Catcher Marx makin her mark By Kevin Wright Daily Sports Writer Junior catcher Becky Marx had a big choice to make this past summer: where to transfer. After a record-setting season for Loyola of Chicago in which she hit .326, recorded 44 RBI, slammed seven home runs and was select- ed to the first-team All-Horizon League, Marx decided that she needed a change of scenery. "I faced the big question: Do you want to be the big fish in the little pond or the small fish in the ocean," Marx said. "I had accomplished everything that I wanted to at Loyola. There were no external forces pushing me anymore, so I decided that I was going to move onto big- ger and better things." But for Marx, the transition to Michi- gan wasn't easy. During the summer, she could talk to Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins just once over the phone. Any fur- ther contact between the two would have resulted in Marx losing some of her finan- cial aid because it would have been consid- ered recruiting. Without financial aid, it would have been harder for Marx to come to Michigan because she doesn't enjoy the benefit of being on scholarship. As the summer wound down and school began, Marx still hadn't signed up for any classes at Michigan, but she knew that she would have a spot on the team. She didn't know if she would start or even play, but Marx was willing to take that chance. "At the beginning of the summer, I said that, if this all works out, then this was meant to be, and it all did," Marx said. "There were so many things that I couldn't control that had to fall into place, and they all did." Not only did Marx have to adjust to a new school environment, but she also had to adapt to a new coaching style and a new role on the team. Over her two years at Loyola, Marx became the best player, but she knew that, even though she was coming to a program of Mich- igan's caliber, she could still contribute to the team without being the superstar. "I had to get used to competition," Marx said. "I didn't have competition at Loyola. I The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 1A Tyson ready for fight, feels like 'Mr. Mom' WASHINGTON (AP) - Mike Tyson hunched in his chair and tapped his 9- year-old daughter's hand while she rest- ed her head on Daddy's ample shoulder. Later, the heavyweight once called "the baddest man on the planet" cuddled his napping son. "I feel like Mr. Mom," Tyson said, then stomped his foot and smiled at his own joke. Wearing a pinstriped suit, he could have been any family man, albeit one with a tattoo on his face. Silent and expressionless for the first 15 minutes of Tuesday's news confer- ence to announce his return to the ring, a scheduled June 11 bout at the MCI Cen- ter against journeyman Kevin McBride of Ireland, Tyson lit up and laughed when his foe's manager promised an upset. And from that point forth, Tyson came close to being the Tyson everyone has come to expect: the curiosity that promot- ers hope can still sell tickets and pay-per- view buys even though he's 38 and lost two of his past three fights. He talked about sinking into depression, called McBride "real cute," labeled him- self "probably the worst husband in the world," and told a PR person running the show to "chill out" when she pointed out it was time for more posed photos. Yes, The Mike Tyson Show is headed to the nation's capital. "I just hope these people of Washington, D.C., are prepared to handle this," Tyson said. "It's going to be a train wreck." It will be the former champion's first fight in nearly a year and just his second in 28 months. In his most recent outing, at Louisville, Kent. on July 30, he was stopped in the fourth round by Danny Williams after tearing cartilage in his left knee. Tyson had surgery - the knee is fine, he said Tuesday - and he's been training in Phoenix for three weeks. He's been more than $30 million in debt, and when asked how much longer he thinks he'll keep fighting, Tyson answered: "Long enough to take care of my children - a long time." The 6-foot-6 McBride, who's 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts, was originally sup- posed to be Tyson's opponent for that July bout. Make no mistake, this fight is entirely about Tyson. McBride's name wasn't even uttered by master of ceremo- nies Rock Newman until nearly 20 minutes into Tuesday's event. "It's a no-win situation for me," said Tyson, 50-5 with two no contests and 44 knockouts. "If I knock him out in two sec- onds, he's a bum. If he gives me a shellack- ing, I'm a bum." For his part, McBride vowed at least three times: "I'm going to shock the world." His manager, Rich Cappiello, was more specific. "If people are thinking we're coming to lay down ... we are coming out to knock Mike Tyson out. He had his day. His day's gone. I think Mike Tyson gets knocked out within five rounds," Cappiello said. That's when the first crease crossed Tyson's face as he laughed. "We are going to stop Mike Tyson and, hopefully, . end his career," Cappiello added. Later, in a classic Freudian slip, Cappi- ello wrapped up his speech by proclaim- ing, "We're going to go out there and knock Kevin - uh, Mike Tyson - out." That drew loud snickers from the crowd and Tyson's entourage. But Tyson didn't get drawn into a battle of words. And after the fighters stood toe-to-toe for photogra- phers, Tyson shook McBride's hand, patted him on the back and winked. "I don't get into the staredowns and the talking trash. I'm older, so I'm not really too much into that," he said later. "I don't want to punch a guy in the face before the fight starts." This from the man who brawled with Lennox Lewis at a 2002 news confer- ence announcing a bout. Who vowed to eat Lewis's children. Who bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear. Who was con- victed of rape in 1992. He sounded downright introspective Tuesday discussing how down he was after knee surgery. "I was in that little square-box room, and I was on crutches, and it was a very depressing atmosphere. I just fell into a deep depression," Tyson said. "Once those painkillers wore off, it was horrific. _I didn't know what to do. I was just like a little spoiled brat. I was at my worst self." He paused, before adding: "I'm just so happy that I'm happy again." And then he cackled, a high-pitched squeak that reverberated off the walls of the Lincoln Theater. MIKE HULSEBUS/Daily Michigan junior catcher Becky Marx has been a "gift from God" according to coach Carol Hutchins. had to get used to not being the star on the team and taking a back seat. I had to get used to a big-time program where they demand a lot from you." While transferring to a new school would take any player time to settle in, Marx also had to deal with learning the unique deliveries and different pitching styles of Michigan's three tal- ented pitchers. Faced with such a challenging task, Marx had a head start. She caught for senior Nicole Motycka when they both played on the same team in Kalamazoo last summer. Previously, Marx had caught for junior Jennie Ritter on a summer team. Already knowing their tenden- cies allowed for Marx to transition smoothly into the starting lineup. In fact, when Ritter pitches, Marx calls the game from behind the plate. "(Ritter and I) click on such a great level," Marx said. "Pitchers are pitchers no matter where you go. They all have the same mindset; you just have to work with them." On the offensive side of the game, Marx has started slowly, batting .253 with three home runs and 15 RBI. But Marx attributes her strug- gles to the alterations that the Michigan coaches made to her swing. As she becomes more com- fortable with her new swing, she is confident that she can return her batting average to her Loyola standards. To Hutchins, Marx has meant a great deal to the team's success this season, not just with her defensive prowess but also with her demeanor. "She's been a gift from God," Hutchins said. "She's been exactly what we needed. She's beefed up our catching core and brings great experience. She's just got a great attitude. She's a great kid to have out on the field." Looking back at the ordeal, Marx relishes the role of a small fish in the ocean. Although she doesn't receive much of the recognition, she doesn't regret her decision to come to Michigan in the least bit. "Michigan softball is amazing," Marx said. "It's intense, and you couldn't ask for better coaches. It's a lot different. Here, it's the real deal; we're here to win." McCants,