Congratulating the Florida Marlins for winning the 2003 World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 415) congratulating the Florida Marlins for winning the 2003 World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Florida Marlins are World Series champions, again. ``The Fish,'' as they are affectionately known in our hometown, this low-budget baseball team that plays in a football stadium, amazed the sports world by defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series on Saturday night.

Who would have expected the Marlins, in only their 11th year of existence, after starting the year with only 19 wins in their first 48 games, after firing their manager in May, that they would rebound to win their second World Series in the last 7 years. But it was not easy. The Marlins' road to the championship was nearly as bumpy as it was unexpected.

When the Marlins struggled early in the season, many commentators speculated that the season was hopeless and that the team would soon unload many of their veteran players to save money for the future. Instead, the Marlins did the opposite, aggressively acquiring key players midway through the summer who proved integral to their eventual championship run. Under the direction of new manager Jack McKeon, the Marlins turned it around and began winning. The Marlins finished the season with a relatively astonishing record of 91 wins and 71 losses, and earned the wild card berth in the National League.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Marlins were slated to take on the most feared slugger in baseball, Barry Bonds, and the defending National League champions, the San Francisco Giants. After dropping game one, the Marlins defeated the Giants in three straight games to win the series. Who could forget Jeff Conine's clutch throw from left field to catcher Ivan Rodriguez for the final out in game 4 that clinched the series.

In the League Championship Series, fate seemed to challenge the Marlins as much as their opponents, as the Marlins squared off against the Chicago Cubs. The red-hot Cubs, who had not even advanced to the World Series since 1945, seemed to have a date with destiny as they took a 3-games-to-1 lead on the Marlins in the best-of-7 series. Incredibly, the Marlins again bounced back to win three straight games and the last two in Chicago to defeat the Cubs in this unforgettable classic.

The unlikely Marlins advanced to the World Series to play the giants of baseball, the New York Yankees. Just like during the regular season, and the two previous playoff series as well, no one besides the Marlins themselves and their fans believed they had a chance. Once more, the Marlins fell behind in the series; this time the Yankees captured a 2- games-to-1 advantage. But remarkably, the Marlins were not to be denied. Paced by their pitching ace, World Series Most Valuable Player Josh Beckett, they triumphed in three consecutive games to win a series for the third time. The entire baseball world was stunned as the Florida Marlins became the World Series champions.

The standouts on this Marlins team were many during the season and through the playoffs, and it seemed like a different player excelled each game. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez seemed to always deliver timely hits and great defense. Pitchers Josh Beckett, Mark Redman, Dontrelle Willis, Carl Pavano, and Brad Penny provided underrated performances all year long, and 20-year-old Miguel Cabrera was called up from the minor leagues in mid-June and was one of the most valuable hitters down the stretch; and their double-play combination of Alex Gonzalez and Luis Castillo was perhaps the league's best.

And we must certainly recognize the manager, Jack McKeon, a man who took over the struggling team midway through the year and led them all the way to a World Series crown. Jack kept the Marlins from unraveling early and motivated them to reach unthinkable heights.

Mr. Speaker, this was the Marlins' second world championship in their short history. It is important to note that the Marlins have never lost a playoff series, winning all six in which they have played.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 415, and I strongly support its speedy adoption. I commend both of my colleagues, the gentleman from Miami, Florida (Mr. Meek), as well as the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), for introducing this timely measure. I congratulate the Florida Marlins for their unforgettable season.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), lead cosponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to a very frustrated Cubs fan, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).

Mr. Speaker, would the gentleman yield?

I am sure that we will be glad to consider any further resolutions in the future, but right now we are just so very proud of the Fish. And I am sure that you would agree that there is always next year.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. I want to congratulate again the Marlins manager Mr. McKeon, the Florida Marlins team, all the administrators, and everyone involved, including the fans, for the remarkable World Series championship.

I also want to congratulate my colleagues from Florida once again, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart) for giving their support to this resolution being considered by the House today. I urge its adoption. Go Fish.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his very kind remarks as it relates to not only good sportsmanship but recognizing an outstanding team in the Florida Marlins.

We have had many conversations during the series of the Cubs and the Marlins, and he was quite honorable. He was a man of faith in his own team, but not only perseverance but a little magic moved the Marlins along.

I want to thank my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen), also the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), who are very fine friends of mine, who are all Marlin fans in Miami- Dade County, including my colleague the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to not only congratulate the Marlins, but congratulate those individuals that live in south Florida and throughout the world that are fans of the Marlins, some old and some new. I think the Marlins' victory in the World Series was very good for the country, taking the lead from my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), when he was sharing with me that it would be good for the country if the Cubs in Boston would be able to make it to the World Series.

But watching those games, which I had the opportunity to witness some personally in south Florida, I cannot forget the experience not only that the Marlins experienced when we went to Yankee Stadium during the Series, not on Saturday night but the night before that, and we were there, and I ran into my good friend Armando Cadina and his wife Margerete and also his daughter Ann Marie, it was quite an experience because we seemed to be the only Marlins fans in the whole stadium.

