Rome ? The winner draped himself triumphantly on the lane rope, thrusting his right hand in the air to celebrate a world record.

It’s a familiar scene for Michael Phelps. This time, all he could do was watch.

Germany’s Paul Biedermann handed Phelps his first major individual loss in four years — and snatched away his world record, too — with a stunning win in the 200-meter freestyle at the world swimming championships on Tuesday.

Virtually unknown outside his country before this meet, Biedermann has erased Ian Thorpe from the record book in the 400 free and knocked off the winningest Olympian in history — all in the space of three days.

“I’m not pleased,” Phelps said, acknowledging he wasn’t in the best shape after taking six months off to revel in his great haul of China.

But Biedermann’s performance stirred up even more debate about the high-tech bodysuits that are being banned by the sport’s governing body beginning in 2010. Biedermann wore an Arena X-Glide, one of those polyurethane suits that is generally considered faster than the Speedo LZR Racer, the once-revolutionary suit Phelps wore.

When the suit mess gets all sorts out, Phelps can’t wait for the rematch — on what he considers equal terms.

“It’s going to be fun next year,” he said, “when swimming is back to swimming.”

Biedermann relished his win but acknowledged that he had a technological edge.

“The suits make a difference,” the 22-year-old German said.

GOLF

Mickelson to play in Akron

Akron, Ohio — Phil Mickelson is returning to the PGA Tour, deciding to play the Bridgestone Invitational next week, his first tournament since the U.S. Open.

Mickelson has been out of action for nearly two months, tending to his wife, who is battling breast cancer. He tied for second at the U.S. Open in June and his wife had surgery two weeks later.

He also learned that his mother has breast cancer and is being treated.

Mickelson’s decision, announced in a release Tuesday by tournament organizers, is a good sign he also will play the following week in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

Watson misses practice

Indianapolis — Tom Watson has skipped his first practice round for the U.S. Senior Open because he is ill. He’s still hoping to make it onto the course today.

Watson says the bug will cost him preparation time after spending the last two weekends in Britain. He followed his playoff loss in the British Open with an eighth-place tie in the Senior British Open.

But before taking a shot, the 59-year-old was the star attraction. His senior tour colleagues gave him a warm reception, which Watson describes as “pretty cool.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Illini, N’western eye Wrigley

Chicago — Illinois and Northwestern are talking about moving their annual Big Ten football game to Wrigley Field. Northwestern spokesman Mike Wolf says the schools have talked several times with the Chicago Cubs, most recently last weekend. The soonest a game could be played there would be late in the 2010 season.

BASEBALL

White Sox acquire Kotsay

Boston — In a swap of outfielders, the Boston Red Sox traded Mark Kotsay and cash to the Chicago White Sox for Brian Anderson on Tuesday. The Red Sox are second in the AL East, and designated the 33-year-old Kotsay for assignment last week. The White Sox are second in the AL Central and sent the 27-year-old Anderson to Triple-A last week.

Kotsay hit .257 with one home run and five RBIs in 27 games for the Red Sox this year.

Rangers’ Padilla still out

Arlington, Texas — Texas Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla is still weak from the swine flu and was scratched from Tuesday night’s start against the Detroit Tigers. The Rangers made the announcement 31/2 hours before game time. Padilla was diagnosed with the illness last week and missed a start against Boston. The team thought he’d recovered and was ready to return to the rotation.

Mets: GM made a mistake

New York — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon says he stands by Omar Minaya, but acknowledges the general manager made a mistake by questioning the motives of a reporter during a bizarre news conference.

Wilpon said Minaya was “visibly shaken” on Tuesday, one day after the GM announced the firing of close friend and team executive Tony Bernazard.

That news conference took a strange twist when Minaya said a reporter for the New York Daily News who’d written stories critical of Bernazard had “lobbied” him for a job with the Mets. The reporter denied the allegations.

Ex-pitcher Quintana dies

West Palm Beach, Fla. — Former California Angels relief pitcher Luis Quintana has died in Florida. Palm Beach County sheriff’s officials said in a statement that Quintana, 57, died of natural causes. He was found in his car Monday after it crashed. Quintana appeared in 22 games for the Angels in 1974 and ’75, posting a 2-3 record and a 5.03 earned-run average.

Cards bump Wellemeyer

St. Louis — The St. Louis Cardinals are sending struggling Todd Wellemeyer to the bullpen. Wellemeyer is 7-9 with a 5.79 ERA. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday, and manager Tony La Russa said Wellemeyer will be available for relief duty on Thursday.

Wellemeyer went 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA last year in his first full season as a starter.

NFL

Eagles assistant dies

Philadelphia — Jim Johnson, whose attacking defenses helped the Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games, has died. He was 68. Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death on Tuesday afternoon.

A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the league, known for building units able to pressure the quarterback from every angle.

Burress to testify

New York — Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will testify before the grand jury that is investigating weapons charges against him, his lawyer said Tuesday. Attorney Benjamin Brafman said Burress would testify at 10 a.m. today. Burress, 31, shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub early on the morning of Nov. 29. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and faces up to 31/2 years in prison. Burress has pleaded not guilty and is free on $100,000 bail.

Bengals sign Coffman

Cincinnati — The Cincinnati Bengals have signed third-round draft choice Chase Coffman. The 6-foot-6, 257-pounder from Missouri is the career NCAA tight end receptions leader with 247. The Bengals have now signed eight of their 11 draft picks this year.

NBA

Hornets trade Chandler

Charlotte, N.C. — The New Orleans Hornets have officially found a taker for Tyson Chandler in the Charlotte Bobcats. Emeka Okafor was dealt to the Hornets on Tuesday for Chandler in a deal involving 26-year-old centers.