[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 3077]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE'S CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW

 Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and 
recognize an outstanding University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers 
basketball player, senior Chamique Holdsclaw.
  Last week, Chamique Holdsclaw was recognized as the outstanding 
amateur athlete in the nation when she was awarded the 1998 James E. 
Sullivan Memorial Award. Chamique is the first female basketball 
player--and only the third basketball player, male or female--to win 
the award in its 69-year history.
  It comes as no surprise to those of us from Tennessee that Chamique, 
the second University of Tennessee athlete in two years to take the 
honor, follows former Volunteer quarterback Peyton Manning. Other 
winners of this prestigious award include Bill Walton, Bill Bradley, 
Bonnie Blair, Florence Griffith-Joyner and Bruce Jenner.
  Mr. President, Chamique Holdsclaw is one of the finest college 
basketball players in America, who time after time has displayed grace 
under pressure, sinking last-minute, game-winning shots. She has led 
both her high school and college teams to national basketball 
championships. And of course we all remember last year when she led the 
Lady Volunteers to a 39-0 record and a third straight national title. 
Chamique has Tennessee on track for a fourth straight title this 
season.
  To measure the impact this Tennessee senior has had on women's sports 
over the past four years, you did not have to look any farther than 
across from the Lady Vols bench last week, where former Sullivan winner 
Jackie Joyner-Kersee sat. After meeting Chamique at an awards ceremony 
two weeks ago, Joyner-Kersee was so impressed that she flew in from St. 
Louis for Chamique's final regular-season home game, in which she 
scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
  Regardless of what greatness Chamique Holdsclaw achieves in her pro 
career, her time at Tennessee has clearly changed the game. Though 
plenty of women's college basketball legends came before her, Chamique 
became her sport's first national superstar. She took hold of that 
spotlight, thrived under the pressure it brought with it, and made 
history.
  Mr. President, the Sullivan Award recognizes athletes who have 
excelled in competition while exhibiting leadership, character and 
sportsmanship. Chamique Holdsclaw embodies each of these qualities and 
is the kind of person we should encourage all our young people to 
emulate. Her determination and dedication to excellence remind us that 
we each have the power to make a positive difference.

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