[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 73 (Friday, May 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF SAINT ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
Congress and the nation to a story of excellence so rare that it 
deserves the attention of all who believe the human spirit is capable 
of overcoming even the greatest of odds.
  This story is being written at Saint Anthony High School, a small 
school in downtown Jersey City whose motto is ``to be all that you can 
be.'' While neither the school nor its students possess great financial 
resources, they are both blessed with the heart of champions.
  The latest chapter of this story culminated when the Saint Anthony 
High School boys' basketball team won this year's New Jersey state 
championship with a stunning 67-55 win over Bloomfield Tech to cap a 
remarkable undefeated (30-0) season. With this victory, Saint Anthony 
High School tied a national record by winning its 24th state 
championship.
  The team's legendary coach, Bob Hurley, has now produced an 
undefeated team in each of his four decades of coaching (1974, 1989, 
1996, 2004).
  Since Saint Anthony High School does not have a gym, the boys' 
basketball team has been forced to practice at a rented facility. 
Nevertheless, in 32 years of coaching, Hurley has compiled an amazing 
826-92 record against high-caliber competition--winning an incredible 
90 percent of his games.
  Hurley has coached dozens of players who went on to become NCAA All-
Americans and NBA stars. More importantly, he has taken thousands of 
boys and turned them into champions, both on and off the court. In 32 
years, all but one of his players went to college.
  Coach Hurley has gone on record about this undefeated 2004 team--
calling them the best defensive team he's ever coached. That, I assure 
you Mr. Speaker, is saying something.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Bob Hurley 
and the State Champion 2004 Saint Anthony High School boys' basketball 
team in recognition of their commitment to excellence both on and off 
the court and for their continuing inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________