[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 171 (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H12767-H12770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   BOSTON RED SOX VICTORY IN 2007 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 782) expressing the sense of the House with respect 
to the Boston Red Sox victory in the 2007 Major League Baseball World 
Series.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 782

       Whereas in the early moments of October 29, 2007, the 
     Boston Red Sox won their second World Series title in four 
     seasons by besting the Colorado Rockies in just four games;
       Whereas the Red Sox won their seventh world title in the 
     107-year history of the storied franchise;
       Whereas the 2007 Red Sox World Champion team epitomized 
     sportsmanship, selfless play, team spirit, determination, and 
     heart in the course of winning 96 games in the regular 
     season, winning the American League East Division 
     Championship;
       Whereas Josh Beckett, the major league's only 20-game 
     winner in the 2007 regular season, cemented his place as one 
     of the greatest post-season pitchers of all time, winning 
     four games in the playoffs, including a dominating 
     performance in Game One of the World Series, and keeping the 
     hopes of Red Sox Nation alive by overpowering the Cleveland 
     Indians in Game 5 of the American League Championship series 
     when the team was down 3 games to 1;
       Whereas Curt Schilling proved once again his greatness as a 
     post-season pitcher by winning Game 2 of the World Series;
       Whereas rookie sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka followed with a 
     win in Game 3, tossing his famed gyroball on baseball's 
     biggest stage;
       Whereas left-hander Jon Lester completed a storybook 
     comeback by overcoming adversity and leading his team to 
     victory from the mound by pitching 5 and two-thirds scoreless 
     innings, winning Game Four and completing the sweep;
       Whereas Mike Lowell was named the Most Valuable Player of 
     the World Series after batting .400 while scoring six runs 
     and batting in four more, capping off a stellar regular 
     season with an equally impressive post-season and capturing a 
     richly deserved honor;
       Whereas Jonathan Papelbon demonstrated complete dominance 
     as the team's closer,

[[Page H12768]]

     saving three of the four World Series games for the Red Sox 
     and not allowing a run in the 10 and two thirds post-season 
     innings he pitched;
       Whereas team captain Jason Varitek once again exemplified 
     the qualities that make him a great team's great captain, 
     guiding his pitching staff with patience and determination, 
     and making one of the toughest positions in baseball seem 
     effortless;
       Whereas the 2007 post-season produced many memorable 
     moments from young players and veterans alike, including 
     emerging talents like Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and 
     Hideki Okajima and more seasoned players like Kevin Youkilis, 
     J.D. Drew, Bobby Kielty, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo, and Mike 
     Timlin;
       Whereas David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez further enhanced 
     their legendary status as two of the game's greatest hitters 
     ever throughout the regular season and beyond;
       Whereas the 2007 Red Sox also included the longest serving 
     member of the Red Sox franchise, Tim Wakefield, along with 
     other integral players Manny Delcarmen, Julian Tavarez, Eric 
     Gagne, Javier Lopez, Kyle Snyder, Doug Mirabelli, Alex Cora, 
     and Eric Hinske;
       Whereas the 2007 season brought fans many magical moments, 
     including rookie Clay Buchholz's September no-hitter in just 
     his second major league start;
       Whereas Red Sox Manager Terry Francona continued to lead 
     his team with grace and a steady hand, transforming them into 
     one of the greatest Red Sox teams of all time and capturing 
     his second World Series title in just 4 short years;
       Whereas Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner and Red 
     Sox President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino 
     continued their quest to field the best team in baseball, 
     culminating in another World Series celebration for Red Sox 
     Nation;
       Whereas Red Sox Executive Vice President/General Manager 
     Theo Epstein assembled all the parts for a winning team that 
     featured the major league's best pitching staff, a dominant 
     offense, and most important, the hearts and souls of true 
     champions;
       Whereas the entire Red Sox organization maintains a strong 
     commitment to charitable causes in New England, demonstrated 
     by the team's decades-long support of the Dana-Farber Cancer 
     Institute's Jimmy Fund in the fight against childhood 
     cancers;
       Whereas Red Sox fans are everywhere, in the ball parks of 
     opposing teams, in every State in the Union and in many 
     foreign lands; and
       Whereas a grateful Red Sox Nation thanks the team for an 
     unforgettable season and for bringing another World 
     Championship home to Boston: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates--
       (A) the Boston Red Sox for winning the 2007 Major League 
     Baseball World Series and for all of their accomplishments 
     during a stellar 2007 regular season; and
       (B) the eight Major League Baseball teams that played in 
     the postseason;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the Boston Red Sox 
     players, manager, coaches, and support staff whose hard work, 
     dedication, and spirit made this all possible;
       (3) commends--
       (A) the Colorado Rockies for a solid year, including an 
     impressive late season surge that brought them to their first 
     World Series; and
       (B) the fans and management of the Colorado Rockies for 
     their hospitality towards all the Red Sox fans who traveled 
     to Denver for the World Series; and
       (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the 2007 Boston Red Sox team;
       (B) Red Sox Manager Terry Francona;
       (C) Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein;
       (D) Red Sox President and Chief Executive Officer Larry 
     Lucchino;
       (E) Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry; and
       (F) Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 days within which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in 
the House and in the Senate and my mom and dad and the entire Red Sox 
Nation in consideration of House Resolution 782, a bill that 
congratulates the Boston Red Sox baseball team, our beloved Boston Red 
Sox baseball team, for winning the 2007 Major League Baseball World 
Series.
  House Resolution 782 was introduced by my friend and colleague, 
Representative Michael Capuano. The Boston Red Sox baseball team did 
indeed win their second World Series in four seasons, defeating the 
Colorado Rockies 4-3 in game four at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, 
on Sunday, October 28, 2007.
  The Red Sox are the first team in this century to win multiple 
championships since the year 2000. Kevin Youkilis, the first baseman 
for the Red Sox said, ``Pitching will lead you all the way,'' and that 
was it, great pitching and timely hitting. This team is now rightfully 
the best team in baseball.
  The Red Sox won the 2004 and 2007 World Series under the great 
management of Terry Francona. We in Red Sox Nation wish to congratulate 
the management of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, the players, the 
coaches, the fans and the entire Red Sox community.
  I commend my colleague, Representative Capuano, and Fenway Park is 
actually in his district. I want to thank him for congratulating the 
Boston Red Sox for winning the 2007 Major League Baseball World Series. 
From all the members of the delegation, we appreciate his hard work on 
this matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, like the Speaker, growing up a Big 
Red Machine fan, I still remember those teams with Johnny Bench, Joe 
Morgan, Tony Perez, in sixth grade, watching that series.
  I rise to recognize the most recent achievements of the Boston Red 
Sox and commend their victory in the 2007 Major League Baseball World 
Series. In the last few years, the Red Sox have distinguished 
themselves as one of the most dominant teams in baseball. Of course, 
this was not always the case.
  After winning their fifth World Series in 1918, their regular season 
successes were often met by postseason disappointment. Those were the 
old Red Sox.
  In this century, we have the new Red Sox, the team that entered the 
2004 playoffs as a wild card and then proceeded to mount one of the 
most memorable comebacks in baseball history down three games to zero 
against their arch rival, the New York Yankees.
  They came back to win the American League Championship Series and 
ultimately went on to break the Curse of the Bambino, winning the 2004 
World Series in four straight games against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 
2007, after winning the American League East Division, the Red Sox 
again faced adversity in the American League Championship Series down 
3-1 to that other great team in Ohio, the Cleveland Indians. They 
persevered, winning three games in a row to once again represent the 
American League in the World Series.
  The Red Sox went on to win this series again in four games, sweeping 
the red-hot Colorado Rockies behind the leadership of Manager Terry 
Francona. The 2007 Red Sox did it all. I congratulate them and their 
team and the entire Red Sox community.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague and friend, Michael 
Capuano, for as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to apologize to you for some 
of the pain that this moment may be inflicting. I didn't expect you to 
be in the chair. I just want to express my personal regrets that you 
have to suffer through this as a lifelong Yankee fan.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman doesn't know the half of it.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice and congratulations 
to the Red Sox on behalf of the entire Red Sox Nation, which has always 
been strong but now growing across the country. Every road game they 
played, they filled up stadiums, and they filled it up both with 
supporters of the opponents, because they came to see good baseball and 
with Red Sox fans they found everywhere across this country.
  I will tell you they epitomized, on behalf of all of us, what is good 
about sports and what is good about America. Baseball is still 
America's game; it's still America's pastime. We all love watching it, 
but I will tell you, I will

