Sports Briefs: Americans roll to Davis Cup victory

Monday, Feb. 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The United States showed off its depth when it romped to a 4-1 victory over Brazil and a spot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the Netherlands.

Top-ranked Pete Sampras, No. 4 Michael Chang of Henderson, No. 12 Andre Agassi of Las Vegas and No. 14 Todd Martin sat out this grueling clay court test.

No problem.

No. 22 Jim Courier withstood 101-degree heat and jeering fans at Ribeirao Preto to beat Gustavo Kuerten 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (13-11) Sunday for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-5 matchup before Alex O'Brien, replacing the injured MaliVai Washington, beat Fernando Meligeni 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

"It was obviously a difficult and close match," said Courier, who was treated for dehydration after his 3-hour, 36-minute victory. "I was glad to have it go four sets. But if it went five, I'm sure I would have outlasted him."

In other quarterfinals, it will be Australia vs. the Czech Republic, Sweden vs. South Africa and Spain vs. Italy. The matchup between the Americans and the Dutch will be played in the United States at a site to be determined.

Tagliabue seeks deal

Paul Tagliabue would like nothing better than to resolve the Bill Parcells dispute for good. So when the NFL commissioner meets today with representatives of the New York Jets and New England Patriots, he'll be trying to broker a deal between the two teams that will allow Parcells to begin coaching the Jets immediately instead of a year from now. Technically, the meeting with Tagliabue is to determine what Parcells' consultant status with the Jets entails. But, realistically, Tagliabue would like the Jets and Patriots to agree on a deal that would free Parcells from the last year on his contract with New England.

In other NFL news:

* Rodney Peete said he will come back from a serious knee injury stronger and make a solid case for reclaiming the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback job. "One thing that happens when you get injured is it makes you work harder," Peete said. "It makes your muscles stronger and it makes your mind sharper." Peete will need all the weapons he can muster as he goes about trying to get back the job he lost to Ty Detmer, but he said he's ready for the challenge.

3-point record falls

Jeff Clement broke the NCAA all-division record with 16 3-pointers in Division III Grinnell's 151-112 victory over Monmouth of Illinois Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. Clement, 16-for-26 on 3-pointers in a 50-point performance, broke the mark of 15 set by Marshall's Keith Veney on Dec. 14 against Morehead State.

Accused Ridgway killer walks

A man who was jailed for five months on charges he killed former Dallas Cowboys punter Colin Ridgway is now a free man because prosecutors say they lack enough evidence. But the Dallas County district attorney's office says Kenneth Bicking III is still a suspect in the fatal 1993 shooting. The key evidence against Bicking, provided by his estranged wife Katherine Bicking, was inadmissible in court because it was a privileged communication between husband and wife, prosecutors said. Ridgway, a punter and kicker for the Cowboys in 1965, was shot seven times in the living room of his duplex at the Dallas suburb of University Park on May 13, 1993.