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Home , Danny Ferry, San Antonio Spurs

1376 Oct. 13 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003

last summer when I awarded him the Medal Waite, husband of Representative Virginia Brown- of Honor posthumously. Rocky set an exam- Waite; and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of ple of bravery and dedication that changed Italy. the lives of his fellow soldiers but most of all honored the country he loves. He was of Italian descent, proud of his heritage, but most of all, he loved America. He loved what Remarks Honoring the 2003 we stood for and was willing to sacrifice for National Association it. Champion Spurs And that’s what’s happening today. People October 14, 2003 are willing to sacrifice for the country they love. They remember the lessons of Sep- The President. Thank you all for coming. tember the 11th, 2001. And so do I. It’s Thank you. Please be seated. Welcome. To something we should never forget, especially all you fans, we’re glad the lessons of those who sacrificed, for lives you’re here in the Rose Garden. I’m particu- lost. larly glad the San Antonio Spurs are here Peter Ganci, you may have heard of Peter. today. We want to congratulate you on a fan- He was the fire chief of New York City. He tastic championship run. died at the World Trade when he I first want to welcome my friend Peter went into the—into the destruction to save Holt, who turned out to be a pretty darn men and women. Fifty people—50 of his good owner. [Laughter] It’s more than I can men were rescued before the second tower say for the former Ranger ownership. fell. The chief was in there urging them to [Laughter] But congratulations, Peter, to you flee for their safety. He ordered all out of and your organization. I want to thank R.C. the area. He refused to go. And his statement Buford, who is the , and was, ‘‘I’m not leaving my men.’’ One brave , who is the manager of— guy who embodies the best of the sons and the coach of the club. And I want to welcome daughters of Italy. the players and your wives and friends and The faith of the Italian-American commu- family here. After this is over, I’d like to in- nity in God is an important part of our Na- vite you in the Oval Office and let you see tion’s fabric. The faith in family, the love of where the decisions are made that affect the life, and the commitment to our country are peace and freedom of this world. great gifts. Italian Americans share those gifts I want to welcome some huge San Antonio generously. And that is why we celebrate Co- Spurs fans: Senator John Cornyn from San lumbus Day. Antonio; Lamar Smith and Henry Bonilla as And for the contribution the Italian Ameri- well from San Antonio. You got to know that cans have made to America, I say: Thank you; during the playoffs, these guys were touting we are grateful. But most of all, I ask God’s the Spurs. They were giving a pretty hefty blessings, not only of those of Italian descent line to anybody who dared bet against the but I ask God’s blessings for all of us who Spurs, and you didn’t let them down. So wel- are fortunate enough to live in the United come. I’m glad you’re here. States of America. is here. Where is Danny May God bless you all. Ferry? NOTE: The President spoke at 10:32 a.m. in Room Audience member. He’s there. 450 in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Of- The President. Yes, there he is. He and fice Building. In his remarks, he referred to Eliza- I share an interesting relationship. As you beth Ann Principi, wife of Secretary of Veterans may know, his father, Bob, won the NBA Affairs Anthony J. Principi, and their son, Capt. Championship ring. And so Danny and Bob Anthony Principi, Jr., USAF; Alice Bernardi, wife of Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban De- Ferry are only the second father/son com- velopment for Community Planning and Develop- bination to ever win a championship ring— ment Roy A. Bernardi; Anthony S. Fauci, Direc- [laughter]—if you get my drift. [Laughter] tor, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious We’re members of the famous fathers club. Disease, National Institutes of Health; Harvey [Laughter] And anyway, I want to welcome

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you here. You’ll see where the—only the sec- our country for serving as not only great ath- ond son of a President office is in a minute. letes but as great role models for children [Laughter] who look up to you. I also—one of the things that happens So welcome to the Rose Garden. Con- when a championship team comes here, it gratulations on such a great, successful sea- gives me a chance to talk about the develop- son. And may God continue to bless you, and ment of a culture, a winning culture inside may God continue to bless the United States an organization. I like to call it a culture of of America. Thank you for coming. service, people being willing to serve some- thing greater than themself, in this case, a NOTE: The President spoke at 10:56 a.m. in the team. Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, I was struck by ’s comments he referred to , chairman and chief ex- after the sixth game when they were talking ecutive officer, R.C. Buford, general manager, about the fantastic individual effort he had. Gregg Popovich, head coach, Danny Ferry, direc- And a reporter said, ‘‘What about that ef- tor of basketball operations, Tim Duncan, center, fort?’’ He said, ‘‘It’s cool,’’ but then imme- and , retired center, San Antonio diately went on to talk about the accomplish- Spurs; and Representatives Lamar Smith and ments of his teammates, recognizing that you Henry Bonilla of . can’t win a championship unless you’re able to rely upon others and lift others up and Memorandum on Waiver and participate with others and work hard with others. And it’s a phenomenal tribute to the Certification of Statutory Provisions San Antonio Spurs that they’ve got such great Regarding the Palestine Liberation individual players who are willing to work as Organization a team. And it’s a wonderful example for our October 14, 2003 country—it really is. The other thing that struck me about this Presidential Determination No. 2004–04 organization that is so powerful is that there is a culture of service when it comes to uti- Memorandum for the Secretary of State lizing their positions as champs to make somebody else’s life better. Gregg Popovich Subject: Waiver and Certification of won a of Light for his drug—anti-drug Statutory Provisions Regarding the Palestine programs in the early nineties. What a class Liberation Organization act that must be for players to work for a coach who then takes time out of his private Consistent with the authority vested in me life to set a good example for the children under section 534(d) of the Foreign Oper- of the community in which he lives and to ations, Export Financing, and Related Pro- work to rally the armies of compassion to grams Appropriations Act, 2003, Public Law make somebody else’s life better, in this case 108–7, I hereby determine and certify that to help a community fight off the scourge it is important to the national security inter- of drugs. ests of the United States to waive the provi- Or David Robinson, who is now heavily sions of section 1003 of the Anti-Terrorism involved in education in the San Antonio Act of 1987, Public Law 100–204. community. He’s not only a great husband This waiver shall be effective for a period but a great role model for others to see. I of 6 months from the date hereof. You are know many of you all do the same thing in hereby authorized and directed to transmit your communities, that you care deeply this determination to the Congress and to about the lives of your fellow citizens, and publish it in the Federal Register. I want to congratulate you. I think you’re champs because you understand that serving George W. Bush something greater than yourself is the road to championships. And that’s what you’re NOTE: This memorandum was released by the Of- here to do, is to receive the accolades from fice of the Press Secretary on October 15.

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