[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10389-10390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) is recognized for 5 
minutes.

[[Page 10390]]


  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I join my friend the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Price) and my other colleagues tonight because I want to 
take this opportunity to congratulate the University of North 
Carolina's men's basketball team on their latest national championship. 
As has been already been stated, soon the North Carolina Tar Heels will 
be raising the school's fourth NCAA basketball championship banner in 
the rafters of the Dean Dome.
  In North Carolina, college basketball is as much a part of our 
culture as barbecue and sweet tea. Children know whether they support 
Carolina or Duke or Wake Forest or North Carolina State before they can 
walk, and a good basketball season is almost a birthright in North 
Carolina. It has been 12 years and a few close calls since Carolina's 
won a championship, but after a spectacular season, the nets have again 
been cut and a another championship trophy is in Chapel Hill.
  In the NCAA champion game in April, the Tar Heels defeated the 
Illinois fighting Illini 75 to 70 in an outstanding display of teamwork 
and outstanding talent. Led by the performance of now former players 
Raymond Felton and Sean May, the Tar Heels played strong basketball on 
both ends of the court, along with the other members. They were able to 
make critical baskets when the game was on the line and played tough 
defense that stifled their opponent when necessary.
  Just 2 years ago, Coach Roy Williams came home to North Carolina to 
coach a Tar Heel team coming off an 8-20 season. His leadership turned 
a group of talented young men into great players with heart and 
determination. They made a commitment to work hard, to become a better 
team, and now they will join the ranks of other North Carolina 
basketball championship players, and the list is long, two of whom I 
will mention, Michael Jordan and James Worthy.
  As the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) has previously 
stated, UNC is well-known for producing student athletes who not only 
succeed in the NBA but in every walk of life, and this is important, 
from the university with a rich history.
  I wish the best of luck to the graduating seniors and expect that 
they will continue to have success in their future endeavor, and I am 
proud to join again my colleague the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Price) and my other North Carolina colleagues this evening in 
congratulating the University of North Carolina players, coaches and 
their fans on this singular accomplishment. Go Tar Heels.

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