HR0734 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0734 LRB100 16560 MST 31692 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Robert Quinlan "Bob" Costas on being chosen as the 2018 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame for excellence in broadcasting; and

WHEREAS, The Ford C. Frick Award is the highest honor a broadcaster can receive from the National Baseball Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Bob Costas began his post-college broadcasting career on the local St. Louis station, KMOX-AM, announcing play-by-play for the American Basketball Association team the Spirits of St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, Bob Costas was hired by NBC in 1980 and joined the broadcasting team on the popular baseball show, Game of the Week; he went on to announce baseball all-star and postseason games throughout the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a respected national broadcaster; and

WHEREAS, Bob Costas has found success announcing for various sports, most notably as NBC's prime time Olympics host from 1992 to 2016; he has won numerous broadcasting awards including 28 Emmys and eight Sportscaster of the Year awards; and

WHEREAS, Baseball has always been a constant throughout the career of Bob Costas; he has been a strong advocate for the game, has spoken out against steroid use, and has championed a purer and more unhurried version of the game in his book, Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball; and

WHEREAS, By his simple love of baseball, Bob Costas has become the voice that connects numerous fans to the sport they love; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Bob Costas on winning the 2018 Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and we wish him continued success in all future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Bob Costas as a symbol of our respect and esteem.