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Show Russians to attempt Davis Cup upset "I believe the choice 0£ clay gives us a good opportunity, maybe the only opportunity to win the Davis Cup against the U.S.team," Andre Agassi turned up for the Davis Cup Kafelnikov said. "It's a big advantage for us." final after all, but only as a cheerleader. The He suggested that Courier, not Sampras, is the Dream Team is Pete's Team now. Americans' top player on clay. Pete Sampras is a big favorite to get the Uhited Agassi, No. 2 in the world, would have States off to an early lead today in quest of its claimed that honor. But be reinjured the muscle 31st Davis Cup title and first since 1992. But during a tournament in Essen, Germany, in the task of outlasting the underdog Russians on October and has not played since. slow clay and in front of a partisan crowd is The Americans did their best to dismiss reports they are looking far tougher without the injured disgruntled by all Agassi. the uncertainty and When a t-ennis hubbub over Agassi official pulled a slip of - his injury, his late paper bearing Sampras' withdrawal and his name out of the last-minute arrival gleaming Cup in as a spectator. yesterday's draw, it "We all appreciate meant the world's No. Andre's support," I player would open TomGullikson said. against Andrei Agassi did his relative best to keep Chesnokov, whose a low profile, £lying ranking has tumbled in unannounced and to No. 91. not showing up at Jim Courier will face the stadium until Yevgeny Kafelnikov in today's other singles after the draw. "Physically, in Olympic Stadium -a tossup. believe it or not, I'm doing quite well," he The Russians, said. "(But) my American and Russian Davis Cup players (1 to r) seeking their first tennis game is Cup, have a clear edge Pete Sampras, Andrei Cbesnokov, Yevgeny probably far from tomorrow with their Kafelnil<ov and firn Courier, the stars for both well at the moment. top doubles team of teams open play today in Moscow. Kafelnikov and Andrei ---=-----=-......a.--=------------ It's been awhile." · Olhovskiy against Todd Martin and Richey He said he wouldn't be playing again until the Australian Open in January. But, he said: "I had Reneberg. Then, in reverse singles Sunday, Sampras plays Kafelnikov and Courier faces to be with the team. I figured I got this far, I might as well come here and see them win it." Chesnokov. Sampras, who earlier wanted to just play The Russians sounded confident on the eve of the match after having been written off long doubles, will be counted on for two singles ago, citing both Agassi's absence and the newly victories in Agassi's absence. installed red clay, Sampras' least favorite "We'd love to have him play," he said. "But obviously, pulling out of so many events in the surface. Team captain Anatoly Lepeshin, admitting last couple of months, he's not ready to go." they were "relieved" not to have to face Agassi, The Russians advanced to the final with a 3-2 upset of Germany, keyed by Chesnokov's lastpegged their chances at 50-50. And Kafelnikov day upset of Michael Stich in which he staved practically guaranteed a win in tomorrow's off nine match points on the German's serve. doubles. By THE AS SOCIATED PRESS BRADLEY TRADED TO NETS: The New Jersey Nets last night traded forward Derrick Coleman and two o_ther players to the Philadelphia 76ers for center Shawn Bradley and two reserves. In addition to Coleman, who was recently cleared to play for the first time this season after being sidelined with an irregular heartbeat, the 76ers will get guard Rex Walters and forward Shawn Bradley Sean Higgins. Going to New Jersey along with Bradley are guard Greg Graham and fo1ward Tim Perry. The 7-foot-6 center from BYU, in his third season, has struggled this year, averaging just 8.8 points and 8.8 rebounds on 44 percent shooting. He was selected by Philadelphia with the second pick of the 1993 draft. JAZZ TAKE OVER TOP SPOT IN MIDWEST DIVISION: Karl Malone scored 27 points and the Utah Jazz held off a furious Houston rally in the fourth quarter last night to beat the Rockets 112-105 in a meeting of the Midwest Division's two top teams. The Jazz had a 16-point lead before the Rockets went on a 17-3 run over the end of the third period and start of the fourth and eventually tied the game 9292 with 6:25 left on a layup by Sam Cassell. John Stockton, who finished with 22 points and 13 assists, broke the tie with a 3-pointer with 6:07 to go and added another trey with 4:29 left as the Jazz pulled away to take the division lead by a