FOOTBALL

FAVRE LEADS PACKERS PAST CHARGERS IN PRESEASON ACTION

Brett Favre’s off-season work paid immediate dividends last night in the Green Bay Packers’ 10-7 preseason victory over the San Diego Chargers. Favre, who trained with a strength and conditioning coach in the off-season for the first time, completed 9 of 10 passes for 91 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions in 1 1/2 quarters of work. He guided Green Bay on an 80-yard scoring drive in the second quarter in which he completed 7 of 8 passes for 64 yards, capping the series with a 23-yard strike to Donald Driver.

TRACK & FIELD

GATLIN LEADS AMERICAN SWEEP IN 200M AT WORLDS

Justin Gatlin led a 1-2-3-4 American sweep in the 200 meters yesterday, winning his second gold medal at the world track and field championships in another great day for the American team.

Michelle Perry captured the 100-meter hurdles and Walter Davis continued the golden run for the Ameicans by taking the triple jump. Then Gatlin, the winner of the 100 meters, led Wallace Spearmon, defending champion John Capel, and Tyson Gay across the line in 20.04 seconds in the 200. Gatlin will go for a sprint triple during Saturday’s final in the 400 relay.

Perry took the lead when Olympic champion and fellow American Joanna Hayes stumbled at the next-to-last hurdle and won ahead of Jamaicans Delloreen Ennis-London and Brigitte Foster-Hylton.

HOCKEY

MAPLE LEAFS SIGN LINDROS

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed unrestricted free agent Eric Lindros to a one-year contract yesterday. The team didn’t release terms of the deal but it was expected to include bonuses based on games played.

Lindros, 32, played 39 games for the Rangers in 2003-04 collecting 10 goals and 22 assists with 60 penalty minutes. The six-time All-Star won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP in 1994-95. The Toronto native has 356 career goals and 461 assists but hasn’t been the same player since suffering a series of concussions.

THORNTON SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH BRUINS

The Boston Bruins re-signed star center Joe Thornton yesterday to a new three-year contract. Financial terms of the deal with Thornton, a restricted free agent, were not announced. Thornton, 26, has scored more than 20 goals in each of his last five NHL seasons, including two with 30 or more. He has led the Bruins in scoring in each of the last two seasons.

TENNIS

RUSEDSKI, MATHIEU ADVANCE IN MONTREAL

Greg Rusedski made the most of his big serve yesterday, defeating Mario Ancic 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the Rogers Cup quarterfinals for the first time in eight attempts.

France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu, who upset 2003 champion Andy Roddick on Tuesday, also won his third-round match, beating Belgium’s Olivier Rochus 6-1, 6-2.

BASKETBALL

ORLANDO WAIVES CHRISTIE

The Orlando Magic waived guard Doug Christie yesterday after a disappointing season marred by injury and public squabbling with team management. The Magic still have to pay Christie $8.2 million for the final year of his contract, but he will be allowed to sign with another team.

– Associated Press