WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Barack Obama honored the MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy and the Stanley Cup winning Los Angeles Kings on Monday with a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
Obama addressed both teams, but below are his comments on the Galaxy.
"Today feels a little like Groundhog Day. If you’re feeling a little déjà vu, you’re not alone. Two years ago, we had the Galaxy and the Kings here together. So if you see Bill Murray playing the piano in the foyer, you know something weird is going on, and we’re probably going to do this again.
“This is actually three titles in four years for the Galaxy. It is their fifth Cup overall, more than any other franchise in MLS. And it will be the last one for one the greatest soccer players America has ever produced -- Landon Donovan, who unfortunately couldn’t make it today. But everybody knows this team is a whole lot more than just Landon. There’s league MVP Robbie Keane and Robbie Rogers. Apparently there’s some other guys not named Robbie -- like Omar Gonzalez from Team USA. And Juninho and Leonardo, two guys who’ve got that Brazilian one-name thing going, which is always very cool.
“Now, this season wasn’t a perfect storybook. The Galaxy started out the season in the cellar, then fought their way back into the playoffs. And then in the MLS Cup against New England, the game went into extra time when Robbie Keane’s goal gave them their latest title.
“And I was just telling these guys backstage the degree to which they represent their sports so well, and America is starting to realize what the Beautiful Game is all about. And it is wonderful to see not just what’s happening at the highest levels of professional sports, but how legions of young people are going to be continuing the traditions here in the United States with soccer for many years to come.”
