Welcome to the personal website of Ace Anbender, a writer, editor, and content creator based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have over 15 years of professional writing and podcasting experience, including a decade on staff at MGoBlog. I’ve founded multiple websites, most recently The Bucket Problem and Meet at Midfield. I’ve used my platform to cover a wide range of topics, from my football and basketball beats to institutional misconduct at the University of Michigan. I’m also disabled and have a passion for advocacy through writing and podcasting.
1998 Rose Bowl Mini-Documentary
All research, writing, producing, and editing by Ace Anbender. Originally created for Meet at Midfield in December, 2022. Also viewable on YouTube.
WRITING: BETWEEN THE LINES
CONTEXT (MGoBlog, April 2013)
In the image above, there is no whistle. There is just Trey Burke, consensus national player of the year, making another magnificent, awe-inspiring play — and in a season when he's done that time and again, I don't recall #3 blocking a shot quite like that. Stripped of the context of the game, it's simply 60 more frames of Burke's greatness.
30 YEARS LATER, AN APPRECIATION OF THE DESMOND HOWARD FADE/SLANT OFFENSE (The Bucket Problem, August 2021)
The fade/slant threat presented like that of a dominant two-pitch reliever in baseball, using the same initial delivery to produce two divergent results. Cheat on the fade/fastball and the slider/slant would look comically easy.
THE END (MGoBlog, March 2017)
Walton hadn't made any of his five two-point attempts in the game, but he still brimmed with confidence born from a summer shooting layups while slamming into foam dummies. He flipped a shot that cleared Adel's outstretched hand by a fraction of an inch, bounced high off the glass, and fell through the net as he tumbled to the floor. It was his shot to take; he made the most of it.
THE SACRIFICE OF IPHIGENIA (Meet At Midfield, July/August 2022)
Perkins remained on the varsity team, sporting the maroon “C” through the 1902 season.
Michigan reportedly had a different explanation for the outcome than the rise of a new star fullback: “The chicken’s ghost was playing with the maroons.”
BORING MACHINE (The Bucket Problem, November 2021)
By the math, 68% of Michigan’s runs and 60% of their passes added positive value. It felt that way. McNamara’s interception briefly derailed a train that kept building steam as Buckeyes in distress were pinned to the tracks by cackling, mustachio’d Wolverine linemen.
PASADENA OR PURGATORY: THE GAME, 1964 (Meet At Midfield, November 2022)
Although both offenses were well-regarded, the vaunted defenses controlled the cold, wind-swept game from the outset. This was the most stressful type of rivalry game: one resting on the knife’s-edge of turnovers and scant few scoring opportunities.
WRITING: OUTSIDE THE LINES
DISPATCH FROM A FRIGID BASEMENT ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, I’M PRETTY SURE (MGoBlog, January 2018)
The fingers on my left hand won’t stay still. A burning sensation emanates from my lower back and sends sparks of pain to every reach of my body. I’ve smoked twice since returning from the doctor. It’s dulled the pain enough that I’m not entirely focused on it; it’s also made it difficult to concentrate on anything else for very long. I haven’t left the smoked-out basement; the cold keeps the sweating at bay and numbs me a little.
WE ARE NO DIFFERENT (The Bucket Problem, November 2021)
Well, Steve, whether genuine or not, Schembechler’s charm had a purpose. He successfully built a cult of personality, leveraged it to make money as a self-styled leadership guru, and benefits from it to this day as wide-eyed suckers leap to his defense. He’s not the first and he’s far from the last.
COUNTLESS (MGoBlog, May 2021)
Bo Schembechler isn't the embodiment of evil. The world isn't that simple. He's no hero, either. He represented himself not just as a football coach but a figure of moral authority and a leader among leaders. By his own standard of leadership, let alone moral authority, he failed.
THE MAN WITH NO FRIENDS (The Bucket Problem, January 2022)
The way the news arrived is emblematic of the distaste seemingly everyone at the school has for the now-former president. The school didn’t just announce the findings of their investigation. They released — and emailed to every umich.edu account — a 118-page PDF of brutally embarrassing emails between Schlissel and the employee.
MICHIGAN IS STILL FAILING ROBERT ANDERSON’S VICTIMS (The Bucket Problem, July 2021)
Until U-M takes meaningful action that instills any faith it’s doing right by sexual assault victims, it’s earned every bit of criticism and skepticism it receives, and the school’s every move must continue to be watched with a suspicious eye.
CARRYING TOO MUCH WATER (Meet At Midfield, November 2022)
I’ve put on some pearls so I can performatively clutch them. I’m calling the police and sending strongly worded letters to the FCC, FBI and ATF. I’m shielding the eyes of my two children, Blimothy and Plessica.
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