U.S. Women Finally Get A Shot At Brazil ‘The Queen’ And ‘Magic’ Aren’t Backing Down From Favored Americans In Long-Awaited Rematch
Their stars are known as “The Queen” and “Magic.” They shoot from the lip as well as the hip. The last time the U.S. women were this close to them, it was as captive spectators to an annoying victory celebration.
The word “revenge” is being used as the U.S. basketball team faces Brazil this evening in the climax of their gold-medal mission - the last scheduled medal event of the Centennial Olympics. Finally, it’s the rematch with the run-gun-and-fun bunch from Brazil they’ve awaited since the 1994 world championships in Australia.
“I always visualized, after that loss, playing Brazil again,” center Lisa Leslie said. “And I don’t think there’s any better time to be playing them than for the gold medal.”
“We know the U.S. is favored playing at home,” Brazil center Marta Sobral said. “But we are going to steal the gold medal out of their hands right in their home.”
“The pressure is on them,” said guard “Magic” Paula Silva. “The USA is not a boogey-man team. Without a doubt, we will give them a heck of a run for the gold.”
This U.S. team is 59-0 under coach Tara VanDerveer and is deeper and more experienced than any team before them.
But the Brazilians aren’t backing down. Silva, age 34, expects this to be her last Olympics, as does Hortencia Marcari Oliva, “the Queen” of sports in Brazil.
Hortencia - she’s called only by her first name, like soccer great Pele - is 36, eight years removed from a 10-page layout in the Brazilian Playboy magazine and now the mother of a 6-month-old boy.
Silva, who wears a “Magic Paula” headband, also talked of finally attaining the dreams of youth.
In 1994, the Brazilian blitz won 110-107, with Hortencia scoring 32 points and Silva 29 in the semifinal game. After Brazil beat China for the gold, the U.S. team shared a bus with the Brazilians. It was a long ride.
“It was something that was very painful for myself and all of the members of our team,” VanDerveer recalled. “Maybe it was kind of a situation where it just rubbed it in a little.”
Also today, the U.S. boxing team - which a few days ago was celebrating having six boxers clinch bronze medals - pins its remaining hopes on 156-pound David Reid to avert its first gold medal shutout since the 1948 Olympics. He meets Cuba’s Alfredo Duvergel.
xxxx WHAT’S AHEAD Medals at stake: Men’s marathon, women’s basketball, boxing, canoe-kayak, equestrian, rhythmic gymnastics, team handball, volleyball.