B4 SPRING/SUMMER, 2011 washtenawvoice.

com SPORTS
JAMES
HIGHSMITH
Managing Editor
University oI
Michigan deIen-
sive end Ryan Van
Bergen deserves a
big pat on the back
right about now.
See, Van Bergen openly voiced his
opinion about UM alumni all oI a sudden
paying tribute to the Iootball program un-
der coach Brady Hoke, who`s been pub-
licly declared a 'Michigan man.
To be exact, Van Bergen had these
words to say a bout alumni on April 17:
'It`s just kind oI unsettling, said Van
Bergen. 'It`s great that they`re back. But
it`s kinda like, Where have they been the
past two or three years?` Because we`ve
still been wearing the same helmets we
have been since they were here. You know
what I mean?
I know exactly what you mean.
When Rich Rodriguez was the head
man at UM, alumni and Iormer coaches
created a Iaction inside the program. Most
alumni remained out oI the public spot-
light and didn`t speak up, good or bad
about Rodriguez`s UM program. Now
that Rodriguez has been relieved oI his
duties, the Iormer players again want to
reclaim the program.
I believe in the sports world the cor-
rect term Ior that is called 'bandwagon-
ing.
To make matters worse, Iormer UM
standout wide receiver Braylon Edwards
commented on the diIIerences between
Rodriguez` UM program and Hoke`s:
'It`s just diIIerent, Edwards said.
'You Ieel welcome. That right there is
enough. You can Ieel that warmth. That
sense oI, I played here, I deserve to be
able to come back and walk around.` That
wasn`t there. He`s bringing that back.
Really?
In the three short years that Rodri-
guez was given to bring the UM program
to new heights, you didn`t Ieel welcome?
Edwards didn`t Ieel like he played at UM
anymore? Or could it possibly have been
the Iact that Edwards has never taken too
kindly to being a loser?
He didn`t stick behind the program
when Rodriguez was around, but all oI a
sudden he`s back and the UM IaithIul
are expected to embrace his return like
he`s a knight in shining armor.
Now that`s not to say that all alumni
oI the program have been unsupportive
oI the UM program the last three years.
Former UM running back Mike Hart has
stated that he Ielt no animosity Irom Ro-
driguez or his staII.
Hart was one oI the Iew alumni who
didn`t just dump the program once it got a
little mud on its cleats.
However, Edwards simply couldn`t
accept being a UM Ian and supportive
alumni while the program was Iacing
some adversity.
Seriously, imagine iI the Ians gave the
UM program the same treatment that Ed-
wards gave. UM wouldn`t have the great
game-day environment and certainly
wouldn`t continuously lead all oI college
Iootball in ticket sales even while los-
ing nine games in a season.
II Ians oI the UM Iootball program are
oIIended by the alumni taking the pro-
gram Ior granted, imagine how fIth-year
seniors like Van Bergen Ieel.
I`ll tell you disrespected. And who
could blame them?
A message to UM alumni: Welcome
back, but where have you been?
JAMESHIGHSMITH
Managing Editor
As summer approaches,
the sports world is on the
verge oI several dramatic
events. The National Hockey
League and National Bas-
ketball Association crown
champions aIter two months
oI playoIIs, while Major
League Baseball nears the
thick oI pennant race baseball,
and the suits gather in court-
rooms to determine whether
the National Football League
will operate this season.
TheVoice is taking a pub-
lishing hiatus until August,
but that doesn`t mean there
aren`t any sporting events
worth watching. Here`s a list
oI some oI the more important
sport dates Ior Ians to watch
over summer.
NBAFinals(May31or
June2):
This will undoubtedly be the
biggest event oI the summer,
especially iI the star-studded
Miami Heat make the Finals.
StanleyCupFinals(TBD,
June):
The dates haven`t been deter-
mined yet, but regardless oI
who makes the championship,
the seven-game series should
be worthwhile.
Summertimebaseball
(July-September): Perhaps
the most important stint oI
the MLB season. The end oI
July marks the MLB trading
deadline and the beginning
oI September allows Ior MLB
teams to expand rosters to 40
players instead oI 25. In addi-
tion, championship contenders
and pretenders really start to
come to light.
NBADraft(June23):
The Detroit Pistons will once
again have a high selection in
the NBA DraIt, aIter fnish-
ing the season with just 30
victories. While the draIt
lottery has to occur frst, look
Ior the Pistons to be picking
somewhere around No. 7 over-
all, and have a shot at draIt-
ing Connecticut point guard
Kemba Walker.
MichiganWolverinesvs.
WesternMichiganUni
versity(Sept.3):
Brady Hoke will coach
his frst game at Michigan
Stadium against the Broncos
oI Western Michigan. Michi-
gan will look to get to a good
start under the Hoke era, but a
strong WMU team will stand
in the way.
