I remember like it was yesterday.
Cliché, I know. But seeing news that hits so close to home on your Twitter feed sticks with you for...God knows how long. I came across the headline. "Former Michigan State Punter Mike Sadler Dies in Car Accident." "No. No way," I thought to myself. My thumb hovered over the link, hesitant on tapping the screen. But sure enough, the news was true. Now, one year after his death, Mike Sadler continues to touch us in many ways. I remember going to football games as a freshman at Forest Hills Northern High School. I remember groaning in disgust as our team failed to gain a first down. I remember seeing Mike Sadler punt the ball fifteen stories into the air, landing the ball close to the opposing team's end zone. "Woah," I thought to myself, "That guy's going to the NFL." Surprisingly, that wasn't on his radar. After being the first four-time Academic All-American in Michigan State history, the All-Star not only on the field, but also in the classroom, was to attend Stanford University to receive his Law Degree. That's what a 3.97 GPA will get you, I guess. I would not have been surprised to see Mike in the NFL. In his years at MSU, he finished 2nd in punting yards and 6th in punting average. Even more impressive was his punt placement. 39 percent of his punts were touched down inside the 20, and 21 percent inside the 10. And with a defensive core as lethal as the Spartans', a punt deep in your own red-zone was trouble. To add to his amazing leg, Sadler also had a knack for fooling the opposition. I remember exactly where I was when he ran a fake punt 26 yards against Michigan...who I was heavily rooting for. In Claddagh Irish Pub, while wearing my Michigan hat, I proudly turned to the man next to me and said: "Mike Sadler went to my high school." I am proud to have come from the same school as Mike, but being three years younger than him, I didn't know him as well as many of my other peers. But I didn't have to. I felt like I was able to live with and spend time with Mike vicariously through his friends, classmates, and family...Karen Sadler was an amazing teacher who dedicated her time to helping the students of Forest Hills Northern become better as students and as people. And that's what Mike would have done. He spent his life trying to be the best person humanly possible. He was talented, both academically and athletically. He was funny...his Twitter profile was chock-full of hilarious content. But most of all, he was kind. On July 23rd, 2016, he was taken too soon, but not before he spent his time volunteering for Kohl's Kicking Camps, a program that helped him become that stellar athlete we saw week after week. Nothing was to stop him from helping someone else be the best possible version of themselves, and I think that's what we'll all miss the most. If you knew Mike, he would have pushed you to be the best person you can be, even if you hadn't spoken a word to him. I'm one of those people. But I didn't need to talk to him to be inspired. Even indirectly, Mike Sadler motivated many, and will continue to do so for years to come. He may be gone, but he will be forever in our hearts. Hey diddle diddle, Mike Sadler up the middle. 3 forever. -Kellan Buddy
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When Jordan Spieth hit his tee shot about 100 yards right of the 13th hole at Royal Birkdale on Sunday, everyone asked the same question: Would he blow it again?
We are taken back to the 12th hole at Augusta National in 2016. After holding a 5-shot lead heading into the back nine in the final round, Spieth went 6-over on the next three holes (we all remember the quadruple bogey on the par-3 12th), basically giving the coveted Green Jacket to Danny Willett. To our die hard 65 fans on Facebook, you may have been wondering where to Stay Woke for the past week and a half. Simply put, Kellan and I have been graduating and caught up in our senior week festivities. They say blog life never sleeps but we haven't had much of a chance to do anything else but be wrapped up in the next chapters of our young lives.
Well, well, well, well ya boy is back in the blog game and ready to report/study/ball/vent/pizza/ranch/xbox/beer out with the homies at Stay Woke Sports. Has it been a year already? Like a catepillar catching Zzzz's in it's lil cocoon, @BeierHere has emerged and turned into a beautiful, elegant butterfly.
We Are officially on iTunes! be sure to subscribe, Like and follow The Wake 'N' Take on Facebook, and share with all your friends!
Genesis. Prometheus. The Big Bang.
Today is the day, April 10th 2017. The launch of Stay Woke Sports is upon us, a complete blogging experience aimed at bringing the fans closer to the people they adore, mainly Kellan and I, but hopefully with some new faces along the way. The Wake 'n' Take was merely a conduit, a lesson in scorching hot takes and commitment, but two men cannot run an empire. We want to expand. We want a platform to be unfiltered and produce content that people will enjoy beyond what a podcast or Facebook Live will allow us. What started as two guys just wanting to ramble and pretend to be Dan Patrick while talking professionally about sports turned into something more fun than we imagined when starting out in Marquette Student Radio sophomore year of college. With it now being our senior year, we figured there was no better time to give it the old college try. Who knows if this will work? Maybe? Maybe not? Maybe it will be the biggest thing since Poor Richard's Almanac. Maybe we'll go to Bed, Bath & Beyond, I don't know if we'll have enough time. What we do know is we will need help. An army. A Spanish Armada. The rising tide lifts all boats, and we want as many people setting sail with us as possible. The Wake 'n' Take has been a roaring success (pro-tip from Donny Trump, make stuff up and just stick with it), but the biggest hurdle has to be overcome. I simply just do not get to talk enough and we needed to start a blog because I need a safe space. *TRIGGER WARNING: No one is safe in this space. Welcome to Stay Woke Sports. - Lav Aside: WE NEED WRITERS - If you're interested in joining the armada email [email protected]! |
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