itself.
I hope they lose every single game for the rest of eternity. Sparty can go straight to hell.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Why would any of these gentleman want to come to Ann Arbor? They have everything they could want in East Landfill.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^
Learn to play football?
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
Right, and it's not even free curb couch season.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
One of the best Michigan football pictures.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:20 PM ^
Notice that they always put on their helmets before confronting a U-M player. Was the sun so bright for their little stroll across the grass that they needed a head covering?
December 2nd, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
Something I noticed after posting this picture and your comment...
I wonder if Devin was the one in the tunnel would they have tried that crap with him.
December 2nd, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
The scene of the most felonious turf scuffing ever
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:26 PM ^
I’d rather get slapped then what happened in the tunnel.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:27 PM ^
It was not a slap, it was clearly a claw.
Michigan basketball at Wisconsin, February 14, 2023. 9 PM. Must see TV.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
I’d rather get a claw then what happened in the tunnel
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
Especially a bear claw, those things are delicious!
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
Not worth its own thread, but everybody should be on notice.
There is a movie coming out called Cocaine Bear. This movie is about a bear, who eats a bunch of cocaine and goes on a killing spree. It purports to be based on a true story. This movie has Ray Liotta in it. It is a real thing that is going to exist. I would screw up the link but people should really check out the trailer.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
Is that how Ray Liotta died?
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
OMG. This is insane... and the reason MGoBlog is my #1 source for news, alongside NYT.
Here's the trailer link y'all.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
Keri Russell?!! How the hell did she get roped into that garbage?
Also...Maryland state senator Clay Davis. Shheeeeeeeet.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
IIRC this is very loosely based on a true story. Basically, a plane goes down carrying duffle bags of cocaine. A bear found one and ate all of it (20lbs IIRC) and dies. Movie is taking some artistic liberties.
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Yeah I think that is pretty clear.
December 2nd, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
I would hate to remember that as the last movie Ray Liotta was in.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:27 PM ^
"I don't remember coach Juwan Howard being prevented from contacting the University of Wisconsin. I'm just a little troubled by the heavy-handedness of it, Judge. But that is your right."
I'm sorry but what the fuck?
Michigan Derangement Syndrome has infected that entire fanbase.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
When whining and stigginit are more important than mounting a competent legal defense.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
Aren't they super concerned about fandom creeping into professionalism?
Maybe they expect it and that is why they are so fired up about charges being brought against their players and their peanut brains can't figure out the delay in the Mazi Smith situation. They assume that all prosecutors, judges, and lawyers cannot separate, b/c theirs clearly cannot.
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
"Now are these the questions you came here to ask? Juwan Howard slaps? Please tell me you have something more, counsellor. These 5 spartans are on trial for their lives. Please tell me that their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a face slap."
December 2nd, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^
"I WANT THE TRUTH!!!!"
December 2nd, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Son, we live in a world with tunnels and those tunnels have to be guarded by men with helmets...