Don't Know What You've Got...

Mike Sullivan had broadcast 504 consecutive Minnesota State
men's hockey games prior the 2013-14 season

Having the opportunity to work with several radio personalities over the years, we can tell you that we are a fortunate bunch here in Mankato.

And this is especially so with the case of Minnesota State Athletics and the folks we work with on that front. 

When I first came to town in the mid-1980's, Casey Lloyd was already firmly ensconced and a veteran of calling Maverick Athletics for more than 15 years.  The average life span of an elephant is 50 years, and with the exception of four or five years along the way when our contract shifted from one entity to another in the mid-1990's, Casey has been along for the ride with our football and men's basketball teams for nearly five decades.  FIVE DECADES!  Most elephants don't live that long.  Casey brings a wealth of knowledge about us that can only come with that breadth of work.  A 1971 MSU graduate and inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1998, you never know when Casey might interject an anecdote from the 1978 men's basketball season or a story about former quarterback Doug Thompson into one of his broadcasts.  His recall is amazing and he can name every good restaurant between here and Des Moines.

Barry "The Bear" Wortel has been working at KTOE since 1973 and over the course of his career has become revered for the work he’s done in providing play-by-play sports coverage for Loyola and East and West High Schools, Barry's career arc extends back to coincide with the careers of Maverick coaching legends such as Rummy Macias, Dean Bowyer, Lori Meyer, Mary Willerscheidt, Dan Runkle, Dan McCarrell and Don Brose. He's interviewed our coaches on his weekly Saturday Benchwarmer Show and the Mankato native also an institution when it comes to providing daily insight during the annual Minnesota Viking training camp. Barry was a member of the 2013 Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame induction class.

Dating back to the start of the 2000-01 and not including exhibition games, Mike Sullivan had worked 504 consecutive Minnesota State men's hockey games prior to the start of the 2013-14 season.  During that 13-year span he was the only person to be in the rink for every one of those 504 games.  And in addition to providing play-by-play coverage for Maverick Football up until the start of the men's hockey season, he has also worked a morning shift five days a week at Oldies KXAC 100.5 and during the summer months, called home games for the Northwoods League Mankato Moondogs. Mike's preparedness and passion for his profession undoubtedly make him one of the best in the business.

Mike has yet to call a MSU game this year and on Monday underwent surgery to remove a cyst located near his vocal chords. Following recovery, we're optimistic he'll be back calling Maverick men's hockey games sometime around Christmas.  For those who follow the team, this is good thing.  Because not unlike Casey and Barry, Mike's a pro.  Get well soon, Sully!

It's great to be a Maverick!