[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 150 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE RING LARDNER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN 
                           SPORTS JOURNALISM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2002

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the Chicago Athletic Association 
(CAA) was one of the nation's first sports clubs to be created when it 
was formed in 1890. It was ready for business--and sports--when it 
opened its doors to athletes and sports fans, just in time for the 
World's Fair Columbia Exposition in 1893. Amos Alonzo Stagg, Avery 
Brundage, William Wrigley and Ring Lardner were among the scores of 
sports celebrities who have called the CAA their second home. William 
Wrigley even took the club's logo for the use of his new baseball team. 
Today, that team is known as the Chicago Cubs.
  While dozens of awards programs exist for athletes, there are few 
programs that recognize excellence in sports journalism. The leadership 
of CAA has decided to create a special award for excellence in sports 
journalism, in honor of Ring Lardner, premier sports reporter and 
writer. The inaugural recipients of the new Ring Lardner Award were 
chosen by a distinguished panel, including: Mike Houlihan, Lardner 
Award creator, Chicago Sun-Times; Mike Conklin, Chicago Tribune; Rick 
Kogan, Chicago Tribune; Mike Mulligan, Chicago Sun-Times; Don Pierson, 
Chicago Tribune; Norman Potash, WBBM-TV (CBS); Jennifer Weigel, WLS-
RADIO; Susan Prather, founder of the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame; and 
William T. Darnton, immediate past president of the CAA.
  The recipients of the inaugural Ring Lardner Award are:
  In the broadcast category, NFL Host and play-by-play Announcer Greg 
Gumbel, CBS Sports;
  In the print category, former Chicago Sun-Times Columnist and Sports 
Editor Ray Sons; and
  In the posthumous award for both print and broadcast, former Chicago 
Daily News Sports Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times Columnist and WBBM-TV 
Sports Director Tim Weigel.
  The award ceremony is being held Thursday evening, November 21, 2002, 
at the Chicago Athletic Association, and is benefiting Maryville 
Academy for abused children. The profession of sports journalism lost a 
gifted reported in Tim Weigel last year. His award is especially 
poignant, because his daughter, Jennifer Weigel, is serving as Master 
of Ceremonies for the award ceremony, and his widow, Vicki Truax, will 
accept the posthumous award.
  Congratulations to the leadership and members of the Chicago Athletic 
Association for creating and establishing this award, to Ring Lardner's 
great-nephew, Rex, for his support and cooperation, and to the 
recipients.

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