Favre inducted into Packers Hall of Fame
Quarterback Brett Favre was inducted into the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame and had his No. 4 retired on Saturday in the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
More than 67,000 fans packed into the stadium to honor the 45-year-old Favre, who played for the Packers from 1992 to 2007 and led Green Bay to a 35-21 victory over the New England in Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans at the end of the 1996 season.
“I never dreamed of standing here before you in a moment like this. This is way beyond what I dreamed of and I am so honored,” Favre told the crowd.
Favre received a 2 1/2-minute standing ovation in his first visit to Lambeau since he played for the rival Minnesota Vikings in 2009 and 2010. In 16 seasons with the Packers, he was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player three times and played in two Super Bowls.
“I have to admit, I’m a little bit embarrassed that all this is for me,” an emotional Favre said. “I really am. I loved to play football. I dreamed of playing football. I dreamed of playing in the Super Bowl. I never dreamed of standing here before you in a moment like this. This is way beyond what I dreamed of and I am so honored.”
Favre also played for the Atlanta Falcons (1991), New York (2008) and Vikings (2009-2010) during his illustrious career.
Favre holds NFL records for passing yards (71,838), passes attempted (10,169), pass completions (6,300), interceptions (336), starts (298) and victories as a starting quarterback (186).
Bart Starr improving
Bart Starr wasn’t able to be in attendance as Brett Favre joined him in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, but his health is improving, according to his son.
Starr’s son, Bart Jr., spoke at the banquet to honor Favre, who was inducted and had his No. 4 retired on Saturday in the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Starr, 81, suffered multiple strokes and a heart attack last fall and is undergoing stem cell treatments, but his son said his father has “begun turning the corner in a significant way.”
The son said that if all goes well, Bart Starr will be in Green Bay on Thanksgiving night when Favre’s No. 4 goes up on the Lambeau Field facade during a ceremony when the Packers play the Chicago Bears.
Yankees reinstate Beltran from DL
The New York Yankees returned outfielder Carlos Beltran from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday.
Beltran had been sidelined since June 30 with a left oblique strain and missed 11 games. He went 3-for-7 during his rehab assignment. The 38-year-old Beltran is hitting .260 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs this season.
The Yankees also optioned infielder Rob Refsnyder to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He is hitting .167 with one home run and two RBIs in four games.
Twins’ Sano sidelined
Minnesota Twins rookie Miguel Sano missed Sunday’s game in Oakland because of a sprained ankle, and it is unclear how long the slugger will be sidelined.
Sano played in Saturday’s game despite spraining his ankle in a workout before that game. He came into the clubhouse on crutches on Sunday, but it has not been determined whether Sano will be put on the disabled list.
Sano was called up from the minors earlier this month and made his major league debut on July 2. He has hit .326 with two homers and nine RBIs in his first 13 major league games.
No football for Angels Stadium
Angels Stadium doesn’t appear to be an option to serve as temporary host for an NFL team in Los Angeles.
According to the Orange County Register, Angels officials said that scheduling conflicts between Major League Baseball games and NFL contests in September and October make it unlikely that they will submit a proposal to the NFL for the Anaheim, Calif., stadium to be a temporary home to a relocating team.
Angels Stadium was home to the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1994 when they moved to St. Louis.
Earlier this month, the Rose Bowl stadium operations team unanimously voted to block any short-term rental by NFL teams looking to relocate to Los Angeles in 2016.
If Angels Stadium is out, that leaves the Los Angeles Coliseum and Dodger Stadium as the best options for teams who could play in Los Angeles next season if their own market fails to produce a viable stadium option.
The candidates include the St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. All three franchises are seeking stadium solutions in their current home market.
NFL owners added a special meeting set for Aug. 11 in Chicago to discuss potential plans for relocating a team or teams to Los Angeles in 2016.