SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 583
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  welcome Mitchell Marcus and Jon Montanez to the State Capitol; and
 
         WHEREAS, Mitchell Marcus is a senior at Coronado High
  School and team manager for the Thunderbirds basketball team; Jon
  Montanez is a member of the Franklin High School Cougars
  basketball team, the Thunderbirds' crosstown rival; and
 
         WHEREAS, Near the end of the recent season, as the
  undefeated Coronado Thunderbirds were preparing for their last
  home game, a contest against the Franklin Cougars on February 12,
  2013, Coronado coach Peter Morales had his team manager, Mitchell
  Marcus, suit up for the game, as an expression of appreciation
  for the senior's boundless enthusiasm and his three years of
  dedication as manager of the team; Mitchell has a developmental
  disability that prevents him from playing competitively, but his
  lifelong love of the sport is unequalled; and
 
         WHEREAS, Near the end of the game, but with his team
  leading by only 10 points and their undefeated record on the
  line, Coach Morales further surprised Mitchell by putting him in
  the game, so that he would have the opportunity to realize his
  long-held dream of scoring a basket; Mitchell had never practiced
  with the team, but his teammates did their best to help him score;
  as the clock wound down, with 13 seconds left in the game, the
  ball was out of bounds and in the hands of an opposing team
  member, Jon Montanez; and
 
         WHEREAS, Jon had recognized that something bigger than the
  outcome of one game was at stake in the opposing team's efforts to
  give their teammate his shot; in an extraordinary and selfless
  act of sportsmanship, Jon gave Mitchell a final chance that
  Mitchell's coach and teammates had not been able to provide: he
  called out to Mitchell, passed him the ball, and exhorted him to
  shoot it; and
 
         WHEREAS, With the help of his teammates, and at the last
  moment, Mitchell scored, sealing the Thunderbirds' 55-40
  victory; the buzzer sounded and the hall erupted in cheers as
  fans of both teams rejoiced and Mitchell's teammates carried him
  off the court on their shoulders; and
 
         WHEREAS, Thunderbirds coach Peter Morales and Cougars
  coach Todd Bostic have clearly established basketball programs
  in which the heat of rivalry and competition is leavened with
  sportsmanship and respect for their opponents, and their efforts
  played a vital role in creating an environment in which such an
  indelible event could unfold; and
 
         WHEREAS, The example set by Jon Montanez and Mitchell
  Marcus has served as an inspiration to people across the nation,
  and it is truly fitting that these fine young men be recognized
  for their courage, their integrity, and their dedication to the
  sport of basketball and to the ideals of sportsmanship; now,
  therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
  83rd Legislature, hereby commend Mitchell Marcus and Jon Montanez on
  their exemplary display of heart and character as team members, as
  rivals, and as sportsmen and extend to them best wishes for continued
  success in all their endeavors; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  them as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 
  Rodriguez, Patrick
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 22, 2013.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate