ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, September 24, 1996            TAG: 9609240072
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-2  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: ASHLAND
SOURCE: Associated Press

SHE NOW JUMPS THROUGH HOOPS

JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE is trading track spikes for high tops as a member of the Richmond Rage pro women's basketball team.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee said her feet were sore and her game was rusty, but she was upbeat after the first day of her new career - as a player in the all-women's American Basketball League.

Joyner-Kersee joined the Richmond Rage on Monday for a three-hour workout at Randolph-Macon College. The session - Joyner-Kersee's first serious basketball workout in 11 years - was closed to the media.

``You could tell I hadn't had on basketball shoes for a while,'' she said afterwards. ``My toes were kind of bothering me. Other than that, it was fine. I'm not in shape quite yet, but that'll come.

``I am encouraged because I didn't know what to expect. This is a challenge for me and I knew that I was coming in here somewhat rusty.''

The three-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field last played basketball at UCLA from 1981-85. She was a four-year starter at small forward and remains among UCLA's career leaders in scoring, rebounding and games.

``Mainly my job was to shoot and either stop the number one scorer or keep the ball out of that person's hand,'' she said. In 121 games, Joyner-Kersee averaged 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Bruins.

The long layoff didn't seem to affect her much. Teammates Dawn Staley and Dena Evans, both former star guards at UVa, gave Joyner-Kersee good marks after the workout.

``She got on the floor and dove for loose balls and you wouldn't expect that from the caliber athlete she is,'' said Staley, a member of the U.S. women's basketball team that won the gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics. ``She got on the floor and she wants to compete. She's going to be a great asset to our team.''

Evans said Joyner-Kersee already looks like a defensive force.

``Offensively, she has a ways to go,'' Evans said. ``I think she was a little bit rusty, but that'll come.''

Joyner-Kersee said watching Staley and the U.S. team go for the gold helped inspire her comeback. She laughed, however, at the notion that her track and field background gave her an edge in physical fitness.

``I have to pace myself on the basketball court,'' she said. ``I'm not looking to come out here and try to outrun them or do anything like that.''

The Rage players seemed to greet Joyner-Kersee warmly, but she said she knows others may resent her taking up ``their'' game.

``I'm sure there will probably be some animosity, but I can't be concerned about that because I think that's in everything you do,'' she said.

``I am a competitor, and I play hard and I play to win, too. I'm not going to let anyone push over me or abuse me.''

The Rage opens its season on Oct.18 on the road against the New England Blizzard. Richmond's home opener is Oct.25 against the San Jose Lasers.

The Rage will play 14 home games at Richmond Coliseum and the other six at the Robins Center on the University of Richmond campus.

LENGTH: Medium:   64 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Jackie Joyner-Kersee stretches out after her first 
          workout with the Richmond Rage basketball team in Ashland. She joins
          former UVa standout Dawn Staley in the ABL.