Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Marathon will have registration lottery

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:04:00 -0500

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will go to a new system of a lottery and a new provider to complete the final 15,000 entries for the 2013 marathon. And, most likely, there will be some adjustment to the open registration, a rarity among major marathons, used by the Chicago Marathon. ‘‘We will change the process, so it’s not as stressful,’’ executive race director Carey Pinkowski said. Registration for the lottery for the remaining 15,000 slots will reopen at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday at chicagomarathon.com. The lottery will close at 9 p.m. Thursday. Time and order will have no bearing on …

Long-awaited major title for Andy Murray in 5-set test of wills over Novak Djokovic

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 06:20:34 -0500

NEW YORK — His considerable lead, and a chance at history, slipping away, Andy Murray dug deep for stamina and mental strength, outlasting Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set U.S. Open final Monday. It had been 76 years since a British man won a Grand Slam singles championship and, at least as far as Murray was concerned, it was well worth the wait. Ending a nation’s long drought, and snapping his own four-final skid in majors, Murray finally pulled through with everything at stake on a Grand Slam stage, shrugging off defending champion Djokovic’s comeback bid to win 7-6 (10), …

Lance Armstrong won’t fight drug charges; USADA to strip titles

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 05:06:08 -0500

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart says the agency will ban Lance Armstrong from cycling for life and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles for doping.

Video: Archers depart from O’Hare for London Olympics

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 19:31:19 -0500

Archers leave from O’Hare International Airport on Monday to head to the Olympics in London.

Federer reaches record 8th Wimbledon final, Murray’s first

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:39:33 -0500

Roger Federer is back in the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2009. If that seems like a long gap for the six-time champion, imagine how all of Britain feels: Andy Murray is the first man from the host country to play for the title.

24 aces help Serena Williams reach Wimbledon final

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:32:01 -0500

WIMBLEDON, England — Serena Williams wins with so much more than serving, of course. Her groundstrokes are intimidating. Her superb speed and anticipation fuel unparalleled court-covering defense. Her returns are outstanding, too. When that serve is on-target, though, it sure is something special, quite possibly the greatest in the history of women’s tennis. Lashing a tournament-record 24 aces at up to 120 mph, and doing plenty of other things well, too, four-time Wimbledon champion Williams overpowered No. 2-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 7-6 (6) on Thursday to reach her seventh final at the All England Club. “Isn’t that something?” …

Roger Federer wins in match No. 1,000 to set up showdown with Rafael Nadal

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:22:01 -0500

MELBOURNE, Australia — A dominating win by Roger Federer in his 1,000th career match and a more difficult workout for Rafael Nadal set up a rare Grand Slam marquee semifinal between the former top-ranked players. Four-time Australian Open champion Federer advanced to his ninth straight semifinal at Melbourne Park with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 quarterfinal win Tuesday over Juan Martin del Potro, the man who beat him for the U.S. Open title in 2009. Federer’s 1,000th match was similar to most in his career — no-nonsense, dominating from the start and hitting some incredible shots. “It’s a lot of matches …

A painful decision for speed-skating star Katherine Reutter

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:03:03 -0500

Short track speedskater Katherine Reutter’s claim to fame has nothing to do with skating. It’s that TV personality Stephen Colbert signed her thigh. “People ask me if it’s still there,” Reutter laughed. “No, it’s not. That’s gross.” Reutter was on the eve of making her Olympic debut in 2010 when she went on Colbert’s show. U.S. Speedskating was all but broke, having lost it’s main sponsor, and Colbert offered to help the organization financially right before the Vancouver Olympics. Colbert’s help couldn’t have come at a better time for the U.S. team and for Reutter. “I had a direct benefit …

Bowling great Don Carter dies

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:33:00 -0500

MIAMI — Don Carter, the bowling great with the unorthodox style who flourished as a genuine sports celebrity during the game’s golden age on TV, has died. He was 85. Carter died at his home in Miami on Thursday night, the Professional Bowlers Association said Friday. He recently was hospitalized with pneumonia complicated by emphysema. Carter, known as “Mr. Bowling,” was the game’s original superstar. He became his sport’s most recognizable name at a time when alleys were thriving across the country and bowling was starting to assert itself as a fixture on television. Carter was a leading force in …

