[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 91 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8201-S8202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE'S NEW JERSEY DEVILS AND THE NEW
JERSEY NETS
Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution No. 176,
introduced by myself and Senator Lautenberg.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 176) recognizing the National Hockey
League's New Jersey Devils and National Basketball
Association New Jersey Nets for their accomplishments during
the 2002-2003 season.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. DORGAN. Reserving the right to object--and I shall not object--I
want to be certain I will be recognized following the disposition of
the resolution by the two Senators from New Jersey. My understanding is
that I was to be recognized at this moment. They are asking for 10
minutes, combined, for this resolution. Is my understanding correct
that I will be recognized by previous unanimous consent following
disposition of this?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. It has been ordered that the Senator from
North Dakota shall be recognized to offer the next amendment.
Mr. DORGAN. Thank you.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, is that reserving the time that was
immediately available? I am a little concerned. If the Senator from
North Dakota has that, I want to honor that. If not, we might take a
little more time than 10 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. No time has been allocated.
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, if I understand the drift of things,
obviously Senators can reserve, we can work this out. I ask consent
that the Senators from New Jersey be given 10 minutes to speak on a
very important subject; following that, the Senator from North Dakota
be authorized on his amendment to follow the order in the earlier
unanimous consent.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. CORZINE. I rise today with my distinguished colleague from New
Jersey, my friend and longstanding representative of our great State,
Senator Lautenberg, to discuss a resolution honoring the New Jersey
Devils and the New Jersey Nets, their accomplishments in postseason of
the respective leagues.
The past 2 weeks have seen the Devils host the Stanley Cup after
defeating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Nets reached the NBA finals.
For the second year in a row, the Nets have been in the finals of the
NBA, this year against a very talented group from Texas, the San
Antonio Spurs. These accomplishments have made the constituents of my
State very proud, and deservedly so.
Over the last 9 years, the New Jersey Devils have won the NHL Stanley
cup three times--as much as my team in hockey. During that time, a
stifling defense led by Scott Stevens, the playmaking abilities Patrik
Elias and Scott Gomez, and the superb goaltending of Martin Brodeur
have become the standards of excellence in the National Hockey League.
At the same time, the New Jersey Nets have become one of the most
successful teams in the NBA, winning the Eastern Conference
Championship each of the last 2 years, led by the outstanding play of
Jason Kidd, in my view the best pointguard in the NBA.
The Devils and the Nets both play at the Continental Airline Arena in
East Rutherford, NJ, a town of about 10,000 folks. Many think it is the
nexus of the sporting universe. We would like to see some of the
Olympics in 2012. That is right, even though some of my colleagues from
Texas might dispute some of that view.
It is a great organization that happens to own both teams, the Devils
and the Nets. They go beyond their supporting crowds. Both teams are
actively involved in the community and give a tremendous amount back to
it. Patrik Elias helps support Transplant Speakers International, an
organization that raises funds and awareness for organ transplants.
Dikembe Mutombo helped dedicate the Nets Reading and Learning Center at
the Hudson County Boys and Girls Club in Jersey City. Over and over
again the players have helped in our disadvantaged schools and
communities. They are terrific.
I mention one individual who sets a standard for excellence in
business and in sports. That is the general manager--surprisingly, of
both teams--Lou Lamoriello, whose dual role is unique in the sporting
world. Quite frankly, I think he is the best in the business because he
sets a standard not only on the basketball court and hockey wing but in
how he operates in the communities, giving back and expecting people to
behave and operate in a class way.
This is a terrific credit to an organization, to the teams, and most
particularly to fans who have supported them. New Jersey sometimes does
not get the kind of recognition it needs. These two organizations have
done that through dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship. They have
achieved great success. I congratulate them.
I yield to my colleague from New Jersey.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. I thank my colleague and friend from New Jersey for
his enthusiasm. I know he often gets on an airplane no matter what
time, as long as our business here is done, and he gets up there, maybe
sometimes in the fourth quarter of a game. But he gets there and roots
the Nets on.
I am pleased to note the great sports accomplishments of two New
Jersey teams in recent weeks. I support this resolution. I congratulate
the New Jersey Devils for winning the Stanley Cup and the New Jersey
Nets for winning the NBA's Eastern Conference.
I am going to be gracious and extend my congratulations to Senator
Hutchison, with whom I had a wager, because the San Antonio Spurs
played wonderful basketball, as disappointing as it was to me and other
New Jersey Net fans. I paid off that wager with a case of beautiful New
Jersey tomatoes for our terrible loss.
Winning the Stanley Cup 3 of the last 9 years proves that the Devils
are the most dominant team in hockey. I was thrilled to watch them win
game 7 with a shutout by the Devils' exceptional goalie, Martin
Brodeur, who recorded 7 shutouts during the playoffs alone. Special
congratulations are in order for five players who have been with the
team for all three championships: Brodeur, Ken Daneyko, Scott Stevens,
Sergei Brylin, and Scott Niedermayer.
