[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 887 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 887

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         June 26, 2006.
Whereas American Airlines Arena, located in the City of Miami, Florida, is the 
        home court for the Miami Heat;
Whereas on June 20, 2006, the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks, the 
        Western Conference Champions, in 6 games to win the 2006 National 
        Basketball Association (NBA) Championship;
Whereas Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat, was named the 2006 NBA Finals Most 
        Valuable Player;
Whereas the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in 6 games in the first round 
        of the NBA playoffs;
Whereas the Miami Heat defeated the New Jersey Nets in 5 games in the second 
        round of the NBA playoffs;
Whereas, in the third round of the NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat defeated the 
        Detroit Pistons, their archrival and the defending Eastern Conference 
        Champions, in 6 games;
Whereas the ``White Hot'' Miami Heat fans sold out the American Airlines Arena 
        and cheered on their hometown team;
Whereas the Miami Heat remained persistent and continued to believe in 
        themselves throughout the playoffs;
Whereas the Miami Heat are the first team since 1977 to win 4 NBA Finals games 
        consecutively after losing the first two games, and in doing so, the 
        Miami Heat made one of the most stunning turnarounds in NBA history;
Whereas the Miami Heat became just the third team in the history of the NBA 
        Finals to win a series after losing the first two games, and the first 
        team in the history of the NBA Finals to do so after losing the first 
        two games by double-digit margins;
Whereas this is the first NBA championship title for the Miami Heat, which has 
        long been one of the most outstanding basketball programs in the Nation;
Whereas Pat Riley, the head coach of the Miami Heat, has cemented his legacy as 
        one of basketball's all-time great head coaches by winning his fifth NBA 
        championship title;
Whereas, in game 3 of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were losing by 13 points on 
        their home floor with only 6 minutes 30 seconds left;
Whereas the Miami Heat came back with the tenacity of Dwyane Wade and won game 3 
        of the NBA Finals by 2 points;
Whereas Micky Arison, owner and Managing General Partner of the Miami Heat; Pat 
        Riley, Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations; Randy Pfund, 
        General Manager; Eric Woolworth, President of Business Operations; and 
        Andy Elisburg, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, have 
        shown a positive commitment to the Miami Heat franchise by successfully 
        acquiring, assembling, and maintaining a team of high-quality, winning 
        players;
Whereas ``15 strong'' brought the first NBA championship title to the City of 
        Miami;
Whereas the Miami Heat team of skilled players, including Derek Anderson, 
        Shandon Anderson, Earl Barron, Michael Doleac, Udonis Haslem, Jason 
        Kapono, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, James Posey, 
        Wayne Simien, Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, and Dorell 
        Wright, contributed extraordinary performances during the regular 
        season, the NBA playoffs, and the NBA Finals;
Whereas veteran Michael Doleac, and future stars Jason Kapono, Wayne Simien, 
        Dorell Wright, Earl Barron, and Matt Walsh, helped shape the Miami Heat 
        by preparing the starters for the postseason, giving the starters tough 
        practices and quality scrimmages;
Whereas Shandon Anderson and Derek Anderson added to the Miami Heat's experience 
        base by bringing their knowledge and NBA Finals experience from runner-
        up finishes in Utah and San Antonio, respectively;
Whereas, in game 6 of the NBA Finals, James Posey hit a big 3-pointer to put the 
        Miami Heat up by 6 points with only 3 minutes left to play;
Whereas Alonzo Mourning, returning from a nearly career-ending kidney illness 
        and kidney transplant, came up with 6 rebounds and 5 monster blocked 
        shots to turn the tide in game 6 of the NBA Finals;
Whereas Gary Payton, having consistently shown his greatness on two near-
        championship NBA teams, hit a 21-foot jumper to save and seal a comeback 
        victory for the Miami Heat in game 3 of the NBA Finals;
Whereas Jason Williams shot a team-high 34 percent from the three-point line and 
        led the Miami Heat in assists during the NBA Finals, while directing the 
