8A - Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Michigan Daily.- michigandaily.com 0I
Kim renews friendship Love III, Olazabal to tee off with
with former champion
'M' golfer, Veteran Choi helps Kim
ByKEVIN RAFTERY
Daily Sports Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. - After play-
ing a practice round with Michi-
gan golfer Lion Kim on Monday,
Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters
and a seven-
time PGA Tour KEVIN
champion, RAFTERY
wasn't afraid
to take a jab
at the Masters At the Masters
rookie.
"(Playing with Kim) was great,
outside ofhimbeing a Wolverine,"
Johnson joked on Tuesday after
his practice round. "He smells -
much like any other Wolverine."
Johnson, an Iowa City native
and die-hard Hawkeye fan, has
been friends with Kim for years.
Both players have worked with
golf instructor Brian Mogg since
the early 2000s.
"I've known him for so long,
and we have that type of rela-
tionship," Kim said, "We can joke
around and have fun."
Added Johnson: "We had a
great time. He's matured a lot,
and his golf game is really good."
But on the 16th hole Tuesday,
Kim was the one with the last
laugh.
When it was Johnson's turn to
hit the traditional skip shot over
the pond and onto the green, he
barely got the ball over the bank,
and it settled about five yards
short of the green - cueing a few
boos and snickerings from the
crowd.
Kim, playing two groups
behind Johnson on Tuesday,
didn't disappoint the crowd (his
trick shot on both Monday and
Tuesday settled about 15 feet
from the hole).
"This time I was real confi-
dent," Kim said. "I knew what to
expect."
Kim pulled out a five iron and
skipped the ball over the pond
and onto the middle of the green,
where it looked like it would stop
about 30 feet from the hole.
But the ball caught the steep
slope on the 16th green and slowly
trickled down to the pin, located
on the front left portion of the
green. The roar from the crowd
grew louder each second as the
ball crept closer and closer to the
hole, and spectators let out a col-
lective "Oh!" as the ball missed
the hole by mere inches.
"From my angle, it looked like
it was going in," Kim said.
The ball scooted just past the
hole and settled about four feet
from the pin - easily one of the
best trick shots of the day. A few
people in the crowd even gave
Kim a standing ovation.
But regardless of Kim's clear
ability to skip a ball over a pond,
the veteran Johnson had some
relevant advice for the budding
star, too.
"I just kind of told him about
a couple of pins here and there,
where to hit it, just that sort of
stuff," Johnson said. "Just the
basic stuff that I've kind of gath-
ered over the years. Hopefully it
helps him."
Johnson mentioned that Kim
was nervous, as nearly all new-
comers are during their first Mas-
ters experience.
And when asked what his first
Masters experience was like, the
36-year-old paused.
"I don't remember my first
time, sorry," he said with a smile.
"I remember I was nervous, that's
about it."
By KEVIN RAFTERY
Daily Sports Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. - It was a dis-
turbing thought for KJ Choi.
When the 40-year old met
with Michigan senior Lion
Kim to play a
practice round NOTEBOOK
with him on
Tuesday, he was reminded of a
story from 2002, when Kim was
a spectator at the Bay Hill Invi-
tational.
"It's very scary," Choi said
after the round.
While at the Invitational,
the then-13-year-old Kim took
a picture with Choi and hung it
on the wall in his room.
Nine years later, Kim was
walking down the pure fairways
of Augusta, chatting with and
learning from Choi throughout
the round Tuesday morning.
"There (are) so many kids
in the commons who are like,
'KJ, you met me (years ago),' "
Choi said. "But it's a good sign
of good teachers. It's very excit-
ing."
Regardless of the age differ-
ence, Choi has been a valuable
source for Kim as he contin-
ues to master the fairways and
greens at Augusta.
The pair played a practice
round together on Sunday too.
"He's been great," Kim said.
