Sounders Honored By Washington State Senate, House

The Washington State Senate and State House of Representatives both passed resolutions this past Friday honoring the achievements of Seattle Sounders FC in their first year as a Major League Soccer club. Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer and goalkeeper Kasey Keller were both on hand for the event.



For anyone interested, the full text of both the Senate and House resolutions is provided below.

SENATE RESOLUTION 8667

By Senators Prentice, Zarelli, Fairley, Holmquist, Kline, Kauffman, Regala, Keiser, Hargrove, Rockefeller, Delvin, Oemig, Parlette, Shin, Brandland, Sheldon, Tom, Hobbs, Franklin, Becker, Kastama, Hatfield, Eide, Marr, Kohl-Welles, McDermott, McAuliffe, Honeyford, Jacobsen,
Ranker, Murray, Hewitt, Pridemore, Berkey, and Swecker

WHEREAS, Seattle Sounders FC has completed its historic inaugural season by setting an unprecedented new MLS record for average per game attendance at 30,943, and selling the most season tickets in the league; and

WHEREAS, Sounders FC has reached the top 50 in average attendance for all soccer clubs throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, The team's majority owner Joe Roth, its minority owners, Adrian Hanauer, Paul Allen, and Drew Carey, together with Gary Wright, senior vice president of business operations, and his administrative staff have assembled a talented coaching staff led by two-time MLS Cup winner and all-time winningest coach Sigi Schmid, and assistants Brian Schmetzer, Tom Dutra, Ezra Hendrickson, Kurt Schmid, David Tenney, and technical director Chris Henderson; and

WHEREAS, Washington's very own Kasey Keller is the team captain, and team members include: Freddie Ljungberg, Chris Eylander, Brad Evans, Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl, Osvaldo Alonso, James Riley, Peter Vagenas, Steve Zakuani, Nathan Sturgis, Tyrone Marshall, Stephen
King, Leonardo González, Zach Scott, Sanna Nyassi, Roger Levesque, Taylor Graham, Terry Boss, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, and leading goal scorer Fredy Montero; and

WHEREAS, Sounders FC brought pride to Washington state by finishing the 2009 season with a winning record, becoming the first team since 1998 to qualify for the MLS playoffs in its first season, and being only the second expansion team in MLS history to win the U.S. Open Cup tournament in its first season, qualifying for the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League; and

WHEREAS, Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, and Fredy Montero represented Sounders FC on the MLS All-Star team; and

WHEREAS, Kasey Keller was named the U.S. Open Cup MVP, Fredy Montero was named MLS Newcomer of the Year, and Sounders FC won eight individual and club MLS executive awards; and

WHEREAS, The team has become a pillar of the community by setting an MLS record in raising more than 23,000 dollars for the "Nothing But Nets" program, while players, coaches, and owners made more than 80 community appearances during the season and have contributed funds to youth-oriented community projects and activities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington state Senate honor Seattle Sounders FC for its triumphant and record-breaking season and for bringing exciting, world class professional soccer to all Washington state citizens; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Sounders FC ownership, coaches, and players

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HOUSE RESOLUTION 4659

by Representative Hudgins

WHEREAS, The inaugural season of the Seattle Sounders FC will be remembered as an historic triumph, not only on the pitch, but for bringing Major League Soccer to the Pacific Northwest and along with it, the loudest and most devoted and loyal fans in the country; and

WHEREAS, The Sounders FC became the first expansion team since 1998 to qualify for the playoffs, achieving the best record and most goals of any expansion team; and

WHEREAS, Our Seattle Sounders FC are the U.S. Open Cup champions of 2009; and

WHEREAS, Sounders FC fans have become a force in the MLS, with 22,000 season ticket holders and an annual game attendance averaging 30,943, setting the MLS record and ranking them amongst the top 50 clubs in the world; and

WHEREAS, The crowds grew even larger in the 2009 postseason, setting another MLS record for playoff attendance; and

WHEREAS, The Seattle Sounders FC's success on the pitch is rivaled only by their success in the community, with players, coaches, and staff volunteering nearly 1,000 hours of service and 80 community appearances during the season; and

WHEREAS, Their efforts set another Major League Soccer record by raising more than 23,000
dollars for the "Nothing But Nets" program, which provides antimosquito, malaria prevention nets to developing countries around the world; and

WHEREAS, No other professional sports team provides their supporters with a better and more democratic administration, allowing their fans a greater voice in the direction of their team;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urges all citizens of the State of Washington to join us in congratulating and recognizing the players, the owners, the staff, and the fans of the Seattle Sounders Football Club.