[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 16, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6429-S6431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE CHICAGO BULLS ON WINNING THE 1998 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. LUGAR. On behalf of the leader, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 249 
introduced earlier today by Senators Moseley-Braun and Durbin.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The resolution (S.Res. 249) to congratulate the Chicago 
     Bulls on winning the 1998 National Basketball Association 
     Championship.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  MS. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes 
today to join the citizens of the city of Chicago and the entire state 
of Illinois, as well as Bulls fans around the world, in congratulating 
the Chicago Bulls for winning a sixth National Basketball Association 
championship. The Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 87-86 in game six of the 
finals this past Sunday in Salt Lake City.
  One of the true joys of my life over the last several years has been 
to watch Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson and the rest of 
the Bulls continually define excellence in team basketball. Considered 
by some to have been underdogs in this year's series against the Utah 
Jazz, the Bulls persevered and wrote yet another fantastic chapter in 
one of the greatest stories in professional sports.
  Without a doubt, the Bulls' repeat-3peat would not have been possible 
without the star performance of Michael Jordan. His play throughout the 
season defined what it means to be a champion, and his 45 points and 
last-second winning shot on Sunday night ensured that his team remained 
champions. Once again, Michael Jordan has defined excellence. Once 
again, he has defined competitiveness and leadership. Once again, he 
and all of the Bulls have shown us that hard work, teamwork, talent and 
desire will produce victory.
  Complementing Michael Jordan this year, as he has so skillfully done 
for each of the Bulls' championships, was forward Scottie Pippen. 
Despite being injured for much of the first half of the season and 
suffering with a severely strained back in game six, Scottie Pippen 
demonstrated through his outstanding offensive and defensive play that 
he too has the heart of a champion.
  Mr. President, I would also like to recognize the flamboyant and 
talented play of Dennis Rodman. Like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, 
Dennis Rodman has been a key reason for the Bulls' success. His 
harshest critics cannot take away his five NBA championships, two with 
the Detroit Pistons and three with the Bulls, or his seven consecutive 
NBA rebounding titles.
  I would also like to highlight the accomplishments of Toni Kukoc, 
whose play often provided the boost to take the Bulls to victory. He 
was always there with a big shot when one was most needed. Ron Harper 
is another player who made many invaluable contributions during the 
Bulls' championship run. His defensive play throughout the playoffs 
shut down many of the league's best point guards.
  Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Randy Brown, Scott Burrell, Bill Wennington, 
Jud Buechler and Dickey Simpkins all played important roles in the 
Bulls' championship drive. Their contributions further demonstrated 
Phil Jackson's masterful coaching skills. His intelligent, deliberative 
and team-oriented approach to the game allowed his players to transcend 
the individual and operate as a unit.
  Mr. President, I would also like to congratulate Jerry Reinsdorf and 
Jerry Krause for once again fielding an NBA championship team. This is 
an outstanding victory in which they can take great pride.
  In congratulating the Bulls for winning a sixth NBA title in eight 
years, I also want to compliment the Utah Jazz for their spirited play 
and sportsmanship. This Jazz team gave the Bulls their toughest 
challenge in any of their six championships. Karl Malone and John 
Stockton are both certainly Hall of Fame players.
  Mr. President, the state of Illinois can also take special pride in 
the accomplishments of the Utah Jazz because the coach of the Jazz, 
Jerry Sloan, is a product of our state. The McLeansboro native not only 
hails from Illinois, but also had a storied career with the Bulls. I 
would like to thank Jerry Sloan and his team for a thrilling finals 
series.
  I have one last thought, Mr. President, and in expressing it, I 
believe that I speak for Bulls fans everywhere: Let there be seven!
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
spectacular team that has propelled itself into the upper echelon of 
basketball history, the Chicago Bulls. Add a new name to the history 
books of the National Basketball Association; the Boston Celtics of the 
1960s, the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, and undeniably, the Chicago 
Bulls of the 1990s.
  On Sunday, as I watched Game Six with basketball fans and Bulls 
followers around the world, I was privileged to witness another 
incredible performance by Michael Jordan and the entire Bulls team. For 
the sixth time in eight years, in a victory for the ages, the Chicago 
Bulls are the champions of the National Basketball Association. It is 
with great honor, pleasure, and pride that I salute and congratulate 
the entire Chicago Bulls organization.
  As a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times noted, ``We live in the 
right city at the right time.'' It is simple yet so true. No other team 
in any sport has been able to show the dominance and consistency that 
the Bulls have shown. The people of Chicago and Illinois have a special 
source of pride in the Chicago Bulls and especially in Michael Jordan. 
This wonderful championship and the five spectacular ones before it are 
all keepsakes in the hearts and minds of Chicagoans. I know personally 
that days, weeks, and years from now I will be recounting where I was 
when the Bulls achieved the ``Six-Pack,'' and I will be doing it with 
great pride. My grandson Alex, who recently turned two years old, is 
not quite old enough to realize what the Bulls have accomplished. But 
make no mistake about it, in the years to come I know he will have a 
proud grandfather recounting the almost mythical tales of Michael 
Jordan and telling of the amazing dynasty that they created.

