White Sox broadcaster Farmer, former pitcher, dies at 70
CHICAGO » Ed Farmer rooted for the White Sox growing up on Chicago’s South Side and went on to become an All-Star reliever for them.
Where he really made his mark was in their radio booth the past three decades. Whether he was calling no-hitters, chronicling a championship season in 2005 or simply telling entertaining stories, Farmer was an inviting voice who brought listeners along for the ride.
The White Sox said he died Wednesday night in Los Angeles at age 70 following complications from an illness.
“He was just kind of like a staple in the scenery of the White Sox,” former White Sox star Paul Konerko said Thursday.
Farmer was born in suburban Evergreen Park. He starred in baseball and basketball at St. Rita High and went on to pitch for eight teams over 11 seasons, going 30-43 ERA and
75 saves.
Farmer’s best years were with the White Sox from 1979-81. He was an All-Star in 1980, when he saved 30 games — then a club record.
Farmer worked as a major league scout for the Baltimore Orioles and spent time in the White Sox’s front office before joining the radio booth on a part-time basis in 1991. He settled in as a full-time analyst alongside announcer John Rooney from 1992 to
2005. Farmer assumed play-by-play duties in
2006 and completed his 29th season in the booth in 2019.
Michigan State AD defends Izzo
EAST LANSING, MICH. » Michigan State athletic director Bill Beekman defended basketball coach Tom Izzo after Izzo was accused in an ESPN report of contacting a witness who was part of a 2017 criminal sexual conduct investigation involving one of his players.
According to a police report obtained by ESPN, Michigan State student Brayden Smith was with basketball player Brock Washington on the night a female student said Washington forcibly groped her. When police interviewed Smith, he said he had already been contacted by Izzo and assistant coaches Dwayne Stephens and Mike Garland. They “asked (Smith) if he was OK and if there was anything that he had seen during the evening,” according to the report.
Beekman responded in a lengthy statement Thursday.
“Tom Izzo has been a beacon of integrity in his profession for nearly four decades, including a quarter century as head coach. Michigan State’s Office of Institutional Equity has gone on record to say that no policies were violated in regards to any actions taken by the men’s basketball staff during a Title IX investigation into a student,” Beekman
said.
Filly dies after training at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, CALIF. » There’s been a horse fatality at Santa Anita, which is temporarily closed for live racing because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s the seventh death at the track in Arcadia since December.
According to the California Horse Racing Board web site, a 2-year-old filly named Smiling Ali died Thursday. She had yet to race and was trained by Jeff Bonde.
Smiling Ali had just completed a two-furlong timed workout in 25 seconds when she died on the main dirt track. The cause was not immediately determined, although it was believed to be a probable heart attack. A required necropsy will be conducted.