The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 30, 2003-11

TAYLOR
Continued from Page 10
close to a Canadian baseball superstar
as you can ask for.
"He's definitely a big player in
Canadian baseball," Taylor said.
"He's in the Canadian Baseball Hall
of Fame and he has a bunch of
accolades over his career. It's
impressive."
It's a tough path to follow for a
son, but his father's accomplish-
ments on the field aren't the most
important thing for Drew to meas-
ure up against.
Ron attended medical school after
he finished his pitching career, and
now serves as the team doctor for
the Toronto Blue Jays. Before
obtaining his medical degree, he
was already a registered electrical
engineer in Toronto. The thirst for
knowledge seems to have rubbed off
on Drew.
"He's always stressed academics
to me and it was one of the most
important things for me when I
chose the University," Taylor said. "I
want to go into medicine when I'm
older so that's how I've geared my
academics."
Education isn't the only thing Ron
has passed on to Drew. His major
league contacts allowed Drew to
mingle with legends like Yogi Berra,
Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan and even
Joe DiMaggio. One former great
gave Drew a bit of wisdom that
remains with him today.
"Tom Seaver asked me a question
once," Drew said. "'Average is the

best of the worst and the worst of the
best. Where do you want to stand?'
That's one thing that he said to me
that I'll remember for a long time."
It's just one of the gifts Drew's
father has been able to give him.
And Ron is part of the reason he
acts the way he does on the mound.
"On the field, the most important
thing my dad has ever taught me is
how to compete," Taylor said. "My
dad's always told me to go right
after hitters and challenge them -
never be intimidated by somebody."
That attitude just might make Tay-
lor the first pitcher Maloney hands
the ball to next season. As the clich6
goes, all bets are off next year, and
Taylor will find himself fighting for
a job once more.
"You always have to prove your-
self," Taylor said. "Unless you keep
improving, no spot is going to be
safe. It's going to be very similar to
last year as far as it being wide
open, and that's great. That's the
way it should be."
Taylor does have one advantage

working for him. He's already been 'M I N OTES
to the place every college baseball
player dreams about - Rosenblatt
Stadium in Omaha, Neb. And hav- Icers sele
ing a player in the College World wo ctea
Series is just what a fresh young in 2003 NHL Draft
team like Michigan needs.
"That is huge," Maloney said. Two of Michigan's standout freshmen
"That's going to help our young kids were selected in last week's NHL draft.
next year because we're bringing in Left wing Jeff Tambellini and
so many new guys. It's going to be a defenseman Danny Richmond went in
chance for him to lead." the first day of the draft, with Tambelli-
The Wolverines had the benefit of ni going to the Los Angeles Kings and
being this year's sleeper, in the Big Richmond to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ten but that won't be the case come Tambellini was selected with the
next year. Expectations for the team 27th pick, just the ninth Michigan
are much higher than they have been player ever to be selected in the first
in recent years. round. He was chosen as the CCHA
"Everybody is going to expect to rookie of the year and led the
win the Big Ten regular season or win Wolverines in scoring with 26 goals
the Big Ten Tournament and then and 45 points.
move on to the NCAAs," Taylor said. Richmond was taken with the first
So maybe things aren't so bad for pick in the second round (No. 31
this young Canuck. He's got the overall). The two-way threat totaled
team, the tools and the blood. It may three goals and 19 assists last season
be just a matter of time before he and was just the seventh American
has his own spot in a Canadian taken in the draft.
baseball legends book. Richmond and Tambellini are two of

the nine players on the current roster
with their rights owned by NHL clubs.
Michigan has had at least two players
selected in 16 ofthe past 17 drafts.
Blue takes fourth
in Directors' Cup
Michigan finished fourth in the final
National Association of Collegiate
Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Direc-
tors Cup standings. The Directors' Cup
is an award that compiles each school's
overall athletic performance by giving
points to all of a school's teams based on

I always love a good Me too! But I wish stores
"Grand Opening" sale! would have more of them, Wow.
There's always such like five times a year.
good deals!
MichiganB ook E SUpplj's
iluiCrond Dpcrngl
20% off all general merchandise
(excluding electronics and textbooks)
Plus extended hours July 16-19 r
Michigan Book and Supply open until 8pm
Expires July 31,2003