[[Page H12769]]

admit that, as a lifelong Red Sox fan, I always had my doubts until the 
last play of the last game.
  I always figured we could find a way to blow it like we did for 86 
years. They are slowly turning me around, and one by one, one game at a 
time, now two in the last 4 years, maybe I will get over the initial 
years of my Red Sox days always figuring, come late in the season, the 
Yankees would sneak up on us and clobber us from behind.
  I will tell you that it is nice to begin the new century this way, 
but I also remember that we started off the last century pretty well 
too, but then we hit a wall. I don't expect that will happen, I expect 
this will continue on and on for the Red Sox. As you have probably 
noted, the Red Sox didn't just keep it all to themselves. They have now 
handed it off to the Patriots and the Boston College Eagles, and 
hopefully the Celtics will be able to gain the same type of traction 
that the Red Sox did.
  I end my remarks by simply saying congratulations to the Red Sox. 
Thank you for a wonderful year on behalf of all of my constituents.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to another friend of Red 
Sox Nation, part of Red Sox Nation from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).
  Mr. COURTNEY. Thank you, Congressman Lynch, for letting me join in on 
today's resolution.
  I come from the southern end of Red Sox Nation in eastern 
Connecticut. We are still closer to Fenway Park than we are to Yankee 
Stadium or Shea Stadium, so it's still safe for me to publicly speak 
out on this resolution.
  As someone from a multigenerational Red Sox family like Mr. Capuano, 
we suffered and worried and have terrible memories, but obviously this 
is not our fathers' Red Sox any more.

