2011 NBA CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS DALLAS MAVERICKS AND MIAMI HEAT SPUR CONGRESSIONAL RIVALRY

Confident Congresswomen Make Friendly Wager on NBA Finals

Washington, DC – (Tuesday, May 31, 2011) – The 2011NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat has prompted a rivalry between Congresswomen Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) and Frederica Wilson (FL-17) as they make a friendly wager on who will win the NBA Championship.

If the Mavericks win, Congresswoman Wilson provides the 30^th Congressional of Texas Representative with a taste of seafood from Miami. If the Heat wins, Congresswoman Johnson owes the 17^th Congressional Representative of Florida an authentic Texas barbeque dinner.

“Miami will feel the real effects of the ‘Texas Heat’ when Dirk and company do an old fashioned Texas round-up of Miami’s new talents,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “And with this bet, I look forward to capping off a fantastic season with some classic Miami food and much deserved words of praise from my friend, Congresswoman Wilson. Go Mavs!”

“In the words of Lebron James, I can’t wait for our team to take their talents to Dallas. It may be hot in Texas, but I don’t think the Mavs will be able to handle the ‘Heat’ this time,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “Go Miami!”

Besides sharing a passion for basketball, both Congresswomen are active members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc. and are looking forward to representing the winners in the finals.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She is also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas that includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.

Contacts:

Communications Director, Dena Craig, (202)225-8885 (Office of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson)

Communications Director, Mahen Gunaratna (202)225-4506 (Office of Congresswoman Frederica Wilson)