Switzer Arrested on Gun Charge

So the Dallas Cowboys are cleaning up their off-the-field image?

Coach Barry Switzer was arrested Monday after a loaded revolver was discovered in his carry-on baggage at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Switzer was detained, his .38-caliber weapon was confiscated and he was released about two hours later on his own recognizance, airport spokeswoman Angel Biasatti said.

Switzer, after returning to Austin, Texas, to join the team at training camp, said he had inadvertently left the gun in his travel bag after hiding it there from three young children who were guests at his home over the weekend.

Carrying a weapon into an airport is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said Switzer is not licensed to carry a gun. State law says carrying a handgun without a permit is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

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The San Diego Chargers will open the season without the services of six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who underwent arthroscopic surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee and is expected to be out four weeks.

Pro Basketball

One day after Allen Iverson, the NBA’s rookie of the year, was arrested in Virginia on marijuana and gun-possession charges, Philadelphia 76er owner Pat Croce voiced his disappointment.

“It upsets me. It bothers me,” said Croce in a telephone conference call.

Police said the firearms charge would be dropped because it only applies if a pound or more of marijuana is found with the weapon. Two marijuana cigarettes were found in the car Iverson was riding in.

Marijuana is not one of the substances covered in the anti-drug side letter to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement with its players, but every NBA contract has clauses prohibiting conduct that is detrimental to the league, and either the NBA or the 76ers could discipline Iverson under those provisions.

Tennis

Jonathan Stark upset Britain’s Greg Rusedski in the opening round of the $2.3-million ATP Championship at Mason, Ohio.

Stark, who is ranked 68th, prevailed, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), over 24th-ranked Rusedski.

In another upset, 21st-ranked Andrei Medvedev of Ukraine took advantage of 31 unforced errors by Tim Henman to advance to the second round with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Hockey

The Mighty Ducks have re-signed center Ted Drury, right wing Craig Reichert, left wing Jeremy Stevenson and left wing Bob Wren to two-year contracts.

Joe Thornton, the Boston Bruins’ No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft, agreed in principle to a three-year contract.

A rookie scale sets Thornton’s base salary at no more than $925,000. Incentives, however, were subject to negotiations.

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed center Pierre Turgeon to a one-year contract. . . . Jeff Christian signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. . . . Right wing Jim Cummins and defenseman Eric Weinrich were re-signed by the Chicago Blackhawks. . . . The Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League have signed Nick Vachon to a one-year contract.

Horse Racing

Gary Stevens, who just missed joining the ranks of Triple Crown-winning riders this year, became a member of another exclusive group: Hall of Fame jockeys.

Stevens, who rode Silver Charm to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before losing to Touch Gold in the Belmont, was inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Also inducted were trainer Philip G. Johnson, male thoroughbred Easy Goer, female thoroughbred Bold ‘n Determined and Granville, in the horse-of-yesteryear category.

Stevens has won 4,189 races and had earnings of $154.12 million before riding Monday at Saratoga. He also won the Derby in 1988 aboard Winning Colors and again in 1995 on Thunder Gulch.

The New York Racing Assn. can continue its operation of three thoroughbred tracks and keep more revenue generated for purses.

The seven-year franchise extension granted by the state legislature will allow NYRA to avoid facing competing bids to run the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga tracks.

Miscellany

Fred Couples and Davis Love III, four-time winners of the World Cup of Golf, were named to represent the United States in this year’s international tournament in Charleston, S.C., Nov. 17-23.

Greg Norman and Brad Faxon, looking for their third consecutive Fred Meyer Challenge title, combined for a tournament-record 60, 11 under par, and held a two-stroke lead halfway through the team event at West Linn, Ore.

Season and individual football game tickets for USC home games are available at the USC ticket office, the Sports Arena box office and Ticketmaster agencies. Details: (213) 740-4672.