III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 596 

Congratulating the Boston Celtics on winning the 2008 National Basketball 

Association Championship. 

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 

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– 


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•SRES 596 IS 

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— 

(1) 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 

(2) 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— 

(1) oversaw the smooth integration of new superstars and untested young players into the Celtics lineup; 

and 

(2) 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, 


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•SRES 596 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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1 (1) congratulates— 

2 (A) the Boston Celtics for winning the 

3 2008 National Basketball Association Cham4 pionship, including the players, head coach, 

5 coaches, support staff, and team owners and ex6 ecutives whose ability, hard work, dedication, 

7 and spirit made the season possible; and 

8 (B) the Los Angeles Lakers for their suc9 cess during the 2008 season and winning the 

10 National Basketball Association Western Con11 ference Championship; and 

12 (2) directs the Enrolling Clerk of the Senate to 

13 transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— 

14 (A) the 2008 Boston Celtics team; 

15 (B) Celtics head coach Doc Rivers; 

16 (C) Celtics general manager Danny Ainge; 

17 and 

18 (D) Celtics managing partner Wyc 

19 Grousbeck. 

Æ 


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