S1640 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 2, 2006 this special unit of Peace Corp volun- see his wife, the person he loved so ‘‘This was before the 3-point shot, and you teers were also deployed to Sri Lanka much. weren’t allowed to dunk the ball,’’ remem- and Thailand to assist with rebuilding Mr. President, I have only mentioned bered guard Belmont Anderson, now a podia- just a few highlights from the life of trist in Las Vegas. ‘‘He had a Larry Bird tsunami-devastated areas. range with his outside shot. When he’d take Today, I am proud to honor 27 Rhode this great man. I ask unanimous con- it, the coaches would yell, ‘no, no, no . . . Islanders currently serving in the sent to have printed in the RECORD a good shot, Kresh.’ They frowned on taking Peace Corps. I wish them the very best touching article from the Deseret the long shot because you weren’t rewarded in all their endeavors and I thank them Morning News that summarizes why so for it. Imagine what he’d have done if the 3- for their service to our country in this many of us in Utah are looking forward point shot was in back then or if he was al- important time in history. Their to finally seeing his jersey hang from lowed to dunk.’’ Cosic was famous for leading the fast names are as follows: the Marriott Center’s rafters this break, making a pinpoint pass or doing a Catherine M. Alexander, Courtney E. weekend. jackknife lay-up, tucking in his knees, going Briar, Anthony J. Cabral, Mayerlin Caridad There being no objection, the mate- airborne, looking like a camel in flight. He Mejia, Rebecca L. Champlin, Caroline C. Cut- rial was ordered to be printed in the once took off against UCLA’s Sidney Wicks, ting, Jennifer S. Doo, Shayne E. Doyle, RECORD, as follows: and the Bruin big man looked perplexed— Catherine Farrell, Amanda H. Fogle- [From the Deseret Morning News] he’d never seen a 6–11 guy playing point Donmoyer, Heron E. Greenesmith, Geoffrey guard. L. Jones, Jesse B. Joseph, Anna D. LATE COUGAR COSIC’S TALENT, FUN COULDN’T ‘‘He loved to dribble the ball up court,’’ Karolyshyn, Maria K. Kasparian, Chris- BE CONTAINED Potter said. ‘‘I remember one day in scrim- topher A. Kelley, Caroline N. Klein, Marie A. (By Dick Harmon) mage he took off with the ball leading the Kobayashi, Mark A. Lange, Andrew J. Kresimir Cosic could barely fit into my ’63 break, and our point guard, Bernie Fryer, Moulton, Leana A. Nordstrom, David M. Volkswagen that day. But who’d have ran up behind him and stole the ball. He was Reynolds, Ralph W. Riccio, Christi M. Tur- guessed this world, as well, could hardly con- upset. They were on the same team.’’ ner, Evan R. Usler, Deborah L. Vittner, and tain him and, at the age of 46, gave him back Said Anderson: ‘‘If you were cutting for Erica K. Zaiser. to God. the basket and he had the ball, you had to be alert because Cosic could hit you with a f I was just 17, puttering around in my Bug when I saw the 6-foot-11 Cosic walking down pass, and if you weren’t ready, it would hit KRESMIR COSIC the sidewalk of a street in Provo on his way you in the head,’’ to basketball practice. I stopped and asked if Cosic was a master of behind-the-back and Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I would between-the-leg deliveries, Potter added. ‘‘I like to take a moment to recognize one he wanted a ride. He said he did and he crammed himself into the car. It was like remember one game in the Smith Field- of the greatest foreign athletes to play putting a praying mantis in a thimble. house, Moni Sarkalahti cut for the basket in my home State of Utah—Kresmir The first thing Cosic did was reach over and Cosic passed the ball between his own Cosic. and turn on the radio. He broke out in a big legs, between the legs of the center guarding My dear friend from Yugoslavia fell smile, turned his face to mine and said: ‘‘I him, and hit Moni in the hands for a lay-in.’’ Former BYU assistant coach Pete Witbeck love the music.’’ victim to cancer in 1995, but this Sat- called Cosic the best center in the college urday, Brigham Young University will In a nutshell, that epitomized all you need to know about Cosic, the Yugoslavian. He game, better than Bill Walton. officially retire Kresmir’s No. 11 jersey Joe Watts, now executive director of the loved life. He loved basketball, and he loved Utah Golf Association, was a sportswriter during a ceremony at BYU’s final home playing to the largest crowds in the college covering Cosic’s final home game in Provo game this season. It is a fitting tribute game when they hatched out the Marriott when he penned: ‘‘The thought leaves me to a four-time Olympian and two-time Center back in 1972. with an empty feeling, a loneliness, a sad- To Cosic, music played when he had a bas- all-American already enshrined in the ness, like I’ll be losing a friend. Something ketball in ‘‘his hands. He may have been one Basketball Hall of Fame. really good will be leaving my life. Kresimir of the most entertaining players who ever Kresmir—or Kresh, as I called him— Cosic has brought me, and many others, lived. Certainly he was the most gifted pass- is a legend at BYU, but he will most some of our most enjoyable moments in bas- ing center to play the game. As they say in likely be remembered for opening the ketball. He is without any question the Europe, Cosic was Magic Johnson before greatest passing center I have ever seen in door for foreign athletes in American Magic Johnson. the game. That alone has been thrilling.’’ colleges and the NBA. He truly had a On Saturday, folks at BYU will officially global influence—Drazen Petrovic, UTEP’s Don Haskins, on whom Hollywood retire Cosic’s No. 11 jersey during a cere- based the movie ‘‘Glory Road,’’ called Cosic Toni Kukoc, Dino Radja, and Vlade mony at the final home game this season, the best center in the Olympics. It was a Divac are just a few players who owe against New Mexico. There is a generation of Cosic long bomb at UTEP that handed their success in America to their BYU fans who never saw Cosic play. They Haskins his first defeat on the Miner home former coach from Yugoslavia. got robbed. court since joining the WAC, a five-year per- ‘‘When we toured Europe a couple of sum- When I visited Yugoslavia one time, fect league home record. mers ago, everywhere we went, they knew Cosic could have had a solid NBA career. Kresh heard that I would be in Zagreb BYU basketball because of Cosic,’’ BYU and drove up from Zadar so he could in- He would have sold tickets and helped TV coach Dave Rose said. ratings. Instead, he chose to return home to troduce me to one of his former play- Cosic’s resume reads like he invented bas- Yugoslavia and help develop others and play ers, who was a leader of The Church of ketball. In Europe, and in his native Yugo- for the Yugoslavian Olympic team. He later Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in slavia, he just about did. A four-time Olym- became the Croatian ambassador to the the area. He arrived in a VW bug, and pian and two-time all-American, Cosic is en- United States. to see Kresh unwind out of that little shrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in ‘‘That tells you a lot about Cosic when Springfield, Mass. compared to players today who won’t even car was a humorous experience. Cosic died in May 1995 of lymphatic cancer. I considered Kresh to be a tremen- play in the Olympics,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘Cosic The week before he passed, he was distraught cared about the game, his country, more dous friend. When he became the dep- when he talked to his former coach, Glenn than money and fame.’’ uty ambassador for his country, he Potter, because he felt he’d defeated the can- Potter remembers Cosic’s late return from went out of his way to see me, and I cer, but in the process, he’d contracted hepa- playing in the Olympics before his senior was more than pleased to be an advisor titis and was going to get a liver transplant. year. He missed several deadlines to return and help him. He tirelessly walked the ‘‘The next thing I knew, he died,’’ Potter to Provo. Potter called Cosic twice and said. halls on Capitol Hill, trying to dispel asked when he’d come back. Cosic’s passion for the game overwhelmed ‘‘Coach, I’ll be there,’’ Cosic said twice. misunderstandings about Croatia and his approach to play. Cosic took more pleas- Finally, when he showed up in Provo, Pot- Bosnia and the Serbian war waging in ure in passing the ball and setting up team- ter asked Cosic why he’d been delayed so his native land. mates than shooting. Still he could be heard long, for nearly a month. Cosic told him The last time I saw Kresh was at yelling ‘‘Opa, Opa’’ (I’m open, I’m open). He when he was touring Yugoslavia with a na- Johns Hopkins Medical Center. The thought himself a point guard, but he was a tional club team, he once told an audience in doctors thought he was in a coma, but devastating inside player, a master of the a gym he had a film