The Michigan Wolverines play the rival Michigan State Spartans this week, and fans of Sparty may be happy to know that their hated maize-and-blue nemesis will have the backing of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In his English-language feed, the former president of Iran and noted anti-Semite continued his American-football punditry Tuesday by predicting better times for the sixth-ranked Wolverines.
“With a hard work ethic Inshallah,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said, repeating the common Muslim phrase for “if God wills it,” “the U of M will return to its glory days.”
With a hard work ethic Inshallah the U of M will return to its glory days.
— Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (@Ahmadinejad1956) October 16, 2018
The context involves a Sept. 3 tweet in which Mr. Ahmadinejad lamented the absence of Colin Kaepernick from NFL rosters. In response to the surprising American-football fandom of a man who led a regime that executes gays and aids the killers of American soldiers, one American fan responded in apparent jest that there were more important questions.
“#Michigan is 8-8 in its last 16 games under @CoachJim4UM,” lamented Twitter user @fredzannarbor.
Mr. Ahmadinejad took it seriously though, and replied Tuesday with a seemingly straight face, prompting further trolling responses.
Some of the replies included: “Mahmoud, do you think Kevin Durant will go to the Knicks this offseason’; “Mahmoud, any thoughts on Nebraska’s recent struggles?”; and “Hi Mahmoud, fantasy question. With Devonta Freeman out again, should I start Bilal Powell, Marlon Mack, or Derrick Henry at RB2 in my PPR league?”
There was no immediate reaction to the Islamist Wolverines-love from fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.