The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MAY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 31 mari [Burnett], and everybody — we had such a good relationship. After the last game, we all hugged each other. It felt like family. We win together, we lose to- gether. It was unbelievable." He also grasped the truly major spot- light that comes with playing at the Michigan and Big Ten level, for better or worse. "I've played in a high major now, and the community, it feels like after this season we know how strong social me- dia is these days," he said. "Even though we get a lot of hate messages, what really encouraged me now is all the positive notes I get, how many people say thank you for the season, for everything. We understand that it's more than just bas- ketball. It's community all around. "It's kids that look up to you. It's way deeper than we think." Some of those kids are looking on from hospital beds. Goldin's venture to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital certainly ce- mented in his mind the sort of stage he's on and the example he wants to set. "It was an unbelievable feeling, when somebody sees you and they want to be like you," he offered. "That encourages me so much more to be the right person and present the right way, to give them something good." He also took on a bigger role even as a player, given the makeup of this year's crew. "I definitely matured a lot this season," he said. "I had a different role. I had to be a player/mentor for the team, because it was a new team. I did a good job of try- ing to explain to guys what the coaches wanted. Being a vocal leader, and able to go between players and coaches." He didn't have to say much to May after it was all over, and vice versa. "We talked," Goldin said. "I think be- cause we had such a good relationship before, we didn't really need a special occasion to talk about what we feel and what we think. We talked before the game, we talked after the game. He said he was proud, and I said how grateful I am for everything he has done for me." Goldin hopes his future reaches the highest level in the basketball world. As for Michigan … he'll be watching closely. "Yeah, I'll definitely follow Dusty May," Goldin assured. "Where will they be in 10 years? I will definitely follow them, because of something I helped build in this place and the relationships I've built. I definitely will keep watching and keep cheering for them." ❏ Goldin, whose athletic career has taken him from Voronezh, Russia, to Moscow, to Connecticut, Texas, Florida and now Michigan, hopes his next stop will be in the NBA. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS