Ethan got his chance to thank Ohio State football coach Jim Tressell in person for the few items he included in a care package sent from former OSU safety Kurt Coleman.
Javan called me on Friday saying he had field passes for the game! Rebecca and I went along and got the VIP treatment. It included a personal introduction to coach Tressell, pictures, a bird’s eye view of the pre-game festivities and a special visit into the OSU locker room for Ethan. They let us walk down the tunnel right before the team came out which was another big highlight. Ethan just took it all in stride and was so humble with all of the attention. Rebecca and I had such a great time with Javan, Rebecca and the kids. We were all just laughing and ecstatic about getting to meet coach and to see how much fun the kids were having. I told coach Tressell that he made life lasting memories for everyone that day. He took about 10 min to talk with Ethan, sign autographs and make him feel s so important. I was able to see on Saturday that coach Tressell is so much more thank a good coach…he is a great person and very genuine in everything that he does. Everyone knows Rebecca (Gail) is a Steelers fan and she has convinced Corina and Ethan to cheer for the enemy along with her. My brother Javan is a Browns fan and was able to show Mason who the true team is to cheer for. Coach Tressell just laughed when Ethan explained how the family is divided down the middle when it comes to the Browns and Steelers. Coach explained that he himself is a Browns fan, but his daughter is a Steelers fan. No matter our differences when it comes to the Browns and Steelers after Saturday we all can agree that we are Buckeye fans thru and thru. It will be a day we all will remember. Thank you Javan and Bec for allowing us to share this day with you.

This last week I took a business trip to Prague for 10 days. It was a very memorable trip and I told Bec I want to bring her back. There was so muh to do and still things left on my Prague “to-do” list. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is home to 1,200,000 people. The year 870, when Prague castle was established, is regarded as the beginning of the city’s existence. In 1918, at the end of World War I, Prague was declared the capital of a new country – the Czechoslovak Republic. In 1993 it became the capital of an independent Czech Republic. Prague is considered the heart of Europe. Prague is not far from other central European cities. Vienna: 300km away, Bratislava: 320km, Berlin: 350km, Budapest 550km: Warsaw 630km and Copenhagen 750km. Here are a few pictures I wanted to share with you from my trip.

Wednesday night we kicked off State with dinner at Thurman’s. Javan ate his Thurman burger so fast the rest of us were scared he was going to eat what was left of our’s. This year we had a great time and thanks to BYG MYG- learned that 34 x 4= 101! This year was Ethan’s first year and he showed up in style…sportin’ the Mohawk! Other names that graced the 2009 Rookie list included Josh (brother-in-law), James (friend) and Tracy (Michael’s brother). It was a blast and we all had some good guy time. Another year in the books- it was real everyone…until 2010. Click on the post title “No Girls Allowed” above to view the entire 2009 gallery.

Go Findlay! My hometown…spent my entire childhood there and mom and dad and my two sisters still live there with their families. My older brother Javan played there on scholarship and his wife did to- she was more highly recruited and are both Findlay alumni. I did my first year of undergrad there…loved it, but couldn’t afford the $18,900 yearly tuition.
What a game…score is tied and Findlay has an inbound with 2.4 left in overtime of the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. Not un- chartered territory for the Oilers. Advancing to the Elite 8 in overtime and, the Final Four in double overtime and again the Championship Game the odds were stacked against them. The Oilers still did this despite their stud J. Bostic; National Player of the year. He fouled out with 4:00 left in overtime. The Oilers claimed a 36-0 record the highest undefeated record in NCAA Division II history. Click on the title to this post “National Champions” (above) to view the last minute of the game!

Last week my company hosted a charity golf outing at Heritage golf club in Hilliard, OH. We had a great time and had a blast out on the course. It was a really nice course and for it only being my 3rd time out this year I did pretty well and only lost 4 balls!