Beckham Back With White Sox, Probably as Backup

January 29, 2015 @ admin → No Comments

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent infielder Gordon Beckham on Wednesday and designated outfielder Dayan Viciedo for assignment. Meaning expect Viciedo to be going, going, gone from the organization in the not-too-distant future. Gee, you’d think the Sox would have signed Beckham, a fan favorite (especially with female fans) during his days with the Sox before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels last season, in time for SoxFest. Then again, maybe it’s just as well that the Sox didn’t because Beckham figures to be a backup rather than a star attraction.

Nothing Super Bowl-related today. But we do have this.

* Speaking of Chicago baseball, ESPN’s Keith Law rates the Cubs as having the best farm system. Which is fantastic — if you’re a fan of rating teams’ farm systems. But until those ratings translate into a World Series crown (some folks might even settle for a postseason appearance), lists such as his will be nothing more than a wonderful way to pass the time till spring training opens.

* Speaking of the Cubs, Comcast SportsNet will provide live coverage of the Ernie Banks memorial service on Saturday a 9 a.m. CSNChicago.com also will provide live video streaming of the service.

* Speaking of Comcast SportsNet and “Mr. Cub,” the cable channel will include an “Ernie the Manager” feature on Sunday at 10 p.m. as part of the cable channel’s Black History Month programming. CSN will incorporate features on its Sunday night “SportsNet Central” shows. The features also will be available at CSNChicago.com. Other features: “Ebony/Jet: The Vision and Voice of the Black Athlete” (profiling the impact that Johnson Publishing Company has had since its inception in 1942) on Feb. 8; “Shawn Harrington” (profiling Marshall High’s assistant basketball coach who was a victim of gun violence and his effort to walk again) on Feb. 14; and “Hidden Treasures” (a tour of Chicago neighborhoods and landmarks of special significance) on Feb. 22.

* Speaking of February viewing, Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic has been selected to play in the Rising Stars Challenge during NBA all-star weekend. The contest will have a new format that pits 10-player squads, one from the United States and one from other countries. Mirotic will be on the world team. The game will be Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. Central time on TNT.

Playboy’s Miss February 2015 Kayslee Collins. Credit: Josh Ryan

* If it’s Thursday (and the odds seem overwhelming that it is — because yesterday was Wednesday, provided that today is Jan. 29, 2015, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time once more for a weekly edition of “Sports & Torts” at noon Central time on Talkzone.com with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris. This week’s guests on the highly acclaimed interview show (well, it is held in such regard in the Spada and Harris households, as well as reportedly elsewhere) are Playboy’s February 2015 Playmate Kayslee Collins and former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall. Podcast of the show will be available later Thursday (and presumably forever, if not longer) at the Talkzone.com web site.

***

Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the entertaining efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):