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A tape was not available for verification of the Mr. Patrick. Have you put one on in the content of these remarks. White House and maybe, you know, tossed a football or played basketball in them? The President. Yes, I played—I shot a few Interview With Dan Patrick baskets with a Kentucky jersey they gave me of ESPN Radio the other day, not very long ago. November 4, 1999 President’s Favorite Athletic Events Mr. Patrick. Mr. President? The President. Yes? Mr. Patrick. Now, what’s the one event Mr. Patrick. It’s Dan Patrick with Rob you would want to go to that you haven’t Dibble. been to, sporting-wise? The President. Hey, Dan. How are you? The President. That I have never been Mr. Patrick. I’m great. I appreciate you to? I’d like to go to a Super Bowl, and I’d calling in. I’ve been dancing a little bit, ad- like to go to a college championship, now libbing for an hour and a half, but I know that the new football system is in. you’re a busy man. I just want you to know, Mr. Patrick. You haven’t been to the I’ve been sweating. [Laughter] Super Bowl? The President. I’m sorry. I owe you one. The President. Never. I’ve watched a lot Mr. Patrick. You know what I could use, of them, but I’ve never been to one. a hug right now is what I could use. [Laugh- Mr. Patrick. You know what? You can ter] come with ESPN this year; it’s in Atlanta. The President. If I could give you one I’d be more than happy—— of those, I’d do that, too. The President. I’ve never been. You Mr. Patrick. I asked the callers to give know, I have seen some great events. I went me some suggestions for you. And do I have to the NCAA championship game in Arkan- to call you Mr. President? In all respect, it’s sas, one in ’94, and that’s the only time I’ve a very personable show. Can I call you some- ever been to that. And then I went to—I thing that—— saw the women’s World Cup finals this year The President. Call me whatever you when we beat China with the overtime, with want. the kickoff at the end, which was stunning. Mr. Patrick. No, you tell me what to call It was one of the most exciting athletic events you. I want it to be comfortable here, be- I’ve ever seen in my life. cause, Mr. President, that puts me at a dis- advantage, asking you sports questions. SportsCenter [Laughter] Mr. Patrick. Set the scene in the White The President. You don’t have to call me House when you’re watching SportsCenter. anything. Just ask the question. The President. When I’m watching it? Mr. Patrick. All right. Could I call you Mr. Patrick. Yes, like where are you Bill? and—— The President. You can call me whatever The President. Oh, all right. Well, I watch you want. It’s fine with me. it all the time, you know. I’m either in the kitchen, where Hillary and I and Chelsea, Team Jerseys when she’s home, we have our meals in a Mr. Patrick. Okay. What are you doing very informal atmosphere in the kitchen with all those jerseys that you get when teams when there’s no one else there, or I’m up- come to the White House? stairs in what’s called the Solarium; it’s up The President. Believe it or not, I save on the third floor, and it’s a big kind of sunny them all because I’m such a big sports fan. room. And I watch TV there at night, espe- And when I get out of here, I’m going to cially when my brother-in-law or someone put them all together and decide whether else is staying with us. to either display them or take turns wearing Normally, I’m watching SportsCenter ei- them. But I actually save them all. ther around dinnertime when I come in or Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 4 2255 late at night when I come in from an event lives of the children of Newark. I think that and I’m sitting, visiting with other people. is an amazing thing. Mr. Patrick. Have I said anything stupid Mr. Patrick. I think it’s great. I think it’s on SportsCenter that maybe you wanted to great. But I’m worried—we finance these criticize or critique me? Because you can— stadiums. Should taxpayers finance the stadi- you get critiqued all the time. Feel free, you ums if we don’t have any say on when those can take a shot at me. teams can leave? The President. No, I don’t think so. I The President. The practical answer to think as long as I’m in office, I should be that is that stadiums cannot be financed un- criticized but not return the favor. [Laughter] less the political leaders support it. And so Everybody in America gets to criticize the the political leaders should decide on the President. That’s part of the privilege of front end, I guess, what they expect out of being a citizen. the teams in return for financing the stadium. You know, it was interesting when Bob La- Athletic Organizations’ Community nier was mayor of Houston—one of the most Involvement popular mayors Houston ever had and a very Mr. Patrick. The President of the United able man—he let the football team go to States, joining us on the Dan Patrick Show Tennessee because he didn’t want to finance here on ESPN Radio. You’re a part of this a new stadium. So it’s not like—nobody new markets incentives. I know you’re in makes these communities do these things. New Jersey. The Nets are donating to the They make their decisions. And I think if city of Newark, which I think is great. Do they think there ought to be some conditions you see teams that don’t give back to the or some