halfgame over the Rockets. Houston, losing for the third time in the last four games, was led by Hakeem Olajuwon's 31 points and 13 rebounds. GIANTS TOP CARDS IN NFL ACTION: The New York Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals, another team going nowhere with a coach who may not be back, 10-6 last night by making Dave Brown's third-quarter touchdown pass to Mike Sherrard stand up. The Cardinals made it thrilling at the end, driving from their own 10-yard line to the New York 8 in the final 1:50 before Dave Krieg misfired on four straight passes. AUSTRALIAN WOMEN SETS NEW POLE VAULT RECORD: Emma George of Australia set a world record of 13 feet, 11 1/4 inches, for the women's pole vault last night. George bettered the mark of 13-10 1/2 set by Sun Caiyun of China early in November. COLTS OWNER ROBERT IR.SAY HOSPITALIZED: Indianapolis Colts owner Robert lrsay was reported resting comfortably in a hospital today after suffering a possible stroke. St. Vincent's Hospital spokeswoman Tenna Boone said lrsay was brought to the emergency room 10:05 p.m. Wednesday. WfHR-TV in Indianapolis reported that lrsay possibly suffered a stroke. METS OFFER BIGGIO FOUR-YEAR DEAL: The New York Mets have offered free agent second baseman Craig Biggio a four-year contract for slightly less than the $20 million deal he rejected from the Houston Astros. "It's not a take-it-or-leave-it offer, but it is what we would consider very fair," Mets vice president David Howard told the Daily News on Wednesday. "We anticipate they'll be getting back to us. This will.be an ongoing process." Biggio, 29, a former Seton Hall star who was born on Long Island and live in New Jersey, also is being courted by the New York Yankees, Colorado, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Boston and Baltimore. KING TO PROMOTE BIG FIGHT BEFORE BIG GAME: Don King, whose trial on wire fraud charges recently ended in a hung jury, says he's planning a "super Cc.rd" to go with the 1996 Super Bowl in suburban Tempe. But who will be fighting was left unclear Wednesday as King confirmed plans for matches at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Jan. 27, the night before the Super Bowl. '1 will be there in Phoenix, pridefully and hopefully, with a super card before the Super Don King Bowl," King said Wednesday. King said the card will be televised by the Fox network, but left it unclear whether the telecast would be free or pay-per-view. It's Tyson, not Rocky, to fight in Philly By THE AS SOCIATED PRESS Mike Tyson, often displaying no more animation than the statue of "Rocky" in front of the Spectrum, said yesterday he was excited to be fighting in Philadelphia. He just didn't show it. "I hope you enjoy my performance, and I hope to make it stimulating," said Tyson, who often appeared bored while promoter Don King and a representative of the mayor's office discussed the Tyson-Buster Mathis Jr. fight set for the Spectrum on Dec. 16. Philadelphia got the fight when gambling authorities in New Jersey denied a request by casino operator Donald Trump to hold the fight in Atlantic City, N.J. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission, which hid barred King from doing business with casinos last year, voted 4-0 Wednesday to deny Trump's request, even though Trump's suggested deal had King assigning promotional rights to an unidentified promoter. Gambling regulators, however, considered the request a thinly disguised attempt to subvert the ban on King, who bas not been allowed to do business with Atlantic City casinos since he was indicted on a wire fraud charge in August 1994. King said he was calling the fight "Presumption of Innocence" and also said 11 Atlantic City didn't hurt anybody but it ell. No one else is hurt. The tragedy is for Atlantic City, not for Mike Tyson and Don King." Ty on will be the first big name heavyweight to fight in Philadelphia since Joe Frazier beat Oscar Bonavena in 1968. Rocky Balboa challenged for the heavyweight title on celluloid in Philadelphia in 1976 in the first of the "Rocky" movies. Mathis attended the news conference, but he was much quieter than the lire-engine red sports jacket he wore, and nobody in the crowded press conference seemed to much care whether . Mathis attended or not. "On Dec. 16, you're going to see Buster Mathis do his thing, and I plan to win the fight," Mathis said. Tyson was supposed to fight Mathis on Nov. 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but that fight was called off on Oct. 31 because of a fractured right thumb Tyson suffered in training. |