TREVIN WADE: TURTLE POWER
BY MATT COHEN
Giants cornerback Trevin Wade was always destined to be a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
He's one of four siblings – there are four Ninja Turtles. One of the four is his older brother, Rafael, which just so happens to be the name of one the "Heroes in a Half Shell" (Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo are the other three). He even cruises around on a Ninja Turtle skateboard.
So it was a dream come true for Wade, the fourth-year cornerback out of Arizona, when over the summer he got the chance to visit with the stuntmen from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films. Wade received first-hand "Ninja Turtle training" and learned how the fight sequences from the films were coordinated.
"In martial arts, you have to know the timing. You have to be able to anticipate everything just like you're on the field," Wade said.
In between learning the fight sequences from choreographer Daniel Hernandez and stunt-double Daniel Graham, Wade took some time to compare each Ninja Turtle to a player on the Giants roster (obviously comparing himself to Raphael).
Leonardo: "Leonardo reminds me of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, just because of his skillset."
Donatello: "Donatello is probably Eli Manning because he's the intelligent one out there."
Michelangelo: "I kind of think of Michelangelo as Prince Amukamara, because he's just silly."
Splinter: "Master Splinter is Coach Coughlin, because he's old school."
Although Wade is used to studying film and his opponents, he says there's nothing quite like learning fight choreography.
"I knew there was a lot of work, but it's different when you see it in person," Wade said.
After Trevin successfully received his "Ninja Turtle training" from Hernandez and Graham, the real challenge came next. Shredder, the main antagonist from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, emerged from the shadows. In an epic battle, Wade deftly defeated Shredder with one swift blow from a pizza box. Afterwards, Wade, Hernandez, Graham and Ninja Turtle Raphael enjoyed a piping hot cheese pizza.
Cowabunga.
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