"I went over to him in the morn-
ing and said hello, and he said,
'Join me for today's practice
round,' so I said, 'I'd love to.' "
On the course today, with
winds hollowing and the fair-
ways wet after a fierce storm
blew through the area last
night, Choi made sure Kim real-
ized this wasn't how the course
would be on Thursday. The
temperature this morning was
in the low 50s, but by the week-
end, it is forecasted to be in the
upper 80s.
"He told me a lot of things,"
Kim said. "He told me not to get
used to these wind conditions
(today). It's pretty wet out there
too. So he told me to just focus
on hitting my chip shots and
hitting a lot of putts."
Choi, who is making his
ninth career appearance at the
Masters (he tied for fourth last
year), spent time with Kim on
the range, too.
And while there, Choi
noticed something that might
help Kim's game.
"I looked at his grip," Choi
said. "In the grip there was
something wrong. Grip is very
important, so I asked him, 'Do
you, sometimes when you hit it,
(realize) there is a wrong grip?'
And he said 'Yes.' "
And Choi is convinced the
grip change could make a big
difference come Thursday.
"There will be a big change,"
Choi said. "I guarantee (it)."
PAIRINGS POSTED: The
pairings for the first and second
rounds on Thursday and Friday
have been posted.
Kim will tee-off with Davis
Love III and Jose Maria Olaza-
bal at 12:31 p.m. Thursday and
at 9:02 a.m. Friday.
Olazabal is a two-time Mas-
ters winner (1994 and 1999),
and is one of just 16 players to
win the tournament more than
once.
Ironically, Olazabal defeated
Love III by two strokes in 1999
sit
1e
Senior golfer Lion Kim practiced at Augusta National Golf Club on Tuesday
with K.J. Choi, who finished in fourth place at the 2010 Masters,
to take the title.
Love III's second place finish
was his best-career finish at the
Masters.
Love III has also won a major
championship before, as he
took home the PGA Champion-
ship crown in 1997.
Combined, the two have won
26 PGA tour titles and 24 inter-
national event titles.
PAR THREE CONTEST
WEDNESDAY: Kim will be
playing with Bubba Watson and
Aaron Baddeley in Wednesday's
annual par three contest.
Kim was the first golfer to
sign his name for the one 1:00
pm. timeslot, and hours later
he was told by the 32-year-
old Watson they'd be playing
together.
"I saw Bubba on the range
and he said, 'Oh, are you Lion
Kim? I'm playing with you
(Wednesday),' " Kim said. "So
I think that's pretty amazing.
We're going to have a blast.
"He's obviously a great young
stud out here, and I'm going to
learn alot from him as well."
NOTES: In an article post-
ed on Monday by Golf Digest,
Kim was ranked sixth in the
"Top Ten Rookies to Watch in
Augusta" list.
There are 20 total first-time
players in this year's field.
Caporusso relishing underdog
role with Frozen Four looming
SPRING FOOTBALL
Borges balances Robinson's
unique ability within offense
By MARK BURNS
Daily Sparta Editotr
Matt Frattin is lights out.
With 36 goals to his credit and
just recently being named a mem-
ber of the Hobey Baker Award
'Hat Trick finalist' club, the North
Dakota senior forward is part of
the most prolific offensive squad
that the Michigan hockey team has
faced this season.
"To have someone that potent
scoring that much is dangerous,"
said Wolverine
senior forward NOTEBOOK
Louie Caporus-
so after practice on Monday.
But Caporusso is perfectly con-
tent playing the underdog role for
once this season. In fact, it's a role
he's relished ever since he was a
young kid back in Woodbridge,
Ont.
"You never want to be the favor-
ite," Caporusso said after practice
on Monday. "That'sthe wayIseeit.
Even on a personal level, I always
lovebeingthe underdog."
It's no secret.
The Fighting Sioux have six
players with at least 13 goals along
with two 20-plus-goal scorers.
From top to bottom, North
Dakota has a lengthy list of accom-
plishments thatcan make an oppo-
nent weak in the knees. From its
30-win netminder in Aaron Dell to
its 4.14 goals per game, the deck is
stacked against Michigan.
