A resolution honoring the Detroit Pistons on winning the National Basketball Association Championship on June 15, 2004.

Mr. President, I thank my friend and colleague from Michigan.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I thank our friend from Georgia for his patience as we let out our feelings about what happened yesterday in Detroit.

Congratulations to the Pistons.