        Miami Heat offense from the point guard position;
Whereas Antoine Walker, the Miami Heat's second-highest scorer in the NBA 
        Finals, scored 14 points and kept the Miami Heat in important point-
        scoring opportunities by pulling down 11 big rebounds in game 6 of the 
        NBA Finals;
Whereas Udonis Haslem, playing with a badly injured shoulder, showed the heart 
        of a champion by contributing 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals, one 
        of which was with time winding down;
Whereas Shaquille ``Shaq'' O'Neal came to the Miami Heat and on July 21, 2004 
        said, ``I want ya'll to remember this day, because we're going to do it 
        again in June. I'm going to bring a championship to Miami. I promise 
        you.'';
Whereas Shaq delivered over 1,100 points, 104 blocks, 113 assists, and 541 
        rebounds in the regular season, adding another 83 points, 5 blocks, 17 
        assists, and 33 rebounds in the NBA Finals for his fourth NBA 
        championship title;
Whereas Dwyane Wade scored 42, 36, 43, and 36 points in the Miami Heat's NBA 
        Finals victories, leading all scorers;
Whereas, in the NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade had the Miami Heat's second-highest 
        rebound total, with 47; the second-highest number of assists, with 28; 
        the second-highest number of blocks, with 6; the highest free throw 
        percentage, at 77 percent; and the highest point total from the free-
        throw line, with 75; all in route to his first NBA Finals Most Valuable 
        Player award;
Whereas the Miami Heat coaching and support staff, including Head Coach Pat 
        Riley; Assistant Coaches Bob McAdoo, Keith Askins, Erik Spoelstra, and 
        Ron Rothstein; Assistant Coach/Advance Scout Bimbo Coles; Strength and 
        Conditioning Coach Bill Foran; Athletic Trainer Ron Culp; and Assistant 
        Trainer Jay Sabol, exhibited exemplary leadership and guidance to the 
        team;
Whereas the Miami Heat have not only been players on the court, but have also 
        been instrumental role models to the south Florida community;
Whereas the Miami Heat organization has a positive civic impact on the south 
        Florida community through the Miami HEAT Family Outreach Charitable 
        Fund, Heat Academy, Heat Scholarships, Miami Heat Read to Achieve, Miami 
        Heat Fun-Raiser, Miami Heat Wheels, Shoot For the Stars Books and 
        Basketball Summer Clinics, Heat Youth Basketball, and the Miami Heat 
        Learn to Swim Program; and
Whereas the Miami Heat fans are a part of this championship by supporting the 
        team and giving the team the energy, strength, love, and passion to 
        compete each and every season: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates--
                    (A) the Miami Heat for winning the 2006 National Basketball 
                Association (NBA) World Championship and for their outstanding 
                performance during the 2005-2006 NBA season; and
                    (B) Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade for winning the 2006 NBA 
                Finals Most Valuable Player Award;
            (2) recognizes and praises the achievements of the Miami Heat 
        players, coaches, management, and support staff whose hard work, 
        dedication, and resilience proved instrumental throughout the Miami 
        Heat's championship season;
            (3) commends the south Florida community and the Miami Heat fans for 
        their dedication; and
            (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an 
        enrolled copy of this resolution to--
                    (A) each of the Miami Heat players;
                    (B) Pat Riley, Miami Heat Head Coach and President of 
                Basketball Operations;
                    (C) Micky Arison, Miami Heat owner and Managing General 
                Partner;
                    (D) Randy Pfund, Miami Heat General Manager;
                    (E) Eric Woolworth, Miami Heat President of Business 
                Operations;
                    (F) Andy Elisburg, Miami Heat Senior Vice President of 
                Basketball Operations;
                    (G) each of the Miami Heat coaches and trainers;
                    (H) the Honorable Manny Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami, 
                Florida;
                    (I) the Honorable Carlos Alvarez, Mayor of Miami-Dade 
                County, Florida; and
                    (J) the Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of 
                Florida.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.