United States Teams

Chris Humbert launched the ball the length of the pool--and then some--a moment after the final horn sounded. A gesture of celebration, with a touch of relief. "I just wanted the ball as far away from our goal as possible," Humbert said. Humbert, as he had been throughout most of Saturday's game, was on target. He had helped the United States' water polo team to a 7-6 victory over Greece, setting up a United States-Yugoslavia rematch at 3 p.m.

There was a time when the United States used to be a winter sports wimp, last in luge, behind in biathlon and nowhere to be found in Nordic combined. But as the 1998 Olympics began with opening ceremonies beamed live Friday night to the United States, the American team could be considered among the winter sports elite. If it's made-for-television or dominated by pros, then there must be Americans chasing for golds.

Three former Pacific 10 players, including USC's Lisa Leslie, were named Thursday to USA Basketball's first women's national team, an 11-player unit called the core of the 1996 Summer Olympic team. Joining the 6-foot-5 Leslie on the team were Jennifer Azzi and Katy Steding, both from Stanford's 1990 national championship team. Coach Tara VanDerveer, who took a one-year leave of absence from Stanford to coach the team, unveiled the roster in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Chris Humbert launched the ball the length of the pool--and then some--a moment after the final horn sounded. A gesture of celebration, with a touch of relief. "I just wanted the ball as far away from our goal as possible," Humbert said. Humbert, as he had been throughout most of Saturday's game, was on target. He had helped the United States' water polo team to a 7-6 victory over Greece, setting up a United States-Yugoslavia rematch at 3 p.m.

There was a time when the United States used to be a winter sports wimp, last in luge, behind in biathlon and nowhere to be found in Nordic combined. But as the 1998 Olympics began with opening ceremonies beamed live Friday night to the United States, the American team could be considered among the winter sports elite. If it's made-for-television or dominated by pros, then there must be Americans chasing for golds.

Bowling did not come naturally to Kathy Butler. The skills that have established her as one of the country's leading amateurs have come from innumerable hours of work. She also has had a little help from her friends. Butler, graduate of Santiago High School in Garden Grove, is competing in a field of 26 in the eighth biennial United States Team Trials, which begin today in Milwaukee. The top six men and women finishers will represent the U.S.

From Houston in Texas to Kobe in Japan, it is 6,893 miles by air. For Alexis Larsen, it was 1,500 freestyle meters. For more than 16 minutes in the U.S. National Championships, Larsen stroked through the water, kicking mightily, intent on earning her first berth on a national team from the United States. Team officials were inquiring about her passport shortly after she finished in 16 minutes 28.

Former American Basketball Assn. commissioner Mike Storen announced a new international league that will be called the Global Basketball Assn. The league plans to begin play in November with at least four teams from the United States plus teams from Italy and the Soviet Union.

All athletes qualifying for the 1988 United States Olympic teams will be drug-free, the chief medical officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee said today. Dr. Robert Voy also said that the United States is appealing a ban on birth control pills taken by women athletes. Voy, in a news briefing during the U.S. Olympic Festival, said U.S. involvement in drug testing became serious after the 1983 Pan American Games at Caracas, Venezuela, where two American athletes were disqualified for steroid use.

It has been more than a year since the U.S. national water polo team has competed in a major international meet with all its top players. "We need a test to see how we stand," Coach John Vargas said. The U.S. team will get it this week in the UPS International Cup at Corona del Mar High. The eight-team tournament will include five of the world's top eight teams--Yugoslavia, Russia, Australia and Italy, along with the United States. Teams from Mexico, Brazil and Puerto Rico also are entered.

Three former Pacific 10 players, including USC's Lisa Leslie, were named Thursday to USA Basketball's first women's national team, an 11-player unit called the core of the 1996 Summer Olympic team. Joining the 6-foot-5 Leslie on the team were Jennifer Azzi and Katy Steding, both from Stanford's 1990 national championship team. Coach Tara VanDerveer, who took a one-year leave of absence from Stanford to coach the team, unveiled the roster in Colorado Springs, Colo.

From Houston in Texas to Kobe in Japan, it is 6,893 miles by air. For Alexis Larsen, it was 1,500 freestyle meters. For more than 16 minutes in the U.S. National Championships, Larsen stroked through the water, kicking mightily, intent on earning her first berth on a national team from the United States. Team officials were inquiring about her passport shortly after she finished in 16 minutes 28.

Bowling did not come naturally to Kathy Butler. The skills that have established her as one of the country's leading amateurs have come from innumerable hours of work. She also has had a little help from her friends. Butler, graduate of Santiago High School in Garden Grove, is competing in a field of 26 in the eighth biennial United States Team Trials, which begin today in Milwaukee. The top six men and women finishers will represent the U.S.

Akhmed Atavov and the Soviet Union wrestling team beat the United States, 6-4, Sunday and won the World Cup of International Wrestling tournament title at the University of Toledo. The Soviet team finished with eight points, two ahead of the United States, after beating Australia and Cuba Saturday and defeating South Korea and the United States Sunday. Teams earned two points for each match won. The U.S.

Opening ceremonies are Friday morning at midnight PDT, but the Summer Olympics actually get underway late tonight with two women's soccer matches that begin at 11 p.m. The United States' soccer teams are both in action Wednesday, with the men playing the Czech Republic at 2:30 a.m., and the women playing Norway at 11:30 p.m. Sydney is 18 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time, meaning it is midday in Australia when The Times goes to press.