Congressman Lamar Smith 21st district of Texas

Contact: Blair Jones 202 225 4236

Washington, Jun 16, 2005 - With the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons battling it out in the NBA finals, fans from both cities are on edge, wondering just how many games they are away from calling their city the home of the 2005 NBA National Champions.

While the outcome of the contest is days away from being determined, two members of the House of Representatives are anxiously waiting for the final buzzer. They are U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith of San Antonio and John Conyers of Detroit. Both Congressmen are devoted NBA fans and proudly tout their teams’ strengths and past NBA championships.

And both members are confident that their hometown team will be victorious − so confident that they have made a little wager. It doesn’t involve money. Nor does it involve lunch or dinner in a member’s favorite restaurant. It’s about losing something that neither member is ready to give up very easily: their pride.

They have agreed that whatever the outcome, the member who represents the losing city should suffer some form of indignity. Therefore it has been decided that the loser will don the winning team’s hat for a joint picture on the steps of the nation’s Capitol.

“Now I know that John believes the Pistons recent win represents a turning point for his team, but I have to warn him not to get his hopes too high,” commented Smith.

“With the Spurs jumping all over their crankcase, the Pistons simply aren’t going to be able to fire on all cylinders,” said Smith.

“The Pistons are going to need a tune−up after it’s all over,” Smith noted.

Conyers responded to Smith`s comments with the following, “ While the Spurs may cause a little pain in the Piston’s side, we’ll be a little too busy ‘goin to work’ and winning another championship to be distracted. Spurs never fit on work boots anyway.”