[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4685]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 SENATE RESOLUTION 281--TO CONGRATULATE THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 
MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING THE 2000 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC 
               ASSOCIATION MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Levin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 281

       Whereas the Michigan State Spartans were Big Ten Conference 
     regular season co-champions, and were winners of the Big Ten 
     Conference Tournament, and, with a 26-7 record, earned a 
     number one seed in the Midwest region of the 1999-2000 
     N.C.A.A. Tournament;
       Whereas the Michigan State Spartans proved their dominance 
     over the Midwest Region in reaching the Final Four, defeating 
     Valparaiso 65-38, Utah 73-61, Syracuse 75-58, and Iowa State 
     75-64;
       Whereas in winning the Midwest Region the Michigan State 
     Spartans reached the Men's Final Four for the second year in 
     a row, last year losing to the Duke University Blue Devils in 
     the semifinals;
       Whereas the Michigan State Spartans vowed after that loss 
     to return to the Final Four in 1999-2000, and to settle for 
     nothing less than the ultimate prize;
       Whereas the Michigan State Spartans moved one step closer 
     to their goal when they defeated the University of Wisconsin 
     Badgers 53-41 for the fourth time of the 1999-2000 season to 
     reach the championship game;
       Whereas in that game, the Michigan State Spartans, with an 
     entire team effort that demonstrated why college athletics 
     are so special, defeated the University of Florida Gators 89-
     76 on April 3, 2000, and won the N.C.A.A. Men's Basketball 
     Championship for the second time in the history of the 
     program;
       Whereas Coach Tom Izzo, who hails from Iron Mountain, 
     Michigan, in only his fifth year coaching the team, has 
     proven himself to be one of the finest coaches in Men's 
     College Basketball, and he and his staff instilled into the 
     Spartans a will to win second to none, exemplified by their 
     cutthroat defense, which suffocated many potent offenses 
     throughout the season, and particularly in the second half of 
     N.C.A.A. Tournament games;
       Whereas Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and A.J. Granger, 
     three seniors who have been playing together for four years 
     and who ended their collegiate careers with a win, spurred 
     this team to victory throughout the year, Mr. Cleaves with 
     his incredible leadership, Mr. Peterson with his clutch 
     shooting, and Mr. Granger with his consistent long 
     marksmanship;
       Whereas Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Charlie Bell, 
     three individuals who hail from Flint, Michigan, and have 
     thus been given the nickname ``The Flintstones,'' have been 
     playing together since elementary school, and whose 
     comradeship and loyalty to one another carried out onto the 
     floor, and made the Spartans team a family off the floor as 
     well;
       Whereas Mateen Cleaves, the fearless captain of the team 
     and the all-time assist leader in the Big Ten's history, who 
     led not only with words but also with the example he set, who 
     returned to the championship game after sustaining a high 
     ankle sprain to his right leg, led his team to the title and, 
     like a true champion, made good on his word;
       Whereas Morris Peterson, named the Big Ten Conference 
     Player of the Year, saved the Michigan State Spartans from 
     the clutches of defeat many times this season, and 
     particularly in the tournament, with his laser-like shooting 
     and stingy defense;
       Whereas Charlie Bell, perhaps the best rebounding guard in 
     the nation, also led the team with his quickness, tireless 
     defense effort, and athleticism, and who will be counted upon 
     for his leadership next year;
       Whereas A.J. Granger, displayed his awesome variety of 
     offensive skills in both assisting on, and hitting, several 
     big shots when the Spartans needed them most;
       Whereas Andre Hutson, the man in the middle, who was often 
     called on to shut down the opposing team's top player, 
     particularly in the 1999-2000 tournament, handled his job 
     with a workmanlike skill that defined professionalism, and in 
     doing so provided the Spartans with the whole package the 
     entire year;
       Whereas Mike Chappell, Jason Richardson, and Aloysius 
     Anagonye, provided the Spartans with quality minutes off the 
     bench all year, and particularly in the championship game, 
     where they held their own against the vaunted Florida bench;
       Whereas David Thomas and Adam Ballinger, provided valuable 
     contributions throughout the season and the tournament, both 
     on and off the court, often providing the Spartans with the 
     lift they needed; and
       Whereas the contributions of Steve Cherry, Mat Ishbia and 
     Brandon Smith, both on the court and in practice, 
     demonstrated the total devotion of the Spartans players to 
     the team concept that made the Spartans into the most 
     dominating college basketball team of the new millennium: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate congratulates the 
     Michigan State University Men's Basketball Team on winning 
     the 1999-2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's 
     Basketball Championship.

     

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