III
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 596
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 19, 2008
Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Reed, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Gregg) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
June 23, 2008
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Congratulating the Boston Celtics on winning the 2008 National Basketball Association Championship.
Whereas, on June 17, 2008, the Boston Celtics won the 2008
National Basketball Association Championship (referred to in this preamble as
the 2008 Championship
) in 6 games over the Los Angeles
Lakers;
Whereas the 2008 Championship was the 17th world
championship won by the Celtics, the most in the history of the National
Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as the
NBA
);
Whereas the 2008 Championship marked the culmination of the greatest single season turnaround in the history of the NBA, as the Celtics improved from a record of 24–58 during the 2007–2008 season to a league-best 66–16 mark during the 2007–2008 campaign;
Whereas the 2008 Celtics NBA Championship team, like all great Celtics champions of the past, epitomized team work, selflessness, character, effort, camaraderie, toughness, and determination;
Whereas the 2008 Celtics honored the rich legacy of their franchise, which was—
established by a
legion of all-time greats, including Bill Russell, Larry Bird, John Havlicek,
Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Kevin
McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, and Tom Satch
Sanders;
and
masterminded by
one of the legendary coaches of all sports, Arnold Red
Auerbach;
Whereas Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck and the
entire Celtics ownership group never wavered from paying the price to raise
Banner #17
to the Garden rafters;
Whereas the 2008 Celtics were brought together by a former Celtics player, Danny Ainge, whose off-season acquisitions of NBA All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen earned him the 2008 NBA Executive of the Year Award;
Whereas the Celtics were led by Doc Rivers, who—
oversaw the smooth integration of new superstars and untested young players into the Celtics lineup; and
assembled, and ensured the execution of, a masterful NBA Finals game plan;
Whereas the Celtics featured a 21st century Big
Three
comprised of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, 3 veteran
players who worked together and never allowed their personal ambition or
pursuit of individual statistics to interfere with the goal of the team to win
a championship;
Whereas a group of talented young players contributed
pivotal roles in the march of the Celtics to the 2008 Championship, including
point guard Rajon Rondo, center Kendrick Perkins, forward Leon Powe, guard Tony
Allen, and forward Glen Big Baby
Davis;
Whereas the valuable bench of the Celtics was stocked with veteran role players who made significant contributions during the season, including forward James Posey, guard Eddie House, guard Sam Cassell, forward P.J. Brown, forward Brian Scalabrine, and center Scott Pollard;
Whereas the 2008 Celtics team demonstrated remarkable poise and gained invaluable playoff experience in defeating the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Detroit Pistons in hard-fought series during which every possession counted at both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor;
Whereas, after 26 playoff games, the Celtics ultimately secured the 17th NBA Championship of the franchise in one of the most dominating performances in NBA history, a 39-point rout of the Lakers in front of a raucous Garden crowd; and
Whereas the Celtics fans in the State of Massachusetts, in New England, and throughout the world never gave up hope that the franchise would someday return to glory and give a new generation of Celtics fans the opportunity to celebrate a championship: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
congratulates—
the Boston Celtics for winning the 2008 National Basketball Association Championship, including the players, head coach, coaches, support staff, and team owners and executives whose ability, hard work, dedication, and spirit made the season possible; and
the Los Angeles Lakers for their success during the 2008 season and winning the National Basketball Association Western Conference Championship; and
directs the Enrolling Clerk of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to—
the 2008 Boston Celtics team;
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers;
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge; and
Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck.