[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 679 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         June 21, 2004.
Whereas on June 15, 2004, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to 
        win the 2004 National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship;
Whereas the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks four games to one in the first 
        round of the playoffs;
Whereas the Pistons defeated the defending Eastern Conference Champion New 
        Jersey Nets four games to three in the hard fought Eastern Conference 
        Semifinals;
Whereas the Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers, the number one seeded team in 
        the Eastern Conference, four games to two in the Eastern Conference 
        Finals;
Whereas the Pistons defeated the Lakers four games to one in the NBA Finals, 
        winning their first NBA Championship since 1990 and becoming the first 
        Eastern Conference team to win the championship since 1998;
Whereas the gritty offense of the Pistons was lead by Richard Hamilton, who 
        averaged more than 21.5 points and 4.2 per assists per game throughout 
        the NBA playoffs;
Whereas Rasheed Wallace overcame a foot injury to provide 26 points and 13 
        rebounds in the crucial game four victory;
Whereas Ben Wallace, a two-time NBA defensive player of the year and three-time 
        member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, brought the working-class 
        mind-set to the Pistons and symbolizes the Pistons stifling defense;
Whereas Tayshaun Prince played tenacious defense and prevented Lakers superstar 
        Kobe Bryant from being an effective scorer against the Pistons;
Whereas Chauncey Billups was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Finals for 
        his outstanding performance throughout the NBA playoffs, averaging 21 
        points and 5.2 assists while only committing 2.6 turnovers per game;
Whereas Head Coach Larry Brown did an outstanding job preparing the Pistons for 
        victory over an exceptional Lakers team and became the first head coach 
        to win both the NBA and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 
        Basketball Championships;
Whereas former Piston and current President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, 
        Coach Brown, and assistant coaches John Kuester, Mike Woodson, Dave 
        Hanners, Herb Brown, and Igor Stefan Kokoskov have provided strong 
        leadership and solid coaching, resulting in a basketball team in which 
        teamwork and hard work are the rule and not the exception;
Whereas Pistons fans have shown undying support for their team, leading the 
        league in attendance in a year where attendance records were broken 
        throughout the NBA;
Whereas the Pistons exemplify what can be achieved by a talented group of 
        players working together for a common goal;
Whereas the Pistons have shown that basketball remains a team sport and have 
        reminded fans that the game is still a team game with fundamentals at 
        its heart and soul;
Whereas sportswriter Eric Neel wrote of the Pistons, ``Once upon a time, there 
        was a shared ball on offense and a shared responsibility on defense. In 
        their Game 5 victory, as in the previous four games, it was that time 
        all over again. We've got retro jerseys and throwback sneaks, now we've 
        got a world champion from back in the day, to go with them.'';
Whereas the success of the Pistons is a result of contributions from the entire 
        roster of players, including Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Darvin 
        Ham, Richard Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, Mike James, Darko Milicic, Mehmet 
        Okur, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, and Corliss 
        Williamson; and
Whereas the Pistons displayed tremendous strength, ability, and perseverance 
        during the 2003-2004 season, attributes that are reflective of the 
        hardworking people of the metropolitan Detroit region and the State of 
        Michigan, and have epitomized the team slogan ``Goin' to work. Every 
        night.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates the Detroit Pistons for winning the 2004 National 
        Basketball Association (NBA) Championship and for their outstanding 
        performance during the entire 2003-2004 season; and
            (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, coaches, and 
        staff of the Pistons, who were instrumental in helping the Pistons win a 
        third NBA Championship.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.