President George W. Bush said the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks provided the nation with a much needed diversion this fall in welcoming the team to the White House on Thursday.
Among the Diamondbacks at the White House ceremony was Carson High graduate Matt Williams.
Bush also quoted Williams during the ceremony. "So I want to thank the players," Bush said. "I also particularly want to thank the players for going to Ground Zero. I know Matt Williams' quote was one that caught my attention, when he said, 'we're glad to get a chance to shake the hands and talk to some of the true American heros.'
"It really meant a lot to the people of New York to see the Diamondbacks, the foe of the mighty Yankees go to Ground Zero and to thank those people whose lives were hurting a lot, people who had spent enormous amounts of energy trying to rescue a fallen brother or sister because of what the enemy had done. And I really want to thank you all for doing that. It was a true class act, not only a great baseball team, but obviously a group
of really fine human beings. And for that the nation is grateful, and thank you."
In addition, Bush joked that the Diamondbacks has had much more success than what he had when he was a managing partner with the Texas Rangers.
"I'm developing a severe case of trophy-envy," he said. "We
were lucky to get out of last place with the Rangers."
Bush went on to talk about what the World Series meant to the nation.
"It's an amazing year, obviously, for our country," he said. "And the World Series couldn't have come at a better time. It gave the American people a chance to think about something other than the war. And what a fabulous World Series it was.
"The players gave us a fabulous Series. I can't think of a better way to end a World Series, particularly in a time of national need, than in the bottom of the ninth, in the seventh game, everybody watching in the country, people cheering one way or the other, such joy and jubilation."
