Youth hoop league

signup underway

The Cherokee County Youth basketball summer league signups are being held now until May 31.

The league is open to girls and boys, ages 5-17

Interested players can sign up for the summer league and camp at Sagesport and the recreation department.

For more information, contact Chris Dewberry at 497-6938, Laymond Dewberry at 425-5860, or

Earl Smith at 761-5610.

Woods shots 71 at Players Championship

Tiger Woods never had a birdie putt longer than his shadow Thursday morning, giving himself one chance after another in the opening round of The Players Championship.

After six holes, he already was five shots behind.

"I was in position all day to make putts," he said. "And I just didn't do it."

The longest putt he made all day was from 4 feet, that after a towering 7-iron into the par-5 16th hole for an eagle. He two-putted for birdie on the par-5 second, then finished his round with a remarkable pitch from thick grass to 3 1/2 feet for birdie and a 1-under 71.

Woods has never shot better than 70 in the first round at TPC Sawgrass, so this was nothing new.

Favre says wants

to stay retired

The Minnesota Vikings' dalliance with Brett Favre has yet to reach the stage of face-to-face, close-the-deal talks.

Maybe it never will.

Vikings coach Brad Childress remained at team headquarters Thursday despite reports he was to travel south for discussions with the supposedly retired quarterback, who lives in Mississippi. Meanwhile, Yahoo! Sports reported that Favre called Childress in the past day and told the coach he wants to stay retired.

Twin Cities television station KMSP broadcast video of Childress's early-morning arrival at Winter Park, and the coach was still at the team's facility in suburban Minneapolis in the afternoon.

Yahoo cited an unidentified source close to the team in reporting that the Vikings won't sign the 39-yearold quarterback, who owns many of the NFL's major passing records.

Favre's uncertainty about whether to quit pro football after 18 seasons or keep playing has created the kind of drama usually reserved for one of his performances with the Vikings' chief rival, Green Bay.