Lucille Roybal-Allard: “I rise to salute the victorious world champion Los Angeles Lakers from my congressional district. It is challenging…”

“I rise to salute the victorious world champion Los Angeles Lakers from my congressional district. It is challenging enough to win the championship title once, and it is extremely rare to repeat and win the title a second time. Nevertheless, the world champion Lakers have in fact three-peated by sweeping our friends, the New Jersey Nets, in the 2002 NBA finals and winning the title for 3 consecutive years. In all of NBA history, only three teams have achieved this feat, including, of course, the Minneapolis Lakers. I extend my special congratulations to Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and the most valuable player for the third year in a row, Shaquille O'Neill, for their impressive accomplishment. No one alone can achieve this 'triple crown' of excellence in basketball. The Los Angeles Lakers' victory was a triple team effort consisting first of the talented players themselves; second, the coach and management staff; and third, the Lakers' fans in Los Angeles and across the Nation. Today the Lakers' sweet taste of victory brings with it the sweet taste of New Jersey Italian treats: cannoli and biscotti. My colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), wagered these treats against my Los Angeles wager of tamales, guacamole and salsa. Today he delivered the fruits of the Lakers' victory. I congratulate the Nets, their fans, and their coach, Byron Scott, who, by the way, is a Los Angeles native and former Laker himself, for their valiant effort.”