[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 87 (Wednesday, June 26, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4025-H4027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH REGARD TO UNITED
STATES NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM AND ITS HISTORIC PERFORMANCE IN THE 2002
FIFA WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the
resolution (H. Res. 445) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives with regard to the United States National Soccer Team
and its historic performance in the 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament, and
ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, as
a matter of fact, I will not object, but I ask the gentleman from
Oklahoma to explain this resolution.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, the United States National Soccer Team is a perfect
example of the American dream. Rising above low expectations and
defeating the dire predictions of sportswriters and pundits, our soccer
team shot and scored their way to the quarter finals of the 2002 World
Cup.
Like so many other underdogs, the U.S. team proved that, with hard
work and determination, success can be achieved and odds can be
overcome.
The irony in the American victory is the fact that our team defeated
Portugal and Mexico, countries where soccer is extremely popular.
President Bush put it best when he congratulated our players, saying,
``The country is really proud of the team. A lot of people that don't
know anything about soccer, like me, are all excited and pulling for
you.''
The performance by the American soccer team this year has been our
most successful ever since competing for the World Cup. It is the first
time the United States team has made it all the way to the quarter
finals since 1930.
Most great performances come under the direction of great leaders,
and this is no exception. The resolution before the House today
recognizes Bruce Arena, the head coach of the U.S. team, and all of the
players for their dedication to excellence. Coach Arena has been
successful on many levels: collegiate, professional, and now
international. Before coaching the U.S. team, he led the soccer team
right here in Washington, D.C., to two professional league titles. Now
he has achieved worldwide notoriety with a well-deserving group of
soccer players.
Mr. Speaker, sports brings out the best in so many people. The values
of determination and willpower manifest themselves in the thrill of
competition and good old-fashioned physical fitness. Soccer is no
exception. Americans learned what it means to ``strike'' and to
``head'' while once again unifying in a patriotic display, which is
immensely important to our Nation right now.
Lastly, this resolution commends the United States Soccer Federation
and the United States Soccer Foundation, children playing soccer across
the country, and the soccer moms and dads who make it all possible; and
I can relate to that because I am one.
It is my hope that soccer players in cities, towns, and communities
all over this great land of ours will continue to witness role models
winning games around the world. The 1 to 0 loss to Germany last Friday
was a very close game. Coach Arena went into the day with a positive
attitude, saying, ``We know we represent the greatest country in all
the world. We are going to give the kind of effort you and all America
will be proud of,'' just as our lady soccer players did about 2\1/2\
years ago, back in 1999, gave an effort that we all were extremely
proud of.
Mr. Speaker, America is indeed proud. The House today congratulates
our team on their performance and the spectacular accomplishment of
making the quarter finals. The United States National Soccer Team
represents yet another good thing about America; and, for that, we as
Americans are grateful.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Continuing my reservation of objection, Mr.
Speaker, I agree with the gentleman from Oklahoma that the play of the
U.S. Soccer Team was exemplary.
As a matter of fact, he makes the point that, traditionally, the
United States has not been thought of as a world competitor in the
soccer arena, but I think we have reached another level. We have
crossed that hurdle. Now all of the world recognizes and understands
that we have come to the point as a Nation where our athletes can
compete in practically any sport and endeavor.
Such is true in the case of soccer, so I certainly would want to add
my commendation to the team. I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma for
his resolution and agree with him.
Continuing to reserve my right to object, I yield to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Boehlert).
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of today's resolution
honoring the tremendous achievement of the United States Men's Soccer
Team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup games. As this team of players, their
coaches, and staff gathered together and set out for the games in Korea
and Japan, they faced many challenges. They were flying thousands of
miles to play the world's best teams in unfamiliar stadiums and to
endure the harsh glare of skeptical sportswriters. It is fair to say
that those skeptics have changed their minds.
In the opening match against Portugal, our American team dominated
the game and walked off with a three to two win under their belt.
Critics thought it was a fluke. Coach Bruce Arena and his team were
about to prove them wrong.
The U.S. team went on to a draw with Korea and then a qualification
for round two, despite an outcome that placed them behind Poland. No
one was ignoring Team USA anymore.
[[Page H4026]]
June 17 the U.S. team defeated the Mexicans in an outstanding showing
in a final showing of 2-0. Our neighbors to the south were headed back
to North America, and the U.S. soccer team was moving onward.
I joined over 200 people here on Capitol Hill to watch the U.S. play
Germany on June 21 in the early morning hours. I know I was not the
only one on the edge of my seat throughout that heated match. What a
game.
Soccer fans across this great country have been rewarded for their
dedication to this sport. In a Nation filled with wonderful sports
teams and opportunities, it was fantastic to see our citizens come
together to support a national team that has sometimes been overlooked.
I have always considered myself to be one of the luckiest Members of
Congress, the Hall of Fame representative, because I get to represent
the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the Boxing Hall of Fame in
Canastota, the Long Distance Hall of Fame in Utica and the magnificent
new Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, all in the heartland of New York.
The folks in Oneonta sparked my interest in soccer and got me so
enthused that I helped found the Congressional Soccer Caucus.
As a representative for the Hall of Fame and the co-chair of the
Caucus, I would like to encourage continued support for soccer
everywhere. Youth soccer programs across the Nation offer opportunities
to millions of children from all backgrounds of every ability level to
come together and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. We
need to take full advantage of increased public awareness for soccer
that this World Cup has offered. Let us continue to promote youth
programs so that we might watch young soccer stars work their way to
the top in future World Cups.
How can anyone who claims to be a sports fan ever forget the
thrilling U.S. women's World Cup championship team of 1991? It hardly
seems possible that a decade has passed since that dramatic moment in
U.S. sports history. That was then. This is here and now.
