BRIEFLY MAVERICKS AWAIT WORD ON WORLDS.

Byline: - Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Dirk Nowitzki is preparing to play for Germany in the upcoming world championships, although the NBA All-Star forward has yet to get approval from the Dallas Mavericks and owner Mark Cuban.

Nowitzki underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his ankles following the Mavericks' playoff loss to the Sacramento Kings but is fully recovered and eager to play Aug. 29-Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.

He needs the approval of Cuban to play for Germany during the tournament because of a dispute about how much insurance the German Basketball Federation will pay to cover the forward against injury.

Cuban is concerned about coverage for his players who will play at the worlds, a list which also includes Canadian Steve Nash and U.S. players Raef LaFrentz and Michael Finley.

--The Portland Trail Blazers signed free-agent guard Jeff McInnis to a three-year contract. McInnis played the past three seasons with the Clippers.

--Hall of Famer Magic Johnson will join TNT this season for the cable network's coverage of NBA games.

COLLEGES: Lawyers asked a judge to keep the NCAA from sidelining an Olympic moguls skier who wants to play football at Colorado while pursuing modeling and acting careers.

Jeremy Bloom is seeking an injunction that would allow him to play for Colorado as a wide receiver while his lawsuit against the NCAA progresses. A decision is expected today.

TENNIS: Nancy Chaffee, a highly ranked tennis player in the 1950s, died of complications from cancer on Sunday in Coronado, where she was visiting. The Indian Wells resident was 73. She was once married to Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner.

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps shattered the American record in the 200-meter individual medley on the opening day of the U.S. National Swimming Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Phelps finished in 1 minute, 58.68 seconds, to break the U.S. mark of 1:59.77 set by Tom Dolan in the 2000 Olympics.

X GAMES: Bubba Harris and Brian Schmith of Lancaster finished seventh and 10th, respectively, in the BMX Downhill on Sunday at the X Games in Philadelphia.