2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 1, 2001 4 - , Sip)riTsBRIEFS Indians rout Twins, clinch AL Central CLEVELAND (AP) -- As cham- pagne soaked Cleveland's clubhouse from floor to ceiling, Charlie Manuel toasted the Indians' American League Central title the only way he could. He raised a glass of cranberry juice. The Cleveland Indians returned to the top of the division they've always believed was theirs, clinching their sixth division crown in seven years with a 9-1 win yesterday over the Minnesota Twins. However, as the players celebrated, their thoughts were with Manuel, who remains hospitalized with an abdominal infection. "This one's for Charlie," said first baseman Jim Thome, his shirt and cap drenched. "Charlie's our leader. We'll celebrate this one without him, but hopefully he'll be here for a few more." Bartolo Colon pitched eight shutout innings and Thome hit his 49th homer as the Indians routed the surprising- Twins, the team they had to chase down in the second half to get back into the playoffs. Ripken bids adieu to Yankee Stadium NEW YORK (AP) - About 3 1/2 hours before the final road game of his career, Cal Ripken Jr. sat in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium yester- day, watching a movie on a big-screen TV. In shorts and a shirt, empty plastic plate and cup in hand after breakfast, Ripken took in "61" - about Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and the pursuit of 61 homers 40 years ago. The story of the Yankees, history, and an unbreakable record seemed an apt choice for Ripken, whose Hall of Fame career has less than a week left. He was honored with a 15-minute ceremony yesterday before the Orioles and Yankees played the closing game of a three-game series, the latest in a string of tributes to Baltimore's star. Ripken, who announced his retire- ment in June, started yesterday at third base for the Orioles - his 126th game at Yankee Stadium, the most by an opposing player. His first game there was June 18, 1982. DAILY SPORTS. WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE DON'T ATTEND COLUMBIA. GRANTED, IT'S A FINE SCHOOL, BUT IT HAS QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORST ATHLETIC PROGRAM IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION. CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY - Edited br Kareemcn rpeland and Jim Weher Aikido club welcomes all comers ATHLETE OF THE WEEK By Eric Chan For the Daily Aikido is an old Samurai fighting technique dating back over 800 years. Literally translated from Japanese to English, aikido means "The way of harmony with universal energy." Many of the moves it incorporates used to be kept very secret. But, the moves aren't secret anymore, as evi- denced by the teachings offered by the aikido club at Michigan. "We do not study it as a self defen- sive technique or a fighting technique but more as a way to learn balance and how the body works, trying to understand how people can relate to each other and communicate with each other," club head instructor Akira Kushida said. "However, its moves can be very deadly." Sensei Kushida emphasized that aikido is probably more physical than it is mental. "Unlike other Eastern martial arts, we don't do meditation, or try to do ESP or anything like that," Kushida said. "But we do try to have good atti- tudes and respect toward others and we try to build our minds in that way." In movies like "Under Siege" and "Hard to Kill" one can see aikido as seventh-degree black belt Steven Sea- gal throws around armed terrorists. This is a poor portrayal of aikido, as Kushida warned that practices are quite demanding aerobically. But Kushida also added that club mem- bers can move at their own pace and take breaks. Every martial art has a central theme. For example, tae kwon do cen- ters on striking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu centers on submission holds, and judo centers on throwing. Aikido focuses more on using the topponent's energy against him with joint locks and throws as counter- moves. In addition, unlike other mar- tial art forms, aikido is a non-competitive art. Like most martial arts clubs at Michigan, the aikido club is great for beginners. According to fourth-year club member Jeff Balcerski, "The instructors were great in getting me up to speed and very supportive of me starting out as a beginner," he said. Balcerski also noted that there are always two instructors per class: One to help out the beginners and one to. teach the more advanced students. There is a great deal of tradition and honor that goes along .with the art. Students step on the mat at a specified corner, and bow when doing so. Bow- ing is also appropriate when address- ing an instructor and is done before students practice any techniques. The class is taught