Following a $2.2 million investment into the construction of the athletic fields and an abrupt shutdown by Grounds Management in September, college officials met last week to discuss plans for the 2012 sports season.
But the jury remains out on when the facilities might be available to college athletes this spring.
For students participating in soccer or lacrosse, games from last Fall had to be rescheduled to be played throughout the Ann Arbor area. WCC’s new fields were in use for just a few months when they were closed due to excessive wear and tear from the record amounts of rainfall in September. Some intramural events were rescheduled to Community Park.
“If you play on the field, it needs time to recover,” said Damon Flowers, associate vice president of Facilities Management. “So with rain and saturation, it didn’t appear that it would be very viable to continue playing.”
After more than four months of no activity and record high temperatures this winter, Flowers is positive that the fields will open on time this spring.
It’s just a matter of what exact day.
According to Associate Vice President of Student Services Linda Blakey, no activities will occur on the field before April 1.
“Right now, we are just going through meetings with the proper people involved to see how many hours WCC Sports will need in addition to the entire community,” she said. “We may be looking into sending out some of the activities to the local Ann Arbor area fields and facilities.”
There is also the possibility of having some intramural or sports activities take place on the baseball and softball field to give the soccer field time to recover from play.
Sports Coordinator Erica Lemm confirmed that the athletes of WCC will need 424 hours of field time this coming season for both the lacrosse and soccer teams and the intramural program.
While there is no date set as to when the delay of games will be called off, Blakey has confirmed meetings will happen after spring break to firm up plans for the 2012 season.
Winter classic announcement for 2013 (Adam Glanzman/The Michigan Daily)
Now that we all know the NHL’s “Winter Classic” is finally coming to Michigan, we can start thinking about how spectacular the event will be. I can see it now: fans wandering up and down the streets visiting the various bars and restaurant enjoying the local charm. Street vendors selling merchandise related to the yearly spectacle and the skyline of Detroit proudly towering overhead in the distance.
Wait a minute, I can’t see that… That’s because once again the National Hockey League has found a way to screw the fans and people who support its product in order to make a little more money. With that in mind, the NHL’s 2013 Winter Classic will be at Michigan Stadium in hopes of setting a world record for attendance at a hockey game.
When the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs play on Jan.1, I’ll be treated to the scenes of people walking over from the muddy parking lot at Pioneer High School. I’ll walk around to the backside of the stadium to the tailgates that will be no different than a fall Saturday. And who wouldn’t want to gaze at the beautiful sights of construction barrels and road barriers that will block part of Stadium Street from being navigated?
While it’s still too early to tell, it’s not inconceivable to assume that the NHL will generate at least $10 million in revenue from the Winter Classic game alone. Of that, $3 million will go to the University of Michigan to rent the stadium.
And let me make it clear, I do not blame the University of Michigan for accepting such a payday to rent out a stadium that would just sit there if the NHL didn’t want to use it. In fact, if U-M turned down the offer I’d be just as irate as I am with the NHL.
The Red Wings, Maple Leafs, the NHL and U-M will all make lots of money off of the largest hockey game in history, and the people and businesses of Downtown Detroit lose out on all that money. The same people and businesses that have supported the Red Wings year in and year out will miss out on the chance to capitalize on one of their biggest paydays of the year.
I asked NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman why the NHL would move the game from Detroit to a town with no real connection to professional hockey.
Besides acting insulted by the way I phrased my question, Bettman responded in a tone dripping with arrogance: “It was clear to us based on this matchup, that we won’t even have enough tickets here. And so we needed to be in a place that could accommodate the magnitude of this game.”
Bettman tried to weasel his way out of the insult to Detroit by claiming that 120,000-200,000 people will attend the various events held at Comerica Park the week prior to the big game.
Forgive my skepticism, but I refuse to believe that even 100,000 people are going to attend the Great Lakes Invitational and the other miscellaneous events – including a game involving Red Wings alumni. And if they do, the bars, restaurants, hotels, parking garages and more, still stand to make less money in that week than they would from that one game.
But I shouldn’t be surprised. This is the same league that refused a national TV deal with ESPN in order to keep the Stanley Cup Finals and its abysmal ratings on NBC for two weeks out of the year. It’s the same league that wants to ban cheap-shots, but won’t let players fight to protect their teammates and police the game. And it’s the same league that thought a game played on ice would be popular in the sub-zero climates of Florida, Arizona and Georgia, while it let teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg move away.
While the NHL will more than likely set the record it so desperately yearns for, in the process it has insulted the very fans and businesses that made Detroit “Hockeytown.”
Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg take in the sights of the 'Big House' at a press conference announcing the Winter Classic. (Matt Durr/The Washtenaw Voice)
NHL seeks world attendance record of 115,000 at the Big House
After months of speculation and one of the most non-secretive “secret” negotiations in hockey history, the NHL announced Thursday that the Detroit Red Wings and Original Six rival Toronto Maple Leafs will play the 2013 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1.
“In one word: Wow,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “There is a reason they call this the Big House. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the opportunity to play here next New Year’s Day.”
The announcement was made after months of speculation. Bettman said he thinks the game between the Wings and Leafs will set the all-time outdoor attendance record established, coincidentally, last year when the University of Michigan faced Michigan State University in the “Big Chill at the Big House,” where 104,173 people were in attendance. Bettman hopes 115,000 people will attend the Winter Classic.
“It’s going to be an amazing day,” Bettman said.
This will be the second time the Red Wings have played in an outdoor Winter Classic. They played the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field in Chicago at the 2009 Winter Classic. For Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk, it’s a welcomed chance to play outdoors again.
“I like the Winter Classic. I like to play outside,” Datsyuk said. “When they (the fans) starting chanting, I can’t imagine how it will be.”
Fellow Red Wings Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall stood on the block M at midfield of Michigan Stadium taking in the sights and imagining the packed house.
“I’ve never been in a place that seats this many people, or seen it to be honest with you,” Kronwall said. “I think it’s going to be crazy, something very special that we get to be a part of.”
Zetterberg remembers the last time the Wings played outdoors and thinks this time will be another great experience for the players.
“It’s pretty cool, the fans are really into it and the whole day is awesome,” Zetterberg said. “It’s going to be awesome. We’re really happy to be a part of it, especially playing here.
“We didn’t really expect it, because just a few years ago we played this game. When we heard the rumors at the beginning of the year we were pretty excited.”
Prior to the game at Michigan Stadium, a week-long festival will be held in Downtown Detroit at Comerica Park where another outdoor rink will be constructed. The annual Great Lakes Invitational will be held at that rink along with various other events, including open skates.
To rent out the Big House, the NHL paid the University of Michigan $3 million for the rights to use the stadium for a roughly one month. During that time, the rink will be constructed and final preparations will be made. The stadium’s concession stands will also sell beer and liquor during the game.
“The NHL has been terrific to work with during this process, and we have tremendous respect for how they execute big events,” Brandon said.
Rumors of the game and venue have swirled for months, and now that the event has been made official, Kronwall hopes it will help end another rumor.
Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom has debated retirement for the past few seasons, but Kronwall hopes the Winter Classic will convince Lidstrom to come back.
“I think it’s a great reason, and I think it’s great timing to have it now,” Kronwall said. “It just gives him another reason to stick around for another year.”
Hoke’s first recruiting class draws raves
Matt Durr
Editor
Last year at the time, University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke had been on the job for less than a month. Essentially he dropped his stuff off in Ann Arbor and hit the recruiting trail. This year, Hoke has had plenty of time to recruit the players he wanted—and it showed.
Click to view larger chart
“We hit some needs, and some areas of need that we needed to address,” Hoke said about the style of recruits coming to Michigan.”I’m excited about the kids in the class.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Hoke’s class was rated the number eight class in the nation by ESPN.com and sixth by Rivals.com two spots behind rival Ohio State in both rankings. On scout.com, the Wolverines were fourth, one spot behind OSU.
When Hoke took over last year, he made it clear that recruiting in Michigan and Ohio was a priority. With 18 total recruits from the two states, it appears that he has reached his goal.
One commit from Ohio is offensive lineman Kyle Kalis. The No. 1-rated prospect in the state according to Rivals.com, Kalis comes to the Wolverines hoping to make an impact on a line that just lost All-American David Molk.
“A powerful, strong, road-grating type of offensive lineman that we want to have in the offense, very talented,” said Hoke about Kalis.
Kalis is part of a recruiting class that focused on adding depth to both the offensive and defensive lines, something that Hoke says can never be fully stocked.
“We’re always going to take guys up front. You just think about the pounding of the game of football,” Hoke said. “We’ve always got to be recruiting three or four or five offensive linemen a year, same thing with defensive line.”
Blake Bars, Ben Braden and Erik Magnuson round out the offensive line recruits.
On the defensive line, Ondre Pipkins, a five-star rated recruit by Rivals.com comes to Ann Arbor via Kansas City and leads a class that includes Matthew Godin, Willie Henry, Mario Ojemudia, Tom Strobel and Chris Wormley.
“He’s a big man, and he’s a big man in the middle, which you need in the middle,” said Hoke about Pipkins, referring him by his nickname “Pee Wee.”
