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BUSINESS
inside
Former AD named CEO of Toys ‘R’ Us
NEWS
Taste of Ann Arbor Event featured dishes from local eateries. >> SEE PAGE 2
NEWS
Position is Dave Brandon’s first post after resigning as ‘U’ athletic director
UM-Flint reloaded The University will offer Master of Liberal studies progrm online in Fall 2015. >> SEE PAGE 3 DELANEY RYAN/Daily
OPINION
Policy Paradox
A reflection on strengthening skilled trades in the state >> SEE PAGE 4
ARTS
‘Surf’ Chance the Rapper and The Social Experiment drop new album >> SEE PAGE 6
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins and the No. 3 Michigan softball team meet after losing Game 3 of the WCWS Championship to top-ranked Florida. The Wolverines lost, 4-1, after surrendering three runs in the first inning in the winner-take-all game.
SOFTBALL
Wolverines Lose to Florida in National Championship Michigan came shy of the NCAA title, falling to defending champions By TED JANES Daily Sports Writer
SPORTS
Betsa Shines Star pitcher regains strength in softball’s defeat >> SEE PAGE 12
INDEX Vol. CXXI, No. 136 | © 2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS ....................................2 OPINION ...............................4 ARTS ......................................6 CLASSIFIEDS.........................8 CROSSWORD........................8 SPORTS..................................9
Thursday, June 4, 2015
After falling to No. 1 Florida, 4-1, in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series final, the Michigan softball team came just shy of a national championship. A complete performance from NFCA Player of the Year and right-handed pitcher Lauren Haeger carried the Gators to an early lead, and they never looked back. Haeger dominated on both sides of the ball, shutting down the third-ranked Wolverines’ offense which didn’t register a single hit until the fifth inning. The Gators wasted no time on offense. In the bottom of the first inning, Haeger flared a 1-1 pitch to shallow center with runners on
first and second. One run scored, and Florida was off to the races with no outs. A pair of batters later, Florida’s Taylor Schwarz dropped a double into left field, making headway for outfielder Nicole Dewitt and Haeger, who reached home safely, increasing their lead to three before the first inning came to an end. “They were the best team tonight,” said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. “They’ve been No. 1 all through the season. They showed up to come after us, and that first inning broke our back. We gave them a lot of free bases, too many, and you can’t do that to a team like Florida.” Florida’s leadoff hitter Kelsey Stewart came up to bat for the second time in just the second inning and blasted a double to left that scored outfielder Justine McLean from second base. The Gators’ fourth run of the day prompted Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to take senior left-handed pitcher Haylie Wagner out of the circle for sophomore right-hander Megan
Betsa. Betsa solved the immediate puzzle and struck out two straight batters to strand three Gators on base. Freshman first baseman Tera Blanco recorded the Wolverines’ first hit of the night, ripping a fullcount pitch to left field in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore shot stop Abby Ramirez followed up with a single of her own, and the top half of the order would come up. With two outs and two on for junior second baseman Sierra Romero, if there was a time for the team’s superstar to step up, this was it. Romero sent the first pitch to left field and Blanco, from second base, was able to score. The Gators got out of the fifth inning, but Michigan had finally gotten on board. Freshman pinch-hitter Amanda Vargas stepped to the plate in the sixth inning and produced, lining to center for a base hit. Next, Wagner, now the designated player, See CHAMPIONSHIP, Page 9
By LAURA SCHINAGLE and ZACH SHAW Summer Editor in Chief and Summer Managing Sports Editor
Former Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon has been named the new CEO of Toys “R” Us, according to a Tuesday press release from the company. “I consider it a tremendous privilege to assume this important leadership role at Toys ‘R’ Us, one of the most well-known retail brands in the world,” Brandon said in a statement. “I believe our best days are ahead of us and I’m eager to get started.” This is Brandon’s first post after his resignation from the University in October 2014. In the months leading up to his resignation, Brandon’s management was criticized for being irresponsible and financially misdirected. He grew the Athletic Department’s revenue to one of the highest in the country and used a growing surplus to enhance facilities and salaries, but students and fans saw his policies to emphasize donation totals rather than fan longevity. The Athletic Department also came under scrutiny after The Michigan Daily reported in January 2014 that former Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons was “permanently sepaSee CEO, Page 3
2 NEWS
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Taste of Ann Arbor exhibits dishes from local eateries
TA S T E T E S T
Due to weather, vendors make lastminute changes to menus By JACKIE CHARNIGA Daily Staff Reporter BEN SCHECHTER/Daily
Business and Music Theatre & Dance senior Alex Brown orders food from the Grizzly Peak Brewing Company at Taste of Ann Arbor on Sunday.
The annual Taste of Ann Arbor event took over Main Street on Sunday, despite rainy conditions. A ticketed event, Taste of Ann Arbor featured delicacies from more than 40 of Ann Arbor’s well-known eateries such as the Arbor Brewing Company, The Blue Tractor and Silvio’s Organic Ristorante with food types ranging from greasy-spoon to the high-end culinary creations. Several restaurants entered dishes that were considered by six judges for the annual “Best of Show” prize. Ticket sales for the event were coordinated by volunteers from the Michigan Theater, to whom a portion of the proceeds will be donated. Mary Kerr, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau, was one of the six judges at this year’s competition. Responsible for the selection of this year’s entrees and Best of Show, Kerr described what goes into a winning dish at the festival. “The restaurants do a really good job of showcasing their overall business, so from food to presentation, hearing the knowledge about the food, their enthusiasm working at the booth,” Kerr said. “I think it really depends on what really stands out that day, it’s important to talk to the chefs about their ingredients and to have the opportunity to say, ‘I
can really taste that.’ ” Server Kayla Samolewski and pastry assistant Danielle Valentine of La Dolce Vida added hot chocolate to their lineup to combat the cold. “The hot chocolate was definitely a last-minute adaption. So we had ice cream sandwiches originally and then oh my gosh, it was raining, so we decided to add hot chocolate shooters instead,” Samolewski said. La Dolce Vida’s pastry chef of two years, Jordan Conn, said the shooters were made of unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar and whole milk. Conn added salt to the mix, giving the drink a bolder taste. Main Street Association executive director and fulltime event organizer Maura Thomson has participated in Taste of Ann Arbor since 2005 and said she has noticed an increasing spike in popularity. “We have, assuming good weather, doubled in attendance since 2008, and last year’s Taste of Ann Arbor had over 15,000 people,” Thomson said. Thomson attributes the dramatic growth of the event to that of social media. “Social media has changed everything,” said Thomson. “So now the exponential value of having 40 restaurants promote their section is what has increased awareness overall of the event.” Thomson also spoke to the importance of sustainability in the food community of Ann Arbor, and said Taste of Ann Arbor is sensitive to cutting down on waste. “We need to take steps to be a ‘zero-waste Taste,’ ” said Thomson. “It’s about keeping the downtown area vibrant and healthy. At the end of the day, See TASTE, Page 3
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Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
NEWS 3
UM-Flint expands program to online format School will offer Master of Arts in Liberal Studies online in Fall 2015 For the first time, the oldest graduate program at the University of Michigan- Flint — Master of Arts in Liberal Studies — will be available for students in an entirely online format. The program will be implemented this fall. The new structure of the pro-
gram was conceptualized in an effort to provide the f lexibility and tools necessary for working adults to pursue an interdisciplinary graduate degree either full time or part time. Established in 1977 as a Rackham Graduate School initiative, the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program consists of 33 semester hours of graduate work focused on a broad variety of topics in American history and culture, encouraging students to explore and analyze issues associated with national identity, such as race, gender, politics and religion. In addition, each student must complete a
CEO From Page 1
TASTE From Page 2
rated” from the University for violating the University’s Student Sexual Misconduct Policy and after former Michigan coach Brady Hoke was criticized for his handling of sophomore quarterback Shane Morris’ helmet-tohelmet hit in September 2014. Brandon’s resignation came days after MGoBlog.com <a href=http:// www.michigandaily.com/sports/ michigan-wolverines-footballathletic-director-dave-brandonresigns-timeline>reported</a> Brandon had responded to fans’ e-mails in ways many considered unprofessional. The e-mails contained messages such as, “I suggest you find a new team to support. I really don’t care about your opinions,” and “Quit drinking and go to bed.” Per the terms of agreement for his resignation, Brandon was scheduled to receive a $3-million settlement over four years from the University. However, according to the agreement, the University can lower the settlement amount based on income he would receive from a new job. Before his tenure as athletic director, Brandon built a business career in Southeast Michigan. He served as the CEO of Valassis Communications from 1989 to 1999, then held the same position at Domino’s Pizza from 1999 to 2010. Bain Capital, the Boston-based investment firm that hired Brandon at Domino’s when it acquired the company, is also the primary owner of Toys “R” Us.
this event is about our community,” Thomson said. “Our goal is to connect people to this downtown.” Despite the large portion of the student population having left for the summer, many remaining students attended the event. Rising LSA senior Ben Brenner is a frequent patron to the Main Street restaurants. He said he enjoys the more social atmosphere of the event. “It was definitely advertised as more of a townie event,” Brenner said. “A lot of the people in my house hadn’t even heard of it.” Kerr said the community should take advantage of the various eateries available in the Ann Arbor area. “Ann Arbor is known as a foodie destination — over 200 restaurants are located in the area,” Kerr said. “You may not agree with me, but we’re probably one of the best food destinations outside Chicago.” Thompson said Taste of Ann Arbor highlighted the growth of the local food scene. “The Ann Arbor food scene has grown, and continues to grow, over the last 10 years,” Thomson said. “I feel like this is another example of how the Ann Arbor food scene has grown and is shining and that is what’s showcased here today.”
By ALEX JUNTTI Daily Staff Reporter
thesis and present it to a panel of faculty and peers during the student’s final semester. Currently, all core courses are available online as well as 25 approved elective courses. An increasing amount of elective courses will be available online in coming semesters. Jan Furman, director of the Liberal Studies program, spoke about how transitioning to an online curriculum is helping to broaden educational opportunities. “It’s a part of making graduate education available, accessible and more democratic,” Furman said. “The wonderful thing
about the program is the curricular f lexibility because we can work with students to fine-tune a curriculum that meets their goals, but we’re now at a place where we need to modernize our delivery. If we still want to reach working adults, then the most effective way of doing that is through online instruction.” Frederic Svoboda, a professor in American literature, film and culture, added that the interactive online format is a great way to draw in active learners and expand the program’s reach beyond the immediacy of campus. “Really good students do just
as well online because they’re very active, but the people in the middle are actually pulled in by the format and become more active, and what we’re hoping will happen, and what I think will happen with the Liberal Studies program online, is that we will get a group of very involved students or people who really want to become involved,” Svoboda said. “As soon as you put the program online, the students can be anywhere. It really broadens the market for the program, but it also allows people who otherwise can’t get to campus to still participate in See FLINT, Page 8
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Associate Prof. Hannah Wittman of the University of British Columbia explains her work with agrarian citizenship, food sovereignty and rural development at the Food Sovereignty Conference and Symposium at the Dana Building last Thursday.
4 OPINION
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu LAURA SCHINAGLE EDITOR IN CHIEF
MELISSA SCHOLKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
DEREK WOLFE MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
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The policy paradox
aking the venue into full consideration, attending the 2015 Mackinac Policy Conference last Wednesday undoubtedly positioned me in the midst of some unexpected MELISSA grandeur. SCHOLKE Dressed in an ill-fitting pencil skirt and an over-sized black cardigan — two articles of clothing from my sparse selection of professional business attire — it didn’t take long for me to begin feeling slightly out of place within the historic and elaborate rooms of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. The surrounding atmosphere was extraordinarily lavish as politicians, entrepreneurs and committee members congregated to discuss strategies and solutions for some of the state’s most pressing issues. The issues addressed were serious and important, and those expressing their viewpoints did so poignantly and passionately. However, as much as I tried to, I couldn’t bypass the elitist tone permeating the conference. In fact, I only felt the air of exclusivity lift during discussions of revitalizing skilled trades in Michigan, and it wasn’t even until I was in a different environment completely that I realized the full impact of these speeches. While policymakers con-
tinued to navigate between various avenues of action, I found myself navigating across the Straits back to my hometown in the Upper Peninsula. I, in a matter of days, had gone from the role of a well-dressed member of the media covering a conference with an expensive admission fee to wearing tattered, holey jeans and assisting my father with custodial work at his workplace. Some may easily view this transition as a social and professional downgrade. Numerous times in the past, I’ve seen and heard belittling statements about the working class levied at my family, friends and neighbors. Even in an area like my hometown — where a large portion of the available employment options are found within the service industry or in the skilled trades — arrogant, demeaning views about the working class are far too prevalent. During the policy conference, Mike Rowe, founder of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and former television host, addressed this stigma and advocated for the reconceptualization of society’s definition of “a good job.” Rowe, in particular, humbly and knowledgeably emphasized the idea that a four-year degree from a university isn’t necessarily crucial to a successful, sustainable career. To further stress this to the population of the state at large, the conference served as the venue to show one of a set of videos, created as collaborative effort between the state
and Rowe’s foundation, which will be shown to students to pique their interest in the skilled trades. Rowe, as he called attention to high unemployment and a widening skills gap throughout the country, stressed that society needs to “stop demonizing a whole category of good jobs.” Across the country, the individuals that comprise the skilled labor force are aging, leaving available employment positions for the next generation. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, as he discussed the pillars upon which the conference intended to focus on, described how cultivating talent and garnering more interest in the skilled trades and STEM programs was a priority. According to a statement from Snyder, 8,300 jobs in fields such as welding, electrical work and computer drafting are currently open right now. These spots, however, are left vacant due to the degraded status with which society views this type of work. Utilizing a poster as a visual aid, Rowe described how its slogan “Work Smart, Not Hard” was “the single worst piece of advice the country has ever taken.” The poster, displaying a college graduate juxtaposed against a depressing image of a blue-collar worker, presented a dichotomy between success and failure and between a fulfilling career and drudgery. Rowe analyzed the image and discussed his inability to associate the miserable tradesman
