 They're going to be big when they get as old as I am. Well, it's wonderful to have you all here. Nancy was going to invite you to my birthday party last week. But when I mentioned the way you like to celebrate, she said she didn't think that wearing Gatorade was presidential. So next week in Washington, we'll be addressing the critical issues of excellence and competitiveness in American life. And I can't think of a better kick-off than having the New York Giants here today. No one who saw your performance during those close games in the middle of the season and your overpowering victories in the playoffs and the Super Bowl can doubt the gents are a great football team. Now, I know Coach Parcell is a family commitment today and couldn't be with us, but I also know he's going to be a little upset with me for saying that. I read somewhere that he likes to keep everything nice, and modest, and humble, and understated. I even hear that when from time to time, great players like yourselves make mistakes, he issues only very gentle, low-key, even tender reminders like, now, now, linebacker Carson. That's a no-no. I guess the truth is that Bill Parcell is a little more outspoken than that. But I also guess that coaches do have a right to take the game seriously. Not as seriously as the fans, of course, but seriously. I can remember the old story told about one Notre Dame coach. Now, not the coach you're thinking of. Believe me, if I start telling rock me stories, we'll be here all day. Now, this story is about one of rock's successors and one of his own players, Frank Leahy, who's in a game Notre Dame played back in 1946. And Notre Dame player Bob Livingston missed a tackle. And his teammate Johnny Lujak screamed, Livingston, you, so and so you. And he went on and on about that. And then coach Frank Leahy said, another sacrilege like that, Jonathan Lujak. And you will be disassociated from our fine Catholic University. Well, in the very next play, Livingston missed another tackle. Leahy turned to the bench and leds. Jonathan Lujak was completely right about Robert Livingston. But the serious side of football is something the Giants and their fans understand. After that famous play in 1978 against the Eagles, one loyal giant fan, Mike Tobin, put it this way. My seats are in the end zone. And I can still see Herman Edwards coming straight toward me. My life was over. Well, as both stories suggest, football is more than just serious business. And being successful at it means realizing that. Harry Carson and the Gatorade Bucket proves my point. The New York Giants played great football this year, but they also had fun. That kind of spirit has always marked the great Giants' teams. That's why our fans have been so, or your fans, I should say, have been so loyal for so many years. I don't have many fans anymore, right? Well, they knew that someday they would have a great team again. And that such a team would mean more than just great athletes. It would mean a team with a heart, a team that liked each other and a team that loved fun but loved winning more. So don't forget you're continuing one of the best traditions in football history. Some say those Baltimore Colts versus New York Giants games in 1958 and 59 were the greatest ever played. And who can ever forget the offense of Connerly, Gifford, and Rote, and the great defense of Huff and Mazolesky and Greer. Today's giant organization, Wellington Mara, Tim Mara, George Young, Bill Parcells, and above all, this team is marked by that tradition and that spirit. It's a tradition you've continued and ennobled. I know what a moment it must have been for you. Well, Mara, when Charlie Connerly walked over and hugged you after the Super Bowl. You know, I was going to mention some names now. I wanted to single out Joe Morris as the courageous spark plug who in almost every game got the offensive weapon going. And then there was Brad Benson's war with a great opponent named Dexter Manley. And all of you on that tremendous Giants offensive line, you see fellas, I used to play guard. Right guard, that is. I'm sympathetic. And then receivers like Mark Bavaro or Phil McConkey, Phil, I guess you know I'm partial to flag waivers. Of course, the defense sports writer Paul Zimmerman said that coach Parcells likes to collect elephants, also linebackers. And sometimes it's hard to tell them apart. Glad he didn't say donkeys. Fellas, that took a minute, didn't it? All I can say is I'm awful grateful the gipper played before your time. But Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Carl Banks, Byron Hunt, Andy Heddon, Gary Reasons, and the rest of you, you were all superb this year. So were the men in front of you from Jim Burt to George Martin, and those behind you, a secondary that took some critical losses this year but came right back at the opposition. And finally, I wanted to single out Phil Sims, not only for his great play on the field, but for his character as a leader. But it's hard to single out people on this team. It wasn't just Phil or Joe or LT or Harry. The one thing everybody noticed about this team is that it was a band of brothers, a team forged by one undeniable bond, the will to win. You know, a young boxer in New York once asked the West Side wise boxing coach, Bob Choker, what made a great fighter. And Coach Choker didn't answer with quick hands or fast feet or punching power or any of the number of other answers that you might expect. He said instead, a good fighter is a hungry fighter. Well, it's the same with football teams or in any sport. And this year, the Giants were hungry for victory, victory for their owners, for their coaches, for their fans, hungry to excel and to be the best, and hungry to prove that they were true representatives of a great and grand football tradition. That's what the Super Bowl victory meant. As George Martin said after the game, the Giants of yesteryear have passed the torch. So I want to congratulate all of you. George Young for playing such a crucial role in developing this team, Coach Parcells, the Marys, all of us today, all of America, salute you, and we salute you as the best. Thank you all and God bless you. It's nice to be here surrounded by the Secret Service instead of by the Redskins. It's a privilege for me to represent the Giants organization and thanking the president for inviting us to meet him and also inviting us to visit the most famous home in all the world. But before we do anything more, we have some presents for Mr. President from three of our captains, Phil Sims, George Martin, and Harry Carson. But to Harry Carson, you better be careful of he's a little sneaky. Phil Sims will be first. On behalf of the Giants, Mr. President, I'd like to present you with this jersey. We'd like for you to be part of our team. And of course, the number, I think, is very suitable for you. Mr. President, I had to talk some of my teammates out of dunking you because that's what they wanted me to do to you. But instead, I would like to present to you this visiting team jersey so that whenever we come to RFK, you can sit in the stands and root for the best team. Mr. President, all of the ball players of the New York Giants voted unanimously to make you an honorary ball player of the New York Giants. They did so only because they said that you and I were very close in age. I quickly informed them that as a senior member of the New York Giants that that grants me the veto power. And in doing so, sir, I would like to give you a replica of our Super Bowl ring and make you an honorary coach of the New York Giants. I thank you. I thank you all. I once played opposite a fellow that could have worn that ring. He outweighed me 100 pounds. And I decided I wasn't going to go under him. And I couldn't go over him. I decided to go around him. And I almost got killed. I met our tackle coming around the other side. But when do I report? Well, thank you all. God bless you all. Thank you. We're all proud of you.