At this time in the summer of 1998

It was at this time in 1998 when the Lehman Boys Varsity Basketball team headed North to the University of Findlay team basketball camp. Lehman was still without a Head Coach, so my Dad; Ken Schlater took the team to Findlay for the weekend.

The Varsity Squad that weekend consisted of: Tommy Middleton, Kyle Goubeaux, Ben Kohlhorst, Bryan Tobe and Eric Hewitt (Seniors), Sam Mikolajewski, Ryan Ratermann, Tony Cianciolo, Tony Staley amd Jake Sinclair ( Juniors) and one sophomore Matt Hare.

We stayed in the dorms that weekend and we were warned if we did not bring any fans, it was gonna be very warm. We were glad we brought fans.

We played six games the first two days and played at 3 different venues: A Lego floor, Liberty Benton High School and Findlay's Basketball arena. We went 4-2 that first day wearing the previous years practice uniforms.

The next day, we played and wore some AAU uniforms. Our biggest test that day was playing some team from Toledo who had two 6'6" guys and we beat them by 10. We played our last game that night and midway through the 4th quarter, Matt Hare sprained his ankle. We went 5-1 that day and showed some major signs of what was to come during the 1998-99 Basketball season.

On Sunday, was tournament day. We wore the practice uniforms from the 1996-97 Basketball season. We made it to the finals of the tournament and went up against the Houston Wildcats on Liberty Bentons floor. With the score tied and time winding down, Tony Cianciolo drove down the lane and got fouled. He made the first free throw and missed the 2nd and Ryan Ratermann made the put back at the horn to secure the 3 point win. We were tournament champs.

I have been saying this all along and I will say it again. The 1998-99 Lehman Boys Basketball team was good enough to win a District Championship and they did not. The Lehman Basketball team went 10-11 in the 1998-99 season.

Just weeks after the Findlay Tournament, Lima Native Jerry Fries was hired as Basketball Coach. My Dad took the helm as the JV Basketball Coach and led the Junior Varsity Squad to the Southwest Rivers Conference Championship.

Five years ago last night

The Boston Celtics capped off a fantastic season winning their 17th Championship, crushing the Lakers in Game 6. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen help the Celtics bring home the Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time since 1986

Notable Father's Day Sports Moments

1992-93: The Chicago Bulls win their 2nd and 3rd Championships beating Portland and Phoenix in Game 6 Thrillers

1996: The Bulls caping off a record setting season with their 4th NBA Championship

1999: Payne Stewart holding off Phil Mickelson at Pinehurst

2000: Tiger Woods Capturing the first of his 3 US Open Championships at Peeble Beach

2003: David Robinson and Steve Kerr ending their Hall of Fame career's in style. Winning their 2nd and 4th NBA Championships, beating the New Jersey Nets in six games


2004: Ken Griffey Jr hitting his 500th Career Home Run in St. Louis

2005: Robert Horry's heroics Help Spurs take 3-2 Finals lead over Detroit

2008: Tiger Woods birdies The 72nd hole at Torrey Pines to force a 18 hole playoff with Rocco Mediate

2009: Phil Jackson guiding the Lakers to the Championship and his 10th, passing Red Auerbach for most all time for a Head Coach

2011: Rory McIlory Win's the US Open in convincing fashion at Congressional

About this time in 1998... A bittersweet day for Lehman Boys Basketball

The 1998 Lehman Boys Basketball team was coming off a dismal 4-17 season. The future looked very bright for the 1998-2000 Lehman Boys Basketball team. I remember sitting at the District Finals at UD and told then Coach Henry Stolly, "We will be playing here next year". With five seniors; Kyle Goubeaux, Tommy Middleton, Eric Hewitt, Bryan Tobe and Ben Kohlhorst coming back and the junior class of Sam Mikolajewski, Ryan Ratermann, Tony Staley, Tony Cianciolo, Jake Sinclair returning. The 1998-99 Cavaliers were going to be awesome.

In May of 1998, Henry Stolly called a team meeting. He informed the basketball team, he was resigning to take the JV coaching position and a teaching position at Bellefontaine. "We were all stunned because everyone in that locker room that day knew that the 1998-99 Lehman Basketball team was going to be good, very good".

Former Lehman Basketball players, I will leave this space for you to put your thoughts from that morning.

Henry Stolly came to Lehman in 1994, inherited a 5-16 squad and had four seniors, Rob O'Leary, PJ Thornberry, Aaron Nuss, Mitch Hoying coming back. Juniors Matt Hartings, Craig Bergman and Kevin Geise rounded out the 1994-95 roster. That team started off 5-1. Beating Marion Local, Covington, Jackson Center and Botkins to start the season.

In August of 1998, Lima Native Jerry Fries was hired. Fries was at the helm for 4 years, 1998-2002, Mike Piatt was there from 2002-2007, Bruce Vanover 2007-10 and Isaiah Williams 2010-13.

I think Lehman needs to get a committee together in the years to come and say hey: We need to hire a coach who will be here for 10 plus years, build a winner on a consistant basis and cut down the nets after a District Championship on a consistant basis.

My Favorite NBA Playoff Moments

1994: Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon lead The Knicks and Rockets to the Finals. Houston winning in 7

1997: Michael Jordan leading the Bulls to a 5^th championship

1998: The Bulls needing 7 games to get past pesky Indiana

1999: The New York Knicks becoming the first #8 seed to advance to the NBA Finals

2000: The Lakers 4^th quarter rally against Portland in Game 7. Beating the Pacers in six hard fought games to take the crown

2002: The Lakers getting past the Kings in 7 and the Celtics making it to the Conference Finals

2003: The Pistons starting a run of five straight Conference Final appearances

2005: The Pistons beating the Heat in seven and Robert Horry’s Game 5 heroics in Detroit

2008: The Celtics and Lakers advancing to The Finals

2009: Orlando advancing to The Finals

2010: Celtics and Lakers going the distance with LA coming out on top

2011: Dallas beating Miami in The Finals

2012: The Celtics Fans Chanting "Let's Go Celtics" at the end of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals for the Final 4 minutes

My favorite Golf Courses to play and Favorite Balls to use

Here are some of my favorite golf courses to play:

Shelby Oaks in Sidney: got to start with the home course. Love the South Course, especially the Par 3 3rd hole, Par 5 6th and the Par 3 8th holes. The West Course is challenging The Par 5 9th is a adventure, The par 3 7th is a short island hole and the North Course is ok.

Cherokee Hills in Bellefontaine: Have not played this course in two years, that will probably change Memorial Day weekend.

Arrowhead in Minster: played it twice.

Arrowhead in Naples Florida: like playing Shelby Oaks in Sidney

Lely Mustang in Naples Florida: Challenging, but alot of fun

Valancia in Naples Florida: Got a few challenging holes there.

Favorite Golf Balls:

Callaway Big Bertha Diablo: Great Invention by The Chevron. Great Distance

Callaway Diablo HX: A little different the the Big Bertha Diablo

Taylor Made Rocketballz: One of my personal favorites. My golf clubs love this ball.

Pinnacle Exception: One of my personal favorites My golf clubs enjoy hitting this ball.

Pinnacle Gold: Smooth distance off the club

What a fantastic last week

Wow, The Men's National Championship Game was a thriller. Louisville was the better team. Michigan gave a great effort and played with tremendous heart.

The Master's lived up to the hype once again. It was great to see Adam Scott come out on top after what happened at the Open Championship last summer.