figure portrayed with the real-life conception of a tradesman he saw in his grandfather. This point resonated with me the most. Skilled trades — though the actual definition and examples of work may have admittedly changed over time — provided the backbone for not only generations of my family, but for the area in which I grew up. Whether it was construction, mining or work as a self-employed barber, members of my family worked hard and performed honest, dignified, necessary blue-collar work to support their families and themselves. As career options, technology and society are continually evolving, the nature of skilled trades changes. Our perceptions of these fields need to be modified then as well. For me, my siblings and many others, college may be the most suitable avenue to foster our own unique sets of talents and abilities to achieve our particular aspirations. Yet, it’s the diversity of skill sets in our society that necessitates the reforms suggested at the policy conference to
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strenghten the skilled trades industries. Without generations of family working these “undesirable” blue-collar jobs, I wouldn’t have been provided with the opportunity or the means to choose to attend a university or to choose one path over another. Giving individuals the ability to choose and the awareness of opportunities is crucial. While the videos are certainly a good start, more attention needs to be directed at dispelling the stigma that skilled trades jobs are lacking in worth by emphasizing the importance of funding vocational and STEM training in our education system. Although the initiatives to bolster the skilled trades were proposed in a particularly expensive and exclusive setting, the actions taken and the goals set at the conference were admirable and need to be followed through with in order to make significant changes in both the economic and societal landscapes. — Melissa Scholke can be reached at melikaye@umich.edu
A poultry dilemma
e still had 30 minutes left before making the trek to Charley’s on the eve of my friend’s 21st birthday. To pass time, we watched that night’s episode of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” guaranteeing a laugh and a lesson. Two weeks later, AARICA I can only think MARSH about the lesson. In May 17’s episode, Oliver dissected the contract farming of chickens. While the show snarkily mentioned the horrible reality chickens face before becoming our food, it mainly focused on the treatment and conditions of chicken farmers by Big Agriculture. In one specific instance, Oliver compared the lives of chicken farmers to that of indentured servants. Currently, chicken is the most consumed meat in the United States. Consumption has nearly doubled in the last 25 years, from 80 million to 160 million chickens per week. However, merely four companies — Tyson, Perdue, Pilgrim’s and Sanderson Farms — control the majority of the poultry market. This monopolization of the meat market has effectively created a system where most
chicken farmers live near or below the federal poverty line. Contract farming is disturbingly popular in our nation’s poultry industry, with 97 percent of chickens raised by contract in 2011. In theory, contract farming sounds like a good practice, but in reality, it’s a manipulative, greedy system. Poultry companies own the birds, the grain fed to the birds and the meat processing companies. They dictate the arbitrary requirements farmers must comply with, such as the number of fans or the brightness of the light bulbs in a chicken coop. They rate the chicken farmers produce against others in their area, creating a gladiator-like system, as Oliver dubbed it. Meanwhile, poultry farmers put all of their resources, money and lives into their farms, believing they will make the sums of money that companies imply is normal. However, after a decent first year, the income of most chicken farmers declines as they are pushed further into debt after being forced to make inexplicable upgrades. Many chicken farmers refuse to publicly speak out against the deplorable conditions they endure in fear of retribution. While poultry companies claim arbitrary penalties don’t exist, the fact that most farmers are completely unwilling to speak against their conditions suggests otherwise.
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
In last year’s Appropriations Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D–Ohio) advocated for a bill rider that would allow for farmers to speak about their conditions without fear of retaliation. Unfortunately, the amendment failed in a 20-29 vote. There’s still hope, though. The committee is set to meet again to discuss the 2016 Fiscal Year Commerce. At the end of “Last Week,” Oliver called for viewers to contact the 51 U.S. House Representatives that make up the Appropriations Committee to urge them to support more protective legislation for chicken farmers. Notifying your representatives and threatening them with the term “chicken fuckers,” as Oliver suggested, is an easy and sometimes effective option to help enact change. However, no matter how effective I believe our government is, the representative system isn’t enough. Citizens must combat the root of the problem: predatory corporations. As the biggest meat industry in the United States, it seems unlikely that chicken consump-
tion will decrease anytime soon. Switching to local poultry products to push the industry toward change is a more viable solution. This capitalistic system exists in many of society’s food industries. Choosing companies in the market that create an ethical product will help decrease the percentage of living things being taken advantage of and undermine predatory practices. I thought about all of this awful information Oliver highlighted in his latenight talk show while at Charley’s, trying to convince my friend to take his shot. Maybe eating locally and ethically created products is a better reality than trying to completely eradicate poultry from American diets. Personally, I feel a little bit better knowing the chicken I just ate wasn’t tortured throughout its entire life and the farmer who helped produce it in order to create a livelihood for himself and his family wasn’t taken advantage of by evil organizations. It seems like a small step in the right direction.
Citizens must combat the root of the problem: predatory corporations.
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— Aarica Marsh can be reached at aaricama@umich.edu.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
I haven’t checked how many people announced today but it’s a—it’s a big deal, it’ll be competitive, there’s going to be some elbows and knees under the boards here. This isn’t tiddly-winks we’re playing.” — Jeb Bush said at Gov. Scott’s Economic Growth Summit on June 2 in Orlando when asked about potential competition from members of his party.
