On behalf of the people of Boise, I’m honored as Mayor to welcome you to the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame 2009 Induction Ceremonies.

This is a unique event and a unique institution.

It is the only organization in the nation, perhaps the world, dedicated exclusively to celebrating the actions amateur and professional athletes who are making their communities and their planet a better place for everyone.

Here we honor what happens off the playing field as much as what happens on the field. It’s not whether you win or lose – it’s how you play the game of life.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite sports books – one of my favorite books of any kind, since what I mostly read was sports books – was Jerry Kramer’s “Instant Replay.”

The Green Bay Packers star, who grew up in Idaho, had all kinds of interesting things to say about football and about life.

But one thing he said really didn’t resonate with me until I grew up and had a child of my own.

“It is something that most parents hope for in life,” he said, “that their children will be moderately successful, polite, decent human beings. Anything on top of that is something you have no right to hope for, but we all do.”

I think Jerry Kramer was talking about character – the very foundation of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. We can all hope that our sons and daughters grow up to be the very best at whatever they do, to be great football stars or gold medal Olympians, or world-renowned surgeons or Pulitzer-winning authors, or world-class parents.

But what we hope for first is that they grow up to be polite, decent human beings.

And that is where humanitarianism begins. That is why we are all here tonight.

I want to extend my congratulations and admiration to this year’s Hall of Fame inductees: Adonal Foyle, Diego Gutierrez and Tracy Mattes. You serve as wonderful examples not only to athletes everywhere, but to all of us who find inspiration both in the power of the human body and the generosity of the human heart.

Jerry Kramer said one other thing that I want to leave you with tonight:

“When the game is over,” he said, “it is really just beginning.”

Tonight we honor those who live their lives by that credo – and our lives are better as a result.

Thank you again, and welcome.