Political Quotes

“Boxing legend Muhammad Ali once said, ``Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them--a desire, a dream, a vision.'' I would like to recognize two high school basketball teams from my district which proved that they are, indeed, champions. They had the desire to make every practice count and to play every game as if it were their last. They shared a dream that was strong enough to overcome the many distractions all high school kids face, and their coaches gave them the vision that all their hard work and sacrifice would pay off in the end. The schools? The LaSalle Lancers and the Taft Senators. First, congratulations to the LaSalle Lancers on winning the 2011 Ohio Division I Basketball State Championship. LaSalle is a boys' Catholic high school in my district that is particularly special to me since it's my alma mater. Regardless of my personal attachments to the school, I'd like to recognize them on a job well-done and a season well-played. They represented themselves and our community with an outstanding display of athleticism, sportsmanship and class throughout the season--but especially in the playoffs. The players and coaches stuck together in the face of adversity, especially when their head coach, Dan Fleming, suffered a heart attack, which placed sports and the tournament in perspective.…”