[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 175 (Monday, November 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12011-S12012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 361--COMMENDING REAL SALT LAKE FOR WINNING THE 2009 
                        MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER CUP

  Mr. BENNETT (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 361

       Whereas on November 22, 2009, Real Salt Lake (RSL) won the 
     Major League Soccer Cup in front of 46,011 fans in Seattle, 
     Washington;
       Whereas RSL overcame substantial obstacles to outplay and 
     outlast the formidable

[[Page S12012]]

     Los Angeles Galaxy in the championship game;
       Whereas RSL began the second half trailing the Galaxy by a 
     score of 1-0 and were also without starter Will Johnson and 
     key playmaker Javier Morales;
       Whereas Robbie Findley scored for RSL in the 64th minute to 
     tie the game at 1-1;
       Whereas RSL won by a score of 5-4 in the seventh round of 
     penalty kicks on a shot by Robbie Russell;
       Whereas RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando made more saves than 
     any other goalkeeper in the 2009 Major League Soccer (MLS) 
     playoffs, as he stopped 2 penalty kicks during the final 
     shootout and was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player;
       Whereas RSL head coach Jason Kreis, at age 36, became the 
     youngest manager to win a MLS title;
       Whereas the MLS Cup victory capped off an improbable season 
     for RSL, as the team accumulated an 11-12-7 record during the 
     regular season but went on to become the first franchise in 
     professional sports history to win a championship after 
     finishing the regular season without a winning record;
       Whereas the victory in the championship game was the second 
     straight shootout win for RSL, after beating the Chicago Fire 
     in the Eastern Conference Championship by a score of 5-4 on 
     penalties;
       Whereas RSL defeated the defending MLS champion Columbus 
     Crew in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, winning 4-2 on 
     aggregate;
       Whereas Salt Lake City, Utah, has been home to RSL since 
     the team's founding in 2005;
       Whereas the people of the State of Utah have provided 
     stalwart support for RSL and deserve to celebrate this 
     championship, which is the first professional sports crown in 
     the State of Utah since 1971; and
       Whereas the players of RSL are good role models to young 
     athletes for their hard work, tenacity, and determination in 
     the face of difficult obstacles, and have served as 
     outstanding representatives for the State of Utah both on and 
     off the field: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Real Salt Lake for winning the 2009 Major 
     League Soccer Cup;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     and staff whose hard work and dedication helped Real Salt 
     Lake win the championship; and
       (3) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Real Salt 
     Lake for appropriate display, as well as owner Dave Checketts 
     and head coach Jason Kreis.

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