Patrick McEnroe’s U.S. Davis Cup Team Faces Switzerland

Without Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, the United States plays Switzerland at Basel today in the Americans’ first Davis Cup match since Patrick McEnroe succeeded his brother John as captain.

McEnroe selected a team of Todd Martin, Jan-Michael Gambill, Justin Gimelstob and Andy Roddick. Switzerland countered with teenage star Roger Federer, Michel Kratochvil, George Bastl and Lorenzo Manta.

In today’s opener, Martin plays Federer, followed by Gambill’s match against Kratochvil. Gambill and Gimelstob are expected to play doubles.

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Anna Kournikova of Russia defeated Sandra Kleinova of the Czech Republic, 6-0, 6-3, in 45 minutes to reach the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France tournament at Paris.

Track and Field

The head of the IAAF’s anti-doping commission is threatening to ban 1999 world shotput champion C.J. Hunter if the U.S. governing body doesn’t take action soon.

Hunter tested positive four times for the anabolic steroid nandrolone last year and announced his retirement during the Sydney Olympics.

Arne Ljungqvist, an International Amateur Athletic Federation vice president and chairman of its medical commission, said he would raise the issue at this weekend’s IAAF anti-doping commission meeting.

Hunter has not been suspended by USA Track & Field and no hearing date has been set.

Baseball

Cincinnati first baseman Sean Casey was awarded a raise from $400,000 to $3 million after winning his salary arbitration case.

Two players scheduled for hearings settled their salary arbitration cases. Kansas City right-hander Jeff Suppan agreed to a $6.5-million, two-year contract and Reds outfielder Dmitri Young agreed to a $3.5-million, one-year deal. . . . New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, originally scheduled for a hearing Thursday, will have his case rescheduled for Feb. 14 or 19 because of the firing of his agents.

The Dodgers signed left-handed reliever Jesse Orosco, 43, to a one-year, $700,000 contract. Orosco, the majors’ all-time leader in appearances with 1,096, could earn another $600,000 in bonuses, and is guaranteed $115,000 if he doesn’t make the team. . . . Among other free agents, Milwaukee signed infielder Tony Fernandez, who played in Japan last year; Cleveland signed right-hander Willie Blair; and Tampa Bay signed right-hander Ken Hill. . . . Shortstop Chris Gomez has been waived by San Diego to clear a roster spot for right-hander Bobby J. Jones.

Soccer

Rich Motzkin, the agent for U.S. national team player Landon Donovan, returned from Germany and said he had reached an understanding with Donovan’s Bundesliga club, Bayer Leverkusen, that could see the Redlands teenager either elevated to the first team or be loaned or sold to a club elsewhere in Europe or Major League Soccer.

Clint Mathis, forward on the U.S. national team and New York/New Jersey MetroStars, will undergo surgery today to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.

Miscellany

Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Akili Smith was arrested in San Diego after midnight Thursday on suspicion of drunk driving when police spotted him driving his 2001 Mercedes-Benz the wrong way down a one-way street, police spokesman Bill Robinson said. Smith, 25, offered no resistance and was booked into county jail. A graduate of Oregon, Smith was a high school star in San Diego.

An arrest warrant was issued for Denver Bronco tight end Byron Chamberlain after he missed a court hearing in a driving-under-suspension case in Castle Rock, Colo.

Michael Von Gruenigen of Switzerland, tied for fourth with Hermann Maier after the first run, won the giant slalom at the World Alpine Championships at St. Anton, Austria.

World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will defend his title April 21 in Johannesburg, South Africa, against Hasim Rahman, his manager Frank Maloney said. But Donald Tremblay, Lewis’ American promoter, said no site has been selected.

Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe was arrested after a fight with his wife at their home on Long Island, authorities said. Nassau County police said Bowe was taken into custody around 9 a.m. after officers arrived at Bowe’s home and found his wife injured.

Starting cornerback Anthony Vontoure was dismissed from the Washington Huskies after a series of conflicts with coaches.