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OPINION 5
A concussion conundrum
little over a week ago, during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals, Stephen Curry ANNA of the Golden POLUMBOState Warriors LEVY fell hard, hitting his back, neck and head. He remained on the ground for a few minutes and was taken out of the game, head in hands. According to NBA policy, a player who has hit their head and is suspected of having a concussion is removed from the game for a neurological examination. Curry was removed from the game, but he was cleared to return to play only one hour later — missing the equivalent of a quarter of the game. Only a day later, Klay Thompson, Curry’s teammate, was kneed in the head. He was taken out, but returned to the bench a few minutes later. He was only ruled out a second time after he began bleeding and required stitches. Despite being cleared of a concussion by the Warriors medical staff, after the game he was not feeling well and began to exhibit signs of a concussion. A few days later, he was diagnosed with a concussion. The incident was so confusing, even his agent, just a day before his diagnosis, was adamant that Thompson didn’t have a concussion. Watching both Curry and Thompson fall hard on the court and then reappear shortly after, cleared of concussions, horrified me. How could they possibly know the extent of their head injuries in such a short period of time? However, as much as we would like to have a quick and easy diagnosis — and an even quicker recovery for any and every injury — both take time, and there’s no safe way to cut corners. The weekend before Thanksgiving vacation this past year, I slipped and fell on black ice. My head hurt, but the pain went
away after a half hour or so. I chalked it up to a bad fall and went along with the rest of my day. That afternoon and into the early evening I didn’t experience any of the normal signs of a concussion. It took me an entire day to realize I may have a concussion, and another three days to start experiencing a massive and constant headache Advil couldn’t alleviate that ultimately lasted for weeks. Additionally, according to my doctor, a brain scan wouldn’t have indicated anything, because the concussion was not severe enough to cause any visible brain damage. Head injuries cannot be taken lightly. It could be hours or days before people begin to experience concussion-like symptoms, which further sheds light on the problems with the methods used to deal with sport-related head injuries. Hallway jogging tests and preliminary concussion tests that last less than one hour shouldn’t be the manner used to assess head injuries that could, later on, turn out to be worse than first expected. Instead of clearing a player to go back into the game after a quick round of tests, there needs to be a change in the way injuries during the game are handled. Taking a player out for the rest of the game, whereupon a doctor not so closely affiliated to the team assesses the player over a few days, is an imperative step to change the system. What’s more, these organizations need to take the pressure off of the players to make the decision to go back into the game. After all, who wants to pull themselves out of a game? As it is now, the way we deal with these injuries not only hurts the athletes, but also the sport. No matter if the player ends up being
fine, there’s always a chance that they are not, as was the case with Thompson. Thompson should never have been cleared to play (even though he never played). Approximately 300,000 sportrelated brain injuries — most of them concussions — occur every year in the United States. Among people ages 15 to 24, sports injuries are the second most common cause of traumatic brain injuries behind motor vehicle crashes. The problems we face when dealing with sports-related head injuries are also problems at the high school and collegiate levels — as we saw most recently when Michigan football quarterback, Shane Morris, was brought back into the game, despite having a concussion. Rules at the collegiate level that permanently take players out of the game after a head injury would have prevented his re-entry, as there are no such rules right now. There’s no doubt that we’re already raising awareness about the seriousness of concussions, but incidents such as these indicate that we need to take swifter action. Whether it’s at the collegiate or professional level, it seems that the player’s health is not emphasized enough. Instead of focusing on when these injured athletes can return to play, the focus should be on their health. Continually questioning when they can get back in the game will only increase the pressure on everyone to get them back onto the court. It’s the job of the officials, the people in charge of the game and the coaches to put their foot down and send the message that the health of the athletes unequivocally comes first.
There needs to be a change in the way injuries during the game are handled.
— Anna Polumbo-Levy can be reached at annapl@umich.edu.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor and viewpoints. Letters should be fewer than 300 words while viewpoints should be 550-850 words. Send the writer’s full name and University
affiliation to melikaye@umich.edu.
6 ARTS
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALBUM REVIEW
‘Surf’ ’s multiple genres Eclectic album hints toward future of hip hop
So, before evaluating Surf we need to understand what it is. First, it’s not a rap album. We’ve known that from the beginning. Chance has said repeatedly in interviews leading up to the By WILL GREENBERG release that this has been DonDaily Arts Writer nie Trumpet’s project. Segal controlled the project from day Last Thursday was the worst one, according to Chance, and he possible time to be running on orchestrated a variety of sounds inadequate sleep. When Chance and genres, combining his own the Rapper playing ability with the musical and The Social B+ abilities of a swath of other great Experiment talents. For those looking for a dropped Surf Surf follow-up to Chance’s fame-makthat night, ing Acid Rap, you will not find it I grappled Donnie Trumpet here. with the same & The Social That’s not to say there isn’t question all Experiment rap, or even good rap. Chance modern-day delivers several delightful versSelf-Released hip-hop fans es throughout, most notably on have to endure “Wanna Be Cool,” that are craftin this era of ed more delicately than those random-albumfrom Acid Rap.And then there dropping mania: Stay up to hear it are the features. Big Sean, J. Cole, or listen in the morning? I made Busta Ryhmes, B.O.B, Janelle the game-time decision to wait Monae, BJ the Chicago Kid, Nonuntil the morning, but would try ame Gypsy, Jeremih, Quavo (of to get up early and go through the Migos), D.R.A.M., Jesse Boykins tracks as soon as I could. All this III, Erykah Badu, Raury, King is to say, I woke up Friday with a Louie and Jamila Woods all make bad combination of emotions — appearances on Surf (So much for groggy, grumpy and with high not a rap album, huh?). The interexpectations. net is still trying to compile the Surf is one of the highly antici- full list of contributors; the track pated albums of the year, with list includes no feature credits. many fans waiting to see what Each guest provides their own new magic comes true when phe- flavor to their respective songs, nom Chance gets his hands on with superpowers like J.Cole and a project. However, this album Busta Ryhmes delivering reliwas advertised as a collabora- ably solid verses and others, most tive effort to involve more of The notably Quavo, blend surprisingly Social Experiment band, led by well with Segal’s instrumental Nico Segal — trumpet player with creations. Chance and previously with Save More than anything we’ve Money companion Vic Mensa. seen so far from this branch of Time and time again, Chance Save Money, Surf pushes the and The Social Experiment crew boundaries of experimental hip offer their emotions through hop, being simultaneously too music so honestly it can be off- musical and too carefully crafted putting if you’re not ready for it. to fit nicely into any specific subThey create music that straddles set of the genre. Segal exhausted the line between euphorically his creative abilities to great and delightful and cheesy. Try see- compelling effect here, wielding the group live; they push their ing a variety of genres across the listeners to the brink of their tracks. “Slip Slide” resembles a emotional capacity and ask them New Orleans marching band, to trust that no one will fall off a centering on drums and horns; cliff. Much of the time, it works “Nothing Came to Me” and counto great effect, creating a satis- terpart “Something Came to fying vibration that puts a smile Me” display Segal’s remarkable on your face. But, if you’re in the trumpet playing chops, creating wrong frame of mind, as I was for a theatrical, explosive sound that my first listen through of Surf, the knocks your socks off. There’s music will fall flat in your unwel- also the ethereal, dream-like coming ears. tracks such as “Warm Enough”
and “Questions,” which employ more computer crafting. The album is a magic trick. Segal and The Social Experiment take musical concepts we’ve seen before and blend them before our eyes in a way that’s hard to get our head around — here I have an ordinary rap verse, now watch what happens when I do THIS! If I had to take a stab at defining the genre, I’d call it endorphin-inducing. Still, the music challenges listeners to internalize the sound as is, without trying to understand intent or complete definition. Surf requires several listens, even if you woke up in a good mood. There is so much going on within each track that you can’t fully evaluate it until you understand just how much work went into it. Upon revisiting “Something Came to Me,” I realized the intricacies of the base underneath the trumpet, all together creating a stirring, infectious instrumental. Each track is rich in musical flavor this way, conjuring unavoidable sentiment and calming joy. Aside from the many tracks with singular genre influences, the culmination of effects can be found in the irresistible tracks such as “Wanna Be Cool,” “Slip Slide” and the previously released “Sunday Candy.” These are the ones that conjure a smile almost without fail. As Andrew Barber — writer for local Chicago blog Fake Shore Drive who got an exclusive first listen of Surf — wrote, the album “was meant to be played in the whip. It’s a summer album.” He’s right — it’s an ear-pleasing delight, but it’s also going to grab the attention of hip hop as another large step toward a new age of rap music. For all the “it’s not a rap album” talk, there are too many big names laying verses here for this to go overlooked. The collaboration of this eclectic group offers an unwritten consent that this is the direction hip hop is heading. Plus, the passion of artists like Donnie Trumpet, Chance, and the rest of The Social Experiment is unlikely to lessen anytime soon. While it might not be a rap album right now, it is likely a sign of things to come in the genre. Surf will be remembered as a key landmark when mapping the transition into the next generation of rap.
