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Newsstand: Derek Jeter discusses how failure set up his success in Michigan commencement speech

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie05/07/25CSayf23
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Tweets Of The Day

New York Yankees legend and Baseball Hall of Fame honoree Derek Jeter delivered the commencement speech at the University of Michigan graduation over the weekend. With some humor, Jeter discussed how failure set himself up for success.

“Failure is essential,” he said. “If I can promise you one thing for certain, you will fail. The bigger the dream, the bigger the risk. But what’s the price if you don’t take the risk – if you don’t commit to the dream? You might end up overmatched, or maybe you won’t.

“I failed publicly, I failed miserably. There were days I literally cried because I was so bad. My first season as a professional, I made 56 errors. For the non-baseball fans, it’s hard to do intentionally. And that’s also not funny.

“You, me, every one of us has to learn to deal with failure. I wouldn’t have had the success without the failures. It’s your job to make sure that a speed bump doesn’t become a roadblock.”

Michigan graduate center Vladislav Goldin is working out in Los Angeles ahead of the NBA Combine, which will run from May 11-18 in Chicago (Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis).

Michigan women’s basketball guard Syla Swords has committed to play with Team Canada in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

The Wolverine’s Ethan McDowell was in California to see top 100 Michigan quarterback commit Brady Smigiel.

Michigan graduate guard Nimari Burnett joined Brian Boesch on the ‘Defend The Block’ podcast to discuss his return for a sixth season of college basketball.

Quote Of The Day

“Hill is tabbed as the next in a recent line of great Michigan cornerbacks to hear their names called early in the NFL draft,” McShay wrote. “At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he’s a tall, lean, and instinctive cornerback who excels at knocking the ball away and contesting with bigger receivers (eight pass breakups and one interception last year). The Vikings failed to address arguably their top need in this year’s draft but can do so in 2026.”

— NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay projecting Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill as a first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft

Headlines Of The Day

• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Jyaire Hill a first-round pick in early 2026 NFL mock drafts: ‘The ‘next in a recent line of great Michigan cornerbacks’
• EJ Holland, The Wolverine: Michigan recruits react to expected Sherrone Moore suspension, ongoing investigation
• EJ Holland, The Wolverine: Michigan remains a contender for five-star OL Darius Gray
• Anthony Broome, The Wolverine: Michigan football’s offensive leaders, stats predicted by AI
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Why Nimari Burnett chose to return for sixth season of college basketball: ‘Michigan means everything to me’

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