By Nixon H.R. No. 134 74R4765 WMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Houston Rockets have achieved the pinnacle of 1-2 success in their sport, overcoming all opposition en route to the 1-3 1994 National Basketball Association (NBA) championship; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Reeling off 15 consecutive victories to begin the 1-5 1993-1994 campaign, the Rockets earned the Midwest Division 1-6 championship for the second consecutive season and, by virtue of 1-7 their excellent overall record, were able to maintain the vital 1-8 home court advantage throughout the postseason; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Houston faced Portland in the first round of the 1-10 playoffs and dominated the Trail Blazers, taking the series in 1-11 convincing fashion three games to one; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Facing Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in the 1-13 Western Conference semifinals, the Rockets dropped the first two 1-14 contests on their home floor and were given up for dead by all but 1-15 the most die-hard fans; undaunted, the team roared back to take the 1-16 series 4-3; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The Rockets faced the Utah Jazz with the Western 1-18 Conference championship at stake and overwhelmed their outmatched 1-19 opponent four games to one, winning a place in the NBA championship 1-20 series for the first time since 1986; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Led by Hakeem Olajuwon, whose herculean efforts 1-22 earned him designation as the championship finals' most valuable 1-23 player, the Rockets overcame a stubborn New York Knicks squad in 1-24 the pivotal seventh game of the series to claim the coveted NBA 2-1 crown and earn for Houston the well-deserved appellation, "Clutch 2-2 City"; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich provided inspired 2-4 leadership and helped to create in his team a level of dedication 2-5 and on-the-floor chemistry that propelled the Rockets to the NBA 2-6 championship summit in their appropriately named home facility; and 2-7 WHEREAS, This outstanding group of athletes and their coaches 2-8 and staff have been a tremendous source of pride to sports fans in 2-9 the Houston area and throughout the state of Texas, and their 2-10 remarkable achievements have rightfully earned them special 2-11 legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-13 Legislature hereby congratulate head coach Rudy Tomjanovich and the 2-14 Houston Rockets on winning the 1994 NBA Championship and extend to 2-15 them best wishes for continued success in the future; and, be it 2-16 further 2-17 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be prepared for the 2-18 team and coaching staff as an expression of highest regard by the 2-19 Texas House of Representatives.