As a young impressionable preteen in the early 1990s, my life’s mosaic included hard hitting DJ Premier beats, choreographing dance routines to Slam by Onyx, memorizing M-E-T-H-O-D Man, watching Homey D. Clown, wearing baggy jeans w/ combat boots, falling in love with Omar Epps as Q in Juice and declaring the Fab Five my favorite college basketball players.
And for this reason, I can’t think of a greater sports moment worth reliving more than The Fab Five Era, despite the unfortunate ending. The story of how hip hop bred, inner-city youth Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, Jalen Rose, and Chris Webber forever changed college basketball’s culture will be chronicled during The Fab Five on ESPN, Sunday at 9PM/ET.
Jalen Rose spearheaded the project and recruited Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King to join him. Chris Webber, involved in a federal investigation for money laundering which eventually led to NCAA sanctions and the removal of Final Four banners, declined to participate in the production of the documentary with his friends and former teammates.
However, Chris Webber’s lack of involvement does not mean the documentary will overlook the role he played in the sudden rise and eventual fall of one of college basketball’s most memorable recruiting classes. Nor, should Webber’s charges overshadow the significant impact the Fab Five made on an entire generation.
There’s a reason their story is being told twenty years later. Be sure to watch ESPN on Sunday at 9 PM/ET.
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I hope I remember to watch or at least DVR this segment bc/ that was the era that i followed college ball and was obsessed with sports illustrated. Fab Five reminded me of the Boot Camp Click w/ OGC & Healtha Skeltha.. Yesss!!!
-Chuckcity
it's funny you compare them to the boot camp click b/c that was my favorite rap clique back in the day. although i loved wu, there was something about BCC that i preferred. i think it had to do with buckshot and his mellow,raspy voice.
I can not wait for this as well! I was such a Fab 5 fan. I'm also looking forward to the Running Rebels documentary on HBO tonight.
@Joi thanks for the comment! Yes, i'm also excited about the Runnin' Rebels doc. I'm DVRing it though because I have to watch The Big East Championship. Go UCONN!