Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, the Chicago Bears, Bulls, White Sox and Black Hawks are all in my congressional district; but today, they take a back seat to the Marlins. Inspiration is what we call this. That is the best way to describe the Florida Marlins, who rose from the ashes, going from 10 games under 500 on May 22 to winning the 2003 World Series. The road to the World Series title was grueling and draining. The Marlins had to get by Barry Bonds and Company, the Giants, in the division series. Then after trailing 3-1 to the Cubs, again the Marlins came through, beating Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in back-to-back victories at Wrigley Field, sending Dusty Baker and the Cubs back into hibernation, saying wait until next year. Then the Marlins, who captured the World Series in 1997, won the final three games against the Yankees. They kept their streak intact of never losing a series in the postseason with the help of a 23-year-old right-hander who dominated the playoffs. Josh Beckett threw a five-hit shutout, with nine strikeouts, to clench the World Series with a 2-0 victory over the Yankees in Game 6. Beckett was subsequently named the series Most Valuable Player. Marlin's manager Jack McKeon said of Beckett, ``Whether it is 3 days or 4 days, guys have a tendency to lose a little, but this guy is special. This guy has got the guts of a burglar. He is mentally tough. I was not about to take him out.”