President Bush Welcomes NBA Champs to the White House
Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity with the 2003 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs
The Rose Garden
10:56 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Thank you. Please be
seated. Welcome. To all you San Antonio Spurs fans, we're glad you're
here in the Rose Garden. I'm particularly glad the San Antonio Spurs
are here today. We want to congratulate you on a fantastic
championship run.
I first want to welcome my friend, Peter Holt, who turned out to be
a pretty darn good owner. (Laughter.) It's more than I can say for
the former Ranger owners. (Laughter.) But congratulations, Peter, to
you and your organization. I want to thank R.C. Buford, who is the
General Manager; and Greg Popovich, who is the manager of -- the coach
of the club. And I want to welcome the players, your wives and friends
and family, here. After this is over, I'd like to invite you in the
Oval Office and let you see where the decisions are made that affect
the peace and freedom of this world.
I want to welcome some huge San Antonio Spurs fans -- Senator John
Cornyn from San Antonio; Lamar Smith and Henry Bonilla, as well, from
San Antonio. You got to know that during the playoffs these guys were
touting the Spurs. They were giving a pretty hefty line to anybody who
dared bet against the Spurs. And you didn't let them down. So,
welcome, I'm glad you're here.
Danny Ferry is here? Where is Danny Ferry? Yes, there he is. He
and I share an interesting relationship. As you may know, his father,
Bob, won the NBA Championship ring. And so Danny and Bob Ferry are
only the second father/son combination to ever win a championship
ring. (Laughter.) If you get my drift. (Laughter.) We're members of
the famous fathers club. (Laughter.) And, anyway, I want to welcome
you here. You'll see where the -- only the second son of a President
offices is in a minute. (Laughter.)
I also -- one of the things that happens when a championship team
comes here, it gives me a chance to talk about the development of a
culture, a winning culture inside an organization. I like to call it a
culture of service, people being willing to serve something greater
than themself, in this case, a team.
I was struck by Tim Duncan's comments after the 6th game when they
were talking about another fantastic individual effort he had. And a
reporter said, what about that effort. He said, it's cool, but then
immediately went on to talk about the accomplishments of his teammates,
recognizing that you can't win a championship unless you're able to
rely upon others, and lift others up, and participate with others, and
work hard with others. And it's a phenomenal tribute to the San
Antonio Spurs that they've got such great individual players who are
willing to work as a team. And it's a wonderful example for our
country, it really is.
The other thing that struck me about this organization that is so
powerful is that there is a culture of service when it comes to
utilizing their positions as champs, to make somebody else's life
better. Gregg Popovich won a Point of Light for his drug -- anti-drug
programs in the early '90s. What a class act that must be for players,
to work for a coach who then takes time out of his private life to set
a good example for the children of the community in which he lives, and
to work to rally the armies of compassion to make somebody else's life
better -- in this case, to help a community fight off the scourge of
drugs.
Or David Robinson, who is now heavily involved in education in the
San Antonio community. He's not only a great husband, but a great role
model for others to see. I know many of you all do the same thing in
your communities, that you care deeply about the lives of your fellow
citizens, and I want to congratulate you. I think you're champs
because you understand that serving something greater than yourself is
the road to championships. And that's what you're here to do, is to
receive the accolades from our country for serving as not only great
athletes, but as great role models for children who look up to you.
So welcome to the Rose Garden. Congratulations on such a great,
successful season. And may God continue to bless you, and may God
continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you for coming.
(Applause.)