[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7876-7877]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE MILLER

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President I rise today to congratulate Mike 
Miller from Mitchell, SD. Mike, a starting small forward for the 
Orlando Magic, has been selected as the National Basketball 
Association, NBA, Rookie of the Year. As the fifth overall draft pick 
from the University of Florida, he averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds 
and 1.7 assists this year. Mike scored in double figures 51 times this 
year and scored a season-high 28 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on 
March 23. Although those statistics are very impressive, perhaps the 
most impressive part of Mike's rookie season was the leadership role 
Mike had to assume with the injury to his teammate Grant Hill. He 
responded to the challenge of filling the shoes of a perennial NBA all-
star and he came to be a trusted go-to, clutch player. Of course he 
showed this type of poise when he made the game winning shot against 
Butler in last year's NCAA tournament.
  By winning this award, Mike has joined the ranks of the very best to 
ever play basketball. Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan 
and Shaquille O'Neal are just a few of the basketball luminaries who 
Mike joins as winners of this award. Those in South Dakota knew that 
Mike was destined for great things. As a three-time all-state selection 
and a two time state

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champion in South Dakota, Miller has showcased his abilities for many 
years. As a father of three children I know how proud Tom and Sheryl 
Miller must feel today. I join the rest of the State of South Dakota in 
congratulating Mike on his remarkable accomplishment and look forward 
to cheering him on as his career moves forward.

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