SPORTS SHORTS

NFL: Vikes coach: We’ll assess Favre

Brett Favre says he’s retired, but Minnesota coach Brad Childress acknowledges it’s likely the Vikings will at least assess their interest in the record-setting quarterback later in the offseason. Childress declined yesterday to directly answer a question about whether he’s spoken recently with Favre. Favre asked for and received his release from the Jets earlier this week.

In other Vikings news, first-round draft pick Percy Harvin was hospitalized because of severe dehydration

* Julius Peppers, who asked to be traded when the Panthers placed the franchise tag on him, was the only player missing from the start of the team’s three-day minicamp.

* Disgruntled wideout Anquan Boldin showed up for the Cardinals’ minicamp but sat out with an injured hamstring.

* Former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was invited to the Browns rookie minicamp on a three-day tryout.

* In response to a report that disgraced quarterback Michael Vick was set to do public service ads for PETA after he is released from federal prison, the animal-rights group said it has no such plans.

MLB: Twins activate Mauer

Twins catcher Joe Mauer was activated from the DL after missing the first month of the season with a back injury.

* The Rangers placed outfielder Josh Hamilton on the 15-day DL because of a strained left rib cage muscle.

NHL: Bruins take series opener from ‘Canes

In Boston, Marc Savard scored twice and Tim Thomas stopped 26 shots to lead the Bruins past the Hurricanes 4-1 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis. Michael Ryder and David Krejci also scored for the top-seeded Bruins.

* In Detroit, Nicklas Lidstrom scored his second goal of the game with 49.1 seconds left, lifting the Red Wings to a 2-1 win over the Ducks in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series.

BOXING: Mayweather Jr. to fight again

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is back, ending his brief retirement from boxing.

The undefeated five-division champion plans to announce today his return to the sport with a July fight against lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, a person close to the fight confirmed last night. Mayweather last fought when he stopped Ricky Hatton in the 10th round of their December 2007 fight.

ETC.: Vickers earns Richmond pole

Brian Vickers turned a lap at 127.131 mph to win the pole position for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

* Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic posted straight-set wins to set up a semifinal meeting in the Rome Masters, and three-time champion Rafael Nadal advanced in the other half of the draw. . . . In Stuttgart, Germany, Flavia Pennetta rallied to upset defending champion Jelena Jankovic, lining up a semifinal with top-ranked Dinara Safina.

* In Bern, Switzerland, six players scored for the United States in a 6-2 win over France in second-round play at the ice hockey world championship.