[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING NBA CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2009

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Los 
Angeles Lakers, on winning the 2009 National Basketball Association 
Championship. This is their 15th NBA World Championship title.
  I congratulate team owner Dr. Jerry Buss, Coach Phil Jackson, his 
staff, and the entire Laker organization for their accomplishment in 
winning basketball's coveted championship trophy. I also congratulate 
the team's captain, Kobe Bryant, on being named the first recipient of 
the newly-named Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
  A few days after their championship victory, the Lakers and 250,000 
of their fans, celebrated with a victory parade through the streets of 
Downtown Los Angeles. The parade led to the Los Angeles Memorial 
Coliseum where 100,000 additional fans gathered to commemorate the 
team's accomplishment. People came from all over Southern California to 
join in the celebration.
  Madam Speaker, the Lakers have such a loyal following not only 
because they are champions on the court, but because they are champions 
in the community as well. The team's outreach program, the LA Lakers 
Youth Foundation, works with community groups to better the lives of 
children in our community. The Foundation focuses on using sports to 
promote education, teamwork and self-esteem among Los Angeles area 
youth by providing financial assistance to children and local youth 
programs.
  As part of their foundation work, the Lakers have created 12 Reading 
and Learning Centers at youth clubs throughout Los Angeles and Hawaii 
and they have sponsored several community basketball court renovations 
each season. The Lakers also participate in the Toyota Project Rebound, 
a season-long community outreach initiative established by the NBA and 
Toyota. The program includes 15 hands-on community service projects 
that are hosted by NBA and WNBA teams. The projects include court 
refurbishments, the creation of Learn & Play Centers, and other Legacy 
Projects providing youth safe places to live, learn or play.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating each 
member of the 2009 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers for their many 
victories on the court and in the community. They are champions to 
their sports fans, to beneficiaries of their Foundation, and to the 
entire Los Angeles community. We thank them for returning the NBA 
championship trophy where it belongs--the Los Angeles Staples Arena in 
my congressional district.

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