[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
[February 6, 2008]
[Pages 152-154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Remarks Honoring the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks
February 6, 2008
Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Welcome to the
White House. We're glad you're here. Like, have you noticed a lot of
security around here? It's because the Vice President heard there were some Ducks around. [Laughter]
These Ducks are awfully mighty. It's such an honor to welcome you. I
love welcoming champs to the White House, and these are clearly great
champs. You know, the playoffs have got to be tough at that time of
year, after you've played so long and your legs are a little tired--
except you romped through the playoffs. I don't know if many Americans
understand that, but this team went 16-5 through the first four rounds,
became the first west coast team in the NHL to win the Stanley Cup. And
that's a big deal.
And so it's my honor to welcome you to the White House. Glad you're
here. I do want to welcome the owner, Henry Samueli; appreciate you coming. Thanks for bringing the
girls. I had the privilege of being in pro
sports as a baseball owner. I never had the chance to come to the White
House as a baseball owner. [Laughter] I had a little trouble on the
division crowns as a baseball owner. [Laughter] But I understand how--
what a joy it must be to represent an ownership group, to watch a team
you care about win the Stanley Cup, and win any championship. So we're
glad you came. Thanks for coming, Henry.
Michael Schulman, who is the CEO, I'm
glad you're here, Mike; Brian Burke, the general
manager. I really want to say something about Randy Carlyle, the head coach. It's got to be hard to be a head coach
of such great athletes. I don't know if you're ever in the newspaper.
[Laughter] Yes, I know how you feel. But I'm proud to have you here.
Scott Niedermayer is the MVP. I tend
not to try to single out a player, but nevertheless, when you have an
MVP in your midst, I'm proud to recognize you; glad you're here.
I do want to welcome the commissioner.
Mr. Commissioner, thanks for coming. This isn't the first time we've
been together like this; it will probably be the last like this.
[Laughter] But I know you'll keep coming back to the White House to
promote the champs in a sport you love.
I want to thank the mayor of Anaheim, my
friend Curt Pringle. Thanks for coming, Mr. Mayor. It must be a big deal
when the Ducks win the Stanley Cup for the people of Anaheim, and I'm
honored that you're here. I also want to welcome Congressman Eddy
Royce. Ed, thanks for coming; appreciate you
being here. Of course,
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we welcome all the players, all the personnel, all the fans.
And how about the Northern Virginia Ice Dog Mites hockey team? Yes.
The Ice Dogs--[laughter]--are here to see the Ducks. [Laughter] I bet
you guys want to be Stanley Cup champs some day too, don't you? Well,
here they are; you got a chance to see what they look like. I bet you
they would tell you that in order to be a Stanley Cup champ, you have to
work hard and skate hard and make right choices in life, just like these
folks did that are standing up here with me.
The Stanley Cup was awarded 115 years ago, which makes it the oldest
trophy in professional sports. The Cup bears the names of not only the
teams that won it but more than 2,000 names of the individuals who have
raised the Cup in victory. And these men behind me now have their name
on the Cup.
The interesting thing about the Stanley Cup, it's the only
professional sports trophy that every player on the championship team
gets to take home for a day. This Cup has been to some odd places.
[Laughter] For example, it went to Elvis's place in Memphis, Graceland.
[Laughter] It has taken a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It
has seen the inside of an igloo and a New York City jail. [Laughter] It
stood next to a giant statue of Lenin and a 55-foot Jolly Green Giant in
Blue Earth, Minnesota. The Cup has been to countless bars and nightclubs
across the world, and I'm sure some of the players are pleased the Cup
can't talk. [Laughter]
Last year, the Cup made its first visit to a combat zone. Nineteen
players--former NHL players--took this cup to Kandahar Air Base in
Afghanistan for a ball-hockey game with Canadian and American troops. I
promise you, our troops were thrilled to see the Cup. And whoever
thought of it, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting
those kids.
The Anaheim Ducks also took the Cup on many adventures, traveling
with it to Canada, Sweden, Finland, and England. Chris Pronger and Todd Marchant each took
it home to use it as a cereal bowl for the kids--[laughter]--
pretty hungry
kids. Sean O'Donnell filled it with dog food
so that his Lab, Buddy, could eat from it. You know, I was wondering why
Barney and my dogs took such a liking to the Stanley Cup. [Laughter]
Ducks players have used their time to help lift the lives of others.
This is what I'm particularly grateful for. The Ducks took the Cup to
the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA and the Children's Hospital in
Orange County, where it brought joy to somebody who is suffering. That
must have been a fantastic experience, to see somebody's face light up
who was having a pretty tough go in life, and I want to thank you for
that. I appreciate the fact that you took the Cup to the Orangewood
Children's Foundation, where it helped raise the spirits of those who
have been--who are victims of abuse and neglect.
Several Ducks took the Cup for a visit to our wounded warriors at
Camp Pendleton. The general manager, Brian Burke, said this: ``This is the most special moment I've had
with the Cup--not being with my family, not being with my friends, but
being at Camp Pendleton.'' He knows what I know: The United States of
America is incredibly lucky to have brave men and women volunteer in the
face of danger to serve our country. And I cannot thank you enough for
honoring those wounded warriors, those marines, and for lifting their
spirits and for thanking them for their sacrifice and their service.
I appreciate your talent. These are great athletes, but they've also
got big hearts. I congratulate the coaches. I congratulate the family
members, the wives, girlfriends who put up with the long, long time away
from home. It's got to be tough to be a spouse supporting somebody you
love in professional sports, and I want to thank your families for
supporting you in this.
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I do want to thank all those who make the training room go. You
know, a lot of times championships are focused on the players, but these
players will be the first to tell you there's the locker room
attendants, there's the laundry people, there's the equipment people who
deserve just as much of this championship as they do. And I want to
congratulate you and those of you who happened to handle this aspect
of--for the Anaheim Ducks. Welcome to the White House.
I will remind you that you've achieved something millions of kids
dream about--and a couple of oldtimers dream about too. You set a great
example for them, and I congratulate you for your championship. And
you'll for always be remembered for the rest of your lives as Stanley
Cup champs.
Welcome to the White House, and God bless you.
Note: The President spoke at 3:02 p.m. in the East Room at the White
House. In his remarks, he referred to Gary B. Bettman, commissioner,
National Hockey League; and Chris Pronger and Sean O'Donnell,
defensemen, and Todd Marchant, forward, Anaheim Ducks.