Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

President Talks to College Athletes

Aired May 21, 2002 - 13:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Another site we're watching right now, from the South Lawn of the White House, President Bush now greeting a number of college students, college athletes from four different areas, including the University of Maryland's men's basketball team. And we shall listen now to the president.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... welcome you all. I want to welcome the teams. Thanks for coming.

Thank you, senators, for being here. I see Sen. Dodd, Dayton.

Sen. Lieberman is on his way, I know that for a fact.

I want to thank my friend, Johnny Rowland, the governor of Connecticut, here. You see, he told me, he said, "The Connecticut women's basketball team is pretty good this year."

I said, "Oh, yes."

He said, "They're real good."

And said, "Well, how good?"

He said, "They're going to go undefeated."

I said, "Sure, Governor."

Thanks for making me look bad, Johnny.

(LAUGHTER)

Sen. Wellstone, thanks for coming, as well. I'm honored you're here.

I want to thank the representatives from the universities. My good friend Mark Udoff (ph) is here from the University of Minnesota.

I want to thank, Don Lucia, as well, the head coach of the men's hockey team.

I want to congratulate the Minnesota team. You won in dramatic fashion. You had to let down your -- change your immigration laws to allow somebody from North Dakota to come in to score.

(LAUGHTER)

But it was a great victory.

I want to thank Katherine Martin (ph) and Shannon Miller (ph) from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, women's hockey team for coming back again. This is repeat performance by a great group of athletes. And I want to congratulate you all for winning it for two years in a row.

I want to thank and welcome Geno Orinuma (ph). Is that right?

(CROSSTALK)

BUSH: OK. Fine.

HEMMER: The president, South Lawn of the White House, welcoming four different teams, men and women. The men's hockey team from the University of Minnesota, national champs. The women's hockey team University of Minnesota, Duluth. On the basketball side, University of Connecticut won it this past year on the men's side. And so too the University of Maryland. So all four teams, what a thrill must be for young men and women to be at the White House today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com