for them to see later. It when I spoke to him, tears came to his hook, fade-away, running jumper, set shot was ‘‘Man’s Search for Happiness,’’ an LDS and long bomb. He was a showman, a Globe- eyes, and a warm look of caring showed Church film explaining the plan of salvation. trotter-type star who oozed charisma on the After that, Cosic said, his phone was bugged he understood my words of consolation. court in an era absent of freshman varsity and his passport was confiscated. After his death, when once again I players, dunks and 3-point lines. Potter recalls an exhausted Cosic leaning was in his native land, I was pleased to Imagine, if he played today. against the basketball standard at practices

VerDate Mar 15 2010 23:29 Feb 05, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2006SENATE\S02MR6.REC S02MR6 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY March 2, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1641 that year. Potter asked him what was up and a bold and inspired final run. Though I MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT Cosic told him he was tired, he’d gone to bed will not pretend to perfectly under- Messages from the President of the about 3 or 4 in the morning the past few stand terms like front-side 900, I can weeks. Potter asked him why. United States were communicated to Unknown to Potter, Cosic stayed up trans- tell you that Hannah’s snowboarding the Senate by Ms. Evans, one of his lating the Book of Mormon into Croatian. acrobatics were some of the most im- secretaries. ‘‘It’s something he thought was worthwhile pressive athletic sights I have ever f and he had to do.’’ seen. Potter remembers Cosic coming in his BYU Coaching Hannah to her success was EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED office and debating tactics of the game, ar- guing strategy. Bud Keene of Moscow, VT, the U.S. As in executive session the Presiding The bottom line was to give him the ball. Olympic snowboard team’s halfpipe Officer laid before the Senate messages He was such a good passer you wanted him coach. Bud was an avid snowboarder from the President of the United to have the ball in his hands. long before the sport was included in States submitting sundry nominations When Cosic returned to Zadar, Yugoslavia, the Olympics. Bud coached at Mount which were referred to the appropriate to coach, he invited Potter to visit him three Mansfield before becoming an assistant committees. times. One day Cosic called Potter and asked (The nominations received today are him to come to Zadar and help him with a snowboarding coach during the 2002 coaching problem. Olympics. Bud was named the head printed at the end of the Senate pro- ‘‘What is it?’’ Potter asked. halfpipe coach for the 2006 Olympics ceedings.) ‘‘Coach, I don’t know what to tell the and he led the team to a remarkable f guards to do.’’ performance: the U.S. won an amazing Potter about keeled over laughing. ‘‘All two gold medals and two silver medals MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE those times in my office, arguing.’’ in the men’s and women’s halfpipe At 12:02 p.m., a message from the Cosic ended up a European hero, opening the door for foreign athletes in American competitions. Bud deserves a lot of House of Representatives, delivered by colleges and the NBA. Aside from filling the credit for the unparalleled success of Ms. Niland, one of its reading clerks, new Marriott Center night after night in the the American snowboarding team at announced that the House has passed early ’70s, his influence was global. Those this year’s games. the following bill, with an amendment: who learned at his hand or were influenced Vermont’s second Olympic medal S. 1777. An act to provide relief for the vic- by Cosic include Drazen Petrovic, Toni tims of Hurricane Katrina. Kukoc, Dino Radja and Vlade Divac—all also came in snowboarding when players on Yugoslavia’s 1984 Olympic team Lindsey Jacobellis of Stratton, VT, The message also announced that the coached and handpicked by Cosic. earned the silver medal in the women’s House has agreed to the following con- In his final years, working in Washington, snowboardcross. As many know, current resolution, in which it requests D.C., as ambassador, Cosic worked to dispel snowboardcross is a dangerous and dif- the concurrence of the Senate: misunderstandings about Croatia and Bosnia ficult event that requires snowboarders H. Con. Res. 335. Concurrent resolution and the Serbian war