[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF RALPH RAYMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ralph 
Raymond, the coach of the gold-winning U.S. Women's softball team. 
Coach Raymond is from my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, and I 
know that our entire community is proud of his wonderful 
accomplishments.
  All of us watched with pride last month as our softball team overcame 
tremendous odds in Sydney to take the gold medal. And they didn't just 
win--they won with class, style and pure enjoyment of the game. They 
showed great team spirit and a commendable commitment to hard work. All 
of those attributes speak volumes about Coach Raymond.
  As Coach Raymond has noted, nearly I million women are playing fast-
pitch softball in high schools and colleges across the country. 
Softball has provided great opportunities for girls to stay physically 
fit and enjoy the benefits of sports at an early age--benefits like 
teamwork, camaraderie, and accepting both victory and defeat with 
humility and grace.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Coach Ralph Raymond for a 
job very well done, and I hope we can convince him to coach our 
softball team in Athens in 2004. I hope all my colleagues will join me 
in paying tribute to one of Worcester's finest sportsmen.

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