Sports in brief: Just call him Gramps Favre

Football: The Minnesota Vikings may have finally found their quarterback of the future: Brett Favre is a grandfather.

His 21-year-old daughter, Brittany, gave birth to a boy – Parker Brett. The little gunslinger weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces.

Grandpa Brett said on his Web site that he and wife Deanna are “very proud” to welcome their first grandchild.

Favre has yet to announce whether he will return to the Vikings and play a 20th season in the NFL. Last year the 40-year-old enjoyed one of his best years and helped lead the Vikings to the NFC title game.

The NFL says it knows of no other grandfathers among current players.

Associated Press

Timing’s poor on Ching injury

Soccer: Brian Ching is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks because of a strained left hamstring, an injury that could prevent him from returning to the field before the U.S. World Cup team gathers in mid-May.

The Houston Dynamo forward, a former Gonzaga University standout, was injured in last Thursday’s home opener. Dynamo spokesman Lester Gretsch said that Ching had an MRI a day earlier that revealed the strain and led to the prognosis.

Ching was a member of the 2006 U.S. World Cup team and has 11 goals in 44 international appearances.

Ching and Colorado’s Conor Casey have been competing to make the 23-man roster.

Associated Press

Blue Devils fans greet champions

Men’s basketball: The scene was almost perfect. The championship trophy was back. Fans had nearly packed Cameron Indoor Stadium to welcome the Blue Devils home after another national championship run. Even the arena’s scoreboards displayed Monday’s final score.

One thing was missing for Mike Krzyzewski.

“It’s good to be home, it’s good to be in Cameron and it’s good to see that score,” the Hall of Fame coach told the Durham, N.C., crowd before gesturing to the rafters. “It’ll be even better to see a fourth banner up there.”

About 9,000 fans greeted the team when it returned to campus Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the Blue Devils held off Butler 61-59 in Indianapolis to win the program’s fourth national title.

Associated Press