The Blackhawks re-signed winger Mark Bell and signed former Pittsburgh winger Ville Nieminen. Nieminen, 26, was a free agent after the Penguins didn’t tender him a qualifying offer. He had nine goals, 21 points and 96 penalty minutes last season.
The Hawks are expected to sign defenseman Steve McCarthy in the next day or two, leaving center Tyler Arnason as the only unsigned roster player.
WOODS SWITCHES DRIVERS: Woods reverted to his old Titleist 975D driver during Monday’s Battle of the Bridges. He had been using a Nike driver since early in the 2002 season. Woods makes the switch despite winning nine titles using Nike’s drivers, including the 2002 Masters and U.S. Open, and extolling the virtues of the club in ads for the shoe and apparel giant.
BOBBLING WITH PRIDE: A home-grown literary icon will be remembered in Lowell, Mass., with an honor usually reserved for sports heroes: a bobblehead doll. It’s part of Jack Kerouac Night at the Aug. 21 Class A game between Williamsport and Lowell of the Class A New York-Penn League.
BULLS SIGN BLOUNT: Veteran Corie Blount is believed to have signed a two-year deal with the Bulls, with one year guaranteed, at about $1.7 million. He averaged three points and 4.1 rebounds for the Bulls last season in 50 games.
Elsewhere:
– Free-agent Darrell Armstrong signed a two-year contract with New Orleans.
– The Los Angeles Clippers retained shooting guard Corey Maggette, matching the offer sheet he signed with Utah.
TRADING FACES: Baseball saw a rash of trades Tuesday as the window for swapping players neared Thursday’s deadline:
– Boston bolstered its bullpen, acquiring closer Scott Williamson from the Cincinnati Reds for a minor-league pitcher, a player to be named and cash.
– The New York Yankees made two deals, sending outfielder Raul Mondesi and cash to Arizona for outfielder David Dellucci and a two minor-leaguers, and trading right-hander Dan Miceli to Houston for a player to be named or cash.
– The New York Mets traded seldom-used infielder Rey Sanchez to Seattle for minor-league outfielder Kenny Kelly.
SENIOR NARROWS FIELD: Illinois, Arizona, Duke and North Carolina are Shaun Livingston’s final four.
Peoria Central’s All-State senior point guard, considered one of the nation’s top basketball prospects, said last week that he plans to make an oral commitment by Thanksgiving, but he won’t sign a letter of intent until spring 2004.
Illinois remains attractive for two reasons: Livingston admires Illini assistant Wayne McClain, and he is friends with two other Illinois recruits.
COURT REPORT: Top-ranked Serena Williams withdrew from next week’s JP Morgan Chase Open due to a strained left quadriceps, the third straight tournament she will miss due to injury.
Elsewhere:
– Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis opened his U.S. hardcourt season with a straight-set victory over Adam Kennedy in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Cup in Los Angeles.
Andre Agassi easily beat Ivo Heuberger 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Michael Morgan (mnmorgan@tribune.com)
