Opening Morning March 25, 2008

Rob Morrison, Anchor

The 2008 baseball season got underway in a big way in Studio 6B today.  Our technical crew was kind enough to put the Red Sox opener from Japan (6 am EST) up on our massive digital display monitors.  If you don’t immediately recognize the space, it’s the background of Chuck’s set for New York Nightly News.  We’ll switch it back before he gets in this afternoon.

Photo Credit: Darlene Rodriguez

Baseball Karma June 4, 2007

Rob Morrison, Anchor

A sizable chunk of my weekend was dedicated to the Yankees-Red Sox series. Last night’s late game (thanks ESPN) is the reason I’m bleary eyed today. It will be late August when these two rivals meet again, so I didn’t want to miss much.

As expected, the games provided plenty of drama despite Boston’s formidable lead in the standings. I also believe karma was at work as the “baseball gods” watched from on-high. Cases in point:

1. I think it was fitting that Yankees relief pitcher Scott Proctor imploded on Saturday – opening the door for an impressive Sox rally. Of course, it was Proctor who embarrassed his team one day earlier by throwing high and tight to Kevin Youkilis.
2. Although I personally hate it, I think it was fitting that A-Rod hit the game-winning home run last night after a difficult week on and off the field. Sox fans may have taken the heckling a step too far.
3. And I saw a certain parity when now Yankees first baseman and former Red Sox first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz got knocked senseless in Fenway. You’ll remember it was he who held Red Sox Nation hostage by keeping the ball from the 2004 World Series for himself.

Just 85 days and counting until these bitter rivals mix it up again.

Pace Picks Up In April April 4, 2007

Rob Morrison, Anchor

April’s just begun and things have already been busy here on TINY.

As you may know, April is Autism Awareness Month. I recently visited an amazing school in Verona, New Jersey called The Children’s Institute. Later this month we’ll feature their educational programs and dedicated staff. We’ll also have Suzanne Wright in the studio at some point to talk about the important work her organization, Autism Speaks, is doing. I urge you to check out both websites.

Photographer Justin Laub and I took a ferry over to Ellis Island yesterday. It was a perfect day to do it (as opposed to this ugly day). They are celebrating a centennial anniversary on April 17 and we are putting something together for that.

And Shonda Schilling, Curt’s wife, tape an interview with us this morning that will air tomorrow. While her husband’s heroics on the baseball field are well known, her story of surviving melanoma is even more inspiring. They founded The Shade Foundation to raise awareness about skin cancer and we thought it was a good time of year to get the word out.

As a Sox fan, I credit her with being a good sport when I brought up Curt’s dismal performance on Opening Day.