[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1815
                TRIBUTE TO THE CHAMPION HOUSTON ROCKETS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hayworth). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of May 12, 1995, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay] is 
recognized for 10 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, the Houston Rockets have done it again. How 
fitting that on Flag Day, the Rockets captured their second 
championship banner. Who would have thought just 7 short weeks ago that 
the Rockets would be the World Champions? Who could have thought that a 
team ranked No. 6 going into the Western Conference playoffs, could win 
it all? Who dared to dream that the combination of Hakeem ``The Dream'' 
Olajuwon and Clyde ``the Glide'' Drexler would accomplish something 
that eluded them in their years together at my alma-mater, the 
University of Houston? Well, the answer to these questions should be 
obvious--nobody. Nobody believed the Houston Rockets could win a second 
world championship; nobody but the Houston Rockets. And in the end, 
that's all that really mattered. Last night the Rockets used their 
magic brooms to sweep the Orlando Magic back to the land of Disney.
  When Rudy Tomjonavich took the helm of this Houston ballclub 2 years 
ago, he inherited a team that many thought talented, but few thought 
capable of winning a championship. However, through their hard work and 
dedication, the Rockets proved their critics wrong.
  This season, the Rockets had a sub-par regular season. They struggled 
at times and the trade for Clyde Drexler was viewed by many as being a 
mistake. Nonetheless, the Phi Slamma Jamma duo proved to be an 
unstoppable winning combination.
  The Houston Rockets are a positive role model for our county. They 
are the underdogs who have overcome great odds to achieve a goal. And 
doesn't this country just love an underdog. The Rockets have taught us 
all a valuable lesson about believing in yourself and performing to the 
best of your abilities. With the heartbeat of a champion, they have 
captured their second crown with an unprecedented combination of 
humility and hunger. Sure, the Rockets have
 the greatest player on the planet in Hakeem Olajuwon. But this victory 
was not an individual one by any stretch. It was a team victory. That 
is the beauty of the Houston Rockets.

  Last night, Hakeem was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the 
finals. As reporters bombarded him with questions about what winning 
the award meant, it seemed that all Hakeem could do was unselfishly pay 
tribute to his teammates. ``We played team basketball,'' he said. ``I'm 
just so happy for Clyde.''
  Last year, when the Rockets won, they were all seen as a mediocre 
team who happened to win it all during a year when no great team 
emerged. This year, having won it again, the Rockets have finally 
proven to the world what they and ``Clutch City'' have known all along. 
This team is a legitimate champion. They are the first NBA team to ever 
repeat with a sweep. And now, having won another world championship, 
the Rockets have shown themselves to be the greatest basketball team in 
the world.
  I send out a heartfelt congratulations to owner Les Alexander, Coach 
Rudy Tomjonavich and the Houston Rockets basketball team. On behalf of 
a grateful city I thank them for giving us yet another ring to be proud 
of. So before I leave today, let me leave you with a poem, chronicling 
the play-off drive of the world champion Houston Rockets.

     The play-offs started against the Utah Jazz;
     The Rockets beat 'em, but nobody spazzed;
     Next came the Suns and Charles Barkley;
     Their talent, I'm afraid, proved a bunch of malarkey;
     The Spurs were on fire, the highly praised number one seed;
     But the Rockets cut 'em down to size, like an overgrown 
           garden weed;
     Finally at last, the Magic fell to defeat;
     The Rockets left standing, shouting ``Repeat!''
     Yes, Shaq be nimble
     Yeah, Shaq be quick
     But Shaq came to Houston
     And got his tail kicked.
     How sweet it is!!!
     

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