by Sensei Kushida and third-degree black belt Karen Clark. Sensei Kushida has been training for almost 25 years, while Clark has been practicing aikido for 16 years. Both are affiliated with the Genyokan Dojo on Airport Boulevard in Ann Arbor. Martial arts instructors are usually stereotypically depicted in popular media as mean, pushy and even tyran- nical. This is far from how Sensei Kushida and Clark could be described. Both are kind, energetic teachers of an art form they love. Michigan's aikido club is open to everyone. Practices are held Tues- days, Thursdays and Fridays from 5-6 p.m. Dues are S40 a month, which mostly goes toward the instructors' fees. Who: Eric Nystrom Hometown: Syosset, N.Y. Position: Forward Sport: Hockey Year: Freshman Why: In only his first game as a Michigan Wolverine, freshman Eric Nys- trom recorded a hat trick as Michigan defeated Queens University 9-0. Nystrom scored two of his goals off rebounds in front of the net, and sniped his third in on a power play during the second period. Nystrom Wednesday, Oct. 3 M Soccer at Oakland, 4 p.m. Volleyball vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4 Field Hockey at Michigan State, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 W Cross Country at Notre Dame Invitational, 4:15 p.m. W Soccer at Ohio State, 6 p.m. Volleyball at Purdue, 7 p.m. W Tennis hosts Wolverine Fall Invitational M Tennis at ITA All-American Championships Prequalifying (Stone Mountain, Ga.) Saturday. Oct. 6 Football at Penn State, 3:30 p.m. Ice Hockey at Michigan State, 7:05 p.m. Softball hosts Michigan Fall Tournament, 10 a.m. W Crew at Head of the Ohio (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 8 a.m. M Cross Country at Murray Keatinge Invitational (Orono, Maine), 11 a.m. W Golf hosts Wolverine Invitational W Tennis hosts Wolverine Fall Invitational M Tennis at ITA All-American Championships Prequalifying (Stone Mountain, Ga.) 4 Club Sports Round-up Here are some of last week's results for Michigan club sports teams. MEN'S SOCCER (4-1-1) RUGBY - "A" SIDE (3-1) WOMEN'S SOCCER (3-0) MICHIGAN 31 OHIO STATE 29 MICHIGAN 2, MIAMI (OHIO) 0 MICHIGAN 4 EASTERN MICHIGAN 0 MICHIGAN 5 MICHIGAN STATE 1 MICHIGAN 0 DAYTON 0 Tankers open with intrasquad 4 DAILY COREBOARD MLB STANDINGS NFL STANDINGS AMERICAN CONFERENCE By Kyle O'Neill For The Daily After 13 Big Ten Championships, 110 All-Americans, two NCAA Coach of the Year awards, and one NCAA team silver medal in 1995, one might think Michigan women's swimming coach Jim Richardson feels comfort- able knowing that he has history on his side when he goes into a season - but he knows better. "It's a brand new year and the team that won last year is not the team who will compete this year" said Richardson, whose squad competed for the first time in the 2001-02 season with an intrasquad meet on Friday. Although the meet was not scored, it provided the first chance for Richardson to see how the team would swim without three key contributors - departed seniors Jennifer Crisman and Melissa Sugar and 2000 Olympic gold medal- list Samantha Arsenault. Arsenault, a sophomore, has been out with a shoulder injury since last year's NCAA Championships and it is unknown when she will be able to get back into the pool at 100 percent. The Wolverines who did compete at the intrasquad did not disappoint. Senior captain Lindsay Carlberg, a repre- sentative at the World University Games, led her team to 10 first-place finishes over the team led by fellow senior captain Andrea Kurrle. Lindsay "had a great summer," said Richardson. "It gave her a lot of confidence. She likes to hit the wall first and she's tougher right now than ever before." Also making a good impression at the intrasquad were the new Wolverines. Freshman Amy McCullough scored a win for Kurrle's team in 1000-yard freestyle and Kentucky transfer Kelli Stein claimed firsts in the 100 and 200 breast- strokes and was a part of the winning 200 medley relay. 'Kelli has tools. is very coachable and has a good mind- set. She could be among the best breaststrokers in school history, which is some very elite company," Richardson said. All-American Emily Fenn, who had a lengthy fight with scoliosis this summer, has returned to the pool with an upbeat attitude, even though it may be until December before she can get back to swimming well on a daily basis. With Fenn and Arsenault - who is resting her shoulder in hopes she will be able to train for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens - both not at their normal level, the Wolverines will be relying on the rest of the team, especial- ly the younger swimmers, to step up. "I was happy with what we had from our freshmen," assistant coach Stefanie Kerska said. "It takes time for them to adjust to our program. We have (the intrasquad) to start thinking about competition, but we will need all three weeks of practice to be ready for the meets in Florida." Michigan begins its season in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 19-20 and will remain on the road until Christmas break before going to Hawaii for a two-week training trip. The Wolverines open at home on Jan. 18 against Penn State, last year's Big Ten runner-up. "This team looks about average right now when com- pared with other Michigan teams," said Richardson. "Their commitment and attitude are above average, so I am hop- ing the physical part catches up. It is important to swim confidently and not feel the pressure, which I don't think we have so far. That's definitely the challenge in front of us. "We need to take the season one day at a time. If we can string together enough of those days in a row, we give our- selves a very good chance to have success. AMERICAN LEAGUE Eastern Division New York Yankees Boston Toronto Baltimore Tampa Bay central Division cleveland Chicago White Sox Minnesota Detroit Kansas city western Division Seattle Oakland Anaheim Texas NATIONAL LEAGUE Eastern Division Atlanta Philadelphia New York Mets Florida Montreal Central Division Houston St. Louis Chicago Cubs Milwaukee Cincinnati Pittsburgh' Western Division Arizona San Francisco Los Angeles San Diego Colorado W L 91 62 76 77 74 80 62 92 57 97 W L 88 66 81 74 81l 74 64 91 61 94 W L 110 45 96 56 75 80 71 84 Pct GB .595 - .497 15 .481 17.5 .403 29.5 .370 34.5 Pct GB .571 - .523 7.5 .523 7.5 .413 24.5 .394 27.5 Eastern Division Indianapolis Miami NY Jets New England Buffalo Central Division Cincinnati Jacksonville Cleveland Baltimore Pittsburgh Cincinnati Western Division San Diego Denver Oakland Seattle Kansas City W 2 2 1 0 0 W 2 2 1 1 0 0 W 2 2 1 1 0 T 0 0 0 0 0 w 84 82 79 72 65 w 91 89 84 65 64 58' w 88 86 81 76 70 Pct. 1.00 1.00 .500 .000 .000 L 71 73 76 83 90 L 64 66 71 90 91 '97 L 67 69 74 79 85 Pct GB .710 - .619 14 .484 35 .458.39 Pct GB .542 - .529 2 .510 5 .465 12 .419 19 Pct GB .587 .574 2 .542 7 .419 26 .413 27 .374 33 Pct GB .568 - .555 2 .523 7 .490 12 .452 18 NATIONAL CONFERENCE Eastern Division W NY Giants 1 Philadelphia 1 Washington 0 Arizona 0 Dallas 0 T Pct. 0 1.00 0 1.00 o .5oo 0 .500 0 .000 0 .000 T Pct. 0 1.0 0 1.00 0 .500 o .500 0 .000 T Pct. 0 .500 0 .500 o .000 o .ooo 0 .000 T Pct. 0 1.00 0 .500 0 .000 0 .000 T Pct. 0 1.00 0 1.00 0 .500 0 .5oo 0 .500 PA 50 38 48 33 66 PA 27 9 23 27 21 44 PA 24 37 42 33 40 PA 34 23 67 38 42 PA '6 6 27 41 52 PA 43 6 32 43 37 4 Central Division Green Bay Tampa Bay Chicago Minnesota Detroit Western Division St. Louis New Orleans Atlanta San Francisco Carolina w 2 1 1 0 0 W 2 1 1 1 L 0 0, 1 2 2 L 0 0 1 1 1 4 MLB SCORES Yesterday's games Minnesota at Cleveland Boston at Detroit Baltimore at New York Yankees New York Mets at Atlanta Montreal at Cincinnati Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Pittsburgh at St. Louis Houston at Chicago Cubs Milwaukee at Colorado Texas at Anaheim San Diego at San Francisco Philadelphia at Florida Oakland at Seattle Los Angeles at Arizona NFL GAMES Yesterday's games Pittsburgh 20, Buffalo 3 Minnesota 16,.Tampa Bay 13 W HY WOULD ANYONE EVER WANT TO GO THERE? -_ _ _ _ __, HELP WANTED New York Giants 21. New Orleans 13 Green Bay 28, Carolina 7 St. Louis 42, Miami 10 New England 44, Indianapolis 13 Kansas City 45. Washington 13 Atl~nta 34, Arizona 14 San Diego 28, Cincinnati 14 Oakland 38, Seattle 14 Cleveland 23, Jacksonville 14 Baltimore 20, Denver 13 Dallas at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m. BYES: Chicago, Detroit, Tennessee Today's game San Francisco at New York Jets, 9:00 p.m. Next week's games Chicago at Atlanta, 1:00 p.m. San Diego at Cleveland, 1:00 p.m. New England at Miami, 1:00 p.m. Minnesota at New Orleans. 1:00 p.m. Washington at New York Giants. 1:00 p.m. Arizona at Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m. Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 1:00 p.m. Tennessee at Baltimore. 1:00 p.m. Jacksonville at Seattle. 4:05 p.m. Kansas City at Denver, 4:05 p.m. New York Jets at Buffalo, 4:05 p.m. Dallas at Oakland, 4:15 p.m. Green Bay at Tampa Bay, 4:15 p.m. Carolina vs. San Francisco. 8:30 p.m. St. Louis at Detroit, 9:00 p.m. (Monday Night) MINOTES 4 4 4 Trip to Notre Dame successful for netters The Michigan men's tennis team won a total of 13 singles matches and three doubles matches at the Notre Dame Invitational this weekend. The tournament - which took place in South Bend over the past three days - featured I1 teams from around the nation, including Harvard and several teams from the Big Ten. Senior Greg Novak led the way for the Wolverines with a 3-2 singles record. In doubles play, Novak record- ed two victories, partnered with both iunior Jeremy Edelson and sophomore m m "II IS