[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HISTORIC 70 WINS FOR THE CHICAGO BULLS

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, Senators often make statements on the floor 
to inform the Senate and the Nation about the accomplishments of their 
constituents, and today I wish to acknowledge some folks back in 
Illinois who have achieved a historic feat unequaled by their peers. My 
colleagues may be familiar with this group of Chicagoans. I am speaking 
of the Chicago Bulls, who last night defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in a 
hard-fought, 86 to 80 game, to become the first National Basketball 
Association [NBA] team to win 70 games in a season.
  In the nearly 50-year history of the NBA, 70 wins has been a 
mythical, seemingly unattainable goal. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers 
came close with 69 wins, but now the Bulls have secured their place in 
the history books with 70, and with 3 games left in the season, that 
record could be higher.
  Of course this achievement would not have been possible without the 
return of Michael Jordan, unarguably the game's greatest player ever. 
But we cannot overlook the efforts of his star teammates, from Scottie 
Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and Dennis Rodman, to the less publicized but 
invaluable players like Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Steve Kerr, and Bill 
Wennington, to name just a few. The talent of individuals however can 
only take you so far. A true champion needs a great leader, and coach 
Phil Jackson has fulfilled that role throughout his career, having 
guided the Bulls to three previous championships.
  Should the Bulls go on to win the championship in June--their fourth 
of the decade--there is little doubt that they would be considered the 
greatest team in the history of professional basketball. I am proud to 
represent this group of individuals and congratulate them on their 
unprecedented accomplishment. I wish them the best of luck as they head 
into the playoffs.

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