Sports briefs for July 12, 2004

Monday, July 12, 2004 | 10:30 a.m.

Clemens, Mulder will start All-Star Game

Roger Clemens will start the All-Star Game for the National League, throwing the first pitch to his nemesis, New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza.

"I'm glad I'm throwing to him and I don't have to face him," Clemens said today.

Clemens, 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA for his hometown Houston Astros, was selected to start today by NL manager Jack McKeon of the Florida Marlins. Oakland's Mark Mulder was picked to start by AL manager Joe Torre of the New York Yankees.

Clemens, then with the New York Yankees, beaned Piazza in July 2000. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine.

Austria upsets U.S.

Austria upset the United States in the Fed Cup for the second time in three years Sunday to join defending champion France, Russia and Spain in the semifinals.

The Austrians, who beat the 17-time Fed Cup champions in April 2002, got a heroic effort from Barbara Schwartz, who outlasted Lisa Raymond 7-6 (3), 4-6, 10-8 to clinch the best-of-five series in Innsbruck.

That gave the hosts a 3-1 lead, and they made it 4-1 by winning the doubles, dealing Martina Navratilova her first Fed Cup loss after 40 victories.

Pistons make offer

The Detroit Pistons have offered Antonio McDyess a four-year, $23 million contract, a source told the Associated Press. The NBA champion Pistons, according to a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, hope to sign the 6-foot-9 forward on Wednesday when the NBA's two-week player movement moratorium expires. The source said a fifth year is included in the deal, but it is not guaranteed.

McDyess has averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his eight-year career, which has been plagued by injuries since the 2000-01 season. He played 42 games last season -- 24 in Phoenix and 18 with New York -- and averaged 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Yzerman replaced

Vincent Lecavalier will replace the injured Steve Yzerman on Canada's team for the World Cup of Hockey, joining Tampa Bay teammates Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis.