Agassi Leads Off Davis Cup Match

The United States faces the Bahamas this weekend in a Davis Cup relegation match at Charlotte, N.C.

Andre Agassi understands the importance of the competition, which opens today with him playing Roger Smith in the first singles match, followed by Mal Washington against Mark Knowles.

“There’s a lot more to lose here than just a game,” he said. “But we feel real positive that we will do what we need to do to compete for the Cup again next year.”

On Saturday, the U.S. doubles team of Patrick McEnroe and Richey Reneberg will take on Knowles and Smith.

In the semifinals this weekend, Australia faces India on the grass courts of Chandigarh, 160 miles north of New Delhi, and Sweden plays host to Germany.

*

Marianne Werdel upset second-seeded Gabriela Sabatini, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the second round of a tournament at Tokyo.

College Football

The NCAA will investigate Alabama’s football program over allegations that former player Gene Jelks was paid to play for the school.

David Berst, the NCAA’s assistant executive director for enforcement, wrote university President Roger Sayers of the inquiry. Sayers received the letter Thursday and said the school will cooperate.

Berst said his staff has been reviewing information about “possible violations” alleged in a series of newspaper articles in November, 1992. Jelks, a running back and defensive back during the late 1980s, charged that he was paid to play for the Crimson Tide.

Gerald Owens, a former Florida recruit who has been declared ineligible to play for Florida State this season, told the NCAA he received cash and other improper payments in exchange for signing with Florida five years ago.

The athletic directors of four predominantly black universities--Grambling, Jackson State, Southern University and Florida A&M--said; that they are prepared to seek Division I-A membership if the NCAA reduces scholarships on the I-AA level.

Miscellany

The heads of the governing bodies for international and European soccer will meet Monday to discuss the possibility of further sanctions against Olympique Marseille, which was stripped of its 1993 French League title in a bribery scandal.

In between an Oct. 30 bout in Phoenix and a potential junior-lightweight world title fight in early 1994, Oscar De La Hoya is scheduled on a Dec. 9 card at New York’s Madison Square Garden against an opponent yet to be selected, promoter Bob Arum said.

Charlotte beat out Philadelphia to host the 1996 U.S. men’s Olympic marathon trials.

Defending America’s Cup skipper Bill Koch said Thursday he has no plans to enter the 1995 regatta and dropped his proposal to back an all-female sailing team.

Names in the News

Free-agent forward Larry Krystkowiak signed a two-year contract with the Orlando Magic. . . . Alabama guard James Robinson, the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-round draft pick, signed a three-year contract. . . . Goaltender Tommy Soderstrom signed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.