TV REVIEW
ABC
Children are terrifying
‘Whispers’: too much, too soon By SOPHIA KAUFMAN Daily Arts Writer
Imaginary friends of children have always been an object of fascination for us. We can give any number of psychological reasons for why and Bwhen children are most likely to Whispers have them, but there’s always Series Premiere that tiny doubt at ABC the back of our minds: What if they’re something more than just figments of imagination? The idea that children in their wide-eyed innocence could see or know something more than the jaded teenagers and the cynical adults they turn into is frightening ... but also intriguing. ABC’s “The Whispers,” which premiered June 1, presents this familiar plot line to us with a new twist. It leans more toward complicated tech-y science fiction than, say, the paranormal, saccharine campiness of “Ghost Whisperer.” Set against a suburban backdrop of baseball games and bubble blowing in backyards, “The Whispers” follows the children in the outskirts of D.C. talking to people — or things, as we’re gradually led to believe — that aren’t there. Their parents are ready to dismiss this as normal age-appropriate behavior, until the “friend” convinces these children to play a game, which always turns out to be dangerous — especially for adults. It involves activities like creating and detonating a bomb and rigging a treehouse so a mother falls to her death, while her daughter looks down through the jagged wooden planks at her, calling, “You can stop playing the game now.” Lily Rabe (“American Horror Story”) gives a believable, if at times muted, performance as Claire Ben-
nigan, an FBI agent returning to the workplace and a mother to a young deaf son. Rabe’s own skill in creating a nuanced but realistic rapport with the children she’s questioning is complemented by the young actors of the show, notably Abby Fortson as Harper — the young girl who watched her mother fall through the treehouse floor. The most captivating part of “X Marks the Spot” is, by far, watching the children, who all seem to know the same imaginary friend named Drill. He speaks sometimes through the lights and other electrical appliances. The other adult actors are less lucky than Rabe. The dialogue they’re given to work with usually falls flat due to the half-hearted expository writing and predictably mundane complaints about home, work and marital problems. The writers tried to do too much in the single episode, but it held together anyway. Though the children and their imaginary, insidious friend could have been intriguing enough to carry the show, the writers threw in some more sci-fi stuff that doesn’t really mesh easily and naturally with the imaginary friend plot. There’s a creepy guy who always manages to show up whenever a child is playing the “game” — until he passes out unexpectedly and wakes up in a hospital bed, staring dazedly at his own tattoos — and there’s something weird going on in the Sahara Desert with rocks and electricity. Oh, and of course there’s some government conspiracy afoot somewhere. “The Whispers” has its entire season ahead of it to develop the storylines and blend them together — but the pilot was too much, too fast. If that was supposed to keep us watching, it may have done so for some viewers. But most will approach the following episodes with considerably more skepticism and higher standards.
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALBUM REVIEW
TV REVIEW
ARTS 7
Florence + the Machine’s ‘Aquarius’ isn’t 3rd LP is in need of quirk binge-worthy TV ‘How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful:’ a break-up album
By MATT BARNAUSKAS Daily Arts Writer
By MELINA GLUSAC Daily Arts Writer
I first heard “Ship to Wreck” driving home from work on one of those out-of-the-blue sizzling May afternoons. (Michigan weather, you Bkeep any sense of normalcy in check. How Big, For that, I thank you, I hate you, I How Blue, love you.) My caf- How feine buzz was long gone as I collapsed Beautiful into the car around Florence + 4 p.m., unleashing the Machine my pony tail and rolling the win- Island Records dows down all the way so as to pump my stomach free of the day’s airconditioning overdose. Hey, we do what we have to. To hear Florence at this point in time was nothing less than fitting — a gift, actually, bestowed upon me by the almighty radio out of pity, necessity and graciousness. You see, Ms. Florence Welch doesn’t just come on the radio. She yawps, belches, even wails through your speakers with that great throaty voice that somehow reflects every bit of longing, heartbreak and ecstasy you’ve ever felt. Even at the lowest volume, “Ship to Wreck” is a characteristically epic, blossoming tune. And it was perfect to hear it after a long day, cruising down 8 Mile, wind in my hair. There was something very Perks-of-Being-aWallflower-y about it all. So when How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful came out, I expected that aura of sad-happy infinity to percolate. A beautiful record, to be sure, Florence + the Machine’s third installment in its already impressive legacy is a bit pop-y, a lot devastating and often monotonous. We can’t forget how Florence burst onto the scene in 2009 with Lungs, a graceful, harp-laced debut, and then followed it up with 2011’s hauntingly essential Ceremonials But How^3 ditches the one-word title pattern
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
“Imma wreck that ship”
(and, unfortunately, much inventive energy) and amps up the melancholy — sometimes in the band’s favor, sometimes not. This is, first and foremost, a break-up album. Every good one has a standout song. For Flo and the gang it’s “What Kind of Man,” an ethereal-meets-angry build-up melody that brings on the soul. It starts out easy until Welch stomps to the top of her royal soapbox (reserved for ginger goddesses only) to preach to her man about all his emotional wrongdoing. What kind of listener could resist this delicious British disdain? Welch tries happiness on for size with “Delilah” and “Third Eye.” The latter is a refreshingly stripped number that has her handsomely chanting, “Hey look up! You don’t have to be a ghost here amongst the living!” (Thanks, Flo!) “Delilah” works just as well, with a catchy, interesting intro and one raw drum in the background. Joy suits Brits, too. The album’s title track, though, sets the tone to snooze, and it’s hard for even the most seasoned artists to puncture that miasma of tiredness. “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” and “Queen of Peace” find Welch reveling in typical “Florence” territory — melodies that rest on her lovely voice, a comfortable, often-visited key and tiringly depressed lyrics. This is the band’s main issue. All of that is pretty, but after two and a half albums of it, it’s nothing special anymore. Bring back the harps or the weird lyrics about sacrifice (see: “Rabbit Heart
(Raise It Up)”) or anything fresh, for that matter. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is in desperate need of quirk. Nevertheless, the album’s acoustic ballads shine. “Various Storms & Saints” is a stunning journey to simplistic instrumental land; Welch weaves her softened-up way around a sole electric guitar played as delicately as an acoustic one, and the result is ghostly, sexy and calm. “Long & Lost” elicits similar intimacy with eerily ascending backup whispers. And the sheer restraint of “St. Jude” adds to serious refinement — Welch controls her cry here and shows she can still be mysterious while doing it. Clever girl. “Caught,” perhaps the most pop of the bunch, is charmingly sad. It’s exactly the kind of song they play in a rom-com after Girl and Boy break up, during a montage of Girl doing various mundane activities with a little less “joie de vivre” because something just doesn’t feel right. Usually Girl or Boy then does something about that unsettled feeling, and the movie ends with a great kiss or reunion or splitting of a strand of spaghetti. Does this album do that in the end? Does Florence make amends with her elusive male muse, with all things big and blue and (I’m assuming, tragically) beautiful? Not quite. But one listen to the otherworldly, extro-spective symphony of hums, drums and fuzzy guitars on the closing “Mother” and you can’t help but feel infinite again. She got there. We got there. And at least the windows were down along the way.
“Goddamn Hippies!” – Eric Cartman, “South Park” Set in 1967’s Summer of Love, NBC’s “Aquarius” finds Citself filled with a bevy Aquarius of the weedSeries Premiere smoking counter cul- NBC turists, ready to say “man” a million times and be annoyingly uncooperative toward series protagonist, detective Sam Hodiak (David Duchovny, “The X-Files”). Filled with neo-noir overtones, the show paints Hodiak as the typical grizzled veteran clashing with the younger generation, embodied by young undercover cop, Brian Shafe (Grey Damon, “Twisted”). True to type, Hodiak lives a lonely life, with a soon-to-be ex-wife (Jodi Harris, “Grey’s Anatomy”) and a struggle to not slip back into alcoholism, which he undoubtedly succumbs to. Hodiak’s life becomes a lot more interesting, though, when a former lover, Grace (Michaela McManus, “Awake”), asks him to help locate her daughter Emma (Emma Dumont, “Inherent Vice”), who has run away from home and taken up with what happens to be the eventual Manson Family, led by the Charlie Manson (Gethin Anthony, “Game of Thrones”) himself. NBC has staked an interest in the series, putting all episodes online, available to stream instantly. It’s a bold move by the network in an industry that has been upheaved by the presence of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. However, “Aquarius” lacks the inherent binge-ability present in series such as “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black.” The biggest issue present in its early episodes is that “Aquarius” struggles to establish a forward momentum necessary to convince a viewer to plunge themselves down the rabbit hole and watch multiple episodes in one sitting. Hodiak’s storyline unfortunately gets bogged down in a case-ofthe-week structure that looks to
serve as a Sparknotes guide to all the issues that were brewing during the late 1960s. A notable example is African-American activist, Bunchy (Gaius Charles, “Friday Night Lights”), who starts as a member of the Nation of Islam in the second episode and then converts to the Black Panther Party by the fifth. Bunchy’s change is never fully seen during the initial episodes, just the result. Instead of feeling organic, his evolution is reduced to a plot point by the writers so they can continue crafting their ’60s historical primer. The proto-Manson family also struggles. While Anthony presents Manson with solid contrast of menacing and delusional, his storyline about wanting to enter the music business and the life within his commune, while based on Manson’s life, doesn’t make for very exciting content. Manson is at his best when he’s trying to force people to bend to his will, preying on their fears and insecurities while presenting himself as either a savior or executioner. But the end goals, like getting a demo recorded, are incredibly low stakes. Emma’s presence doesn’t aid the Manson storyline either. The character is just dull, serving as the conventionally misunderstood teen, whose parents are too busy arguing to pay attention to how hard she has it as an attractive upper-class white girl. The only entertainment the character gives is an unintentionally hilarious acid trip near the end of Episode 4, filled with bad acting and worse effects. Seeped in sepia tones, “Aquarius” does present an intriguing setting for a noir-influenced show. The social conflicts are present; one case involving a cop and a Black teenager being choked to death eerily echoes with current events. Duchovny is more than serviceable as a troubled detective trying to do right within an increasingly apathetic precinct. However, the tendency of the show to fall back to familiar procedural formulas while never fully creating an engrossing overarching narrative prevents “Aquarius” from being the binge-worthy show it hopes to be.
8 NEWS
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
FLINT From Page 3
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Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
CHAMPIONSHIP From Page 1A
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Junior forward JT Compher was named the Michigan hockey team’s captain after tallying 24 points in his sophomore year
Compher named ‘M’ captain, Nieves and Selman alternates By ZACH SHAW Summer Managing Sports Editor
The Michigan hockey team announced Wednesday afternoon that junior forward JT Compher will serve as the team’s captain for the 2015-16 season. Senior forwards Justin Selman and Boo Nieves were named alternate captains. “It’s an honor to be considered by the coaching staff and your teammates for a leadership position,” Compher said. “To wear a letter on a team with such tradition, I think all three of us are excited about the role. We work well together, and I think we have a really good opportunity to make a difference on this team.” The announcement comes after Compher tallied 24 points in his sophomore campaign. Though it failed to match the 31 points he tallied in his freshman season — which earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors — the forward developed as a leader and motivator, finding success away from the puck
while alternating between wing and center on the team’s top two lines. “He competes more than anybody I’ve ever seen,” Selman said. “When he competes in practice, it kind of fires you up and creates this contagious attitude amongst the team.” Added Nieves: “He’s fierce, he’s relentless, especially at practice. He gets guys going, he’ll hit you in practice, he doesn’t care who you are, he’ll find a way to get you going and it carries into the games, so it’s really good.” Compher succeeds former linemate Andrew Copp, who gave up his senior season of eligibility to join the Winnipeg Jets in March. Selman and Nieves received the honor as two of the remaining three seniors on the team. Nieves was fifth on the team in scoring last season with 28 points, while Selman notched the team’s second-highest +/with 18 and 23 points in 26 games after tallying just 13 points his
“He’s fierce, he’s relentless, especially at practice.”
first two seasons combined. Still seeking their first postseason berth after three seasons, the duo know they will need to elevate their game even further. “As guys have left throughout the years, our class has been pretty strong,” Nieves said. “Now it’s down to us, and I think we have what it takes to lead this group and get us back on track.” Compher, Nieves and Selman headline a core of 19 Wolverines set to return next fall. Despite the losses of forwards Zach Hyman, Dylan Larkin and Copp, the team’s top-three scorers, high summer participation has the captain confident for his team’s upcoming voyage. “Obviously the goal is to get back to the postseason, and it starts with the little things,” Compher said. “We have all the guys in town working out right now, and everyone’s really focused on making sure that each day is good, and the main thing for us is the attention to detail in the little things that we do. “For us, the difference between making the (NCAA) Tournament and not is very small, so anything that you can do to improve yourself and improve the team has to be done if we want to make it back.”
was hit in the shoulder. Another two-on, two-outs situation for Michigan’s offense, and this time it was Blanco’s turn. But yet again, the Gators got out alive when Blanco grounded out to the short stop. Overall, the Wolverines could not handle Haeger in the circle Wednesday night. She was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. “(Lauren Haeger) was great tonight,” Hutchins said. “A very deserving champion. She definitely took care of business.” Against Betsa, the Gators couldn’t get a single run, as the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year handed Florida eight strikeouts. However, she hit a multitude of batters to load the bags and was taken out in the bottom of the sixth when Wagner returned to the circle. In the final inning, Ramirez got onto first base as Florida’s short stop couldn’t handle her slapper in time. Michigan’s next batter, junior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence, struck out looking, and Romero returned to the plate. Romero grounded to the shortstop, who tossed to second for the next out, and sophomore outfielder Kelly
SPORTS 9
Christner stepped into the box, Michigan’s last chance. But after three pitches, Christner grounded out to first, and the season was over. The Florida Gators were the 2015 National Champions. “I told my team today, and I told my team (Tuesday), ‘Tonight doesn’t define our season,’ ” Hutchins said. “We would’ve liked to walk out of here with the other trophy, but this has been a great team. I’m really proud of them.”
