Jazz fan Chaffetz honors Lakers

Rep. Jason Chaffetz knew he would face some tough, dirty jobs in Congress. But this week he had one of the nastiest for a Utah Jazz fan.

He had to help lead House praise of the Los Angeles Lakers.

It happened because Chaffetz is the ranking Republican on a subcommittee that oversees post offices. So he and the committee's chairman, Stephen F. Lynch, D-Mass., were asked to give scripted speeches to the House about numerous resolutions to rename post offices.

But amid those resolutions was also one to praise the Lakers as the new world champions, and they had to read the script for that one, too. That was tough for Chaffetz, a Jazz fan, and for Lynch, a Boston Celtics fan. So they added a few humorous asides to the prepared scripts.

Lynch, for example, noted that the resolution honoring the Lakers was cosponsored by "50 members of Congress, none of whom are from the city of Boston."

When Lynch noted the Lakers now hold the NBA record for most NBA Finals appearances, he added, "I would be remiss if I failed to mention my own beloved Boston Celtics still hold the record for the most NBA championships."

Lynch then lamented, "You would think they would have picked someone else to do this resolution, but I am happy to congratulate a job well done."

Chaffetz said, "I sympathize with the anguish and the agony that my colleague from Massachusetts must have in reading and supporting this resolution. I can only hope that this is truly captured on film for future use."

He added, "I rise in support today, as a Utah Jazz fan, in recognizing a great accomplishment in the world of sports … so I rise in support of House Resolution 566 to congratulate the 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers in bringing home their 15th NBA championship."

As he finished his prepared comments, Chaffetz said, "I am confident the Utah Jazz will be back at some point, but for now, congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers."

Despite the half-hearted endorsements by Chaffetz and Lynch, the resolution passed 413-8 on Thursday, with Chaffetz and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah voting for it. Eight other members who could not bring themselves to honor the Lakers voted a neutral "present" on the bill.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, did not vote on it.

His chief of staff, Scott Parker, explained, "I actually would have encouraged him to vote no. But, alas, the reason he missed (the vote) was to catch a flight to Utah for Pioneer Day activities."

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