Cliff Stearns: “I wanted to rise today and join my colleagues from the Florida Delegation in commending the World Champion Florida…”

“I wanted to rise today and join my colleagues from the Florida Delegation in commending the World Champion Florida Marlins. It was your classic Cinderella story in which the Marlins knocked out the heavily favored Yankees in a comeback season not soon to be forgotten. Led by skipper Jack McKeon, the Marlins, dealing with the adversity of a coaching change, rebounded from a 16-22 record to finish 91-71, making them only the ninth team in Major League history to rally from at least 10 games under .500 to reach the playoffs. In Game 6 in front of a hostile crowd, McKeon's Marlins, aided by the stout pitching of Josh Beckett, took the World Series title, four games to two. With their second title in the franchise's 11 years, I believe the Marlins are in good hands. Jack McKeon who turns 73 next month, is the oldest coach in any major U.S. professional sport to lead his team to a championship, and I surely hope that he will agree to return for a run at it again in 2004.”