BY THE NUMBERS Michigan Softball
60
Wins by the 2015 Michigan softball team, second-most in school history
122
Home runs by the Wolverines, first in the nation and most in school history
100
Wins on the mound for Haylie Wagner, third-most in history
2005
Michigan’s lone NCAA Title season after team lost to Florida Wednesday
10 SPORTS
Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Rugby finishes fifth at Nationals By LELAND MITCHINSON Daily Sports Writer
LUNA ANNA ARCHEY/Daily
Michigan’s first varsity eight had Michigan’s strongest showing at the NCAA Championships, taking second in the nation.
Rowing takes 10th at NCAA’s By CHLOE AUBUCHON Daily Sports Writer
On the final day of the NCAA Championships Sunday, the Michigan women’s rowing team failed to capitalize on momentum from its second-place finish behind topranked Ohio State at the Big Ten Tournament, placing 10th overall on the weekend. The scene at the event was similar to the Big Ten Tournament, with the Buckeyes making history as the first-ever team to win three straight NCAA titles. A strong performance in Friday’s heat races advanced Michigan to Saturday’s semifinals, where all three of the Wolverines’ crews — first varsity eight, second varsity eight and first varsity four — placed in the top five in their respective heats. These performances were good for entry for all three crews in Sunday’s petite finals to determine seventh through 12th place overall, but failed to put any in the grand final. The first varsity eight posted the
strongest showing for Michigan on Sunday, finishing second (6:27.251) behind Brown in its heat and eighth overall. The second-place finishers fought hard to maintain their standing throughout the race, especially after a late challenge from Washington State. “I thought our varsity eight had a good race this morning,” said Michigan coach Mark Rothstein. “We were disappointed not to get into the grand final, but finishing second in the second-level final, I thought it was a good race.” Despite the weekend’s disappointments, Rothstein has high hopes for the future of his young team. With only four seniors, this year’s squad improved steadily throughout the year. The young rowers not only helped give the Wolverines their 15th top-10 finish, but also gained valuable experience that will provide a solid foundation for next season. “The vast majority of this team
“The vast majority of this team will be back next year.”
will be back next year, and I think this is something we can build on,” Rothstein said. “For a lot of our rowers, this was their first time racing at NCAA’s. So having been through it now, I think that’s going to help us a lot next year.” The second varsity eight, made up of mostly underclassmen, fought a hard back-and-forth race with a late surge. The crew boasted two of the fastest 500-meter splits in the heat in the second half of the race as it propelled to a fight for second place before ultimately falling back for a fourth-place finish in its heat and a 10th-place overall finish (6:36.280). Michigan’s first varsity four also recorded a fourth-place finish in its race and a 10th-place overall finish (7:30.335) after coming off the starting line in fourth place and challenging California and Stanford for second place throughout. Though the Wolverines raced hard and pulled together some close races, they simply weren’t at their best during the weekend’s regatta and didn’t show the same success that they did at the Big Ten Tournament. “We didn’t peak well here,” Rothstein said. “We seemed to peak at Big Tens, and that was a little disappointing.”
a single tri in the second. Cal would go on to win their third championship in a row with a 17-12 overtime win over Kutztown. “Cal has the best collection of rugby talent in America,” Sparks said. “Where we recruit largely from the general student body, they are a varsity program, so they can bring players in that are rugby-specific.” Michigan’s rugby club has a long history, though the collegespecific team did not begin until 2000, and the team has only been playing the seven-on-seven version of the sport competitively for two years. “Most of these teams have had legitimate sevens programs for 10-plus years,” Sparks said. “There is a big learning curve with sevens because it is a lot different than the traditional game of fifteens.” Though the team is relatively young, there is a strong culture around the program. “It starts with the sport,” Sparks said. “There are no true superstars in the sport. There are good athletes that are made to excel in their environment because of their teammates. The sport is the foundation of it all. “From there it is the players themselves, the level of accountability that they hold themselves to both on and off the field sets that standard, on time, be positive, don’t do anything to embarrass the shirt or your last name … it’s the players themselves constantly trying to be better on and off the field.”
Going into the Collegiate Rugby Championship this weekend, the Michigan rugby team had the goal of a top-eight finish for the second year in a row. The Wolverines put on an impressive performance on their way to achieving that goal and taking fifth. Beginning the tournament in a pool with Arkansas State, UCLA and Texas, Michigan opened play against Arkansas State with the rugby community watching to see if its success from the year before was anything more than a one-hit wonder. “Last year was considered a fluke that we made it there,” said Michigan coach Brandon Sparks. “This year we were largely discredited by almost everyone in the rugby media.” Concerns that the team would not be able to reproduce its success due to a weak conference schedule and injuries going into the tournament seemed to be legitimate after Michigan lost to the Red Wolves, 17-5. However, the Wolverines bounced back and showed that they can play at the highest level, leaning on their defense in their 17-12 victory over UCLA and their 29-10 defeat of Texas. Michigan added some good offensive play throughout the tournament to go with their stout defense, with senior Sequoyah Burke-Combs finishing pool play as the second-leading tri scorer in the tournament. The Wolverines had the misfortune of having to face the two-time defending national champions, California, in the quarterfinals and the Michigan team was simply outmatched, falling 31-0. Despite the big Visit https://www.michiganloss, the Wolverines were able daily.com/section/sports to to bounce back from a poor first read all of them. half to limit the Golden Bears to
“Last year was considered a fluke that we made it here.”
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with the flu since Thursday. Using its fourth starter, Evan Hill, in the earlier game, Michigan relied on spare bullpen parts in its biggest game of the season. “We knew we were going to try to piece it together a little bit,” Bakich said. “We were down an arm, but we were just hoping to try to keep them off balance and try some different looks at them. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out that way.” In the team’s worst loss since April 10, the shorthanded pitching staff was coupled with a sudden drop-off in defense (the team made three errors) and timely hitting to ensure that, after the first inning, the Wolverines were nowhere near contending with
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the Cardinals. “All of those base hits and extra 90’s add up, and we just had too many mistakes today that they took advantage of and they were able to score a lot of runs.” Though most season-ending games result in glassy-eyed press conferences full of short statements about the sting of defeat, Bakich leaned back and smiled when talking about his overachieving team. “They’ll forever be champions, and that’s what they’ll be remembered for.” Bakich said. “We’ve been that way for a couple weeks now where our backs are against the wall and we’re fighting for our lives and we’ve thrived in that situation. It’s been a lot of fun.”
“It’s been a lot of fun.”
AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Sophomore infielder Carmen benedetti hit two home runs in the Wolverines’ two losses to No. 3 Louisville.
Baseball’s season ends with loss to No. 3 L’ville By ZACH SHAW Summer Managing Sports Editor
LOUISVILLE — By the time Carmen Benedetti finished rounding the bases, Michigan looked like it had found one more dose of postseason magic. The sophomore first baseman had just belted a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, and the Wolverines (39-25) were on top of No. 3 Louisville (46-16) just four minutes into the game. But by the time Benedetti came up to the plate for the second time in the fourth inning, the magic had run out. Without a true starting pitcher available, Michigan instead got a healthy dose of reality, as its Cinderella run came to an abrupt end. The Cardinals scored early and often, thumping the Wolverines in a 13-4 defeat. “We wanted to get out of the gate quick, and that was a two-out, two-run home run that was a huge lift that pumped us up,” said Michigan coach Erik Bakich. “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t keep up.” The loss ends Michigan’s season, which was miraculously continued with a 4-0 run in the Big Ten Tournament and featured
the most wins by a Michigan team since 2008. After defeating Bradley, 4-3, earlier in the day, Michigan had its second chance against Louisville with some momentum after surviving the first elimination game. It disappeared quickly, however, as Louisville tallied 14 hits and scored in all but two innings. Five Cardinals had multi-hit games in the dominant affair. “We didn’t lose today because we were scared, we just couldn’t keep up with them,” Bakich said. “But that’s the type of environment we’ve been in over the past two week, and want to be in in the future.” On offense, left-hander Josh Rogers retired 10 straight Wolverine batters after the home run. Michigan would piece together two more runs and 10 hits overall, but it paled in comparison to Louisville’s outpour. Even when the Wolverines did rally, Louisville was able to force three double plays with runners in scoring position to end the threat. “The double play is a momentum play, especially when it’s
“We knew we were going to try to piece it together.”
an inning-ending double play,” Bakich said. “You’re sprinting off the field and that gets some energy in the dugout. They certainly did a good job of getting ground balls and ending the rallies for us.” “They have dominant pitching, that’s why they’re the No. 3 national seed.” In addition to Louisville’s top seed, two consecutive College World Series appearances and home-field advantage of roughly 5,000 fans, Michigan’s odds of winning were even further diminished Sunday. Freshman right-hander Ryan Nutof — normally the team’s No. 2 starter — has been in the hospital
AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Junior right-hander and utility player Jacob Cronenworth is one of several team leaders likely to leave for the MLB Draft. He led the team in saves and base hits.
Expires: Sunday, June 14, 2015
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Thursday, June 4, 2015 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
DELANEY RYAN/Daily
Haylie Wagner ends her four-year career at Michigan witha 4-1 loss to defending NCAA Champions Florida
DELANEY RYAN/Daily
Megan Betsa shined as an All-American in her sophomore season, leaving optimism for nest season.
Wolverines bit by Gators, season over Michigan softball falls in Championship, aims to rise once again By CHRIS CROWDER Daily Sports Writer
Tera Blanco took a mid-60s fastball to the upper arm. Her elbow guard was too low to protect her from the seven-ounce, neon yellow sphere spinning toward her. The freshman first baseman kneeled to the dirt in pain. She stayed there for the length of a breath and got back up to trot to first base. The Michigan softball team found itself knocked down. It had been through it before, and it didn’t need a helping hand. Michigan coach Carol Hutchins brought the team through trials, but she didn’t offer a helping hand. They figured it out all by themselves. “The biggest thing you have to do with these young kids is to throw them on the ground and
say ‘Figure it out,’ ” Hutchins said before the WCWS began. “Eventually they figure out how to get up … I’m not afraid to throw them on the ground and say, ‘you want up? Get up.’ ” The Wolverines came back from being down 3-0 in the first inning twice before against Georgia in the Super Regionals and against UCLA in the Women’s College World Series. Michigan came back to win both times, but had never overcome a deficit over three to win, which is what it faced in it’s sudden-death Game 3 WCWS Final against Florida on Wednesday. Four runs proved to be too many against the defending national champions. Florida wasn’t alone in trying to knock the Wolverines off their game, Michigan did it to itself inadvertently to dig its own hole. In the first inning, Haylie Wagner hit the first batter she faced. The next batter bunted, and Lauren Sweet threw down to second to get the lead runner out, but the attempt was a step too late. In the second inning, sopho-
“Eventually they figure out how to get up ... I’m not afraid.”
more third baseman Lindsay Montemarano overthrew first base. Sophomore right-hander Megan Betsa entered and plunked the first two batters she saw. Yet, the Wolverines only found themselves down four runs in the third inning when the freshman first baseman Blanco got hit. Four batters later, sophomore left fielder Kelly Christner stepped up to the dish with the bases loaded. She was the tying run, but she couldn’t connect on a 1-2 rise ball to put a dent in the Gator lead. The Michigan offense struggled to string hits together, as Florida right-hander Lauren Haeger took a no-hitter into the fourth inning. Blanco struck back in her next at-bat after getting hit, smacking a single past the shortstop for the Wolverines’ first base knock. Junior second baseman Sierra Romero stepped up to the plate with two on and delivered, hitting a RBI-single to cut the deficit to three. Christner entered the box again as the tying run, but flew out to end the Michigan rally.
One run might’ve seemed like a disappointment with so much opportunity to score for the Wolverines, but it was a sign that they were picking themselves back up. Michigan displayed understandable, subtle frustration after hitting out even when they hit the ball square. The ball was hit well, but fell into the web of the glove instead of on the checkered green grass. Meanwhile, Betsa kept racking up strikeouts like she’s known best to do. Even with two runners in scoring position in the Gator half of the fifth inning, she struck out the side to keep her team in it. When the Wolverines could’ve easily laid down and given up, they kept themselves in the game. That’s the silver lining. “They worked through adversity,” Hutchins said. “They avoided a lot of adversity because they always believed. They believed that they were great.” After Wagner got hit on the elbow pad in the sixth inning, she threw her bat down, either in pain or anger. Either way, Michi-
“We’ve pushed though it. No matter what, we’re a family.”
gan was losing the fight, getting hurt emotionally and physically by Florida. But the Wolverines kept standing, forgetting about their cuts and bruises. Despite playing their hearts out, Michigan couldn’t overcome its early mistakes and the opportunities it couldn’t capitalize on. They didn’t win the National Championship, but have the right to count Wednesday’s loss as a moral victory. “Sometimes all you have to do is make a decision on how you’re going to respond during adversity,” Hutchins said before the team left for Oklahoma City. Hutchins didn’t know where her team was going to end the WCWS, whether it be with a win or a loss. But she did know that her team would respond, win or lose, in a fashion that would made her proud. Losing in the last game of the WCWS with the title so close is tough to live with. It’ll take some time to move on, but Michigan softball has done it before. “We’ve stuck together through some hard times,” Romero said. “We’ve pushed through it. No matter what, we’re a family.” There’s no evidence against them to say that they won’t pick themselves up again.