In the midst of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, Paul Finebaum has continued his vocal criticism of Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines. This drew a spirited response from none other than wrestling legend Ric Flair, a passionate Michigan fan who recently visited the team facility.
Flair took to Twitter on Tuesday to applaud Desmond Howard for standing up to Finebaum, labeling the seasoned radio host as “a non-athletic SEC journalist” in the process.
Thank You @DesmondHoward For Putting @Finebaum In His Place! You’re Right Michigan Is America’s Team! And The Only Person With Personal Issues Is A Non-Athletic SEC Journalist That Should Leave The Great @CoachJim4UM & @UMichFootball Alone. Can You Imagine Paul Finebaum Having… pic.twitter.com/KzkokBJ1sL
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 14, 2023
The situation took an even more peculiar turn when Finebaum responded to Flair’s comments in an exchange with AL.com. Finebaum remarked, “Flair, in his Michigan fandom, is still chasing the success of the SEC as indicated by his behavior a couple of years ago with Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.”
“I guess he is right about one thing: ‘If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man,'” Finebaum added, referencing Flair’s past support for Georgia and his callout of Kirby Smart before the Bulldogs faced Michigan in the 2021 College Football Playoff.
Sorry @KirbySmartUGA! You Should Have Shook My Hand On The Sidelines When I Was Standing Next To @HerschelWalker In Athens! Today, It’s All BLUE! @CoachJim4UM Has Been Shaking My Hand Since 1989! GO BLUE! @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/lGJWdr33lV
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) December 31, 2021
The back-and-forth between Finebaum and Flair adds an unexpected layer of entertainment to the ongoing saga. As Finebaum continues his critiques of Michigan and Harbaugh, it remains to be seen if this feud with Flair will escalate any further. The drama in college football, it seems, knows no bounds.