99'
The Battalion
Mnesday -June 18, 1997
Women have got next
ipt«
lew professional league set to begin play Saturday
NEW YORK (AP) — They are
[t j King, fast, sweaty and yes, some of
can dunk. These are the
!men of the WNBA, the new pro
ketball league that promises an
jressive, finesse-filled game much
jierthan anyone expects.
Iheleague enters a crowded sports
5 irket where male athletes rule and
othernew women’s basketball ven-
ancfe, the American Basketball League,
ighting for fans.
So, while the WNBA claims “We got
f how long can it hold the court?
‘Wehave no idea what to expect this
ereibyear,” says Olympic gold medalist
port tbecca Lobo, a 6-4 center/forward
nit itithe New York Liberty. “But the rea-
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son we joined this league is because we
believe we’re part of something that’s
going to get much better.
“We’re laying a foundation and
we expect to be celebrating our 50th
anniversary just like the NBA did
this year.”
Of course, that is also the hope of the
NBA, which owns and operates the
league. To try to make that happen, the
WNBA’s big brother has organized mar-*
keting, corporate sponsorship and na
tional TV coverage that is unprecedent
ed for a new league and all carefully
planned to raise awareness of women’s
basketball.
With sponsors like GM and Nike
and three nationally televised games a
week — starting with the first game
June 21 — the eight-team WNBA is off
to a flying start.
“This is a historic moment. The
start of the WNBA marks a new era in
the evolution of women’s sports and
professional sports in this country,"
WNBA president Val Ackerman said.
“Our interests are very much long
term. We recognize that it is going to
take time to develop a stable fan base
and we’re focusing on the future of the
league. We believe that you cannot
underestimate the importance of
prime-time TV coverage. The expo
sure will set us apart.”
Please see Preview on Page 6.
Comparing the leagues
On June 21, eight new Women’s National Basketball
Association (WNBA) teams start their regular season.
Here’s how the WNBA measures up to the NBA:
Ball circumference:
Number of teams:
Avg. player height:
Game time:
Time on shot clock:
Height of basket:
Distance of 3-point
line to basket:
WNBA
28.5 in.
8
WNBA
5 ft. 11 1/2 in.
two 20-minute halves
30 seconds
10ft.
19 ft. 9 in.
30 in.
29
6 ft. 7 in.
two 24-minute halves
24 seconds
10 ft.
22 ft.
New league
epitomizes
true spirit
ofbasketball
Kristina Buffin
Sports Editor,
Senior
journalism major
Source: WNBA, NBA
EWYORK — Nancy Lieberman-
Cline waited 13 years for the NBA to
back a women’s pro league. And as
dif Jtbided her time, she hoped one thing —
|s teiF e slowly.
The 38-year-old guard finally has her
ed dif"’ 1 in the WNBA, which tips off June 21.
She is among the marquee players in the
tjJ eight-team league, joining the likes of
edt ^Olympic gold medalists Lisa Leslie, Re-
alobo and Sheryl Swoopes — players
fortll*longout of diapers when Lieberman-
alai fewon a silver medal in 1976.
Not only is Lieberman-Cline the WNBA’s
iestplayer, she is already been inducted
cate )the basketball Hall of Fame.
In 1984, she talked to NBA commissioner
lOjefcidStern about forming a women’s
tgae. Stern said it was part of his plan and
just hoped she was still playing when the
in tl|!giie became a reality.
“Ihoped I would age rather slowly,” said
feman-Cline, who played in two short-
women’s leagues in the early 1980s be-
thePhoenix Mercury selected her in the
(ttdraft.
lemade a name for herself as a no
look-passing point guard at Old Dominion,
leading the school to AIAW championships
in 1979 and 1980.
After stints in the women’s leagues, she
played two years in the
men’s USBL, became a
broadcaster and was in
ducted into the Hall of
Fame last year.
“Every day I walk out to
practice, I have a big smile
on my face,” Lieberman-
Cline said. "I know it’s two
hours of hard work, but I
see the love, camaraderie
and respect. A lot of people
have worked hard to build
what we have, and I’m just
happy to be a part of it.”
As for Swoopes, she cap
tured people’s attention
with slashing drives and laser three-point ac
curacy, scoring a record 47 points for Texas
Tech in the 1993 NCAA championship game
against Ohio State.
She will not be doing that in the WNBA
right away. She is expecting her firstborn
A lot of people
have worked hard to
build what we have,
and I’m just happy
to be a part of it.”
Nancy Lieberman-Cline
Phoenix Mercury guard
this month and may not play this season.
After college, Swoopes spent three un
happy months playing professionally in
Italy, then worked as a bank teller in Lub
bock, Texas, staying in
shape in pick-up games
with men. Along with
Leslie and Lobo, Swoopes
made the national team,
went on a yearlong unde
feated tour (60-0) and
won an Olympic gold
medal in Atlanta.