Yankees fans, my hats are off to you. You are my future constituents in Florida, so I have to be nice to you. But I just want to say that it was quite an experience for the Marlins to actually win a victory, a 0- 2 victory, an outstanding series, an outstanding game in New York on Saturday that I witnessed on television in low temperatures. We are used to 80-plus in south Florida. It was just outstanding.

Mr. Speaker, I brought the Miami Herald that was thrown on my lawn on Sunday morning that just simply said ``Amazing.'' And I must say that the Marlins' season was amazing.

Both of my colleagues referenced the manager of the Marlins. I must say that it is a story that I believe that Americans can buy into, that older Americans and wiser Americans still have a lot of contribute to this country. And I think it was his leadership that led this very young team to their second world championship.

And I must say being a young person myself and having great respect for wiser and older individuals, I think that we need to understand in this country, even through the love of baseball, that we need to put that love in our own life practices, making sure that we give those that have contributed in the past an opportunity to contribute again.

And I want to commend not only the Marlins leadership, the president, but also the vice president and managers that they hired Jack McKeon to be the manager of the Marlins once again.

Mr. Speaker, I also would like to add that it is important that we continue to not only honor those individuals that won the World Series but also that they put it on behalf of Americans, at a time of war and a time of conflict overseas. It is always good for us to come together as Americans. It is always good for colleagues to come together in such a resolution as this.

This Resolution 415 is a resolution sponsored by every member of the Florida delegation, all 25 members. I

would like to commend them for doing so.

Once again, to the Florida Marlins, we appreciate you, we commend you. We like our New York fans, we like our Cubs fans, we like our Giants fans, but we love our Marlins fans. And the people of Miami had three celebrations, Mr. Speaker, for the Marlins yesterday, one down Flagler Street where they had an outstanding ceremony at the end of that, one in Little Havana, and another one in Ft. Lauderdale with a boat parade.

Marlins, you deserved what you received. I want to thank Mr. Beckett for being the MVP of the World Series. I wish him many, many more seasons.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in celebrating the Marlins' win of the World Series. I think we have to recognize that Major League Baseball has perhaps provided the country and the world with the best postseason ever in this month that has just ended. It was an extraordinary series of games, series of series topped off by a wonderful and extraordinary World Series, won by a young and dynamic team that has earned the admiration of the entire world.

Obviously, in south Florida we are extremely proud of our Florida Marlins. They embody in many ways south Florida, from Jack McKeon, the manager, who at age 72 became the oldest manager to lead a team to the World Series, after being called just a few months earlier when he was, in fact, out of a job and many thought that he would never again manage in the Major Leagues, was asked by the front office of the Marlins to come and turn the team around, that they needed someone at the helm with the experience and leadership qualities of Jack McKeon. And what a job he did.

And I think for that job, he needs to be commended. And the front office starting with Jeffrey Loria, the chairman and CEO and managing general partner of the Marlins, and David Samson, the president of the Marlins, and Larry Beinfest, the senior vice president and general manager, what a job they did putting together this young team that faced and defeated a New York Yankees team with over three times the payroll. And, yet, because of the young talent in the Florida Marlins, the Marlins were able to prevail.

What can we say? We can pick example after example that really leaves us in awe. That cleanup hitter, 20-year-old cleanup hitter who just a few months earlier was in AA baseball, in the Minors, and he was called up because he showed such extraordinary talent and Miguel Cabrera became the first 20-year-old since Ty Cobb to bat in the cleanup position in the World Series. What a future he has.

As with so many others in the Florida Marlins, we can go down the roster and analyze and really celebrate the excitement that all of the players represent, from Juan Pierre, that dynamic and really exciting, extraordinarily exciting center fielder, to obviously Ivan Rodriguez, the catcher, who electrified us all with his plays and his hitting day after day, what a World Series it was. So I am glad that the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) have come forth with this resolution which I have joined.

And I think we not only should commend the Marlins for their extraordinary victory and share, obviously, in the celebration that all of south Florida is engaged in, but also remember that this is an opportunity for some tasks that remain undone to be finished.

First I think it is important, and I have full faith and confidence that the front office, the leadership of the Marlins, is not going to do what the ownership did after the last World Series, and that is to basically eliminate that great team, but rather it is our hope, and I am sure that we will see that the nucleus of this team will remain together so that the community can see that team again playing next year and winning, as I am sure that it will.

And we also have in south Florida a great task, which my brother, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart), was heavily involved in just a few years ago when he was in the State legislature in attempting to put together all the pieces that are required for a new stadium. And south Florida needs a new baseball stadium. And I hope that this impetus now that has been gained by this marvelous victory can serve for the community to come together and perhaps dust off the plan that almost succeeded just a few years ago that was a very good and interesting plan, and that a baseball stadium can be built because this team, this dynamic, wonderful team deserves it, and the community deserves it.

