Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, like many Americans, I was transfixed by the magnificent victory not just in game five of the NBA finals, but by every one of these amazing games, a superb effort against a very good Miami Heat team, dominated by a person widely acknowledged to be the best player in the NBA. As a lifelong Portland Trail Blazers fan and one who remembers the excitement of being a long-suffering season ticketholder who had the joy of being in our coliseum when we won the NBA championship more years ago than I care to remember, I appreciate the dynamic that is involved with these five NBA championships over the last 17 years. I confess, I have also become a fan of the Spurs, their organization, their coach--Greg Popovich--but also their approach to the way they do business. They have some important lessons for America. I feel very strongly that we on Capitol Hill and, indeed, most Americans could learn a great deal by paying attention not just to the victories, but how the Spurs became the most successful sports franchise in any sport over the last 2 decades. My son was privileged to play for Coach Popovich when he was head coach of the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, a Division III small basketball program. In fact, they had to put two colleges together, Pomona and Pitzer, to form one team. His values forged a small but excellent college athletic program that is very much in evidence in the Spurs today. First, they look for talent wherever they find it around the globe.…”