J.C. Watts: “I rise to presonally congratulate an American icon--a role model in the game of baseball and culture--Cal Ripken…”

“I rise to presonally congratulate an American icon--a role model in the game of baseball and culture--Cal Ripken, Junior. In the world of sports, it is pretty difficult to find someone who children can look up to, admire and emulate. Too often, popular figures seem to lose their roots and gain a false sense of pride. But not Cal Ripken. He is a class act--a stand-up guy. In the Major Leagues, he takes us back to the future by reminding us about the best of what was, while breaking records and re-defining what is. He has kept baseball historians and statisticians on their feet by constantly out-performing himself and others. The awards he has won speak for themselves. Cal Ripken, Junior picked a team and stuck with it through thick and thin. Like the heroes of yester-year, Ripken chose not to shop around for the highest bidder. Rather, he excelled while being a team player in the truest sense of the words. Off the field, Cal Ripken, Junior was a classy a guy as he was on the infield. We recognize him as a model citizen for the good works he has performed. Ripken has given his time and money to investing in our nation's youth, combating illiteracy and other laudable missions. It is never easy to say goodbye. I do not doubt the difficulty involved with retiring from the game of baseball. But there is something to be said for going out on top. In fact, I just saw Ripken hit a grand slam a few week ago.…”