[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5120-S5121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, last night the citizens of my State were 
deeply saddened by the loss of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks to 
a magnificent UCLA team in the NCAA finals. But No. 2 is not all bad. 
We finished ahead of several hundred other NCAA mens basketball teams.
  Sometimes, none of us performs to perfection or even to our maximum 
abilities. Last night was not a particularly good night for the 
Razorbacks, but that is not to diminish the magnificent game that UCLA 
played.
  The 1995 NCAA tournament was filled with hard-fought, competitive 
games with exciting finishes. Just 2 weeks ago UCLA barely squeezed by 
Missouri. We all remember watching Tyus Edney go the length of the 
court and lay one up just at the buzzer to win the game. 
[[Page S5121]] And, of course, we remember that timeout call by a 
youngster from Syracuse that allowed Arkansas to win in overtime. Such 
is the very nature of the game.
  But I can tell you that all Arkansans glory in the spunk of this 
great, magnificent Razorback team for coming back again and again. 
While they will lose several players who are seniors, I have confidence 
that the Razorbacks will be back playing for the championship once 
again next year.
  The University's coach, Nolan Richardson, is a very talented man. He 
was very gracious last night. He took full responsibility for the loss, 
as great men do. That resonated well with the American people, as it 
always does. Generosity will never lose anybody a vote. It is a mark of 
greatness. And Nolan Richardson was great in his comments last evening. 
Youngsters all over America want to play for him. So I fully expect 
that he and the Razorbacks will be back again next year.
  I rise just simply to say that this team, as did last year's 
championship team, has filled all Arkansans' hearts with pride and 
exhilaration. We are immensely grateful for the glory they bestowed on 
themselves and our beloved Arkansas.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. PRYOR addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I, too, would like to join my senior 
colleague, Senator Bumpers, in praising the great University of 
Arkansas team and also in congratulating the UCLA team for a 
magnificent job in winning the national championship.
  Mr. President, it has not been too long ago since basketball really 
come to the forefront in the Arkansas Razorbacks' territory. In fact, 
when I was a student in Fayetteville at the University of Arkansas, 
they almost had to force us to go over to the field house to watch the 
Razorbacks play basketball. Usually, those basketball games were on a 
Friday or a Saturday afternoon.
  But then along came some great coaches and ultimately some great 
teams, and finally the great support of the people of our State, 
equaling the support now, I think, of the Razorback football team; in 
fact, in some cases, even surpassing it.
  Last year, the Razorbacks, of course, Mr. President, were the 
national champions. This year, we were almost the national champions. 
We lost to a great team.
  Last night, throughout that game, I sat and watched as the momentum 
shifted back and forth between UCLA and Arkansas, and between UCLA and 
Arkansas again. I thought of the many thousands of hours of practice, 
commitment, that each of those players had committed to the splendid 
sport in this wonderful country of ours.
  Finally, Mr. President, I was taken not only by the fine comments of 
the coaches of both of those basketball teams--those glorious teams, I 
might add--I was also taken by the sportsmanship exemplified by all of 
the members of those basketball teams as they faced each other in a 
moment of true contest, in a moment of true testing of who was going to 
become the championship team of the United States of America.
  UCLA prevailed. We congratulate them.
  We say to the Razorbacks, thank you for a splendid season and thank 
you for making us a proud people.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
permitted to proceed for 2 minutes as if in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Massachusetts is recognized.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I congratulate our two friends and 
colleagues.
  I join in congratulating UCLA for winning the championship, but also 
in paying tribute to a valiant team that had enormous success during 
the course of the season.
  The University of Massachusetts got to the quarter finals in that 
particular basketball tournament. I can remember when the University of 
Massachusetts played Arkansas on Thanksgiving of last year. It was a 
very good evening at that time when Coach Calipari's team was 
successful. That team went along and had a superb year, and lost in a 
hard-fought contest.
  I was inspired by the skill and the demeanor and the competitiveness 
of those young men, and women, as we heard yesterday, from the 
University of Connecticut.

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