House Concurrent Resolution 37

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, NATIVE MR. MAHMOUD ABDUL-RAUF UPON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER AN EXCEPTIONAL CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER.

WHEREAS, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, born as Chris Wayne Jackson in Gulfport, Mississippi, celebrates his remarkable career as a professional basketball player upon his retirement; and

WHEREAS, following a record-setting college career at Louisiana State University, Mr. Abdul-Rauf was selected with the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association's 1990 Draft Lottery; and

WHEREAS, albeit raised amongst humble economic origins, at only 20 years old the NCAA's highest scoring freshman of all time and a two-time, back-to-back, collegiate All-American he signed a multi-million dollar contract, purchased his mother a dream home, and relocated to Denver, Colorado, to welcome the challenges of the NBA; and

WHEREAS, showing promise, although admittedly struggling when judged by his own 'toughest-critic' standards, Mr. Abdul-Rauf labored through his first two seasons, with highs of 32 points and 8 assists as a NBA rookie, and 29 points and 8 assists during his second year; and

WHEREAS, miraculously, however, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf settled into the Denver Nuggets' offense before ever settling into the Denver Nuggets' line-up, and following the 1990-1991 season, Mr. Abdul-Rauf was named to the NBA All Rookie Second Team, and during the second year of his career, while still playing less than 37 minutes per game, Mr. Abdul-Rauf was the team's leading scorer and the league's leading scorer on a points per minute basis, averaging more points per minute played than any other player in the league, including Michael Jordan and Karl Malone; and

WHEREAS, known, by 1992, to NBA fans in Denver, and nationally, as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, the character traits born and formed in Gulfport, Mississippi, loomed larger than his Arabic, Muslim name, and endeared him to basketball followers everywhere, as he fed the hungry during the Thanksgiving holidays, mentored troubled youth during summer months, and supported multiple causes through off-season charity games, autographed signings, and in-person appearances; and

WHEREAS, by the 1993 NBA season, Mr. Abdul-Rauf averaged nearly twenty points per game, while still playing for just over one-half per outing, and at the season's end, he was named the NBA's Most Improved Player and had achieved all-time great and record status in three of the top four, NBA statistical categories; and

WHEREAS, by year four of his professional career, Mr. Abdul-Rauf led the NBA in single season free-throw shooting percentage, and by the fifth year of his career, Mr. Abdul-Rauf had surpassed the distinguishing single-game scoring mark of 50 points in a NBA game, memorializing himself as one of the NBA's best point guards, and best all-around basketball players ever; and

WHEREAS, prior to his 51-point game on December 7, 1995, Mr. Abdul-Rauf registered 20 assists in a single game on November 15th, 1995, and later totaled 219 made free throws out of 229 free throws attempted, recording the second highest NBA free throw shooting percentage of all time of 95.6 percent; and with less than seven years in the league, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had entered the Abdul-Rauf name into the NBA record books for scoring, assists, and free throws, leaving only the NBA rebounds column unmarked and unmoved by his hard earned skills, focus, and relentless, Gulfport-formed work ethic; and

WHEREAS, a man of much more than basketball talent, Mr. Abdul-Rauf contributed to an abundance of developmental charities in the early 1990's and expanded his generosity to numerous human rights issues in the mid-1990's on through to the present, and having embraced the discipline of Islam in 1991, Mr. Abdul-Rauf lived as conscientious as he was court conscious; and

WHEREAS, following an NBA one-game suspension for refusing to stand during the National Anthem, Mr. Abdul-Rauf finished the 1996 NBA season as a team and league leader on-the-court, yet with greater scrutiny and controversy surrounding his off-the-court practices; and

WHEREAS, damaged, but hardly down, and far from out, Mr. Abdul-Rauf was traded from the Denver Nuggets – as the team's leading scorer – with self-respect intact and international acclaim; yet, during three subsequent NBA seasons, Mr. Abdul-Rauf was misinterpreted by home and guest fans, stigmatized by league officers, and over scrutinized by sports media; and

WHEREAS, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf preserved nevertheless, setting the bar for players while being less than fully welcomed by league officials, controversy-driven media, and a small but consistent number of misguided fans; and

WHEREAS, as a silver lining to his NBA promise, Mr. Abdul-Rauf found endless international support and basketball success when such was not fully forthcoming from sport's sectors in the United States. Following the 2001 NBA season with the Vancouver Grizzlies (of Canada), Mr. Abdul-Rauf went on to play, star, win, and be celebrated in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Russia and Greece; and

WHEREAS, he is supported in his retirement as a resident of Douglasville, Georgia, by his five children, Ali, Alim, Ammar, Safiyya and Amir; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend impressive accomplishments of Mississippi natives, such as Mr. Abdul-Rauf, who are a source of pride for all of the people of the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Gulfport, Mississippi native Mr. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf upon his retirement after an exceptional career as a professional basketball player, and extend sincere best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Abdul-Rauf and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.