[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 361 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 361

Commending Real Salt Lake for winning the 2009 Major League Soccer Cup.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 30, 2009

    Mr. Bennett (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commending Real Salt Lake for winning the 2009 Major League Soccer Cup.

Whereas, on November 22, 2009, Real Salt Lake (RSL) won the Major League Soccer 
        Cup in front of 46,011 fans in Seattle, Washington;
Whereas RSL overcame substantial obstacles to outplay and outlast the formidable 
        Los Angeles Galaxy in the championship game;
Whereas RSL began the second half trailing the Galaxy by a score of 1-0 and were 
        also without starter Will Johnson and key playmaker Javier Morales;
Whereas Robbie Findley scored for RSL in the 64th minute to tie the game at 1-1;
Whereas RSL won by a score of 5-4 in the seventh round of penalty kicks on a 
        shot by Robbie Russell;
Whereas RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando made more saves than any other goalkeeper in 
        the 2009 Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs, as he stopped 2 penalty 
        kicks during the final shootout and was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable 
        Player;
Whereas RSL head coach Jason Kreis, at age 36, became the youngest manager to 
        win a MLS title;
Whereas the MLS Cup victory capped off an improbable season for RSL, as the team 
        accumulated an 11-12-7 record during the regular season but went on to 
        become the first franchise in professional sports history to win a 
        championship after finishing the regular season without a winning 
        record;
Whereas the victory in the championship game was the second straight shootout 
        win for RSL, after beating the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference 
        Championship by a score of 5-4 on penalties;
Whereas RSL defeated the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew in the Eastern 
        Conference Semifinals, winning 4-2 on aggregate;
Whereas Salt Lake City, Utah, has been home to RSL since the team's founding in 
        2005;
Whereas the people of the State of Utah have provided stalwart support for RSL 
        and deserve to celebrate this championship, which is the first 
        professional sports crown in the State of Utah since 1971; and
Whereas the players of RSL are good role models to young athletes for their hard 
        work, tenacity, and determination in the face of difficult obstacles, 
        and have served as outstanding representatives for the State of Utah 
        both on and off the field: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates Real Salt Lake for winning the 2009 Major 
        League Soccer Cup;
            (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
        and staff whose hard work and dedication helped Real Salt Lake 
        win the championship; and
            (3) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Real Salt Lake 
        for appropriate display, as well as owner Dave Checketts and 
        head coach Jason Kreis.
                                 <all>