[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 887 Engrossed in House (EH)]
H. Res. 887
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
June 26, 2006.
Whereas American Airlines Arena, located in the City of Miami, Florida, is the
home court for the Miami Heat;
Whereas on June 20, 2006, the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks, the
Western Conference Champions, in 6 games to win the 2006 National
Basketball Association (NBA) Championship;
Whereas Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat, was named the 2006 NBA Finals Most
Valuable Player;
Whereas the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in 6 games in the first round
of the NBA playoffs;
Whereas the Miami Heat defeated the New Jersey Nets in 5 games in the second
round of the NBA playoffs;
Whereas, in the third round of the NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat defeated the
Detroit Pistons, their archrival and the defending Eastern Conference
Champions, in 6 games;
Whereas the ``White Hot'' Miami Heat fans sold out the American Airlines Arena
and cheered on their hometown team;
Whereas the Miami Heat remained persistent and continued to believe in
themselves throughout the playoffs;
Whereas the Miami Heat are the first team since 1977 to win 4 NBA Finals games
consecutively after losing the first two games, and in doing so, the
Miami Heat made one of the most stunning turnarounds in NBA history;
Whereas the Miami Heat became just the third team in the history of the NBA
Finals to win a series after losing the first two games, and the first
team in the history of the NBA Finals to do so after losing the first
two games by double-digit margins;
Whereas this is the first NBA championship title for the Miami Heat, which has
long been one of the most outstanding basketball programs in the Nation;
Whereas Pat Riley, the head coach of the Miami Heat, has cemented his legacy as
one of basketball's all-time great head coaches by winning his fifth NBA
championship title;
Whereas, in game 3 of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were losing by 13 points on
their home floor with only 6 minutes 30 seconds left;
Whereas the Miami Heat came back with the tenacity of Dwyane Wade and won game 3
of the NBA Finals by 2 points;
Whereas Micky Arison, owner and Managing General Partner of the Miami Heat; Pat
Riley, Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations; Randy Pfund,
General Manager; Eric Woolworth, President of Business Operations; and
Andy Elisburg, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, have
shown a positive commitment to the Miami Heat franchise by successfully
acquiring, assembling, and maintaining a team of high-quality, winning
players;
Whereas ``15 strong'' brought the first NBA championship title to the City of
Miami;
Whereas the Miami Heat team of skilled players, 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, contributed extraordinary performances during the regular
season, the NBA playoffs, and the NBA Finals;
Whereas veteran Michael Doleac, and future stars Jason Kapono, Wayne Simien,
Dorell Wright, Earl Barron, and Matt Walsh, helped shape the Miami Heat
by preparing the starters for the postseason, giving the starters tough
practices and quality scrimmages;
Whereas Shandon Anderson and Derek Anderson added to the Miami Heat's experience
base by bringing their knowledge and NBA Finals experience from runner-
up finishes in Utah and San Antonio, respectively;
Whereas, in game 6 of the NBA Finals, James Posey hit a big 3-pointer to put the
Miami Heat up by 6 points with only 3 minutes left to play;
Whereas Alonzo Mourning, returning from a nearly career-ending kidney illness
and kidney transplant, came up with 6 rebounds and 5 monster blocked
shots to turn the tide in game 6 of the NBA Finals;
Whereas Gary Payton, having consistently shown his greatness on two near-
championship NBA teams, hit a 21-foot jumper to save and seal a comeback
victory for the Miami Heat in game 3 of the NBA Finals;
Whereas Jason Williams shot a team-high 34 percent from the three-point line and
led the Miami Heat in assists during the NBA Finals, while directing the
Miami Heat offense from the point guard position;
Whereas Antoine Walker, the Miami Heat's second-highest scorer in the NBA
Finals, scored 14 points and kept the Miami Heat in important point-
scoring opportunities by pulling down 11 big rebounds in game 6 of the
NBA Finals;
Whereas Udonis Haslem, playing with a badly injured shoulder, showed the heart
of a champion by contributing 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals, one
of which was with time winding down;
Whereas Shaquille ``Shaq'' O'Neal came to the Miami Heat and on July 21, 2004
said, ``I want ya'll to remember this day, because we're going to do it
again in June. I'm going to bring a championship to Miami. I promise
you.'';
Whereas Shaq delivered over 1,100 points, 104 blocks, 113 assists, and 541
rebounds in the regular season, adding another 83 points, 5 blocks, 17
assists, and 33 rebounds in the NBA Finals for his fourth NBA
championship title;
Whereas Dwyane Wade scored 42, 36, 43, and 36 points in the Miami Heat's NBA
Finals victories, leading all scorers;
Whereas, in the NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade had the Miami Heat's second-highest
rebound total, with 47; the second-highest number of assists, with 28;
the second-highest number of blocks, with 6; the highest free throw
percentage, at 77 percent; and the highest point total from the free-
throw line, with 75; all in route to his first NBA Finals Most Valuable
Player award;
Whereas the Miami Heat coaching and support staff, including Head Coach Pat
Riley; Assistant Coaches Bob McAdoo, Keith Askins, Erik Spoelstra, and
Ron Rothstein; Assistant Coach/Advance Scout Bimbo Coles; Strength and
Conditioning Coach Bill Foran; Athletic Trainer Ron Culp; and Assistant
Trainer Jay Sabol, exhibited exemplary leadership and guidance to the
team;
Whereas the Miami Heat have not only been players on the court, but have also
been instrumental role models to the south Florida community;
Whereas the Miami Heat organization has a positive civic impact on the south
Florida community through the Miami HEAT Family Outreach Charitable
Fund, Heat Academy, Heat Scholarships, Miami Heat Read to Achieve, Miami
Heat Fun-Raiser, Miami Heat Wheels, Shoot For the Stars Books and
Basketball Summer Clinics, Heat Youth Basketball, and the Miami Heat
Learn to Swim Program; and
Whereas the Miami Heat fans are a part of this championship by supporting the
team and giving the team the energy, strength, love, and passion to
compete each and every season: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates--
(A) the Miami Heat for winning the 2006 National Basketball
Association (NBA) World Championship and for their outstanding
performance during the 2005-2006 NBA season; and
(B) Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade for winning the 2006 NBA
Finals Most Valuable Player Award;
(2) recognizes and praises the achievements of the Miami Heat
players, coaches, management, and support staff whose hard work,
dedication, and resilience proved instrumental throughout the Miami
Heat's championship season;
(3) commends the south Florida community and the Miami Heat fans for
their dedication; and
(4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an
enrolled copy of this resolution to--
(A) each of the Miami Heat players;
(B) Pat Riley, Miami Heat Head Coach and President of
Basketball Operations;
(C) Micky Arison, Miami Heat owner and Managing General
Partner;
(D) Randy Pfund, Miami Heat General Manager;
(E) Eric Woolworth, Miami Heat President of Business
Operations;
(F) Andy Elisburg, Miami Heat Senior Vice President of
Basketball Operations;
(G) each of the Miami Heat coaches and trainers;
(H) the Honorable Manny Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami,
Florida;
(I) the Honorable Carlos Alvarez, Mayor of Miami-Dade
County, Florida; and
(J) the Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of the State of
Florida.
Attest:
Clerk.