AP - Brett Favre finally is speaking for himself: He wants to play but doesn't feel welcome in Green Bay, so he's asking to be released. The quarterback's first substantial comments on his latest retirement decision reversal come in an interview with Fox News on "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."

AP - Fans at Yankee Stadium were chanting Josh Hamilton's name and the theme music from "Rocky" was blaring over the loudspeakers.

AFP - Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola expects world football governing body FIFA will back the club in the on-going wrangle over Argentina's Lionel Messi's participation in the Beijing Olympics.

AP - Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox are back on top in the AL East, just as they were at last year's All-Star break. They're hoping this season ends the same way.

AP - A bruised and sore Cadel Evans of Australia took the yellow jersey Monday at the Tour de France after Leonardo Piepoli of Italy won a punishing climb through the Pyrenees to capture the 10th stage.

AP - Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets were picked as the starting pitchers for Tuesday night's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

AP - Kenny Perry beat Brad Adamonis and Jay Williamson in a playoff to win the John Deere Classic and escape with his third victory in five starts after bogeying the 18th hole on Sunday.

AFP - France's Fabrice Santoro successfully defended his title at the ATP Hall of Fame Championship, easily beating India's Prakash Amritraj 6-3, 7-5 in Sunday's final.

AP - All-Star center Vincent Lecavalier signed an 11-year, $85-million contract extension that he hopes will keep him in a Tampa Bay Lightning uniform for the remainder of his career.