LOS ANGELES — Wayne Gretzky took an indefinite leave as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night to return to Canada to be with his mother, who has lung cancer.

Gretzky left the team before the Coyotes' 4-1 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles and went to Ontario to be with his parents, Phyllis and Walter.

Associate coach Rick Tocchet assumed head coaching duties until Gretzky returns.

In his first season as coach, Gretzky — also the Coyotes' managing partner — had a 16-14-2 record.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Pittsburgh Penguins owner-captain Mario Lemieux had a recurrence of his irregular heartbeat.The 40-year-old Lemieux was hospitalized Dec. 7 and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a fluttering of the heartbeat that was causing his heart to dramatically speed up at times. He played in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Sabres in Pittsburgh after sitting out four games, but didn't travel to Buffalo for Saturday's game.The condition can be treated with medication and is not expected to affect his career.

BERLIN — John Ruiz lost the WBA heavyweight title Saturday night, dropping a disputed majority decision to 7-foot Nikolay Valuev of Russia.Valuev, who becomes the tallest and heaviest (323 pounds) champion of all-time, won 116-113 and 116-114 on two judges' cards, with a third judge scoring the fight 114-114.The crowd of 10,000 booed the decision.Ruiz manager Norman Stone had to be restrained in the ring when the announcement was made, and German promoter Wilfried Sauerland accused him of inciting the crowd, leading to the booing.Valuev is the first Russian heavyweight champion.

LOS ANGELES — All-Star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets missed his first game of the season and the third of his NBA career Sunday night because of a sore right big toe that will sideline him indefinitely.Yao returned home before Sunday night's game. He has had a problem with his right big toe for some time, missing two preseason games because it was bothering him.The 25-year-old center has played in 266 regular-season games since joining the Rockets in 2002.

DALLAS — Mavericks guard Darrell Armstrong was so happy his beloved Washington Redskins beat the Dallas Cowboys that he grabbed a microphone before Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and hollered, "How 'bout those Redskins!"It's going to cost him $1,000.Dallas coach Avery Johnson announced the fine during his postgame news conference and team owner Mark Cuban later verified it was legit. The money will all go to charity, with Johnson saying the Cowboys would decide the recipient.

GEORGE, South Africa — Retief Goosen birdied the last two holes and finished with a 3-under 70 Sunday to beat Ernie Els by a stroke at the South African Open.Goosen chipped in on the 17th hole and then made a tough birdie on the 18th to finish with a 10-under 282 total.

MADISON, Wis. — The brother of Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El was arrested and temporarily jailed after a fight over an alleged theft of money, police said.Wisconsin receiver Marcus Randle El, 19, punched another 19-year-old late Friday night at his home in Madison. The man sustained minor injuries and was treated and released, police said in a statement.Randle El, a sophomore, was booked on a tentative charge of battery and released from jail, Madison police Sgt. Jim Dexheimer said.