[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 36 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Page 1274]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in a Telephone Conversation With the WNBA Champion Houston 
Comets From Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

August 30, 1997

    Coach Van Chancellor. Mr. President?
    The President. Coach, congratulations.
    Coach Chancellor. Well, thank you very much. You know, we're from 
neighboring States. I'm a Mississippi boy.
    The President. You are?
    Coach Chancellor. Yes, I am.
    The President. Well, double congratulations.
    Coach Chancellor. Well, thank you very much.
    The President. I'll tell you what, I've followed the season this 
year. I've watched several games on television. I've really enjoyed it, 
and I had a chance to get to know some of the players in the league when 
I went running with the Women's Olympic Team a couple of years ago, and 
I think it's just been a great thing. I hope it'll be a success and go 
forward, and you had a great season and a great team, and you had a good 
game tonight.
    Coach Chancellor. Well, thank you very much. I do appreciate you 
taking the time to call our locker room. That means a lot to the women 
of this team and to this coaching staff.
    The President. Can you hear me?
    Coach Chancellor. Yes, I can hear you.
    The President. We're on a cell phone, but I think we're doing all 
right. I can hear you fine.
    Coach Chancellor. Yes. I do appreciate your support of women's 
athletics in general.
    The President. Well, I'm strongly supportive of it, and I hope 
that--like I said, I want you to stay with it, and I'll be supporting 
you all the way, and congratulate the players for me.
    Coach Chancellor. I will. They're all in the dressing room, and they 
will be honored that you have called us.
    The President. Cynthia had a great game, and any of us who has ever 
been through a childbirth were awful impressed when Sheryl Swoopes came 
back to play so quickly.
    Coach Chancellor. Yes. I'm amazed that she was able to have a child 
and come back and play for us. She just had some great games. This has 
just been a total team effort for us.
    The President. Yes. Well, give them my best, and I hope to see you 
up here someday pretty soon.
    Coach Chancellor. Okay. I would love to come up there.
    The President. Thank you, Van.
    Coach Chancellor. And thank you very much for calling us. I'm very 
honored.
    The President. Bye-bye.

Note: The President spoke by satellite at 6:50 p.m. from a private 
residence. In his remarks, he referred to players Cynthia Cooper, and 
Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets.