THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994                  TAG: 9407170219
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C15  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY BRIAN L. BIGELOW, SPECIAL TO THE VP/LS 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

U.S. BASKETBALL SQUAD FILLS GAP DURING THE SPORT'S OFFSEASON

The NBA is in its offseason. Because card collecting isn't as season-oriented as it once was, there's always demand for new material pertaining to a sport.

Basketball cards are second only to baseball in volume of sales. Card manufacturers are certainly conscious of this, and they're eager to keep new material in the market to maintain the momentum of collector interest. They're filling the offseason void this year with cards featuring the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

It makes good sense to generate more cards of the U.S. team. The game's most popular players are involved. True, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are gone, but Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning almost get equal attention. The theme lends itself well to special card designs and gimmicks; each participating company has its own interpretation of U.S. team collectibles. The following products have been released during the past month:

Sky Box USA Basketball: The most economically priced offering at $1.75 to $2 per pack of 10 cards, feature randomly inserted gold cards, dream play cards, special portraits and a redemption card (used to obtain extra cards by mail) in addition to the basic set.

Upper Deck USA Basketball: A mid-price product at $2 to $2.50 per pack (10 cards) also has special inserts (``Gold Medals and Chalk Talk'') plus Michael Jordan commentary on most cards.

Fleers Flair USA: Occupies the premium niche at upwards of $4 for a 10-card pack. Special attractions include the ``Dreamscape'' subset cards and ``Women's Basketball Legends''; one card in the later group portrays former Old Dominion star Nancy Lieberman-Cline.

In all, it is quite a lineup of products for a sport on hiatus. The cards are almost certain to prove compelling to collectors. They should easily bridge the gap between the 1993-94 NBA issues and the early basketball releases for 1994-95. MEMO: Brian L. Bigelow is store manager and appraiser for Candl Coins &

Stamps, located on Independence Blvd. and North (Lynnhaven) Mall Drive

in Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Former Old Dominion star Nancy Lieberman-Cline, left, is featured in

``Women's Basketball Legends''. Alonzo Mourning is gaining interest

among basketball card collectors.

by CNB