    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [January 30, 1998]
    [Pages 148-149]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the 1997 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings
    January 30, 1998

        The President. Commissioner Bettman, Coach
    Bowman.  To Denise Ilitch-Lites and all the members of the Ilitch family, please
    tell Mike and Marian
    we're thinking about them. Senator Abraham,
    Congressman and Mrs. Dingell, thank you so much for being here. Congressman
    Kildee, Congressman Knollenberg, Congressman Levin,
    Congressman Stupak, former Senator
    Riegle, former Governor
    Blanchard, and to the very proud mayor of
    Detroit, Mayor Archer.
        Teddy Roosevelt became famous for many things, but one of them was
    his great saying, ``Speak softly and carry a big stick''--advice the Red
    Wings have taken literally. [Laughter] No one has to remind anyone else
    that you are the Stanley Cup champion. You didn't just win the Stanley
    Cup, you swept a strong Flyers team in four games after finishing with
    the best record in the league. Your coach's name is engraved on the cup
    so many times, I'm surprised it's not called the Stanley-Bowman Cup now.
    [Laughter]
        But it's the first Stanley Cup for your captain, Steve
    Yzerman. Steve, you and your teammates proved
    that the Red Wings were the best hockey team in the world. And now all
    of your games will be engraved forever on this historic cup.
        There's one member of this team I especially want to mention,
    because I know how much Vladimir Konstantinov means to everyone here. And I just met him, and I'm
    thrilled that he's here. Thank you, Vladimir. [Applause] Thank you.
        Vladi, we know how hard you are working, and how far you have come
    since your accident last summer. You are showing every day that you have
    the heart of a champion, and you're showing even greater courage off the
    ice.
        When I met Vladi in there a few minutes ago, I reminded him that I
    am term-limited in my present position, and I asked him to take a
    picture with me. I said, you know, you can't ever tell, I might want to
    run for office in Russia some day. [Laughter] So he agreed to do it. I
    expect it to be in the papers in Moscow any

    [[Page 149]]

    day--[laughter]--and I expect my popularity to soar as a result of it.
    [Laughter] And we thank him so much.
        I also want to say, I know we're all thinking about Sergei
    Mnatsakanov. Our thoughts and prayers are
    with him and with his family.
        Now let me thank the entire team for letting us borrow the Cup to
    display here at the White House. You've earned it, and I don't expect
    you to give it up without a fight. So congratulations on your victory,
    and good luck in 1998.
        Thank you. And now I'd like to introduce Senator Levin. Thank you
    very much.

    [At this point, Senator Carl Levin and Denise
    Ilitch-Lites made brief remarks,
    followed by Coach Scotty Bowman,  who made
    brief remarks and presented the President with a miniature Stanley Cup
    replica with the President's name engraved on it.]

        The President. Oh, thank you. [Inaudible]

    [At this point, Steve Yzerman made brief
    remarks and presented the President with a personalized Red Wings
    jersey.]

        The President. Oh, isn't it great? Thank you. Thank you so much.
    Bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:16 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Gary Bettman, commissioner,
    National Hockey League; Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, and
    their children, Denise Ilitch-Lites, Ronald Ilitch, and Lisa Ilitch-
    Murray; Debbie Dingell, wife of Representative John D. Dingell; former
    Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr.; former Gov. James J. Blanchard of
    Michigan; Mayor Dennis W. Archer of Detroit; and Red Wings defenseman
    Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov, both of whom
    were seriously injured in an automobile accident a few days after the
    Stanley Cup finals in June 1997.