Costas To Host 'Bull Durham' Reunion
HOF Event Canceled Due To Stars' Antiwar Views
POSTED: 8:08 a.m. EDT April 24, 2003
Talk show host Bob Costas is picking up the ball on a movie celebration the Baseball Hall of Fame dropped and running with it.
Costas is reuniting "Bull Durham" cast members Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Robert Wuhl, and writer-director Ron Shelton next week to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the film on the HBO "On the Record" show next week.
The Baseball Hall was originally supposed to host the event this weekend, but the hall's president Dale Petroskey canceled the event during the U.S.-led war with Iraq earlier this month because of Robbins and Sarandon's antiwar views.
According to Variety, Costas is trying to get Petroskey on the show, too, to apologize for the cancellation of the event.
In a letter to the acting couple earlier this month, Petroskey wrote, "We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger," Petroskey wrote. "As an institution, we stand behind our president and our troops in this conflict."
Robbins angrily responded to Petroskey in a letter, saying he was "dismayed" over his decision. "You belong with the cowards and ideologues in a hall of infamy and shame," Robbins also wrote.
The actor slammed Petroskey again a few days later at a National Press Club speaking engagement. Robbins said, " "I can't tell you how moved I have been at the overwhelming support I have received from newspapers throughout the country in these past few days," Robbins told the press club. "I hold no illusions that all of these journalists agree with me on my views against the war."
Robbins also thanked the sports writers who stood behind him after the cancellation of the film event.
Petroskey said he regrets not calling Robbins and Sarandon before he nixed the celebration. But according to The Associated Press, he's made no mention of whether he still believes the decision to scrap the event was the right one.
Robbins said he appreciated the "non-apology apology," AP reported.
Costas is reuniting "Bull Durham" cast members Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Robert Wuhl, and writer-director Ron Shelton next week to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the film on the HBO "On the Record" show next week.
The Baseball Hall was originally supposed to host the event this weekend, but the hall's president Dale Petroskey canceled the event during the U.S.-led war with Iraq earlier this month because of Robbins and Sarandon's antiwar views.
According to Variety, Costas is trying to get Petroskey on the show, too, to apologize for the cancellation of the event.
In a letter to the acting couple earlier this month, Petroskey wrote, "We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger," Petroskey wrote. "As an institution, we stand behind our president and our troops in this conflict."
Robbins angrily responded to Petroskey in a letter, saying he was "dismayed" over his decision. "You belong with the cowards and ideologues in a hall of infamy and shame," Robbins also wrote.
The actor slammed Petroskey again a few days later at a National Press Club speaking engagement. Robbins said, " "I can't tell you how moved I have been at the overwhelming support I have received from newspapers throughout the country in these past few days," Robbins told the press club. "I hold no illusions that all of these journalists agree with me on my views against the war."
Robbins also thanked the sports writers who stood behind him after the cancellation of the film event.
Petroskey said he regrets not calling Robbins and Sarandon before he nixed the celebration. But according to The Associated Press, he's made no mention of whether he still believes the decision to scrap the event was the right one.
Robbins said he appreciated the "non-apology apology," AP reported.
Copyright 2003 by Lifewhile.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
