[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 4 (Monday, February 1, 1999)]
[Pages 141-143]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the 1998 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings

January 28, 1999

    The President. Thank you very much. Please be seated, everyone.
    Commissioner Bettman, Coach Bowman, Denise Ilitch, General Manager 
Holland; to the team captain, Steve Yzerman, and all the Red Wings; 
Congressmen Bonior, Dingell, Knollenberg, Levin, Stupak; Mayor Archer 
and other mayors from Michigan who are here with us today: Welcome back 
to the White House.
    You know, this is becoming such a regular thing--from time to time, 
we have State days at the White House. We'll have a Maryland Day, and 
bring in people from all over Maryland, and let them meet members of the 
Cabinet and talk about issues affecting the State. This is becoming so 
regular, we should just have Michigan Day at the White House when the 
Red Wings come.
    Vince Lombardi, who was a pretty good coach himself, once said that 
``excellence is not a sometime thing.'' I think it's clear that, with 
your four-game sweep for a second straight Stanley Cup, that's what the 
Red Wings are living by.
    I've always found the history of the Stanley Cup particularly 
interesting. It's the oldest trophy competition by professional athletes 
in North America; the only trophy which bears the names of individual 
players and coaches. And what I admire most is the tradition of the 
whole team sharing the Cup, each player getting to take it home to 
friends and family. I think it's a tradition that other sports ought to 
follow, because it recognizes that every person on a team makes a unique 
and enduring contribution.
    The Red Wings overcame the Capitals--as I said, our hometown team, 
but we still are impressed with what you did--[laughter]--in four 
decisive games, with grit, determination and teamwork. The series will 
be remembered as a defensive triumph that spotlighted your goalie, Chris 
Osgood, who allowed seven whole goals. Amazing.
    And of course, it will be remembered for the performance of your 
team captain. Steve, your teammates have said you have the heart of a 
champion and that, when the chips are

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down, you always made the plays. That's something that every leader 
needs to do, and you have certainly done it.
    We all know, too, that great hockey teams have to have great 
coaches. Perhaps the Detroit Red Wings have the greatest coach in the 
history of hockey. This victory, with his eighth championship as a head 
coach, Scotty Bowman became the winningest coach in NHL history, maybe 
an athletic dynasty all to himself.
    But teams win, whole teams, in the arena and on the sidelines, and 
we're glad to see the whole team here, including Vladimir, Sergei. Thank 
you all for coming. We're glad you're here. Thank you.
    Last year when you were here, and this year again when you were 
going through the line, I sensed a real genuine spirit of not only 
championship but camaraderie. A sense of family, of caring for one 
another and supporting one another. In the end, that's even more 
important than winning the game.
    So congratulations. I'm delighted to have you here. And I'd like to 
have Commissioner Gary Bettman come up and say a few words. Thank you.

[At this point, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Denise Ilitch-Lites, 
daughter of Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, and Coach Scotty 
Bowman made brief remarks. Red Wings team captain Steve Yzerman made 
brief remarks and presented the President with a Red Wings jersey.]

    The President. Thank you. When you gave me the last one, I started 
wearing it around the house, and Hillary pointed out I wasn't as broad-
shouldered as she thought I was. [Laughter] One wag in my office today 
said, ``You know, they'll probably give you a jersey, but I wish they'd 
give you one of those sticks, you could really put it to good use around 
here.'' [Applause] Thank you.
    Let me just say in closing, to the coach, to Steve, to all the team, 
it is an honor to have you here. It's wonderful to have all your friends 
from Michigan and all your fans who live in Washington now but have 
their hearts in Michigan.
    This house is truly the people's house. Every President is a 
temporary tenant. And I think, to me, the greatest joy of living here is 
seeing other people come in and share in the history. Every President 
since John Adams has lived in this house. George Washington conceived 
it, really, but never got a chance to live here. The whole history of 
our country is embodied within these walls.
    This house has been burned down; in 1814 the British troops came in 
here--we were having a banquet, and everybody had to run. And Dolley 
Madison--whose husband, James Madison, was the last active Commander-in-
Chief of the Armed Forces, was out with our Army--and she cut that 
magnificent picture of George Washington down, which was purchased in 
1797 for $500. It has no price today. The British came in and ate our 
food--[laughter]--and then burned the house down. [Laughter] But the 
walls hung on, and it's been rebuilt, that time and one other time 
since. After all these years, whenever I land the helicopter on the back 
lawn and come in this house, I still get a thrill, because everything 
that our country has tried to be is embodied in this house.
    So, for your excellence, for your spirit of teamwork, we're honored 
to have you here, with all of your family and friends. And I only hope 
that it is as enjoyable to you as it is to me every day. Welcome, and 
God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 6:15 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Red Wings General Manager Ken 
Holland; Red Wings defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur 
Sergei Mnatsakanov, both of whom were seriously injured in an automobile 
accident a few days after the team's previous Stanley Cup championship 
in June 1997; and Mayor Dennis W. Archer of Detroit, MI.

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