ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 1996 TAG: 9607230056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune
THE POINT GUARD provides perfect pass for the women's basketball team.
Some watch women's basketball and wonder what's the big deal.
All this buildup and nobody can dunk.
Actually, the U.S.'s Lisa Leslie has, but not in an Olympic game where there hasn't been one.
They're still shooting set shots, of all things, and not very well.
But if you don't think women's basketball is special, you might want to look again.
Just look at 5-foot-6 Dawn Staley, the U.S.'s smallest player who is equal parts Ernie DiGregorio, Bob Cousy, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson and Maurice Cheeks.
A lot of Cheeks, actually, although with a lot more flair than the native Chicagoan.
``I have tried to model my game after him,'' says Staley, a native of Philadelphia, where Cheeks became one of the NBA's all-time assist leaders. ``He's not the flashiest point guard ever. I'm the type who doesn't want publicity. I just want to win games and championships and gold medals, and do it quietly. But sometimes I have to make a tough pass.''
Like she did in Sunday's 101-84 opening victory over Cuba.
Staley was dribbling down the right side and heading to the basket in one of her rare scoring attempts.
``But they cut the baseline off,'' recalled Staley. ``Thank God for Katy [Steding] streaking down the lane.''
What Steding found was the basketball in her hands just as she got to the basket thanks to Staley pirouetting and dropping the ball off behind her back.
``I grew up watching the NBA,'' said Staley, a former standout at Virginia. ``You pick up things. I usually try to do things within the context of the game. Thank God I have some teammates who have some good hands.''
If they didn't, they would have lots of broken noses because of Staley passing over her shoulder, around her back, through her legs and occasionally even straight from the chest in perhaps the best show this Olympics has to offer in men's or women's basketball.
But Staley isn't one of the stars, even of her own team. They are her best friend, Leslie, four-time Olympian Teresa Edwards and collegian Rebecca Lobo.
Still, no one on the women's team puts on a show like Staley, who is a ball-handling wonder who got that way just as DiGregorio did and Cousy and Thomas.
They were too small to play in the games with the big kids if they shot the ball; so they learned to pass.
Staley learned her skills in tough games living in the inner city of Philadelphia.
Just playing with the boys is one of her greatest achievements even though she was in three Final Fours for Virginia and was 1994 Female Athlete of the Year.
Now, she is featured downtown in Philadelphia with a six-story picture on the side of a building courtesy of Nike.
When asked why she has a huge mural and 76ers' star Jerry Stackhouse doesn't, Staley shot back like a behind-the-back bullet pass.
``Maybe he would if he'd have signed with Nike,'' she said.
That quick retort is a little of what Staley picked up in the inner city parks, too.
``Tara (coach VanDerveer) sometimes yells to take a shot, but I get more joy out of passing than getting two points,'' said Staley. ``Every time I shot (back in Philadelphia) I'd get smacked. But if you continue to play with guys and they do these incredible thigs, some of them rub off on you.''
Because there have been no women's leagues in the United States, Staley has played the last three years in Italy, Brazil, Spain and France. This fall she is to play with Leslie on a team in Richmond, Va.
``I've been doing these things in Europe,'' Staley said. ``It's a shame people here haven't been able to see them. So now you're getting a chance and it's something special. We can play this game with the best of anyone, male or female.
``I don't think anyone wants to just sit there (at a basketball game) and watch people work the ball around and take a layup,'' says Staley. ``I think people want to see something fancy and the excitement of the game.''
Staley provides that next today when the U.S. women meet the Ukraine.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 linesby CNB