[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 23, 1992]
[Pages 140-141]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 140]]

Remarks Honoring the Women's World Cup Soccer Champions

January 23, 1992
    Well, a thousand apologies for keeping such a distinguished group 
waiting. And thank all of you for coming here to the White House. First, 
may I single out the Acting Secretary of Commerce, Rock Schnabel, down 
here, and John Keller, the Under Secretary for Travel and Tourism. Coach 
Dorrance, the coach is over here, the guiding light of the women's 
national soccer team, and congratulations.
    J.B. Marine, the U.S. Youth Soccer Association champions, are they 
out there? Way back there. All right. Hold up your hands. Let's see you. 
How about the Potomac School Panthers; I want these champs to look you 
over and see the competition coming up. [Laughter] They're the 
Independent School League division champs. Georgetown Visitation's team, 
anybody here from them? Right back there. They are DC's Independent 
Schools League champs. The Special Olympics Virginia champs, right over 
here.
    Let me just say that it's great to join you in honoring a group of 
women who reflect a favorite American pastime; it's known as winning. 
[Laughter] Leave it to an American team to win the first FIFA world 
championship--world championship, I emphasize. And leave it to an 
American women's team to win our first world soccer championship ever. 
And that is a marvelous accomplishment. And someone once said that 
``sport was the first great separator of the sexes.'' For the sake of 
the male ego, I hope the men start catching up. [Laughter]
    I've done a little bit of research on this gang, and it may take a 
while to describe the terrific lineup. But I'm told of your exploits. Of 
Michelle Akers-Stahl--where's Michelle? Right down there--winner of the 
Golden Boot Award. That has all kind of connotations for those of us in 
politics--[laughter]--but having been a former soccer player, I imagine 
it says something about her excellence and her commitment. She scored 
the winning goal, showing what Hemingway so clearly described as ``grace 
under pressure.'' And then there's Carla Werden and Debbie Belkin and 
Lori Henry and Joy Biefeld--where are they now? There are some of them. 
They gave a new meaning to the term ``U.S. defense.'' Next, ``Crazy 
Legs''--[laughter]--I hope she owns up to it. Does she? There is such a 
person--[laughter]--``Crazy Legs'' Karen Jennings on offense. Julie 
Foudy, right here, who was found studying biology before the winning 
game, frogs' legs and all that kind of thing, but what a game. And 
finally, here's to Tracey Bates. Where's Tracey? I think she's the real 
reason why Arnold Schwarzenegger said he couldn't make it today. The 
coach calls her the ``tiny terminator.''
    But look, for each of you, winning this cup capped a long road of 
sweat and sacrifice and determination. First the qualifying tournament 
in Haiti, where I hear you ran circles around the competition, 49 goals 
in 5 games. Then you trekked to China for that grueling championship 
tournament. I was told that many of you weren't used to some of those 
more exotic Chinese delicacies that Barbara and I encountered when we 
lived there for a year and a half--[laughter]--duck feet, snakes, all of 
this kind of thing. These wise guys invented their own slogan, ``Come to 
China; we take off weight.'' [Laughter]
    But then for the matches in the championship, you took on tough 
opposition: Edging Sweden, 3 to 2; upsetting Germany--maybe you didn't 
think it was an upset; sportswriters played it as that--5 to 2. You beat 
the injuries; you beat the odds. And then on November 30th, you proved 
yourselves again, ousting Norway for the World Cup. No wonder Michelle 
Akers-Stahl said, ``This team never gives up.'' You showed how America 
can outscore, outfight, and outcompete any nation we're up against.
    That kind of spirit made you champions. The American spirit is 
proud, not arrogant, confident, determined, and victorious. I remember 
the day when America's athletic excellence was limited to perhaps 
baseball and football in the eyes of the world. Well, today, Americans 
are taking over every-

[[Page 141]]

where from sumo to soccer. And as proof of just how far soccer has come 
in this country, the U.S. will proudly host the 1994 World Cup 
championship.
    So, let me just say to today's champions, world champions: Your 
victory is an inspiration, no matter what sport. Your victory is an 
inspiration to all our athletes, male and female, young and old. And 
thank you for winning one for America. You've made us all very, very 
proud.
    I get accused in my job of having perhaps too keen an interest in 
sports. Well, too bad. [Laughter] I think it does a lot for the real 
spirit of this country. And certainly this team has made a contribution 
to the real spirit of this country. You've made us very, very proud. So, 
bless you all, and thanks for being with us today.

                    Note: The President spoke at 2:42 p.m. in Room 450 
                        of the Old Executive Office Building. In his 
                        remarks, he referred to Anson Dorrance, coach of 
                        the U.S. National Women's Soccer Team, and the 
                        Federation Internationale de Football 
                        Association (FIFA).