I would again like to extend congratulations to the men's U.S. World
Cup team and their supporters. I look forward to seeing several of
these talented young men as future inductees in the Soccer Hall of Fame
in Oneonta, New York, and I look forward to our continued success in
men's and women's USA soccer.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to
object, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 445 introduced by the
distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) expresses the sense
of the United States with regard to the United States national soccer
team and its outstanding performance in the 2002 World Cup tournament.
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. soccer team's performance in the 2002 World Cup
was the most successful in the history of our Nation's participation in
the tournament. The American team surprised the world by reaching the
quarter final round, indicating that it has become a leading competitor
in international soccer.
I wish to recognize Bruce Arena, the head coach of the United States
soccer team, and every player on that team for their dedication to
excellence and for representing our country with such integrity on and
off the soccer field. I congratulate the US soccer team for its
historic performance in the 2002 World Cup. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I
urge the adoption of House Resolution 445.
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for
H. Res. 445, a resolution that praises the United States National
Soccer Team for their outstanding performance in the 2002 World Cup
tournament. I want to commend U.S. Coach Bruce Arena and assistant
Coach Dave Sarachen for their superb leadership and tactical brilliance
in guiding the U.S. team to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. This
was the result of tiring work by players and coaches alike and this
World Cup will go down in history as the year U.S. soccer arrived on
the world stage. The incredible performance of the U.S. soccer team has
generated enormous enthusiasm and pride in this country and our
player's can hold their heads high as they proved to the world that
they can compete at the highest levels with the best soccer teams in
the world.
The U.S. team played brilliant, inspired soccer throughout the World
Cup and were able to defeat two of the top ten teams (Portugal and
Mexico) in the world--a feat that no one would have predicted before
the tournament started. U.S. sports fans also passionately responded to
the great performance of our soccer team as sports bars were jam-packed
with soccer enthusiasts and with ESPN receiving record viewership
ratings in its television broadcasts of the U.S. World Cup matches. So
let me once again congratulate the U.S. Soccer team for their
phenomenal performance as the entire country is proud of what our
players and coaches accomplished. The future of soccer is bright in
this country and we can expect great things to come from U.S. soccer in
the years to come.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, over the last several weeks,
the US Mens's Soccer Team has exceeded worldwide expectations by
earning a quarterfinal match-up with Germany resulting from a first-
round win over Portugal, a tie against host team South Korea, and a
second-round win over Mexico.
With its 2-0 victory over Mexico on June 17th, the 2002 Team tied the
men's national team marks for the most wins at a World Cup and most
goals scored in a World Cup. The only other US team to equal this level
of success was the 1930 team that reached the semifinals at the
inaugural FIFA (``FEEFA'') World Cup in Uruguay.
This year's win also marked the first time the US won a single-
elimination game in World Cup History, and was the US's first World Cup
shutout since its historic 1-0 upset of England at the 1950 World Cup
in Brazil.
Much of the team's success can be credited to head coach Bruce Arena,
a resident of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. Throughout
his distinguished career, Arena has led teams to numerous championships
at the collegiate and professional levels, and now should be commended
for his success on the international stage.
With 18 seasons as the head coach at the University of Virginia and
three more in Major League Soccer with the DC United, Arena spent 21
seasons at the highest level of club soccer in the United States.
During his 18-year career as head coach of the University of Virginia
Men's Soccer Team, Arena led his team to 5 NCAA Division One
championships, and went on to lead the Under-23 National Team for 44
games through the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
To commend their success and wish them good luck, President Bush
called Coach Arena and the Team in Korea at 11 am last Monday, June 17,
informing the Team of the American public's excitement over their
success. Coach Arena, in response, informed the President that the Team
would give a performance that all Americans would be proud of.
Mr. Speaker, our men's soccer team did just that. Enthusiasm over the
team's strong finish has been evident in communities across America,
with standing room only crowds at early morning games packing
restaurants and other locales on game days. The team's rise mirrors the
sports' growth over the past several decades, and I'm proud that the
leader of this pack resides in my congressional district. They've made
us very proud.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of
objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 445
Whereas the performance of the United States National
Soccer Team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup is the most successful
in the history of our participation in the tournament;
Whereas the United States National Team surprised the world
by advancing out of the first round of play and reaching the
quarterfinals;
Whereas by reaching the quarterfinals the United States
signaled that it has become a leading competitor in
international soccer;
Whereas the 3 goals scored in the first game victory were
the most ever scored in 1 game by a United States men's team
in the World Cup;
Whereas the United States National Team advanced out of
group play into the second round of the World Cup for just
the third time;
Whereas the 2 to 0 win in the second round was the first
time the United States National Team has won a game in a
``knock-out'' round of the World Cup;
Whereas this win marks the first time since 1930 that a
United States team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the
World Cup;
Whereas the Team's achievement reflects the explosive
growth in popularity of soccer in the United States;
Whereas the United States National Team's performance
symbolizes the emerging role of soccer for young Americans in
sports and society; and
Whereas the United States National Team's performance
speaks to parents about the importance of athletic
participation for building character and confidence in their
children: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
[[Page H4027]]
(1) congratulates the United States National Soccer Team
for its historic performance in the 2002 World Cup;
(2) recognizes Bruce Arena, the head coach of the United
States Team, and every player on the Team for their
dedication to excellence; and
(3) commends the United States Soccer Federation and
coaches and parents of young soccer players around the
country for their role in the success of soccer in the United
States.
Amendment Offered by Mr. Sullivan
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendment offered by Mr. Sullivan:
Page 3, beginning line 1, strike ``United States Soccer
Federation'' and insert ``United States Soccer Federation,
the United States Soccer Foundation,''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment offered by
the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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