NASCARatMichigan
InternationalSpeedway
(Aug.21):
The 2011 MIS racing season
will conclude with the big
stars coming to Michigan.
Last year, Kevin Harwick
won the race and will look to
repeat as MIS champion. The
race starts at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
MLBAllStarweekend
(July1012):
The midsummer classic will
be played at Chase Field in
Phoenix this season, with the
winning league earning home-
feld advantage in the World
Series. The annual home run
derby will take place on July
11, with a celebrity soItball
game the day beIore.
WimbledonFinals(July
23):
The world`s biggest tennis
players gather in London Ior
tennis` most prestigious
event. DeIending gentlemen`s
champion RaIael Nadal hopes
to deIend his title. Ladies`
champion Serena Williams
will attempt to win her fIth
Wimbledon title.
!"#$%&'()*+,#-.,*/(#0*
(May28):
Soccer`s version oI the Super
Bowl. Fans Irom all over the
globe will be Iocused on Wem-
bley Stadium in London. Span-
ish powers Barcelona square
oII against England`s Man-
chester United in the biggest
match oI the year. Many oI the
world`s top players play Ior
these two squads and Ior the
players the fnale is a chance to
be a part oI the grandest stage
in club soccer. 10.
U.S.Open(June1619):
One oI golI`s Iour majors, the
U.S. Open is routinely one oI
the best tournaments oI the
year in terms oI competition
and skill. The best golIers in
the world will descend on The
Congressional golI course in
Maryland. DeIending champi-
on Graeme McDowell returns
to deIend his title. Ernie Els
won the last time the Congres-
sional held the tournament in
1997.
In the heat of
the summer,
theres sports
MATTDURR
Managing Editor
With the popularity oI
disc golI increasing, courses
are popping up all over the
area.
But it can be diIfcult Ior
beginners to know where to
start. And Ior those more ac-
climated to the game, fnd-
ing a new course that pro-
vides a challenge can be a
problem.
As the game grows, the
enthusiasm surrounding the
game grows, too.
'Disc golI is the greatest
(expletive) sport ever creat-
ed, said Craig Murrell, 28,
a broadcast arts major Irom
Ypsilanti who called Lake-
shore his Iavorite course.
'It`s long and wide open,
still challenging, but takes
a long time and is Iree,
he said. 'They also have a
pro shop with proIessional
players that have competed
around the globe so it`s great
to hear their advice.
Here are some courses in
the area that are a disc`s throw
Irom Washtenaw Commu-
nity College`s campus.
Where to go when
you want to throw
MaryBethDoylePark
AnnArbor
DiIfculty: Easy
Scouting report: Described as a nice
course Ior rookies, MBD provides a bit
oI a challenge, but can be boring Ior
those with more experience.
BRATSAnnArbor
DiIfculty: Hard
Scouting report: A private course that
requires you speak to the owner, BRATS
has everything a veteran player could
want in terms oI shot types and pin loca-
tion. Call Ben at (734) 883-4408
HudsonMillsDexter
DiIfculty: Medium to Hard
Scouting report: Hudson Mills oIIers
two diIIerent courses, The Original and
The Monster. Well maintained and oIIer-
ing a variety oI diIIerent shot strategies,
Hudson Mills oIIers everything a disc
golIer could ask Ior. But be warned, the
park charges $7 to enter or $50 Ior a sea-
son pass.
LakeshoreYpsilanti
DiIfculty: Medium
Scouting report: The course is a wide
open, spacious park that oIIers golIers
many chances to go Ior the gusto. There
is also a pro shop on site that has all the
equipment you could imagine available
Ior purchase.
KensingtonMetroPark
Milford
DiIfculty: Medium
Scouting report: With a nice mix oI
holes and placement, Kensington is a
27-hole course that gets crowded dur-
ing summertime because oI its popular-
ity. Beginners and veterans can all fnd
something to like about the course. This
is another Iee-based park, though, so be
prepared to pay up to $7 a round iI you
don`t have a season pass.
RollingHillsYpsilanti
DiIfculty Medium to Hard
Scouting report: Rolling Hills oIIers so
much in terms oI shot selection that be-
ginners might not have enough discs to
play a Iull round. Very challenging at
some points, this course is a nice compli-
ment to the other Ypsilanti course, Lake-
shore. A season pass costs $25, but the
course also charges Ior parking.
ROBERT CONRADI THE WASHTENAW VOICE
ALEX PARIS THE WASHTENAW VOICE
Insert:An ofcial disk golf basket, hole two, is found in a woodland course at Pioneer High School. Above: A sign on a disc golf course in
Ann Arbor provides the disc equivalent of fore!