A Duff Said

A DUFF SAID: SAGINAW VALLEY STATE SPRING GAME RECAP

The Saginaw Valley State football team held its annual spring game on April 15. Coach Ryan Brady joined me to talk about how things went for his players. We also discussed how his team is branching out into Michigan communities to teach kids about the game. We also discussed the possibility of recent grads Trevor Nowaske and Nick Whiteside getting selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.

A DUFF SAID: TREVOR NOWASKE NFL DRAFT HOPEFUL

Trevor Nowaske had a solid career as a member of the Saginaw Valley State University football team. He recently put on a show for NFL scouts at his Pro Day. Nowaske's performance has many draft experts and columnists believing that he could hear his name called during the upcoming NFL Draft.

I talked to Nowaske about how he put in the work to go from Division II's GLIAC to the NFL. He shared stories about his journey and why he thinks he would be a great addition to any NFL roster. 

I also share my story about the last SVSU player selected in the NFL Draft and the legendary playoff performance he had with the Green Bay Packers.

A DUFF SAID: BEN HASSENGER: MICHIGAN’S HALL OF FAME BASEBALL BALLADEER & UKULELE AMBASSADOR

Ben Hassenger combined his love for music and the Detroit Tigers into his very own spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hassenger wrote songs about his memories following the club and his many trips to Tiger Stadium that wound up in the Hall of Fame archives.

In "The Voice of Summer", Hassenger sang about how much Ernie Harwell meant to him and the state of Michigan. During our conversation, Hassenger told me about what Harwell meant to him and Tigers' fans across the state. In his song "The Corner", Hassenger sings about the final game at Tiger Stadium and saying goodbye to the old ballpark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues in Detroit.

Hassenger shared both songs with me and explains how he got his other nickname, Michigan's Ukulele Ambassador.

LESSONS FROM COACH WATKINS: PLAYING BASEBALL WITH A WIZARD NAMED EARL

When I first met Steve Watkins, he told me about the time he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. Steve was considering playing college football on a full-ride scholarship or grinding it out in the minors. While he decided to pursue football, he enjoyed his time with the Cardinals. While he was there, he met a fellow prospect named Earl. Earl eventually made it to the big leagues with the Cardinals. He wowed fans with spectacular defensive plays and ultimately, cart-wheeled his way into the Hall of Fame.

A DUFF SAID: JAKE CHAMPAGNE THE SMILEY SHARK

Jake Champagne averages over 20 points per game for the Oxford High School boys' basketball team. The sophomore phenom has emerged as one of the top performers in the OAA. I caught up with Jake to find out how he reached that level early in his career. I also spoke with his coach, Steve Laidlaw, about his development. We also discussed how he earned the nickname, "Smiley Shark" and his recent interest in chess.

LESSONS FROM COACH WATKINS: WHEN PONTIAC HOSTED THE SUPER BOWL

Hosting the Super Bowl can have an enormous impact on a city. In 1982, Pontiac hosted Super Bowl 16 in the Silverdome. Steve Watkins told me what it was like for the city to have the whole world come to town for the Big Game. We discussed how the city benefited from it and why it never returned to Pontiac. Steve also had tickets to that game but wound up selling them. The buyer turned out to be his childhood hero.

LESSONS FROM COACH WATKINS: TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT HOW TO RESPOND TO THE POLICE

During the State of the Union, President Biden spoke about "the talk" that people of color have with their children on how to react if they are pulled over by the police.

In this edition of Lessons From Coach Watkins, Steve tells me about the talk he had with his parents about how to handle that situation. Steve also told me how things have changed since those days. He also told me what he thinks police reform should look like in places that have more people of color living there like Pontiac. 

A DUFF SAID: THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER IN MICHIGAN

Steve Gale decided it might be fun to be the public address announcer for Freeland High School sporting events. It started as a favor to the school back in 1992. He's been doing it ever since. His voice has become synonymous with Freeland and he's been honored many times for his work.

A DUFF SAID: MADDIE EBBERT/LAKE ORION GIRLS BASKETBALL

Maddie Ebbert is one of the senior leaders of the Lake Orion girls' basketball team. It's important to her to carry that role on the floor and around Lake Orion. I spoke with her about playing for a Lake Orion team that has emerged as a solid program in Oakland County. We discussed her history with basketball and reveal the next chapter for her in the sport.

A DUFF SAID: ETHAN SHARKEY LAKE ORION BOYS BASKETBALL

Lake Orion High School junior Ethan Sharkey is your typical gym rat. He's always down to shoot hoops, even if he is the only kid on the court. That made him the perfect person to fill in when the Dragons' boys' basketball team's star player went down with an injury. Sharkey made the most of that opportunity. We discussed that moment and his love for basketball.