As mentioned by Senator Corzine, general manager Lou Lamoriello has
established a culture of success in New Jersey by molding winning teams
each year around this core of five. The Meadowlands, where the
Continental Airlines Arena is located, is no safe haven for opponents.
Our Devils were a remarkable 12 and 1 on home ice during the playoffs.
That's the most home wins in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It's nice to congratulate the New Jersey Nets, as well, because New
Jersey, after all, is where the first professional basketball game was
played, in Trenton, 1898. No, I don't remember it.
The Nets have been Eastern Conference champions and have played in
the NBA finals for 2 years in a row. This year they compiled an amazing
streak of 10 consecutive wins, sweeping past the Celtics and Detroit
Pistons along the way.
[[Page S8202]]
Nets coach Byron Scott has led the Nets to the most wins in franchise
history. The Nets, led by their superb point guard Jason Kidd, lost a
tough 6-game series to the Spurs, who are undoubtedly championship
material. But the Nets are in that class, as well. I hope that this
team will stay intact and continue on its quest to winning an NBA
title.
New Jersey is a haven for great professional sports teams, and on
behalf of the whole State of New Jersey, I congratulate the Devils and
Nets and wish both teams the best of luck in the future.
Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution
and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid
upon the table, and any statements relating thereto be printed in the
Record, without intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 176) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 176
Whereas the New Jersey Devils defeated the Anaheim Mighty
Ducks 3-0 on June 9, 2003 to win the Stanley Cup in 7 games;
Whereas the New Jersey Nets won the National Basketball
Association (NBA) Eastern Conference Championship and reached
the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year before losing
a closely contested series to the San Antonio Spurs in 6
games;
Whereas the Devils won their third Stanley Cup in the last
9 years, as many as any other team in that period;
Whereas the Devils and Nets have won over the State of New
Jersey (where the first professional basketball game took
place in 1898) with their skillful offenses and stifling
defenses;
Whereas the Devils and Nets have come to epitomize the
never-say-die spirit of the people of New Jersey and have
both become an important part of the State and its identity;
Whereas the fans of both New Jersey teams have shown the
same spirit and determination in support of their teams and
deserve commendation for their loyalty in this season's
playoffs;
Whereas the Devils had a 12 win, 1 loss record at the
Continental Airlines Arena, the most home wins in the history
of the Stanley Cup playoffs;
Whereas the Nets swept both the Boston Celtics and the
Detroit Pistons during a 10-game winning streak in this
season's playoffs;
Whereas Pat Burns, head coach of the New Jersey Devils, has
enjoyed the kind of success that has eluded so many other
great coaches, winning his first Stanley Cup title in his
first season as head coach of the Devils;
Whereas Byron Scott, head coach of the New Jersey Nets, has
guided the Nets to the most wins in franchise history, and
has led them to the NBA Finals in 2 of his 3 seasons as head
coach;
Whereas Martin Brodeur, regarded by many as the premier
playoff goaltender in hockey history, recorded 3 shutouts in
the Finals, giving him 7 shutouts during this season's
playoffs and 20 during his illustrious postseason career;
Whereas the outstanding playmaking abilities of Jason Kidd,
widely regarded as the best point guard in the NBA, has been
key to the success of the Nets during the past 2 seasons;
Whereas the outstanding play of Ken Daneyko, Martin
Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Sergei Brylin, and Scott Neidermayer
has been a vital part of each of the 3 Stanley Cup
Championships enjoyed by the New Jersey Devils organization;
Whereas Jason Kidd has superb teammates in Brandon
Armstrong, Jason Collins, Lucious Harris, Richard Jefferson,
Anthony Johnson, Kerry Kittles, Donny Marshall, Kenyon
Martin, Dikembe Mutombo, Rodney Rogers, Brian Scalabrine,
Tamar Slay, and Aaron Williams, allowing the team to win its
second consecutive NBA Eastern Conference championship; and
Whereas the name of each Devils player will be inscribed on
the Stanley Cup, including Tommy Albelin, Jiri Bicek, Martin
Brodeur, Sergei Brylin, Ken Daneyko, Patrik Elias, Jeff
Friesen, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Jamie Langenbrunner, John
Madden, Grant Marshall, Jim McKenzie, Scott Niedermayer, Joe
Nieuwendyk, Jay Pandolfo, Brian Rafalski, Pascal Rheaume,
Mike Rupp, Corey Schwab, Richard Schmelik, Scott Stevens,
Turner Stevenson, Oleg Tverdovsky, and Colin White: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate congratulates--
(1) the New Jersey Devils for their determination,
perseverance, and excellence in winning the National Hockey
League's 2003 Stanley Cup; and
(2) the New Jersey Nets for their success during the 2002-
2003 NBA season.
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