[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5736-S5737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHICAGO BULLS

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, my colleague, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, 
and I would like to take the floor for 10 minutes to address an issue 
of great importance, one that is appropriate to consider as we debate 
the foreign affairs bill, because this is an issue, to us, of worldwide 
significance.
  Is there a spot in the world so removed, so distant, so isolated that 
if you would go there today and say that you were from Chicago, that 
the people living in this far corner of the world would not immediately 
respond: ``The home of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan?'' I don't 
think there is a spot in the world where you could find people who are 
not aware of what happened in the great City of Chicago--for in 5 of 
the last 7 years, our Chicago Bulls have won the championship of the 
National Basketball Association.
  We believe, quite modestly, that Chicago has become the world's 
capital of basketball--of course, our chief of State none other than 
Michael Jordan. Those who watched the NBA finals, particularly that 
fifth game, will never forget the contribution made by this great 
athlete. Obviously suffering from some illness--flu or worse--he 
managed to muster the strength and courage to lead the Bulls to an 
important, absolutely critical victory. How many times we saw him 
running down that court, wondering if he could get from one end to the 
other, only to perform spectacularly when given the ball. That has been 
his hallmark, but not just as an athlete, but as a person. He is truly 
a good person. Unfortunately, in the game of sports, you can't say that 
about all of the champions. You can certainly say it about Michael 
Jordan.
  Of course, the chief of intelligence in this world capital of 
basketball is none other than Coach Phil Jackson. Michael Jordan and 
Coach Jackson have a rare relationship, and Michael Jordan has made it 
clear that when he plays basketball, it will be with Phil Jackson. Phil 
Jackson, along with Jerry Reinsdorf as the owner, and others, can take 
pride in what the Bulls have brought to professional sports and 
basketball.
  The Bulls' record of 171 victories and 30 losses over the last two 
seasons has set a new standard of excellence. Michael Jordan, in the 
last five full seasons, has earned five championship rings and five MVP 
awards in the playoffs. The numbers speak for themselves.
  You could go through the list of Chicago Bulls and find the greatness 
and sportsmanship and the kinds of leadership we in Chicago are so 
proud of. I would be remiss to not mention the contributions of Scottie 
Pippen, Luc Longley, and so many others who are part of this great 
team, and Steve Kerr's clutch shot in the last game made the 
difference. He had had a tough time up to that moment, but when he was 
given the ball, he was there.
  Yesterday, there was a big celebration in Chicago. The Sun came out 
for a few minutes. People gathered for a great rally. I thought the 
comment made by Michael Jordan was especially appropriate. He said 
yesterday:

       This championship goes out to all the working people here 
     in the City of Chicago, who go out every day and bust their 
     butts to make a living.

  Well, Michael Jordan reminded us that so many of us who take pleasure 
in watching professional sports can identify with all of the effort 
made on the court and on the field. There are no two stronger fans of 
the Chicago Bulls on the floor of the U.S. Senate than myself and my 
colleague, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun. We want to salute the Bulls. We 
are proud of them. We are proud of the city of Chicago, the city that 
works. We are looking forward to making it a six pack next year under 
the leadership of Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen.
  I yield to my colleague, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ashcroft). The Senator from Illinois [Ms. 
Moseley-Braun] is recognized.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. I thank my colleague from Illinois. I just want to 
say that the Chicago Bulls have been such a source of joy to those of 
us from Illinois. But also, because of their longstanding pursuit of 
excellence and demonstration of excellence, they have become America's 
team. I don't think there is a single team in this country that can 
boast 5 years of National Basketball Association championships. We won 
in 1991 against the Lakers; in 1992, against the Trailblazers; in 1993, 
against the Suns; in 1996 against the Supersonics; and, of course, 
recently, against the Jazz.
  It has been done because the players on the Chicago Bulls are--in the 
terms of a great football coach from our town--``Grabowski's.'' 
``Grabowski's'' are people who work hard and keep focused and give it 
their all and their best, even under adverse circumstances. Certainly, 
that is what this team has proved over and over again that they can do. 
They can win, whether it is at the old Chicago Stadium, in L.A., in 
Phoenix, or in the new United Center. It doesn't matter where they 
play. They bring the same values, talent, and, most important, the same 
heart to the game. That is why they are world champions. That is why 
they are America's team.
  Of course, in this last game Steve Kerr can distinguish himself with 
the 17-foot jumper, which was what some might call the ``Hail Mary'' 
play. You just held your breath while it was going on. He drew on the 
spirit of John Paxon and made the game-winning play toward the end of 
the game. But he could not do it alone; it was a team effort.
  My colleague pointed to the special relationship between Michael 
Jordan and Scottie Pippen, two very unique, very special players. I 
think it can go without saying that Michael Jordan is the greatest 
player in the history of basketball, and we are really fortunate to 
have him as a leader of this team.
  In terms of leadership, certainly Coach Phil Jackson gets high marks 
for the kind of calm, deliberative, thoughtful approach he brings to 
the game, which is more than just a sport. It really is an exercise and 
demonstration of human spirit and values that takes place out on the 
basketball court.
  I have a special place in my heart for Jerry Reinsdorf, who recently 
worked out a situation in correcting an injustice. He single-handedly 
was able to encourage the baseball owners to award pensions to the 
players of the old Negro League that had been denied pensions, because 
when they went to the majors, there wasn't enough time to qualify for 
pensions. At my request, he took that issue up and took it to the 
owners and, after all these years, they have awarded pensions to those 
old baseball players. Jerry Reinsdorf, I think, demonstrates the best 
in sports and sports owners. Again, I know he has every reason to be as 
proud of this team, as we all are.
  At the same time, I think it must be said that the Utah Jazz played a 
phenomenal game. They were a dignified team, a disciplined team. Karl 
Malone and John Stockton were the equivalent of Scottie Pippen and 
Michael Jordan, in a way, from another part of the country. They 
distinguished themselves in the gentlemanly way in which they handled 
themselves throughout the series. Utah has nothing to be ashamed of. If 
anything, they have everything to be proud of in the kind of game they 
played in the championship competition in which they engaged. They 
supported themselves very well. Utah and the rest of the country can be 
proud of them as well. Their coach, I think, has a great future. 
Working with that team, he has a lot of good material to work with 
there.

[[Page S5737]]

  As my colleague pointed out, we are not satisfied with number 5. 
Grabowski's always want to do better, and we are looking for the six 
pack, or No. 6, next year. I want to thank the Chair for this 
opportunity to commend the team and all the players. It is a team sport 
by definition. It doesn't happen just because we have superstars. They 
are all stars and they are all great. We are so proud of them, and our 
country has every reason to be proud of America's basketball team.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in closing, there are 102 counties in 
Illinois, and of the 12 or 13 million people in the State, most are 
Bulls fans. There is one exception. Hamilton County, in southern 
Illinois, had a banner on its courthouse which said ``go Jazz go.'' Why 
would this one county in the entire State be rooting for the Utah Jazz? 
Because Jerry Sloan, the coach of the Jazz, came from McLeansboro, IL. 
He played for the Bulls, and we think he learned a lot in that process.
  I join my colleague in saluting the Jazz. What a fine team. They 
really put up great competition. There were those in Chicago who said, 
``We are going to win this easily.'' Many of us had second thoughts. We 
knew the Jazz was a talented, dedicated team, and they played very 
well. I salute Karl Malone and John Stockton, as well as Coach Sloan, 
and our colleagues, Senators Hatch and Bennett, the best fans the Utah 
Jazz ever had. ``Wait until next year,'' they will say, and that is 
what we say to. Wait until next year for a six pack from the Chicago 
Bulls.

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