    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 17, 2003]
    [Pages 647-649]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring NCAA Winter Champion Teams
    June 17, 2003

        Thanks for coming to the White House on Champions Day, the day we
    honor our Nation's champs.
        I first want to say that, obviously, you know how to play hoops in
    the East--[laughter]--as our Texas teams found out.

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    [Laughter] And it seems like Minnesota is pretty good at hockey too.
        I now know why we've got all these Senators from New York and
    Minnesota and Connecticut, as well as Members of the House from those
    three States. Welcome, and thank you all for honoring these fine student
    athletes. We're glad you're here.
        I want to welcome the University of Connecticut women's basketball
    team back to the White House. Geno told me
    last time that--last time I greeted them here--that they would be back.
    He really didn't say it that way; we'll play like he said it that way--
    makes a better story. [Laughter] At any rate, congratulations to you
    all. I appreciate Jeffrey Hathaway coming
    as well. These ladies can flat play basketball, and they are a great
    credit to women's athletics and to sport. They'll probably be back next
    year too. We're really glad you're here, and I'm glad Diana has given me the jersey. She is--thank God I don't have
    to guard her. [Laughter]
        I also want to welcome the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities men's
    hockey team back here again as well. I appreciate Don Lucia. I want to thank the athletic director, Joel
    Maturi, as well for coming. It's good to see
    these men back. They also know how to play hockey really well. They told
    me they'd be back again next year. Senator Dayton was a heck of a goalie in his day, but I don't know if
    he could stop these guys or not. [Laughter] I know the State of
    Minnesota is proud of your accomplishments. We're really glad you're
    here.
        And we're also glad that the ladies' hockey team from the University
    of Minnesota-Duluth is here. It's good to see Dr. Martin. Thank you for coming back--as well as Shannon
    Miller. She's been the coach for 4 years and
    has won three national championships. It sounds like to me, Dr. Martin,
    you'd better give her a raise. [Laughter] It's a State issue, of course.
    [Laughter] But congratulations to you all.
        I also want to congratulate Syracuse for winning their first
    national championship. It's a great tribute to Jim Boeheim, who is a heck of a guy and a great leader of men.
    Congratulations, Coach. I know you've worked hard for this. If it wasn't
    the University of Texas, I'm glad it was you. [Laughter] You've got some
    great players on your team. I'm sure some of us are going to be asking
    Carmelo Anthony for a loan one of these
    days--[laughter]--so keep the interest rates low. [Laughter] But
    congratulations on winning a tough tournament. You're a great credit to
    the sport.
        I also want to welcome Mike Tirico, who is
    here. Where are you, Mike? Oh, there you are. Congratulations on being a
    Syracuse grad. I know you were objective in your analysis of the--
    [laughter]--of the tournament. But thanks for coming.
        I--one of the things I really appreciate about these days is that,
    when you welcome these champs, is that it reminds people of the basics
    of life, the need to serve something greater than yourself in life.
    Championship teams don't win because of a star. Championship teams win
    because people are willing to work together for a greater good, in this
    case, the team. Championship teams win because people are willing to
    work hard and sacrifice for something important. These are values that
    are really important not only in sport but in life as well.
        The other thing that's important about a championship team is to--
    for people to understand that you can be a champ on the court or on the
    ice as well as off the court and off the ice.
        I've asked Dr. Martin if she
    remembered what I said last year about people serving their communities
    in which they live. She said, ``You bet. We've got girls on our team who
    are mentoring.'' One girl said she works for the Boys and Girls Club.
        My call to the champs is to be a champ off the playing--when you're
    not playing as well. You've got a chance to make a difference in
    somebody's life. There's always some little kid draped over the--

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    draped over the ice, looking at the star Minnesota players, wondering
    what it's like to be a star. And a star is somebody who sets a good
    example. A star is somebody who says, ``I've got some God-given talents,
    and I want to help somebody else utilize his or her talents so they can
    realize the American Dream.'' There's always some little guy hanging
    around or some girl hanging around courtside watching champs, watching
    behavior. And you have a chance as champions to set such a good example
    for America's young, so that the next generation of athletes will know
    what it means to be a champ on the court or on the rink as well as off
    the court and off the rink.
        And so I'm here today to congratulate you for setting such a good
    example. Now that the spotlight is on you, assume responsibility. Do
    your job as an American. Love somebody just like you'd like to be loved
    yourself, and America will be a better place for it.
        Welcome to the White House. May God bless your talents, and may God
    continue to bless our great country. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:23 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Geno Auriemma, women's basketball
    head coach, Jeffrey Hathaway, athletic director-designate, and Diana
    Taurasi, player, University of Connecticut; Don Lucia, men's hockey head
    coach, University of Minnesota; Kathryn A. Martin, chancellor,
    University of Minnesota-Duluth; Carmelo Anthony, men's basketball
    player, Syracuse University; and Mike Tirico, sports commentator for
    ESPN and ABC.