"When you're the underdog, you
just got to work hard and simplify
your game," Caporusso said. "But
at the same time, we're playing one
really good team. North Dakota is
the best team in the tournament,
hands down. We've got our hands
full."
But while the Fighting Sioux
boast a hefty offensive resume,
Caporusso knows the NCAA Tour-
nament is a one-and-done scenar-
io, with the loser not getting an
opportunity to play in Saturday's
national title game.
He and the Wolverines are just
hoping to catch North Dakota on
its off day.
"One day, one game, and any-
thing can happen," Caporusso
said.
BEHIND THE BENCH: Former
Bowling Green coach Francis
"Buddy" Powers knew a future
NHL player when he saw one.
Except that person didn't sport
1W
MARISSA MCCLAIN/Daily
Senior forward Louie Caporusso has notched11 goals and 19 assists this season.
a Falcons jersey - he wore the
block 'M,' and his name was Bill
Muckalt.
During the 1997-98 campaign,
the Michigan hockey team played
at Bowling Green on Nov. 21, win-
ning 4-2. In the post-game press
conference, according to Michigan
coach Red Berenson, Powers was
asked what was the difference in
the game that night.
"Michigan's got a player that's
an NHL player. That was the dif-
ference. He was that much better
than anyone," Powers said.
A former seventh round draft
pick of the Vancouver Canucks in
the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Muck-
alt played on the Michigan hockey
team from 1994-98.
Prior to his senior season,
Muckalt had the option of forego-
ing his final year in Ann Arbor and
jumping ship to the professional
ranks.
But Berenson had other plans.
"He could have left, but I was
after him to stay," Berenson said.
" 'You make sure you stay. This
is your time.' And it was his time.
He elevated his play, and he was a
dominant player."
Brendan Morrison, Jason
Botterill, Blake Sloan and Mike
Legg - all integral pieces to the
1996 NCAA title team along with
Muckalt - had graduated the year
before.
And according to Berenson,
1998 was the year Muckalt finally
came out of Morrison's shadows.
Without the comfort of being on
one of the most dominant lines
during the Berenson era, Muckalt
hoisted the team on his back from
day one that fall.
After senior captain Matt Herr
suffered a groin injury in the sea-
son-opening game against Min-
nesota, sidelining him for a few
months, Muckalt was a different
player.
"Billy Muckalt carried the
team," Berenson said. "It was
unbelievable. He really came into
his own."
Thirteen years removed from
leading the Wolverines to their
ninth program championship,
and the Surrey, British Columbia
native just finished his first year
coaching the New Mexico Mus-
tangs, an inaugural team in the
North American Hockey League.
But while the Mustangs finished
dead last in the South Division
with a 19-35-4 record, Muckalt felt
the team could compete with any-
one in the league near the end of
the season.
"If we play our system and play
for the name on the front of the
jersey rather than the name on the
back, we can have success," Muck-
alt said.
Muckalt added that having the
ability to coach a group of rookies
and aid in their development as a
hockey player along with a person
is truly a rewarding experience -
and that some day, impacting the
lives of players within the confines
of Yost Ice Arena would be a wel-
coming experience.
"Some day, if the opportunity
came around, I'd love to come back
and be part of that staff and be a
part of Michigan," Muckalt said.
By TIM RORAN
Daily Sports Editor
Al Borges stopped mid-sen-,
tence, as he described how he
wanted Denard Robinson to
pose the threat of running on
every play.
"While some quarterbacks
may run five or six yards, he'll
run 55 yards," Borges said.
Borges explained that in his
offense, Robinson is expected
to push forward, after he drops
back, lending the footwork to
create a natural tendency to lead
up field and scramble - if there's
an opportunity.
But he also doesn't want Rob-
inson to turn down open receiv-
ers, either.
Then he became parched.
"I'm talking too much, you've
got me in a football deal now,"
Borges said as he was handed a
bottle of water.
