Martin Won’t Play, so Olazabal Is in Ryder Cup

Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain was named to replace countryman Miguel Angel Martin on Europe’s Ryder Cup team Tuesday after Martin refused to play 18 holes of golf to prove his surgically repaired wrist had healed.

Martin, who underwent surgery Aug. 5, refused to play, saying it would delay his recovery.

“There’s no way I am going to be fit by Wednesday and I think that’s silly,” said Martin, adding that he is considering legal action. “But I think I have to be fit on Sept. 26 [when Ryder Cup play begins in Spain], not Sept. 3.”

Martin, 35, has not played since the British Open in July. His doctors said he could not even begin chipping balls until later this week.

European team captain Seve Ballesteros, also of Spain, is expected to select Nick Faldo of Britain and Jesper Parnevik of Sweden as his wild-card choices.

Jurisprudence

A bench warrant was issued for former USC and Raider quarterback Todd Marinovich, who failed to show up in court in Laguna Niguel on drug charges for the third time since Aug. 15.

Marinovich, who pleaded not guilty to felony drug charges, was scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing.

Marinovich, 27, was arrested on March 24 after paramedics and Orange County sheriffs were called to his Dana Point home to help one of his friends, who was unconscious. While paramedics treated the friend, deputies found a marijuana plant, a bag of marijuana, a syringe and prescription medicine that was not in Marinovich’s name.

Attorneys for sportscaster Marv Albert moved for dismissal of sexual assault charges because a member of the grand jury that indicted him once worked for the prosecutor.

In court papers, defense attorney Roy Black said Amy Levine, one of the six grand jurors who indicted Albert, was campaign manager for Arlington (Va.) County prosecutor Richard Trodden.

Albert is charged with forcible sodomy and assault and battery for allegedly biting a woman and forcing her to perform oral sex.

His trial is scheduled Sept. 22.

Gymnastics

The U.S. women’s team edged Belarus by .275 of a point for the sixth and final spot in the team final in the World Gymnastics Championships at Lausanne, Switzerland, with a 146.757 total.

The U.S. team also qualified the maximum three for Friday’s all-around--national co-champion Kristy Powell, Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Moceanu and Kristin Maloney.

Miscellany

The British government demanded that Scottish soccer authorities explain their decision to hold a World Cup qualifying game on the afternoon of Princess Diana’s funeral Saturday.

Scotland said it would play the game against Belarus as planned in Aberdeen. Most other sports in Britain have been postponed that day.

Scotland leads Group 4 in qualifying for next year’s World Cup in France.

Navy basketball Coach Don DeVoe signed a 10-year contract extension through 2007.

The New York Rangers re-signed forwards Ken Gernander and Sylvain Blouin.