[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNITION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the day before Thanksgiving the 
University of Alaska's Athletic Department marks a milestone--the 20th 
anniversary of the Great Alaska Shootout.
  The shootout is a basketball tournament that began as an impossible 
dream of Bob Rachal, a coach who wanted to put his fledgling University 
of Alaska Anchorage basketball team on the map.
  Now, the shootout continues under Charlie Bruns and Tim Dillon, 
athletic director and has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition for 
Alaskans and basketball fans across our Nation.
  In the 20 years since the shootout began, our Nation's greatest 
college teams have traveled to Alaska over the Thanksgiving break to 
vie for the tournament trophy.
  Twenty former NCAA champions have taken part in the shootout over the 
two decades; last year marked the fifth time the defending national 
champion has participated in the shootout.
  The first game, 20 years ago, was played in a drafty field house on 
Fort Richardson, a military post in Anchorage, to about 2,500 fans.
  Now, the shootout fills our state-of-the-art Sullivan Sports Arena in 
Anchorage, and is televised live nationwide via ESPN. Sportswriters 
from the wire services, newspapers and magazines regularly travel to 
Anchorage to cover the shootout.
  Because the teams that participate are the best, the games are 
invariably closely contested; 60 of the previous 228 games have been 
won by margins of five points or less. Six have been settled in 
overtime; four in double overtime, and one in triple overtime.
  It isn't only the games that are important in the shootout, it is the 
opportunity players, coaches, and the families of the players and 
coaches, have to experience the greatness of Alaska and Alaskans, and 
the opportunity Alaskans have to meet these young athletes, their 
coaches, and their families from across our Nation.
  Volunteers open their homes to shootout participants and support the 
players and the guests in countless other ways, including 
transportation, entertainment and other special events. Our largest 
Alaska grocery chain, Carr's, provides important corporate support.
  The National Collegiate Athletic Association recognizes the special 
place this tournament holds by its votes over the years to allow the 
tournament a special place in American collegiate sports.
  The teams represent the finest programs in NCAA basketball history, 
and the University of Alaska Anchorage has gained a reputation for 
hosting one of the best tournaments in college basketball.
  The players and coaches and all who work to make the shootout a 
success bring credit to the University of Alaska, to Anchorage and to 
Alaska. Mr. President, I commend Chancellor Lea Gorsuch and the 
University of Alaska as it observes the 20th anniversary of a very 
special sports event. I know Dr. Lee Piccard, the former vice 
chancellor, who has seen every shootout game during all 20 years will 
enjoy it again.

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