| Speech by Governor Ted Kulongoski |
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| June 21, 2005 |
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Oregon State Beavers Return from the College World Series
REMARKS BY GOVERNOR KULONGOSKI
Tuesday June 21, 2005
Thank you, Luanne, for your introduction. Unfortunately, President Ray can’t be here today – but I want to thank him too for his great leadership at Oregon State University.
I want to congratulate to all of the players and coaches of the Oregon State Beavers baseball team. As I’ve been saying at almost every public event I’ve attended in the last two weeks – no matter how out of place: Go Beaves!
We’re a diverse state – but today every Oregonian’s heart is orange and black. You played great the entire season. You made us all very proud. And you proved something I have always believed: Oregon loves baseball.
I am literally a baseball fanatic. My office is filled with baseball bats – and has pictures of my favorite players all over the walls.
However, tonight my message to the OSU players – especially the seniors – is this: Your accomplishments this year – from your record number of wins to your trip to the College World Series – was outstanding. But what’s really important isn’t the way you performed on the field – it’s what you brought to the field.
The reason you mean so much to this state and me personally is because you embody the values Oregonians care most about.
You not only played your hearts out – you played with courage and integrity.
You cared about each other – and always put the team first. You didn’t get down. You didn’t make excuses. And you never gave up.
You were gracious in victory – and held your heads high after defeat. You understood that athletes are role models – and that is a responsibility that you took seriously. And because you did – I am certain that a lot more Oregon kids are going to start playing baseball.
Most of all, you brought us together as a state. Even legislators, who are pretty divided these days, were all standing together crowded around television sets in the Capitol cheering you on. And, believe me, I was right there with them.
So congratulations. Thank you for the joy and pride you brought to this state. And we’ll all be waiting – impatiently – for the OSU Beavers to take the field again next year.
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