[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 88 (Monday, July 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 COMMENDING PARTICIPATION OF U.S. SOCCER TEAM IN 1994 WORLD CUP SOCCER 
                               TOURNAMENT

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a Senate 
resolution commending the participation of the U.S. soccer team in the 
1994 World Cup soccer tournament.
  I ask unanimous consent that Senator Grassley, Senator Helms, Senator 
Wofford, Senator Lautenberg, Senator DeConcini, Senator Johnston, and 
Senator Mathews be added as cosponsors.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Chair in his capacity as a Senator from Montana asks unanimous 
consent that he also be added as cosponsor.
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, currently, the United States is hosting 
the world's most celebrated sports event, the 1994 World Cup. This 
honor was awarded on July 4, 1988, by the Federation Internationale de 
Football Association, otherwise known as FIFA, which is headquartered 
in Zurich, Switzerland. This is the first time in the 64-year history 
of the World Cup that America has been the host of this prestigious 
event.
  I believe this tournament will stimulate interest in organized soccer 
in the United States. It is estimated that soccer ranks third in team 
sport popularity for youngsters under the age of 18, preceded only by 
basketball and volleyball.
  My home State of South Carolina has benefited from the popularity of 
this sport. According to Fortune magazine, Umbro, a soccer apparel 
manufacturer, is owned by Stone Manufacturing Co. of Greenville, SC. 
Umbro's global sales exceed $300 million and are growing at an 
estimated rate of 70 percent per year. Also, according to Fortune 
magazine, the 1994 World Cup final series is expected to create 
approximately $4 billion in revenues from all sources.
  Twenty-four teams from around the world have gathered in Boston, 
Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, Detroit, Dallas, New York, San 
Francisco, and Orlando to participate in this 52-game tournament. The 
final game will be played on July 17 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. 
Thousands of foreign visitors have come to America to support their 
teams and experience the 1994 World Cup. The number of spectators at 
each game is shattering all previous attendance records.
  In 1990, approximately 1.3 billion people watched the 1990 World Cup 
final on television. This is three times the number of people that 
watched the 1969 landing on the Moon. It is projected that 
approximately 31 billion people will watch this distinguished 
tournament, with an estimated 2 billion people watching the 
championship game.
  This year marks only the second time in tournament history that the 
United States has advanced to the second round of play. The last time 
the United States accomplished this feat was at the inaugural 
tournament in 1930. The current team, led by goal scorers Eric Wynalda 
and Ernie Stewart, has tied Switzerland 1 to 1, defeated a heavily 
favored Colombian team 2 to 1, and narrowly lost to Romania 1 to 0. By 
accumulating four tournament points, the team qualified for the second 
round. I would also like to add that 260,488 spectators attended these 
3 games, and millions more followed the games by radio and television.
  Mr. President, on July 4, Team America played Brazil. Some experts 
think Brazil is the best soccer team in the world. The United States 
soccer team fought valiantly until the 79th minute of play when 
Brazil's Bebeto scored the game's only goal. At the end of the hard 
fought game, the Brazilian team paid a high honor and tribute to the 
American players, fans, tournament sponsors, and support staff. The 
Brazilian players gathered in the center of the field to celebrate 
victory and carried with them the flag of the United States. Although 
the United States lost the game, I believe the team and the tournament 
is a success.
  At this time, I ask unanimous consent that a list of the United 
States 1994 World Cup soccer team be printed in the Record at the 
conclusion of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, soccer is played by men and women of all 
ages. It is the first truly integrated sport in America where boys and 
girls play on the same team through their elementary years and often in 
coed adult leagues.
  Team sports promote understanding, tolerance, and appreciation of 
others. A person's appearance, size, skin color, personal beliefs, 
socio-economic status, and nationality are not indicative of his or her 
on-the-field talents. You often see people of very different 
backgrounds working together on the same team to accomplish a common 
goal. Soccer promotes sportsmanship and mutual admiration based on the 
talents, skills, and determination of the players.
  The U.S. soccer team represents more than just a soccer team, it 
represents America. The players come from California, Florida, 
Illinois, New Jersey, Missouri, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio. They 
include such colorful players as goalkeeper/captain Tony Meola, 
defender Alexi Lalas, and midfielder Cobi Jones. They are a diverse 
group of young men who have banded together and produced a winning 
team. I would like to commend them for representing the best in 
America.
  We should applaud their efforts--both in striving to be the best and 
in capturing the hearts of Americans. They have exhibited the utmost in 
sportsmanship and have carried the American spirit forward with honor 
and dignity.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in commending these fine young 
athletes, and to support this worthy measure.

                               Exhibit 1

                       U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Number, name, and position                    Hometown      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Tony Meola, Goalkeeper.........................  Kearny, NJ.         
2. Mike Lapper, Defender..........................  Huntington Beach,   
                                                     CA.                
3. Mike Burns, Defender...........................  Marlboro, MA.       
4. Cle Kooiman, Defender..........................  Ontario, CA.        
5. Thomas Dooley, Defender........................  Mission Viejo, CA.  
6. John Harkes, Midfielder........................  Kearny, NJ.         
7. Hugo Perez, Midfielder.........................  Mission Viejo, CA.  
8. Ernie Stewart, Foward..........................  Point Arena, CA.    
9. Tab Ramos, Midfielder..........................  Kearny, NJ.         
10. Roy Wegerle, Midfielder.......................  Tampa, FL.          
11. Eric Wynalda, Midfielder......................  Westlake Vill., CA. 
12. Juergen Sommer, Goalkeeper....................  Naples, FL.         
13. Cobi Jones, Midfielder........................  Westlake Vill., CA. 
14. Frank Klopas, Midfielder......................  Chicago, IL.        
15. Joe-Max Moore, Midfielder.....................  Irvine, CA.         
16. Mike Sorber, Midfielder.......................  St. Louis, MO.      
17. Marcelo Balboa, Defender......................  Cerritos, CA.       
18. Brad Friedel, Goalkeeper......................  Bay Village, OH.    
19. Claudio Reyna, Midfielder.....................  Springfield, NJ.    
20. Paul Carligiuri, Defender.....................  Diamond Bar, CA.    
21. Fernando Clavijo, Defender....................  San Diego, CA.      
22. Alexi Lalas, Defender.........................  Detroit, Mi.        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that 
Senator Coverdell be added as a cosponsor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. THURMOND. I yield the floor.

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