With college graduations in full swing, several sports execs this weekend spoke at commencement ceremonies. In Milwaukee, Ellen Gabler reported MLB Commissioner BUD SELIG spoke at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and told the graduates to "have faith in the power of possibilities." He quoted JACKIE ROBINSON, telling the students "that their professional efforts should extend beyond themselves." Selig also received an honorary degree from the school (MILWAUKKE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/20). In Chicago, Becky Yerak noted Dodgers Chair MARK WALTER on Friday urged Northwestern Univ. graduates to "admit what they don't know" and to "listen to criticism but don't always let it dictate their lives." Walter "paid homage to his father's 'greatest generation.'" He said, "I'm afraid to think of what my generation will be named" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/18). Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT yesterday told the Suffolk Univ. College of Arts & Sciences, "Be your own person. Make your own decisions. Trust your own instincts. Take risks, and most importantly, don't be afraid to fail" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/20). In Baltimore, Candy Thomson notes Baseball HOFer CAL RIPKEN JR. at yesterday's Univ. of Maryland's commencement "spent the bulk of his 10-minute talk urging graduates to have a positive attitude" (Baltimore SUN, 5/20). Meanwhile, in Detroit, Brian Manzullo noted Basketball HOFer ISIAH THOMAS "continued to keep busy" after his career and yesterday graduated from the Univ. of California-Berkeley with a masters of education (FREEP.com, 5/19).
