quote:

---

San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 10/14/2003 10:53 AM

President Bush today welcomed the world champion San Antonio Spurs to the White House, calling their accomplishment an example to the country of what can be achieved when people work together to develop a winning culture.

# President's remarks on Spurs championship
“I think you're champs because you understand that serving something greater than yourself is the road to championships,” the president told the team in a Rose Garden ceremony. “ 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.”

Bush cited Coach Gregg Popovich’s selection as a Point of Light for his anti-drug work and retired center David Robinson’s role in education in San Antonio.

“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,” Bush said of Popovich, according to the White House press secretary’s office.

Bush called Robinson a great role model. The president also likened himself to Danny Ferry, whose father, Bob, also won an NBA title.

Sen. John Cornyn and Reps. Lamar Smith and Henry Bonilla also attended the ceremony.

The Spurs won the title in six games over the New Jersey Nets this summer. Their trip to the White House had been scheduled earlier this year but was delayed by Hurricane Isabel.

---