[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6162-6163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 GODSPEED TO OUR TROOPS IN THE BALKANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with my colleague 
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton). Both of us had the privilege 
of accompanying Secretary of Defense Cohen into the theater. All of us 
walked away, one, awestruck by the commitment and spirit of the young 
men and women who represent us there. Their technical ability, their 
proficiency is something that is awe-inspiring, as well as their 
commitment.
  Additionally, I think for me and others on the trip the commitment of 
the other NATO parties was something that struck us, and as we all pray 
and hope for a quick end to this conflict and the safety and security 
of our men and women that are in the field, I join with my colleague 
from Missouri and many others wishing them Godspeed.


   Congratulating the University of Connecticut Men's Basketball Team

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I do want to take this first opportunity 
back from the NCAA for a little bit of bragging rights, and when I was 
there in Europe I met some other folks from Connecticut, some from my 
own district, and one of the great things about our State is that our 
UCONN basketball teams, men and women but this year it is the men's 
turn, are really the center of attention from an athletic perspective. 
Our team beat the Duke Blue Devils 77 to 74 for that championship, and 
with this win UCONN became the first school in New England to win this 
NCAA since 1947.

[[Page 6163]]

  It was a great team. They made an incredible effort on that day and 
through the whole season. What is clear to all of us is that each and 
every one of the players put their heart and soul and every bit of 
effort in it, and I congratulate each one of them.
  But I want to take a moment in particular for Jim Calhoun and his 
entire coaching staff. Coach Calhoun, who is a great coach and a great 
human being, someone that is involved in the community to help good 
causes, has been at UCONN since 1986 and has built an incredibly 
impressive record. In 13 seasons his record is 304 wins, 120 losses. 
Coach Calhoun has taken UCONN basketball from the backwaters to the 
front edge of competition, and he has succeeded time and time again in 
the Big East, in the championships, and finally this year in the NCAA.
  For all my constituents, those like myself who are graduates of the 
University of Connecticut and every citizen in our State, this was a 
truly exciting moment and one that we will revel in for some time.
  Congratulations, UCONN, the team, the president and all the folks 
back at Storrs.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of 
Connecticut men's basketball team for winning the 1999 NCAA Division I 
National Championship over Duke University. UCONN's 77-74 victory over 
the Blue Devils culminated years of hard work, dedication and 
perseverance on the part of the players, coaches and the entire 
University community. The residents of my state also deserve some of 
the credit for being among the most loyal, supportive fans in the 
nation.
  The Huskies' ``road to the Final Four'' has been long, but 
illustrious. UCONN has been in the NCAA tournament twenty times in 
school history. Its teams have played in seven ``Sweet Sixteen'' and 
four ``Elite Eight'' games in the 1990s alone. The path to this year's 
Final Four appearance--the first in school history--included victories 
over Texas-San Antonio, New Mexico, Iowa and Gonzaga. UCONN bested Ohio 
State to advance to the championship game. UCONN's win over Duke 
produced the school's first NCAA Division I men's basketball National 
Championship and marked the first time since 1947 that a school from 
New England has won the title.
  It goes without saying that basketball is a team sport. This UCONN 
team is the embodiment of that statement. Game in and game out, this 
group of extraordinary young men worked together as a unit to achieve 
their common goal. Every player made a contribution which helped the 
team win the Big East regular season and tournament championships, 
advance through the tournament to the Final Four and, ultimately, win 
the 1999 National Championship.
  During the tournament every player made contributions that helped the 
team to move ever closer to its ultimate goal. Kevin Freeman provided 
offensive spark throughout the tournament especially in the game 
against Ohio State and helped to contain national player of the year 
Elton Brand in the championship game. Ricky Moore, who many people, 
including this member, believe is the best defensive player in college 
basketball, demonstrated over and over again why he has earned this 
title. He played opposite star guards throughout the tournament and 
made crucial plays against Duke's Trajan Langdon in the final seconds 
of the championship game which sealed the victory for UCONN. Jake 
Voskuhl filled the lane throughout the tournament and in the final game 
played a crucial role in containing Elton Brand. And what more can be 
said about the contributions of Richard Hamilton and Khalid El-Amin? 
Hamilton, who was named tournament MVP, scored an average of 24 points 
in six tournament games capping off the season with a 27 point 
performance in the final game. El-Amin, the team's floor leader, 
directed the offense, motivated his teammates and made crucial shots 
down the stretch in the victories against Ohio State and Duke. Others, 
including Edmund Saunders, Rashamel Jones and Souleymane Wane, played 
critical minutes in each game contributing to the team's success.
  Coach Jim Calhoun and his assistants--Dave Leitao, Karl Hobbs and Tom 
Moore--have done a masterful job. Over the past thirteen seasons, Coach 
Calhoun has built a program that has dominated the Big East, one of the 
most competitive conferences in NCAA basketball, winning the regular 
season championship six times and the tournament championship four 
times. After only two seasons at UCONN, Coach Calhoun led the Huskies 
to the 1988 National Invitation Tournament championship. His teams have 
advanced to at least the round of sixteen in the NCAA tournament seven 
times this decade. Coach Calhoun can be very intense, but he is 
committed to his players more than anything else.
  In Connecticut, UCONN basektball is the state past-time. Every game 
is sold out and families across the state gather to watch every game on 
TV or listen on the radio. The Huskies have such phenomenal support 
because the team has a special relationship, a dedication to one 
another which is infectious. This commitment produced an extraordinary 
season.
  Mr. Speaker, as a UCONN graduate and the representative of Storrs, I 
am especially proud of the team's accomplishment. The team achieved its 
objective due to the extraordinary chemistry between its members, 
skilled coaching and incredible support from its fans. Once again, 
congratulations on a great season and enjoy the title--1999 National 
Champion.

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