Favre could be mulling comeback with Vikings WHICH WAY?

Could Brett Favre wind up in purple after all? The quarterback could be mulling another unretirement, this time with the Minnesota Vikings, a nightmare scenario for fans of the Green Bay Packers.

ESPN, citing an unnamed source familiar with the situation, reported Tuesday that Favre and Vikings Coach Brad Childress are planning to meet later this week at an undisclosed location to discuss another comeback. The New York Jets cleared the way for that by granting Favre his release after drafting USC’s Mark Sanchez.

Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is Green Bay’s former quarterbacks coach, and the Vikings’ playbook is very similar to that of the Packers.

Minnesota’s quarterbacks are Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson and former USC starter John David Booty.

-- Sam Farmer

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Michael Vick and Tony Dungy met at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., where the former star quarterback is imprisoned.

“It was a private meeting between Mike and Coach Dungy and a positive meeting,” said Vick’s agent, Joel Segal.

Vick is serving a 23-month sentence for bankrolling a dogfighting conspiracy. He is to be transferred May 21 to home confinement in Hampton, Va.

The New Orleans Saints cut receiver Biren Ealy and tight end Kolomona Kapanui two days after they were arrested for allegedly being drunk and exposing themselves to two women in a parking lot.

TENNIS

Serena Williams loses to Schnyder

A day after insisting she was still the best player in the world despite falling from No. 1 in the rankings, Serena Williams lost to Patty Schnyder in her first match at the Italian Open in Rome.

Williams appeared to be moving with difficulty at times during her 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 loss on the clay.

Earlier, Dinara Safina, the player who overtook the top spot from Williams, defeated Virginie Razzano, 7-6 (1), 6-1.

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic and French Open champion Ana Ivanovic also advanced to the third round with victories.

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Lleyton Hewitt became only the third active player on the ATP tour to reach 500 victories when he saved two match points before beating Philipp Petzschner, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (8) in the opening round of the BMW Open at Munich.

Hewitt now has a 500-170 record, which includes two major titles. The only two other active players with more than 500 wins are Roger Federer with 638 and Carlos Moya with 573.

ETC.

I Want Revenge’s injury worsens

The injury that kept I Want Revenge out of the Kentucky Derby will keep him from racing for months and threaten his career if he doesn’t respond well to therapy, the horse’s veterinarian said.

Foster Northrop said swelling in I Want Revenge’s right front ankle progressed over the weekend, and an ultrasound and MRI exam showed additional ligament damage.

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Former Piston Dave Bing was elected as Detroit’s mayor through the end of the year, sweeping the incumbent from office in the city with myriad problems. Bing, 65, will be mayor through 2009, serving the balance of the term that belonged to Kwame Kilpatrick, who resigned in September and went to jail after admitting he lied during a civil trial.

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The Sparks have acquired guard Noelle Quinn from the Minnesota Lynx and traded guard Sidney Spencer to the New York Liberty.

Quinn played at UCLA, leaving as the school’s No. 4 career scorer.

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Roberto Alomar and his ex-girlfriend, Ilya Dall, have apparently settled her lawsuit alleging he made her have unprotected sex even though he had AIDS. Alomar’s attorney, Charles Bach, said Dall voluntarily withdrew the suit, but wouldn’t say if his client paid Dall any money. Her attorney had no comment.

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Mississippi State has retained attorney Mike Glazier to assist the university’s general counsel in its NCAA compliance review of signed basketball recruit Renardo Sidney of Fairfax High.

The Times on Monday published a story about the retreat of USC and UCLA from the McDonald’s All-American, noting concerns with the player’s upscale residences and a non-profit organization his father started named for the AAU team he coaches.

-- Lance Pugmire

PASSINGS

Boxer Flores, 25, dies after fight

Boxer Benjamin Flores, 25, has died five days after he was hospitalized after a title bout with Al Seeger in a Dallas hotel.

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A memorial service for former Times sportswriter Bob Oates, who died April 27 at age 93, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 5100 Coliseum St., Baldwin Hills.