On June 5, the Chicago White Sox made Georgia Bulldog All-American shortstop Gordon Beckham the eighth overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. Last Thursday, Beckham officially became a member of the team, signing a minor-league contract just one day before the Friday deadline. Though negotiations between the two parties moved at a snail’s pace, in the end Beckham got just what he wanted, receiving a $2.6 million signing bonus. As a Georgia junior, Beckham hit .411 with 22 doubles, 28 home runs, 77 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He reported to Class A Kannapolis on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the Southeastern Conference announced it has agreed to a 15-year extension with CBS Sports to broadcast football and basketball games. The agreement will go into effect next year. As such, the network will carry a football game of the week along with prime-time games and doubleheaders and will continue to broadcast regular-season SEC basketball games. The agreement also covers other broadcast platforms, such as certain digital and internet rights. The league’s other TV deals with ESPN, Raycom Sports and FSN South expire after this academic year.
Over the last week, ballparks all around Major League Baseball have begun wiring their systems for instant replay. According to Commissioner Bud Selig, the technology, which will be used to help umpires, will be ready in the next couple of weeks. “I want to make sure that if and when we do it, it’s really good, it’s perfect,” he said at the conclusion of a two-day owners meeting. “It’ll be very limited. I want to make sure, and I’m not quite certain yet. But we should have answers very shortly.”
COLLEGE TRANSFERS
Last Wednesday, former Oklahoma wide receiver Josh Jarboe made official his transfer to Troy. The former Cedar Grove standout is a true freshman and without any playing experience but was released by coach Bob Stoops earlier this month after a cell-phone video that contained expletives and violent references surfaced and made its way onto YouTube. The video was simply the last straw for Jarboe, who was expelled from high school during his senior year for bringing a weapon onto campus. Whether he will have to sit out a year or be eligible to play immediately this season has not yet been determined.
In other related college football news, former Auburn freshman DeRon Furr has left the program and transferred to the University of Memphis. After multiple position changes as well as a few scuffles with teammates, the former Carver-Columbus quarterback decided Auburn was simply not the place for him. He will sit out this coming season and will have four years of eligibility remaining when he returns to the field of action in 2009. Furr will look to play safety for the Tigers.
BULLDOG TRADED
Early last week, the Washington Mystics traded six-time All-Star Taj McWilliams-Franklin to the Detroit Shock in return for former University of Georgia standout Tasha Humphrey. Washington also received Shay Murphy and a 2009 second-round draft pick in the deal. Humphrey was the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft and is currently averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. During her days in Athens, Humphrey was a three-time All-American and first-team All-SEC selection.
Most sports fans remember Eight Belles, the popular filly who, after finishing second to Big Brown in the 134th Kentucky Derby on May 3, broke both ankles and was immediately euthanized on the track after the race. As a result of her popularity, the Kentucky Derby Museum has set a date to memorialize her life. On Sept. 7, the horse will be interred at the museum in Louisville. Rick Porter, Eight Belles’ owner, will unveil a plaque honoring the champion horse during the public ceremony. The plaque will be mounted under a magnolia tree where the filly’s remains will rest.
Janovitz can be reached at sjanovitz@scoreatl.com.
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