Hoke and his staff surprised many experts by pulling in running back Dennis Norfleet, who was a verbal commit to Cincinnati until the day before national signing day.
“This guy is a guy that returns kicks. He’s got speed. He can do a lot of things catching the football,” said Hoke.
Norfleet attended Martin Luther King high school in Detroit and joins Ann Arbor Pioneer running back Drake Johnson in joining the Wolverines.
“He had tremendous numbers,” Hoke said. “He’s a bigger back, physical runner, I really like what Drake does.”
Johnson led the state of Michigan in rushing yards and touchdowns last year with 2,800 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Hoke attributed the ability to spend more time with recruits and their families as a reason why the class was much stronger this year.
“You’ve got a chance to start on guys, having a whole year to get to know families and make those relationships,” Hoke said. “The longer you’re engaged in building those relationships, it’s like going to the bank, you’re putting your money in the bank.”
Kiere Daniels prepares to shoot at the Jan. 30 game. (David Artushin/Contributor)
On the court, Kiere Daniels is a force to be reckoned with. Off the court, he’s been the right-hand man to his mother his entire life.
At a shade under 6-feet, basketball is his game and he doesn’t take well to finishing anything but first. His passion and his drive are second to no one on the court.
“I think it has a lot to do with my father leaving when I was born,” he said. “I got into this mindset that I had to prove everyone wrong about me and be better than my dad.”
It started at a young age—about the time he picked up a basketball for the first time. It got him through Canton High School and now Daniels, 21, of Belleville, is an electrical engineering major at Washtenaw Community College, playing on one of its two men’s basketball teams.
“The extra roles throughout his childhood taught him discipline and how to schedule his time,” said Kim Daniels, 43, Kiere’s mother. “Instead of being a follower, he’s a leader, and it shows through to his two younger brothers.”
His leadership on the court has his team undefeated, and the talent he’s displayed so far has made him a prospect for a Division I program like Eastern Michigan University’s when he concludes his studies at Washtenaw, according to Daniel’s coach, Jamal Poplar.
“Kiere’s getting-to-the-basket ability is phenomenal,” Poplar said of his floor leader’s ability. “I currently have three players prepared to play at Division I and I’m taking the proper steps to getting them ready to be seen.”
In other words, if Poplar has his way recruiters from some of the larger schools in the region will soon be in attendance at WCC games. But that only means higher standards by the coach with his players.
“You come to practice, Jamal wants nothing but 210 percent,” Daniels said. “He pushes me hard and knows I got the talent. I get no breaks with Jamal.”
Along with his full-time studies at WCC and the basketball team, Kiere works at Bayloff Stamped Products in Belleville. It helps him pay the bills and give back to his family.
“My mom is a single mother, and having the added income helps make things a little easier on all of us,” he said. “For my brothers, I just want to show them how to overcome a situation like this. Through hard work, perseverance and dedication, they can get what they want.”
While Kim made sure to get Kiere involved in sports to ensure he had some discipline in his life, she’s thrilled about how he has developed as a role model for his younger brothers.
“The things that he does make an impact on others, and at such a young age,” she said, “and I’m proud that he understands that.”
Club Sports Coordinator Erica Lemm views Daniels as a great role model for the college’s sports program, too.
“He’s the first one out there and the last one to leave,” she said. “He’s also very coachable and has a complete game.”
Poplar has faith that Daniels can do well for himself at the next level if he can continue to improve his game over the next few months, making his resume more appealing to university programs.
“Playing at a Division I school for him is a very real possibility,” Poplar said. “If we could just refine that jump shot of his, his game will be complete, and he’ll be ready to move out.”
While Kiere’s sights are set on transferring to EMU, his immediate goal is to keep his team at WCC undefeated – if for no other reason than that he doesn’t have to deal with defeat.
“I hate to lose,” he said. “I show no mercy out on the court, but when I lose, I’m very sore about it. It’s something I need to work on.”
Melena Chisolm hit a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, when Colby Griffin took control with a five-point run that lifted the Washtenaw’s women’s basketball team to a 54-49 victory Thursday over previously undefeated Tom Holzer Ford.
The victory improved WCC to 4-0 in the Ann Arbor Rec and Ed league.
The Warriors were down by three before the clutch basket by Chisolm, 26, of Ann Arbor, an elementary education major.
In overtime, Grifffin, 20, a business major from Ypsilanti, broke the game open with a jumper followed by a 3-point basket.
With 22-seconds to go, radiography major, Journey Benjamin, 21, of Ann Arbor drained a 3-pointer to secure the win.
With four fouls, Journey Benjamin was apprehensive heading into OT. For her, it meant she had to temper her aggressive play.
