THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 14, 1996 TAG: 9610140126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 70 lines
When Dena Evans and her Richmond Rage teammates took in an NBA game over the weekend, what used to be the unthinkable suddenly hit her.
I have the same job as them. Pro basketball player, the former University of Virginia star said to herself.
Same job and same sport yes, but a different ballgame. The Richmond Rage - with stars like Evans, her former U.Va. teammate Dawn Staley and track Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee - is one of eight teams in the American Basketball League looking to find its niche on the heels of the gold medal brought home by America's other ``Dream Team'' this summer. And with the league in its inaugural season, putting fans in the seats will be just as significant as putting W's in the win column.
The Rage will need better turnouts than the 500 or so folks who watched them overwhelm a Navy team, the NAB Lady Gators, 94-45 Sunday afternoon in an exhibition at the ODU field house. No advance tickets were sold for the little-publicized game, Richmond's last before the season opener Friday at New England. And for the fans who were there, it was mostly an afternoon for polite applause.
While former ODU star Adrienne Goodson - whose 19 points were second only to Rehema Stephens' 20 - earned some cheers after being introduced and Staley's no-look passes drew some ahs, most of the noise came from the field house's sound system, which mixed in ``YMCA,'' a happy organ and pre-recorded chants of ``Dee-fense'' when the Gators had possession. Part-time guard Joyner-Kersee, sure to become a fan favorite, was not in attendance due to her promotional work.
``I wish we would have had more people,'' said Goodson, who played professionally in Brazil after graduating from ODU in 1988. Goodson said the team has been thrilled with the response so far in Richmond, with Health South and Ukrops signing on as official sponsors. ``I never knew of Richmond to be a women's basketball area. I always thought it was Norfolk. . . . The night we hung the '85 championship banner is the last time they packed this place.''
In its first exhibition game at Western Albemarle High School outside of Charlottesville, the Rage attracted a standing-room only crowd of 1,700. Last Thursday night at St. Joseph University in Staley's hometown, Philadelphia, a gym-record 2,700 watched the Rage beat the ABL's New England Blizzard.
``It's just a matter of time,'' said Staley, who led in assists with eight. ``I know the people that came to this game they're going to tell other people what they saw, and I'm quite sure they'll make it down to Richmond.''
The Rage has sold 500 season tickets so far and expects a crowd of 3,000 for its home opener against San Jose Oct. 25 at the Robins Center. ABL organizers say they will be pleased to average crowds of 3,000 to 5,000, and general manager Tammy Holder has made the plea: ``Ask your neighbors, your children, your children's children to buy season tickets.''
With the ABL banking on attendance to bring success, Rage guard Molly Goodenbour said the players feel added responsibility in addition to fielding the best team possible.
``Obviously the first thing we have to focus on is what we have to do as players,'' said Goodenbour, who played on two national championship teams at Stanford. ``But we also realize at the same time that, yes, we're going to have to sign autographs after every game. We're going to have to do a lot of the little things that professional men don't have to worry about.''
Is that the hardest part? Goodson said no.
``With me there hasn't been a hard part,'' she said. ``I'm playing at home, not in Brazil anymore. That was the hard part.'' ILLUSTRATION: IAN MARTIN
Navy Lady Gators guard Dee Leverette checks on Richmond Rage center
Marta de Souza Sobral after she fell during their exhibition game at
Old Dominion University Sunday. The Rage won 94-45 and will open
their first season Friday at New England. by CNB