The website reorts Favre told Vikings coach Brad Childress that he wanted to remain retired in a phone call that took place sometime in the last day. Favre is expected to publicly explain his decision soon.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Former Oakland Athletics first baseman Troy Neel has pleaded guilty to fleeing to a tiny South Pacific island to avoid paying nearly $725,000 in owed child support.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended for 50 games starting Thursday, according to mulitple sources.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers broke the modern major league record for home winning streak to start a season with their 13th straight victory, 10-3 over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Jussi Jokinen scored at 2:48 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

BOSTON (AP) - Rajon Rondo had 15 points, 18 assists and 11 rebounds for his third triple-double of the playoffs, and Eddie House scored a career high-shattering 31 points on Wednesday night to lead the Boston Celtics to a 112-94 victory over the Orlando Magic and even the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Randy Johnson (2-3), in search of his 298th career win, was roughed up for seven runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He didn't allow a hit in the first three innings before the Rockies got to him.

Brett Favre will meet with Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress on Wednesday night and again on Thursday in MIssissippi to discuss the possibility of him signing with the team, according to ESPN.

RENO, Nev.—Chris Roberson fell just a double shy of the cycle and lifted the Reno Aces to a 5-3 victory over the Sacramento River Cats Wednesday afternoon at Raley Field.

Multiple sources say Whitesell will join the Diamondbacks in San Diego on Wednesday night where he will take the place of Tony Clark who has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Usain Bolt's manager says the Olympic sprint champion is expected to resume training this week after injuring his foot in a car crash.

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - Linebacker Larry Foote has signed a one-year deal with his hometown Detroit Lions, two days after being released by the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) - Alex Rodriguez slid for the first time since hip surgery, going 1-for-5 with a walk in a New York Yankees extended spring training game.

The Heat president said Wednesday that the team has already broached the topic of getting Wade to extend his contract this summer, instead of waiting for the potentially blockbuster-filled offseason of 2010.

VENICE, Italy (AP) - Lance Armstrong has lashed out at the Kazakh officials who let his Astana team fall into a financial crisis on the eve of his first Giro d'Italia.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hornets owner George Shinn says he will see to it that the University of New Orleans' sports teams survive.

NEW YORK (AP) - Orlando's Dwight Howard has been picked for the NBA's All-Defensive Team, getting the most votes of any player.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (AP) - Two Lake Tahoe-area golf courses will offer free late afternoon rounds this summer in a program designed to ease the strain on consumer pocketbooks and lure new players.

BOSTON (AP) - It turns out Massachusetts law enforcement officers have been engaging in a bit of star search themselves - on the likes of Tom Brady and Matt Damon.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Centenary's men's basketball team and the Tennessee-Chattanooga football team will face postseason bans next season because of consistently poor academic scores.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski will remain in an Orange County hospital for a second night after getting hit in the chest by a puck but is expected to be released Thursday morning.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - An Oklahoma University football recruit from Las Vegas has pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor charges and has been sentenced to three years' probation in a March attack on his ex-girlfriend.

DALLAS (AP) - Court records show the company that built the Dallas Cowboys' collapsed training facility also manufactured at least three other buildings that have fallen in heavy weather since 2002.

FRESNO, Calif. – Katie Holverson was named the Pitcher of the Year and lead six Nevada players on the 2009 All-WAC teams, the league announced Wednesday morning at a banquet.

The Dallas Mavericks toughened up and clamped down Tuesday night, and it still wasn't enough to beat the high-flying Denver Nuggets.