[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 83 (Wednesday, June 16, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6867-S6869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE DETROIT PISTONS ON WINNING THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL 
                        ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 380, submitted 
earlier today by myself and Senator Stabenow.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 380) honoring the Detroit Pistons on 
     winning the National Basketball Association Championship on 
     June 15, 2004.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator 
Stabenow be recognized for her approximately 5-minute statement, and 
that I then be recognized for my statement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Michigan.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I thank my friend and colleague from 
Michigan.

[[Page S6868]]

  Mr. President, I rise today with my friend from Michigan to offer 
this resolution congratulating the Detroit Pistons for winning the 
National Basketball Association Championship.
  What a game, and what a win.
  In a remarkable display of toughness, talent, tenacity, and old-
fashioned hard work, the Pistons made history yesterday by winning 
their third consecutive home game at the Palace of Auburn Hills to 
clinch their third NBA title.
  It was the first time in NBA Finals history that the home team won 
the third, the fourth, and the fifth game at home.
  The Pistons embody all that I love about the people of Michigan. They 
are a determined, hard-working team that has shown relentless 
determination to achieve their goal. The Pistons are a complete team. 
They sacrifice personal gains for the good of their teammates. And we 
saw that over and over again last night. They dove for loose balls, and 
they played great defense.
  Like the people of Michigan, the Pistons do not seek the limelight 
but, rather, let their performance on and off the court speak for 
itself.
  Off the court, the Pistons launched their Read to Achieve Program in 
October 2001. I was very pleased to participate in one of their reading 
events. To date, they have opened four reading and learning centers, 
the most recent last Monday at the Cornerstone Elementary Linwood 
Campus Library. And they have donated their time to read with over 
4,500 students throughout Michigan.
  On the court, the Pistons faced many hurdles to win this title. 
First, they overcame a grueling regular season schedule to win 54 
games. Next, they outlasted three of the toughest teams in the Eastern 
Conference playoffs: the Milwaukee Bucks, the New Jersey Nets, and the 
Indiana Pacers to make it to the NBA Finals.
  In the end, the Pistons prevailed against the storied Los Angeles 
Lakers, a franchise with 14 titles to its credit, four future Hall of 
Famers, and a future Hall of Fame coach, Phil Jackson, who has coached 
nine NBA championship teams.
  Our Pistons beat them all and showed they are the best.
  I would like to take a moment to recognize members of the Pistons 
organization who made this remarkable season possible.
  Congratulations, first, to Bill Davidson, the Pistons owner, a man 
who has had a wonderful year. Mr. Davidson, a generous philanthropist 
for the last 25 years, adds the Pistons' NBA title to the Detroit 
Shock's 2003 WNBA championship.
  I also congratulate the Pistons President of Basketball Operations, 
Joe Dumars. As an NBA player, Joe was one of the driving forces on the 
1989 and 1990 Pistons championship teams, and proved to be equally 
valuable in the Pistons front office by assembling this terrific team.
  Next, of course, big congratulations are in order to Larry Brown, the 
first coach to win an NBA championship and an NCAA title. The much 
traveled Hall of Fame coach made his nest in Detroit this year and won 
this championship by asking his players to play basketball the ``right 
way,'' emphasizing defense, rebounding, and team play. This kind of 
old-fashioned philosophy is the kind of workman-like philosophy we 
value in Michigan.
  Finally, and most importantly, cheers to the guys doing the hard work 
on the hardwood. The Pistons starting backcourt of Richard Hamilton and 
Finals MVP Chauncey Billups provided the leadership, scoring, and 
defense when the team needed it most. Each game, the tandem of Ben 
Wallace and Rasheed Wallace erected a virtual wall around the Pistons 
basket and blocked shots and collected rebounds that were critical to 
the Pistons' success--and great fun to watch.
  Joining the Wallaces in the front court was Tayshaun Prince, the 
long-armed forward who made the highlight-reel block of a layup during 
game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals that turned that series around 
and propelled the Pistons to the NBA Finals.
  Finally, the contributions of the Pistons reserves, known 
collectively as the ``Alternatorz,'' proved invaluable, as they always 
provided a spark whenever they were called upon.
  Mr. President, I attended game 3 of the NBA Finals last Thursday 
evening with my son. It was very exciting, and I can tell you that 
Pistons basketball is a beautiful thing to watch. And though this 
Detroit Pistons team is not known for its physical play, as the ``Bad 
Boys'' teams of 1989 and 1990 were, it is known for the intimidating 
presence of the Pistons center and spiritual leader, Ben Wallace.
  Aside from the Pistons' victory, there was nothing more entertaining 
and fun to watch than seeing the countless Detroit fans at the Palace 
wearing wigs resembling Ben Wallace's hair. Looking forward to next 
year, I want to pass on a message to the NBA I saw on one fan's sign: 
``Fear the Fro.''
  Again, congratulations to all the Pistons players, coaches, and staff 
who made this championship possible. This was truly a magnificent 
accomplishment for fans in Detroit and across the State of Michigan.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the names of the Pistons 
players and coaches be printed in the Record following my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I might also say, I look forward to 
collecting, with my colleague, on the bet that Senator Levin and I won 
from our colleagues and friends from California.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                               Exhibit 1