                              {time}  1245

  This is a great team that combined a lot of new players, Dustin 
Pedroia, ``Jake'' Jacoby Ellsbury, Daisuke Matzusaka, along with the 
2004 veterans of the last World Series, to again have another great 
exciting season, particularly the ALCS where they came back down 3-1.
  As Mr. Capuano said, Red Sox Nation extends far and wide. Last March 
I was on board the USS Alexandria, a nuclear submarine out of Groton, 
Connecticut, under the ice in Alaska. I spent a day driving around with 
a great crew, professional and just so impressive in the work they do 
for our Nation. Sat down for breakfast after sleeping onboard the ship 
and was immediately confronted by the sailors who said they had only 
one question for me. I figured it was the war on Iraq, health care. And 
the one question was, Yankees or Red Sox? I was able to reassure them 
that I was a Red Sox fan, since they all were as well.
  But one of the sailors indicated to me that he was coming up for re-
enlistment and his dream was to do it in Fenway Park in front of the 
Green Monster. When I came back to Washington, we contacted President 
Lucchino of the Red Sox, who bent over backwards for this sailor and 
his family, his fiance, and they did, in fact, stage a re-enlistment 
ceremony in front of the Green Monster, wearing the 2004 ring as he 
signed the papers, committing himself again to our Nation. And I just 
want to read from the Boston Globe the comment of Petty Officer 
Vecchione who said, ``It's a sacred place. I had the ring on my finger 
as if I was married to the Red Sox for a few minutes.''
  And I think really what that incident showed, though, is that we have 
a management who sees that it's a two-way street in Red Sox Nation. We 
love our players, but they love their fans; and that's why we have such 
a great fan base who are so passionate about this incredible team that 
goes back to the early days of baseball.
  And I appreciate again the bipartisan support and even the support 
from some Members who root for other teams in this resolution and urge 
its passage.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, before I yield additional time, I just want 
to relate anecdotally how the extent of the Red Sox Nation is 
expanding.
  About a month ago I happened to visit Afghanistan and Pakistan. And 
while in Afghanistan, I traveled with the 173rd Airborne up in a little 
place called Nahre. It's about 8,000 feet up into the mountains of 
Afghanistan. And while I was there, the helicopter, it was not 
pressurized so it only took us up so far, and then we had to walk up a 
little ways to the outpost where the 173rd was conducting operations on 
the Pakistani border, and when we were approaching the camp, there were 
a group of Afghani villagers off to the righthand side digging a ditch. 
And while most of them had the traditional headdress of the Afghans at 
that time on in their project, I did notice one gentleman, an Afghani, 
probably about 30 years old. And on close inspection, there he was, 
8,000 feet in the mountains of Afghanistan, an Afghani villager wearing 
a Boston Red Sox baseball cap. And that is an indication of how 
widespread and popular the movement behind the Red Sox has become.
  And in closing, I would just like to thank the Red Sox organization. 
As a corporate citizen, its owners, its managers, its players, coaches, 
there is no shortage of kindness that they have shown to every cause. 
From Curt Schilling's support of ALS and the efforts against that 
disease, David Ortiz and his efforts to help alleviate the effect of 
the hurricanes in the Dominican Republic, there's no shortage of 
kindness and good citizenship that has been exhibited by this 
organization. We recognize them for their excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, at this point, in a moment of questionable wisdom, I am 
actually going to yield to a Mets fan, the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Weiner), for 1 minute, because I am not quite sure what he might say.
  Mr. WEINER. Look, I rise without any compunction to offer some level 
of congratulations to the Red Sox. As the Speaker knows, and you know 
I'm a Mets fan, so when we played you in 1986, it wasn't that big of a 
problem. And as bad as our collapse was this year, we have a great deal 
of empathy for the fans of the Boston Red Sox.
  And I must admit there are some genuinely likable players on the Red 
Sox. This guy, Kevin Youkilis, whom you know, Mr. Lynch, his great 
grandfather was named Weiner. So perhaps way back when, there was some 
baseball talent in the Weiner family, although none has been displayed 
recently in the congressional baseball game.
  And it's no doubt about it that Manny Ramirez from Washington 
Heights, the New York connection, and Mike Lowell, the MVP, it's hard 
not to root for that guy.
  But I have to say I'm a little surprised there isn't language in this 
resolution in reference to the MVT, the most valuable traitor. I seem 
to recall reading that Rudolph Giuliani, that vaunted Yankee fan, who 
for years and years would put the Yankee pin stripes on, and even has 
World Series rings, I understand, in his collection, stood up and said 
that he too was pulling for the Boston Red Sox.
  Now, I think there should be some kind of a----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
  Mr. LYNCH. Thank God. Mr. Speaker, I have been remiss, and I would 
like to at this time yield to my great friend and colleague from Rhode 
Island, Representative James Langevin, who is a die-hard Red Sox fan 
and a leader of Red Sox Nation, for whatever time he may consume.
  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding on this historic 
occasion and for the purpose of a great celebration and recognizing the 
great victory of the Boston Red Sox in this year's World Series.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 782, a 
resolution that congratulates the Boston Red Sox on winning the World 
Series on October 28, 2007. As a life-long Red Sox fan, I am so pleased 
to be here with the rest of the New England delegation to show our 
appreciation for the Red Sox players, coaches, front office, and the 
rest of the Red Sox Nation.
  The 2007 Red Sox were dominant from the beginning of the season, 
which is not easy when you have 162 regular season games in a year. In 
the World Series, the Red Sox faced the Colorado Rockies, a team that 
had won 21 of their last 22 games, leading up to the last showdown. 
That statistic didn't faze the Red Sox at all, though;

[[Page H12770]]

and whether it was in Boston or Denver, the pitchers made their pitches 
and the batters showed how hard it was to get an out in their lineup.
  With a sense of inevitability, the Red Sox swept the Rockies in four 
games to win their second World Series in 4 years.
  Every player on the team made a contribution. From veterans like Curt 
Schilling to rookies like Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Lowell, who helped to 
keep the Red Sox on top during the regular season and rightfully won 
the World Series Most Valuable Player.
  The 2007 Red Sox not only worked hard; they enjoyed themselves as 
well and kept the fans entertained, which is easy to do when you love 
what you do and you're good at it.
  We watched Jonathan Papelbon strike out batters, and then we waited 
for a celebratory dance at the end of the game. It's not often in 
professional sports that you see a team full of players that has such a 
strong bond.
  It's always a good year when you can follow your baseball team all 
the way from the beginning of April to the end of October. It's an even 
better year when they can take the World Series trophy on a parade 
through Boston.
  The 2007 Red Sox played this year with confidence and class and 
showed us the true definition of team. I look forward to 2008 and 
adding on to two World Series trophies that we've already won this 
century.
  Again, my congratulations to a great team. Congratulations Boston Red 
Sox and Red Sox Nation.
  I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for yielding, along with his 
great comments.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, seeing no further speakers on this matter, I 
yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 782.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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