2008, February 24: DetNews.com - Jalen Rose honored: Fab Five star hopes all will be forgiven in tim

February 24, 2008 -- The yellow T-shirts handed out Saturday were not subtle. Bright yellow with "Jalen" in blue block letters, there was no mistaking who Saturday's honoree was at Crisler Arena. Jalen Rose was one of the most talented guards in Michigan basketball history, and he was recognized as such with a pregame reception and at halftime of the Michigan-Illinois game. He thanked his fans, family and specifically referred to "four guys" -- the other members of the Fab Five -- whom he rattled off by name to the crowd's cheers, adding "The Fab Five is forever." At one point, when he paused, the alumni band began playing "The Victors," only to be cut off by Rose, who wanted to continue. "Only on Jalen Rose Day, he can stop the band," Rose said to the crowd, laughing. The first member of the Fab Five to be publicly recognized, Rose attended his first game at Crisler since leaving U-M after his junior season in 1994. The years since have seen many of his era's records vacated as punishment for late booster Ed Martin's payments to Rose's teammate Chris Webber and three subsequent U-M players. Eventually, Rose hopes, Webber will be among those who get their due. As part of the Wolverines' NCAA sanctions, Webber is not allowed to be a U-M guest until 2013. "It's no shame, what was said was said; what was alleged was alleged," said Rose before the game, adding he spoke to his former teammates, and former U-M head coach Steve Fisher and assistant Perry Watson earlier about Saturday's festivities. "But ultimately, with everybody, time heals all wounds. In my opinion, it's going to be time to move on eventually. That's how life happens; that's how situations happen. I just hope I'm not in a wheelchair, walking with a cane or in a grave site when it happens. I want to be here to see it." Yet he feels the Fab Five's spirit is alive in modern basketball. "Every time you see the black shoes, black socks and baggy shorts, the Fab Five lives," he told the crowd. While many affiliated with Michigan look back on the 1990s as an embarrassing period in the program's history -- U-M president Mary Sue Coleman called it "a day of great shame" when the sanctions were announced -- Rose said Saturday was progress. "I see this as being the first step coming back to honor at least the other four guys in the Fab Five and eventually coming back when our banner is hoisted with all of our numbers and achievements on it," he said. "That will be the ultimate day." BY MARK SNYDER ? FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER