[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 42 (Monday, October 20, 2003)]
[Pages 1376-1377]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the 2003 National Basketball Association Champion San 
Antonio Spurs

October 14, 2003

    The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you. Please be 
seated. Welcome. To all you San Antonio Spurs fans, we're glad you're 
here in the Rose Garden. I'm particularly glad the San Antonio Spurs are 
here today. We want to congratulate you on a fantastic championship run.
    I first want to welcome my friend Peter Holt, who turned out to be a 
pretty darn good owner. [Laughter] It's more than I can say for the 
former Ranger ownership. [Laughter] But congratulations, Peter, to you 
and your organization. I want to thank R.C. Buford, who is the general 
manager, and Gregg Popovich, who is the manager of--the coach of the 
club. And I want to welcome the players and your wives and friends and 
family here. After this is over, I'd like to invite you in the Oval 
Office and let you see where the decisions are made that affect the 
peace and freedom of this world.
    I want to welcome some huge San Antonio Spurs fans: Senator John 
Cornyn from San Antonio; Lamar Smith and Henry Bonilla as well from San 
Antonio. You got to know that during the playoffs, these guys were 
touting the Spurs. They were giving a pretty hefty line to anybody who 
dared bet against the Spurs, and you didn't let them down. So welcome. 
I'm glad you're here.
    Danny Ferry is here. Where is Danny Ferry?
    Audience member. He's there.
    The President. Yes, there he is. He and I share an interesting 
relationship. As you may know, his father, Bob, won the NBA Championship 
ring. And so Danny and Bob Ferry are only the second father/son 
combination to ever win a championship ring--[laughter]--if you get my 
drift. [Laughter] We're members of the famous fathers club. [Laughter] 
And anyway, I want to welcome

[[Page 1377]]

you here. You'll see where the--only the second son of a President 
office is in a minute. [Laughter]
    I also--one of the things that happens when a championship team 
comes here, it gives me a chance to talk about the development of a 
culture, a winning culture inside an organization. I like to call it a 
culture of service, people being willing to serve something greater than 
themself, in this case, a team.
    I was struck by Tim Duncan's comments after the sixth game when they 
were talking about the fantastic individual effort he had. And a 
reporter said, ``What about that effort?'' He said, ``It's cool,'' but 
then immediately went on to talk about the accomplishments of his 
teammates, recognizing that you can't win a championship unless you're 
able to rely upon others and lift others up and participate with others 
and work hard with others. And it's a phenomenal tribute to the San 
Antonio Spurs that they've got such great individual players who are 
willing to work as a team. And it's a wonderful example for our 
country--it really is.
    The other thing that struck me about this organization that is so 
powerful is that there is a culture of service when it comes to 
utilizing their positions as champs to make somebody else's life better. 
Gregg Popovich won a Point of Light for his drug--anti-drug programs in 
the early nineties. What a class act that must be for players to work 
for a coach who then takes time out of his private life to set a good 
example for the children of the community in which he lives and to work 
to rally the armies of compassion to make somebody else's life better, 
in this case to help a community fight off the scourge of drugs.
    Or David Robinson, who is now heavily involved in education in the 
San Antonio community. He's not only a great husband but a great role 
model for others to see. I know many of you all do the same thing in 
your communities, that you care deeply about the lives of your fellow 
citizens, and I want to congratulate you. I think you're champs because 
you understand that serving something greater than yourself is the road 
to championships. And that's what you're here to do, is to receive the 
accolades from our country for serving as not only great athletes but as 
great role models for children who look up to you.
    So welcome to the Rose Garden. Congratulations on such a great, 
successful season. And may God continue to bless you, and may God 
continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 10:56 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Peter Holt, chairman and chief 
executive officer, R.C. Buford, general manager, Gregg Popovich, head 
coach, Danny Ferry, director of basketball operations, Tim Duncan, 
center, and David Robinson, retired center, San Antonio Spurs; and 
Representatives Lamar Smith and Henry Bonilla of Texas.