2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 27, 2004
CLUB PORT SWEEKLY
Coach embodies spirit of boxing
By Jack Herman
For the Daily
Michigan boxing coach Christian Roux has trained
a world champion, met Muhammed Ali and, accord-
ing to boxers on the team, is also one of the toughest
men to keep up with in the ring. That is all the more
remarkable because 45 years ago, Roux was paralyzed
from the waist down.
Roux grew up in Switzerland and was diag-
nosed with what doctors could only describe as
"polio-like symptoms." He was unable to walk,
but in 1959 someone took him down to the gym
to try out boxing.
Although Roux started working out with boxing to
improve his upper body strength, he took it upon him-
self to try to work out his lower body as well. Within
two years, he was not only walking but actually fight-
ing his first boxing match.
"It helped me walk - that's why I relate to boxing,"
Roux said.
Roux developed a love for this sport and decided
that it was what he wanted to do with his life. He
decided that teaching the sport was the best way for
him to accomplish this goal and began to train boxers
at a school in Bern, Switzerland.
It was at that school that he met and trained the
Cherway brothers, Roux's most successful students.
Fritz Cherway won a world championship bantam-
weight title in 1965, and his three brothers each one a
European championship.
After coaching in Switzerland for over 30 years,
Roux came to the United States. He stumbled upon
the boxing team here by pure luck.
"We were looking for a cat show when my wife saw
an ad on the door and told me I should go," Roux said.
"I came here the next week and introduced myself."
Roux says that he loves coaching students for
numerous reasons.
"It's nice to work with students - guys come
enthusiastic and want to do their best," Roux said.
"They make so much progress in one night, it's
exciting for me."
Roux teaches what he describes as a purely "techni-
cal" style which he derived from the great Ali.
"He started around the same time as me, and I
watched every one of his fights," Roux said. "The
first time I saw him box, I said 'That's the way I want
to teach.'
"It's all about technique, not power."
Roux fondly recounts of the time he met Ali at his
home in 1999.
"I had a wonderful day in his home," said Roux.
"I told him that I based my teaching style off him.
He asked me to show it to him and when I did, he
exclaimed, 'That's me.' "
Roux had something else exciting happen to him in
1999: He received an award from the Swiss Boxing
Federation for all his work.
"It was a complete surprise." Roux said. "The owner
of my boxing school was retiring so I went to visit him
in Switzerland. He told me had something to give me
and took me to the basement where they had set up a
party for me.
Even in his 45th year of boxing, Roux has yet to
grow tired of the sport.
"A lot of the boxers can't keep up with him,"
said Gabe Estrada, sophomore and president of
the boxing club.
Estrada also remembers how last year, Roux had
some stress problems and would be getting tested
for stress one day and still coming in the next day
to help out.
Junior Brian Tucker really sums up what makes
Roux, along with other members of the staff - Bob
Hodder, Dr. Tony Sensoli and Dr. Dennis Burke -
truly great coaches:
"Great people and they work for free."
UEbtctrtguu aI
Athlete of the Week
Name: Jamie Artsis Team: Soccer
Hometown: Chatsworth, Calif. Class: Freshman
Why: Artsis's second-half hat trick at Iowa on
yesterday propelled the Wolverines to their fifth
straight win. Artsis also assisted on the game-
winning goal in Michigan's double-overtime victory Artsis
over Minnesota on Friday. The seven points Artsis
notched this week are the first points of her career.
?g M SCH EIJE
Date
9/28
10/1
10/1
10/1
10/1
10/1
10/1
10/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
10/2
Event L
Volleyball vs. Notre Dame A
W Tennis Wolverine Invitational A
W Soccer vs. Penn State A
Volleyball vs. Purdue A
W Cross Country S
Notre Dame Invitational
M Cross Country C
Great American Cross Country Festival
M Soccer at Kentucky Lexi
Volleyball vs. Indiana A
Ice Hockey vs. Windsor A
W Tennis Wolverine Invitational A
W Tennis Prequalifying for Lo
ITA All-American Championships
W Rowing vs. Ohio State Bell
Football vs. Indiana Bl
,ocation
nn Arbor
nn Arbor
nn Arbor
nn Arbor
,uth Bend
ary, N.C.
ngton, Kent.
nn Arbor
nn Arbor
nn Arbor
s Angeles
eville, Mich.
oomington
Time
7 p.m.
