Sunday Morning News

Republican National Convention: Sixers Owner Pat Croce Discusses Recruiting Volunteers

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LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to get all of this stuff together and get everything happening, and have this whole convention run smoothly you need tons and tons of volunteers.

Now, the city of Philadelphia turned to one particular character you might be surprised about to actually get this -- the volunteers necessary to make this run: Pat Croce, who is with the 76ers, and who tells me that he is not a politician and is not into politics, and yet -- and still, you got corralled into this thing.

PAT CROCE, OWNER, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: You're right, Leon. I'm a pure-bred Philadelphian, born and bred here, and anytime the eyes of the world are shining on Philadelphia, I'm here to help.

HARRIS: So how did you get -- now, how did you get the call?

CROCE: Well, it was Brian Roberts, who is my partner, owns the Flyers, and the Sixers, and this building together, and he said, Pat, we need your help. We need to raise 10,000 volunteers, and he was afraid they couldn't do it, and so I said, sure -- I didn't know what I was getting myself into, because technically I'm done, but we train them, we motivate them, we delegate them, and we have a ball doing it. Now we have 15,000, we have 15,000 people strutting their stuff...

HARRIS: Fifteen thousand.

CROCE: ... waiting to show people the best sights in Philadelphia. They're waiting to welcome them.

HARRIS: Now, wait -- now, is it something special about Philadelphians that made that possible?

CROCE: It's the pride and passion -- it's that same passion where they like to boo and throw snowballs at Santa Claus?

HARRIS: Yes, Santa Claus, yes.

CROCE: Well, now, it's the other end. Now they're just so happy to demonstrate their great city. They have a smile plastered on their face. We're making them shine their teeth and show that smile. No, it's really cool. They're really happy to be here.

HARRIS: Now that's saying something about these people here. They'd boo Santa Claus, but they'd embrace George W. Bush.

CROCE: Is that cool?

HARRIS: What's that mean?

CROCE: That means that they're proud that he's come to our city, to have all the Republicans coming to this city to really have a party, and we know how to party. Remember, this is where it started...

HARRIS: I have heard that before.

CROCE: The biggest celebration...

HARRIS: In fact, the last couple of days, I think I've seen some of that.

So tell me what you think that is the most special thing about this city you'd want any of these delegates to walk away with?

CROCE: Well, we talk about from the art museum and "Rocky" running down, the Italian market, and our cheese steaks and soft pretzels, but it truly is the people. That's why you have to visit, not just the sights, but visit the people and learn how to say yo, because yo can mean hello, yo can mean excuse me, yo can mean get out of my face. It's -- you know, and when you have a cheese steak, you have to say with so you know you're getting fried onions. No, this place is special. We have great museums and restaurants and sights, but it's the people.

HARRIS: Now, are you finished now recruiting volunteers, or do you still need more, or what?

CROCE: No, no, no. As a matter of fact, we have so many that today at 4:00 I have a pep rally for the extra 1,000 volunteers that we're going to deploy to all the delegation parties -- 55 delegation parties -- and they're going to just have reception lines cheering as the delegates come in -- every party.

HARRIS: Is that right? We saw some of those last night at the big media party that's over at the convention center.

CROCE: That's right. That was ours.

HARRIS: That was your volunteers that were doing it?

CROCE: Yes, that was our volunteers.

HARRIS: They did a great job. They made us all feel great.

CROCE: It makes you feel great, doesn't it?

HARRIS: Yes.

CROCE: Now when does the media ever get cheered?

HARRIS: Never.

CROCE: See, and that's special.

HARRIS: Trust me. You should see some of my mail.

CROCE: I don't believe that. I don't believe that, Leon.

HARRIS: No, just kidding.

Well, listen, where are you going to be during the convention? You going to be here on the floor, or what?

CROCE: I'll probably be down the shore.

HARRIS: You're getting out of Dodge, huh?

CROCE: I'm getting out of Dodge after today.

I'll be back. We're going to try to run a three-on-three basketball tournament for all the congressmen over at the naval yard, and the winners get to play three of our 76ers, so that's what we're trying to coordinate right now.

HARRIS: OK, speaking of which, I can't let you go without asking you, what's up with Iverson, man?

CROCE: Bubba Chuck is right here in front.

HARRIS: Is he going to be playing on the floor?

CROCE: Right here at center court. I think we're at center court here, Leon.

No, he's staying here. Don't believe those rumors.

HARRIS: Yes?

CROCE: Don't believe those rumors.

HARRIS: OK, good, we have a news flash here on that one.

CROCE: Although, I do like Mutombo down there in Atlanta, in your town.

HARRIS: Keep trying, keep trying.

Pat Croce, thanks, man.

CROCE: Leon...

HARRIS: It's good to meet you.

CROCE: ... my pleasure.

HARRIS: Guess your ready to fly out of here.

See you, good to meet you, man.

CROCE: Thank you.

HARRIS: All right, we'll see you around.

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