Fast Break

FOOTBALL

Fans fight for Favre

Brett Favre’s fans came to his defense Sunday, rallying outside Lambeau Field to pressure the Green Bay Packers to reinstate him as the starting quarterback.

The crowd of more than 100 chanted “We want Brett,” and carried signs reading, “Favre for President” or “Favre Forever.” Many in the parking lot wore No. 4 jerseys, tossed footballs and grilled.

“We’ve always appreciated the passion of our fans,” the Packers said in a statement. Team spokesman Jeff Blumb said there would be no other comment.

The rally in Green Bay, Wis., was the brainchild of brothers Adam and Erick Rolfson, who on Friday tried to think of a way to keep Favre in Green Bay. Another rally is planned for tonight in suburban Milwaukee and every Sunday thereafter at Lambeau Field until Favre is back.

On Saturday, general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy said they didn’t plan to grant Favre’s request to be released. And while Thompson said Favre could rejoin the team in a “different role,” the Packers were committed to going with Aaron Rodgers as their starter.

TRACK AND FIELD

Coug wins another event

The United States swept the relay races at the World Junior Championships at Bydgoszcz, Poland, by successfully defending the men’s and women’s 1,600-meter titles.

A day after capturing gold in the 400 relays, the Americans held onto the 1,600 titles they won two years ago in Beijing at the last junior worlds.

Marcus Boyd, Bryan Miller, O’Neal Wilder and Jeshua Anderson (Washington State) won the men’s event in 3 minutes, 3.86 seconds.

In the women’s race, Lanie Whittaker, Jessica Beard, Erica Alexander and Takecia Jameson won the gold in 3:30.19 seconds, easily outpacing Ukraine (3:34.20) and Australia (3:34.23).

It was the second first-place finish for Anderson at these games. On Friday, he won the 400-meter hurdles in a personal- and school-record time of 48.68 seconds.

BASKETBALL

Hogg heads Hall honorees

Former Louisiana Tech and Baylor coach Sonja Hogg will be among the inductees in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2009 class.

The new class also includes Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Jennifer Azzi, Jennifer Gillom, Jill Hutchison and Ora Washington.

The class will be honored June 13 at the Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.