[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 72 (Friday, June 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    A TRIBUTE TO THE INDIANA PACERS

                                 ______


                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 10, 1994

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute a group of men 
who have achieved greater success than anyone would have expected. Many 
of these men live in my district, the Sixth District of Indiana. The 
group I am talking about is the Indiana Pacers.
  After the All-Star break, the Pacers had one of the best records in 
the NBA. The Pacers defied the odds, and since April 8, when they 
started the longest home winning streak in Market Square Arena history, 
they lost only one home game, on June 3. Mr. Speaker, that's almost 2 
months!
  The Pacers have never before gone beyond the first round of the NBA 
playoffs, but this year they went all the way to the seventh game of 
the Eastern Conference finals. Every step of the way, they faced what 
seemed to be insurmountable obstacles, and much like David did to 
Goliath, they overcame the roadblocks with flying colors. The Pacers 
emerged as the surprise of the 1994 NBA season.
  There are comparisons between the Pacers' season and the great 
basketball movie, ``Hoosiers,'' which is about an Indiana high school 
basketball team. The Pacers were very much like the Hickory Huskers, a 
team no one gave much of a chance to make it. Larry Brown is like 
Norman Dale, a well-traveled coach with a record of success everywhere 
he goes, and Reggie Miller sure shoots the ball like Jimmy Chitwood. 
The Huskers season ended with the entire town behind them, much like 
the Pacers who gathered unparalleled support from the Indianapolis 
area.
  The Pacers' season is one which everyone from Indiana can be proud 
of. The team was spectacular, and we can't wait until next year. Mr. 
Speaker, I tip my hat to the entire Pacers organization, especially to 
the players and coaches who helped represent my State and my district 
very well. Go Pacers!

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