[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO STEVE COHEN, INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

                                 ______


                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 1996

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise a man from the Third 
District of Minnesota who exemplifies the unconquerable spirit of 
America, a man who overcame tremendous personal pain and, through 
outstanding dedication, perseverance and leadership, coached the U.S.A. 
Junior Baseball team to the world title.
  As a result, he has been recognized by his peers around the world as 
the best in his field for 1996.
  Steve Cohen of Plymouth, MN, recently was named International 
Baseball Coach of the Year by the International Baseball Association.
  Steve is the son of a longtime and close personal friend of mine, 
Phil Cohen. Many of you in this Chamber and the other know Phil Cohen, 
who for many years worked for Senator David Durenberger of Minnesota. 
His son, Steve, is the baseball coach at North Hennepin Community 
College in Brooklyn Park, MN, in Minnesota's Third Congressional 
District.
  But I want to talk about more than what happened on the field of 
every ballplayer's dreams. For Steve Cohen was also living out any 
son's worst nightmare, all at the same time.
  Steve Cohen's impressive accomplishments are made all the more 
inspiring by the personal courage and fortitude he showed last year as 
coach of Team USA. Steve led his players to a 10-0 victory over the 
Chinese Taipei squad in the final game of the World Junior Baseball 
Championship at historic Fenway Park in Boston on August 20. It was the 
first title for Team USA since 1989.
  Fenway Park is known for its left field wall, the Green Monster, 
which rises high above the park. That wall is not far from home, but it 
is a difficult task, even for a player with the biggest heart, to hit 
the ball over the Monster with the swing of the bat.
  Steve Cohen could have succumbed to the wall of pain and 
disappointment he was facing. He was far from home, too, far from his 
mother, Bev Cohen. Bev was suffering from terminal cancer back in 
Minnesota. Steve did not know if he would make it home in time to see 
his mother before she passed away.
  But Steve Cohen showed the heart of a champion, leading his Team USA 
to the world title.
  Mr. Speaker, Steve Cohen put his personal trauma behind him and 
focused his remarkable baseball mind and superior teaching skills on 
his young players. And he successfully scaled that wall climbed only by 
champions with real heart.
  Thankfully, Steve made it home in time to present his mother Bev the 
gold medal before she passed on. Wearing his Team USA uniform, Steve 
Cohen gave his mother a tremendous lift.
  In her typical style, Bev Cohen told her son: ``If you hadn't won 
that gold medal, I'd have booted you out of the house.''
  Bev Cohen died on Labor Day, 1995, shortly after Steve Cohen got back 
home. Steve Cohen called his mother ``a real war horse'' during that 
awful time when Bev was suffering so greatly.
  Mr. Speaker, Steve Cohen is a war horse, too, with a heart the size 
of a stallion's. Combining his inspiring leadership, courage, teaching 
skills, and keen baseball eye, Steve Cohen brought Team USA the world 
championship.
  And then Steve Cohen brought his mother back home one final, joyous 
gift, the gift only a child raised so lovingly and so well could give.
  So, we will all rise together later this year when, on September 14, 
in Lausanne, Switzerland, the International Baseball Association 
presents Steve Cohen with his award as International Baseball Coach of 
the Year.
  Steve Cohen scaled a wall that few are capable of climbing, putting 
aside personal pain of the worst kind to lead his team past such 
talented teams as those from Cuba, Australia, and Taipei.
  Mr. Speaker, this honor is truly well deserved. And we all know Bev 
Cohen's smile will be shining like a lighthouse out in left when Steve 
receives his award.
  The people of Minnesota are proud of Steve Cohen, the courageous, 
compassionate person and outstanding coach. Steve Cohen represents the 
spirit of Minnesota and is a real credit to our State and Nation.
  Baseball fans everywhere thank you, Coach Cohen, and salute you on 
being named International Baseball Coach of the Year.

                          ____________________