Track & Field
WEST SIDE GRAD SUSPENDED: The United States Anti-Doping Agency suspended sprinter Mark Jelks for two years after violating the doping agency's rules governing out-of-competition tests.
Jelks, a West Side grad, twice failed to file a quarterly notice of his location and missed a test during an 18-month period, prompting the ban that was announced Monday.
Jelks' suspension began Aug. 23. The 26-year-old Jelks also had any results since April 18 thrown out by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Pro boxing
GARY'S HERNANDEZ SUFFERS CONTROVERSIAL LOSS: Lightweight Angel Hernandez of Gary, fighting in the welterweight class, dropped a controversial six-round split decision Saturday to former WBA featherweight champion Derrick "Smoke" Gainer in Pittsburgh.
Hernandez's coach/trainer Mike Soria said his fighter "manhandled" Gainer in five of the six rounds during the Roy Jones Jr. Promotions undercard event and when the final decision was announced, the majority of fans booed while cheering for Hernandez.
Gainer improved to 42-6 while Hernandez is 14-7.
Pro football
BRIGGS TO MISS PRESEASON FINALE: Bears linebacker Lance Briggs will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns due to a sprained ankle. Coach Lovie Smith said Monday that he anticipates the five-time Pro Bowler will be available for the season-opener.
Pro tennis
RODDICK, OTHER FORMER CHAMPS ADVANCE: Andy Roddick turned 28 on Monday, Day 1 of this year's U.S. Open, and after beating Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, the ninth-seeded American was asked what significance he attributes to his age.
Kim Clijsters won the U.S. Open each of the last two times she entered, in 2005 and 2009, and she stretched her winning streak in New York to 15 matches Monday with a 6-0, 7-5 victory over 104th-ranked Greta Arn of Hungary.
International basketball
TEAM USA SURVIVES: The Americans survived their first tough test in Turkey, edging Brazil 70-68 on Monday when Leandro Barbosa's shot rattled out at the buzzer.
"This game right here was an eye opener," U.S. guard and Bulls star Derrick Rose said.
Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S. drought in this event.
VU PRODUCT PLAYS STRONG FOR ANGOLA: Luis Scola scored 32 points to help Argentina beat Angola 91-70 on Monday, essentially securing its place in the second round of the World Championships.
Former Valparaiso University player Joaquim Gomes had 16 points for Angola (1-2).
College football
CARROLL PENS BOOK ON NOTRE DAME-MIAMI RIVALRY: Griffith graduate and Crown Point resident Jeff Carroll's second book, "Perfect Rivals," is currently available on Amazon.com and will be available at bookstores on Wednesday.
The book, by the former Times sportswriter and current Times correspondent, documents the heated 1980s college football rivalry between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Miami. "Perfect Rivals" is being published by Random House/ESPN Books.
Women's volleyball
VU'S ROOT EARNS HORIZON HONOR: Valparaiso sophomore libero Taylor Root was named the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Crusaders win the La Salle Invitational.
The honor is Root's third career weekly accolade from the league office. Root, the 2009 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, averaged six digs per set set on the weekend as the Crusaders went 3-1.
Junior outside hitter Katie Britton was named the tournament MVP, while junior setter Jenny Pokorny joined Britton on the all-tournament team. Britton led the Crusaders with 39 kills and hit .295 in VU's three wins. She had a career-best 18 kills against Niagara. Pokorny had 98 assists, 29 digs, 16 kills, four blocks, four aces and hit .325 over the course of Valpo's three victories.
Valparaiso will return to action Friday at the Appalachian Invitational.
Prep sports
FIREWORKS, REUNION PLANNED AT VALPO: Valparaiso's Viking Quarterback Club will again sponsor pregame fireworks before all home football games this season. Valpo (2-0) will play its home and Duneland Athletic Conference opener at 7 p.m. Friday at Viking Field against LaPorte (2-0).
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.
CARAVAN BOWLERS HOST CAR WASH: The Mt. Carmel bowling team will hold a car wash fundraiser at Blue Top in Highland from 1-7 p.m. Sunday. A donation of $5 is required. For details, call (219) 331-5600.
Around the horn
MGM Resorts International was under investigation after the underage son of basketball great Michael Jordan bragged on Twitter about partying at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub, Nevada gambling regulators said Monday. Jordan's 19-year-old son Marcus Jordan tweeted Aug. 20 about spending $35,000 at Haze at Aria Resort & Casino. "Last night was stupid... 35K at Haze," the University of Central Florida sophomore guard said. "Totals 50K something the whole day." ... The Warriors, a 10-and-under travel baseball team, will have tryouts at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Crown Point Softball Field No. 1. For details, contact Dave Anderson at (219) 226-1921 or dpnm1991@comcast.net. ... Roger Clemens showed Monday that he's nearly as fast on the golf course as he ever was on the mound. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner hopped into a golf cart with country music blaring and sped through 18 holes, just hours after pleading not guilty to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone during his baseball career.
