Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “Congratulations to the Detroit Pistons and their Coach, Larry Brown, for winning the 2004 National Basketball…”

“Congratulations to the Detroit Pistons and their Coach, Larry Brown, for winning the 2004 National Basketball Association Championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, four games to one. Congratulations for Most Valuable Player Chauncey Billups, Richard ``Rip'' Hamilton who was the high scorer for the Pistons in game five with 21 points, leading rebounder Ben ``Fear the Fro'' Wallace with 22 rebounds, Tayshaun Prince with his great defense against Kobe Bryant, and Rasheed Wallace who helped neutralize Shaquille O'Neal and scored 11 points. The Detroit team displayed unstoppable teamwork, determination and perseverance to bring this championship to Detroit. I credit former Detroit ``Bad Boy'' and President of the Detroit Pistons' organization, Joe Dumars for assembling this team. He traded Grant Hill for Ben Wallace and acquired Rasheed Wallace in a trade in February. Dumars was on the Detroit Pistons' Championship teams in 1989 and 1990. The Las Vegas betting lines had the Pistons the 6-1 underdogs going into the finals against the Lakers. I suppose a lot of people lost a lot of money after this team pulled off the biggest upset in NBA finals history. This is a great year for Pistons' owner Bill Davidson whose Detroit Shock won the WNBA Championship last season, Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup this season and now the Detroit Pistons winning the NBA Championship. This team believed in themselves and the Detroit fans knew they could win it all.”