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Award special for Costner
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) -- Actor Kevin Costner is no stranger to awards. In addition to the Academy Awards that Costner received for his work on the film "Dances With Wolves," the actor often is honored by different organizations. But Costner referred to his induction into the Little League Hall of Excellence as different. "This clearly was just kind of a nod to myself and to the game," Costner said after his induction Saturday, "And I felt like nodding back because it was a love affair for me." Joining Costner as 2000 inductees were Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA Players Association and Dr. Robert Stratta, a groundbreaking transplant surgeon. But it was the star of films like "Field of Dreams" and "Bull Durham" who attracted the large crowd to the induction ceremony. Costner's reception by the crowd was the best ever for a Hall inductee, according to Little League spokesman Lance Van Auken. And Costner responded with a poignant speech. "Baseball, Little League, was such a huge part of my life as a kid and as a father," said Costner, who has two daughters and a son. "The memories are, in fact, so thick that I have to brush them away from my face."
Brett graduatesAs he drove into Williamsport on Friday night, baseball Hall of Famer George Brett realized he had gotten back to his roots. "Man, this is where it all starts," the former Kansas City Royal said. "To be given an honor at age 47 years old, you know, I finally graduated Little League." Brett was chosen as this year's William A. Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate. The award was established in 1987 and goes to a former Little Leaguer who played in the major leagues and best shows the spirit of Little League Baseball. Past winners include Hall of Famers Robin Yount, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton and Jim Palmer. "Now that I'm (in Williamsport) for the first time, now I realize the importance of Little League baseball," Brett said.
BaselinesThe teams not in the Series championship game were not idle on Saturday, as crossover games were played between the international and U.S. squads. Tokyo defeated Davenport, Iowa 3-1. Vancouver, Wash., beat Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 10-0. And Goffstown, N.H., beat Toronto 4-2, in a game between the Series' two 0-3 teams. ... The attendance for Saturday's championship game was 42,000, giving the Series a record-attendance total of 236,972. ...The Bellaire, Texas, team has made its mark on the presidential race as Republican candidate and Texas governor George W. Bush sent the team a letter Friday. "You make the Bellaire community and the Lone Star State proud," Bush wrote in the letter.
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