Episodes
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
LESSONS FROM COACH WATKINS: WHEN PONTIAC HOSTED THE SUPER BOWL
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
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.
Friday Feb 10, 2023
Friday Feb 10, 2023
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.
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
A DUFF SAID: THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER IN MICHIGAN
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
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.
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
A DUFF SAID: MADDIE EBBERT/LAKE ORION GIRLS BASKETBALL
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
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.
Friday Jan 20, 2023
A DUFF SAID: ETHAN SHARKEY LAKE ORION BOYS BASKETBALL
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Friday Jan 20, 2023
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.
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
A DUFF SAID: DJ MORROW LAKE ORION BOYS BASKETBALL
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Lake Orion senior guard got a scare early in the boy's basketball season. He suffered a wrist injury that he worried might have sidelined him for the year. Instead, it wasn't severe and he returned to the court to lead his team on a four-game winning streak heading into this week's action.
I caught up with him to talk about his last season's goals on the hardwood for the Dragons and why basketball means so much to him.
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
12-17-22 A DUFF SAID: DESMAN STEPHENS
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Desman Stephens scored 10 points and 10 rebounds in Clarkston's 38-35 win over Lake Orion on Tuesday. I caught up with him to talk about that win. We also discussed his passion for football. He caught a last-second game-winning touchdown pass to give Clarkston its first regional title in four years. We talked about that and so much more.
Dan Campbell has accomplished more as head coach of the Detroit Lions than the guy he replaced, not that the bar was set very high. I explain. Also, I preview this week's Lions vs. Jets game, which could decide which former metro Detroit high school football player comes with the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Friday Nov 18, 2022
11-18-22 LESSONS FROM COACH WATKINS: WHY I BECAME A HEAD COACH
Friday Nov 18, 2022
Friday Nov 18, 2022
In this week's edition of Lessons From Coach Watkins, Steve talks about why he became a high school football coach. He shared with me the qualifications he had to be a head coach and what's expected if someone wants to get into coaching the sport.
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
11-17-22 NEW LOTHROP STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW (WITH COACH CLINT GALVAS)
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
New Lothrop (10-2) takes on Traverse City St Francis (12-0) in the state semifinals on Saturday. The winner will play for the Division 7 state championship at Ford Field. I talked to Hornets' Coach Clint Galvas about his team's preparation for the game and keeping their focus on the task at hand. We also discussed his team having to play outdoors in cold and snowy conditions and what this ride through the state tournament has meant to this small mid-Michigan community. The Hornets also recently unveiled sharp new uniforms for the playoffs. It turns out there is a story to them.
Friday Nov 11, 2022
11-11-22 NEW LOTHROP WINS THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday Nov 11, 2022
Friday Nov 11, 2022
New Lothrop won a sixth regional championship under Head Coach Clint Galvas by defeating Elkton-Pigeon Bay Port 29-20. Galvas joined me to talk about the victory. We also discussed the impact that Alec Wenzlick had on this game and throughout his time on the New Lothrop football team. Galvas also informed me about what the Hornets' biggest incentive is to keep their season going. It might not be just about winning a state championship.