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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas native Clint Dempsey announced his retirement |
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from professional soccer in August 2018, drawing to a close an |
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exceptional career that spanned 15 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Raised in Nacogdoches, Clint Dempsey gained |
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valuable experience as a youth by playing for the Dallas Texans and |
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with a local adult league; he went on to star at Furman University, |
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helping the Paladins secure two NCAA tournament berths and |
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garnering All-American recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, Opting to turn professional after his junior season, |
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Mr. Dempsey was selected by the New England Revolution as the |
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eighth overall pick in the Major League Soccer draft, and he earned |
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the 2004 MLS Rookie of the Year award to jump-start his three-season |
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stay with the franchise; he next enjoyed a lengthy tenure with the |
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Fulham and Tottenham clubs in the English Premier League, becoming |
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the first American to compete in a major European final; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dempsey was equally impressive as a member of |
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the U.S. men's national squad; he played in his first World Cup |
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tournament in 2006, and he took part in the 2010 and 2014 |
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competitions as well, becoming the first American to score goals in |
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three different World Cups; in addition, he participated in four |
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Gold Cups and is one of the most decorated players in the history of |
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the U.S. men's team; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to the MLS in 2013, Mr. Dempsey became a |
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member of the Seattle Sounders; sidelined due to a health issue for |
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much of the team's 2016 league championship run, he returned to the |
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soccer field in 2017, leading Seattle in scoring and helping the |
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team to appear in a second consecutive MLS Cup Final; he received |
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the league's Comeback Player of the Year honor for his achievements |
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that season, and he is also a four-time MLS All-Star; he closed out |
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his career on July 25, 2018, when he played his final professional |
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game with the Sounders; and |
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WHEREAS, Revered as a trailblazing athlete who distinguished |
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himself in both the U.S. and abroad, Clint Dempsey has earned a |
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place among the all-time great American soccer players, and he has |
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furthered the Lone Star State's reputation for sports excellence; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Clint Dempsey on his exemplary |
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professional soccer career and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Dempsey as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |