Lateefah Simon: “Senators often make statements on the floor to inform the Senate and the Nation about the accomplishments of their…”

“Senators often make statements on the floor to inform the Senate and the Nation about the accomplishments of their constituents, and today I wish to acknowledge some folks back in Illinois who have achieved a historic feat unequaled by their peers. My colleagues may be familiar with this group of Chicagoans. I am speaking of the Chicago Bulls, who last night defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in a hard-fought, 86 to 80 game, to become the first National Basketball Association [NBA] team to win 70 games in a season. In the nearly 50-year history of the NBA, 70 wins has been a mythical, seemingly unattainable goal. The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers came close with 69 wins, but now the Bulls have secured their place in the history books with 70, and with 3 games left in the season, that record could be higher. Of course this achievement would not have been possible without the return of Michael Jordan, unarguably the game's greatest player ever. But we cannot overlook the efforts of his star teammates, from Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and Dennis Rodman, to the less publicized but invaluable players like Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Steve Kerr, and Bill Wennington, to name just a few. The talent of individuals however can only take you so far. A true champion needs a great leader, and coach Phil Jackson has fulfilled that role throughout his career, having guided the Bulls to three previous championships.”