Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching has resumed full training after straining his left hamstring in the soccer team's home opener on April 1.

Ching, a Kamehameha Schools alum from Hale'iwa, hurt his left calf during his recovery but says there's a chance he'll return for tonight's home game against FC Dallas. Ching and coach Dominic Kinnear say he's more likely to return on Saturday at Chivas USA.

The 31-year-old Ching, a member of the U.S. national team since 2003, wants to make the World Cup roster and he has one week to convince coach Bob Bradley that he's fit. Teams must submit preliminary 30-man rosters to FIFA next Tuesday, with 23-man rosters due June 1.

Whether he's chosen or not, Ching says he may be done with international soccer after the World Cup. He says he'll make that decision later this year.

AUTO RACING

RAHAL'S SON IN INDY

Graham Rahal has nabbed a ride at the Indianapolis 500 — for his father.

The 21-year-old Rahal will hit the bricks with his father, Bobby, who won at Indy as a driver in 1986 and as an owner in 2004.

Graham Rahal will drive the No. 30 Dallara/Honda for Rahal Letterman Racing with a yet-to-be-determined sponsor at the May 30 race.

Rahal drove in three of the first four IndyCar Series races for Sarah Fisher Racing, but does not have a full-time ride for the season.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

LESNAR FIGHTS IN JULY

UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will return from a yearlong absence to meet interim champ Shane Carwin on July 3.

The UFC announced yesterday that Lesnar and Carwin will Headline 1 UFC 116 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Lesnar, considered the UFC's top pay-per-view draw after just four fights, won the heavyweight title in November 2008, beating Randy Couture.

But Lesnar hasn't fought since stopping Frank Mir at UFC 100 last July. He missed two scheduled title defenses against Carwin with what was eventually discovered to be diverticulitis, an intestinal disorder.

Carwin is a 35-year-old mechanical engineer who won the interim title in March with a victory over Mir.

NFL

BUD LIGHT TO SPONSOR

Anheuser-Busch's flagship brand Bud Light will be the official beer sponsor of the National Football League, edging out rival MillerCoors, which said yesterday it wouldn't renew its deal.

Anheuser-Busch's six-year deal, which begins in the 2011 season, is worth more than $1 billion, a person close to the league said yesterday.

49ERS SIGN LB WILLIS

All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis signed a $50 million, five-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers yesterday that takes him through the 2016 season and includes $29 million in guaranteed money.

"Wow. It's been a long journey but it's not over yet," said Willis, who is set to make $10 million per season. "I feel like it's just beginning."