On a Friday night a few months ago, my 10-year old son accompanied me on what has become our annual ritual, an early February journey to the Linden High School gymnasium to take in the Diamond Gloves finals.

At times in our nation?s history, the American spirit manifested itself in the person of great men and women who, at great cost and risk to themselves and often their families, undertook the pursuit of a great imitative. Dreams that often began as a flicker of the imagination were concluded with astonishing achievements that endured for generations. This is the story of one man's dream... a dream that became a reality..

Rounds 13 through 15 are the championship rounds. They are the rounds where championships are won, and where pretenders are exposed. They are rounds of extraordinary thrills, of championship heart and courage. These are the rounds where greatness is showcased, and if the title changes hands it does so on merit.