Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Honoring the Milwaukee Bucks for their Historic 2021 NBA Finals Championship Win
Body
WHEREAS, the Milwaukee Bucks were founded in 1968; and,
WHEREAS, in 1971, future Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, led the Bucks to their first NBA title win; and,
WHEREAS, in 1972, Bucks General Manager Wayne Embry became the first Black general manager in professional sports; and,
WHEREAS, in 1974, the Bucks won their second conference championship; and,
WHEREAS, in 2013, former Bucks guard Brandon Jennings declared that the team would win in the 6th game of the NBA Finals; and,
WHEREAS, while that prediction did not come to pass in 2013, "Bucks in Six" became a rallying cry for fans in 2021 and sign of faith in the team, even when the team faced a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals; and,
WHEREAS, in 2018, the Bucks hired Mike Budenholzer as their coach, who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2015; and,
WHEREAS, in the summer of 2020, the Bucks took a stand against racial injustice and for police accountability by refusing to play the August 26, 2020, game against the Orlando Magic, igniting a wave of game cancelations throughout the NBA, WNBA, and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, during their protest, the Bucks released a statement that stated, "When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort and hold each other accountable. We hold ourselves to that standard, and in this moment, we are demanding the same from our lawmakers and law enforcement"; and,
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2021, 50 years since their first NBA title win, the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in the sixth game of the 2021 NBA Finals 105 to 98, bringing to fruition Jennings' prophesy and garnering their second NBA title; and,
WHEREAS, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian parents; and,
WHEREAS, Antetokounmpo led the team to their historic victory, scoring 50 points in the 6th game of the Finals, the 6th player in NBA Finals history to score as many points and, more importantly, set an example of leadership and grace throughout the season and playoffs; and,
WHEREAS, Governor Evers proclaimed Thursday, July 22, 2021, to be “Bucks in Six” Day;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Madison celebrates the stellar accomplishments of the Milwaukee Bucks and thanks them for their dedication, perseverance, and leadership and for helping to bring Wisconsinites together during their championship season.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council encourage the Milwaukee Bucks to continue to represent the best of athletics, both in competition and in using their platforms to highlight issues of racial equity and social justice, and invite the team to visit the City of Madison and its youth and the fans who have cheered on their efforts.
Sources:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31472987/nba-finals-2021-phoenix-suns-vs-milwaukee-bucks-schedule-news-highlights-analysis
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2020/08/26/live-coverage-bucks-vs-magic-game-5/3442100001/
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/07/22/evers-declares-thursday-bucks-six-day-after-nba-finals-championship/8046315002/
https://www.nba.com/bucks/history
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Milwaukee-Bucks
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/sports/giannis-antetokounmpo-greece.html
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/07/20/brandon-jennings-author-bucks-6-milwaukee-game-6/8024434002/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/07/08/mike-budenholzer-makes-adjustments-get-bucks-nba-finals-vs-suns/7896332002/