[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[April 23, 2001]
[Pages 442-443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Honoring the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Champions
April 23, 2001

    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 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 
skyhook 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's 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

[[Page 443]]

having him had 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 loved 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 was 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 that 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.

 Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Mike Krzyzewski, head men's 
basketball coach, and player Shane Battier, Duke University; and Muffet 
McGraw, head women's basketball coach, and player Ruth Riley, University 
of Notre Dame.