[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 CONTACT WITH AMERICA--SUPER BOWL XXIX

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, the House may be debating the Contract 
With America, but I ask the Senate today to consider the Contact with 
America. On Sunday, the people of America will be in contact with one 
another, eagerly debating, disputing, and disagreeing.
  However, I regret to inform this body that they will not be in touch 
with us. They are of the mind that the issue is far too big for the 
Senate to tackle or the President to block. Government involvement 
would be called unsportsman-like conduct. The Supreme Court would be 
ruled off-sides, and even radio talk show hosts would be flagged for 
interference.
  Of course I mean Super Bowl XXIX--29. This ultimate contact sport 
presents a real problem for me and my colleague, Senator Boxer, because 
this year's Super Bowl pits two California teams against one another--
the four-time Super Bowl champs, the San Francisco 49'ers and the 
talented and challenging San Diego Chargers. Normally, if a California 
team would play a team from some other State, I would willingly wager 
with the rival Senators. But it would be unseemly for two Senators from 
the same State to wager against one another. Does my colleague, Senator 
Boxer, agree?
  Mrs. BOXER. I do. The only thing I will bet is that a California team 
will win. I share my friend's excitement for the game. This is only the 
second time in the history of the modern era of the NFL that two teams 
from the same State have captured their division titles to earn a spot 
in the Super Bowl.
  To quote Henry David Thoreau, ``Mankind's progress moves from East to 
West,'' a phrase that continues to ring true for the NFL in 1995. 
California teams, fueled by the high-powered, high-scoring west coast 
offenses and supported by quick, powerful defenses, have taken the game 
to a new level. The Chargers and 49'ers proudly sit atop the ranks of 
the NFL and will bring the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy back home to 
the Golden State for the eighth time in 29 years--twice as many times 
as any other State. I am sure that my friend from California would 
agree that this is a remarkable accomplishment.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Of course. Bruising contests are not unfamiliar in 
California as I well know from last year. If you add up all of the 
championships in World Series, Super Bowls, NBA, and NCAA 
Championships, California has won more than any other State. I ask my 
colleague to give her views on this Super Bowl.
  Mrs. BOXER. I say to my friend, this Sunday's Super Bowl will add a 
final chapter to what has turned out to be a magnificent story--the 
tale of two teams taking a strikingly different course to arrive at the 
same destination. The young, upstart San Diego Chargers are the 
quintessential underdogs. After battling to finish with an eight and 
eight record last year, most NFL pundits rated them way down in the 
polls. some of us can relate to that. However, the Chargers stormed out 
of the gates and finished first in their division. San Diego marched 
through the playoffs by beating Miami and going back to the snow and 
ice of Pittsburgh to defeat the Steelers and earn their first Super 
Bowl berth. Then, as my colleague knows, there are the 49'ers.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I certainly know the 49'ers. From day one of this 
season, the 49'ers were picked by many as the team to beat. Assembled 
from a corps of seasoned veterans and prime talent developed within, 
the 49'ers had but one goal: beat Dallas and win the Super Bowl. After 
overcoming a number of early season injuries, the team finished with 
the best record in the league. they moved past the Chicago Bears in the 
first round of the playoffs, and realized part one of their goal with a 
hard-earned victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Now, they go into Miami as 
a heavy favorite, hoping to win an unprecedented fifth Super Bowl. I 
would like to know if my colleague also feels that this is a wonderful 
matchup?
  Mrs. BOXER. It could not be better. In fact, the drama will not be 
confined to the final score. Will Cal graduate Gail Gilbert, who was 
with the Buffalo Bills in the last four Super Bowls and now plays for 
the Chargers, finally be able to celebrate a victory? And how many more 
Super Bowl records will Jerry Rice break? There are a number of 
intriguing subplots to this story that I look forward to watching 
unravel. I would like to know who the senior Senator favors in this 
game?
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. While I realize that I represent the entire State of 
California, I must admit that I will be cheering for the 49'ers. I 
would like to point out to my colleagues that there is no public outcry 
for term limits in football. Otherwise, the 49'ers, with the shy smile 
and accurate arm of Joe Montana, would not have won super bowls in the 
1981 season, in 1984, or in 1989 and finally in the following year, a 
crushing 55 to 10 win. Now, as a native San Franciscan, I do take pride 
in such an exemplary record. And, frankly, while wishing San Diego 
well, I expect Steve Young to demonstrate his mastery of the game with 
an unprecedented fifth Super Bowl victory for the 49'ers.
  Both teams, however, are to be congratulated for their success in 
reaching the Super Bowl, and for many other accomplishments, is that 
not right?
  Mrs. BOXER. Absolutely. Let me discuss one area of professional 
sports that deserves more attention: the work that many athletes do to 
help others in their communities. I'd like to cite two examples of 
players who give their all.
  Junior Seau, the all-pro linebacker of the Chargers works hard for 
his charity, the Junior Seau Foundation, which helps youth in the San 
Diego area by funding child abuse prevention, drug and alcohol 
awareness, and anti-juvenile delinquency programs. He is also his 
team's spokesman for the United Way.
  Forty Niner quarterback Steve Young heads the Forever Young 
Foundation which funds a number of San Francisco Bay area charities. 
These are but two examples of players who feel an obligation to give 
back to the communities that so enthusiastically support them.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Well, no matter which team wins, Senator Boxer and I 
can take pride. There are obvious similarities between Government and 
football. In both, blows to the face are disallowed. And there is much 
that Government can learn from football--hopefully, beyond trick plays 
and sneaks. For one thing, we can learn that sportsmanship and mutual 
respect that go with handshakes between players after the battle is 
over, the score is settled and life moves on to other challenges. Here 
is to a great game.




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