Sports Digest: Munster's McCune defends Cheetah Open title

Pro football

PEPPERS NAMED TO PRO BOWL ROSTER: Bears defensive end Julius Peppers is going to the Pro Bowl.

The Bears said Monday that Peppers had been added to the roster for Sunday's game in Hawaii, replacing Jason Pierre-Paul of the Super Bowl-bound New York Giants. It will be Peppers' seventh appearance in the all-star game.

Peppers had 27 tackles, 11 sacks, five tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries this season. The 10-year NFL veteran has reached double-digit sacks in seven seasons.

Five other Bears were named to the Pro Bowl: linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, running back Matt Forte and defensive backs Corey Graham and Charles Tillman.

BEARS TO INTERVIEW EMERY, LICHT AGAIN: The Bears say they will bring back Kansas City college scouting director Phil Emery and New England pro personnel director Jason Licht for second interviews for their general manager job this week.

The Bears are looking to replace the fired Jerry Angelo.

Emery has spent the past three years as Kansas City's director of college scouting. Licht rejoined the Patriots' personnel department in 2009, after working there from 1999 to 2002.

Bears player personnel director Tim Ruskell, San Diego director of player personnel Jimmy Raye and New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross have also interviewed.

Meanwhile, the Bears say offensive coordinator Mike Tice will not interview for Oakland's coaching job after the Raiders "moved forward with the second phase of their interview process."

Pro bowling

MUNSTER'S MCCUNE DEFENDS CHEETAH OPEN TITLE: Eugene McCune topped PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber for the Professional Bowlers Association Cheetah Open championship Sunday in Fountain Valley, Calif.

By defending his title, McCune became the first player since Chris Barnes in 2007-08 and 2008-09 won back-to-back events in Ohio.

McCune was the top qualifier in the stepladder finals and won 245-229 in the championship match for his third career win.

Pro tennis

SERENA WILLIAMS OUT OF AUSSIE OPEN: It wasn't just Serena Williams' serve that was missing Monday at the Australian Open. It was her aura, too.

Ekaterina Makarova, the lowest-ranked player left in the draw at No. 56, didn't seem the least bit frightened of the error-ridden opponent across the net.

The Russian won 6-2, 6-3 -- equaling the biggest Grand Slam defeat of Williams' 17-year career -- and will face Maria Sharapova in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Sharapova rallied past Sabine Lisicki 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 before men's defending champion Novak Djokovic fended off a resurgent Lleyton Hewitt in a dramatic last match of the day, winning 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

With Hewitt's loss, Australia's chances of celebrating a home singles winner were over. American hopes had already evaporated with the defeat of five-time champion Williams -- her first in Melbourne since 2008 and earliest since 2006.

College softball

SSC SIGNS L.C.'S HERNANDEZ: Ashley Hernandez (Lake Central) recently signed a national letter of intent with South Suburban College's softball team.

SSC coach Larry Babcock expects Hernandez to both pitch and play third base for the Lady Bulldogs next season.

"She will be a key player coming tinto our pitching rotation next season," SSC coach Larry Babcock said. "We look for many big things from her both on the mound and offensively."

Around the horn

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has been suspended for three games for a charging incident in which he launched himself to hit Pittsburgh defenseman Zbynek Michalek during Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Penguins. He will eligible to return on Feb. 4 against Montreal. ... Oregon head coach Chip Kelly announced Monday that he's remaining with the Ducks, though he says he was flattered by the interest shown in him by the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ... Two days after its first loss at the hands of Notre Dame, Syracuse played like a top team again. When the No. 3 Orangemen beat Cincinnati 60-53 Monday, coach Jim Boeheim came away with career victory No. 877, moving him ahead of Adolph Rupp into sole possession of fourth place on the Division I coaching list.