Briefs | NFL: Brett Favre reportedly has shoulder surgery

NFL

Reports say Favre has surgery on shoulder, but not 100 percent: Brett Favre has taken a significant step in his quest to play for the Vikings, but that doesn't mean he will be wearing purple this season.

The longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback underwent arthroscopic surgery last month to repair his injured (right) passing shoulder, according to ESPN, but remains unable to make a commitment because subsequent throwing sessions indicate the shoulder is not yet 100 percent. ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder cited two sources in reporting the story Sunday.

Favre retired from the New York Jets in February at least in part because of a partially torn biceps tendon in his throwing arm. Favre, who will turn 40 on Oct. 10, has thrown on a limited basis since the surgery, according to the all-sports network, but has not felt close to "100 percent" and would not return unless he makes significant progress.

The Jets released Favre from their reserve/retired list in late April, beginning speculation that he would attempt to end his second shot at retirement by playing for the Vikings in 2009. He retired from the Packers in March 2008 but changed his mind later that year. By then, Green Bay didn't want Favre, and he attempted to force his way to the Vikings before being dealt to New York.

The Vikings have not denied having interest in Favre this spring. "Certainly a player of Brett Favre's [caliber], a Hall of Fame quarterback, with the competitiveness he has, that is a player that we would have interest [in] as we would have in other players," Vikings president Mark Wilf said last month.

Colts' Gonzalez misses practice: Indianapolis receiver Anthony Gonzalez missed the team's practice because of an injured right leg.

Coach Jim Caldwell didn't give details about the injury, which occurred during Saturday's minicamp practice at Franklin College. Gonzalez stayed on the field after hurting his leg, but spent the rest of practice stretching it out.

College baseball

Arizona State downs Clemson: Left-hander Josh Spence gave up four hits and struck out 10 and Jason Kipnis' two-run single keyed a five-run fifth inning as Arizona State beat Clemson 8-2 to advance to the College World Series for the third time in five seasons.

Southern Miss earns first CWS berth: Joey Archer drove in three runs, reliever Scott Copeland pitched three scoreless innings and Southern Mississippi beat host Florida 7-6 to advance to the College World Series for the first time in school history.

Virginia beats Ole Miss: Virginia is headed to its first College World Series after beating Mississippi 5-1 to win the super regional series in Oxford, Miss.

Matt Packer, in his third appearance of the series, and three others combined for 10 strikeouts and allowed just seven hits as the Cavaliers (48-13-1) set the school record for wins in a season. Virginia improved to 5-1 since the NCAA tournament began and has done it with pitching, allowing just nine earned runs.

North Carolina headed to World Series: Dustin Ackley hit a three-run homer and Adam Warren took a shutout into the eighth inning to help North Carolina (47-16) beat East Carolina 9-3 and clinch its fourth straight trip to the College World Series.

TCU forces third game with Texas: Matt Vern and Matt Carpenter each hit home runs and Texas Christian (40-17) edged top national seed Texas 3-2 in Austin to force a deciding third game in the super regional.

Soccer

New England's Twellman reaches 100 goals: Taylor Twellman became the fifth player in MLS history with 100 goals, scoring a pair in the second half to lead the New England Revolution to a 4-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

It was just the second match of the season for Twellman, who had been sidelined with a neck injury. He came on as a reserve to start the second half and didn't take long to reach the milestone, scoring his first goal of the year in the 57th minute with a header off a cross from Sharlie Joseph to give New England a 3-0 lead.

FC Dallas ties San Jose: Kenny Cooper scored in the 87th minute to help FC Dallas extend its unbeaten streak to four matches with a 2-2 tie at home against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.

Track

Records at rare distances set in Prefontaine Classic: Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt bested his own Hayward Field record by winning the seldom-run 300 meters in 31.30 seconds in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore.

Merritt, who won gold in the 400 last summer in Beijing, surpassed his own mark of 31.31 at the venerated track in 2006. He also topped the Prefontaine-best 32.19 set by Jason Rouser in 1994.

Former Washington State Olympian Bernard Lagat won the 3,000 meters in 7:35.92.

Horse racing

Carlsbad wins Hollywood Oaks: Carlsbad held off Lady Lumberjack for a half-length victory in the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Carlsbad covered 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.59 and paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.80. Lady Lumberjack returned $5.60 and $4, and Third Dawn paid $2.80 to show.

Milwaukee Appeal wins Woodbine Oaks: Stewart Elliott rode Milwaukee Appeal to a decisive 3 ¾-length victory over Tasty Temptation in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks in Toronto.

Milwaukee Appeal finished the 1-1/8-mile race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies in 1:49.84.

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