THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 30, 1996 TAG: 9607300443
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: 67 lines
Picking on the Dream Team is the unofficial sport of the Centennial Olympic Games.
The NBA millionaires are like Coca Cola: corporate, ubiquitous and imposing. Also, if you consume too much of either product, it will give you gas.
The U.S. women's basketball team - the Dreamy Team - is a welcome relief.
The women are the street vendors hoping to stake a claim at these Olympics. They are the little guy who works hard for acceptance. They take nothing for granted, especially the affection of the customer.
The Dream Team is Reggie Miller complaining about room service at an Atlanta hotel.
The Dreamy Team is Lisa Leslie saying, ``I hope our performance here attracts little girls to the game.''
She spoke Monday after the U.S. had squeaked past the Republic of Korea 105-64.
``A gold medal,'' she cautioned, ``is still not a slam dunk for us. Each game, we have to get some steals and get out and run and get the crowd going. It's about excitement.''
And about acceptance.
``We're happy that people who are watching women's basketball maybe for the first time are learning that we can really play,'' she said.
That is only part of the appeal. Another is that this is a real Olympic team, not a collection of vacationing businessmen.
``It's about camaraderie,'' said Leslie.
Though the U.S. easily reduced Korea to kimchi, the Americans' performance did not resemble the spiritless exhibitions so often turned in by the jaded Dream Teamers.
While 30,453 watched the women play Monday, many of the highest-priced seats remained empty. The men draw more from the tassel-loafer-and-limousine set. This was a shorts-and-T-shirt crowd. It was there to watch basketball, not gawk at celebrities.
Leslie, the starting center, did her part, making all six of her shots from the field and grabbing eight rebounds. Later, she managed to walk gracefully from the locker room despite an ice bag taped to each knee.
With her poise and personality, it's easy to see why modeling agencies are attracted to this 6-foot-5 athlete with the fine, fragile features.
Together with teammates Dawn Staley and Rebecca Lobo, Leslie graces the current cover of TV Guide.
``Not too many people get on the cover of TV Guide unless you have a sitcom, right?'' she said.
It may not be her last cover. After the Olympics, Leslie will turn in her sneakers for high heels and high fashion.
``I've given the last 10 years to basketball,'' she said. ``I want to give one year to modeling.''
In the meantime, maybe no woman athlete does a better job of maximizing her on- and off-court personalities.
``I was born a girl,'' she said. ``That doesn't mean I don't go for the jugular. But when it's time to shower and change clothes, I'm going to come out in a skirt and be a lady.
``I don't think a girl needs to wear a sloppy T-shirt and her hat on backwards to be a good basketball player.''
Joining Leslie outside the locker room were a handful of teammates. They spoke to the media for minutes on end, not a bad mood or cranky complaint among them.
``On the court I can have an attitude,'' said Leslie. ``Off the court, I'm just nice.''
KEYWORDS: OLYMPIC GAMES 1996 by CNB