[Rockville, MD.] I am pleased to officially announce that the ABA's Maryland Nighthawks team has hired Keith Williams as head coach for the 2005-2006 campaign, ... Williams has been working in professional basketball for some of the NBA's brightest stars for years and now has the chance to coach in the professional ranks.

My congratulations go out to the Maryland basketball program and especially to head coach Gary Williams. There are only a few storied and tradition-laden programs in America. When you can call yourself the best at one of those schools, that's something that is not handed out often. He coaches with energy and passion. ... I admire him.

I am most pleased with J.R. and Keith combining for 10 assists and only one turnovers. That's the kind of effort we should get from these guys because people are going to pressure out on these guys, and they are going to have to feed the post. Also, Aaron was as good as he has been all year tonight.

We are very pleased to announce the groundbreaking of the Paramount. It is always challenging to orchestrate the development of a project of this magnitude, particularly in an environment of skyrocketing construction costs.

They are as good as any team we have played. Keith knows what to do with what he has. They have a good combination of inside-outside players and they guard you.

Now we're the first (Maryland) team in the final game.