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Lamar Smith
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Smith Cheers Spurs Victory

Washington, Jun 24 -

In recognition of the San Antonio Spurs third NBA Championship victory Thursday night, Congressman Lamar Smith introduced the following resolution in the House of Representatives. Smith was joined on the resolution by Reps. Bonilla, Gonzalez, and Cuellar. In addition, Smith entered a statement into the Congressional record, also included below:

Resolution Congratulating the San Antonio Spurs for winning the 2005 National Basketball Association Championship

Whereas on June 23, 2005, the San Antonio Spurs won the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Championship with an 81–74 victory over the Detroit Pistons;

Whereas the Spurs’ win resulted in their third NBA championship title in franchise history;

Whereas the Spurs competed against the Pistons to win the series 4–3;

Whereas the Detroit Pistons and their coach, Larry Brown, put up a battle worthy of a championship series;

Whereas under the guidance of Coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs’ Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Nazr Mohammed, Brent Barry, Beno Udrih, Rasho Nesterovic, Glenn Robinson, Devin Brown, and Tony Massenburg played valiantly to bring the NBA trophy back home to San Antonio;

Whereas congratulations are due as well to the Spurs’ owners, Peter and Julianna Holt, and all of the other people in the Spurs’ organization;

Whereas Tim Duncan was for the third time named the finals’ Most Valuable Player following the Spurs’ victory;

Whereas Coach Gregg Popovich is only one of two active coaches to win three championship titles and only the fifth in league history; and

Whereas San Antonio has the best hometown crowd in the league and the Alamo City is the perfect setting for a championship celebration:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the House of Representatives congratulates the San Antonio Spurs and Coach Gregg Popovich for another exciting basketball season and for winning the 2005 National Basketball Association Championship.

Congressman Lamar Smith Statement for the Record In Honor of the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs

Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise today to recognize our 2005 National Basketball Association champions, the San Antonio Spurs.

After going head to head for six games, the Spurs and the Detroit Pistons met for their final showdown in San Antonio Thursday night. In front of their hometown crowd, the Spurs demonstrated once again why they are the best team in the nation.

Following a tight and evenly matched first half, the Spurs pulled away from the Pistons in the final quarter to win 81−74 over Detroit, closing out an incredibly hard fought championship series four games to three.

Congratulations are also due to the Detroit Pistons and their coach, Larry Brown, for putting up a battle worthy of a championship series.

With the NBA’s number one and number two defensive teams battling against one another for the title, this was an exciting game not only for the Alamo City, but for fans around the nation and in more than 200 nations around the world where sports fans watched and cheered.

Under the guidance of Coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs’ Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Nazr Mohammed, Brent Barry, Beno Udrih, Rasho Nesterovic, Glenn Robinson, Devin Brown, and Tony Massenburg played valiantly to bring the NBA trophy back home to San Antonio.

My congratulations go as well to the Spurs’ owners, Peter and Julianna Holt, as well as the many other people in the Spurs organization.

Much credit is due to Tim Duncan, who with twenty−five points and eleven rebounds, was appropriately named the Most Valuable Player of the Finals series. This marks the third time he has won the award for his outstanding athletic skills and leadership and performance on the court.

This is the Spurs’ third championship victory in franchise history. They won their first in 1999, followed by their second in 2003. Three titles in seven years isn’t just a magnificent accomplishment − it’s a basketball dynasty.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate and thank Coach Popovich and all the Spurs players for an unforgettable season.