[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING PRO FOOTBALL HOPEFUL AHMAD MILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 2002

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, 17 years ago, our colleague from California, 
Mr. Badham, who represented Newport Beach before I had that honor, rose 
in this chamber to commemorate the 10th anniversary of an important 
community event in Orange County, ``Irrelevant Week.'' This event, 
premised on the ``simple act of doing something nice for someone for no 
reason,'' takes time out to recognize and honor the last athlete 
selected in the National Football League's annual draft.
  Today, 27 years after the people of Orange County first decided to do 
something nice for someone for no reason, I'm pleased to report that 
``Irrelevant Week'' and Orange County altruism are both thriving. 
Irrelevant Week XXVII is honoring Ahmad Miller, from the University of 
Nevada at Las Vegas, who was the 261st selection in the 2002 NFL Draft. 
He is headed to the Houston Texans, where--at six feet three and a half 
inches tall and 320 pounds--he has the potential to be a presence on 
the team's defensive line, despite the scores of players selected ahead 
of him.
  Such long odds do not dampen the enthusiasm of community leaders like 
Paul Salata, who organizes this event. That's because they recognize 
that all fame is fleeting, that humility is a virtue, and that even the 
last round NFL draft pick is a significantly better athlete than most 
Members of Congress. During his stellar career at UNLV, Mr. Miller 
accumulated five quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, 96 tackles, 
and 13 tackles for losses. These performances earned the Bradenton, 
Florida native two selections to the All Mountain West Conference team.
  Today, the citizens of Newport Beach join me in congratulating Mr. 
Miller and all of those involved in this celebration, which has now, we 
can all agree, outgrown its name--for there is little in this world 
today that is more relevant to our spirit of community and our common 
humanity than doing nice things for other people. On behalf of the 
United States Congress and the people of Orange County whom it is my 
privilege to represent, congratulations to Mr. Miller and everyone 
associated with Irrelevant Week XXVII, for being more relevant than you 
care to admit.

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