TBA
4 p.m.
7 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
6 p.m.
7:35 p.m.
TBA
TBA
TBA
2:30 p.m.
TBA
noon
1 p.m.
5 p.m.
TBA
2:30 p.m
The Fish lights
up for scrimmage
By Ryan Sosin
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan baseball coach Rich Malo-
ney walked off the field Friday beam-
ing. He had plenty of reason to smile
after showing off all of his new toys
during the inaugural twilight game at
The Fish.
"I think it's exciting for Michigan
baseball," Maloney said. "It's a new era
for us."
The intra-squad scrimmage - which
was set up to show off the new lights at
The Fish - pitted the veteran pinstripe
team against the maize team filled with
underclassmen.
After the pinstripe team battled to
a 4-3 win, it became clear that Malo-
ney had more than a new set of lamps
to flaunt.
The lights - donated by an anony-
mous alum - open up the opportunity
for not only night'games, but a chance
to host Big Ten and NCAA tourna-
ment games.
Maloney also praised the athletic
department for its help with other details
- expanding the dugout length and mov-
ing the bullpens. Maloney believes the
modifications will make the stadium
truly ready for tournament play.
"(It's) a great opportunity for our kids
and a great opportunity for our program
to develop a fan base and generate inter-
est (in the team)," Maloney said.
When Maloney arrived at Michigan
in 2002, building a new facility was
one of his top priorities. Plans to build
a stadium next to the Varsity Tennis
Center are in place, and when the team
finally moves, the new lights will go
with them.
Along with the lights, the new-look
Michigan coaching staff got its first
taste of life at The Fish. Because two
coaches took head jobs with other
programs and one returned to the high
school ranks, Maloney had to retool in
the offseason.
"It's been difficult. I'm not going to
tell you it's been easy for me," Maloney
said. "It's really a tribute to the success
that we've already been able to have, that
(other schools) would want someone
from our staff to run their program."
10/3 W Tennis Wolverine Invitational Ann Arbor
10/3 W Soccer vs. Ohio State Ann Arbor
10/3 Field Hockey vs. Harvard Ann Arbor
10/3 Ice Hockey Blue/White Intrasquad Ann Arbor
10/3 W Tennis Prequalifying for Los Angeles, Calif.
ITA All-American Championships
10/3 M Soccer at Louisville Louisville
Daily's Rankings
5. New York Jets (2-0)
" The resurgent Curtis Martin has
the Jets scoring in bunches.
TONY DING/Daily
Michigan baseball coach Rich Maloney showed off the Fish's new lights on Friday. A
team of veterans prevailed 4-3 over underclassmen in thescrimmage.
Bob Keller, coming off of three
years at Birmingham-Southern, will
replace John Lowery as pitching
coach. Scott Kingston, a former New
York Yankee draft pick, will take over
as volunteer coach.
"The energy level both these guys
bring is just outstanding," Maloney said.
This spring's top recruit, Doug Pick-
ens, also got his first chance to show the
Ann Arbor faithful his talent. Michi-
gan's Mr. Baseball in 2004 expects to
find himself at a handful of positions,
but not his native catcher.
"His bat is not a freshman bat,"
Maloney said. "(He's going to be the
one freshman) to really stand out of a
veteran team."
Other newcomers that could squeeze
into Michigan's lineup are 2004 Mich-
gan Dream Team pitcher David Nykerk,
Detroit-Mercy transfer and third base-
man Alex Martin and infielder Tim
Kalczynski.
The first night game is scheduled
for Apr. 22, against Ohio State.
U72. Philadelphia (3-0)
e After thrashing the Lions 30-13,
the Eagles look hard to beat.
0
0
4. Jacksonville (3-0)
- The suprise unbeaten team, the
Jags rely on their stingy'D'.
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We welcome those interested to apply via your Career Services Office by:
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