requirements, that ought to be dis- community enough? The taxpayers build cussed with the owners in advance. these stadiums, and maybe they don’t get something in return for promoting and sup- PGA Golfer Casey Martin porting their teams. Mr. Patrick. We are going to have Casey The President. Well, let me put it in more Martin on in a little bit. positive terms with regard to the Nets. I The President. Good for you. think that taxpayers finance these things be- Mr. Patrick. But you being the avid golfer cause they enjoy having professional teams that you are, do you think that having a golf in their communities, because they believe cart is that much of an advantage in—I mean, it brings their communities some prestige, the outcry over Casey Martin using a golf and because they think it generates a lot of cart—did it surprise you? And where do you other economic activity. But I think that the stand on that issue? opportunity for a professional sports team to The President. I’m for him. I’m solidly give something back to the community on behind him. I think he ought to be able to a scale far greater than anything that’s hap- play. The only way it would be an advantage pened so far is embodied by what the Nets to him, in my view, is if he really didn’t have are doing. the debilitating condition in his legs that he I mean, this is a stunning thing that Lew has. So I think that to me, this is like the Katz and Ray Chambers are doing with the golf version of the Americans with Disabil- Nets. And now, you know, they’re partners ities Act, you know, where we try to make with the Yankees, and so they’ve got a smaller the workplace accessible with people with percentage of the overall joint operations are disabilities who are otherwise just as good going into community operations not only in at work as all the rest of us. Newark, New Jersey, but also in the Bronx, Well, Casey is just as good at golf and bet- where the Yankees are. ter than most of the rest of us, and he’s got I just think it’s amazing. Here are these this condition, which will probably shorten two guys that have made a lot of money, and his career, anyway. And so I think that the they’re going to dedicate almost 40 percent proper course is to say, ‘‘Look, we can’t let of the profits of this sports franchise to rede- everybody start running around the golf veloping the economy and developing the course. We don’t want to change the nature 2256 Nov. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 of the game, but this man has a unique dis- contribution was Jesse Owens, because he ability which prohibits his walking around won the multiple Olympic gold medals in the but doesn’t prevent him from being a terrific face of Nazi Germany and against Hitler’s golfer, and for however many years he can racial theories. So I think he was both a great be competitive, we think we ought to give athlete who had to show an extraordinary him a chance.’’ That’s what I think the rule amount of personal courage, and he did ought to be. something that was of profound significance Mr. Patrick. I agree with you, and I just at the time. thought that it was interesting, the outcry I think the most talented—physically tal- from everybody. ented athlete that I ever saw play, I think The President. What they’re worried it would be a toss-up for me between Mi- about, I think, is all the people who have chael Jordan and Willie Mays. to be the keepers of the tradition of any game Mr. Patrick. See, it’s hard to go wrong. or any club or anything else, they’re always Once you get up to that stratosphere, then afraid that when they change any rules, it’s if you pick out somebody and—I always a slippery slope, and pretty soon the whole thought Jackie Robinson, to me, signified character of a contest will be altered in ways greatness as an athlete and what he over- that aren’t good. But I just don’t think that came. that objection holds water here. The President. Yes. Well, let me say, if I don’t know Casey Martin. I’ve had some you asked me who I thought made the great- limited contact with him, but he seems like est contribution to baseball, I’d have to say a terrific young man. He’s bound to be a cou- Jackie Robinson because he broke the color rageous young man. He could have folded line and because he did it in a way—because his tent in the face of his physical disability. he was a great player who was also a great He could have sat around feeling sorry for human being. There’s almost no way to go himself. And instead, he shows up every day, wrong here, but if you asked me who I think and he’s obviously got a lot of courage. And was the most—had the most stunning ath- I think that we ought to support that. I think letic attributes in my lifetime, I would have that’s in the finest tradition of the sport. to say Jordan and Mays are the ones that So to me, it’s not a difficult question. But I’ve physically witnessed. If you ask me—and I sympathize with the people who have the I think Jackie Robinson, what he did was im- responsibility of preserving the traditions and portant. But I guess I would have to say the the heritage of the game. I sympathize with reason I picked Jesse Owens is because he them, but I just think all this resistance has did it up against Hitler. been wrong. I think it’s the right thing to Mr. Patrick. Mr. President, thank you for do to let him get out there. taking time out of your busy