Laura Verillo
Job Title: Media Relations Assistant
Years in Baseball: 2, broadcast intern and color commentator for Brockton Rox (Can-Am league), Spanish broadcast intern for Boston Red Sox, and pre- and post-production intern for Red Sox baseball on NESN.
Years with the Hawks: First year
Birthday: July 23, 1989
Hometown: West Paterson, NJ
College: Boston University, College of Communications
Pets: Lady-West White Highland Terrier and Birdman (named after Nuggets center and New Orleans rapper)-Beta fish
Family: Mama and Papa V. live with my younger brother, Freddy in Jersey. But let's just say my family needs to rent a hall for Christmas Eve because we don't all fit in one house.
How did you get started working in sports?: I started playing tee ball as soon as I could pick up a bat. Then, once I realized I wouldn't be the first female professional baseball player, I started reporting freshman year of high school, and later became the sports editor of my newspaper.
Best moment in sports?: Attending game 2 of the 2009 World Series, Yankees won and Jay-Z opened, combining my two favorite things. Also, witnessing, first-hand, Derek Jeter emerge from the 3rd baseline stands against the Red Sox after making THE diving catch on July 1, 2004.
Favorite part about working in baseball?: Your "office" often overlooks home plate. Enough said.
What advice do you have for those people who are interesting in working in sports?: Go above and beyond. Love what you do. Know your stuff. And network!
One thing people don't know about one of your co-workers at the Boise Hawks?: I'll find out the dirt and report back...
If you didn't work in sports or with the Boise Hawks what would you do?: Marine biology. My friend Bailey Pace is a marine biologist, so I'm sure we'd be the crazy people with a show on the Discovery Channel swimming with the sharks and jellyfish.
What are things you enjoy doing when you are not working?: Cooking, pretending to play guitar, reading, teaching people how to dougie, referencing "Friends", deep sea fishing, getting inappropriately competitive at any and all sports.
What are three things in life that you can't live without?: Chinese food accompanied by rap music, mlb.tv so I don't miss any Yankees games, and my nonna.
If you could "un-invent" one thing, what would it be? Apple bottom jeans, shoes with toes. Also, muffin bottoms (tops are clearly the best).
Other fun facts about you: I can rap all of "99 Problems" (as well as an assortment of other rap songs, such as, but not limited to "All I Do Is Win," "Hot in Here," and "Say My Name"). If I give you a ride, be prepared for me to sing with the windows down, using a water bottle as microphone. I know Kung Fu and can ballroom dance. My diet consists of chicken nuggets and soup. I own the 20th Anniversary Shark Week Collection on DVD-get at me. I'm trilingual. Good grammar is very important to me, as is well-used sarcasm...and ellipses....And, I have many leather-bound books.