LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dallas Mavericks' Head Coach and St.
Lawrence County native, Rick Carlisle upon the occasion of capturing the
NBA Championship on June 12, 2011

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize those individuals within our midst who have contributed great-
ly to the quality of our lives by providing exceptional leadership and a
commitment to excellence; and
WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports at the profes-
sional level can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team play
and team spirit, nurtured by dedicated and outstanding coaching and
strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, On June 12, 2011, the Dallas Mavericks, coached by Rick
Carlisle, clinched the 2011 National Basketball Association title in six
games with a 105-95 victory over the Miami Heat; and
WHEREAS, Born Richard Preston Carlisle, Rick Carlisle was brought up
in Lisbon, New York, the son of Preston and Joan Carlisle who still
reside in St. Lawrence County where they remain involved and committed
members of their community; and
WHEREAS, Playing two years of college basketball at the University of
Maine before transferring to the University of Virginia where he was
co-captain of the basketball team, Rick Carlisle averaged 12.5 points
and 3.3 rebounds per game in his outstanding college career; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduation from college, Rick Carlisle was drafted by
the Boston Celtics in the third round of the 1984 NBA draft; while a
member of the Celtics, he played alongside Larry Bird on the Celtics'
1986 NBA Championship team; and
WHEREAS, Rick Carlisle also played for Bill Musselman's Albany
Patroons prior to signing as a free agent with the New York Knickerbock-
ers under coach Rick Pitino; in 1989, he was signed as an unrestricted
free agent by the New Jersey Nets; he tallied 422 points, 141 rebounds
and 201 assists in 188 games during his NBA career; and
WHEREAS, Embarking on a distinguished NBA coaching career in 1989,
Rick Carlisle joined the New Jersey Nets as an assistant coach; in 1994,
he was an assistant on the coaching staff of the Portland Trail Blazers
under Head Coach P. J. Carlesimo; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Rick Carlisle joined the Indiana Pacers as an
assistant coach for his former teammate, Larry Bird; during his tenure
as a Pacers' assistant coach, he helped them to two of their best
seasons in history; and
WHEREAS, Appointed Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons in 2001, Rick
Carlisle guided the Pistons to new heights and was named NBA Coach of
the Year in 2002; he also served as the Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers
and as a studio analyst for ESPN; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, Rick Carlisle was appointed Head Coach of the Dallas
Mavericks; in the 2010-2011 NBA season, he coached the Mavericks to a
sweep of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA
Western Conference semifinals, and then to a 4-1 series win over the
Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Western Conference finals; and
WHEREAS, In the best of seven 2011 NBA finals series against the Miami
Heat, the Dallas Mavericks, under Head Coach Rick Carlisle, emerged
victorious, winning the title in six games, capping an extraordinarily
successful pro basketball coaching career for this New York native; and
WHEREAS, Rick Carlisle is one of a rare and select few in the history
of the NBA to capture championships as both a player and coach, thereby
joining these other legendary professional basketball figures; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his outstanding coaching and
playing career, a period of constructive involvement, Rick Carlisle has
stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor, and has earned the
respect and admiration of his players, opponents, colleagues, family and
friends; and
WHEREAS, Rick Carlisle and his wife, Donna, are the proud parents of
their beloved daughter, Abby; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent and success displayed by the 2011 NBA
Champion Dallas Mavericks is due in great part to the efforts of Head
Coach Rick Carlisle; he has done a superb job in guiding, molding and
inspiring the Mavericks toward their goal of winning the 2011 NBA title;
and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Head Coach Rick Carlisle has clearly made a contrib-
ution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dallas Mavericks' Head Coach Rick Carlisle upon the occasion of
capturing the NBA Championship; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dallas Mavericks' Head Coach Rick Carlisle.