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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 281 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 281

To congratulate the Michigan State University Men's Basketball Team on 
    winning the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's 
                        Basketball Championship.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 4, 2000

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
To congratulate the Michigan State University Men's Basketball Team on 
    winning the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's 
                        Basketball Championship.

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 defensive 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 teams 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.
                                 <all>
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