THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606230193
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: 64 lines
Get this irony: The United States' team handball team, which usually begs for attention and simple understanding, will leave its Atlanta training base July 5 for a 12-day retreat in South Carolina.
The idea is to prepare for the Olympic games in a low-key atmosphere, far from Atlanta's hype-notic rabidness. They'll have to do some work, then, on Suffolk's Mike Thornberry, an enthusiastic 23-year-old who is bubbling over at being on the team.
``When you see all those stupid commercials with all the Olympics in it, you just look at it totally differently. You lose a couple heartbeats, you know?'' Thornberry said at the U.S. team handball headquarters during a break in the squad's two-a-day practice schedule. ``Like, you'll see a Kodak commercial with some small kid about the Olympics, and that'll almost bring a tear to your eye.
``I can't imagine the feeling it's going to be when I walk in (during the opening ceremonies). It's going to be hard not to make that the high and realize that you also have games and all these great competitions to play.''
Thornberry, two years out of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and stationed near Atlanta, picked up team handball as a freshman, so his rise has been dramatic. He is the youngest national team member, and he figures more Olympics await him.
These Games are almost a bonus for Thornberry. Still, he was ``nervous as a rat in a trap'' the day the Olympic team was announced last month.
``Until a couple hours before, I was chewing my fingernails,'' Thornberry said. ``But once you realize all the work you've put in, all the time and effort, it got to the point where it was beyond getting nervous. It was like a calming effect. You know you've done everything you could to be there. The decision was just the culmination of all the hard work.''
That work has left the U.S. team facing a hellacious beginning to the Games. Way behind much of the world in skill level anyway, the Americans have drawn a first-round game against Sweden, a gold-medal favorite.
``If we're completely blown out, that could ruin the whole atmosphere of it,'' said U.S. team spokesman Chris Adams. ``We have to play Sweden close, to within four or five goals. They're unbelievable.''
The United States finished 17th of 24 teams in the '95 world championships won by France. Last week, though, Adams said Thornberry, who plays a position called circle-runner, performed well as the United States finished second to a French all-star club team in a four-team tournament.
That's improvement, and more is on the way, Thornberry said. Just check out him and the U.S. team before the 2000 Games, he said. Provided they aren't embargoed somewhere in South Carolina.
``If we're going to be successful, we've got to keep at this level of competition for four years and keep improving,'' Thornberry said. ``We've got a good core of guys.'' MEMO: LOCAL ATHLETES
IN THE OLYMPICS
Kelli James, former ODU field hockey, field hockey
Lawrence Johnson, Chesapeake, pole vault
Laurel Martin, Virginia Beach, field hockey
Charlie Ogeltree, former ODU sailor, Tornado class
Jill Reeve, former ODU field hockey, field hockey
IN THE HUNT
Ramon Clay, Norfolk State, 200 meters: Qualified for event final
today at track and field trials. Must place in top three to make team.
Lauri Illy, Virginia Beach, rhythmic gymnastics: Must win Olympic
Trials in Boston, June 25 and 26. by CNB