"But don't turn down wide
open receivers," he continued.
"But if they all fall off, run like
hell."
This offseason, Borges was
handed the keys to a Porsche
and had the task of changing the
engine, without losing speed.
It has been a fine line to walk
in maximizing Robinson's unique
skill set and also maximizing
what he thinks the Michigan
offense is capable of. There's no
doubt in Borges' mind that Rob-
inson will remain the focal point
- the ball's just going to be spread
around more, and they're going to
be aggressive, particularly in the
runninggame.
A year ago, the Wolverines'
ground game was Denard Rob-
inson. And Borges isn't ignor-
ing that fact as he switches the
offense to a pro-style scheme.
There will be designed quarter-
back runs. And Michigan will
work out of the shotgun - more
than at any time in Borges's
career.
"Denard does some things that
are dynamic that I can't coach -
that nobody can coach," Borges
said.
When Borges was coaching
Cade McNown at UCLA, Borges
was faced with the problem of a
quarterback who would take off
1 -
and scramble too much. "I think the drop mechanics
He thought that was going to are the biggest change for him
be the case with Robinson. Not - how to time the throws, how
so. to three-step drop, how to hang-
Borges came up with the term throw a three-step drop, how to
to try curbing McNown's habit by get it out quick," Borges said. "You
telling him: "Run for yards, pass know, just some of the things he
for miles." hasn't done a lot of. But the kid is
In fact, with every quarterback an accurate passer, that's the first
Borges has coached, he has come thingthatjumpsout atyou. When
up with a little saying - "some- a guy's open, he's going to hit him
thing profound," as he describes more often than not."
it. Robinson will still be working
Robinson's is: "Make plays and with four and five wide receiv-
let the good Lord make miracles." er sets - the pitch-and-catch
"So as long as we're using good between him and his plethora of
judgment, we don't want to put receivers will be a little different
that fire out," Borges said. "You though.
don't coach him like you coach Borges defined what he
other kid's I've coached. You have thought a good passing offense
to give him a chance to do what was as it might appear in a dic-
he does." tionary: "The ball's delivered
as the receiver comes open in a
manner or fashion that allows
the receiver to run with the ball
"M ake plays when he catches it."
"That to me, is the defini-
and let the good tion," Borges said. "Not when the
receiver's open - that's too late."
Lord make And Robinson has stepped into
.a s that role admirably and shown
mir acles. the coaches he can do that and get
the ball to Roy Roundtree, Junior
Hemingway, Darryl Stonum and
others. as they come out of their
That's why Borges has said breaks, not sooner, not later.
all spring that Robinson will be "That is what he's been doing
turning and handing the ball off very well," Borges said. "When he
more to the running backs. He sees his throws, he's done a nice
wants Robinson to start games job of timing out the throws, he
and finish them, too. really has."
But as the player who rushed Despite the praise, Borges
for the fourth-most yards in a sin- warned that Robinson's still a
gle season in-Michigan football work in progress.
history, Robinson was Michigan's But through eight spring prac-
best bet running the football in tices, Borges hasn't seen bad
2010. Borges said if that's the case interceptions or head-scratchers
again in 2011, he wouldn't hesi- from Robinson, which plagued
tate featuring Robinson in the him at times during Big Ten play
run game again. last season.
Using his legs might be better "He's been a pretty good deci-
than a short pass, too. sion maker," Borges said. 'The
"There are instances where I things where he struggled the
want him to tuck and run because most are just the growing pains
he is a better option on a check- within our offense - that he's
down than the check-down just simply not familiar with. It's
might be," Borges said. brand new. And everybody does,
As a passer, Robinson has that's not news. If a guy's never
done a "heck of a job" this spring, done it, you can chalk it on the
according to Borges - Robinson board all you want. That doesn't
is comfortable in the shotgun, make any difference.
and he's working on his footwork "Football's a lab. You've got to
under center. go out there and do it."
5