Please accept this letter of thanks as the most expedient way for my staff, my team and myself to express our gratitude to the maximum number of people in a reasonable period of time. This list will certainly omit many people who should be recognized and I apoligize for that but I am still somewhat "dizzy" from the events of the past couple of weeks. As has been so well chronicled in the Record Journal (first set of thank yous to Bryant Carpenter and Ted Moynihan), the Sheehan Girls' Basketball team has just concluded a remarkable season of achievement with a heartbreaking, but thrilling 53-48 loss to Morgan in the CIAC Class M state finals. The phone calls and personal expressions of support that I received over the past couple of weeks were unbelievable. The amount of lives my team touched and brought joy to made me feel very, very proud. From Cathy Inglese at Boston college, to Mayor Bill Dickinson, to two coaches at rival Lyman Hall, Mike Scanlon and Gary Torelli, to formaer players including Craig and Tara Carriero, Laura Miller, to fellow coaches Joe Gaetano, Clark Chapman, Lee Franzman, Chris Lindwall, Beryl Piper, Joe Ticotsky, Mike Papale and even referees (best not name them) - it was a humbling and inspirational time for me. The Sheehan community - former coach Erica Beerbaurn sending the girls roses, the volleyball coaches, Lisa Miller, Donna Laich and Joe Ogle sending cookies, Principal Sean Meehan delivering a congratulatory message at 1:55 on Friday before the finals followed by the playing of "We are the Champions", Athletic Directory Judy Samaha, Football Coach Dennis Mannion and his wife Joan, Physical Education teachers Frank Molir and Bob Neubauer, Soccer Coach Brian Murphy and our fans. What can I say about our fans? I honestly believe that without them we wouldn't have won our semifinal game against Bacon Academy. The atmosphere last week at Sheehan cannot we described - it had to be experienced. Finally, heartfelt thanks to my family (half of whome really aren't basketball fans but were converted this season by the heart and desire this team played with) including my wife Rosemary, my sons Steven and David, my in-laws and my sister Pam who drove up from Long Island. I think back to when the Sheehan Girls won the State Championship back in 1976 and it was not covered in the sports section. It was listed under local news! We must have had 1,200 Sheehan fans (over 2,000 total people in attendance) at our State Final. Ladies, to coin an old phrase, "You've come a long way baby!" and thank you for taking me along for the ride!