[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 40 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL TEAM, 1997 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  (Mr. KOLBE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I feel a little bit like a proud parent today 
as I rise to congratulate Coach Lute Olsen and the University of 
Arizona Wildcats on winning the NCAA national basketball championship.
  This marvelous achievement really was unprecedented. Never before has 
a collegiate basketball team defeated three No. 1 seeds in an NCAA 
tournament, in fact the three most successful basketball programs in 
the country. Pundits said it was impossible. To be victorious Arizona 
had to find a way to win six games in a row, something this team had 
not done all season. In fact, during the regular season the Wildcats 
lost nearly as many games as Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky 
combined. But throughout the season the Arizona Wildcats exhibited a 
strength of character that was truly inspiring. They prove that a good 
team can benefit as much, if not more, from losing as from winning.
  As Mike Bibby, Arizona sensational freshman point guard, told 
reporters, ``I like playing against All Americans because it helps me 
learn,'' or as forward Michael Dickerson said, ``We don't feel we're 
anybody's underdogs. We have players who can match up with anybody. We 
did it by believing in each other.''
  Indeed, at one point during the tournament Mike Bibby found himself 
at the free throw stripe with the game on the line. Yet after making 
the shots that sealed the victory, Bibby was quick to credit his 
teammate and freshman reserve Josh Pastner with helping him perfect his 
free throwing technique. Bibby wanted the world to know that although 
Josh Pastner did not log a minute of playing time during the 
tournament, the Arizona Wildcats could not have won the championship 
without him.
  So congratulations, University of Arizona. Go, Wildcats.

                          ____________________