Skating champ Johnny Weir marries lawyer in New York

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:10:02 -0500

NEW YORK (AP) — Figure skating star Johnny Weir celebrated the New Year by tying the knot. The three-time U.S. champion married Atlanta lawyer Victor Voronov in a Friday morning ceremony in front of both men’s parents at the New York City Courthouse. The two are planning a July wedding, but Weir said in a Twitter post Saturday that “all the official stuff is done now!” He thanked fans in another post late Monday, saying the well wishes mean a lot. “I am so happy to have found my match,” the two-time Olympian said in a statement. “Marrying Victor has …

Hot Corner: 2 Chicago women in World Cup for roller derby

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:11:16 -0500

Flat-track roller derby is going global with its first World Cup set to begin Thursday in Toronto. But Hogtown hasn’t seen such pushing and shoving since the last time the Blackhawks were in town to play the Maple Leafs. Our city will make its presence known as two of Chicago’s favorite daughters, Jamie “Varla Vendetta” Ramsey and Alisa “Sargentina” De Pedro, take the track. Both women hail as all-stars from the roller derby club known as the Windy City Rollers. Ramsey will skate for Team USA, and De Pedro will compete with the Argentina All-Stars. “This is probably just about …

Ex-Pro wrestler Andre Davis convicted in HIV case

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:06:00 -0500

A jury on Wednesday convicted a former professional wrestler of 14 felonious assault counts alleging he had sex with women without telling them he had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. Hamilton County jurors deliberated over two days before returning the verdict against Andre Davis, of Cincinnati. Prosecutors said the 29-year-old Davis, who wrestled using stage names including Gangsta of Love, Sweet Sexy Sensation and Andre Heart, violated state law by not telling a dozen sex partners about his HIV status or lying to them. Davis’ attorney, Greg Cohen, told WLWT-TV he would appeal the verdict. He said …

Triple H’s ordeal at its peak

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 23:15:55 -0500

By the end of ‘‘Raw’’ last Monday, WWE’s story-line chief operating officer, Triple H, was left standing by himself after a no-confidence vote by the wrestlers and referees, who declared they were working in an unsafe environment. Expect Triple H to find out soon who’s been sabotaging his every move. As for the future in the ring, there are clearly two factions: John Laurinaitis’ group of Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and R-Truth, and Triple H’s side, which at the moment is just him. That’s all expected to change by Survivor Series, as a team of CM Punk, …

Billy Corgan launching new pro wrestling promotion

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:28:50 -0500

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is into smashing heads, too. The Chicagoan is launching a new professional wrestling promotion called Resistance Pro. Its first event is scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at Excalibur. Former WWE talent Harry Smith (son of the late “British Bulldog’’ Davey Boy Smith) and ex-TNA Knockout Cheerleader Melissa are among the wrestlers on the roster. Former ECW, WCW and WWE star Raven will be a booking agent for the organization. ‘‘I’ll be involved with the booking of the show and the tone of the product and be hands-on there,” Corgan told Pro Wrestling Torch. ‘‘This will …

McMahon wreaking havoc on HHH

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:27:18 -0500

WWE’s ‘‘Monday Night Raw’’ is in disarray, and new chief operating officer HHH must take much of the blame. Since taking over, he has fired Kevin Nash, CM Punk, John Cena, Miz and R-Truth. While all have been or will be brought back, there is no real direction. In fairness to HHH, there are many forces working against him. For one, CM Punk is a perpetual fly in the ointment. He is an antagonist and goes out of his way to make things hard for HHH.Another plan-wrecker has been senior vice president of talent relations John Laurinaitis, who has been …

Hot Corner: Aurora now home to dodgeball world champs

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:33:44 -0500

Aurora is now home to the world championship dodgeball team.“It’s kind of surreal,” said Aurora firefighter and paramedic Jason Equi , whose team topped South Australia in a four-minute match to win at the World Police and Fire Games. ‘‘People don’t equate dodgeball with athleticism. But if you watch that game, it’s really difficult.’’Police and firefighters compete together in the Games in more than 60 sports, from boxing to bike racing. This year, New York, the host city for the Aug. 25-Sept. 5 Games, chose to add dodgeball to the every-other-year competition. When Aurora firefighters heard, Equi, Matt Acuff , Aaron …