[[Page S6430]]

  Michael Jordan. What more can possibly be said about him? There are 
simply no longer any more adjectives to describe his spectacular feats 
and clutch performances. Super-human? Possibly. The best to ever plan 
the game of basketball? Positively. In the pivotal Game Six, in a most 
unfriendly arena, Michael Jordan took his team and the people of ``the 
city of big shoulders,'' put them all directly on his shoulders and 
carried them all to the NBA's promised land, the world championship. 
Jordan, the ambassador of the game of basketball to the world, 
accomplished what no other player has been able to do. With his 
unprecedented tenth scoring title and sixth Finals Most Valuable Player 
award, Jordan has shown the impact he has on the game. But I'm sure 
that all of the personal accolades are secondary when it comes to the 
team and to being champions. The true champion puts his team and their 
success above all and Jordan has done that time and time again.
  None of us will forget the courageous performance given by an injured 
Scottie Pippen. With an injury that would have had anyone else 
bedridden, he played as well as he possibly could. But more 
importantly, he provided the emotional lift that the team needed. 
Again, another example of how being there for your team and your fellow 
players is ingrained in the hearts of these players, in the hearts of 
champions.
  And of course, the man who keeps it all together and running like a 
well tuned machine, Phil Jackson. With a combination of years of 
basketball experience as a player and as a coach, his special 
relationship with Jordan, Pippen, and the entire team, and a touch of 
his Zen philosophy, Jackson has been able to lead this team to the apex 
of the National Basketball Association despite all of the distractions 
and injuries.
  Surely we cannot overlook the contributions of the rest of the team--
Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc, the ``supporting 
cast'' as they are called. But they are more than that. They are each a 
critical piece of a puzzle that when fully assembled presents us with 
an impressive and spectacular sight: Six golden, shinning, championship 
trophies. Each clutch three point basket by Steve Kerr and Judd 
Buechler, each suffocating defensive stop by Scott Burrell and Randy 
Brown, each rebound from Bill Wennington and Dickey Simpkins are 
essential pieces of the big picture.
  We should also acknowledge the impressive job that owner Jerry 
Reinsdorf has done with this organization from the time he took over as 
owner, and the sportsmanship and leadership that the Bulls organization 
has shown through the years.
  I could go on and on, but I would like to switch tracks and commend 
the Utah Jazz for a wonderful and exciting series. The Jazz 
organization and the fans of Salt Lake City were worthy opponents in 
this battle and did not go quietly into the night. They made the Bulls 
give every ounce of heart and determination to win this sixth 
championship. You could not have asked for more from the Utah Jazz. The 
Utah fans were the extra player on the bench ready to give their team a 
needed push. I'm sure that their biggest fan, my colleague Senator 
Orrin Hatch, provided the loudest cheers of all. Unfortunately, there 
can only be one champion. But in my eyes, and the eyes of all 
basketball fans, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and the entire team earned 
our respect and admiration. They too are champions and I commend them 
and wish them the best of luck in returning to the NBA Finals.
  As the city of Chicago celebrates another taste of excellence and 
prepares for another mid-June party in Grant Park, we can only hope 
that this is not the last we see from this team. But if it was our last 
opportunity to be graced with the performance of Michael Jordan, 
Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson, the core and heart of this team, then 
we could not have asked for anything more. They continually gave this 
city and fans everywhere joy, pride, a glimpse at what it is like to be 
the best at what you do and to accomplish the ultimate goal. The 
Chicago Bulls have given millions of fans the chance to live 
vicariously through them. When the Bulls are champions, the entire city 
of Chicago and all Bulls fans are also champions. When Jordan steals 
the ball and makes the game winning shot with five seconds to go, we 
all make that shot. The Bulls give us hope and pride and the chance to 
be champions. I salute them for bringing so much to the city of 
Chicago, and to basketball fans everywhere.
  The breath-taking performances that Michael Jordan has graced us with 
and the six hard-fought championships that the entire team has brought 
to the city are truly ``unbelieve-a-bull.'' Without question, being 
successful in all six of their championship endeavors, they were 
``unstop-a-bull.'' And their place in history and in the hearts of 
everyone in Chicago and the world is absolutely ``undeni-a-bull.'' I 
salute the Chicago Bulls on a wonderful season, and a heart-stopping 
championship. If this was Michael Jordan's last game then it could not 
have been scripted any better. It was a fitting, almost storybook 
ending in which the man who got us there also brought us back 
victorious. As coach Phil Jackson put it, ``it has been a wonderful 
ride.'' Indeed it has been. Congratulations to the city of Chicago and 
the World Champion Chicago Bulls.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I must comment, in my own congratulations 
to the Chicago Bulls, with the observation that our Indiana Pacers 
extended the Bulls to seven games, as the Chair will remember. We are 
delighted that such a great season occurred in the NBA, and a very 
worthy team, including, obviously, the Utah Jazz, the ultimate 
survivors. We congratulate the Bulls on their sixth triumph in 8 years.
  I ask unanimous consent the resolution and preamble be agreed to en 
bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any statements 
relating to the resolution appear in the Record in the appropriate 
place, as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 249) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 249

       Whereas the Chicago Bulls, despite injuries to Scottie 
     Pippen and Luc Longley, went 62-20 and tied for the best 
     regular season record in the National Basketball Association;
       Whereas the Bulls battled through the playoffs, sweeping 
     the New Jersey Nets and defeating the Charlotte Hornets in 5 
     games, before beating the Indiana Pacers in 7 games to return 
     to the NBA Finals for the third straight year;
       Whereas the Bulls displayed stifling defense throughout the 
     playoffs before beating the Utah Jazz to repeat the 3-peat 
     and win their third consecutive NBA championship, their sixth 
     in the last 8 years;
       Whereas head coach Phil Jackson and the entire coaching 
     staff skillfully led the Bulls through an injury riddled 62-
     win season and a 15-6 playoff run;
       Whereas Michael Jordan won his fifth most valuable player 
     award, and he, along with Scottie Pippen, were again named to 
     the NBA's ``All-Defensive First Team'';
       Whereas Michael Jordan won his record tenth scoring title 
     and was named the NBA Finals most valuable player for the 
     sixth time in 6 appearances in the finals;
       Whereas Scottie Pippen again exhibited his outstanding 
     offensive and defensive versatility, proving himself to be 
     one of the best all-around players in the NBA;
       Whereas the quickness, tireless defensive effort, and 
     athleticism of the colorful Dennis Rodman, who won his 
     seventh straight rebounding title, keyed a strong Bulls front 
     line;
       Whereas Toni Kukoc displayed his awesome variety of 
     offensive skills in both assisting on, and hitting, several 
     big shots when the Bulls needed them most;
       Whereas veteran guard Ron Harper, in shutting down many of 
     the league's top point guards throughout the playoffs, 
     demonstrated the defensive skills that have made him a 
     cornerstone of the league's best defense;
       Whereas center Luc Longley frustrated many of the all-star 
     caliber centers that he faced while at times providing a much 
     needed scoring lift;
       Whereas Steve Kerr buried several 3-pointers when the Bulls 
     needed them most;
       Whereas the outstanding play of Jud Buechler, Scott 
     Burrell, and Bill Wennington and the tenacious defense of 
     Randy Brown, each of whom came off the bench to provide 
     valuable contributions, were an important part of each Bulls 
     victory; and
       Whereas the contributions of Dickey Simpkins and rookies 
     Rusty LaRue and Keith Booth, both on the court and in 
     practice, again demonstrated the total devotion of Bulls 
     personnel to the team concept that has made the Bulls one of 
     the great sports dynasties of modern times: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate congratulates the Chicago Bulls 
     on winning the 1998 National Basketball Association 
     championship.

[[Page S6431]]



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