OT/Meta (?) Wishing all the best to Brian
As OT season draws to an end I thought we should offer a salute to Brian. Whatever your optimism/pessimism about the upcoming season, there's clearly an uptick in anticipation here as the season draws near.
We all habitually congregate here because Brian laid the foundation of this online community. Without his tireless efforts over the many years, we'd all be slogging thru MLive boards trying to find a small piece of what we find here on the regular.
I selfishly hope he's back soon, but I realize he owes me (and the rest of us) nothing, so I simply offer my gratitude and best wishes for whatever is best for him and his loved ones.
Thank you, Brian.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:16 PM ^
Agreed in full. I just saw him at Ashley's a few weeks ago; didn't want to interrupt him, but he seemed in good spirits!
August 27th, 2021 at 10:22 PM ^
That’s definitely good to hear! But even on my darkest, most miserable days I have been able to put the mask on: Hope things are truly looking up!!
August 27th, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
Dear Brian,
I miss you, we miss you. You have been the voice of Michigan athletics for the better part of 20 years.
Please come back, but only if it makes you happy.
Much Love,
Darker Blue
August 27th, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
Agreed, Brian rules. We wouldn't be here otherwise.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:20 PM ^
Cheers Brian. I’d love to have you back but I’m glad you’re prioritizing yourself! Do what you have to do
August 27th, 2021 at 10:39 PM ^
Brian is a super talented writer and the number one authority in Michigan sports. I hope he is doing OK and can return to the blog in due time.
Seth, and I have said this in other threads, but your effort and work deserves great applause and a raise. I don’t alway understand your crazy references but I always appreciate the work you do. Thank you.
I “belong” to 247 and Rivals, and this site gets over a dozen hits a day from me because it is the gold standard in Michigan sports. It’s not close. Cheers to you all and thank you for what you do. 8 days… Go Blue.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
Brian , there is nobody id rather raise disputes in PayPal over my $5 after being banned than you. Thank you for being you!
August 28th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
This is a bit disturbing, but, I'll allow it!
August 27th, 2021 at 10:41 PM ^
Well said! He's a big reason why being a college football fan is great
August 27th, 2021 at 11:01 PM ^
It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine (fan) because we have great analysis and thoughtful takes and a forum to be ourselves as Michigan fans and to snowflake and to posbang, and all on a free, independent non-shitty (forum excluded) non-hail-corporate sports site dedicated to just one thing.
In this regard, who really has it better than us? Honest question, since I don't go to other fanbases' spaces on the internet.
Thanks, Brian!
August 27th, 2021 at 11:02 PM ^
Cosigned.
Brian is a fucking brilliant writer and we've been blessed to have him. I sincerely hope whatever he's dealing with is resolved soon.
We miss you.
August 28th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
While he is a good writer, it is all the other skills that it took to turn this site into what it is that impresses me the most. Taking the leap to start your own business is not something just anyone can do. Being able to not only make a living off it, but also building something big enough to support employees is bigger. And reaching the point where, for whatever reason, you have to step back and have put that business in a place where it can survive without you is all the more impressive.
Hope we have Brian back soon and that the site continues to thrive. The internet would be a much lesser place for Michigan fans without it.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:12 PM ^
Brian is an amazing writer and Michigan fandom has been forever changed because of him. His achievements are monumental. Seth, you are also the man. Get well Brian, on your own time. We are all with you, regardless of the verification of the voracity.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:33 PM ^
Good call and good post, Wally.
Definitely wishing Brian and his family the best. He and the staff he assembled have truly changed the way I follow and understand Michigan sports, and despite the cesspool that the board can be at times, people keep coming back because Brian is an excellent writer and interpreter, as is the rest of his staff.
It's been an extremely challenging year and a half to say the least. This blog for me has been a small relief from the chaos happening around all of us, and so the gratitude I feel for all the MGoStaff runs a little deeper than just trivial water cooler sports talk.
Thanks for all that you do, Brian and to the rest of the MGoStaff. Truly hoping you find peace from what ever you're working through, and look forward to your return whenever you are ready.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:38 PM ^
Co-sign, but also a major major hat tip to Seth and Lorne and the other Brian, plus the various Alexes and Matts that have contributed recently. But especially Seth, who really held things together around here, and kept me coming back.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:42 PM ^
Wait a second, I thought he was just hyper-focused on the season preview and the new guys were part of some program to find Ace's replacement. Was there an announcement I missed? Best wishes to the guy; I hope all is well.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
I have loved Brian's writing for many years. I will never forget the piece he wrote named Eleven Swans, written when Bo Schembechler died, on the eve of the Ohio State Game, in 2006.
(here is a link to the song "Seven Swans," which is tied to the "Eleven Swans" thread.) I long for the day when Michigan - Ohio State games are competitive, more like 2006 and before. Hearing this song makes me melancholy, and I remember cold, gray late Fall days in Ann Arbor in November.
