    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 28, 1999]
    [Pages 121-123]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the 1998 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings
    January 28, 1999

        The President. Thank you very much. Please be seated, everyone.
        Commissioner Bettman, Coach Bowman, Denise Ilitch, General
    Manager Holland; to the team captain, Steve
    Yzerman, and all the Red Wings; Congressmen
    Bonior, Dingell,
    Knollenberg, Levin, Stupak; Mayor Archer and other mayors from Michigan who are here with us
    today: Welcome back to the White House.
        You know, this is becoming such a regular thing--from time to time,
    we have State days at the White House. We'll have a Maryland day, and
    bring in people from all over Maryland, and let them meet members of the
    Cabinet and talk about issues affecting the State. This is becoming so
    regular, we should just have Michigan day at the White House when the
    Red Wings come.
        Vince Lombardi, who was a pretty good coach himself, once said that
    ``excellence is not a sometime thing.'' I think it's clear that, with
    your four-game sweep for a second straight Stanley Cup, that's what the
    Red Wings are living by.
        I've always found the history of the Stanley Cup particularly
    interesting. It's the oldest trophy competition by professional athletes
    in North America; the only trophy which bears the

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    names of individual players and coaches. And what I admire most is the
    tradition of the whole team sharing the Cup, each player getting to take
    it home to friends and family. I think it's a tradition that other
    sports ought to follow, because it recognizes that every person on a
    team makes a unique and enduring contribution.
        The Red Wings overcame the Capitals--as I said, our hometown team,
    but we still are impressed with what you did--[laughter]--in four
    decisive games, with grit, determination, and teamwork. The series will
    be remembered as a defensive triumph that spotlighted your goalie, Chris
    Osgood, who allowed seven whole goals. Amazing.
        And of course, it will be remembered for the performance of your
    team captain. Steve, your teammates have said
    you have the heart of a champion and that when the chips are down, you
    always made the plays. That's something that every leader needs to do,
    and you have certainly done it.
        We all know, too, that great hockey teams have to have great
    coaches. Perhaps the Detroit Red Wings have the greatest coach in the
    history of hockey. This victory, with his eighth championship as a head
    coach, Scotty Bowman became the winningest
    coach in NHL history, maybe an athletic dynasty all to himself.
        But teams win, whole teams, in the arena and on the sidelines, and
    we're glad to see the whole team here, including Vladimir, Sergei. Thank you all
    for coming. We're glad you're here. Thank you.
        Last year when you were here, and this year again when you were
    going through the line, I sensed a real genuine spirit of not only
    championship but camaraderie. A sense of family, of caring for one
    another and supporting one another. In the end, that's even more
    important than winning the game.
        So congratulations. I'm delighted to have you here. And I'd like to
    have Commissioner Gary Bettman come up and say a few words. Thank you.

    [At this point, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman,
    Denise Ilitch-Lites, daughter of Red
    Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, and Coach Scotty Bowman made brief remarks. Red Wings team captain Steve
    Yzerman then made brief remarks and presented
    the President with a Red Wings jersey.]

        The President. Thank you. When you gave me the last one, I started
    wearing it around the house, and Hillary pointed out I wasn't as broad-
    shouldered as she thought I was. [Laughter] One wag in my office today
    said, ``You know, they'll probably give you a jersey, but I wish they'd
    give you one of those sticks. You could really put it to good use around
    here.'' [Applause] Thank you.
        Let me just say in closing, to the coach, to Steve, to all the team,
    it is an honor to have you here. It's wonderful to have all your friends
    from Michigan and all your fans who live in Washington now but have
    their hearts in Michigan.
        This house is truly the people's house. Every President is a
    temporary tenant. And I think, to me, the greatest joy of living here is
    seeing other people come in and share in the history. Every President
    since John Adams has lived in this house. George Washington conceived
    it, really, but never got a chance to live here. The whole history of
    our country is embodied within these walls.
        This house has been burned down; in 1814 the British troops came in
    here--we were having a banquet, and everybody had to run. And Dolley
    Madison--whose husband, James Madison, was the last active Commander in
    Chief of the Armed Forces, was out with our Army--and she cut that
    magnificent picture of George Washington down, which was purchased in
    1797 for $500. It has no price today. The British came in and ate our
    food--[laughter]--and then burned the house down. [Laughter] But the
    walls hung on, and it's been rebuilt, that time and one other time
    since. After all these years, whenever I land the helicopter on the back
    lawn and come in this house, I still get a thrill, because everything
    that our country has tried to be is embodied in this house.
        So, for your excellence, for your spirit of teamwork, we're honored
    to have you here, with all of your family and friends. And I only hope
    that it is as enjoyable to you as it is to me every day. Welcome, and
    God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:15 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Ken Holland, Red Wings general
    manager; player Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei
    Mnatsakanov, both of whom were seriously injured in an automobile
    accident a few

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    days after the team's previous Stanley Cup championship in June 1997;
    and Mayor Dennis W. Archer of Detroit, MI.