[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 25 (Tuesday, March 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E275-E276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 2004

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate March 2, 2004 
as National Sportsmanship Day.
  National Sportsmanship Day is based on the belief that athletic 
competition will teach students, coaches, and parents valuable lessons 
that are useful on and off the athletic field. A study conducted by 
Michigan State University in the 1990s found that 14 million of the 20 
million American children who participate in organized sports drop out 
by age 13, mostly because their parents' attitudes take the fun out of 
playing the games. Recent news stories of fights among and between 
officials and parents and the pressure parents place on their young 
children to ``win at any cost'' highlight the importance of 
sportsmanship.
  National Sportsmanship Day serves as an opportunity for athletes and 
sports fans of all ages to recognize and discuss the need for ethics, 
fair play and sportsmanship. This year, more than 12,000 elementary, 
middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities in all 
50 states and more than 125 countries, are participating in the 
fourteenth annual celebration of the personal ethics and hard work of 
athletes.
  Each year, the Institute for International Sport, based in Rhode 
Island's Second District, recognizes individuals who exemplify ethics 
and sportsmanship in both their professional and personal endeavors by 
naming them as Sports Ethics Fellows on National Sportsmanship Day.
  The 2004 Sports Ethics Fellows represent a range of athletes, 
coaches, and administrators as diverse as those who enjoy sports. Each 
one of the Fellows is a tribute to his or her game, and their skills 
are only surpassed by their desire to play fairly. Their strong 
character and great talent make them each a role model to current and 
future generations of athletes.
  This year's list of fellows consists of the following athletes, 
coaches, and administrators:
  Wayne Bryan--Tennis; Bill Buckner--Professional Baseball; Patti 
Dillon--Marathon Winner; Chris Drury--Professional Hockey; Jennie 
Finch--Softball; Karen Finocchio--Head Coach of the Brown University 
Men's

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and Women's Ski Teams; Kristine Lilly--Professional Soccer; Chuck 
Mitrano--Empire 8 Commissioner; Jamie Moyer--Professional Baseball; 
Michael Phelps--Swimming; Christine Plonsky--Athletics Director, 
University of Texas; Chanda Rubin--Tennis; and Lynn Schweizer--
Associate Director of Athletics, Denison University.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Sportsmanship 
Day, and I hope that continued recognition will help our country become 
more active, ethical, and team-oriented. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

                          ____________________