And so congratulations to that wonderful team, the Florida Marlins.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 2003 World Series Champions, the Florida Marlins. Earning the reputation of a team that does not quit or tire, the Marlins defeated the famed New York Yankees in a thrilling 6-game series. Having never lost a post season series, the Marlins defeated the San Francisco Giants in four games and the Chicago Cubs in an exciting seven game series.

The National League Championship Series garnered the excitement and thrill baseball fans have not witnessed in some time. Playing in famed Wrigley Field, the Marlins took Game 1 and headed home to the friendly confines of Pro Player Stadium with a split in the series. Games 3 and 4 went the way of the Cubs resulting in a 3 to 1 deficit that looked monumental to overcome. However, under the leadership of Manager Jack McKeon and behind the arm of pitcher Josh Beckett, the Marlins and Beckett gave baseball fans across the country an exciting two-hit, complete game shutout sending the series back to Chicago. Down 3 games to 2, the Marlins players were never swayed from their sheer competitive spirit and gamesmanship. With the undaunting task of facing Cubs' ace Mark Prior, the Marlins battled the Cubs the entire game. However, with one out in the top of the eighth inning, a World Series berth seemed out of reach. In a span of 10 minutes, the Marlins had turned Game 6 from being down 3-0, to leading 8-3 due to the solid hitting of men like Juan Pierre, Pudge Rodriquez, Miguel Cabrera, Jeff Conine, Derek Lee, and utility fielder Mike Mordecai. The thrilling series was now deadlocked 3 games apiece.

Game 7 is every fan's postseason dream. Two teams tied and playing with everything on the line with the chance of being crowned National League Champions and a trip to the fall classic. As we all know, the Marlins came out swinging against Cubs star pitcher Kerry Wood. Despite losing a lead, the Marlins continued their case of consistent and timely hitting. In the end, the Marlins once again shocked the baseball world. In just 10 short years, the Marlins were headed back to their second World Series--participating in Major League Baseball's 100th World Series.

Behind the outstanding leadership of Jack McKeon, the Marlins stole the show in Yankee stadium by defeating the Yankees in Game 1. Heading back to South Florida, Marlins fans packed Pro Player Stadium cheering this exciting young team on the home field. Battling past the hype of Roger Clemens' final start, the Marlins battled the Yankees winning Game 4 and in a thrilling 12 innings thanks to the game ending heroics of shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Last Thursday, the Marlins, behind stellar pitching by Carl Pavano, sent the Series back to Yankee Stadium leading 3 games to 2. With the stage set for Game 6, Jack McKeon decided on the arm of Josh Beckett to deliver the championship to South Florida. Beckett pitched a gem. A nine-inning complete game, shut out by holding Yankee hitters to five hits in a 2-0 win. What a performance!

Mr. Speaker, this Marlins fan congratulates Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Loria, Skipper Jack McKeon, the Marlins coaching staff, MVP Josh Beckett, each player and the entire Marlins organization and fans on an exciting 2003 World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Chicago Bears, Bulls, White Sox and Black Hawks are all in my congressional district; but today, they take a back seat to the Marlins.

Inspiration is what we call this. That is the best way to describe the Florida Marlins, who rose from the ashes, going from 10 games under 500 on May 22 to winning the 2003 World Series.

The road to the World Series title was grueling and draining. The Marlins had to get by Barry Bonds and Company, the Giants, in the division series. Then after trailing 3-1 to the Cubs, again the Marlins came through, beating Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in back-to-back victories at Wrigley Field, sending Dusty Baker and the Cubs back into hibernation, saying wait until next year.

Then the Marlins, who captured the World Series in 1997, won the final three games against the Yankees. They kept their streak intact of never losing a series in the postseason with the help of a 23-year-old right-hander who dominated the playoffs. Josh Beckett threw a five-hit shutout, with nine strikeouts, to clench the World Series with a 2-0 victory over the Yankees in Game 6. Beckett was subsequently named the series Most Valuable Player.

Marlin's manager Jack McKeon said of Beckett, ``Whether it is 3 days or 4 days, guys have a tendency to lose a little, but this guy is special. This guy has got the guts of a burglar. He is mentally tough. I was not about to take him out. It is a spectacular job for a 23-year- old kid that has come on and matured in the postseason. And you are looking at a possible All-Star next year and a 20-game winner. This guy is going to be something special,'' end of quote.

In the 100th World Series game played at Yankee Stadium on the 100th anniversary of the first World Series, another team got to celebrate on the field other than the 26-time champions.

I am sure that that was not only an inspiration for all of the Marlins, but that was an inspiration to baseball lovers all over the country. That was a kind of rejuvenation, if you will, in many instances of the love of the game of baseball.

So we congratulate the Marlins.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek), who himself was an outstanding athlete at Florida A&M, playing outside linebacker before he became an outstanding elected official.

Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional requests for time, but just simply the words of the Cubs: Wait until next year. And we congratulate the Marlins for an exciting year. We will see what happens in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.