8901250898 DETROIT FREE PRESS 890620 Tuesday, June 20, 1989 METRO FINAL

SPT

1D MITCH ALBOM Copyright (c) 1989, Detroit Free Press OVERHEARD AT AN OVAL OFFICE SALUTE It's not that I wouldn't like to meet the President. But I figure, hey, why make the trip? I already know what will happen when the Pistons visit the White House today. . . . In the Rose Garden. . . . JOHN SALLEY (huddled in the corner with the President): So, you see, George, you and me on this poster deal could be sweet. It's like, you hold up the Coke can, and I say--. PRESS SECRETARY: Excuse me, Mr. Salley. I need to get the President up to the podium now. SALLEY: No sweat. Hey, George. Later, man. We'll talk some business. Who's your agent? BUSH: I, uh . . . huh? ISIAH (walking around the gardens): Look at this, Mark. We've come a long way from the old neighborhood. MARK AGUIRRE: Yeah. The White House. Wow! What do you think, Dennis? RODMAN: They got a TGI Friday's here? BUSH: (Ahem) Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press. On behalf of the Oval Office, I wish to salute the Detroit Pistons --. PISTONS: BAAAD BOYS! BAAAD BOYS! CHUCK DALY: STUFF IT, GUYS! Uh, sorry, Mr. President. We're all excited here, heh-heh. BUSH: That's all right. You must be the coach. DALY: Yes, sir. BUSH: Nice suit. CHUCK: Thank you, sir. BUSH: Wholesale? DALY: Actually, this place called--. PRESS SECRETARY: Excuse me, sir? We better get on with this. BUSH: Right. Say, where's that Magic fellow? PISTONS: WRONG TEAM! BUSH: Ooops. Sorry. Now then, where were we? On behalf of the Oval Office, I wish to salute the Detroit Pistons, the new champions of the NBA! PISTONS: YAY! . . . Whee! . . . Where's the food? BUSH: While it's true I have advocated a kinder, gentler approach to things . . . BRENDAN No. 1 (whisper): He obviously never played Atlanta. BRENDAN No. 2 (whisper): Or Milwaukee. BUSH: . . . you men have nonetheless proven something I have always said: A strong defense is necessary to our survival! FENNIS (whisper): I thought Chuck said that. MICHAEL (whisper): He said it first, then Bush copied it. BUSH: I see in the notes here that you won this championship with the help of a Spider and a Worm. SALLEY: Yes, sir. RODMAN: Uh-huh. BUSH: I find that commendable. Why, I myself love to hunt with my dog, Millie. DENNIS: Is he calling us dogs? SALLEY: That's it, man. He gets 40 percent. BUSH: Also I see you relied on a Buddha. JAMES EDWARDS: Yes, your grace. BUSH: Fine, fine. You know, I spent some time in the Orient myself. Are you a Cantonese man? EDWARDS: Uh. . . . VINNIE: He likes the spicy stuff, Szechwan. BUSH: I beg your pardon? PRESS SECRETARY: Go on, sir. BUSH: Yes. Hmmm. Where's this Dumars? AAAAAYYYEEE! JOEY! JOEY! OOOOH! BUSH: What was that? CHUCK: Oh, that's just the pack of women who have surrounded him since he won the MVP award. AGUIRRE: Yeah. Joe's in there somewhere. FENNIS: We think. BUSH: I see. Well, now. Mr. Mahorn? MAHORN: Present, sir. BUSH: My, you're a tall one. Well, Rick, it says here you've been a Bad Boy. MAHORN: Not anymore, sir. BUSH: Then you've learned your lesson? MAHORN: Huh? PRESIDENT: Splendid. You see, our system of reform really can work. MAHORN: Hey, wait a min--. ISIAH: Mr. President, on behalf of the team we would like to give you this special, personalized jersey. BUSH: Hmmm. BAD BUSH? Gee, I've only been in office a few months. Give a guy a chance. ISIAH: No, sir. With us, bad is good. BUSH: It is? JOHN LONG: And baddest is best. BUSH: Well, our vice president will be happy to hear that. LAIMBEER: Yo, Rick. Look. It's Dan Quayle. RICK: Nah, that's the Howdy Doody dude. LAIMBEER: Hey, Dan! I voted for you, pal. QUAYLE: You did? RICK: You would. BUSH: Dan, great news! Bad is good. QUAYLE: It is? Gee, then . . . what's good? ISIAH: Finally, Mr. President. We'd like to rap. BUSH: Fine. Let me get some hammers, and--. VINNIE: No, what he meant was One-two. . . . WE ARE THE PISTONS, TAKE A LOOK CHAMPIONS NOW, YOU CAN CLOSE THE BOOK WE MAY HAVE LOST RICKEY, WE'LL STILL BE TRICKY IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU MUST BE LUNATIC-Y BUSH: Wonderful. QUAYLE: I have that record. I think. SALLEY: Yo, George, c'mere. About this Nike thing. Pretty sweet: 60 for me, 40 for you. . . .