Favre reportedly sent reinstatement letter
NEW YORK, July 29 (UPI) -- Quarterback Brett Favre reportedly sent a reinstatement letter to the NFL Tuesday to officially end his recent retirement from the Green Bay Packers.
The NFL Network reported Favre and Packers General Manager Ted Thompson had agreed the veteran quarterback would delay his reinstatement until the club could decide how to handle the situation.
Since no trade has been arranged, if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approves the reinstatement, Favre can report to Packers training camp in Green Bay, where Aaron Rodgers is working as the starting quarterback.
If the Packers don't find a suitable trade then Favre would serve as a $12 million backup to Rodgers, who has thrown for only 329 yards and one touchdown in three seasons as Favre's understudy.
Thompson, at a Monday news conference, said trade discussions to this point were "kicking of tires type conversations." He said Green Bay would not consider dealing Favre, who announced his retirement March 6, to a division rival.
Federer escapes second straight opening loss
MASON, Ohio, July 29 (UPI) -- Roger Federer escaped a second straight opening loss Tuesday when he beat American Robby Ginepri at the $2.615 million Western & Southern.
The top-seeded-world No. 1 Federer won his sixth straight match at this tournament by defeating Ginepri 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-0. Federer, 12-time major champion, received a first-round bye both this week and last. He was upset last week by Frenchman Gilles Simon in the second round in Toronto.
Federer beat American James Blake in last year's finale here and also won this title in 2005.
In a second-round upset, Swede Robin Soderling beat 12th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
In first-round action, 10th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco beat Dominican qualifier Victor Estrella 6-3, 7-5; 11th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet beat countryman Michael Llodra 3-6, 6-1, 1-0, as Llodra retired with an arm injury; and Frenchman, Arnaud Clement beat former Australian Open champ Thomas Johansson of Sweden 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.
Angels and Braves swap first basemen
ANAHEIM, Calif., July 29 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Angels acquired first baseman Mark Teixeira from Atlanta Tuesday for first baseman Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher.
Both Teixeira's and Kotchman's contracts expire after this season.
The switch-hitting 28-year-old Teixeira is batting .283 with 20 home runs and 78 runs batted in in 103 games with the Braves this season.
The 25-year-old Kotchman is batting .287 with 12 homers and has 54 RBI in 100 games played for the Angels.
Anaheim had an 11 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics and a major league-best record of 65-40 heading into Tuesday's game in Boston.
Canada beats USA to win team competition
SCARBOROUGH, Ontario, July 29 (UPI) -- An eight-man team from Canada won the Canadian Tour's International Team Matches Tuesday, defending its title with a 37-point victory over the United States.
Canada claimed 460 total points in eight matches to 423 for the U.S. team and 408 for the third-place International team.
The Canadian team was made up of J.C. Deacon, Dale Vallely, Kris Wasylowich, Derek Gillespie, Adam Speirs, Andrew Parr, Wes Heffernan and Dustin Risdon.
John Ellis shot an 8-under 63 to lead the U.S. team.
It marked the third year for this unofficial event, which pits teams featuring the top eight Canadian, American and International members of the Canadian Tour against each other.
Team USA won the inaugural event in 2006 when it pitted only the top American players against the top Canadian players in a Ryder Cup-style match. International players were added last year.
