[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING THE MIAMI HEAT

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 519, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 519) congratulating the Miami Heat 
     for winning the National Basketball Association Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, it is a happy occasion for 
Floridians that the Miami Heat won the NBA championship last night, 
having now won four games in a row after having lost the first two 
games in Dallas to the Dallas Mavericks.
  Naturally, we Floridians have a great deal of pride in this 
championship coming to our State of Florida. I can tell you that the 
city of Miami is absolutely going bonkers, they are so happy.
  I think it is also noteworthy that two national basketball 
championships have now been won by teams in the State of Florida within 
the same year. Earlier this year, in the playoffs of the NCAA, the 
national champions are the Florida Gators. And then followed by a 
couple of months, now we have the national NBA champions, the Miami 
Heat.
  Congratulations to Miami, to the University of Florida, 
congratulations to the State of Florida, and congratulations to the 
sport of basketball.
  Mr. TALENT. I am glad the Senators from Texas were not here, Mr. 
President.
  I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 519) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 519

       Whereas on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, the Miami Heat defeated 
     the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 95 to 92, in Dallas, 
     Texas;
       Whereas that victory marks the first National Basketball 
     Association (NBA) Championship for the Miami Heat franchise;
       Whereas after losing the first 2 games of the NBA Finals, 
     the Heat came back to win 4 games in a row, which earned the 
     team an overall record of 69-37 and the right to be named NBA 
     champions;
       Whereas Pat Riley, over his 11 seasons with the Heat, has 
     maintained a standard of excellence within the franchise and 
     has won his fifth championship as head coach of an NBA team;
       Whereas Dwyane Wade, who averaged 34.7 points in the 
     series, was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals 
     following the Heat victory;
       Whereas Shaquille O'Neal fulfilled his 2004 promise to his 
     teammates and the residents of Miami by delivering the title 
     to the Miami Heat;
       Whereas each member of the Miami Heat roster, including 
     Derek Anderson, Shandon Anderson, Earl Barron, Michael 
     Doleac, Udonis Haslem, Jason Kapono, Alonzo Mourning, 
     Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, James Posey, Wayne Simien, 
     Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, and Dorell 
     Wright, played a meaningful role in bringing the NBA 
     Championship to Miami;
       Whereas owner Micky Arison has built a top-flight sports 
     franchise and shown a consistent commitment to bringing a 
     winning team to Miami; and
       Whereas, the Miami Heat and its fans are hot in the wake of 
     its first NBA championship: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
        (a) congratulates the Miami Heat for its victory in the 
     2006 National Basketball Association Championship; and
       (b) requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit for 
     appropriate display an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (1) the owner of the Miami Heat, Micky Arison; and
       (2) the general manager and coach of the Miami Heat, Pat 
     Riley.

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