尊敬的李元伟先生以及中国篮球博物馆：
请接受我们来自篮球的故乡——美国马萨诸塞州斯普林菲尔德市的问候。同时也请接受我们对中国篮球博物馆这一历史性成就的祝贺。我们将密切关注这一伟大工程的成长和发展，同时更加期待在不久的将来和你们会面，进一步了解博物馆建设的相关计划和成就。
由于时间安排上的冲突，我此次无法亲临现场参加庆祝活动，对此我深感抱歉。我真诚地希望能够在不久的将来可以亲自访问中国，拜访您以及您的团队，参观中国篮球博物馆，了解更多有关它未来发展的情况。
从篮球运动诞生不久，马萨诸塞州斯普林菲尔德市就开始与中国展开了具有历史意义的紧密接触和联系。我们共同分享着这段历史，同时也真诚地希望和所有因为篮球运动而走到一起来的人们共同庆祝这一历史。我们真诚地希望中国篮球博物馆能够为中美篮球事业建立起文化交流的纽带和平台。
美国奈史密斯篮球名人堂是篮球世界和文化的代表，我们真切地希望能够和篮球大家庭里的所有成员进行广泛的合作，特别希望能够有机会了解中国篮球运动的独特历史。我们非常感谢中国篮球博物馆跨越了国家和文化的不同对美国篮球名人堂的关注。篮球运动本身强调团队和运动员之间的合作，这一精神也深入在所有篮球名人堂成员的心里，我们真诚地希望这一精神也能够指导我们双方在将来所有合作。
借此机会我们也希望对四川大地震所有的遇难者表示沉痛的悼念 ，对所有依然奋战在灾后现场的工作人员表示由衷的钦佩和祝福。我们的心与他们紧紧地联系在一起。
非常感谢邀请我们参与今天这一历史性的庆祝活动。请接受我们对今天的活动最真诚的祝福和祝贺！谢谢！
同时也请接受我们对中国篮球博物馆整个团队的问候。期望着在不久的将来能够亲自来中国庆祝并分享你们的成就。
Paul E. Lambert
副总裁
奈史密斯美国篮球名人堂
10 June, 2008
Mr. Li Yuanwei
China Basketball Museum
Fourth Floor
Beijing Institute of Sports Scientific Research
Four Guangcai North Road
Feng Tai District
Beijing 10075 P.R. China
Dear Mr. Li Yuanwei and China Basketball Museum;
Please accept our greetings from Springfield, Massachusetts the birthplace of basketball. Please also accept our congratulations at the historic achievement of launching the China Basketball Museum. We are extremely interested in following the progress of this remarkable undertaking and look forward to visiting with you in the near future to learn more about your plans and accomplishments in Tianjin.
I deeply regret that scheduling conflicts prevented my joining you today in your celebration. I look forward to personally visiting with you and your Team in the near future to visit your Museum and learn more of your collection and continuing development.
Since the earliest days of basketball, there has been an historic connection between Springfield, Massachusetts and China. . Our mutual interest and appreciation of this mutual history and our collective commitment to celebrating the greatest moments and people connected to this wonderful sport is strong and vibrant. We share a sincere hope that the birth of your new Museum offers the opportunity for a cultural link between our two Organizations.
As the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame represents the entire world of basketball, we are extremely interested in working generally to develop close ties with the global basketball family and learning more of the unique history of Chinese specifically. We are grateful for your interest in our Museum and your kind outreach to us across cultures and borders. Hopefully the spirit of team work and sportsmanship that live at the heart of James Naismith’s creation and within the members of the Hall of Fame can serve as the hallmark of our future relations and discussions.
I would be remiss if I did not include a word of our ongoing concern for the victims of the recent earthquake tragedy with our sincere thoughts at their loss and appreciation for those who are working so hard to deal with the aftermath of this dreadful calamity. Our thoughts are with them all.
Thank you for including us in today’s historic celebration. Please accept our best wishes and congratulations once again on today’s remarkable event.
Kindest regards to all on your Team. I look forward to meeting with you personally in the near future to celebrate your achievement.
Sincerely,
Paul E. Lambert
Vice President, Guest Experience & Programming
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
