[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1042-H1043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MATTERS INVOLVING THE NBA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Coble] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, some weeks ago, after a Chicago Bulls star 
Dennis Rodman inexcusably kicked a cameraman during a National 
Basketball Association game, one of my constituents asked me if there 
was anything we in the Congress could do in response to Rodman's 
behavior.
  The NBA will ignore the incident and it will be business as usual, my 
constituents declared. You in the Congress address the matter, he 
continued.
  It is difficult to legislate character, I told him.
  His words regarding the NBA's response were prophetic. The incident

[[Page H1043]]

was resolved very casually indeed. Many believe Rodman should have been 
suspended for the entire season. That would have been an appropriate 
conclusion.
  Rodman was seen laughing about the incident and one of his teammates 
complained that the cameraman should have more promptly removed himself 
from the arena floor.
  One is a victim of a senseless assault and battery and the victim 
should jump to his feet and promptly apologize to his attacker? Hardly.
  The attitude of many of these NBA stars is reprehensible, Mr. 
Speaker. Some recent years ago an NBA star was accused of improper 
involvement with gambling interests and possible involvement with 
organized crime. His response was that most people did not appreciate 
the pressure that surrounded his life.

                              {time}  1245

  I have news for this self-appointed celebrity. He does not know the 
meaning of pressure. The guy under pressure is working for $9 an hour, 
who wants to purchase his son a ticket so he can watch these 
millionaire athletes display their wares on the hardwood. I am told 
that fewer fans, Mr. Speaker, are viewing televised NBA games. This may 
not be supported by polling data, but common sense tells me that many 
Americans are fed up with the condescending attitude expressed by these 
overnight millionaires.
  Perhaps they should have to try their luck at $9-an-hour jobs. Then 
maybe they would appreciate the fact that fans who pay their hard-
earned money deserve more respect. They might then appreciate the fact 
that millionaire athletes, or celebrities, are indeed role models. They 
are not required to be good role models, but they cannot on the one 
hand warmly embrace their money, fame, and celebrity status, and then 
on the other hand reject their casting as role models. It does not work 
that way, fellas, and this is the climate which the NBA is now 
extending to high school graduates.
  I was recently asked, Mr. Speaker, if I would pay to attend an NBA 
game. One team has regional exposure to my congressional district; 
another team is coached by a good friend of mine. Aside from these two 
teams, I would pay to watch only one team in the NBA. That team has 
never won an NBA title, although they annually advance well into the 
playoff season, but no cigar is awarded. But this team is a class 
organization and if more NBA teams would emulate them, there would 
likely be an increase in spectator interest.
  If these self-serving overpaid athletes do not get their acts 
together, spectator interest will continue to wane and perhaps they 
will have the chance at one of those $9-an-hour jobs, and then, Mr. 
Speaker, they will really know what pressure is.

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