day. And you know, you’re always welcome to talk sports Greatest 20th Century Athlete on here. Mr. Patrick. Can I ask you one final ques- The President. I love it. I loved talking tion, aside from the question I just asked to you, and I hope that more of our sports you? teams will follow the lead of the New Jersey The President. Sure. Nets. What they have done is a great thing, Mr. Patrick. Who is the number one ath- and they’re giving a lot of kids a chance at lete of all time, in your mind? The Sports a better future. Century countdown of the top 50 athletes— who would you vote for number one? Jayson Williams The President. Ooh. Mr. Patrick. Well, we have the Nets’ Mr. Patrick. Now, I know you released Jayson Williams. He’s on hold. I think you kind of a top 10—maybe it was a top 5— met him today, but Jayson will—— but if you were going to single out one ath- The President. Oh, I know him. He is lete, who would it be? a terrific young man, and he’s going to be The President. I believe the athlete in the well enough to play soon. But it’s not going 20th century that made the most important to stop him from spending some of his time Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Nov. 4 2257 trying to give these kids a better future, and ber of all of our tours. I thank Speaker Lyons I hope more people will follow his lead, too. and Senator Sullivan and all the other leaders Mr. Patrick. Mr. President, thank you, who are here. and we’ll see you. Even when you’re out of I want to say another word—I’m particu- office, you want to talk sports, you’re always larly glad to be in Hartford with Congress- welcome, okay? man Larson, because he’s been after me to The President. Thank you. come here as well. And Secretary Slater, Mr. Patrick. I don’t want you to feel like, thank you for making all these trips. And that you’re being neglected once you’re out. Reverend Jackson, thank you for being such You’re still welcome here. an inspiration for all of these efforts. The President. You’ve got a deal. I want to thank the Collective founders, Mr. Patrick. All right. Thank you. Jackie and Dollie McLean. I thought of giv- The President. Bye. ing up my speaking time and letting Jackie play. [Laughter] And I appreciate the ‘‘Hail NOTE: The President spoke by telephone at ap- proximately 2:23 p.m. from the Malcolm X To The Chief’’ with the saxophone. And I Shabazz High School in Newark, New Jersey. In just heard the jazz band upstairs; they played his remarks, the President referred to Lewis Katz an old Sonny Stipp tune that I knew back and Ray Chambers, co-owners, NBA New Jersey when I was a young man. I don’t believe I’m Nets; Michael Jordan, former player, NBA Chi- good enough to play it anymore, but I was cago Bulls; Willie Mays, member, Baseball Hall astonished at the musical quality of the peo- of Fame; and Jayson Williams, player, NBA New ple here. And it’s a great gift to your commu- Jersey Nets. Rob Dibble is co-anchor to Mr. nity. Patrick. Today you’re hearing in words rather than music, another sort of serenade for the peo- Remarks to the North End ple of this city. The corporate leaders to- Community in Hartford, Connecticut gether are pledging—listen to this—well November 4, 1999 over $200 million to the future of Hartford. That’s one of the most impressive commit- Thank you very much, first, to you Dick ments in any city to developing the market Huber, for being such a faithful member of potential of people who have not been part our new markets team. You started out with of our prosperity anywhere in the United us in Atlanta; you made the trip to Appa- States of America. And you should applaud lachia and to the Delta and other places; and them, support them, and be very proud of you led me home to Hartford today for you. them. [Applause] You know, the first time we were talking They’re all saying, ‘‘Hartford is our home; about this—I should say this about Dick; he Hartford is worth working for, worth fighting talks about how cynical he is. That’s a front. for, worth believing in.’’ And we are commit- I’m a politician; I recognize a front when I ted to working with you to succeed. see one. [Laughter] Today’s announcements are just the latest He said, ‘‘You know, I’m not sure I’m sign of the renaissance of this city. Before happy about you taking all these other busi- I came here to the Artists Collective, I had nessmen on this new markets tour. It looks a chance to meet some of the vendors at El to me like there’s a great business oppor- Mercado, the Latino marketplace on Park tunity here, and I hate for everybody else Street. I actually had visited there in 1992, to find it before I do.’’ And I want to come and I remarked, first of all, how excited I back to that, but I thank you. was to go back. I had a wonderful time there I thank my longtime friend the president in ’92. At the time I was battling with my of Trinity College, Evan Dobelle, and Heidi weight, and they made it worse. [Laughter] Miller from the Citigroup. And thank you, I never wanted to leave any of the places. Robert Fiondella and all the other business And I loved being back there today. And as leaders that are here. Thank you, Governor. far as I could see, everything was better than Thank you, Congressman, and also Congress- it was in ’92, except for one thing. There was man Kanjorski, who has been a faithful mem- this picture of me when I was there in ’92,