“I had four fouls at the end of the fourth and after speaking to coach, I decided I had to be careful with my fouls,” Benjamin said. “If I would have got my fifth, I would have been out.”
Playing her first game with the Warriors, Brittany Bucknan, 22, of Brighton, was nervous to play the top team in the league through the Ann Arbor Rec and Ed. Holzer Ford dropped to 3-1.
“It was a matter of keeping my head in the game,” she said. “Throughout overtime, I was set on playing tight defense and getting the ball up and down the court quickly.”
Head coach Michael Nightingale said he thinks the Warriors got better as the game went on.
“By the second half, we were up either by four or two while in the first half we were either down by two or tied,” he said. “I just kept telling the girls with just seconds in the game, we don’t need to shoot, we just need to keep the ball away.
“I was nervous because we had a couple girls in foul trouble,” he said. “It was all about not getting another foul but playing aggressively.”
Whether you love him or hate him, Tim Tebow (starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos) has become a national icon and quickly is becoming the most recognizable face in all of pro sports. But it’s not because of his record-breaking passing numbers, or his God-given physical attributes, it’s because of who he is off the field. And the National Football League wouldn’t have it any other way.
In a day and age where most athletes make national headlines for their various court appearances, Tebow appears to be a God-fearing, God-loving man who would rather read his Bible than go out for a night on the town. The NFL has seen a major hit to its public image because of numerous, highly publicized run-ins with the law. But with Tebow, those concerns are almost non-existent, and the American people love that.
MCT Campus courtesy photo
It’s evident in the television ratings for his two playoff games. When Tebow and the Denver Broncos faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 8, a reported 42.4 million people tuned in, earning a 24.0 rating. It was the highest-rated wild-card game in 17 years. Tebow’s jersey is rated as the second most popular jersey sold on NFL.com (Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is first). You cannot turn on ESPN or any NFL-related program and not hear about Tebow.
All of this means one thing: more money for the NFL. And at the end of the day, that is all that matters to the NFL and the owners. Thanks to revenue sharing, every team in the NFL will benefit from the record ratings that Tebow is pulling in.
Even though Tebow is barely a top-20 quarterback, even though he looks atrociously awkward on the field, and even though he has yet to win anything of substance, Tebow is the NFL’s golden boy, and it’s not going to change until his popularity drops. That doesn’t seem likely, because Tebow-mania is running wild.
And that’s the sad part about what sports are becoming. The bottom line is always more important than the product. That’s why small-market teams rarely compete for championships, even in leagues with a salary cap. That’s why Division II college teams will take automatic losses to play teams like Michigan because of the huge payday that is attached. And why guys like LeBron James leave cities like Cleveland for bigger markets.
What used to be about athleticism and getting away from reality has become a way for rich people to deepen their pockets even more. No longer are athletes and teams looked at based solely on their abilities. These days it’s more about marketability. Athletes can frequently make more from endorsement deals than their actual contracts for playing their sports, and that is ridiculous.
Get ready to see the righteous face of Tim Tebow on your screen for a long time to come. And not just on the football field. Companies like McDonalds and Coca-Cola will be lining up to have him shill their products to the masses.
Tim Tebow isn’t the best player in the NFL, not even close, but in one season he is already standing on top of the NFL mountain, or should I say kneeling…
In recent months, the intramural section of the WCC Sports Department has seen a lot of competitions as students are quick to sign up for specific events.
But none of the sports have seen as much hype and as much furious competition as dodgeball.
Ricky Logan, 23, an animation major from Ann Arbor, is captain of the Reservoir Dogs, the first-place team of the Fall 2011 season.
“Our goal is just to be better than everyone else,” he said, sharing one secret to his team’s success: “I don’t get why no one has gotten this yet, but if (the ball) bounces off the wall, you can turn around and catch it and get the thrower out.”
Sports Coordinator Erica Lemm says she sees this kind of passionate competition among a variety of teams.
“These teams are very intense about their dodgeball,” she said. “They are constantly picking the game apart, what they did and what the other team did.”
Co-captain of Reservoir Dogs, James Driessche, 20, also an animation major from of Ann Arbor, has refined his techniques to stay on top. He joked about not being too keen on cheaters.
“There’s this guy, whenever he’s the last one in, he goes and sits on the back wall and doesn’t move,” he joked. “Cheater, such a cheater. I’m looking forward to this extended, fun rivalry.”
Four teams competed on Jan. 22 in a tournament that will continue each Sunday for the following four weeks at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Health and Fitness Center.
All are welcome. To get involved, stop by the Sports Department at SC 118.
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