Micah McDade has been known as a big OSU fan for more than a decade. Besides supporting OSU athletics, he competes in the Special Olympics, where he’s won 56 medals in basketball, bowling and track.
Anyone who knows Micah McDade knows that he is a true OSU Cowboys fan, especially when it comes to basketball.
McDade has been offering advice to the coaches and players on the men’s basketball team since the ’90s.
Because he has won 56 Special Olympics medals, his expertise can help the Cowboys play tougher, he said.
“I think they’ll put out another victory,” said McDade, 51. “If they can’t, it’s back to the drawing board for them.”
McDade attends nearly every men’s game and many of the practices.
At the games, he usually wears his OSU jersey and tennis shoes that he received from men’s basketball coach Sean Sutton, he said.
Sutton said it’s great to see how much spirit and enthusiasm McDade has for OSU.
“We treat him like he’s part of our family,” he said.
McDade will sometimes play Horse or one-on-one with the players or coaches.
“They think that I can’t beat them, but when I play them straight up, one-on-one, I beat them,” he said.
Sutton said McDade talks about how he has beat OSU players over the past decade.
“I have to remind him that he hasn’t beat me yet,” Sutton said.
McDade has created some fans of his own while being such an enthusiastic OSU fan. He trains and competes in the bowling, basketball and track categories in the Special Olympics.
Some of the coaches and players go to support him at his games, McDade said.
Sutton said they have gone to watch him bowl.
“He has such a great spirit for life,” Sutton said.
Most recently, McDade has been practicing bowling at Frontier Lanes in an effort to prepare for his next Special Olympics game.
“Bowling is probably my favorite cause I won two gold medals in 2006,” he said. “I plan on getting another gold one this summer.”
McDade is always willing to show off his medals to others. Sutton said McDade will often bring his new medals by to show and tell about his past wins.
Vicki McKeeman, McDade’s community living director at Stillwater Group Homes, said she gets to see his ribbons and awards after he receives a bowling victory.
But McDade’s life is not all about competition, McKeeman said. McDade works for OSU’s Physical Plant Services from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. five days a week. He also attends Adult Basic Education classes twice a week.
“I learn to do math, reading — all the stuff you guys do,” McDade said.
McDade lives independently with assisted living every two hours, McKeeman said. He rides his bike throughout town to make it to the games or to visit with Sutton and the basketball team.
Sutton said McDade is definitely one of OSU’s biggest fans,
“I consider him a friend and really admire him,” Sutton said. “He’s just a great person to be around.”
Loading ...
All Articles