This Friday at 9 p.m. on WSRE, “Conversations with Jeff Weeks” welcomes the true story inspired “Rookie” Jim Morris. He was a small town high school baseball coach in his thirties who virtually overnight became a major league baseball pitcher. For Jim Morris it was a boyhood dream come true. In a ploy to motivate his high school team, he agreed to try out for a major league team if they won their district championship — when the team won Morris kept his promise and attended a tryout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. To his and the major league scouts surprise, he could still consistently throw a 90 plus mile per hour fastball. After a short stint in the minor leagues he was called up to the major leagues. The story so impressed Disney, they made of movie about Morris’s journey. The movie entitled “The Rookie” starred Dennis Quaid and went on to be a huge success. On this episode of “Conversations with Jeff Weeks” the real rookie, Jim Morris, talks about capitalizing on second chances, never giving up and following your passion. Morris also shares behind the scenes info on making the movie, as well as some valuable life lessons learned from his grandfather. “Conversations with Jeff Weeks” is a half-hour, weekly series that is “personality-driven,” featuring in-depth discussions with unique individuals and leading newsmakers from all walks of life. The program airs every Friday night at 9 p.m. on WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast.Other upcoming guests include: Pam Bilbrey, author and Mark Whitacre, “The Informant.”
