IN BRIEF

HOCKEY

Reinsdorf approved to take over Coyotes

The NHL Board of Governors approved a bid Wednesday by Jerry Reinsdorf to assume ownership of the financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes, and unanimously rejected an application by Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie to buy the team.

The group headed by Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, was the only one of three applicants to gain the board's approval Wednesday. That vote was unanimous, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

The board convened a special meeting in Chicago to evaluate each group's applications before an eventual sale of the Coyotes, who were taken into Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 5 by current owner Jerry Moyes.

HORSE RACING

Atomic Rain might miss Haskell Invitational

A sore foot could keep Atomic Rain from taking on Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday.

Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin Stable, which bought the colt from George and Lori Hall last week, is expected to make a decision on Atomic Rain today.

Already on the grounds at Monmouth Park are Summer Bird; Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem; Continental Mile stakes winner Bunker Hill; and Iowa Derby winner Duke of Mischief.

Rachel Alexandra is expected to go off the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell.

MISCELLANEOUS

Congress seeks pardon for late boxing great

Congress approved a resolution urging a presidential pardon for Jack Johnson, the late black heavyweight champion who was imprisoned because of his romantic ties with a white woman.

The House passed the resolution by voice vote, about a month after the Senate approved it.

Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion, in 1908, a century before the nation elected Barack Obama its first black president. The Senate resolution was sponsored by Obama's 2008 GOP rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Also: Southern California freshman Frankie Telfort has a heart problem that will prevent him from playing football for the Trojans.

Telfort, a 17-year-old Miami native considered one of the top linebacker prospects in the country, has been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- a serious genetic heart condition.

USC couldn't clear Telfort to play after examinations by several top heart specialists in Los Angeles and another opinion from the Minneapolis Heart Institute.

Tim Howard made six saves in regulation and stopped three shots on penalty kicks to lead Everton, of the English Premier League, over the Major League Soccer team in the MLS All-Star Game in Sandy, Utah.

Howard, the U.S. national team goalkeeper, was voted the most valuable player after stopping Seattle Sounders midfielder Freddie Ljunberg on the final penalty kick.

The game was tied at 1 in regulation, and Everton beat the MLS stars 4-3 in the penalty-kick shootout.

The New Orleans Hornets signed forward Ike Diogu to a free-agent contract, hoping he can provide solid backup minutes behind All-Star David West. Diogu played in 29 games last season for Portland and Sacramento.

Elsie Windes scored five goals, including the tiebreaker with 4:22 left, and the United States advanced to the championship game of women's water polo with an 8-7 win over Greece.

The U.S. will face Canada in Friday's final in Rome.

Maria Sharapova rolled past 10th-ranked and fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-2 in a second-round match of the $700,000 WTA Premier Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif.