For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 23, 2001
Remarks by the President in Welcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Champions from
Duke University and the NCAA Women's Basketball Champions from Notre Dame
University
The South Lawn
Listen to the President's
Remarks
10:20 A.M. EDT
THE
PRESIDENT: Welcome. Please be
seated. This might be a long speech. (Laughter.)
First of
all, I want to welcome two great teams from two great
universities. It is our honor to host you all here at the
White House. I want to say congratulations to Coach K -- the
reason I call him Coach K is because sometimes I have trouble
pronouncing the long words -- (laughter) -- Coach McGraw, and the
players, and the representatives from Duke and Notre Dame, welcome.
I want to
welcome two fine United States Senators, Senator Helms from North
Carolina, Senator Lugar from Indiana. Members of the United
States Congress who are here, thank you all for coming.
In
reviewing the rosters and the success of this club, it is clear that
both Duke and Notre Dame recruited for athletic talent, but they also
recruited character, as well. These championships go to
prove that good people do finish first.
It is such
an honor to welcome Duke back here. It turns out that there
was another President named Bush that welcomed the Duke
team. And they dedicated a basketball court right here on
the South Lawn during that visit. The weather has been such
that I haven't been practicing my sky hook
lately. (Laughter.) Looking at the size of some
of these guys, I'm not sure I want to try to do it now
anyway. (Laughter.)
I know it
took a lot of hard work to get here, and there were some very close
games and tough contests. Particularly the "Fighting Irish"
in their final -- in the final game won in the last
second. I'm reminded about what Coach McGraw son, Murphy,
said as he watched the game. He said, "That was
scary." Murphy, I know what you're talking
about. It reminds me of election
night. (Laughter.)
There's no
question that teams require good leadership. And I was
struck by the quote of one of the stars here who said about Coach K --
just to prove to the press I can say it -- Coach Krzyzewski --
(laughter) -- "To me, he's been a friend, a mentor, and a
brother. I am the luckier person for having him have me as a
part of my life." That's what leadership is all
about. That's what it means to be somebody who can set an
example, and somebody who understands the responsibilities of the
assignment. It's not just to win championships; it's to
shape lives in a positive way.
And I love
what Coach McGraw said. She said, "Usually there are
negative things that occur during the season. But this year
I've had not to call a single team meeting. I've gotten no
complaints from professors. We can't even yell at the players, because
they do everything we ask."
I need your
help with Congress. (Laughter.)
Championships
bring an awesome responsibility. Not only do you win a
trophy, I think you have the obligation of understanding that you have
enormous influence on people's lives -- people you don't even know.
People look at the champs and say, how does a champ
behave? What is a champ supposed to do? Champions
not only cut down nets, but they can influence people's lives by
sending positive signals by how they behave, not only on the court, but
off the court. It's a big responsibility. It's a
huge responsibility. And that's why these two teams are so
fortunate to have great teamwork and great players.
I know this
is a team effort, and I'm sure the two players I'm going to mention,
Battier and Riley, are going to be somewhat concerned that the
President has singled them out. But I want to remind people
who may not know their histories that not only were they great players,
they're great people. Not only did they set goals about
being the best on the basketball court, they set goals of becoming
all-academic stars, and they were. They set goals of
understanding the Golden Rule, and living by it.
These are
good people. And I'm sure your teammates are, as well. But
they set the kind of example that America needs. And all of
us who have got positions of responsibility, all of us, whether we're a
President or a coach or a player or a President of a university, must
understand that with responsibility comes the necessity to set the
right signal all throughout America that there's a difference between
right and wrong, that we can be compassionate, and that we can love a
neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves.
So it's my
huge honor to welcome good teams and good people to the White
House. (Applause.)
END
10:30 A.M. EDT
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