Judge rejects proposed sale of the Coyotes

A bankruptcy judge rejected Monday the proposed sale of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who would have moved the team to Hamilton, Canada.

Judge Redfield T. Baum issued a 21-page ruling concluding that the June 29 deadline imposed by Balsillie did not allow enough time to resolve the complex case.

The ruling is a victory for the NHL, which had argued Balsillie was using the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to make an end-run around the league’s rules over who owns teams and where they are located.

NHL officials said they needed to read the entire opinion before issuing a statement.

The city of Glendale, Ariz., had spent $183 million to build an arena for the Coyotes and had contended the franchise could not use bankruptcy to evade its lease.

Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 5, proposing to sell the team to Balsillie for $212.5 million, contingent on the franchise’s moving to Hamilton.

The Minnesota Wild has hired San Jose Sharks assistant Todd Richards as coach, an anonymous source told the Associated Press.

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PRO BASKETBALL

Laimbeer resigns as Shock coach

Bill Laimbeer resigned as coach of the WNBA champion Detroit Shock three games into the season in hopes of landing an NBA job.

Assistant Rick Mahorn was promoted to coach.

Laimbeer was hired as coach of the Shock in 2002 and led it to three titles in six years.

Forward Austin Daye is making himself available for the NBA draft after two seasons at Gonzaga; Wake Forest guard Jeff Teague is staying in the draft, ending his college career after two seasons, and Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks is giving up his last college season to enter the draft. . . . Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody and Georgia Tech forward Gani Lawal have removed their names from the draft.

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PRO FOOTBALL

Browns’ Stallworth to plead guilty

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth has agreed to plead guilty today to DUI manslaughter charges and would serve some jail time for a Miami car crash in March in which a pedestrian was struck and killed, prosecutors and the player’s attorney told the AP. . . . A judge in New York delayed until Sept. 23 the trial of former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress on gun possession charges.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ben Patrick has been suspended for four games after testing positive for an amphetamine, a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. . . . The New York Jets signed third-round draft pick Shonn Greene to a four-year deal that includes a $905,000 signing bonus. Greene rushed for a school-record 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns at Iowa, and was selected the Big Ten Conference’s offensive player of the year.

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MISCELLANY

Bradley to defend WBO title Aug. 1

Timothy Bradley, the unbeaten World Boxing Organization junior-welterweight champion from Palm Springs, will make his next title defense against former lightweight champion Nate Campbell on Aug. 1 at Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, said Gary Shaw, Bradley’s promoter.

-- Lance Pugmire

The sports federations for golf, baseball, softball, rugby sevens, roller sports, squash and karate made pitches to the International Olympic Committee’s executive board for inclusion in the 2016 Games.

The board will select two sports in August to put forward for ratification at the IOC general assembly in October.

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PASSINGS

Woodeshick, former Houston pitcher; 76

Hal Woodeshick, who pitched for the expansion Houston Colt .45s during an 11-year career in which he was an All-Star and part of a World Series championship team, has died. He was 76.

Woodeshick died Sunday in Houston, the Astros said. Story, Section A.