waging in his native honoring and praising the National Associa- country. to navigate a narrow 1,000-yard course while avoiding the three other com- tion for the Advancement of Colored People Cosic told then Deseret News Washington on the occasion of its 97th anniversary. correspondent Lee Davidson he’d like to get petitors trying to navigate the terrain back into coaching basketball someday but at the same time. Lindsey survived two f wasn’t sure if it was in the cards, with the of these incredible races just to qualify ENROLLED BILL SIGNED cancer and all. for the final medal heat, where she The message further announced that ‘‘But it is what I would like to do, not nec- emerged with a silver medal in a race essarily what I will do. You never know what the Speaker has signed the following so challenging that two of her competi- will happen. My country may need me to do enrolled bill: something more. Or maybe God will have tors crashed and one left the course on a stretcher. S.449. An act to facilitate shareholder con- other ideas.’’ sideration of proposals to make Settlement He was right. Within six months of that In addition to Hannah, Lindsey, and Common Stock under the Alaska Native interview, he died. Bud, I would like to commend the Claims Settlement Act available to missed f other Vermonters who traveled to enrollees, eligible elders, and eligible persons ADDITIONAL STATEMENT Turin for the Olympics. These accom- born after December 18, 1971, and for other plished men and women include purposes. snowboarder Kelly Clark of Mount The enrolled bill was signed subse- A TRIBUTE TO VERMONT’S Snow, cross-country skier Andrew quently by the President pro tempore OLYMPIANS Johnson of Greensboro, freestyle skier (Mr. STEVENS). ∑ Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise Hannah Kearney of Norwich, alpine The message also announced that today to recognize the outstanding ac- skier Chip Knight of Stowe, cross-coun- pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 276h, and the complishments of the Vermonters par- try skier Andrew Newell of Shaftsbury, order of the House of December 18, 2005, ticipating in the recent Winter Olym- honorary Vermonter Jimmy Cochran the Speaker appoints the following pics in Turin, Italy. These Olympians of the famed Olympic ski family in members of the House of Representa- proudly follow a long line of Richmond, and countless other ath- tives to the Mexico-United States Vermonters competing at the highest letes who have trained, studied, or Interparliamentary Group, in addition levels of winter sports. lived in Vermont and competed in to Mr. KOLBE of Arizona, Chairman, Three Vermonters made particularly Turin. and Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Vice Chair- extraordinary impressions in Turin: man, appointed on February 16, 2006: I would also like to acknowledge two Hannah Teter, Bud Keene, and Lindsey Mr. DREIER of California, Mr. MAN- Olympians who are currently serving Jacobellis. ZULLO of Illinois, Mr. DELAHUNT of Mas- our country in the Vermont National Hannah Teter, of Belmont, VT, was sachusetts, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA of Guard: SP Jeremy Teela and SGT the first Vermonter to medal in Turin American Samoa, Mr. ENGLISH of Penn- Tuffield ‘‘Tuffy’’ Latour. An Alaskan, when she earned the gold in the wom- sylvania, Mr. WELLER of Illinois, Mr. Jeremy competed in the biathlon in en’s halfpipe competition. Hannah is REYES of Texas, Mrs. DAVIS of Cali- Turin, while Tuffy coached the U.S. very much a product of Vermont, grow- fornia, and Mr. FORTUN˜ O of Puerto Men’s bobsled team. ing up amidst the beauty of the Green Rico. Mountains in a family that embraced We are very lucky in Vermont to f the outdoors. More importantly, Han- have the privilege of watching and fol- nah was raised on homemade maple lowing such an impressive group of MEASURES REFERRED syrup, one of Vermont’s most treasured athletes. There are many reasons why The following concurrent resolution products. our small State has so many top-tier was read, and referred as indicated: In her halfpipe competition in Turin, competitors but, to steal a line from H. Con. Res. 335. Concurrent resolution despite already holding a comfortable Hannah Teter, I bet one of those rea- honoring and praising the National Associa- lead, Hannah won the gold medal with sons is Vermont’s great maple syrup.∑ tion for the Advancement of Colored People

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