Zuber Leads Barons To Win Over Red Wings

Anka Concert At Lake Canceled 
A Concert By Singer Paul Anka Scheduled For Friday Night At The Harveys Lake 
Bud Light Amphitheatre Has Been Canceled, According To Promoter Thom Greco.

Friday, July 26, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





For Zaire coach, green better than gold &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before going for the gold, you have to go for the greenThat's why Zaire
coach Maluku Mozingo felt good about his team's performance Thursday despite a
60-point loss to the U.S. in Olympic women's basketball at the Georgia Dome. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In front of 31,230 fans -- a world record for women's basketball -- the
Americans cruised against a financially overmatched opponent, 107-47. It was
the biggest victory for the U.S. in Olympic Women's Basketball history. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's not a matter of years until we catch up to a team like the United
States, it's a matter of money," Mozingo said through an interpreter. "We have
excellent players. We have physical potential. We need financial help." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mozingo said his country does not have an indoor basketball facility. All
players train on outdoor courts at schools. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That is, of course, if they can get their hands on a basketball. Mozingo
said that a basketball costs $200 in Zaire, which is the equivalent of two
months salary. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All things considered, it is amazing the central African nation got this
far. Zaire qualified for the Olympics as African Zone champions, then
requested government help to train. Sports, however, are low on the priority
list, and understanably so. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Formerly the Belgian Congo, the nation became an independent state in 1965
after a military coup. A multi-party democracy did not emerge until the 1990s. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 During the past three decades, the country's economy has floundered. Zaire
has one of the lowest standards of living in the world. More than half of its
43.8 million people are under the age of 15. Serious malnutrition problems,
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria give the country a frighteningly high infant
mortality rate and an average life expectancy of 50 for its citizens. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The basketball team makes up Zaire's only athletes at the Centennial
Olympics because of the help of NBA star Dikembe Mutombo, who is from Zaire.
Mutombo, who took pity on Zaire's plight and attended Thursday's game,
purchased uniforms, provided air fare and gave the team enough money to train
two months before the Olympics. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Our girls played pretty well," Mozingo said. "Despite the overwhelming
victory, our players played pretty well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "At home, we have several men's and women's teams that can play. We need
financial support." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The U.S., by contrast, trained for a full year to get ready for the
Olympics with plenty of resources. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Every country's financial situation is different," said U.S. head coach
Tara VanDerveer. "What they can do is going back feeling good about the way
they represented their country. They played hard for the full 40 minutes.
Hopefully, they'll help something good happen for the young women of their
country." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On the court, though, the U.S. showed no mercy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Off the court, we do feel sorry for the countries that don't have the
financial resources we do," said U.S. star Sheryl Swopes of Brownfield, Texas.
"But this is business. Whenever we step out on the court, it's about business.
You have to do your job." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mozingo sees trying to drum up financial support for his program as part of
his job. So he was eager to spread the word that if American citizens or
companies wished to help, they were more than welcome to do so. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We lack financial means," Mozingo said. "If a U.S. citizen who can afford
it can even provide a ball for us, that would help." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Zaire is winless in the tournament, and is expected to finish that way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The U.S. is one of the favorites to win the gold. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If the Americana do win the gold, that medal will hang from their necks by
a green ribbon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Considering the way of the athletic world these days, that seems so
appropriate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Sembrat is a Times Leader sports writer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For Zaire Coach, Green Better Than Gold Before Going For The Gold, You Have To Go For The Green.