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Morning News

Teacher-Turned Pitcher in Camp with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Aired March 16, 2000 - 9:12 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are on the verge of spring, and that means spring training. And the Grapefruit League for baseball fans is in full swing in Florida.

Laura Okmin of CNN/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED has a tough assignment. She's been on the road all week, checking out some of the prospects around Florida, and joins us now with the story of an unlikely rookie.

Good morning to you in Florida. Hi, Laura.

LAURA OKMIN, CNN/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Boy, what a wonderful day and what a wonderful story. Curt Warner was football's fairy tale last year. Baseball has its this season.

And that fairy tale story is joining me. Jim Morriss, last year at this time, was teaching science and coaching baseball at a high school in Texas; Now, he's pitching for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, all because of a bet he lost.

Tell us how it went down.

JIM MORRISS, DEVIL RAYS PITCHER: I made a bet with my high school team, and, basically, they bet me. I challenged them, and told them to reach for their goals and aspirations and try to reach beyond that and accomplish whatever you can. And they threw it back on me, and they said: Well, the way you throw batting practice to us and the way you approach the game and look at the game that is being played, we know that, in your heart, you still want to play. And they -- basically, what they did was they said: If we get to the play-offs, you've got to go try out for a team. And I said: I'll take that bet.

OKMIN: And then what happened from there? Then, how did you pick the camp? Because, it wasn't that you went out and scouted; you had a very specific reason of the team you looked for?

MORRISS: Yes. I went to the smallest camp I could find, so I wouldn't embarrass myself too bad.

OKMIN: And what happened with the scout that you saw, because it kind of was a joke between you two at first? MORRISS: Yes. When I walked in, and, finally, my son got me to get out of the car and go in and sign up for the try-out. Doug Gaswood (ph), the scout for the Devil Rays, looked at me and said: How many kids did you bring to the try-out?

And I said: Well, let me explain something. And, you know, I explained the deal I made with my kids. And he said: Well, because that's noble of you and we'll let you throw. He goes: You're going to throw last, but we'll let you throw.

OKMIN: Thirty-six years old, 35 years old last year. The first time that you went on to the pitcher's mound in front of tens of thousands of people, what was that like?

MORRISS: I thought my heart was going to come out of my shirt, and I thought everybody could see my heart beating; I was so nervous. But it was a great day. My wife got to see me for the first time in three months; and she's never seen me in a baseball uniform; and she gets to see me in front of 45,000 people. And with the big-league uniform on, and my name on my back, and I actually get in the game. I mean, unbelievable experience.

OKMIN: What's the difference, Jim, doing this when you are 21, 22, which you originally were in the minors at that age, and doing it now at 36? Different appreciation for where you are?

MORRISS: Oh, most definitely. I'm not taking anything for granted. I take everything day by day, and try to take in as much as I can, and just have fun with it.

OKMIN: And a book deal and a movie deal in the making, right?

MORRISS: Yes, ma'am.

OKMIN: And who do you want playing you?

MORRISS: Somebody good looking.

OKMIN: Kevin Costner; good deal.

MORRIS: Well, we'll see.

OKMIN: All right. Thank you for joining us. Good luck.

Not a bad thing: Last year, signing report cards at this time; Now, he's signing autographs. A wonderful story.

Daryn, more inspiration to follow our dreams no matter how old we are.

KAGAN: There you go.

What does she mean by that, "no matter how old we are"?

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, I know, really. I think she meant you and her. KAGAN: Oh, OK. And you are out of this.

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