Pro football

COLTS OWNER TO VOTE AGAINST LIMBAUGH: Rush Limbaugh's bid to buy the St. Louis Rams ran into opposition within the NFL on Tuesday. Colts owner Jim Irsay vowed to vote against him, and commissioner Roger Goodell said the conservative commentator's "divisive" comments would not be tolerated from any NFL insider.

"I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him," Irsay said at an owners meetings. "When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive ... our words do damage, and it's something that we don't need."

Limbaugh has long been a hero of conservatives and villain to the left, thriving on his place in the political spectrum while establishing himself as one of the most successful broadcasters in history. But the NFL tries to avoid controversy, as Limbaugh learned in 2003 when he was forced to resign from ESPN's Sunday night football broadcast after saying of Philadelphia QB and Mt. Carmel grad Donovan McNabb: "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

Major League Baseball

CUBS CLOSER TO BEING SOLD: The sale of the Cubs moved closer Tuesday as a bankruptcy court judge said the team can go to the family of billionaire Joe Ricketts in a $845 million deal.

The judge had already cleared Tribune Co. to sell the team and Wrigley Field. But he gave his approval again Tuesday because the Cubs filed separately for Chapter 11 protection on Monday. That step was taken to ensure that the team can't be hit with claims by Tribune creditors.

The Ricketts family's deal for the Cubs could close in a couple of weeks, according to Don Liebentritt, Tribune's general counsel. The deal -- which involves a record price for a major league team -- has been approved by the other baseball owners.

Pro baseball

NORTHERN LEAGUE TEAMS TO PLAY 100 GAMES: The Northern League announced that its 2010 regular-season schedule will begin a week later, end a week later and each team would play 100 games.

With the addition of two new teams to the league -- the Rockford RiverHawks and the Lake County Fielders -- the new schedule will begin with games on May 20, 2010, and end on Labor Day, Sept. 6. Each team will play 100 games in 110 days in a single-division format with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, that will begin Sept. 8.

The league also announced that the dispersal draft to help roster a team for the Lake County Fielders will be held Oct. 22, with each of the 2009 members of the league protecting 11 players and the remaining open to be selected by the Fielders. The draft will last two rounds, each club losing two players.

College basketball

PURDUE'S JACKSON SUSPENDED FOR OPENER: Purdue guard Lewis Jackson has been suspended for two exhibition games and the season opener for violating team and NCAA rules.

The team suspended him for two games after he pleaded guilty in April to charges of illegal alcohol consumption and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jackson was told to complete community service and spend a year under court supervision.

The NCAA suspended Jackson one game for playing in an unspecified NCAA-sanctioned event without approval from his coach and compliance director. He'll sit out the season opener against Cal State Northridge on Nov. 13.

Jackson started 30 games as a freshman last season and averaged a team-leading 3.3 assists. He'll return for the Nov. 20 game against South Dakota State.

Around the horn

The Fever will remain in Indianapolis for the 2010 season, despite speculation that ownership would not keep the team. A letter to the fans posted this week on the team's Web site -- signed by owner and CEO Herb Simon, president Jim Morris and general manager Kelly Krauskopf -- says the team is looking forward to another great season in 2010 and for many years to come. ... Valparaiso University finished fifth at the Lady Phoenix Fall Classic women's golf tournament in Green Bay. The Crusaders had a second-round 404 and a two-day total of 794. Loyola won the tourney with a 645. Annie Nolan (Valparaiso) led VU with a 36-hole 178 and finished 21st overall. Kathleen Cooper (Hobart) had a 182, and Jessica O'Brien (Chesterton) totaled 200. ... Valparaiso University sophomore outfielder Kyle Gaedele has been ranked the 100th top collegiate baseball player, according to www.d1baseball.com. Gaedele hit .278 with three homers and 18 RBIs as a freshman, earning All-Newcomer Team honors in the Horizon League. He stole 30 bases this summer in The Prospect League, where he hit .278 with a league-leading five homers.