<h4>Rear ender: </h4>
Philadelphia's Jayson Werth is hit with a pitch thrown by Atlanta's Jeff Bennett in the eighth inning Friday. The Phillies won 10-6.
MINNEAPOLIS – Is Brett Favre healthy and hungry enough to end his retirement again? And how badly do the Minnesota Vikings want him?
The questions and confusion continued Friday.
ESPN, again citing unnamed sources, reported X-rays of Favre’s injured right shoulder have been sent to the Vikings for evaluation.
The network said Favre will play for Minnesota if it’s determined he doesn’t need major surgery. If he does, according to the source, he’ll stay retired.
But Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, told a different ESPN reporter he was unaware of any X-rays being sent to the team. Cook reiterated that the famously fickle quarterback has not told him he wants to come back for a 19th NFL season.
“Brett would have to be mentally ready to go play, physically ready to go play, and want to go play,” Cook told the network, “and I’m not sure all three of those things are there right now.”
Cook is the only central figure in the story who has actually spoken on the record this week. He did not return phone calls Friday from The Associated Press.
Vikings officials were unavailable for comment and have yet to address the drama since head coach Brad Childress acknowledged last week it was likely the team would assess its interest in signing the man who owns most of the league’s major passing records.
Favre became a free agent last month when, upon his request, he was formally released from the reserve-retired list by the Jets.
Favre declared his playing days over in February after one season with New York.
Charles lands ASU job
Former Santa Rita High wrestler Shawn Charles, a four-time All-American and two-time national runner-up at Arizona State, has been hired as the sixth head coach in the 47-year history of ASU’s program.
Charles, a native of Tucson, spent the past two seasons as assistant coach at Missouri. Previous career stops include one season as head coach at Fresno State, which disbanded its program, and assistant coaching stints at Brown, Nebraska, Central Michigan, Oklahoma and Iowa State.
He also served on the U.S. Olympic coaching staff in 2004 and 2008 and on the 2009 University World Team staff.
“I am excited to be back at my alma mater and to be the guy to put it all together and make Arizona State successful once again,” Charles said.
“One of my goals is to get the community involved with our program. I really believe that wrestling is a viable form of entertainment and I would really like to see the communities around Arizona get involved in supporting this form of entertainment.”
The Arizona Republic
Qualifier to be held Monday
Tucson’s best golfers will compete Monday in the U.S. Open Regional Qualifier at Tucson Country Club.
The cast includes the Nationwide Tour’s Rich Barcelo, Tucson Golf School’s Glen Griffith, local amateur kingpin David McDaniel and the Gateway Tour’s Brian Prouty.
The 18-hole tournament will send qualifiers to sectional play, the last step for the U.S. Open, June 18-21 at Farmingdale, N.Y.
The Gateway Tour’s Ben Kern will compete in the Queen Creek Regional on June 18 at the Ecanterra Club.
Citizen Staff Report
Youth Golf Club
Four levels of play will highlight the Southwest Section PGA Youth Golf Club program.
The eight-week program, for kids 14 and under, contains group instruction with skills testing and on-course supervised play.
Call 480-443-9002 or go to www.southwestpga.com for information and sessions schedule.
Citizen Staff Report
Holes-in-one
Blake Cannon, 214-yard No. 16 at Silverbell, 7-iron. Witnesses: Michelle Cannon, Dale Kelly.
Charlie Wolff, 157-yard No. 12 at Rio Rico, 9-iron. Witnesses: Dale LaVal, Ted Pedersen, John Mahoney, Dave Dobson, Jim Marquis, Bob Bruce.
Ev Pantrell, 103-yard No. 13 at El Rio, 9-iron. Witnesses: Bill Kennedy, James Fleck, Jerry Kinnee.
John Kling, 178-yard No. 9 at Silverbell, 5-iron. Witnesses: Tom Roper, Bill Gordon.
Bill Thobe, 120-yard No. 6 at Randolph North, gap wedge. Witnesses: Jerry Apadaca, Mark Piper, Al Kovarik.
David Stoner, 135-yard No. 16 at del Lago, 8-iron. Witnesses: Robert Fry, Charles P. Laefer, Carl Roberson.
Citizen Staff Report
Upcoming local golf
Pueblo Warriors Football 2009 Golf Classic – Dell Urich Golf Course, June 27, 7 a.m. Shotgun start. Cost: $75. For more information, call 444-1924.
Citizen Staff Report
QUOTABLE:
'I have (the rest of my career) to make a difference, to become a better baseball player and a better person. I think I have time to have a happy ending.'
ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Yankees third baseman, after homering in his season debut Friday
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SPORTS SOUND-OFF
They’re Hinch’s players, so fire him, fans say
Re: D’backs replace manager Bob Melvin with A.J. Hinch
• You are certainly firing the wrong person. Bob Melvin has been handed a bunch of losers and he is expected to make a good team from them? The ones needing “replacing” are the honchos who traded our best guys for these dimwits! 4152
• Unfortunately managers always pay for the failures of the players or the front office. In this case both are to blame. As they say, it’s easier to fire one guy than 25. RJW52
• Actually, if Hinch is in charge of player development, isn’t he the one that should get the ax? I can’t think of a single mistake Melvin made considering what he had to work with.
I haven’t liked the way the D’backs have treated their players, Gonzo. Randy J, O. Dog (Orlando Hudson). It tears me up to see all the young talent we had going (playing well for other teams). APACHECAT
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ON THIS DATE
1930: Gallant Fox, ridden by Earl Sande, wins the Preakness Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Crack Brigade. Gallant Fox becomes the only Triple Crown winner to win the Preakness a week before the Kentucky Derby.
1932: Burgoo King, ridden by Eugene James, withstands a strong drive by Tick On to win the Preakness Stakes by a head.
1942: Alsab, ridden by Basil James, wins the Preakness Stakes by one length over Requested.
1961: Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles hits consecutive grand slams in the first and second innings of a 13-5 rout of Minnesota.
1987: Baltimore’s Eddie Murray becomes the first major leaguer to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in consecutive games as the Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 15-6 at Comiskey Park.
1993: The Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 in overtime to become the first NBA team to lose two playoff games at home and come back to win three straight.
The Associated Press