Pro hockey
BLACKHAWKS PROMOTE BOWMAN, OTHERS: The Blackhawks promoted Stan Bowman to vice president/general manager, Jay Blunk to executive vice president, Kevin Cheveldayoff to assistant general manager/senior director of hockey operations, Al MacIsaac to vice president/assistant to the president and Chris Werner to vice president of ticket operations and customer service.
Bowman, 37, became the youngest general manager in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup when the Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in June, accomplishing the feat at 36 years, 11 months and 12 days during his first year in the position. Bowman was named the ninth general manager in franchise history on July 14, 2009, and the Notre Dame grad will be entering his 10th year with the organization in 2010-11.
Pro football
MCNABB TO START SUNDAY: Donovan McNabb said Tuesday his sprained ankle isn't 100 percent, but it won't keep him from starting the Washington Redskins' opener Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.
"Yes, I will be starting this weekend," the Mt. Carmel grad told ESPN980. "And I look forward to it."
McNabb sprained his left ankle 2½ weeks ago in a preseason game against Baltimore. McNabb said the injury isn't classified as a high ankle sprain — the more severe type that has more significant ligament damage and a longer recovery time — but he said it's "very close to it." He said he's getting multiple treatments each day.
"Is it 100 percent? No. ... But it's getting better," he said.
Pro tennis
VENUS MOVES ON: Venus Williams is back in a Grand Slam semifinal. The year will end without an American man being able to make the same claim.
Stanislas Wawrinka beat Sam Querrey in five sets Tuesday to put two Swiss men in a major quarterfinal for the first time in the Open era — and keep the Americans out of that round in the U.S. Open for the second straight year.
Williams defeated French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (5), 6-4. It's her first Grand Slam semifinal since last year's Wimbledon.
Wawrinka won 7-6 (9), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to join a countryman whose presence this deep in a major tournament is just assumed: Roger Federer.
Pro golf
WOODS, FOWLER MAKE RYDER CUP TEAM: Tiger Woods was a no-brainer as a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup. Rickie Fowler required a little more than deep thought.
"It just came down to feelings," captain Corey Pavin said. "I had a gut feeling about Rickie."
Fowler, the 21-year-old mop top who only turned pro 11 months ago, made history Tuesday as the first PGA Tour rookie on the American team and the first captain's pick to have never won on tour.
He was the only big mystery when Pavin announced his four picks at the New York Stock Exchange. Pavin also chose a pair of major champions, Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, both of whom have played the Ryder Cup on the road.
The matches will be held Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Wales.
College football
H-F GRAD BUCHANAN SUSPENDED FROM ILLINOIS: Illinois has indefinitely suspended defensive lineman Michael Buchanan, a Homewood-Flossmoor grad, after he was arrested on sus-picion of drunken driving over the weekend.
Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said Tuesday that Illinois State Police arrested the 19-year-old sophomore at about 2:25 Sunday morning in Champaign.
He faces a preliminary charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and consumption of alcohol by a minor. Rietz said he is out on bond.
Women's volleyball
CRUSADERS WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT: Valparaiso won its seventh straight match and extended one of the best starts in program history with a 25-12, 25-19, 25-20 victory over Indiana State (5-3) on Tuesday in Terre Haute.
With a 7-1 record, the Crusaders are aiming to match the 2003 VU squad that won its first eight contests en route to a 10-1 start.
"I'm very, very proud of the team for winning this match tonight, especially in three sets," said Crusader coach Carin Avery in a school media release. "We've had a very grueling two weeks, both physically and mentally being on the road in a bus as long as we have."
Crusaders Katie Britton and Tara Diebler tied for match-high honors with 10 kills apiece. Jenny Pokorny had 28 assists to go with five kills and eight digs, while Taylor Root tied for the match lead with 21 digs.
The Crusaders will look for their third straight in-season tournament title this weekend when they will complete in the Bradley Invitational.
Local auto racing
BETTENHAUSEN CLASSIC SATURDAY: Illiana Motor Speedway will host the 49th edition of the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 on Saturday.
Gates will open 4 p.m. on race day, with time trials set for 5:30 p.m. and the first race starting at 7:05 p.m. Cost is $15 for adults, $5 for children 8-12.
The race honors Tony Bettenhausen, a Tinley Park native who made 14 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with five top-10 finishes. Bettenhausen's life ended during a crash while testing a car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 1961.
For details, call (219) 322-5311, or go to www.illianaspeedway.com.
Prep soccer
MEET THE VIKES TONIGHT, THURSDAY: Meet the Vikes nights will take place at Viking Arena. The Valparaiso boys will meet Merrillville today, while the VHS girls host Munster on Thursday. Junior varsity matches will begin at 5 both nights. Admission is free to all children wearing their team jersey. Prizes will be given away during the contests. A special autograph session will take place immediately after the games.
Prep football
REUNION SEPT. 24 AT VALPO: Former players who were a part of Valparaiso's football program in 1970, 1971 and 1972 are invited to a reunion and recognition ceremony at halftime of the Sept. 24 home game against Crown Point. The reunion is for players who graduated from 1971-73 to honor those who were part of the Vikings' 26-game winning streak. For details, call Jeff Butterfield at (219) 548-3805.
Around the horn
The Dunes Volleyball Club is offering Fall Ball to girls in first through eighth grade. It runs every Sunday through Oct. 24 at the Dunes Operation Center. For girls in grades 5-8, the cost is $100 and play is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For girls in grades 1-4, the cost is $50 and play is from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Visit www.dunes.org to register. ... Playmaker 14-and-under softball tryouts will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dave Griffin's baseball school in Griffith. For details, call (219) 992-1107. ... Tryouts for the Hammond Seminoles, a team of players who will be age 15 or 16 as of May 1, 2011, will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 19. The tryout for the Hammond Chiefs, which is for players 17 or 18 as of May 1, 2011, will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 26. Both tryouts will be held at Riverside Park in Hammond and are open to all players who live in Lake or Porter counties. For details, go to hammondchiefs.com or call Dave Sutkowski at (219) 852-9461. ... The NWI Sox Fastpitch Travel Softball Program is hosting a round robin tournament Sept. 26 at Stephen Park in Schererville for 10U and 12U teams with a three-game guarantee. Cost is $200 per team. For details, call Rick Baker at (219) 613-1017. ... The Portage Bulldawgs are holding tryouts for their 9U, 11U and 12U baseball teams at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Portage Little League Central Avenue Field. Must be a Portage Little League player to participate. For details, go to www.portagebulldawgs.org... The PHC Hockey Club is looking for players, including goalies, to start a team for ages 11-14. It is also interested in additional players for its high school-age team. For details, contact Jerry Bomba at (219) 406-9809. ... The Triple Threat Basketball Academy is holding signups for its Ongoing Basketball Training for boys and girls, ages 5-15. The academy will focus on fundamentals in ball handling, shooting, passing and offensive moves. The sessions will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Cost is $40. For an appointment, call (219) 487-0985. ... The Purdue Calumet women's volleyball team opened the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference season with a 3-0 loss at Robert Morris University. Elizabeth Miles and Julie Sipek led the Peregrines (0-2, 0-1 CCAC) with two kills and two assists apiece.
