Brett Favre will need surgery

Brett Favre’s left ankle is still hurting from a hit he absorbed in the NFC championship game three months ago, and the injury weighs into the quarterback’s pending decision on whether he will return to the Minnesota Vikings next season.

In a statement issued Friday on his website, Favre said his ankle will require surgery if he decides to come back for a 20th season, although he added that the injury “is not debilitating� and he has been through worse over the course of his career.

“I don’t believe major surgery on the ankle would be required for me to return in 2010,� wrote Favre, 40. “I’ve consulted with Dr. [James] Andrews on the phone, and a relatively minor procedure could be done to improve the dexterity of the ankle, and to relieve the pain. I’ve put up with pain worse than this in my career, and I didn’t want anyone to assume that the possibility of surgery was the sole factor that would determine whether I return or not.�

The Vikings passed on the opportunity to select a quarterback early in the draft (although they selected one in the sixth round), and are waiting for word from Favre, who carried them to within a victory of the Super Bowl last season.

— Sam Farmer

New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles, the oldest active player in the NFL, announced his retirement after 22 seasons and a league-record 352 consecutive games.

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Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s six-game suspension is disappointing but justified. ... Authorities at Pittsburgh International Airport filed an incident report after a flight attendant claimed that New York Jets receiver Santonio Holmes failed to follow regulations by not turning off his iPod as the plane was landing.

GOLF

Wie takes lead in Mexico

Michelle Wie took a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Tres Marias Championship at Morelia, Mexico, shooting a five-under-par 68.

Wie, who won her first and only LPGA event 51/2 months ago in Guadalajara, had a two-day total of 12-under 134, putting her a shot ahead of Brittany Lincicome (67).

Lorena Ochoa, who is retiring after this tournament, shot a 73 and trails Wie by five shots.

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Bob Tway and 63-year-old Leonard Thompson shot five-under 67s and share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s inaugural Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Saucier.

MOTOR RACING

Brad Keselowski wins at Richmond

Brad Keselowski raced to his second straight NASCAR Nationwide Series victory, dominating most of the race and then rallying from fourth in a green-white-checkered finish at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Greg Biffle rallied from fifth on the restart to finish second. Jamie McMurray was third.

ETC.

LeBron James to repeat as MVP

LeBron James has joined one of the NBA’s most exclusive clubs.

Cleveland’s superstar was voted the league’s most valuable player for the second straight season, a person familiar with the announcement told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced the results of the vote.

James will receive the trophy Sunday at the University of Akron.

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USC concludes spring practice Saturday with its annual Trojan Huddle scrimmage at the Coliseum.

Coach Lane Kiffin’s end-of-spring depth chart contained no surprises. Senior Allen Bradford is listed as the starting tailback ahead of C.J. Gable. Chris Galippo and Devon Kennard are listed as co-starters at middle linebacker. Nick Perry and Wes Horton are co-starters at one defensive end spot, Torin Harris and T.J. Bryant at one of the cornerback spots.

Kickoff is at noon. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and younger get in free.

— Gary Klein

Rafael Nadal overcame a slow start and defeated Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the Rome Masters semifinals.

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Justine Henin of Belgium stayed on course for her first title since coming out of retirement by beating Jelena Jankovic for a place in the semifinals of the Porsche Grand Prix at Stuttgart, Germany.

Henin rallied to win 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.