Pro football

HARRIS BACK WITH BEARS: Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris knows expectations are high for his return to the starting lineup Sunday at Soldier Field against Cleveland.

Harris sat out last Sunday's 45-10 loss to Cincinnati after missing an entire week of practice. At first, coach Lovie Smith tied the benching to a sore left knee, but afterward said he wanted to see Harris practice before playing.

"They're supposed to expect, that's what I got paid for," said Harris, who received a $40 million contract extension after the 2007 season. "If you give a guy a whole bunch of money to perform or you ran a Fortune 500 company and the guys didn't produce like he did, what are you supposed to do?"

Harris completed his third straight practice Friday with no ill effects.

"I'm confident that it helped him a lot," Smith said Friday about Harris' week off and full week of practice. "That was our plan, to put him in position where he could practice all week. He practiced all week. He's feeling good about the practices he's had and playing good this week."

Don't forget to sign up for Sunday's Bears-Browns chat with The Times' Al Hamnik at nwitimes.com/app/BearsChat.

Pro basketball

BULLS ABSORB BLOWOUT LOSS: Paul Pierce scored 20 of his 22 points in the third quarter, and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 118-90 victory over the Bulls on Friday night in the teams' first matchup since last spring's thrilling seven-game playoff series.

Ray Allen had 20 points for Boston and Kevin Garnett, who missed the final 25 games of the regular season and the playoffs with strained ligaments in his right knee, added 16.

John Salmons led the Bulls (1-1) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jannero Pargo had 13 points, and Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah 10 apiece.

For more NBA coverage, visit nwi.com/sports.

Pro hockey

HAWKS WIN ON SHARP'S GOAL: Patrick Sharp scored with 4:10 left to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.

Set up by Patrick Kane's centering pass, Sharp ripped a shot from between the circles past Carey Price to hand the Canadiens' their fifth straight road loss.

Kris Vertseeg and Cam Barker each had a goal and an assist. Barker's power-play goal was only the Blackhawks' second in their last six games.

Cristobal Huet stopped 20 shots in his fourth straight start and beat the Canadiens, one of his former teams, for first time in three games.

Men's basketball

LA LUMIERE GRAD MARCIUS OUT 4-6 WEEKS: Purdue freshman forward Sandi Marcius, a La Lumiere grad, will be out 4-6 weeks after fracturing the second metatarsal on his right foot during practice on Friday.

"This is an unfortunate injury because Sandi had really been playing well," Purdue coach Matt Painter said in a news release. "Now he'll turn his attention to rehab, and we look forward to having him back in 4-6 weeks."

Men's soccer

VU'S SCHWARZ EARNS ACADEMIC HONOR: Valparaiso goalkeeper Ryan Schwarz was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V Team. Schwarz is now eligible for Academic All-American consideration.

He has played every second in net and holds an 8-6-1 record on the season with a goals against average of 1.15. Schwarz has also posted five shutouts on the season, tied for second in the league and on Valpo's single-season clean sheets chart, just one off the school record. His save percentage currently sits at a career-high .776, second in the Horizon League.

In the classroom, Schwarz maintains a 3.67 grade point average as a finance major.

Women's soccer

VU'S DESARIO, HOAGLIN EARN ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: Valparaiso University freshman forward Luisa Desario and freshman midfielder Rachel Hoaglin were named to the All-Horizon League team. Desario, who has six goals and two assists, made the first team. Hoaglin, who led the team with seven goals, was named to the second team. Both also were named to the All-Newcomer squad.

Women's volleyball

VU LOSES AT BUTLER: Angie Porche (T.F. South) had 15 kills and eight digs, but host Butler defeated Valparaiso University 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 25-17 in Horizon League play. Tara Diebler added 13 kills for the Crusaders (17-7, 9-2).

Youth hockey

SPONSORS SOUGHT FOR ICE BOWL: Sponsors are needed for the ICE (Inner-City Education) Bowl, a charitable program spearheaded by Chicago Blackhawk Brent Seabrook, to be held Nov. 14.

The event provides academic scholarships for low-income youth who participate in organized hockey and maintain satisfactory academic standing. The total cost of the sponsorship is $2,000. A full sponsorship would earn donor name recognition in a program and signage at the event.

For more information or to be a sponsor, contact Nichole Odijk at (219) 308-3058.