HR1139 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1139 LRB093 22903 HSS 52756 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Eight years ago, Springfield began hosting the world championship of wiffle ball; and

WHEREAS, The original co-founders, Speaker Madigan's Chief Issues Operative Mike Thomson and Labor Representative Sean Stott, along with their wives, have hosted this tournament in Springfield at Stott International Backyard Park for the last eight years; and

WHEREAS, Teams of Stott/Thomson were able to win the tournament in the early days over a small and weak field of contestants; and

WHEREAS, Recent tournaments have increased in size including two young athletic dynamos who joined forces to begin a new wiffle ball dynasty; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, current House Republican staffer Beth Bear and former House Republican staffer Ed Peck brought the honor of athletic glory and a World Championship to the common folk of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Beth Bear and Ed Peck, to no shock of the sporting world, demonstrated superior talent and athletic prowess in winning the title again this past weekend; and

WHEREAS, Beth Bear and Ed Peck are now two time Wiffle Ball World Champions, having won 2 of the last 3 world championships; and

WHEREAS, This indomitable force has reached the summit of athletic glory and has been coined by ESPN as a "dynasty" and one of the top 25 teams of all time, ranking with the likes of the Chicago Bulls and New York Yankees; and

WHEREAS, It is doubtful that teams of Stott/Thomson will ever again reach the pinnacle of the sport; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that, along with the citizens of the great State of Illinois, we congratulate Beth Bear and Ed Peck on their accomplishments and their contribution to wiffle ball in particular and athletics in general as witnessed by their two, and counting, Backyard Wiffle Ball Classic Championships; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Beth Bear and Ed Peck as an expression of our respect and esteem.