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