Aug. 12 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2011

Remarks Honoring the 2011 Champion August 12, 2011

The President. Hello, everybody. Every- Now, look, I admit Woodson is a pretty good body, have a seat. On this spectacular day, I ballplayer. And for those who don’t know, I want to welcome everybody to the White gave Charles a little bulletin board material, House. Thank you all for being here. apparently, last year. And so after the Packers I’m just going to come out and say it: This beat the Bears, Charles addressed the team— hurts a little bit. [Laughter] This is a hard thing everybody on ESPN saw it; I saw it while I was for a Bears fan to do. It doesn’t hurt as much as working out in the morning—and Charles said, the NFC Championship Game hurt—[laugh- “If the President doesn’t want to come to ter]—but it still hurts, you guys coming to my watch us at the Super Bowl, then we’re going house to rub it in. [Laughter] What are you going to him.” to do, go to Ditka’s house next or—[laughter]. Then I flew to Green Bay later that week to But in the interest of good sportsmanship, visit a local company, and Governor Walker congratulations to the Green Bay Packers on and Mayor Schmitt—where’s Mayor Schmitt? your 4th Super Bowl championship and record There he is right there. He gave me a jersey 13th NFL championship. from Charles on which he’d written, “See you Oh, you know, the problem you have, at the White House.” [Laughter] So basically, though, in your franchise—your fans are not Charles has been giving me a hard time now that enthusiastic. [Laughter] You guys have got for several months. to work on that. I’m surprised they’re not Charles, you’re a man of your word. And wearing cheeseheads. Oh, there they are. I’ve now learned something that every NFL [Laughter] All right, my mistake. [Laughter] already knows too well: Don’t Look, obviously, it’s good to have football mess with . right around the corner. Like every football Now, in the Super Bowl, the Packers fan, I was thrilled to have the lockout ended. showed just what a championship team is Nobody likes long, frustrating negotiations— made of and that you deserved those rings [laughter]—with a rigid opposition, taking it to Coach McCarthy had you fitted on the night the brink. [Laughter] before. The game was a lot like your season. I want to recognize Packers President Mark Some key players went down with injuries in Murphy, GM , for the out- the first half, including Donald and Charles. standing job they’ve done, as well as Coach But everybody stepped up. Your offense ex- Mike McCarthy for guiding them to the next ploded behind one of the greatest performanc- championship. es by a quarterback in a Super Bowl. Where’s And I would like to welcome all the players Aaron? to the White House; some of them I’ve had a Your defense was flying all over the place chance to meet before, wonderful guys. I guess like Clay Matthews’s hair. Where’s Clay? I especially have to welcome Charles Wood- There he is. And you brought the Lombardi son. Where’s Woodson? Trophy back home. Aaron earned the game’s MVP award: 304 [At this point, Charles Woodson yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions. approached the podium.] This was a performance that capped off an in- credible playoff run that proved he’s not just The President. See, hold on a second. I one of the best in the game, he’s wasn’t asking for some certificate you’re about one of the best quarterbacks perhaps of all to give me, aren’t you? [Laughter] He’s really time. And I know that he’s going to be having rubbing it in. Look at that. an extraordinary career going forward.

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We also know that the Packers are made of us a little bit to give you this as well—[laugh- more than one player or one season. They’re ter]—but to give you shares of the Green Bay made of the people of Green Bay. Back in the Packers. twenties, fans passed the hat at the games to support the team. In 1923, after some rough fi- [The President was presented with a framed nancial years, local businessmen banded to- share of stock.] gether to pay the bills. Two more times—in 1935 and 1950—the community came to the The President. Man, that is outstanding. rescue to keep the club afloat, and today, The—well, if I’m a part owner, I think— 112,000 people own a piece of this franchise. It [laughter]. is the only publicly owned team in pro sports, Coach Mike McCarthy. We figured this is so—[applause]. And after the Super Bowl, the only way we could get you away from the hundreds of those fans woke up the next day, Bears. [Laughter] put on their snow boots, and headed over to The President. No, what I’m thinking is, I to shovel it out for the victory think we should initiate a trade to send Rodg- pep rally. ers down to the Bears. [Laughter] That support goes both ways. The Packers Audience members. Boo! have raised more than $4 million for charities The President. What do you think? No? in communities all across Wisconsin and Mich- How about—— igan. More than 300 schools participate in the Mr. Woodson. A minority owner, thank you. Packers Fit Kids program to promote child- [Laughter] hood health. They’ve given scholarships to lo- Coach McCarthy. Aaron, go ahead. cal students, sponsored food and blood drives, The President. All right, what else we got? found creative ways to support our troops and Quarterback . On behalf of their families. the team, we also want to give you the right So even a Bears fan can admit that the rela- colors to wear on those two dates you men- tionship between Green Bay and its team is tioned. [Laughter] We got you this jersey, right something special. It reflects those old-school, here. small-town values of community and hard work that have always defined what it meant to [The President was presented with a team jer- be an American. And Super Bowl spotlight or sey bearing the words “Commander in Chief.”] not, that’s something that’s alive in towns across this country every single day. The President. All right, man. Thank you. So to all the Green Bay Packers, to all the Commander in Chief. fans, congratulations. Enjoy it while it lasts. Mr. Rodgers. Why don’t you change into [Laughter] Because Bears fans have two dates that right now? circled on our calendars: September 25 and The President. Thank you. Good to see you, Sunday Night Football on Christmas Day. And man. Absolutely. if you guys are on a roll by then, just keep in All right. Let’s get a good picture. They’re mind that there’s only one place—one person going to break this down. here who can ground all planes in and out of Green Bay—[laughter]—if he has to. NOTE: The President spoke at 2:57 p.m. on the So congratulations. South Portico at the White House. In his re- Charles, what do you got here? You can step marks, he referred to Michael K. Ditka, former up to the mike. , ’s Chica- Mr. Woodson. Well, on behalf of the Green go Bears; Mayor James J. Schmitt of Green Bay Packers organization and all the players, Bay, WI; and , wide , we would like to present you with this. Of and Clay Matthews, , Green Bay course, all the fans own the team, and it hurts Packers.

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