A Perfect 10 for Her Personality

Only a couple of hours before came the report that federal agents had seized pipe bombs from alleged militia members near Macon, Ga., who were believed to be involved in a possible plot against the Summer Olympics.

When Coach Bela Karolyi and his star gymnast, Dominique Moceanu, walked into a hotel ballroom in downtown Atlanta to meet the media, a moderator from the U.S. Olympic Committee asked the 500 or so reporters to remember that Karolyi and Moceanu had arrived at the airport less than an hour before, had been given only sketchy details of the situation and probably would not be informed sources. Implied was that Moceanu is only 14, so lay off.

Someone asked her anyway.

The 4-foot-5, 70-pound Moceanu, sitting in a chair on the stage with her feet dangling a foot above the floor, answered eloquently. “Who wants to spoil an Olympic dream?” she said. “I would think that they would be happy that such an event is coming to this city and would be proud instead of leaving people with a sour feeling.”

Later, it was announced that the plot was not Olympic-related. But if it had been, the militia would have been no match for Moceanu. She would have charmed its members out of their bad attitudes.

If she can do that with reporters, what are a few terrorists? After she became the youngest all-around national champion ever last summer at 13 and finished fifth in the world, Karolyi was concerned that the pre-Olympic hype this year would overwhelm her. He has experience with that sort of thing, having seen it contribute to world champion Kim Zmeskal’s collapse in 1992.

It is still too early to tell whether the attention she has received has affected Moceanu’s gymnastics. Battling a bruised heel, she missed the American Cup in Ft. Worth in early March. Although she is not completely recovered, she will make her season debut Friday and Saturday in the U.S. Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo. Most of the contenders for the U.S. women’s Olympic team plan to compete, including two-time world champion Shannon Miller.

But it has not made a dent in Moceanu’s large personality. Of Romanian descent, she resembles Nadia Comaneci. Otherwise, she is as effervescent as Mary Lou Retton.

“Her biggest asset is her personality,” Karolyi said. “She’s not a great, great show girl like some gymnasts I’ve had before, but she is more natural than anyone. Whatever she does comes from the inside. I’ve never had to direct or generate it. I just witness it.”

FACTOID

NBC is charging $400,000 for a 30-second commercial spot during the Olympics, less than the $1.3 million for the Super Bowl but the same as for the No. 1-rated prime time show, “Friends.”

NEWSMAKER

Jonty Skinner, coach of the U.S. resident swimming team in Colorado Springs, Colo., revealed recently that he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid.

When Skinner, 42, went to his doctor with a persistent sore throat two weeks before the U.S. Olympic trials in February, tests showed that his condition was potentially cancerous. A biopsy the week after the trials confirmed it.

With the surgery scheduled for April 22, Skinner left behind workout instructions for the next three months for the five swimmers in his program who made the Olympic team. “Just in case there were complications during the surgery,” he said.

Fortunately, there were none. His thyroid, one parathyroid and two lymph nodes were removed. Upon his release two days later, his first call was to U.S. Swimming headquarters to find out the results of the Australian trials.

Skinner returned to the pool full-time a week after the surgery. Doctors said that they do not believe the cancer spread beyond the thyroid and parathyroid. They are conducting further tests on the lymph nodes. He will begin radiation treatments after the Olympics.

LAUREL WREATH

The International Amateur Athletic Federation, which governs track and field, is aiding in the reconstruction of Sarajevo’s Kosevo Olympic Stadium for a world-class meet on Sept. 9.

THORN WREATH

The Sons of the Confederacy announced that they are planning an advertising campaign coinciding with the Olympics to improve their image.

*

Olympic Scene Notes

When Quincy Watts did not appear for the 400 meters Saturday night at the Occidental Invitational, his coach, Jim Bush, was concerned. But Watts reached him late that night and said that he had gotten sick from something he ate. “I’ve been after him to eat more food,” Bush said Sunday. “Great coaching, huh?”

Belarus’ Ivan Ivankov upset his more celebrated teammate, Vitaly Scherbo, to win the all-around title in the European men’s gymnastics championships last week in Denmark. But Scherbo rallied Sunday to win gold medals in the vault, parallel bars and floor exercise. . . . In order for one of its other gymnasts to get more international exposure at the senior level, Romania entered a medal favorite for Atlanta, Alexandria Marinescu, in the junior division for this week’s European women’s championships in Birmingham, England.

USC’s Kristine Quance of Northridge has filed a formal request to U.S. Swimming to investigate her disqualification from the 400-meter individual medley for an improper turn at the Olympic trials in February. . . . Although kayaker Mike Herbert of Rogers, Ark., lost by inches in an Olympic hemispheric qualifier, he might still be added to the U.S. team. But if not, he might have to return to his former hobby--wrestling bears.

*

This Week

* Today--U.S. women’s volleyball team vs. China, Chula Vista, Calif.

* Tuesday-Sunday--U.S. archery team competes in the Outdoor Target Championships of the Americas in Mexico City.

* Wednesday--U.S. women’s field hockey team selected.

* Thursday-Sunday--European women’s gymnastics championships, Birmingham, England.

* Friday-Saturday--U.S. Classic, women’s gymnastics, Colorado Springs, Colo.

* Friday-Sunday--Speedo Invitational swimming meet, Phoenix.

* Saturday--Olympic torch arrives in Prague, Okla., birthplace of Jim Thorpe.

* Saturday--Track and field, Olympic Stadium opens in Atlanta with Grand Prix meet; Cal State LA Open.

* Saturday-Sunday--Pacific 10 Conference track and field championships at UCLA.

* Sunday--First of five U.S. Olympic trials for men’s road cycling, Seattle.