[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 84 (Friday, June 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        A TRIBUTE TO LANDON DONOVAN AND THE U.S. WORLD CUP TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 21, 2002

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, Americans have found a new set 
of sports heroes in the past through weeks as we have watched the 
breathtaking performance of the U.S. men's team in the World Cup soccer 
championship. While the entire team has won the hearts and cheers of 
the nation for going further than any U.S. team in 72 years, my 
constituents and I are particularly proud of a native son, Landon 
Donovan of Redlands.
  A former student at Redlands East Valley High School, Landon Donovan 
can rightfully be called a soccer prodigy. Quickly moving on from the 
Youth soccer leagues in my San Bernardino County district, Landon was 
the most valuable player for the Under17 World Championship as a 16-
year-old in 1999 and played for the U.S. team in the 2000 Olympics.
  His promise was recognized by one of Europe's top soccer teams when 
he was recruited by the German club Bayer Leverkusen. But his real 
potential was revealed in 2001 when he Joined the San Jose Earthquakes 
of the professional Major Soccer League and led the team to the 
national championship.
  Landon Donovan's impact on the World Cup has mirrored that of the 
U.S. team. He has taken on some of the world's best players and shown 
that he can be competitive with anyone. He scored a goal in the first 
U.S. match against Portugal and very nearly scored another. He scored 
the only goal in a loss to Poland. And he was named the ``Man of the 
Match'' in the U.S. team's win over Mexico after scoring the team's 
second goal and nearly scoring another.
  Thanks to the speed and determination of Landon Donovan and his 
teammates, this year's U.S. team went further in the World Cup than any 
time in the past 72 years. In their final match against Germany, one of 
the elite teams, they pressured the German goal again and again. 
Donovan broke away for four shots on his own, and forced the German 
keeper to make desperate saves each time. The German victory at 1-0 
ended the U.S. run, but will in no way lessen our pride in the players' 
spirited performance.
  Mr. Speaker, the youth of San Bernardino County have now been treated 
to thrilling hometown performers twice in the course of a year. Derek 
Parra of San Bernardino shocked and inspired the world at the Winter 
Olympics with his recordbreaking gold medal performance in 
speedskating, a sport long-dominated by cold climate European nations.
  And now Landon Donovan, a product of Redlands youth soccer, has 
helped his team win against some of the elite teams of the World Cup. 
Please join me in thanking this team for showing Americans how 
entertaining soccer can be, and for reminding us all that with hard 
work and determination, anything is possible.

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