    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [May 10, 2004]
    [Pages 841-842]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring the 2004 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots
    May 10, 2004

        The President. Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Welcome
    back. The mighty New England Pats have returned, just like he told me
    they would. It's such an honor to welcome the team back here. I'm
    especially glad to see Tom Brady. I'm trying to
    figure out what it's like to be around a real celebrity. [Laughter]
        Bob Kraft is a owner who knows how to win.
    And congratulations on winning the Super Bowl. What I appreciate is the
    fact that in the contracts you sign with the players that you include a
    commitment to participate in at least 10 public service events each
    year. I appreciate the commitment. I also appreciate the players'
    commitment as well.
        You've got a great head coach, obviously. You can't win Super Bowls
    66 percent of the time in a 3-year period unless you've got a great
    coach. Congratulations.
        I want to congratulate all the players who are here. For those of
    you who weren't here 2 years ago, this is a pretty cool place to come. I
    want to congratulate the people who work to make a team go well, the
    trainers and the person--the equipment personnel, the people who never
    get the--who never get heralded. I understand it's--the players,
    obviously, are the ones that make it happen, but there are a lot of
    people behind the scenes that have worked long and hard to support these
    guys. And I want to congratulate you as well.
        I appreciate Sununu, the Senator from New
    Hampshire. He's a huge fan of the team, as is Ed Markey and Jim McGovern, people
    from the mighty Massachusetts delegation. We're proud you're here.
    Thanks for coming. Andy Card, the Chief
    of Staff here at the White House, is a longtime Patriots fan. He's
    constantly reminding me how great the Pats are, on a Sunday by Sunday
    basis. And Andrew Natsios as well is a
    Pats fan. Obviously, we've got quite a few here. If the Rose Garden were
    bigger, there would be a lot more people here, I assume. Welcome. I'm
    glad you're here.
        The thing--a couple of things impressed me. One, you never lost a
    home game. That's really good marketing. [Laughter] That's a smart way
    to do it, to fill up your stadium and have your fans go home happy every
    game. I watched some of your games. I appreciate the dramatic comebacks
    that you were capable of making. I like it when a kicker ends up winning the game. You like it when the kicker ends
    up winning the game. I know Adam is with us today. I am really impressed
    at how cool you are under fire, and how--like, I need a few suggestions
    before a press conference, if you don't mind.
        I also appreciate so very much the coach.
    I don't know what it's like in the locker room, but I remember when you
    were here last year--or 2 years ago--and you said you were going to say
    a few words and you said like four words. [Laughter]
        Bill Belichick. I got carried away.
        The President. Yes, right. You got carried away. [Laughter]
        Here's what I like about this team: They had a thousand hours of
    volunteer service to communities in Massachusetts and New England.
    That's a lot of hours for people who are spending a lot time practicing
    and reading playbooks. That is an unbelievably important example for
    champions to set for others. I know you supported the Boys and

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    Girls Club and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Massachusetts 9/11
    Fund, the R.O.S.E. Fund to end domestic violence. I really want to thank
    you for that. Listen, it's one thing to be a champ on the field, and
    obviously, that's what every player strives for. But to be able to be a
    complete person like you have been is really important, and you set such
    a good example of what it means to serve something greater than
    yourself.
        I know there's a lot of fans that come to your game. You also know
    there are fans that are rooting for you who wear the uniform of the
    United States military--a lot of Pats fans out there who are scattered
    around the world, doing everything they can to defend us and to protect
    us. They are cheering in places like Afghanistan and in Iraq and in
    other countries. It is--I can't tell you how important it is for them to
    see the action from home, to see the great players performing on the
    field of play. It's also important for them to know that our players
    care for them a lot, that they understand that we're grateful for their
    service and grateful to their families as well for the sacrifices
    they're making.
        We have got some unbelievable troops, fantastic men and women who
    understand that they're serving something important, and that is
    security for our country and peace and freedom around the world. And the
    fact that players are willing to serve their communities reinforces that
    service of our troops.
        So thanks for what you do. Congratulations for getting back here to
    the Rose Garden. My hope, of course, is that I'm back here again to see
    you next year. [Laughter] Your hope is that you come back.
        Welcome back. Congratulations.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:32 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Tom Brady, quarterback, Robert
    Kraft, chairman and owner, Bill Belichick, head coach, and Adam
    Vinatieri, kicker, New England Patriots.