She has been called
the female Michael Jor
dan and is the only
woman to have a signa
ture shoe — Air
Swoopes. The 6-foot
forward was one of the
first two players the
WNBA signed and was assigned to the
Houston Comets. Swoopes, 26, and hus
band Eric Jackson are celebrating their
second anniversary this month and their
present will be a son.
His name? Jordan, of course.
“She’s feeling good, and has her feet
up,” Lieberman-Cline said. "It would be
nice to get her back this season and into
the fold.”
Lobo, one of the most recognized and
highly paid players in the league, has not
played on a losing team in over three years.
She led Connecticut (35-0) to the NCAA
championship in 1995, and then served as a
deep reserve on the Olympic team, averag
ing 8 1/2 minutes a game in Atlanta.
A 6-4 center-forward with the New York
Liberty, Lobo will face former Olympic
teammate Leslie in the league’s first game,
in Los Angeles. The Liberty-Sparks matchup
will be televised nationally on NBC.
Lobo, 23, is still somewhat of a rookie
compared with other WNBA players.
Nonetheless, fans clamor for her autograph
everywhere she goes.
"Right now I don’t feel pressure, I’m ex
cited,” Lobo said. “It was the same way
with the Olympic team.... There have al
ways been tremendously talented women,
and now people will have their eyes
opened to them.”
Please see Players on Page 6.
A bout two years ago, I
wrote a column advocat
ing the creation of a
women’s basketball league. At
the time, women’s college bas
ketball was gaining notoriety
and many fans were looking for
a professional league in the
United States which would allow
women to show off their talents.
Well, the National Basketball
Association must have gotten a
copy of The Battalion and read
my column that year. Starting
Saturday, one of the two
women’s professional leagues
will begin, the WNBA. While the
American Basketball League
finished up its season earlier
this season, the WNBA players
are proclaiming, “We got next!”
While many do not believe
that women’s basketball can
create a fan base, the WNBA
has a fighting shot. This league
is funded by the NBA and is be
ing heavily played up. During
the NBA finals, promos were
run at every commercial break
and NBC, ESPN and the Life
time channel are all going to be
broadcasting games. Talk
about saturation.
The ABL did not find much
success earlier this year but the
WNBA has more stars and more
money. College players such as
Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes
and Nancy Lieberman-Cline will
all be participating.
Please see Buffin on Page 4
<A,
Now on The Battalion’s web page
A 24-hour, multimedia news
service for the Internet from
The Associated. Press
: news rei
I as soon as newst
http://bat-web.tam.edu
SPEND SPRING 1998 AT SANTA CHIARA
Attend Informational.meetings offered by the
Study Abroad Program Office
Room 154, Bizzell Hall West
Wednesday, June 18 3:30 - 4:15 pm
1?: ■
*
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TSissTrl;- i* x» g xautf
1 Feature Programs
Contact the Rec Center Member's Services
Desk at H4.'i-7H2(> or call DeAun Woosley at I|(>2-3995.
Jitterbug & Two-Step for Beginners
Monday and Wednesday 8:30-10:00 pm
tone Ift, 18, 23, 25, 30, & July 2
! Tuesday and Thursday June 17- July 17
Hh 6pm-7pm
leve '2: 7pm-8pm
F.R.E.S.H. Start
Wellness Program
Program begins June 17
♦with the Fitness Assessment
The F.R.E.S.H. Start Wellness program
can help your way to a healthier life
style. Enjoy a six week program that
will assess your progress in
exercising, eating nutritiously, and
managing stress. Register at the Rec
Center members Services Desk, or
call DeAun Woosley at 862-3995.
TEXAS A&M
fifEC
SPORTS
For Information
Call 845-7826
Or Visit
OUR HOMEPAGE AT
http://recsports.tamu.eduI
COMPUTER REPAIR & SUPPORT
College Station Facility
UCS continues to grow with more than 2000 clients nationwide. We sell and support powerful
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Bryan/College Station.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Will provide ongoing, daily support regarding the repair and
maintenance of customized computer systems to our technicians and client base. Duties also
involve testing and researching hardware issues relating to all UCS equipment. Associate’s
degree or military electronics training is required.
BENCH TECHNICIAN TRAINER: Will involve component level repair of all UCS peripheral
equipment at our College Station facility. No travel involved. All tools and scopes provided.
Associate’s degree or Military electronics training is required.
HARDWARE TECHNICIAN TRAINER: Will involve developing and conducting training programs
for incoming UCS hardware technicians. Should possess knowledge of electronics and an interest
in teaching. Degree preferred.
HARDWARE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION: Will involve writing, editing, support and
production of hardware publications. Bachelor’s degree is preferred. Any knowledge of Interleaf,
Photoshop or Windows software would be helpful.
All offer full salary plus a benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, direct
deposit, 401k and semi-annual performance evaluations. UCS promotes a healthy lifestyle by
sponsoring a variety of sports events and hiring only non-tobacco users. EOE.
To find out more about these opportunities, please call or submit resume to:
Universal Computer Systems, Inc.
Attn, ad# 486
6700 Hollister, Houston, TX 77040
1-800-883-3031, fax (713) 718-1401
http://www.ucs-systems.com