[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 281 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 281
To congratulate the Michigan State University Men's Basketball Team on
winning the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's
Basketball Championship.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 4, 2000
Mr. Abraham (for himself and Mr. Levin) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
To congratulate the Michigan State University Men's Basketball Team on
winning the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's
Basketball Championship.
Whereas the Michigan State Spartans were Big Ten Conference regular season co-
champions, and were winners of the Big Ten Conference Tournament, and,
with a 26-7 record, earned a number one seed in the Midwest region of
the 1999-2000 N.C.A.A. Tournament;
Whereas the Michigan State Spartans proved their dominance over the Midwest
Region in reaching the Final Four, defeating Valparaiso 65-38, Utah 73-
61, Syracuse 75-58, and Iowa State 75-64;
Whereas in winning the Midwest Region the Michigan State Spartans reached the
Men's Final Four for the second year in a row, last year losing to the
Duke University Blue Devils in the semifinals;
Whereas the Michigan State Spartans vowed after that loss to return to the Final
Four in 1999-2000, and to settle for nothing less than the ultimate
prize;
Whereas the Michigan State Spartans moved one step closer to their goal when
they defeated the University of Wisconsin Badgers 53-41 for the fourth
time of the 1999-2000 season to reach the championship game;
Whereas in that game, the Michigan State Spartans, with an entire team effort
that demonstrated why college athletics are so special, defeated the
University of Florida Gators 89-76 on April 3, 2000, and won the
N.C.A.A. Men's Basketball Championship for the second time in the
history of the program;
Whereas Coach Tom Izzo, who hails from Iron Mountain, Michigan, in only his
fifth year coaching the team, has proven himself to be one of the finest
coaches in Men's College Basketball, and he and his staff instilled into
the Spartans a will to win second to none, exemplified by their
cutthroat defense, which suffocated many potent offenses throughout the
season, and particularly in the second half of N.C.A.A. Tournament
games;
Whereas Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and A.J. Granger, three seniors who
have been playing together for four years and who ended their collegiate
careers with a win, spurred this team to victory throughout the year,
Mr. Cleaves with his incredible leadership, Mr. Peterson with his clutch
shooting, and Mr. Granger with his consistent long marksmanship;
Whereas Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Charlie Bell, three individuals who
hail from Flint, Michigan, and have thus been given the nickname ``the
Flintstones'', have been playing together since elementary school, and
whose comradeship and loyalty to one another carried out onto the floor,
and made the Spartans team a family off the floor as well;
Whereas Mateen Cleaves, the fearless captain of the team and the all-time assist
leader in the Big Ten's history, who led not only with words but also
with the example he set, who returned to the championship game after
sustaining a high ankle sprain to his right leg, led his team to the
title and, like a true champion, made good on his word;
Whereas Morris Peterson, named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, saved
the Michigan State Spartans from the clutches of defeat many times this
season, and particularly in the tournament, with his laser-like shooting
and stingy defense;
Whereas Charlie Bell, perhaps the best rebounding guard in the Nation, also led
the team with his quickness, tireless defensive effort, and athleticism,
and who will be counted upon for his leadership next year;
Whereas A.J. Granger, displayed his awesome variety of offensive skills in both
assisting on, and hitting, several big shots when the Spartans needed
them most;
Whereas Andre Hutson, the man in the middle, who was often called on to shut
down the opposing teams top player, particularly in the 1999-2000
tournament, handled his job with a workmanlike skill that defined
professionalism, and in doing so provided the Spartans with the whole
package the entire year;
Whereas Mike Chappell, Jason Richardson, and Aloysius Anagonye provided the
Spartans with quality minutes off the bench all year, and particularly
in the championship game, where they held their own against the vaunted
Florida bench;
Whereas David Thomas and Adam Ballinger provided valuable contributions
throughout the season and the tournament, both on and off the court,
often providing the Spartans with the lift they needed; and
Whereas the contributions of Steve Cherry, Mat Ishbia and Brandon Smith, both on
the court and in practice, demonstrated the total devotion of the
Spartans players to the team concept that made the Spartans into the
most dominating college basketball team of the new millennium: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the United States Senate congratulates the Michigan
State University Men's Basketball Team on winning the 1999-2000
National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship.
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