               Detroit Pistons--2004 NBA World Champions

       Players: Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Tremaine 
     Fowlkes, Darvin Ham, Richard Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, Mike 
     James, Darko Milicic, Mehmet Okur, Tayshaun Prince, Ben 
     Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Corliss Williamson,
       Head Coach: Larry Brown
       Assistant Coach: Herb Brown, Dave Hanners, Igor Kokoskov, 
     John Kuester, Mike Woodson
       Athletic Trainer: Mike Abdenour
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, last night before 22,000 fans, a gritty 
bunch of Detroit Pistons achieved one of the biggest championship 
basketball upsets in history. In a league that has long emphasized the 
role of its star players, the Detroit Pistons bring to mind another 
famous team, the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal hockey team, and remind 
us that teamwork, perseverance, desire, and defense win championships.
  The Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars and his staff, with the full 
and total support of the owner Bill Davidson, put together a team not 
built around one or two superstars but on the solid play of all of its 
members. In their effort to build a team that could advance through the 
playoffs and win a championship, the Pistons made a midseason trade for 
Rasheed Wallace, a talented and multidimensional power forward.
  In a league where bold season-changing trades are rare, this move 
gave the Pistons a potent front court scoring option and another 
rebounding and shot blocking presence to compliment two-time defensive 
player of the year Ben Wallace. Throughout the series the Pistons were 
the true definition of a team, with each and every Piston contributing 
in some way during their run for the championship.
  NBA finals MVP Chauncey Billups, who has played for five teams in his 
short career, looked at home with the Pistons and played a stellar 
series on both ends of the court. For this year, at least, they could 
have renamed MVP the MVT for the ``most valuable team,'' because this 
was truly a team effort. It must have been extremely difficult for the 
people who selected the MVP to single out just one Piston because they 
truly were a unit.
  In Larry Brown, the Pistons had obtained a coach who over the course 
of 31 years of coaching had developed a reputation as a keen student of 
the game, able to motivate players and respect his players and make 
gametime adjustments with great skill. Focusing his players on his 
favorite mantra--play the right way--Coach Brown was able to prove that 
by sharing the ball and sharing the glory, even the star-studded Lakers 
could be defeated. Over the course of the season Coach Brown became the 
first coach in basketball history to win both an NBA and NCAA 
championship title.
  The country may have viewed the Pistons as the underdog, but thanks 
to Coach Brown, his players remained hungry for a championship and 
always believed in their hearts that they were up to the challenge.

[[Page S6869]]

  So our heartiest congratulations to the Detroit Pistons, as the 
players, coaches, staff, and fans celebrate their third NBA 
championship. The effect of these finals will be felt for a long time.
  As a Detroiter and proud citizen of Michigan, I know the huge 
impetus, the wonderful momentum, the great feeling that pervades and 
permeates my home State tonight. Since Detroit is now home to both the 
WNBA and NBA champions, perhaps Detroit, long known as Hockeytown USA, 
will now be recognized as Hoopstown USA as well.
  I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be agreed to 
en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and 
that any statements relative to the resolution be printed in the Record 
without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COLEMAN). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 380) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 380

       Whereas the Detroit Pistons finished second in the Central 
     Division of the Eastern Conference and won the National 
     Basketball Association (NBA) World Championship for the first 
     time since winning back to back Championships in 1989 and 
     1990;
       Whereas the Detroit Pistons is the first Eastern Conference 
     team to win the Championship since 1998;
       Whereas the Detroit Pistons by defeating the heavily-
     favored Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 showed grit, 
     determination, discipline, and unity, thereby securing their 
     third National Basketball Association World Championship;
       Whereas the Detroit Pistons completed an incredible season 
     with strong performances from many key players, including 
     Finals Most Valuable Player Chauncey Billups, two-time 
     Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, a new head coach in 
     Larry Brown and savvy front office executives such as Joe 
     Dumars;
       Whereas Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson became the 
     first owner to win an NBA and WNBA championship, as well as 
     the Stanley Cup championship, in the span of 12 months;
       Whereas President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars built 
     a cohesive championship team through smart draft choices, key 
     free agent signings and bold trades, including the mid-season 
     acquisition of Rasheed Wallace, a vital part of the Pistons' 
     impenetrable frontline;
       Whereas Detroit Pistons Head Coach Larry Brown, the oldest 
     coach to win an NBA Championship, became the first coach to 
     win both an NBA and NCAA championship;
        Whereas each member of the Detroit Pistons roster, 
     including Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Tremaine Fowlkes, 
     Darvin Ham, Richard Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, Mike James, 
     Darko Milicic, Mehmet Okur, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, 
     Rasheed Wallace, Corliss Williamson, made meaningful 
     contributions to the success of the basketball team and 
     proved once again that the whole can be greater than the sum 
     of its parts;
       Whereas Detroit Pistons fans made a meaningful contribution 
     to the success of their basketball team through their energy 
     and passion which was on display throughout the regular 
     season and playoffs at the Palace at Auburn Hills;
       Whereas the Detroit Pistons became the first team in NBA 
     Finals history to win games 3, 4, and 5 on their home court 
     since the NBA returned to its current format in 1985;
       Whereas in honor of the Detroit Pistons' championship, the 
     Palace of Auburn Hills is officially changing its address to 
     Four Championship Drive; and
       Whereas the Detroit Pistons have demonstrated great 
     strength, skill, and perseverance during the 2003-2004 season 
     and have made the entire State of Michigan proud: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Detroit Pistons on winning the 2004 
     National Basketball Association Championship and recognizes 
     all the players, coaches, support staff, and fans who were 
     instrumental in this achievement; and
       (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the Detroit Pistons for 
     appropriate display.

  Mr. LEVIN. I thank our friend from Georgia for his patience as we let 
out our feelings about what happened yesterday in Detroit.
  Mr. MILLER. Congratulations to the Pistons.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Georgia is recognized for 8 minutes.

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