Switzer Arrested on Gun Charge

Dallas Cowboys 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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Denver Bronco quarterback John Elway suffered a partially torn right bicep tendon in Monday night’s 38-19 exhibition loss to the Miami Dolphins in Mexico City. “By no means is it a season-ending injury,” Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said. “He could be back as quick as one week, it could take three weeks.” An MRI exam is set for today. Meanwhile, Dolphin linebacker Zach Thomas broke his left leg on a kickoff return, but said he expects to be back by the regular-season opener. A crowd of 104,209, the third-largest in league history, saw the game.

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

Seattle Seahawk running back Lamar Smith has agreed to pay former teammate Mike Frier $4 million to settle a civil lawsuit arising from a December 1994 car accident that left Frier paralyzed from the waist down, KIRO-TV reported in Seattle. Meanwhile, former Kansas City Chief defensive tackle Dan Saleaumua agreed to a contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Terms were not disclosed. . . . The St. Louis Rams, looking to bolster their depth in the backfield, signed veterans Amp Lee and Jon Vaughn.

Tennis

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

Stark, 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.

The New York Racing Assn. was granted a seven-year franchise extension by the state legislature, letting it 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 Nov. 17-23 in Charleston, S.C. . . . 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. . . . Ja’Mine Rozzell, considered New Mexico’s fullback of the future, drowned after diving into the Jemez River in Jemez Springs, N.M. State police said Rozzell, 18, did not know how to swim. . . . Peru’s Sophia Mulanovich, the youngest female competitor at the G-Shock U.S. Open of Surfing at 14, failed to advance past the third round in Huntington Beach.