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The Weekly.1 SportsGazette Weekly • Wednesday. Dec. 19. 1979 5Cornets: A dream for little girls?Gazette photo bv Tom MerrymonHouston’s Paula Mayo (10) looks as though she may be ready to square off with the Cornets' Connie Kunzman (at right) during a recent game at the Five Seasons Center. Also in the picture are Iowa’s Charlotte Lewis and Houston's Karen Aulenbacher. The Cornets won the game, 113-96. The Cornets have been getting a lot of attention this season, especially from the crowds. What’s really strange is all the little kids and even the older people who come up to us after the games and ask us for autographs, said Kunzmann. At first she wondered why, then decided that people look at us as being something special, like an idol. It hasn’t gone to their heads, however. The women say they were hired to play basketball and win and, other than a couple of recent losses, that’s what they're doing.By Connie NealGazette sports reporterJust as little boys sometimes dream about becoming the next Pete Rose or O.J. Simpson, here in Iowa the little girls may soon be dreaming of becoming the .next Molly Bolin or Sister Green.The Iowa Comets, now in their second season of women’s professional basketball, have reigned as one of the leading contenders in the Women’s Basketball League this season, after finishing second in the league last year.What’s really strange is all the little kids and even the older people who come up to us after the games and ask us for autographs,” said Iowa native Connie Kunzmann, a 6’I” center for the Comets.At first I wondered what everyone would want our autographs for, but I guess people look at us a$ being something special, like an idol.”The Cornets have been drawing a lot of attention this season. They have lost twice, to Dallas Thursday night and to the New Jersey Gems Sunday, and boast a 6-2 record (as of early Tuesday).But guard Robin Tucker doesn’t feel that the Comets gain much attention as a whole.Certainly, people notice Molly, but surely not Robin Tucker,” she says.Molly Dolly” Bolin — the Cornets’ Farrah Fawcett — promotes the Cornets through various posters and commercials.Possibly the most sought-after poster is her Farrah look-alike pose. In that, she is clad in a tight, one-piece swimsuit with her basketball equipment at hand.But Bolin feels that every team needs somebody to identify with if it’s going to go places.A lot of people know me because of the commercials and posters, but I guess I was the only one that would really agree to do it,” said Bolin, who leads the WBL in scoring with a 31.5 average.But it didn’t start out that way, I mean, people knowing me. I was the number 12, out of 12, player on the team. I wasn't any star.I was just like every other player until I started scoring so many points, and this year things have really picked up.”Bolin is the youngest member of the team, and the only mother.The Cornets must have called five times before we decided that I should play professional ball,” said Bolin.The we” is Molly, her husband, Denie, and their 2^-year-old son, Damien, who attends some games in a bright gold and green Cornets T-shirt.We got a lot of friction from people that were telling us that it would break up our marriage if 1 became a pro. Most of our friends sidedwith Denie, until the decision was made,” said the 5’9” guard who prep-ped at Moravia.Being pro and married does have a lot of responsibilities. Like when I get ready to go on a road trip, I have to clean the house, make sure there is enough food in the refrigerator, take Damien to the baby sitter, and then finally pack my things.I guess it’s trying to get things under control, but Denie helps out a lot. He’s even had to switch roles with me a few times and act as kind of the housewife and mother when I’m gone, said the 21-year-old Bolin.For some of the other Comets the decision was a simple one on whether or not to turn professional.All I ever wanted to do since I was in elementary school was travel and play basketball,” said Kunzmann.Now I get to do both. Sometimes there’s a lot of pressure, and I get pretty sluggish. But that’s just the life of an athlete.We’re not out on the court to have fun, and I think that’s what a lot of people think, that it’s just fun and games,” said Kunzmann. But we've been hired to play basketball and win, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”Former Iowa State athlete Pat Hodgson took a year off before deciding to turn pro with the Comets.”1 think the reason I didn’t accept the offer to play right away is because of the attitude I would have taken about being a professional player.I needed to get out and work one year and make sure that 1 did, afterMolly Bolinaround, either; he’s serious and he makes you serious. This is his job and ours and we’ve all got to be good.”Hodgson recently broke into the Comet starting five, and now sports a 10.4 scoring average and ranks fourth in rebounding for Iowa.At first it all seemed like a big fiasco, but I like it and I feel like we’re entertaining people. Isn’t that what people come to see us for?”For Tucker, the other starting guard along with Bolin, turning pro was a big step in life.I’m from Columbus, Ohio, and basketball isn’t as big a deal as it is here in Iowa.The publicity, even on the high school and college level, is so much better here so I really enjoy playing for the Iowa Cornets, said the 5’7 Tucker.People here in Iowa are just so all, really want to play basketball for much different. They get extremely a living,” said the rookie Hodgson, involved, and that’s why the program She worked for a magazine for a for the girls is so outstanding, year, passing up an offer to join the I think it will help the Cornets Cornets last season. . and all the other teams in the WBLThings are a lot different this that Iowa does have such a good proyear with Coach Steve Kirk (than gram and interest. The players are last year under coach Rod Lein, who getting better, and eventually, the was fired). He really makes you feel young girls that you see wandering professional, and he’s so organized. around after the game might even You don’t do too much fooling turn pro someday themselves.”TheSportsExtraDon't miss the Sports Extra section, a supplement to The Cedar Rapids Gazette every Friday. In it you’ll find features about the weekend sports rivalries, as well as the best in high school and college sports features.A Business Fact.. . We’ve been serving Commerce and Industry’s ELECTRICAL NEEDSfor nearly A Quarter CenturyP.E. FOWLERELECTRIC CO.366-1804700 FIRST A VE. VW V
Newspaper Details
The Gazette Weekly News Magazine
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Wed, Dec 19, 1979
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Molly K.
USA 30 Dec 2023
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