Elijah Cummings: “I think the thing that impressed me so much about this team was not just what they did on the court, but it was their…”

“I think the thing that impressed me so much about this team was not just what they did on the court, but it was their demeanor off the court. They were never bragging; they showed a lot of humility and a determination that I have not seen from many teams. Just talking to the people in my neighborhood, many of them are admirers of the team; but, in particular, many of them knew Juan Dixon personally. I think it inspired a lot of them to be the best that they can be, even under adverse circumstances. So often when we look at a team, we look at the win and loss column. But that is not all that goes into it. Particularly with this University of Maryland team, with Juan, whose both parents died as a result of AIDS and drug use, and to emerge to where he has gotten to today says a whole lot, and has given a lot of hope to a lot of people. So not only is it a great team on the court, but a great team off the court too.”