0 0 20B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. Magazine - Thursday, April 6, 2000 A2 Best Slang By Toyin Akinmusuru By Weekend, Etc. Editor A series of Budweiser commercials launched during the Superbowl has created the latest slang craze on cam- pus. "Whassup?', the question/greeting used by the actors in the extremely successful Anheuser-Busch ad cam- paigns has become so popular around campus that telephone calls have been staged, lasting for minutes at a time, using only the slang word. The Whassup? campaign started with the "true" commercial and has now grown to the "call waiting", "girl- friend" and "wasabi" spots. There is now also a commercial featuring Regis Philbin as well as the regular commer- cials' cast members. "Whassup?" as a slang term has been around for decades; however, the over-enthusiastic use of the word gives Wha s s s s s s s u u u u u u up? The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. Ma ZA2 Best Athlete Comrie's skill, matched by heart, does campus proud new life to use of the term. It was all too evident "Whassup?" had become mainstream when a life- line callee greeted Regis with a "Whassup" and Regis enthusiastically replied in kind on the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" game show. "Whassup?" has gained even more noteriety thanks to the internet. More than 500,000 visitors have downloaded and played the "Whassup?" from the Budweiser Website (budweiser.com) since the SuperBowl. The true fame of the "Whassup?" on the web did not come from the regular commercials but rather the Superfriends version of the "true" commercial. The Superfriends' "Whassup?" clip is a set of scenes fea- turing Superman, Aquaman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Robin speaking, dubbed with the sound from the Budweiser commercial (wassup.com). The use of the soundtrack over the images of Aquaman and Superman are extremely funny but go up a level higher in hilarity when Wonder Woman is introduced with a very low "Whassup?" It is quite obvious that the author of the movie clip had way too much time on their hands; however, the piece is so funny, you're grateful for the author's boredom after watching the clip. The resulting video clip is even more popular than the original, already generating over a million downloads since its release a week after the origi- nal commercial hit the airwaves. Even more "Whassup?" parodies have been made, the most memorable being a version with the South Park characters Chef, Mr. Hanky and Cartman. Because of (or in spite of?) the pop- ularity of "Whassup?," chances are that "Whassup?" won't be in this mag- azine next year. B, the Budweiser drinker, contemplates the age-old question: Whassup? No Credits No Problem! First Time Buyer Program If you have the followin ' " At least $1600 verifiable monthly income- " 6 months verified full-time job " No derogatory credit We Nave The Car For Youl Financing as low as 0.0% & Rebates from' $500 along with financing Immediate Answer! You Can Be Eriving Tolayl 21425 WOODWARD, FERNALE, MI 248-548-0444 METRO vWWWjntrunaua OMuET~ By Geoff Gagnon Daily Sports Writer Watch Mike Comrie after practice when he scores a goal. Watch the speedy skater smile and point with his arms in the air and his fists pumping - it's a picture of youthful exuberance and spirited enthusiasm. It's a sketch of a 19-year old doing what he loves and loving what he's doing. But it's also a picture of the fiery- eyed competitor who drives one of the nation's most feared college hockey programs - with a talent so pure and an intensity so focused many forget that he's just a sophomore. Take a close look. Observe how, in his brief tenure at Michigan, Comrie has done more than come to personify the hockey program he leads - he's grown to embody the honor, pride and mystique of Michigan. And he's done so in record time. Two seasons aren't long - but its all the time Mike Comrie has needed to boldly stake his claim as one of Michigan's most remarkable athletes. And in a city whose athletic past is littered with a virtual litany of leg- ends, its a 5' 10" hockey player that in many ways towers above a host of heroes built mainly on the gridiron. Surprised? Don't be. In a program steeped in tradition, Michigan's latest hockey star has wasted no time building a resume in two years that most would envy after four. A candidate for college hockey's highest honor, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, Comrie ranks as the lone sophomore eligible to be honored this weekend as the game's absolute best. And his numbers make a strong case for his inclusion despite only two years of college experience. Comrie's 24 goals this season matched with 35 assists were good enough to lead the Wolverines in both categories, finishing second for the year in conference scoring. Gaudy stats notwithstanding, last year's CCHA Rookie of the Year all did more than shake his newcomer status as he took aim at conference dominance this season. Casting any lingering sign of inex- perience aside, Comrie's early season performance screamed for attention as the impatient center tallied 10 goals and 10 assists in Michigan's first nine games. The explosive start catapulted Comrie to the top of the national scor- ing rankings and his Wolverines to the top of the conference standings. But for Comrie the quick start was nothing more than a continuation of the rookie season that saw the Edmonton native record a team-best 44 points on 19 goals. "What we wanted when Mike came here was a player that could step in and begin to make an impact immedi- ately," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "And that's certainly what we got. This season Berenson got more of the same from the player some have termed the best Canadian in college hockey - and opponents and fans alike have taken note. Comrie's siz- zling offensive outburst this season gave the Wolverines a cornerstone around which to build the league's most potent scoring attack. And with Comrie as the catalyst, Michigan rolled to its tenth straight NCAA Tournament appearance after Comrie tallied 15 goals and 43 points in the conference season. Remarkably simple in his approach, Comrie's sophomore campaign was made all the more impressive by the added attention he garnered from opponents bent on stopping Comrie in order to stop Michigan. After his elec- trifying bolt from the gates early in the fall, Comrie found opposing teams shadowing his every move often with intimidating intent. Targeted and harassed by teams doing their best to keep him out of Michigan's offensive picture, Comrie found himself prey to what, at one point this season, Berenson termed "on-ice stalking." But the result, say both Comrie and his coach, has been good for him at times. "It's a form of flattery," Berenson said. "And it's helped him mature as a player. To be keyed in on like that all season long by opposing defenses had helped him learn how to deal with being a star player. He's learning to play with control and to make good decisions." . The operative word in Berenson's remarks - learning. The Michigan skipper stresses that Comrie's drive to get better should only make for a more impressive player with two full sea- sons yet unplayed and a clear goal in mind. "For me, I just want to work hard and be a part of a winning team," Comrie said. "I came here to help Michigan win a national title and that is very much our focus as a team." So as Comrie braces for his final two years, watch him closely. Watch as unspoiled potential and unrelenting dedication combine to mold a super- star. Watch as poise and promise defies patience as a smiling Wolverine skates with his arms in the air and his fists pumping. I Mike Comrie (39) shows his chracteristi Records New & Used CD's, LP's ' Bought, Sold, ra Across from the Diag upstairs at 3 * Paying top dollar for your u plus ?1 bonus on trades! " Voted "Ann Arbor's Best" 1f years in tabe!lirdiganeaUg read Ann Arbor * 761-8686 bring in thisc $2 OFF A PURCHA L ~ ~ ~ n -- -- -of.flonEOVcu COME BACK TO WEEKEND, ETC. NEXT WEEK, FOR OUR FAREWELL ISSUE AND SPECIAL COVERAGE OF EXTREME SPORTS. RAHI ,(( 7he 7flagic& 1112 S. Uniersity Ami Arbor, MI 48104 (Across from Ulric's) KYh m Out of State Insurance 1204 S. 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