There are so many excellent things Brian has written over the years. Back in the day, he used to occasionally jump into threads. I feel my mortality, remembering when I first read mgoblog, remembering some of Brian's friends who contributed to the blog, knowing that we are all aging and changing.
I wish good change for Brian, and for personal peace, and for him to do whatever is right for him, regardless of the future of mgoblog.
August 28th, 2021 at 5:55 AM ^
Was about to post the same piece — I’ve been on a big Sufjan kick lately, and with the season approaching, I had to go back and re-read Eleven Swans just a couple days ago. It remains as potent as ever, and the closing might have to be my motto for this season, as well: “Play. Fight. Win. Please.”
Cheers to Brian for this site, for all these years of previews and recaps and breakdowns and recruiting and so on and so on and so on… (I’m grateful that my browser doesn’t track hours like Steam, because I can’t imagine how insanely big that number would be for MGoBlog)
I’m glad Brian is taking time for himself, and I hope that he is able to come back refreshed and with a renewed desire to write, but he certainly owes us nothing. Whatever he decides to do and whenever, I am grateful.
Thank you also to all of the writers and contributors, but especially Seth for keeping things going with the podcast and HTTV on top of the site.
August 28th, 2021 at 3:32 AM ^
Barstool reports Brian is in talks to join an SEC blog, where he will be paid exclusively in the fledgling cryptocurrency, Buttcoin, and priceless Paul Finebaum NFTs. He is currently being fitted for his ceremonial jorts. Truly the end of an era.
August 28th, 2021 at 5:44 AM ^
My hope is we won't hear anything until a win over Western and on Monday... By God that's Brian's music! He comes back with a game column.
I think Seth said something about him being back for the season. Even if so things could have changed since then though.
August 28th, 2021 at 9:08 AM ^
Meh, Brian physically assaulted a teenager by sucker punching him in the face a couple years ago. Whatever personal/mental health issues he has I hope he gets help and is able to overcome them but let’s not get carried away.
Edit: Seem to have brought out a few Brian Cook “fan boys”. I don’t miss him and I think we’re better off with Seth running things.
August 28th, 2021 at 9:14 AM ^
Uh what?
August 28th, 2021 at 9:20 AM ^
serious question: if that happened (there's no record of anything like that happening), why would you be here?
August 28th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
Source is MGoBlog, see below
August 28th, 2021 at 10:10 AM ^
Don't post some bullshit about Brian unless you want to be banned
August 28th, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
You guys don’t have to look very far, he fucking bragged about it. Ban for posting facts about something he wrote? LOL SanDiego tough guy
https://mgoblog.com/content/sympathy-devil
a 30 year old man brags about punching a high school kid while defending Frank Clark. I lost all respect for Brian after this post.
August 28th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
Clearly Brian was in the wrong, but describing that piece as bragging about what he did or defending Frank Clark misses most of the point of the post.
If you have so much of a problem with Brian, why spend so much time in the community that Brian created?
August 28th, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^
This blog is about much more than Brian Cook. Besides, he hasn’t participated in the board for as many years.
many here do not care for Ace and stuck around through his BS
August 28th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
This blog is about much more than Brian Cook. Besides, he hasn’t participated in the board for as many years.
many here do not care for Ace and stuck around through his BS.
Brian is a good writer and happened to start a blog that a lot of us love. I just do not get some people who regard him as some sort of celebrity figure.
August 28th, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^
Point still stands. The blog would not exist without Brian. Seth would not be writing for this blog without Brian. You would not have this forum to make whatever point it is you are trying to make without Brian.
August 28th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
All Hail Brian!
August 28th, 2021 at 4:07 PM ^
You come to a thread thanking Brian for building this community and wishing him well, and you are surprised that in such a thread, that is exactly what people are doing?
August 28th, 2021 at 9:33 AM ^
I echo the OPs post completely.
From a sports related emotional standpoint I would be rooting for Brian to focus on basketball and hockey this year ... But purely for my own selfish reasons I hope he stops by during football season because he is able to talk intelligently and passionately about that sport more than just about anyone else and I miss that in my life....even when the team doesn't play well enough to deserve his and our attention.
August 28th, 2021 at 10:04 AM ^
Where did he go?
August 29th, 2021 at 10:44 PM ^
He’s just balls deep in the BPONE
August 28th, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
I dislike any and all posts like this. I never like putting others or myself on a pedestal. Brian never seemed like a very nice person to me. Not saying he’s a bad guy but certainly not anyone I would get all flowery aboot
This blog could shut down tomorrow and it wouldn’t affect how I view M sports one iota. I check in here periodically but there is little here, that I can’t get elsewhere.
August 28th, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
I dislike any and all posts like this. I never like putting others or myself on a pedestal. Brian never seemed like a very nice person to me. Not saying he’s a bad guy but certainly not anyone I would get all flowery aboot
This blog could shut down tomorrow and it wouldn’t affect how I view M sports one iota. I check in here periodically but there is little here, that I can’t get elsewhere.