Feb. 27 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 live in dangerous times. He also knows that And now Secretary Rice will administer this is a moment of great hope and oppor- the oath. tunity. John’s broad experience and sound judgment and unquestioned integrity will NOTE: The President spoke at 10:27 a.m. at make him an outstanding Deputy Secretary the U.S. Department of State. In his re- of State. marks, he referred to former Deputy Sec- And so, John, I thank you once again retary of State Robert B. Zoellick. The tran- for agreeing to serve our Nation. Congratu- script released by the Office of the Press Sec- lations. retary also included the remarks of Deputy Secretary Negroponte. Remarks Honoring the 2006 National Basketball Association Champion Miami Heat February 27, 2007 Thank you all. Please be seated. It is on time, the folks who never really get such a joy to welcome the NBA champs, much credit for making a franchise become the Miami Heat, to the White House. Glad a championship franchise. And we welcome you all are here. This is the Miami Heat’s you all here. first NBA championship. I congratulate you I want to say something to the spouses on a tremendous achievement, even though of the players: Welcome. You’ve got a you beat a Texas team. [Laughter] tough life, in many ways, with your spouse I can assure you, however, then-Gov- on the road all the time, and you deserve ernor Bush, the Governor of Florida, was as much of this championship as they do. thrilled, as were a lot of Florida fans. We’ve And so we welcome you here to the White got a lot of members of the congressional House as well. delegation in the room. We got you a All the fans who are here: Thanks for Senator here. We got Congresswoman Ros- coming. These players did something that Lehtinen, Alcee Hastings, Robert Wexler, they weren’t supposed to do. Remember, Ander Crenshaw, Jeff Miller, Kendrick they went into the Eastern Conference Meek, Ron Klein, and Tim Mahoney. championship as the underdog. Nobody Thank you all for coming. thought they could win. And then they get Most importantly, we got members of against the Mavericks, and they’re 2 down the Miami Heat family with us today. I’m and 13 points behind with minutes remain- really proud of Micky Arison and Mad- ing—7 minutes remaining in the third eleine, who is with us, as well as Nick. game. In other words, they lose that game; As you know, I used to be in pro sports. it’s over. They weren’t supposed to win. I never had the pleasure of winning any- And they did something no team has done thing. [Laughter] Must be pretty cool. in nearly 30 years, which is win four [Laughter] straight and become the NBA champs. And I welcome Pat Riley, the president and your fans are really proud of you. head coach of the Heat. I welcome Randy This is a team with some of the NBA’s Pfund, the general manager. I want to bright stars. Dwyane Wade led the team thank all the folks who make the organiza- in scoring—most valuable player in the tion run: the equipment people, the people finals. He was on the—sportsman of the that figure out how to get you to the plane year for Sports Illustrated. All it said was, 202 15 2010 15:52 Feb 25, 2011 Jkt 214691 PO 00000 Frm 00202 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\214691.008 214691 Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 / Feb. 27 Dwyane Wade plays to win. Unfortunately, NBA rings; that’s all. [Laughter] They he hurt his shoulder. I know a lot of NBA asked him about this ring, and I think it’s fans, whether they like the Heat or not, interesting what he said. He said, ‘‘I would are pulling for Dwyane to get back into have traded them all for this one.’’ He action. We wish you a speedy recovery. cares about this team. And obviously, the Or take Alonzo Mourning. A lot of folks players responded to his leadership. here in DC remember Alonzo Mourning. But what impresses me the most about I don’t know if the people understand it, the Miami Heat is their work in the com- but Alonzo had a kidney illness that a lot munity. That’s what impresses me about of folks said: ‘‘Well, he’ll never get back them. I mean, I’m in awe of their athletic on the court again.’’ He not only got back skills. Standing next to Shaq is an awe- on the court; he blocked a lot of shots— inspiring experience. [Laughter] But I want [laughter]—which helped this team become to share some of the stories of these players the NBA champ. and what they have done in their commu- And then, of course, probably one the nities. most well-known figures in the United Alonzo Mourning dedicated his entire States of America is a fellow that’s hard salary from the Heat to charities that help to miss—[laughter]—a fellow Texan— low-income kidney patients and underprivi- [laughter]—big Shaq. He scored his leged youth. It wasn’t 10 percent—[ap- 25,000th point in his career last night— plause]. I would suggest not popping up or recently. And we congratulate you for on every story—[laughter]—because you’re that—last night, yes, last night. And—but going to be tired. [Laughter] This is a giv- he was an important figure in seeing to— ing team. [Laughter] seeing this team to the championship. Antoine Walker founded the Eight Foun- But as Coach Riley gave me—he said: dation to provide education and sports op- ‘‘Just remember, the motto wasn’t, ‘Each portunities for inner-city kids in his home- star matters’; the motto was, ‘15 strong’.’’ town of Chicago. He came from Chicago; In other words, it was a team effort that he’s putting something back in the commu- got these men here to the White House. nity from whence he came. Yes, they had the stars; everybody knew Dwyane Wade has given a lot of his sal- who they—who the stars are, but it was ary to his church. He donates basketball the capacity to play together, to put the shoes to a youth sports program at his alma team ahead of themselves, that enabled mater, which happens to be Marquette them to be here at the White House, say- University. He founded Wade’s World ing, ‘‘Congratulations, NBA champs.’’ Foundation, which gives children edu- And I appreciate very much—[applause]. cational and social opportunities, such as So they asked Dwyane Wade—he was the the chance to spend the day at Disney fellow that was the Sports Illustrated World. man—he said, ‘‘We did this together.’’ In And then, of course, you’ve got the big other words, he recognized, in spite of the man, Shaq. He works as a reserve police fact that he had a fine series, that he officer with the Miami Beach Police De- couldn’t have done it without his team- partment. He gives new meaning to the mates. phrase ‘‘the long arm of the law.’’ [Laugh- Pat Riley had a lot to do with this team ter] playing as a team. A team requires a good, Heat players volunteer their time in all solid leader in convincing people to put kinds of causes, ranging from reading to the team ahead of themselves. And that’s drug prevention to youth basketball. This exactly what Pat Riley has done. I’d say is a championship team on the court, and he’s accomplished. After all, he’s won seven this is a championship team off the court, 203 15 2010 15:52 Feb 25, 2011 Jkt 214691 PO 00000 Frm 00203 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\214691.008 214691 Feb. 27 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 and it is my high honor to welcome to remarks, he referred to former Gov. Jeb the White House as the NBA champs. Bush of Florida; and Micky Arison, owner, Nicholas Arison, limited partner, and NOTE: The President spoke at 3:52 p.m. in Shaquille O’Neal, center, Miami Heat. the East Room at the White House. In his Remarks Following a Meeting With Military Service Organizations February 28, 2007 One of the most enjoyable things I do kinds of ways you can find out how to as the President is to hear stories of my do so. AmericaSupportsYou.mil, for exam- fellow citizens, stories of compassion, sto- ple, is a web site that if you really do ries of care. I just talked to social entre- want to participate like these citizens have, preneurs who have decided to help improve that you can find out a way to contribute the lives of our service men and women your time, your money, your talents to real- and their families. There are some remark- ly send a message that America supports able acts of kindness by people who have these brave volunteers who are out defend- taken it upon themselves to serve their ing our country in the war on terror. country by helping a neighbor in need. And And so I thank you all for joining us. whether it be helping the chaplains help It’s been my great pleasure to hear from kids, or whether it be helping a family of you.